CROSSING THE LAKE--SAFELY LANDED--LOST IN THE FOREST--A SPECTRE--THE
MANTIS TRIBE--CHASING A WOUNDED DEER--IN A DILEMMA--WOLVES--UP A TREE--A
WEARY NIGHT--THE SIEGE RAISED--SEARCH AFTER MY COMPANIONS--SUFFERINGS
FROM THIRST--WATER DISCOVERED--OVERCOME BY FATIGUE--FOUND BY CAESAR--
MEETING WITH TIM FLANAGAN--ONE WAY TO MAKE A BLAZE--SIGNALS FOR OUR
FRIENDS--THE DESERTED HUT--PROOFS OF AN INDIAN TRAGEDY--PLANS FOR
CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY.
We had been paddling on for some time, not making more than two miles an
hour. At length the eastern shore of the lake began to grow nearer. It
was low, with no trees of any size growing on its bank. We feared that
on landing we should have to wade through a swamp infested by snakes,
and probably by alligators, before we could reach dry ground. We could
see the northern shore, which appeared to be of the same character; and
this made us hope that the Indians would not have attempted to go round
and intercept us. The western shore was still discernible, but too far
off to enable us to see whether the Indians were still there.
"I wonder where those fellows were going?" observed Carlos; "they
evidently did not belong to this part of the country, or they would have
found us out before."
"Me tink dey go norf on war-trail to join de great chief Oceola,"
observed Jup. "Dey say 'fore long de red men kill all de Palefaces in
de country, an' agin have it for demselves."
"Not very likely they will make such a mad attempt," observed Carlos
with a laugh. "The Palefaces would clear them off the face of the earth
were they to play a trick of that sort."
Jup shrugged his shoulders. "Me only tell massa what oders say," he
answered.
At last, beginning to grow hungry, we agreed to stop paddling and take
some food, while Jup steered. The meat we had cooked was already rather
high. We had only some small flour-cakes, and some baked roots to eat
with it. Hunger, however, prevented us from being fastidious, and we
had plenty of water alongside to wash it down.
As I was dipping my tin mug into the lake, a huge snout suddenly rose,
and very nearly caught my hand, as well as the mug. Tim gave the
monster a whack with his paddle, which made it quickly sink again. It
was a lesson to us to be careful how we put our hands into the water.
The wind now dropped, and the sun beat down with intense force on our
heads; but we had to endure it and paddle on, for it was important to
get on dry ground before darkness should overtake us.
"Hurrah!" I exclaimed, as I put my pole into the water; "I can touch
the bottom. We shall soon be making better progress than hitherto."
I was right. The water shoaled rapidly. By shoving along with our
poles, we made the raft move twice as fast as before. At length a line
of tall reeds rose before us. The sight was not encouraging, for we
could neither force the raft onwards, nor make our own way through them
on foot. We therefore turned southward, hoping to find some dry ground
at no great distance from the water. On and on we went, but still we
could see only reeds and swamp. At last we caught sight of some pines;
most welcome they were, as they betokened a dry and sandy soil. We now
came to a bay. Although lined with a narrow belt of reeds, we hoped to
force our way through them. We accordingly ran our raft onwards as far
as it would move, then wishing it farewell, with many thanks for the
service it had rendered us, we plunged into the reeds--Tim, as the
strongest of the party, leading the way, and holding his gun over his
head in case he should unexpectedly fall into an unseen hole. Sometimes
we were up to our waists in water. Still we worked our way forward. At
last Tim gave a shout of satisfaction as he landed on dry ground. We
all quickly followed, poor Caesar panting and blowing with his exertions
as he made his way after us. Clouds of mosquitoes and other stinging
insects had been attacking us in our progress, but we were by this time
too well inured to them to think much about the matter. We agreed, at
all hazards, to push on to the pine-ridge which we saw before us, that
we might encamp there for the night.
As soon as we gained a spot of sufficient height to overlook the lake,
we turned anxiously round to ascertain whether the Indians were
following us, but we could see them nowhere on the water. We were
still, however, uncertain whether or not they would pursue us by land,
and Jup and I again climbed to the top of a high tree, to try and obtain
a look-out over the country to the northward. To our relief nothing
moving was seen; so descending, we made our way with our companions to
the ridge.
It was hopeless to seek for any place of concealment in the hollows;
besides the dangers from animals, we were certain to be attacked by
innumerable stinging insects, and to run the risk of being bitten by
poisonous snakes. We therefore lighted our fire on the top of the
ridge.
Lejoillie, Carlos, and I went off with our guns in search of game, as we
had exhausted our stock of provisions. We had gone on farther than we
intended, when on looking round we could nowhere see the smoke of our
fire; while a bank of clouds which had risen in the west, and gradually
spread over the sky prevented us, as we had expected to be able to do,
from making the sun our guide.
Lejoillie had shot a turkey; but as this was insufficient for our party,
we were anxious to kill some larger game. We were still pursuing our
search, and not far apart, when Carlos exclaimed, "See here! I have
found a creature which will show us our way. Come here quickly and try
it."
We hastened to the spot, where we saw, seated on a large leaf, a
creature with a thin body like a walking-stick, with long legs, and
antennae stretched out. "It is a yellow and black spectre," said
Lejoillie, drawing one of his cases from his pocket; "a magnificent
specimen. I must secure it ere it escapes."
"Oh, don't do that!" cried Carlos; "I have heard it said that if we ask
it the way, it will stretch out one of its arms in the right direction;
and we shall have no difficulty in making our way back to camp."
Lejoillie laughed. "From whom did you hear that?" he asked.
"The Indians believe that it has that power; and, of course, as they are
better acquainted with the creatures of this country than any one else,
they must know."
"Bah!" exclaimed Lejoillie; "I thought, Carlos, you had too much good
sense to be influenced by so foolish a superstition."
"Look at it!" cried Carlos; "it is lifting up its paws and praying.
What else can it be doing?"
Lejoillie afterwards explained that it belonged to the Mantis family;
that instead of being a praying insect, it is one of the most combative
and savage in existence. "It lives upon beetles and flies of every
description," he added. "When two of the creatures of the same species
meet together, they engage in a fierce combat, cutting at each other
with their fore legs with such force as sometimes to sever the body of
an antagonist with a single blow, when the victor generally eats up its
opponent. There are many others of the same family, some resembling
leaves. The Chinese in the southern part of their country keep these
creatures in cages, and make them fight with each other."
While the naturalist was giving us this lecture, he was suffocating the
spectre, and pinning it down in his case. We soon after this separated
for the purpose of creeping up towards a herd of deer of which we had
caught sight. I had got some way to the right of Lejoillie and Carlos,
when I caught sight of a buck feeding near a clump of trees. I was
afraid of calling to my friends lest the animal might hear my voice.
Stooping down, I crept on, concealed by some tall grass, till I got
within thirty yards of the deer, when I fired. From its movements I
knew that I had hit it, and expected to see it fall immediately.
Instead of doing so, off it ran, leaving a trail of blood behind it. I
felt assured from this that it would soon drop, and I pursued as fast as
my legs could carry me, reloading as I ran. It had, however, got out of
shot. Still I followed, certain that it would slacken its speed, and
that I should again get it within range of my rifle. On and on I went,
not having time to look behind me to ascertain if my companions were
following, as I supposed they were doing.
After some time the deer began to slacken its pace, and I felt more
confident than ever that I should overtake it before dark. I had
scarcely observed, however, that the gloom of evening had already
commenced. The form of the deer became more and more shadowy, but still
keeping it in sight, I followed, until it suddenly disappeared. It must
have fallen to the ground, I thought, which accounted for my not seeing
it; and so on I went. I was not mistaken; before long I stumbled over
the body of the animal, still living, but fast bleeding to death. With
my hunting-knife I at once put an end to its sufferings. It was too
large an animal to carry back whole to the camp, so I began as well as I
could in the gloom of evening to skin it, and cut off the best portions
of the meat,--an unpleasant operation, and one in which I had had but
little experience, though I had frequently seen deer cut up by others.
I prepared as much as I could carry, with part of the skin when,
considering in which direction I should turn my steps to reach the camp,
I felt myself utterly at a loss to decide. I had several times turned
the deer about, so that I could not ascertain the position in which it
had fallen. To attract the attention of my friends, I fired off my gun.
I listened for a reply, but could hear none. Still, I hoped, by
proceeding across the pine-barren, that I should in time see the light
of their fire. I, accordingly, shouldering my load of meat, set off.
The night became unusually dark, and it was with difficulty that I
avoided stumbling over fallen trunks or running against the stumps of
trees. I occasionally shouted, and several times fired off my rifle. I
should have fired oftener, but was unwilling to expend more of my
powder. I thought I was going straight forward, and had gone on for
about two hours or more, when I found my feet strike against an object
on the ground. I felt it was part of an animal. A further examination
convinced me it was the body of the deer I had killed; and I found, to
my annoyance, that I had been going in a circle, and had reached the
very spot whence I had set out. It would be useless, I felt, to make
another attempt to reach the camp, and I made up my mind to remain where
I was. I had my flint and steel, and so I searched about for broken
branches to make up a fire. I had not forgotten the risk I ran of being
bitten by a snake. I searched and searched for some time, but in the
dark I could only find a few sticks, though very likely I passed by many
which would have served my purpose.
I was thus employed, when I heard a howl at no great distance off. It
was the voice of a wolf. It was repeated by another and another. The
sounds grew nearer and nearer, until it appeared to me that a whole pack
must be collecting around me. Had I been able to make up a large fire,
I should have had no fear of the savage creatures. I threw down my
sticks, with a handful of leaves which I had picked up, and endeavoured
to strike a light; but the leaves were damp, and would not catch the
sparks I sent among them.
All this time the howling increased. The wolves were attracted, I had
no doubt, by the carcass of the deer, and they might be content with
that instead of attacking me; but when they had finished it--and it
could not last long--I thought it probable that I should become their
victim. I tried again and again to light the fire, but in vain.
The wolves now broke into loud cries and howls, and I could now
distinguish their forms as they approached the spot. I shouted at the
top of my voice, hoping to drive them off. They halted, apparently; but
the moment I was silent they again advanced. I might have shot two or
three of them, but should have expended my ammunition before I could
kill the whole pack. I remembered that near at hand was a tree, with
branches at a height from the ground to which I could reach. I searched
about for it, and found it was close at hand. Slinging my rifle over my
shoulder--for I felt the importance of not abandoning it--I caught hold
of the lowest branch, and, hauling myself up, got my feet upon it. I
was thus able to climb up to another, out of the reach of the wolves,
which could, I knew, leap up to a considerable height, and might have
attacked my feet had I remained on the lower branch.
Unless the brutes should go off in search of other prey when they had
finished the deer, I should have to remain in the tree all night. It
was a far from comfortable position; still it was better than being torn
to pieces by the brutes. I was afraid of moving about when once I had
fixed myself on the branch, lest I should fall, as my rifle and load of
venison greatly impeded my movements. I managed, however, to unsling my
rifle, and seat myself in a position whence I might fire at the wolves.
Scarcely was I secure in the tree, than on they came, rushing at the
deer, which must quickly have been torn to pieces. I could see only
their backs and tails in a thick mass surging about in the gloom. I
fired and killed one, which its companions quickly devoured. I was
about to fire again, when I reflected that by so doing I should only
detain the horrid brutes close to me, and that they were much more
likely to take their departure should they find nothing on which to
feast. They must, however, have scented the venison I had, for they
came round the tree, howling, and snapping, and snarling, trying to get
at me. It was like a hideous dream. I shouted again and again, in the
hope of driving them away; but they seemed resolved on my destruction.
I may say that I never passed a more unpleasant night in my life. The
only hope I had was that my friends would come to search for me in the
morning, and that they might be attracted to the spot by the howling of
the animals. I had no fear of going to sleep while the wolves kept up
their hideous chorus.
Towards morning a drowsiness crept over me, and I had the greatest
difficulty in maintaining my perilous position. I kept myself awake,
however, by uttering every now and then a loud shout. At last I became
conscious that the light was increasing, although I could nowhere see
the bright streaks which usually usher in the dawn. Looking up, I saw
that the sky was overcast, as on the previous evening; and I feared that
I might still find it a very difficult matter to make my way, even
should the wolves go off and allow me to descend the tree.
I was getting very hungry, and, as I had left my pack at the camp, I had
only the raw venison to eat. As the light increased, I broke off some
rotten branches, with which I pelted the wolves, uttering at the same
time loud cries; but they only snapped at the pieces of wood, proving
how they would have treated me had I fallen among them. I was greatly
tempted to kill some more of them, but, remembering how they had
devoured the one I had before shot, I refrained. Though almost
overpowered with the desire to sleep, the dread of falling into their
midst kept me awake.
Hour after hour passed by. In vain I looked out for my companions; no
signs of them could I discover, though I climbed to the highest part of
the tree, nor could I anywhere see the smoke of their fire. It was
already past noon, when I caught sight of a solitary deer making its way
across the open pine-barren. One of the wolves must have seen it too,
for the brute, giving a peculiar cry, set off, followed by the whole
pack. The deer saw them coming, and endeavoured to increase its speed;
but it was, I suspect, wounded, perhaps by one of my friends, thus
giving me hopes that I might before long fall in with them.
As soon as the wolves disappeared I descended the tree; and feeling
desperately hungry, I lost no time in collecting sticks, which I could
now easily do, and lighting a fire, aided by some rotten wood which I
found in a hollow trunk near at hand. My venison was but very partially
cooked when, unable to restrain my appetite, I began to eat it. After a
few mouthfuls, however, the thirst which came on made me look about in
search of water; but I could find none near at hand. The meat was in
the meantime cooking. I ate enough to satisfy my hunger, and would have
given much for a drop of pure water. Without it, I felt that I should
not have strength sufficient to resume the search for my companions. I
should have left the greater part of the venison behind me, as I knew
that it would not keep long, but that I hoped to fall in with them
before long, and guessed, in case Lejoillie and Carlos had failed to
kill a deer, they would be very glad of it.
My difficulty was now how to direct my course. I looked round in every
direction. The country wore so uniform an appearance that I could not
determine from what point I had come. Had there been water near at
hand, I should have remained where I was--the wisest thing to do under
such circumstances; but water I must have, or I should perish. I
accordingly set off intending to keep a straight line, and hoping to
fall in with my companions, or to discover their trail should I strike
the lake. I should then obtain the necessary water, and know afterwards
how to direct my course. Praying that I might be successful, I took my
rifle in my hand, ready for use, and marched forward. On and on I went,
keeping along the pine-barrens, and avoiding two hummocks I met with. I
had no longer any desire to eat, though I felt fearfully faint from
thirst; but, unfortunately, I could discover no fruits with which to
assuage it.
Once more evening was approaching. I scarcely expected to get through
another night without water. I was almost dropping with fatigue, when I
caught sight, between the trees, of what looked like a pool in a hollow.
I hurried forward as fast as my strength would allow me, and discovered
that it was the bed of a river. Though a large portion was dry, there
were here and there pools along its course. I did not stop to ascertain
whether the water was pure or foul, or whether the pool was full of
alligators; but stooping down, I eagerly dipped in my hand, and conveyed
the precious liquid to my mouth.
The clouds had cleared away from the horizon, and I was thus able to
ascertain the whereabouts of the west by seeing the sun setting with a
fiery aspect in its full circular form. By this I knew full well that a
sultry day would follow. Multitudes of insects now filled the air,
buzzing round my head; hundreds of piping frogs rose from the pool at
which I had drunk; the birds flew to their roosts; the squirrels ran to
their nests; and I could hear the voices of several herons as they
wended their way to the distant swamps. Now the night-birds broke forth
with their shrill cries; but overpowering sleep oppressed me. Even the
roar of an alligator or the cry of a puma could not have kept me awake.
Darkness rapidly came on, and there was no moon to light me on my path.
Making my way to the nearest tree, whose spreading branches afforded
some shelter from the night-dews, I knelt down and prayed for that
protection which I felt I so greatly needed. Then I stretched myself on
the ground, and almost in an instant was asleep.
I awoke, conscious that some animal was near me. I felt its breath on
my face, and it had taken my hand in its mouth. I expected the next
moment to have its fangs fixed in my flesh; but still I could not move.
Then I heard a low whimper, followed by a bark. I started up, and
opening my eyes, discovered my faithful dog Caesar, who was endeavouring
to arouse me to consciousness. I returned his caresses as he fawned on
me, finding me not dead as he supposed. It was still dark; but I no
longer dreaded having to wander about by myself; he would prove my guide
and protector. He seemed by his actions to indicate that he wanted me
to get up and follow him. I at once came to the conclusion that my
friends were encamped not far off, and that he would lead me to them. I
was about to strap on the remainder of the venison, when the horrible
smell which proceeded from it showed that it was no longer fit for human
food; though Caesar, who appeared to be very hungry, willingly made a
substantial meal off it, when I gave him leave to take what he wanted.
As I looked round, great was my satisfaction to see, by the warm tints
in the sky, that day was already breaking.
Caesar, having finished his meal, once more bounded on, and then came
back to ascertain that I was doing as he wished. I followed him,
eagerly running forward. He kept along the bank of the stream, which
apparently, in the wet season, spread out over the rocky bottom, now
perfectly dry. On either side grew oleander, acacia, laurel, paw-paw,
and many flowering shrubs; while in the distance, against the sky, I
could see a tall tree scathed by lightning, and leafless.
In vain I looked out for a fire, to indicate the camp of my companions,
when suddenly Caesar, starting forward, gave a loud bark. Hurrying on
after him, I caught sight of a man stretched on the ground, with his
rifle by his side; and, to my great joy, I recognised Tim Flanagan. On
hearing the dog bark, he started up and rushed towards me with
outstretched arms.
"Is it you, Mr. Maurice, yourself?" he exclaimed, as he eagerly took my
hand. "I thought that you had been lost entirely; an' all yesterday,
an' all this night, an' the best part o' last night, too, I've been
huntin' for ye until my legs would carry me no longer; an' I sank down
on the ground, thinkin' if I didn't find you I'd never show my face at
Castle Kearney again. If it hadn't been for Caesar, I never should have
found ye, for not a foot farther could I have stirred without some food;
an', sure, that's what I've not had since yesterday mornin'."
My first inquiry was as to where our friends were encamped.
"Faith, Mr. Maurice, that's jist what I cannot tell," he answered. "I
set off to try an' find ye as soon as Mounseer Jolly an' Mr. Carlos came
back; an' next mornin', when I returned, not a sign of them could I see
at the camp. Why they moved on is more than I can say, except that they
thought we should follow in their trail. Maybe they imagined the
Indians were comin' afther them; or perhaps they wanted water, and went
to look for it."
I, of course, could not conjecture what could have induced Lejoillie and
Carlos to proceed on their journey without waiting for Tim and me. "But
how came you not to shoot some game?" I inquired.
"Faith, Mr. Maurice, I had an accident, an' lost all my powder; an' it's
a mercy I didn't lose my life too. I was tryin' to light a fire, which
wouldn't blaze up, seein' the sticks were green, when what should I do
but take my powder-flask an' begin to shake a few grains on it. On a
sudden away went the flask out of my hand with a loud bang, gettin'
shivered to pieces, an' knockin' me over. I picked myself up, thinkin'
I was kilt entirely; but I wasn't the worse for it, barrin' the loss of
the powder an' the duck which I had put ready to roast; an' Caesar had a
little of his coat singed. The worst of the business was, that I could
no longer hope to shoot any game.
"Fortunately I can spare you a few charges; and we must make our stock
last as long as possible," I said. "The first thing we have to do is to
shoot something for breakfast, and to look out, on our way, for any
fruit which may help us to enjoy it."
While wandering alone, I had often been almost in despair of ever
finding my way. With Tim as my companion my spirits rose, and I felt
perfectly happy when, shortly afterwards, I brought down a fat gobbler,
which Caesar routed out of a bush close to us; while Tim, the next
instant, killed a duck. We lost no time in making up a fire to cook our
game; and we enjoyed a hearty meal, while a neighbouring pool afforded
us water to quench our thirst.
Greatly revived, we prepared to set off eastward fully expecting that
before nightfall we should be with our friends. Tim said he was certain
they were to the right of us. We had, however, gone on but a short
distance when a thick mist came sweeping along from the eastward,
completely shrouding the whole country, as well as the sun above our
heads, so that we had no object by which to direct our course. In a
country like Florida, where there are no mountains, and the taller trees
grow in hollows, it is most difficult to find one's way, except by
compass, when the sun is obscured; still we thought we knew the
direction of the east, and continued on, every now and then uttering a
loud shout, hoping that our friends might be within hearing. We agreed
at last that, although they might not hear our voices, they might hear
the report of our guns; but that we might expend our powder with some
benefit to ourselves, we agreed to wait until we saw an object to fire
at.
We were passing, soon afterwards, near some ponds, when we shot three or
four birds, and coming near a hummock, we killed several others, which
we thought would be welcome to our friends, or would, at all events,
supply us and Caesar with food for the next day. We still fancied that
we were going right. Shortly afterwards, we entered a pine-barren, or,
rather, I might call it a pine-forest, through which we struck on a
well-defined track, the grass on either side being so tall that we could
scarcely see over it.
We had been going on for several hours, when we suddenly found ourselves
in a more open space. On one side was a deserted hut, near a pool of
fresh-water, while a number of tall trees, which had been cut down by
the woodmen's axes, lay prostrate on the ground. We examined the hut.
There were bed-places for three or four men; and just outside was a
circle of blackened stones, with ashes in the centre, which had
evidently formed the fire-place; but everything else had disappeared.
While searching about, Tim exclaimed that there were marks of blood in
one of the bed-places; and, on examining the spots, I agreed with him
that the stains were those of blood. His opinion was, that one of the
party had been surprised asleep in the hut by the Indians, but that the
rest, being out at the time, had made their escape, and were afraid to
venture back.
On leaving the hut, Caesar ran to a little distance from it and barked.
We followed him, when great was our horror to see the body of a man
stretched on the ground. The poor fellow had been scalped, clearly
showing by whom he had met his death. His jacket had been carried off;
his shirt was torn, as if the savages had been about to take it off him
when they were interrupted. From the appearance of the body, he had, we
conjectured, been dead two or three days, perhaps longer, for, as it lay
in the shade, it was not so decomposed as it might otherwise have been.
"I'm afther thinkin' the sooner we get away from this place the better,"
said Tim, as, having hurried from the spot, we stood near the pool I
have described, from which Caesar was lapping the water.
"I don't see that we run much risk while we remain here, as the Indians
are not likely to come back again," I answered; "at the same time, I
more than ever regret having parted from our companions, and I shall be
thankful when we find them again."
The result of our consultation was, that we agreed to push forward as
long as daylight lasted, and should we not find our friends in the
meantime, to camp at nightfall. Had we been amply supplied with powder
I should have been less anxious about our possible fate. The Indians
who had murdered the poor woodcutter had, I trusted, passed by; and we
earnestly hoped that we might not fall in with any other bands on their
way to the north. We thought it possible that we might come upon the
settlement to which the woodmen belonged; but we had, as yet, fallen on
no trail which might lead to it, and as the mist still hung over the
face of nature, we had nothing to guide us. Still we went on, both of
us believing that our faces were directed eastward.