"I'll do it if I have the chance," he answered; "but why don't you shoot
the baste?"
I told him that I had lost my powder-horn, and that my rifle was
unloaded.
All this time the buffalo was going round and round the tree, charging
at it, now on one side, now on the other. This it continued doing for
what appeared to me a very long time.
Sometimes it retired to a short distance, but it was to return again
with its rage seemingly increased.
The tree, which was but a large sapling, trembled to the very roots, and
I had to hold on tightly to escape being shaken off.
I entreated Pat to shout, and try to attract the attention of the savage
brute.
At last I saw him descending from his tree, and approaching cautiously,
in an attitude which showed that he was ready at any moment to beat a
rapid retreat. As he got nearer, he began to shout at the top of his
voice, clapping his hands. Then he took out a red handkerchief and
waved it. The buffalo did not at first observe him, but as soon as it
caught sight of the red handkerchief, with a loud bellow it went
charging my companion at headlong speed, with its horns close to the
ground.
Pat lost not a moment in scampering off, but he had only just time to
reach the tree, and to climb up onto the bough from which he had
descended, when the buffalo's horns struck the trunk just below his
feet.
"It will be all right now, Masther David," shouted Pat; "don't be afther
throubling yourself more about the matter."
As he said this I saw that he was uncoiling his lasso, and forming a
noose at the end. He then took his seat on the bough in an attitude
which would enable him to throw it with certainty.
The buffalo, however, was not to be so easily caught. Again and again
it retreated, charging up to the tree, and rushing round it, without
affording Pat an opportunity of letting the noose drop over its head.
At last the animal came close under where Pat was sitting. He dropped
the noose, and giving the lasso a jerk, brought it over the animal's
horns and completely round its neck.
No sooner did the buffalo find itself adorned with this somewhat tight
cravat--an article of dress to which it was not accustomed--than it
began to pull away with all its might; but of course the harder it
hauled the tighter became the noose, till, almost strangled, it rushed
towards the tree with the idea, apparently, that it would thus be able
to liberate itself.
"Now's your time, Masther David," cried Pat; "you can pick up your
powder-horn and soon settle with the baste."
Slipping from the tree, I hurried towards where I had dropped the
powder-horn, guided by the traces of my feet; and recovering it,
immediately reloaded my rifle. Pat shouted to me to make haste, as he
was afraid that the buffalo would break loose. I, of course, was not
likely to delay longer than I could help. Stopping within a dozen paces
of the buffalo, which eyed me as I approached, I lifted my rifle to my
shoulder, and fired.
The buffalo, a moment before bellowing with rage and exhibiting its
mighty strength, at that instant sank down to the ground; and before
Pat, who had slipped from the tree, had time to plunge his hunting-knife
into its throat, the monster was dead.
The remainder of the buffaloes had taken to flight, leaving us masters
of the field and in possession of two fine animals. We had, therefore,
only to cut off the humps and extract the tongues, which are considered
the most delicate morsels, intending, however, to secure a larger
portion as soon as we had satisfied our hunger. Choosing a spot close
to the trees where we were completely sheltered from the wind, we
speedily lighted a fire, and had one of the tongues roasting before it.
The effect of a hearty meal was very satisfactory. Both of us found our
strength restored and our spirits rise, as we now felt sure that we
should have food enough to last us till we could reach the fort, even
should it be farther off than we had supposed.
Having cut off and packed up as much buffalo meat as we could carry, we
proceeded on our journey, intending not to stop till nightfall. Though
we had a good load on our backs we trudged along merrily. The air was
pure, and though the cold was considerable we did not feel it while in
exercise. At night, though we had not much to cover us, we were able to
keep ourselves warm before a blazing fire. Had we enjoyed sufficient
time, we might have skinned the buffaloes and made two robes which would
have formed sufficient bed-covering, even during the hardest frost; but
of course we could not delay for this purpose--besides which, we should
have been unwilling to add them to our loads.
From every height we reached we looked out eagerly, hoping to see the
fort or a portion of the river which flowed by it. Twice we caught
sight of Indian wigwams in the far distance, but we avoided them, not
knowing whether the inhabitants might prove friends or foes. In either
case they would be sure to deprive us of our buffalo meat and perhaps of
our lives.
Could we have been certain that they would prove friendly, it might have
been worthwhile to sacrifice our provisions for the sake of being guided
to the fort, with the road to which they would be well acquainted. We
took care not to encamp till we had got to a good distance from the
wigwams we had last seen, as the smoke of our fire might betray us.
"Shure! before the sun sets this day we shall reach the fort," observed
Pat, as we were preparing to start after our breakfast; but the sun did
not appear in the sky, or rather the clouds obscured it, and we had no
certain means of directing our course.
As I said before, an Indian or an experienced white hunter would have
been quite independent of the sun, being able to tell to a certainty the
points of the compass by the appearance of the bark on the trees, or
moss on rocks, or many other signs of which both Pat and I were
ignorant.
I had only lately returned from school in Canada, and Pat, though a
capital follower, was not born to be a leader. He did not possess the
gift of observation, and like many another Irishman was always making
the most curious mistakes. I should never have been surprised when he
was loading his gun had he put in the shot first and the powder
afterwards; and a story was told of him that, having forgotten to put
any powder in the pan of his lock, each time that his gun missed fire he
added a fresh charge; and when at length he did prime his piece, and
firing, it went off knocking him down, he jumped up exclaiming, "Hurrah!
shure, that's only one charge! There's five more to come presently."
Still Pat was a faithful fellow, and did his best; which must be allowed
was much in his favour, so that he was a favourite with every one--
French voyageurs, English trappers, and half-breeds.
"I do hope we shall reach the fort before to-night," I answered to his
last remark.
"Shure! if we do not, we've got mate enough to last us for a week. If
our shoes don't give out, we will have no raison to complain at all at
all," he exclaimed.
I little thought at the time he spoke that a whole week would pass by,
and that even then we should be as far as ever, for what we could tell,
from the fort. Had the sky been clear we could have proceeded in a
straight line, but obscured as it remained, we, I felt sure, made many a
circuit, though we did not exactly hit on our former camp-fires.
The snow at this period of the year, just before the early winter set
in, rapidly disappeared, so that the marks of our footsteps were
obliterated. Sometimes, as we trudged on, I felt as if I was in a
troubled dream, aiming at a point and never able to reach it.
The end of the week came; our buffalo meat was nearly exhausted, and we
saw neither deer nor any other animals. Though for the past two days we
had husbanded our store, it came to an end at last, and we were as badly
off as we had been before. Our shoes were worn out, our clothes torn,
though we still, with a sufficiency of food, should have had strength to
go on. Even Pat lost his spirits, and he neither sang nor talked as
before. I felt ashamed of myself at having been unable to find my way,
when I thought that I should have no difficulty in doing so.
Night was approaching, and we must encamp without a particle of food to
restore our strength. Frost had set in that day, and the cold before
morning might become very severe. Tired though we were, to prevent
ourselves from perishing we must light a good fire.
At last we reached a wood, and immediately setting to work, collected
all the sticks we could find. We had no time to build a hut, and all we
could do was to put up a few slabs of birch-bark close to the fire,
creep in under them, and go supperless to bed.
I could not sleep for thinking of our dreary prospects. Pat's manner
too during the day had been very unusual, and caused me much anxiety:
the hardships we were enduring were evidently beginning to tell on him.
Strange to say, though I was so much younger, I bore them better than he
did. Pat, I must confess, at times had been too fond of "the crayther,"
which had, I concluded, somewhat weakened his constitution. He
frequently did not appear to know what we were doing or where we were
going, and spoke as if we were out only on a day's shooting excursion.
I had generally kept the gun in my own possession, as I was a better
shot than he was, and had more chance of killing any game we might come
across. Frequently he had declared that he saw buffalo and deer in the
distance, and wanted the gun to go in chase of them; but as I was very
sure that none were in sight, I had kept it till the idea wore off.
Twice I rose to make up the fire, the flames of which I kept watching
till they sank low. It was very important to keep it blazing, lest any
wolves, or a still more terrible grizzly bear, should find us out.
Finding myself at last dropping to sleep, I called Pat, and told him to
keep an eye on the fire.
"Of course," he answered; "don't be throubling yourself, Masther David."
And I saw him sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Trusting that he would
do as he promised, I lay back and quickly dropped off to sleep.
It was bright daylight when I awoke. On looking round I found that Pat
was not where I had last seen him. Supposing that he had awoke early,
and, unwilling to arouse me, had gone to collect some sticks to make up
the fire, I did not feel anxious. When, however, I got up and looked
round on every side, I could nowhere see him. Still fancying that he
could not have gone to any great distance, and would soon return, I
occupied myself in scraping the embers of the fire together.
At last, after waiting for some time, I became still more anxious. He
had, I found, taken the gun with him, but, strange to say, had left the
ammunition behind. This circumstance made me fear that he had lost his
senses, and had gone off, not knowing what he was about.
He might, however, have gone out, I thought, in search of game.
"Well, if he has gone, I trust that he will bring back something for
breakfast," I said to myself, "if he manages to hit with his first
shot."
Taking my spear in my hand, I at last set out, intending to track him.
The snow, as I have before said, had nearly all disappeared; but still
here and there I could trace his footsteps without much difficulty. I
went on for some distance till I arrived at a wood. I entered it, and
was soon utterly unable to discover in what direction he had gone.
Again I felt my inferiority to an Indian under similar circumstances.
I had left our pot and tin cup at the camp, and I feared that should I
push on in the attempt to discover him, I might lose myself altogether,
and not be able to make my way back. I accordingly returned to the
camp, having still some hopes that Pat, making a circuit, might rejoin
me.
I waited, but waited in vain. At last I became ravenously hungry. I
had the skin in which our meat had been packed, and singeing off the
hair, I cut a portion of it into thin strips. After the skin had boiled
for some time, I attempted to eat it, by cutting it up into very small
pieces. I managed to chew them, and to drink the water in which they
had been boiled. The food, such as it was, somewhat allayed the
gnawings of hunger. I still kept a portion for Pat, should he appear
without any game; but the day wore on, and he did not come.
Though I frequently before during our disastrous expedition had been
very miserable, I now felt more wretched than ever, beginning seriously
to fear that I should perish with hunger. While I thought of myself, I
at the same time thought of poor Pat, greatly dreading that some
accident must have befallen him--either that he had met a grizzly bear,
and had been squeezed to death, or been carried off and killed by
Indians.
If such had been his fate, the same might be mine. Still, I determined
to struggle on, so long as I had life to do so. The day was already so
far advanced that I thought it wiser to remain where I was, and not to
start off till next morning, when I intended to push northward, in hopes
of at last getting to the fort.
I passed the night in attending to my fire, and taking short snatches of
sleep. In the morning I boiled some more skin, and having eaten it,
slung the pot over my back and commenced my solitary march. I walked on
till nearly noon, when, utterly exhausted from want of sleep and food, I
sank down under shelter of a copse which I had just reached. How long I
had remained in a state of unconsciousness I could not tell, when I felt
something licking my hand. I opened my eyes with the idea that a wolf
or a grizzly bear was about to seize me.
What was my astonishment to behold our dog Bouncer, a general favourite
at the fort, but especially attached to me.
"Bouncer, old fellow, where have you come from?" I exclaimed.
As soon as he heard me speak, he began leaping round me, and barking for
joy at finding me alive.
"Where are the rest, Bouncer? Are they near at hand?" I asked; but the
only reply Bouncer could make was to wag his tail and bark and attempt
to lick me all over.
The sight of the faithful dog greatly restored my spirits and even my
strength, for I was able to get up and walk more steadily than I had
been doing during the whole morning. I looked about in every direction,
expecting to see some of my friends who had come in search of me; but no
one appeared, nor did Bouncer show any intention of leaving my side.
That he would know the way to the fort I felt very sure, and I now hoped
that I should have no difficulty in reaching it. He looked in pretty
good condition, so I judged that he could not have been very long on the
search. I walked on as I had been going when I sank down, and as he did
not attempt to lead me in any other direction, I concluded that I was
taking the right course. Before long we came to a wood. As I suspected
that I should be led a considerable distance out of the direct line of
march should I attempt to go round the wood, I made my way through it,
and found that it bordered a broad stream, too deep apparently in that
place to ford. I therefore continued down the stream. Before I had
gone far, what was my surprise to see lying on the bank a small canoe,
known among us as a bull boat or parchment canoe. It was formed of
buffalo hide with the hair scraped off, stretched over a framework. It
contained a single paddle, but there was nothing else whatever in it.
The canoe appeared to be in very good condition, and to require nothing
whatever done to it to make it fit for a voyage down the stream.
From its construction, I came to the conclusion that it was not a canoe
belonging to our fort, though at first I supposed that it must have been
left by some of the party who had come out in search of me. Of one
thing I felt sure, that the stream would conduct me into the river
Saskatchewan, and that I should now be able, without further fatigue, to
arrive at the fort.
Hunger made me anxious to get off as soon as possible. As I launched
the canoe, Bouncer stood watching my proceedings with evident
satisfaction, and convinced me that he knew I was right.
Being well acquainted with the management of a canoe, I had no fears
about making the voyage in safety. I stepped in, and Bouncer followed,
sitting in front of me; then taking the paddle, I shoved off, and
commenced my voyage down the stream.
The current ran gently, and I paddled on, expecting to have an easy
voyage. As I was not acquainted with the appearance of the banks, I did
not know how far off the fort was; but I knew that I must have some
distance to go. I could not possibly tell when I might reach my
destination.
Had poor Pat been with me, I should have been very happy, but his
disappearance caused me much anxiety. I knew, of course, however, that
as soon as I got to the fort a party would be sent out to look for him.
I paddled eagerly on, expecting every moment to come to some part of the
river with which I was acquainted.
The stream became more rapid, and the banks were higher than at the spot
at which I embarked. Occasionally there were low cliffs, and here and
there rocks projected some way from the shore, compelling me to keep in
the centre of the stream. Now and then wild-fowl rose up, and in their
flight passed but a short distance from the sight of my longing eyes.
Had I possessed a rifle, I would have stopped and shot one of them to
satisfy my hunger. Now I proceeded a mile or two with scarcely any
perceptible current; now I reached a part of the river with trees of
considerable height growing on both banks, the wind, which was pretty
strong, blowing amid their branches, and causing a loud murmuring sound.
It contributed somewhat to drown another sound which now reached my
ears. The sound I heard was that of rushing water, and I guessed that
some rapids were near, but their exact distance off I could not tell.
Eager to get to the end of my voyage, I paddled on. I fancied that I
should without difficulty, should I find myself near the rapids, paddle
to one bank or the other and land, so that I might examine them before
attempting their descent. If I found them too dangerous, I could carry
my canoe overland and launch it again below them.
Suddenly, however, a loud roar burst on my ears, and I found the canoe
drawn rapidly forward. Bouncer looked up and barked, gazing towards the
shore. I attempted to turn the canoe and paddle in that direction, but
the current was too strong to enable me to succeed. I at once saw that
my only chance of safety was boldly to descend the rapids.
I grasped my paddle tightly. In another moment the bow of my canoe was
on the very edge of the cataract, and the next instant gliding downwards
like an arrow, the water boiling and hissing on either side.
I looked anxiously ahead, to ascertain if there were any rocks in the
way. Should my frail canoe strike on one, she must in a moment be
knocked to pieces; and in so rapid a current I might find it very
difficult to reach the shore, though I knew that Bouncer would give me
all the assistance in his power.
I held my paddle in the water, my only aim being to keep the canoe with
her head straight down the rapid. She floated buoyantly, though it
seemed a wonder that she should not be overwhelmed by the tumultuous
waters raging around her.
Much depended on my retaining my presence of mind, and avoiding any
rocks which might appear. On and on I went; now a dark rock rose on one
side, now on the other, the spray as the water struck them from above
being scattered far round, and often completely deluging me.
Now the canoe seemed to be hurrying on to a rock, when by exerting all
my strength I directed her course so as to avoid it, and the next moment
was shooting by, almost touching as I passed. Thus the canoe rushed
forward in its rapid descent. I had no time to think or to consider
what I should do, if it were to strike. I could not tell how long a
time was spent in shooting the rapid; I only know that at length I found
myself at its foot, floating on the comparatively tranquil water.
Striking now on one side, now on the other, I made the canoe dart
forward and continued my course, thankful that I had escaped the danger,
and earnestly hoping that I should not have to encounter another of a
similar character; still I knew that very possibly there might be more
rapids before the stream emptied itself into the broad Saskatchewan.
Should I find myself much above the fort, I might have others to shoot
in that river; but I was well acquainted with them, and had no fear
about being able to guide my canoe in safety amid the rocks which rose
up here and there across the stream.
I was becoming almost faint with hunger when, to my great satisfaction,
I recognised several spots along the banks I was passing, and I knew
that I was not more than a couple of miles above the mouth of the
stream. As the current was pretty strong, the distance was soon
accomplished, and I found myself in the Saskatchewan, which even thus
far, in the very heart of America, and only ten days' journey or so from
the base of the Rocky Mountains, is a river of considerable width. Had
I not known that there was a hearty welcome and abundance of food at the
end of my journey, I could not have borne the hunger I was enduring, but
hope cheered me on.
At length my eyes were gladdened by the sight of the flag waving above
the fort, and I could see the palisades which extended to the edge of
the bank above the river.
I renewed my efforts, and Bouncer set up a bark of delight to announce
my coming, feeling, I have no doubt, very proud in the belief that he
had brought me back. So he had; and he would, I am sure, had I not
found the canoe, have led me overland, but his instinct had told him
that the most speedy way of reaching the fort would be by water.
Not till I was close to the bank was I discovered, when my brother
Alick, followed closely by several other persons, hurried out of the
gate to welcome me.
"Why, David, you appear as one from the dead," he exclaimed, wringing my
hand. "We had almost given you up as lost. We have sent out party
after party to look for you, and Bouncer alone has the honour of
bringing you back. Martin and Rose and Letty have been as unhappy as I
have felt. They are all eager to know what has happened to you."
"I cannot tell you until I have had something to eat," I answered.
Just then looking up I saw the friends he mentioned, who I had no idea
were at the fort. They all warmly shook hands, but forbore to put any
further questions, for they saw how weak I was; indeed, had not Alick
and Martin assisted me, short as was the distance, I could not have
reached the fort.
We were soon inside, and Rose and Letty hurried to the kitchen, to get
some buffalo steaks and white-fish, which were fortunately cooking for
supper.
A good meal greatly restored me. My first inquiries were for Sandy and
Pierre, whom I had not seen. I was greatly relieved to hear that they
had found their way to the fort two days after the snowstorm, with all
the baggage animals and my horse, and had since gone out on the
expeditions to search for Pat and me.
Sandy would not believe that I was lost, but had again set out only two
days before. From the direction he had taken, I was in great hopes that
he would fall in with poor Pat and bring him back safe. How Bouncer had
come to find me, or to whom the canoe belonged, no one could tell. When
the previous expeditions had set out, Bouncer had been chained up, as he
had a peculiar antipathy for Indians; and it was feared that, should any
be met, he would fly at them, and do mischief, or get killed himself.
He had observed the several parties setting out, and had sagaciously
surmised that they were going in search of me, without being able to
understand why he should not have been allowed to accompany them.
Soon after Sandy had last started from the fort he had managed to make
his escape, and had either followed Sandy's trail or had taken an
independent course by himself. Which he had done it would be impossible
to ascertain, nor did it matter. I, at all events, felt deeply indebted
to him, and we became more attached friends than ever. On the canoe
being examined, Alick and the other people in the fort were decidedly of
the opinion that it was built by Indians, and must have come down from
the upper part of the stream, which rose a considerable way to the
southward; they also believed from its appearance that it had not long
been hauled up on the bank. It had very evidently belonged to a Plain
Cree, as those people are hunters of buffalo, and when living in the
neighbourhood of streams or lakes, construct these parchment canoes for
the purpose of fishing. This they are compelled to do, as there are but
few birch trees of any size in the part of the country they inhabit.
Except in shape, it was very similar to the coracles still in use, as I
have read, on the Wye and other rivers in England.
The canoe was carried into the fort; Alick intending, should the owner
appear at any time, to return it, and to pay him for its use.
I now inquired how Martin and his sister Letty came to be at the fort.
They had, I found, arrived a few days after we left it for Fort Ross.
"My father and mother," said Martin, when Rose and Letty were out of the
room, "wished us to come, as I am sorry to say that the Indians in our
neighbourhood have lately been showing a bad disposition; and though the
converts who live round us are faithful, and would defend us with their
lives, they are but few in number compared with the heathen Indians.
The latter have, during the summer, suffered greatly from smallpox, and
their cunning medicine-men have persuaded them it is owing to the
circumstance that some of their people have deserted their ancient
customs, and that the complaint has been introduced by the pale-faces.
They are not very clear about the matter, but regard my father with an
evil eye, instead of treating him as before with respect, even when they
declined listening to him. He is not alarmed about himself, but he
thought it prudent to send Rose and Letty to a safer place, and directed
me to take charge of them. Though very unwilling to leave him and my
mother, I was, of course, obliged to obey his commands. We came down
the river in a small canoe. It was so severely battered on the voyage
that, though we escaped actual shipwreck, your brother Alick considered
it would be highly imprudent to continue the voyage in it to Fort Ross.
We therefore dispatched a messenger to Mr Meredith, requesting him to
send us up an escort; but we greatly fear, as we have received no
answer, that the man must have perished in the snowstorm which overtook
you."
Alick had the same fears about the messenger Jacques Allon, the only man
who could be spared from the fort.
Jacques wished himself to go, declaring that he could make his way
without difficulty, even though a whole tribe of hostile Indians were on
the watch for him. Whether he had been cut off by Indians or had
perished in the snow remained doubtful.
Though very sorry to lose poor Jacques, we were thankful that our
friends were safe with us, and we promised to take very good care of
them till Mr Meredith should hear of their being at Fort Black, and
should come, as he probably would, to fetch them away. Alick and I
would, at all events, in the meantime enjoy their society.
Martin was a great friend of ours, and the young ladies added a
brightness to the routine of our ordinary life at the fort; not that we
were ever idle or found the time hang heavily on our hands. Each season
had its various occupations. We were either out hunting buffalo, or
deer, or smaller animals, or were fishing in some of the neighbouring
lakes for white-fish, or were preparing them or pemmican for our winter
stores or for travelling; or packing the skins we had obtained, or
trading with the Indians.
The buffaloes which we killed when ice could be obtained, either at the
end of the winter or after the frost had set in, were preserved in a
very easy though somewhat rough manner. We had a deep circular pit,
like a well, dug in the fort. The sides were lined with ice, and a
layer of ice was placed at the bottom. The carcass was then cut up, and
a layer of meat pressed tightly down on the ice; another layer of ice
was then thrown in and another layer of buffalo meat; and thus layer
after layer of ice and meat was placed in the pit till it was full. It
was then covered over with ice and boards and earth, so that we had
always an ample supply of fresh buffalo meat at our command, even during
the hottest time of the year.
Fish we preserved in the same manner. Of course, during the winter
there was no necessity for putting them into the pit. We had only to
let them freeze, and they remained hard frozen till the return of
spring.
We had lately obtained a good supply of both meat and fish, so that we
were well able to entertain our guests.
On speaking to Alick privately, I found that he was not very well
satisfied with the temper of some of the Indians in the neighbourhood
who had hitherto professed to be our friends; while reports had reached
him that the Blackfeet and other tribes of Sioux were threatening to
drive the pale-faces out of the country. He, of course, laughed at the
idea of their making the attempt.
"Though they might attack small parties of travellers," he said, "or
such forts as ours in advanced positions. However, if they do come, we
shall be able to defend ourselves, and teach them that they would have
been wiser to keep to their hunting-grounds. On the chance of their
coming I have made every preparation for defence, and they will not
capture Fort Black with as much ease as they may suppose."