_THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES._
FRANK
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
BY HARRY CASTLEMON,
AUTHOR OF "THE GUN-BOAT SERIES," "THE GO-AHEAD SERIES," ETC.
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES.
CINCINNATI, O.:
R. W. CARROLL & CO.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by R. W.
CARROLL & CO.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States,
for the Southern District of Ohio.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. The Foot-race 5
CHAPTER II. What Came of It 20
CHAPTER III. Frank Learns Something 34
CHAPTER IV. The Trapper a Prisoner 48
CHAPTER V. Archie Finds a New Uncle 66
CHAPTER VI. The Medicine-man 85
CHAPTER VII. In the Mountains 102
CHAPTER VIII. Frank's Friend the Grizzly 123
CHAPTER IX. Adam Brent's Story 142
CHAPTER X. Turning out a Panther 159
CHAPTER XI. Frank in Search of his Supper 181
CHAPTER XII. Adam Besieged 200
CHAPTER XIII. Dick in a New Character 219
CHAPTER XIV. A Ride for Life 239
CHAPTER XV. Conclusion 257
FRANK IN THE MOUNTAINS.
CHAPTER I.
THE FOOT-RACE.
One sultry afternoon in September, about four weeks after the occurrence
of the events we have attempted to describe in the second volume of this
series, Frank and Archie found themselves comfortably settled in new
quarters, hundreds of miles from the scene of their recent exploits.
According to arrangement, they accompanied Captain Porter on his
expedition, and in due time encamped a short distance from an old Indian
trading-post, in the very heart of the Rocky Mountains.
The journey across the plains, from Fort Yuma on the Colorado to the
head-waters of the Missouri, was accomplished without danger or
difficulty. The expedition traveled rapidly, and the only incidents that
occurred to relieve the monotony of the ride were a buffalo hunt and a
chase after a drove of wild horses. On these occasions the cousins
gained hearty applause from the trappers--Frank by his skill with the
rifle, and Archie by his persevering but unsuccessful efforts to capture
one of the wild steeds.
Had a stranger been dropped suddenly into the midst of the scenes with
which the boys were now surrounded, he could scarcely have realized that
he was miles and miles outside of a fence, and in the heart of a
wilderness which but a few years before had been in undisputed
possession of savages. The boys could hardly believe it themselves. If
the fort, the trappers, and the Indian camp had been removed, Frank and
Archie could easily have imagined that they were in the midst of a
thriving farming region, and that they had only to cross to the other
side of the mountains to find themselves in the streets of a prosperous
and growing city. The country looked civilized. There were well-filled
barns, rich fields of grain waiting to be harvested, and a herd of
cattle standing under the shade of the trees on the banks of the clear
dancing trout brook, which flowed by within a stone's throw of the
house. There were wagons moving to and fro, between the barns and the
fields, flocks of noisy ducks and hens wandering about, and Archie said
he was every moment expecting to see a company of school-children come
trooping by, with their dinner-baskets on their arms.
There was one thing that did not look exactly right, and that was the
farm-house. It was built of sun-dried bricks, its walls were thick, and
provided with loop-holes, and around it were the ruins of the palisade
that had once served it as a protection against the Indians.
The farm-house was situated in the center of a delightful valley, which
was surrounded on all sides by lofty mountains. In one corner of the
valley, and in plain view of the house, was Fort Stockton, the
trading-post of which we have spoken. Outside the walls a band of
Indians, about a hundred in number, was encamped. They had come there to
dispose of their furs, and were now having a glorious time among
themselves, being engaged in various sports, such as running, wrestling,
jumping, riding, and shooting at a mark. In a little grove between the
house and the fort the trappers belonging to Captain Porter's expedition
had made their camp, and the Captain himself sat on the porch, smoking
his long Indian pipe, and conversing with Mr. Brent, the owner of the
rancho. These gentlemen were old acquaintances and friends, having
formerly been engaged in the fur trade together; and when the expedition
made its appearance in the valley, Mr. Brent insisted that the Captain
and his young friends should make their headquarters at his house, until
they were ready to resume their journey. The boys willingly accepted the
invitation--Frank for the reason that there was a well-filled library in
the house, and Archie because he wanted to be near a new acquaintance he
had made.
Close beside the stairs which led to the porch, Dick and old Bob lay
stretched out on their blankets, listening to the yells of the Indians,
and watching all that was going on in the camp; and, if one might judge
by their looks and actions, they were not at all pleased with the state
of affairs. Indeed, they had kept up a constant grumbling ever since
they came into the valley, and had repeatedly declared that they had
never expected to see the day that Indians would be permitted to come
into a white settlement and carry things with so high a hand.
"Times aint as they used to be, Bob," said Dick, knocking the ashes from
his pipe, and filling up for a fresh smoke. "When me an' ole Bill Lawson
trapped in this yere valley, years ago, I never thought that I should
set here, as I do now, an' let a hul tribe of screechin' varlets jump
about afore my very eyes, without drawin' a bead on some of 'em. This
country is ruined; I can see that easy enough."
"Dick is growling again," said Archie. "If he could have his own way,
there wouldn't be an Indian in the world by this time to-morrow."
The cousins occupied an elevated position on the porch, from which they
could observe the proceedings in the Indian camp. Near them stood the
son of the owner of the rancho, Adam Brent. He was about Archie's age
and size, only a little more thick-set and muscular; and with his brown,
almost copper-colored complexion, dark eyes, and long black hair, might
easily have passed for an Indian. His dress consisted of a hunting shirt
of heavy cloth, buckskin leggins and moccasins, and a fur cap, which he
wore both summer and winter.
Our heroes had made some alterations in their costumes since we last saw
them. They had worn the Mexican dress while in California, because it
was particularly adapted to the warm climate; but now they had discarded
their wide pants for buckskin trowsers and leggins, although they still
held to their sombreros, light shoes, and jackets.
The boys had spent but three days at Mr. Brent's rancho, but they were
already famous, for Dick and Bob had never neglected an opportunity to
relate the story of their adventures and exploits in California. When
they visited the fort, the officers and soldiers looked at them as
though they had been some curious wild animals; the trappers belonging
to the expedition treated them with a great deal of respect; and their
new acquaintance, Adam Brent, acknowledged that he had been greatly
mistaken in the opinions he had formed concerning boys from the States.
They arose still higher in his estimation before he bade them good-by.
When Archie spoke, Bob and Dick raised themselves on their elbows and
looked at him.
"Yes, little un, I am growlin' agin," said the latter; "an' I reckon
you'd growl too, if you knowed as much about them Injuns as I do. I'll
allow that if I could have my way thar wouldn't be as many of 'em by
this time to-morrow as thar are now, but I wouldn't like to sweep 'em
out of the world by any onnateral means. I'll tell you what I'd do," he
added, pointing to the grove in which the trappers were encamped. "Thar
are twenty fine fellers layin' around under them trees, an' I like 'em,
'cause they're honest men, an' hate Injuns as bad as I do. I'd say to
'em: 'Boys, get up an' show them ar' red skins what sort of stuff you're
made of!' They'd do it in a minit, an' be glad of the chance; an'
thar'd be a thinnin' out of them Injun's ranks that would do your eyes
good to look at."
"Perhaps some of you would get thinned out too," said Frank. "Those
Indians are all well armed."
"I know that; but I, fur one, would be willin' to run the risk. I don't
like to see 'em playin' about that ar way. When I walk through their
camp, it is as hard fur me to keep from pitchin' into one of 'em as it
is for a duck to keep out of the water."
"Let's go down there," said Archie. "I'd like to see what is going on."
Frank replied by picking up his hat; while Adam looked toward his
father, who shook his head very decidedly. The cousins were a good deal
surprised at this, and they had been surprised at the same thing more
than once during their short stay at the rancho. Adam was never allowed
to go anywhere, unless his father went with him. Mr. Brent kept watch of
him night and day, and never appeared to be at ease if his son was out
of his sight. He seemed to be afraid that some mischief would befall him
unless he kept him constantly under his eye.
"You will have to go without me," said Adam, with some disappointment in
his tone.
"Don't you get tired of staying about the house all the time?" asked
Archie. "I'd dry up like a mummy, for want of some jolly exercise to
stir up my blood."
"I do get very tired of it," replied Adam, "but I can't help it. It
would be as much as my life is worth to go out of sight of this house.
If I should go down to that camp, I might never come back again. I'll
tell you a story before you leave us."
Frank and Archie would have been glad to postpone their visit to the
camp, and to listen to the story then and there; but Adam left them, and
entered the house. Dick and Bob accompanied them to the fort, and while
on the way the boys talked over what Adam had said to them, and
speculated upon the causes that rendered it necessary for him to be kept
so close a prisoner; but that was a mystery, and would probably remain
so until Adam saw fit to enlighten them.
After a few minutes' walk they reached the camp, and seated themselves
upon a little knoll, under the shade of a spreading oak, to watch the
games. The principal sport, among the younger members of the tribe,
seemed to be running foot-races; and, in this, one youthful savage
excelled all his companions. He was a tall, active fellow, apparently
about Frank's age, as straight as an arrow, and very muscular. He easily
distanced every one of his competitors, and finally he stepped up to the
visitors, and fastening his eyes upon Frank, asked him if he could run.
"I reckon he can," replied Dick, before Frank could speak. "Fur one of
his years he is about the liveliest feller on his legs I ever seed; an'
I've met a heap of smart youngsters in my day, I tell you. You haint got
no business with him. He would go ahead of you like a bird on the wing."
"Ugh!" exclaimed the young Indian.
"It's a fact; an' that aint all he can do, nuther. He can not only beat
you runnin', but he can out-ride, out-shoot, an' out-jump you; an' he
can take your measure on the ground as fast as you can get up."
The Indian listened attentively to all the trapper had to say, and then
turned and surveyed Frank from head to foot. A white boy would have
thought twice before selecting so formidable an opponent; but the
Indian, evidently having great confidence in his powers, stepped back,
and motioned to the young hunter to follow him--an invitation which
Frank had no desire to accept. He would not have been at all averse to a
friendly trial of speed and skill with the young warrior, if Dick had
not been so lavish in his praises; but what if he should be beaten after
all the complimentary things the trapper had said about him? The Indian
had shown himself to be a great braggart. Whenever he won a race, he
announced the fact by a series of hideous yells, that were heard all
over the camp; and if he should chance to distance Frank, how he would
crow over him!
"I believe I won't try it, Dick," said the latter.
"What!" exclaimed old Bob, in great amazement. "Are you goin' to set
thar an' take a banter like that, an' from an Injun, too? I haint been
fooled in you, have I? Come on, and show the red skins what you can
do."
"Yes, go Frank," chimed in Archie, "and take some of the conceit out of
that fellow. I know you can beat him. See how impudent he looks!"
Frank glanced toward the Indian, who stood patiently awaiting a response
to his challenge, and meeting with a sneering smile, which told him as
plainly as words that he was believed to be a coward, he sprang to his
feet, and accompanied by his cousin and the trappers, followed the
Indian toward the race-course. The latter kept up a loud shouting as he
walked along, and Frank noticed, with no little uneasiness, that the
Indians, old and young, abandoned their own sports and fell in behind.
"They 're goin' out to see the race," said Dick. "That boaster is
tellin' 'em how bad he is goin' to beat you. I reckon he'll be about the
wust fooled man them Injuns ever seed."
The prospect of a contest between a white boy and one of their own
number, created quite a commotion among the savages; and by the time
Frank and his companions reached the race-course, the village had been
deserted. Among the spectators were the officers of the fort, and four
white trappers who made their home among the Indians. In these last, if
Frank had noticed them, he would have recognized old acquaintances, whom
he had good reason to remember; but as they did not make themselves very
conspicuous, he did not see them. They did not seem to care much about
the race, but they appeared to be greatly interested in Dick and Bob,
and their young friends. They looked at Frank, then held a whispered
consultation, and one of them left his companions, and, mounting a small
gray horse, rode off toward the mountains; while the others devoted
their entire attention to Archie, whom they watched as closely as ever a
cat watched a mouse. If Frank could have seen that horse, it is possible
that there would have been an uproar in that camp immediately; and if
Archie had known what the men were saying about him, and what they were
intending to do with him, he would have wished himself safe back in
California again.
When Frank reached the race-course, and looked back at the cloud of
spectators that hung upon the outskirts of the village, his heart failed
him; but it was only for a moment. It was too late to think of backing
out, and with a firm determination to win the race, he began preparing
for it by throwing off his hat and jacket, and tying his handkerchief
around his waist. At this moment the principal chief of the band
appeared upon the ground, and assumed the management of affairs. He was
a very dignified looking Indian, stood more than six feet in his
moccasins, wore a profusion of feathers in his hair, a red blanket over
his shoulders, and was altogether the finest specimen of a savage the
boys had ever met. Frank was very much interested in him; but before
many hours had passed over his head, he had reason to wish he had never
seen him.
"He is my beau ideal of a warrior," whispered Archie. "He looks exactly
as I imagined all Indians looked before I knew as much about them as I
do now. Isn't he splendid, Dick?"
"Sartin," replied the trapper. "I'd like to meet him alone in the
mountains, an' show him how easy I can raise that har of his'n. Now,
youngsters, if you are all ready, I am. I see that some of the Injuns
are goin' to run the race too--jest to encourage their man, you
know--an' I am goin' with you. Do your level best, now."
The race-course was about half a mile long. At the end of it was a tree
which the runners were to double, terminating the race at the place from
which they started. This the chief explained to Frank in broken English,
and, after placing the rival runners side by side, and glancing up and
down the course to satisfy himself that the way was clear, he raised a
yell as the signal to start. Before his lips were fairly opened the race
was begun.