FIRST NIGHT IN MY SOLITARY CAMP--PAT CASEY RESCUED--LYNX BROTH--THE
WOLF'S SECOND APPEARANCE--PAT'S "DHRAMEING"--THE WOLF AGAIN APPEARS--PAT
RECOVERS AND SHOOTS THE "BASTE"--PAT'S NOVEL METHOD OF MAKING A FIRE
BURN--LOSS OF OUR POWDER--WE CONSTRUCT HUNTING-SPEARS, AND COMMENCE OUR
JOURNEY--OUR HORSES MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEAR--MARCHING WITHOUT FOOD--THE
INFURIATED ELK--HAVING TAKEN REFUGE IN A TREE, MY SPEAR PROVES USEFUL--
DEER'S FLESH A GOOD PREVENTIVE AGAINST STARVATION--SMOKED VENISON--
MISKWANDIB IS STARVING, AND SO ARE HIS SQUAW AND CHILDREN--OUR NARROW
ESCAPE FROM BEING POISONED BY ROOTS.
I had remembered before closing my eyes the importance of awaking in a
couple of hours. It was the last thought that had occupied my mind. I
recollect starting up and seeing the fire blazing brightly, which showed
me that I could not have slept half the time I had intended. The next
time, however, I awoke but a few embers were still burning.
I sprang to my feet, and rushing out threw on some sticks. I was
compelled to blow pretty hard to make them blaze up. I was afraid that
before they would do so the wolf might pay me a visit. Perhaps he might
appear with several companions.
I was greatly relieved when the flames once more blazed up, and on
looking round beyond them I could see no animal in the neighbourhood. I
therefore again retired within my hut, hoping that I might now rest
securely till daylight.
The appalling howls of the wolf still rung in my ears; and though I
slept on, it was under the impression that the monster was about to
attack me. I believe that the howlings were only in my own fancy, for
when I once more awoke and looked out it was broad daylight.
My horse was standing quietly cropping the remainder of the grass,
though there was little enough he could manage to reach. Having moved
the stake to a little distance, and cleared away the snow, so that he
might get at the grass without difficulty, I made up the fire, and put
some of the lynx flesh to roast before it.
It would not, I expected, prove very palatable, but it would enable me
to support existence. While the flesh was cooking I sat down inside my
hut and devoured the remainder of the hare. It was but a small animal,
and what I had left from the previous evening was not sufficient to
satisfy my hunger, which was somewhat ravenous after the many hours I
had gone without food.
I found in the morning, when attempting to move about, that my limbs
were very stiff, while my strength had greatly diminished, and I began
to doubt whether I should be able to accomplish the journey I proposed
without taking longer time to recruit. I was, however very unwilling to
delay longer than I could help, Alick would be anxiously looking for me.
I hoped that Sandy and the other men had escaped, for I knew that they
also, if they had strength sufficient, would not return home without
endeavouring to discover what had become of me.
I, however, still suffered a good deal of pain, and when I walked about
my legs felt stiff, and scarcely able to support my body; still, I hoped
that after I had breakfasted I should be sufficiently recovered to
commence my journey. The lynx flesh being cooked, I ate a portion, but
it was tough and unsavoury, and I was not sorry to finish my meal.
I then got up, with the intention, before starting, of watering my horse
at the stream, which I knew would not yet be frozen over, in spite of
the cold. Putting on the saddle and bridle, I led him along the edge of
the wood in search of some narrow part through which we could make our
way, for the wood, as far as I could see, bordered the stream for its
whole length. I went on for some distance in the direction from which I
had come, when I caught sight afar off of a dark object rising out of
the plain of snow.
On examining it carefully between my hands, placed on either side of my
head, I saw that it was a horse standing stock-still, and it appeared to
me that there was another small body at its feet. It naturally occurred
to me that the horse must be that of one of my companions, and
immediately throwing myself into the saddle I rode towards it. In a
short time I was convinced that I had not been mistaken--that the object
I saw was a horse, and that at its feet lay the body of a man.
Every moment was precious, for if he was still alive he must be in an
almost dying state, and would require instant attention. As I got near
I saw that the horse was held by the bridle, which the man on the ground
was still grasping in his hand. This gave me some hope that the person
was still alive.
I urged on my poor steed, who could scarcely move through the thick
snow. At length, on reaching the man and horse, a glance showed me that
the man was Pat Casey!
Throwing myself out of my saddle, and kneeling down by his side, I had
the satisfaction of discovering that he still breathed, though he was
apparently perfectly unconscious. His horse was almost as far gone, and
I saw was unable to carry him.
My first thought was to get poor Pat to the fire and give him some food.
Exerting all my strength, I accordingly lifted him on to my saddle,
and, holding him there as well as I could, I set off to return to my
camp. His horse followed mine, so that there was no necessity to lead
it.
Though the distance was not great, it took me a long time to perform it,
and I was greatly afraid that he would expire before I could give him
some food, and restore the circulation in his veins. Hurrying on as
fast as I could make my horse move, we at last reached the hut, before
which the fire was still burning. I brought my horse close to the
entrance, when, lowering Pat down off the saddle, I dragged him inside,
for I had not sufficient strength to carry him; indeed, I had found it a
hard matter to get him into the saddle.
The first thing I did was to examine his brandy flask, but found it
empty. I would have given much for a small portion just then. I next
took some of the roasted lynx meat, which I applied to his mouth, and
squeezed all the juice out of it down his throat.
The slight quantity of nourishment he thus swallowed, with the warmth of
the hut, had a beneficial effect, and he, opening his eyes, seemed to
recognise me, though he could not speak. This encouraged me to
persevere in my efforts to restore him. I got off his shoes and
stockings and rubbed his feet; then warming the stockings at the fire, I
again put them on. I applied friction also to the palms of his hands
and to his chest.
While I was thus employed, I saw his horse, which had followed us,
approach the hut. It struck me that there was something very like a pot
hanging from the saddle. I rushed out and caught the animal, when, to
my delight, I discovered our saucepan, with a tin mug, which Pat at our
last encampment had probably forgotten to fasten to the baggage-mule,
and had consequently secured to his own saddle.
Making up the fire, I instantly put on some of the lynx meat to concoct
some broth, which would, I knew, prove more efficacious than anything
else I could give to my suffering companion, while I myself should be
very glad of it.
Fortunately his gun was fastened to his saddle, and he had on his thick
coat. A brace of pistols were also in his holsters. Whatever might
befall him, I should thus have the means of defending myself and of
procuring game, for he had on his ammunition-belt, which was well
supplied with powder and shot. The coat, with the aid of the
horse-cloths, would contribute greatly to our warmth at night, though I
could dispense with it during the daytime.
While the broth was boiling, I continued to feed him with as much juice
as I could press from the meat, for he was not in a fit state to eat
solid food. While I was attending to Pat, I allowed the horses to
remain loose, as I was sure that they would not wander far. I had given
up all idea of travelling that day, for Pat was utterly unable to move,
and I felt myself scarcely in a fit state to ride any distance.
As soon as the soup was ready I took some in the cup, and having cooled
it in the snow, poured it slowly down Pat's throat. His eyes seemed to
be regaining their usual brightness, but yet he did not speak. Waiting
a little I gave him some more, when I heard him say in a low voice,
"Arrah! now, but that's foine! Blessings on you, Masther David."
"I am glad to hear you speak, Pat," I said; "you'll get all to rights in
time."
I next took some of the soup myself, but I cannot say that I admired its
flavour, though it warmed up my inside, and contributed much to restore
my strength. I kept the pot on boiling, that I might give Pat more
soup.
Thus the day wore on, Pat gradually recovering, though as yet he was
unable to give any account of himself. The expenditure of the lynx
flesh was considerable in making the soup, but I hoped to be able with
Pat's gun to shoot some birds, or some other animal, and did not
begrudge it.
Leaving Pat asleep, I took his gun and went out to see how the horses
were getting on, and to gather more sticks for our fire. I brought in
several bundles, and was returning for some more when, almost at the
spot where I had encountered the wolf on the previous evening, it again
made its appearance, snarling savagely at me. I should have shouted to
frighten it away, but I did not wish to awake Pat, as he could not have
come to my help; so holding the gun ready to fire, I advanced slowly,
with the same success as before. When I stood still, so did the wolf.
When I moved forward, it retreated. I was unwilling to fire lest I
should miss it, and I thought it best to refrain from doing so till it
should come nearer to me. At last, to my great satisfaction, it turned
round and bolted off. So rapidly did it retreat that I had no time to
take a steady aim at its shoulder, though I lifted my gun for the
purpose of doing so.
"I will not let you go another time, my fine fellow," I said to myself.
"If you show your ugly face here again, look out for the consequences."
The wolf could not have been very hungry, or it would, I suspected, have
attacked the horses; though I have since heard that a single wolf will
seldom attempt to kill a horse, a pair of heels proving more formidable
weapons than its fangs.
Having collected enough wood, I returned to the hut. Pat was in the
same semi-conscious state as before, still he appeared to me to be
getting better, and I hoped that by the next day he would be
sufficiently recovered to set off with me towards the fort. I watched
him anxiously for some time, wishing, should he awake, to give him some
more broth. Finding that he slept on, I was compelled by sheer
drowsiness and fatigue to lie down, when I myself was soon fast asleep.
When I awoke, I found him sitting up and scratching his head.
"Arrah! now, what's it all about?" he muttered. "Shure I've been
dhrameing. I thought I was out riding along in the snow."
"I hope you feel better, Pat," I said.
"For the matter of that, I'm mighty ager after some mate, for I do not
know when I last put some between my grinders," he answered.
"If you wait a bit, you shall soon have some broth," I said, seeing that
he was still weak and scarcely himself. "Lie down, and I'll get it
ready for you."
I quickly warmed some broth, as I had promised, and brought it to him.
He eagerly swallowed it, and asked for more. This I had not to give
him, but I promised if he would go to sleep again that I would get some
ready for the morning. I accordingly cut off some more meat, and
putting it into the pot, filled it up with snow. I then put the pot on
the fire, and sat inside the hut watching it while it was boiling.
The occupation kept me awake. As I was looking out into the darkness
beyond the fire, I fancied that I saw a shadowy form gliding by. It
was, I suspected, that of the wolf, which had been attracted by the
scent of the boiling meat.
The creature was afraid of approaching the fire, or I should soon have
had the contents of my pot carried off. I got Pat's gun, and having
withdrawn the charge and carefully reloaded it, I placed it by my side,
to be ready for use.
Now and then the wolf got near enough to show me its glaring eyeballs,
and several times I was greatly tempted to fire, to try to kill it, but
I did not wish to throw a shot away; and, should I miss, the bullet
might find its way towards one of our horses, which were feeding at some
distance beyond.
At last, on my throwing some more sticks on the fire, which made it
blaze up brightly, the wolf scampered off. My cooking kept me awake the
remainder of the night, and I had some strong broth ready for Pat in the
morning. It had a flavour of its own which would have been much better
for some salt and pepper, not to speak of a few vegetables; but as they
were not to be procured, we had to take it as it was. Pat, as before,
pronounced it "mighty foine." Though it evidently did him good, he
showed no inclination to get up and exert himself. To my regret,
indeed, I found that he was still very weak, and had not entirely
recovered his senses.
I had, therefore, to make up my mind to stay in the hut another day. To
leave him in that state was impossible, and I was scarcely in a fit
condition to set out alone, though I should have done so had I not found
him.
The weather was tolerably warm, and the snow was diminishing in depth,
though where it went to it was difficult to say.
Pat, evidently getting better as the day drew on, I took his gun and
went out in the hopes of finding some game to replenish our larder. The
constant attack I made on the lynx to supply our broth-pot had greatly
diminished the flesh on the body. The first night I had kept it inside
the hut; but it becoming not over pleasant, I afterwards fastened it to
a cross-piece between two high poles, out of the reach of wolves.
I was not afraid of meeting my old enemy in the daytime, as by slipping
a bullet into my gun I could quickly have disposed of him. I went
sometimes into the wood, and at others kept along just outside it; but
no animals of any description could I meet with, though I fancied I saw
some deer in the distance. They did not, however, come near enough to
enable me to be quite certain. It was possible that I might fall in
with a buffalo--some solitary bull, perhaps--driven from the herd, but
no traces of one could I see on the snow. At last, as I was becoming
fatigued and the evening was drawing on, I unwillingly returned to the
hut.
Pat was sitting up, almost himself again. I fully expected that the
next day we should be able to start. Having had some supper, I advised
him to lie down; but he insisted on sitting up and watching while I took
some sleep, which I confess I greatly required.
On awaking, I saw that he was at the entrance of our hut, kneeling down
with his gun at his shoulder.
"Hist!" he said. "There's a baste looking in upon us, and I'm just
going to make him wish that he hadn't come this way."
Before I could advise him not to fire he pulled the trigger, and rushing
out I saw my old enemy, the wolf, struggling in the agonies of death on
the ground.
"It will give us some mate, at all events, if not the pleasantest food
in the world," exclaimed Pat; "but don't get near his jaws till you are
sure he's dead intirely."
Pat had taken good aim, and the animal's struggles were soon over. I
went round, and dragged the carcass close to the fire, so that it was
not likely to be carried off by any of its comrades during the night.
It was a huge, savage-looking beast, and I thought that I must be very
hard pressed before I could eat its flesh.
No other adventure occurred during the night. Pat, whom I advised to
lie down again, slept on soundly till the morning, when he appeared to
have almost recovered. On looking out, I found that our fire had been
extinguished. The weather was very much warmer, and a slight shower of
rain had fallen, which had tended gradually to decrease the depth of the
snow.
We could not expect a more comfortable time for travelling, and I
proposed that we should at once set out. Pat got up and tried to walk
about.
"Shure! it's mighty quare I feel," he said, "but if I can but climb on
to the back of my baste, well be able to get along somehow."
On observing Pat's weakness I felt rather doubtful about this, and saw
that it was necessary at all events that he should have a good meal
first, and that we should have enough to eat on our journey. The first
thing to be done was to get the fire lighted. I set to work with some
dried leaves and bark which I had kept inside; but the sticks, being wet
and somewhat green, would not burn up.
"Here, Pat! give me a little powder from your powder-horn," I cried out.
It is customary, I should say, to use it in such cases. Pat crawled
forward, while I stepped aside to look out for some drier sticks. What
was my dismay to see him, instead of handing me the powder, or taking a
little out in his hand, uncorking his horn and pouring out the contents
on the burning leaves! Before I could cry out it exploded, blowing all
before it, and sending Pat himself sprawling, six feet from where he had
stood, and myself nearly as far. I lay stunned and senseless for some
minutes. When I came to my senses, I was seized with the dread that Pat
was killed. The fire, I saw, was completely extinguished, and at a
distance lay Pat. I got up, and to my surprise ascertained that I had
suffered no material injury, beyond having my clothes somewhat singed.
On reaching Pat, I found that the horn, which he had held in his hand
when the powder exploded, was blown to atoms; but, on examining him, I
could not discover that he had received any wound, nor were his face and
hands even blackened. While I was looking at him, he opened his eyes.
"Arrah! now, what's become of the powder?" he exclaimed, lifting up his
hand, which had held the horn, and gazing at it; "shure! it's blown to
smithereens."
"Indeed it is, and it's a mercy that you were not killed," I said.
"What could make you do such a thing?"
"Shure! just from not thinking of what I was about," he answered,
endeavouring to get on his legs.
I helping him, he was able to walk back into the hut. He soon
completely recovered, and I sat by his side feeling anything but
comfortable or happy.
As it had turned out, the most serious result of his thoughtlessness was
the loss of our powder, for not a grain more did we possess. Though we
had a gun and shot, they were useless.
"It's of no use mourning over our loss," I said at length. "I'll try
again to light the fire, and after breakfast we will consider what is
best to be done. There is a greater necessity than ever for pushing
on."
Pat agreed with me in this, and after several efforts I got the fire to
blaze up, boiled some water, and cooked the remainder of our lynx flesh.
Unpalatable as was our food we made a hearty meal, washing it down with
warm water. We would have given much for a pinch of salt, and an ounce
of tea, not to speak of sugar and milk.
"As we cannot use the gun we must be afther making a weapon instead,"
observed Pat. "The best thing we can do is to fasten our hunting-knives
to the end of long poles. They will serve as spears, and enable us with
some chance of success to defend ourselves against either Indians or
bears or wolves. We can at any time, if we want to use our knives, take
them off the poles again."
As Pat's idea was a good one, we immediately carried it out. While we
were shaping the poles, I saw him eyeing the wolf.
"We may get some more tasty mate than that baste will give us, but it's
just possible that we may not, and shure it will be wise in us to take
as much as we can carry," he said.
I agreed with him, and before we bound our knives on to the poles we
skinned and cut up the wolf, hanging the hide on to the cross-piece to
which the skin of the lynx was suspended. Pat then chose what he
considered the best portions of the animal, leaving the remainder of the
carcass on the ground.
It was time to take another meal before we were ready to start, so we
cooked a piece of the wolf's flesh. It was tough and unsavoury, but our
teeth being in good condition we managed to masticate a larger portion
than I should have conceived possible. I then got the two horses, and,
having saddled them, assisted Pat to get on to the back of his.
"Forward!" I cried, and we moved on; but I saw that Pat sat his saddle
as a sick man does, bending down, and occasionally swaying from side to
side. I was afraid that he would fall off.
"Never fear, Masther David," he said, "I'll catch hold of the mane
before it comes to that, and shure I can stick on as well as Dan
O'Rourke when he had got a skinful of the crayther."
We both of us knew more or less the direction we were to take, but
having got out of the route between the forts, the country immediately
around was strange to us. We went on and on, keeping on the lower
ground, and hoping in time to strike the right trail. Our horses making
no objection, we concluded that we could not be far wrong.
We had lost so much time before starting, however, that evening overtook
us before we expected, and we were compelled to camp at the first
suitable spot we reached. It was under shelter of a wood with a stream
running near it, at which we at once watered our horses. We then, as
customary, took off their saddles and bridles and turned them loose to
feed.
The weather being somewhat threatening, I thought it prudent to build a
hut, both for Pat's sake and my own; and while he, having collected some
sticks, prepared a fire, I set to work to cut the necessary stakes. It
was very similar to the one I had before constructed, and as there was
plenty of snow on the ground, I formed the walls of it.
The hut would be thus much warmer than if formed merely of branches,
which, though affording sufficient protection in summer weather, are not
calculated to keep out the cold. The only difference between our
present and former hut was that the one we had last built was somewhat
larger, so as to afford accommodation to both of us.
We had nothing but the wolf's flesh for supper, and though we tried it
roasted and boiled, in neither state could I manage to eat more that a
very small quantity. Pat munched away far more to his satisfaction, if
not greedily. It was, perhaps, in consequence of this that he awoke in
the night complaining of great pain. The only remedy I could think of
was hot water. It somewhat alleviated his sufferings, but in the
morning he was too ill to proceed.
He urged me to go on to the fort, but this I refused to do. I might be
three or four days reaching it, or longer, should any untoward
circumstance occur, and he might be dead before I returned. This event
made me feel very much out of spirits. I was anxious if possible to
procure better food than the wolf's flesh afforded, so taking my spear I
went out to try to kill some animal or other. In vain I searched in
every direction. I was tantalised by the sight of birds. I caught
glimpses of a racoon and a couple of squirrels, but I could not get at
them. Had I possessed a charge of powder I might have killed something.
At last hunger compelled me to return, and I set to work to cook more of
the wolf's flesh. Detestable as I had thought it, I was thankful that
we possessed even that on which to sustain life. I was too tired to go
out again; indeed Pat was so ill that I did not like to leave him.
Having led the two horses to the stream to drink, I returned with our
pot full of water to the hut; then making up the fire, I lay down to
sleep. On awaking at night I heard the sound of falling snow. Our fire
was out, and as it would be a hard matter to relight it, and to keep it
in when alight, I did not make the attempt.
Next morning, when I looked out, the whole country was a foot or more
deep in snow. I turned my eyes in the direction I expected to see the
horses. They were nowhere visible. Still, I hoped that they had only
gone round to the other side of the wood, and would soon return. Pat
was rather better. When I told him that the horses were missing, he
looked much aghast, and acknowledged that having awakened in the night,
he had seen several figures like shadowy forms passing in the distance
before the hut; but fancying he was dreaming, he had again dropped off
to sleep.
"I hope you were dreaming," I observed, "but I shall be more satisfied
when I see the horses again."
Immediately after breakfast, taking my trusty spear, I sallied out in
search of our steeds, with very little doubt that I should soon find
them. Great was my disappointment, therefore, on reaching the place to
which I supposed they had gone, not to see them. I went completely
round the wood and looked up the stream, but not a trace of them could I
discover.
Our condition had been bad before; it was now much worse. I was
convinced that Pat had really seen some Indians, who had carried them
off. We had cause to be thankful that they had not attacked us; perhaps
they were deterred from the belief that we possessed firearms. They
knew also that they would not be pursued, as the snow would have
completely obliterated their trail?
Here we then were, several days' journey distant from the fort, without
firearms, and my companion too ill to walk. I looked at our store of
wolf flesh, and calculated how many days that would last us. It would
soon come to an end, and then what could we do? Our friends might,
indeed, come in search of us, but the snow almost hid our low hut; and,
unless we had a fire burning, they might pass by without discovering us.
I pass over the next three days. Pat got better, but our store of meat
came to an end. We had a few bones, which we pounded, and with some
roots which I dug up in the wood I made a kind of broth. It was more
palatable and nutritious than I could have supposed.
I proposed going back to our former camp, to fetch the skins of the wolf
and lynx, as they would cut into strips, and boiled, give us sufficient
food to sustain life. Pat advised me not to make the attempt. In the
first place he thought that the skins would probably have been carried
off by the Indians, who were sure to have visited our camp; and they
might be in the neighbourhood, and seeing me alone, might take my scalp
as a trophy of their prowess. Notwithstanding the limited amount of
unsavoury food we had eaten, I retained my strength, and Pat regained
his.
At last every particle we possessed was consumed. Notwithstanding the
danger of marching without food, it was better than remaining where we
were; and early one morning, with our spears in our hands, Pat carrying
the saucepan and mug, we started forth. We had no great fear of
Indians, for should those who stole our horses have wished to kill us,
they would have done so at once. They could now track us easily in the
snow; but this they were not likely to do.
We had got to some little distance along the bank of the stream when
Pat, who was rather in advance, stopped, and made a sign to me not to
move, while he pointed ahead. There I saw several magnificent deer,
which had come down to the water to drink. It would have been a sight
to cheer our hearts had we possessed powder; but in spite of our want of
it, I at once resolved at all hazards to try to kill one of the animals.
There were several young ones with them. We were near a bush, behind
which we slipped; then in low voices we arranged our plan of operation.
It was important to keep to leeward of the deer, or they might have
scented us.
We at once crept forward, crouching down and keeping ourselves concealed
by the brushwood. As we got nearer, we perceived that the animals were
moose or elk, the largest of the deer tribe, with magnificent thick
antlers. We well knew the danger of attacking such animals, which
defend themselves both with these antlers and with their fore feet; with
the latter they can strike the most terrific blows, sufficient to kill
any assailant.
Still, hunger made us daring. Besides the wood through which we were
making our way, poplars and several other trees grew in the open ground.
We would, if we could have approached them, have attacked one of the
smaller animals, but they were feeding farther away from our cover, and
their mothers would quickly have led them out of our reach. Close to
the wood, however, stood a magnificent stag, feeding leisurely, as if
unconscious of the approach of a foe.
Our plan was to rush out and attack him; and we hoped mortally to wound
him before he had time to take to flight. The attempt was a desperate
one, but it was worth making.
We crept on noiselessly in Indian fashion, stopping every now and then
to be sure that the elk did not see us till we had got within eight or
ten yards of him.
"Now!" I whispered to Pat, and we both sprang up and dashed forward
with our spears aimed at the elk's breast.
So completely surprised was he that he did not even attempt to fly, but
stood staring at us with his large lustrous eyes, till Pat's spear
entered his chest, and I, who was more on the outside, had wounded him
in the shoulder.
Pat, instead of pressing home his spear, withdrew it with the intention
of making another lunge, when the animal started back, and reared on its
hind legs, as if about to strike Pat, who, seeing his danger, leaped
back under cover, calling to me to follow him. I had no time to do
this; but hoping that the wound which Pat had inflicted would prove
mortal, ran off to a distance.
The elk missed Pat but saw me, and immediately came bounding towards me.
I had barely time to slip behind a thick poplar, when the elk's horns
came crashing against it. The animal, apparently, in its fury had not
seen the tree.
Finding itself stopped, it retreated, when it again caught sight of me,
and made another rush; but, as before, I avoided it by slipping round
the tree.
Now it rushed with its antlers against the trunk; now it reared, pawing
with its feet, one blow from either of which would have laid me low. My
life depended on my quickness of sight and agility. Each time long
strips of bark were torn off the tree, showing how it would have treated
my body.
Again it retired, to charge in the same way as before. I hoped that it
would soon get tired of these performances, but it seemed resolved on my
destruction. To mount the tree was impossible, and I dared not turn
round to ascertain what trees were behind me with branches sufficiently
low to enable me to climb out of the way of the enraged animal.
Pat did not come to my assistance. I hoped indeed that he would not,
for the elk would probably have seen him, and would have pierced him
with its antlers before he would have had a chance of retreating. I
was, however, getting very weary of the fearful game I was playing.
I wanted to ascertain what had become of Pat, but I dared not withdraw
my eye for a moment from the movements of the elk. All my energies, all
my senses were required to escape the dreadful charges it was making.
Now it would rush to one side of the tree, now to the other, while I had
to slip round and round to escape its blows. Not having my usual
strength to begin with, I was becoming very tired.
There seemed to be no likelihood that my antagonist would give in. At
last, I determined at all hazards to carry out the plan I had formed,
and to escape to some tree up which I could climb. I knew that should
my foot slip, and I fall to the ground, the elk would in a moment be
upon me.
I shouted to Pat, telling him what I intended to do, and hoping that he
might appear and attract, if even but for a few moments, the attention
of the elk.
Some time elapsed before I could get to the side from which I intended
to take my flight. I waited for the moment that the deer should make
his charge against the tree, when, as it would be some seconds before he
discovered that he had not caught me, I might have the start of him.
With a crash his antlers struck the trunk, and as I heard the sound I
darted off. I did not dare to look round to see whether he was
following. Almost breathless I reached a tree, but it was not one I
could climb. As I ran round it, a glance I cast over my shoulder showed
me the savage brute tearing across the open ground in the direction I
had taken.
On I went; another and another tree was passed. He was nearly up to me,
when I saw one a short distance ahead with a branch projecting at a
height which I could reach. The elk was close upon my heels when,
grasping hold of the bough by an effort of which I scarcely supposed
myself capable, I drew myself up beyond the reach of his antlers, which
the next instant came crashing against the trunk just below my feet.
I had no wish, however, to let my antagonist go, and having saved my
spear I resolved to make effectual use of it; so, getting into a
position between the branches where I could sit securely, I got my
weapon ready for use.
The elk having lost me retreated for a few paces, when again catching
sight of me he dashed forward, rearing up on his hind feet.
With all the strength I possessed, I darted down my sharp-pointed spear
towards the top of its head. I knew that the skull was thick, but that
if my knife would penetrate it, I should certainly kill the elk. The
blow was more effectual than I had dared to hope for. The moment the
moose was struck, down it sank to the ground, without giving a single
struggle. I could then for the first time look out to ascertain what
had become of Pat, shouting as I did so, and presently I saw him rushing
out of the larger wood towards me.
As he caught sight of the dead elk, he threw up his hat, exclaiming,
"Hurrah! good luck to you, Masther David! Erin go bragh! We'll not be
afther starving at any rate."
On seeing him coming I descended from my perch. We greeted each other
with a hearty shake of the hands, as if we had been long absent. We
lost no time in skinning our game, cutting out the tongue, and as large
a portion of the haunch as we could carry.
Having prepared our loads, I was about to set off, when Pat exclaimed,
"Stay, Masther David; before we are back, the wolves or vultures will
have got hould of our mate. It's more than they desarve, the varmints."
Saying this, he carefully cut away the inside of the animal, and drew
forth a large bladder, which he emptied of its contents, and then blew
into it till it was inflated to the full. He then secured it by a thin
line drawn from the intestines, which he fastened to a branch overhead,
so that it hung vibrating in the breeze over the carcass, glittering
brightly as it slowly moved to and fro.
"That will keep the bastes away till we come back," he observed.
I rather doubted, however, the success of the experiment. We at once
returned to our camp, where we left our pot and Pat's useless gun, and
the few other articles we had brought with us. We soon got a fire
lighted, and our venison cooked, and a very hearty meal we made.
Having secured the meat inside the hut, before which we left the fire
blazing, we returned for a further supply, as we intended to dry enough
to last us for the time we should take to reach the fort.
As we approached the spot we saw numerous birds seated on the branches
of the surrounding trees, and at a short distance a dozen at least of
the smaller prairie-wolves. Both one and the other were evidently
scared by the glittering balloon.
Our shouts prevented the wolves from approaching, and allowed us plenty
of time to obtain a further supply of venison. More we could not have
carried with us even when dried, so we left the remainder of the carcass
to the birds and beasts of prey, who would certainly, after sunset,
pounce upon it.
Our first care on arriving at our camp was to cut the venison which we
did not require for immediate use into thin strips. These we proposed
drying in the sun and smoke, and then packing in as small a space as
possible to carry on our backs.
Thankful for our preservation, we lay down that night to sleep, hoping
that nothing would prevent us from continuing our journey on the
following morning. Eager as we were to proceed, we agreed that it would
be wiser to spend another day in preparing our meat and recruiting our
strength, for though both of us were much recovered, we were not fit for
a long tramp, with the fatigue at the end of the day's journey of
building a hut and collecting wood for our fire.
We were very busy all day smoking the venison and drying it in the sun,
the heat of which was still sufficient for our object. We could hear
the wolves during the night wrangling over the carcass of the deer, but
they did not pay us a visit. As they would have had sufficient food, we
did not fear that they would attack us; should they do so, we were
prepared to receive them with our sharp spears.
The morning of our departure arrived. Breakfasting on the remainder of
our fresh venison, we did up our provisions in two packs, including our
other articles; and with our spear-handles as staffs, we set forward on
our journey in good spirits.
We had met with many dangers, and surmounted them all; and we hoped
that, should we have more to encounter, we might be preserved by the
same merciful Providence which had hitherto watched over us. My chief
anxiety now was about what had happened to Sandy and Pierre; still,
thoroughly well acquainted with the country as they were, and accustomed
to emergencies of all sorts, I hoped that long before this they would
have made their way home. Pat could give no account of them. He had
been separated from them as I was in the snowstorm, and had ridden on,
not knowing where he was going. Had I not found him, he would
undoubtedly have perished.
We trudged on manfully all day, stopping only for a short time about
noon to eat a portion of the cold venison which we had cooked, so that
there was no necessity for lighting a fire till we reached our
camping-ground at night.
Had we possessed more clothing we should have been saved the trouble of
building a hut; but as we had only our horse-cloths to put over our
shoulders, we were afraid of suffering from the cold should we sleep in
the open air.
We marched straight forward without even looking for game, as we had
food enough, and were unwilling to lose any time. Our belief was that
we were directing our course exactly for the fort, but, after marching
on for four days, I began to have some uncomfortable misgivings on the
subject. We might have kept too much to the south and passed it, for
the snow covered up the slight trail which existed, and we had only the
general appearance of the country to go by.
I had never led a party, having trusted to Sandy or others, and
therefore had not sufficiently noted the landmarks. I now bitterly
regretted my carelessness, and resolved in future to note for myself, on
every journey, the most remarkable points, so that I might, when alone,
be able to find my way.
"Shure! the fort's a mighty dale furder off than I thought for,"
observed Pat, as we were forming our camp on the evening of the fifth
day.