THE WONDERFUL STORY OF APETAK, THE GRATEFUL INDIAN, AND THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE TRIP TO AND VIEW OF THE SILVER CAVE, AS TOLD BY MR. ROSS AT
SAGASTA-WEEKEE.
"Tell us a true story to-night," said little Roderick, the youngest in
the family and the pet of all, as he climbed up on his father's knee.
"Yes, please, Mr Ross," said Sam, "tell us that wonderful story your
father told you about the old Indian and the silver cave."
It was a capital night for a good story. The rain was pattering against
the window panes, while the winds, fierce and wild, were howling around
the buildings, making it vastly more pleasant to be inside than out,
even on a first-class hunting excursion.
As Sam's request was re-echoed by all, Mr Ross cheerfully consented,
and so, when they had gathered around him and taken their favourite
places, he began:
"My father was in the service of the Hudson Bay Company for many years.
He began as a junior clerk and worked his way up until he became a chief
factor, which is the highest position next to that of the governor.
During his long career in the service he was moved about a good deal
from one post to another. The result was, he became acquainted with
various parts of the country and with different tribes of Indians.
"Many years ago, when he had been promoted to the charge of a fairly
good port, the incident I am about to tell you took place. As master in
charge my father was, of course, as all Hudson Bay Company's officers
are, very anxious to make large returns of fur each year. The dividends
were greatest when the sales were largest.
"Father had perhaps a hundred hunters at his port, who all were more or
less skillful and successful in this fur hunting.
"There was one old Indian whom we will call Apetak, who was, by all
odds, the most skillful hunter father had. Not only was he successful
in bringing the greatest quantity of furs to the port, but he was most
fortunate in being able to capture more of the valuable black and silver
foxes and other of the richest fur-bearing animals. His great success
as a hunter thus made him very much of a favourite with my father. But,
in addition, he had many very excellent qualities which made him
respected and trusted by all, both whites and Indians.
"One winter, however, he nearly lost his life. Shortly after the ice
had formed on one of the great lakes in his hunting grounds he shot at
and wounded a great moose. The animal, mad with the pain of the wound,
dashed out of the forest and made for the lake, on which was but a
covering of thin ice. He was only able to run on it a few yards ere it
broke under him and let him through into the water. Apetak did not like
to lose the animal, as there was good meat enough on him to keep his pot
boiling for weeks; so he made a noose in a lasso and tried to get near
enough to throw it over the moose's head, and thus to burden him until
he could get help to get the body out.
"But unfortunately for him he ventured too far out on the poor ice and
broke in. He managed to get out, but the day was bitterly cold and he
suffered very much. A bad cold settled upon his lungs, and it seemed as
though he must die. When my father heard of this he sent his own dog-
sled and plenty of blankets to Apetak's wigwam and brought him to the
trading post, and had him put into a warm, comfortable bed and well
cared for. He kept him there all winter, and it was not until spring
that he was strong and well. He had thus lost that winter's hunt, as he
had not been able to set a trap or fire a gun. However, my father gave
him the necessary supplies in view of his past services, and for this he
was very grateful.
"With the bright spring weather he regained his usual health and once
more entered upon his work. But he could never forget my father's
kindness, and was anxious in some way to show his gratitude. Money
there was none then in the country, as everything in the way of trade
was done by barter. He could not give a present of the rich and
valuable furs, as he well knew father would not be allowed to accept of
them, as the company had made a very strict law against anything of the
kind. They demanded that all the furs should go into their sale shops,
and not one of their officials, from the governor to the lowest clerk,
dare accept as much as a beaver skin as a present from an Indian.
"Thus was Apetak troubled because he had no way of showing his
gratitude. The spring passed away and the summer was about half gone
when one evening Apetak, who had not been seen around the trading post
for some weeks, suddenly returned.
"During the evening he asked for the privilege of having a few minutes'
talk with my father. This, of course, was readily granted. To my
father's great surprise he had a strange request to make, and it was
this: He wanted my father to allow him to blindfold his eyes, and in
that condition take him on a journey of several days' duration into the
more remote wilderness. There would be travelling both by the canoe and
walking on land. Then at the right time he would uncover his eyes and
show him a sight that would please him very much indeed.
"This was a very strange proposition, and for a time my father
hesitated; but knowing so well the reliable character of Apetak, and
having in his constitution a good deal of the spirit of adventure, he at
length consented. Apetak imposed some conditions upon him that were
very stringent. One was that he was under no circumstances to divulge
to anyone the fact that he was going away blindfolded. Another was that
when the journey was completed, and he was safely back at home, he was
not to try and get there again. And the last was that for so many years
he was never even to mention or refer to the matter to anyone, white or
Indian. These seemed rather hard conditions, but as father's curiosity
had now been aroused he at length consented, and in a day or two he said
to his head clerk:--
"`I think I will go off on a bit of an excursion for a few days.'
"As these were of frequent occurrence, there was no stir or curiosity
excited. So, leaving orders as to the business for a few days, he and
Apetak started off with their guns, blankets, and the usual outfit in a
birch canoe. When away from the post Apetak got out the mask, with
which he blindfolded my father. It was a most thorough one, not a ray
of light penetrating it. When it was fastened on Apetak said:--
"`It will be all right, and you will not be sorry for this trip.'
"Taking up his paddle again, Apetak really began the journey. At first
he paddled the canoe round and round, until my father was completely
bewildered and knew not the north from the south. Then on and on the
strong Indian paddled for hours. Of course he and my father talked to
each other, and they laughed and chatted away at a great rate. They
landed at some portages, and Apetak helped father across, then he went
back for the canoe and supplies. Thus on they went for several days.
At the camp fire long after the sun was down Apetak would remove the
mask that so blindfolded father, and leave it off until nearly daylight.
But he never took it off until he had so confused him that, when his
eyes were uncovered he could not tell which way they had come. Early in
the afternoon of about the fourth day Apetak said:--
"`We are nearly at our journey's end. Soon I will show you what I have
brought you so far to see.'
"This was good news to my father, who had begun to feel this travelling
so long with the close covering on his face very irksome.
"Shortly after, Apetak stopped paddling, and, after helping my father to
land, he lifted his canoe out of the water, and hid it carefully among
the bushes. Then, placing a large bundle on his back, including his axe
and gun, he started on a land journey of some miles. As my father was
led along, although he could see nothing, he knew by the rush of air,
and the way they went up and down hill, that they were in a very broken
country.
"`Here is the place,' said Apetak. `Now very soon I will uncover your
eyes, but before I do it you must follow me into the earth.'
"Then he led my father into what seemed to be an opening on the side of
a great hill or mountain, and, entering first in, he told my father to
walk close behind him and keep his hand on him so that he would not be
lost. Sometimes the opening was so low that they had to stoop down, and
in other places they had to squeeze through between the rocks. After a
time they stopped.
"`Now,' said Apetak, `I will take off the covering from your face, but
you will see nothing till I make a light.'
"So it was just as Apetak said. When the covering was removed from the
eyes so dense was the darkness that my father saw no better than he did
with it on.
"However, that great bundle on Apetak's back was composed of torches for
this place. And so when the Indian struck a light with his flint and
steel, and lit up some of these torches, they both could see very well.
At first sight what my father saw was a great cave, like a large church
or cathedral, here in the hill or mountain. Strangely broken was it in
places, and great columns, like stalactites, were very numerous. There
were others that looked like filigree work.
"Said Apetak: `Look at these great things that look like old lead
bullets.'
"Said my father: `Sure enough, as my eyes became accustomed to the
place, lit up by these flaming torches, I discovered that a great deal
that I thought was native rock was really metal. At first I thought it
was lead, as so long exposed there it looked like old lead pipes. But
when I tried to scrape it with my knife I found it was too hard. Then
Apetak used his axe, and managed to cut down a little for me, and to
scrape or hack it in some other places, and, lo, it was pure silver.
"`At this discovery,' said my father, `I was amazed, for here, visible
to the eye, were thousands of pounds of silver.'
"We both continued to look around and examine it until we had burnt all
but the last torch. It seemed in some places as though the softer rocks
had gradually dissolved and left the silver here just as we found it.
In other parts it looked as though in some remote period intense fires
had melted it, and it had run down and then hardened in these strange
formations. Anyway there it was in vast quantities and in various
forms.
"`How did you find it?' asked my father of Apetak.
"His answer was: `I was hunting in this part of the country, and I
caught a fine silver fox by one hind leg in a trap. Just as I came up
he succeeded in cutting off his leg with his teeth and thus got away.
I, of course, ran after him, when he suddenly disappeared in the mouth
of this cave. As his skin was so valuable I hurried and got some birch-
bark and balsam gum, and made a large torch, and tracked him by the
blood from his leg into this place. My torch went out before I caught
him, and I was very much frightened for fear I would here die; but I
managed to find the opening, and got out. Then I made plenty of torches
and came in again. I had to search quite a while before I found my fox
and succeeded in killing him. Then I looked around to see what kind of
a place it was into which the fox had led me. For the first time I now
saw all this metal. I first thought it was lead and would supply me
with bullets. I tried to cut it with my knife and could not succeed.
Then I saw that it was good metal which you call silver, and I knew you
would be pleased to see it. So that is the reason that I have brought
you here.'
"Soon after my father was again blindfolded and brought safely back to
his home. He was very much pleased with his wonderful adventure, and
honourably carried out his part of the agreement. He never in after
years attempted to find the cave, nor did he even speak about it for
many years. But it is there, nevertheless, and some day the world will
be startled by the story of its discovery, and of the richness of its
hidden stores."
With intense interest the boys, as well as the others present, listened
to this wonderful story. When it was concluded very many were their
questions and comments.
Then Sam, springing up on a chair, said:
"I move a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Ross for this splendid story
about the cave, and when it is discovered may I be on hand!"
Alec seconded the motion and added:
"With great pleasure I second this motion, and may I be a good second,
close at hand when Sam rediscovers the cave!"
Frank put the motion, and it was carried unanimously.
Mr Ross gracefully responded, and as the fierce storms were still
raging without, and they listened to the howling of the winds, their
thoughts went out to those who were upon the stormy seas, and so they
heartily sang the beautiful hymn wherein is the expressive prayer:
"O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea."