HURRAH! PAT IS FOUND--SANDY MCTAVISH'S YARN--HIS DISCOVERY OF ROBIN
GREY--TOBOGGANING--THE DOG-TRAIN--OUR SORROW AT THE DEPARTURE OF ROSE
AND LETTY--WE START ON SNOW-SHOES--WOLVES OUT FORAGING--A RACE FOR
LIFE--THE FORT IN SIGHT--SAFE AT LAST--ROBIN'S STORY--HIS CAPTURE BY THE
INDIANS--WAMEGON--HIS POOR FEET--HIS IMPRISONMENT IN THE
LOG--"NETNOKWA," HIS INDIAN MOTHER--THE INDIAN DANCE--WAMEGON PERSECUTES
HIM--ROBIN'S NOVEL METHOD OF KILLING A DEER--WAMEGON PERSEVERES IN HIS
CRUELTY.
I had been two whole days at the fort, and no news had been received of
Sandy and his party, who had gone in search of poor Pat and me.
I was rapidly recovering my strength, and Rose and Letty by their kind
attentions greatly contributed to raise my spirits. They had not been
told of the danger Mr Crisp apprehended, and Rose only supposed that
she was going to Fort Ross for the sake of being a companion to Letty.
They were therefore perfectly happy, and laughed and joked as their
natural tempers inclined them to do.
We were, of course, rather anxious about Sandy and poor Pat. The latter
I scarcely expected to see again, for ill as he was when he went away
from me, I feared that if not at once found he would have been starved
to death.
I have not yet described our fort. It consisted of strong palisades,
surrounding nearly half an acre of ground, with wooden towers at the
four corners, projecting so as to enfilade each of the sides. The whole
was surrounded by a trench, which would make it difficult for an enemy
to approach the walls, if they were well defended with musketry. The
interior was occupied by dwelling-houses and stores, and huts and
wigwams for the accommodation of the hunters and canoe-men who might be
detained during the winter.
Though small, our fort was thus of considerable strength, and we had no
fear, should it be attacked, of being able to defeat any number of
Indians who might come against it.
Evening was approaching when the lookout, who was always stationed at
the top of the highest tower which faced the open country, gave notice
that he saw several persons on horseback approaching.
We hurried up the tower with our spy-glasses, and before long, greatly
to our satisfaction, we distinguished Sandy at the head of the party.
"Hurrah!" I exclaimed, "and there's Pat. I'm sure it must be him, and
Pierre is riding alongside him, and supporting him on his horse."
"I see a boy too," exclaimed Martin. "He looks to me very like an
Indian, and yet I fancy he's got a white face. Who can he be?"
As the party drew nearer, we were satisfied that we were right in our
conjectures. We all hurried out to meet them.
Sandy, as soon as he saw me, jumped off his horse, and nearly shook my
hand off in his delight at finding I was safe.
"I thought it was all right," he exclaimed, "as I'll tell you by-and-by.
We found your last resting-place, and traced you to the canoe; and as I
discovered that Bouncer had made his way to you, I felt sure that you
had gone down the stream, though I was not so sure how you would have
shot the rapids."
"How do you know that I came down in a canoe?" I asked.
"I have not been so long in the country, and accustomed to Indian ways,
not to have seen that you had launched a canoe from the bank; besides
which I had another proof, if any had been wanting, but I'll tell you
all about it presently," he answered.
"And how did you find Pat?" asked Alick.
"And who is that boy in the Indian dress?" inquired Martin.
"If you put one question at a time, young gentlemen, I'll tell you how
it all happened," said Sandy. "But if you have no objection, we'll go
into the fort and have some supper first; for as we have pushed on to
get here before nightfall, we have had no opportunity of satisfying our
hunger since noon."
The horses of the party being taken by the other men, we entered the
fort together, Martin regarding the young stranger with a look of
curiosity. He appeared to be somewhat abashed at finding himself among
so many white people, though it was very evident from his features and
complexion that he was himself a white. Martin, who was always
kind-hearted, seeing the unwillingness of the boy to advance, went
towards him, and taking his hand said, "Come along; we want to hear all
about you."
The boy opened his large blue eyes, but made no answer, though he
understood Martin's signs, and accompanied him willingly. Martin then
led him up to Rose and Letty.
"Perhaps he can understand you, but he makes no reply to anything I say
to him," said Martin.
Rose spoke to him first, and then Letty exclaimed, "Surely you can speak
English?"
The boy shook his head, though he tried to say something, but was unable
to pronounce the words.
"You understand what we say, though," remarked Letty; "I am sure you do
by your looks!"
The boy nodded, and a smile for a moment irradiated his features, though
they quickly again assumed their former startled look.
"He has spoken English, and I am very sure will be able to speak it
again," said Martin. "He has evidently been living a long time among
Indians, and it's my belief he has made his escape from them.--Is that
the case, boy?"
The young stranger considered for a moment, endeavouring to understand
what Martin had said, and then he again nodded.
"I knew it was so," exclaimed Martin. "We shall soon find out all about
him, and in a few days he will be able to speak English as well as any
of us.--Come along, boy; you are hungry, I'm sure, after your long ride,
and we are all going in to supper."
Martin taking possession of the young stranger, I did not interfere, but
followed Pat, who had been led into the house. Though the poor fellow
had apparently lost his senses, he certainly had not lost his appetite,
and as soon as the food was placed before him he began to devour it
eagerly.
"Let him take his meat," observed Sandy. "It'll do the chiel gude. He
hasna had muckle to put intil his inside, though we spared him all we
could from our store."
We asked Sandy no further questions till supper was over, when he gave
us an account of his adventures.
Pushing directly southward, he had come across the trail Pat and I had
made in our wanderings several days before; when, following this up, he
had reached our last camp a short time after I had quitted it. At
first, misled by the trail I had formed when going in search of Pat, he
had continued to follow that; but convinced at last that I had returned,
he was on the point of coming back, when one of the men saw an object,
which he was sure was a human being, lying on the ground under a tree.
They soon discovered it to be Pat, who had fallen to the ground
exhausted, and would very soon have died. By pouring some
spirits-and-water down his throat he revived, and still further
recovered when he had taken some food. Though able to speak, he could
give no account of himself or me.
Sandy, who had come across the trail I had formed when returning to the
camp, now pursued it, and discovered that I had passed through the wood,
towards the river. He had gone about half way, when he caught sight of
a person endeavouring to conceal himself among the bushes. He at first
supposed that an Indian was lying in ambush for some sinister object,
and keeping his gun ready to fire he made his way towards the spot. His
surprise was great when he discovered the young white stranger whom he
had brought with him.
The lad was much alarmed at first, but his confidence returned when he
found that he had fallen into the hands of people of his own colour. He
could speak but a few words of the dialect of the Plain Crees, though
sufficient briefly to explain that he was making his escape from a tribe
who had kept him in slavery, and that his intention was to descend the
river, which he fancied fell into the ocean; and he said that he there
hoped to meet with friends who would be glad to have him back.
Sandy, on hearing this, accompanied him to the bank of the river, where,
not finding his canoe, he expressed the most bitter disappointment.
Sandy at length comforted him with the assurance that he would take him
by a safer route to some white people, who would endeavour to discover
the friends of whom he was in search.
"More than this I was unable to learn," observed Sandy; "but it's vera
clear that the boy was kidnapped by the redskins sometime or other,
though not long enough ago to make him forget his relatives and friends.
At the same time, not having spoken a word of English for three or four
years, or perhaps more, he finds it almost impossible to express what he
wishes to say."
We all agreed that it would be better to let the young stranger become
accustomed to us before we questioned him about his history. If then he
had ever, as Sandy suspected, spoken English, he would probably
recollect it. At present we had great difficulty in communicating with
him, as he was chiefly accustomed to speak the language of the Sioux,
with which we were unacquainted.
Rose and Letty volunteered to take him in hand. "We shall soon find out
all about him, if he has got a tongue in his head," said Rose, laughing;
"he will trust us more readily than he will you boys, and I am very sure
that we shall soon become friends."
No event of importance occurred for some time at the fort. Our hunters
went out, and were successful in killing several buffalo, which gave us
an ample supply of meat for the winter.
The frost had now set in, not to break up for several months, and snow
covered the face of nature. When not engaged in our duties, we boys and
girls amused ourselves by tobogganing, the sloping bank of the river
affording us a capital place for sliding down. We each of us had
manufactured a toboggan, which is a small sleigh composed of a long thin
slip of willow wood turned up in front. Several of ours were large
enough to carry two, and we each of us were eager to obtain the company
of one of the young ladies, I especially that of Letty.
I sat at the extreme after-end of the toboggan to steer it with my feet,
while Letty sat just in front of me. The snow, which lay thickly on the
sloping bank, was soon hardened. Placing the toboggan on the top, we
took our seats, when a very slight shove was sufficient to send it off,
and down we slid at a rapid rate, increasing our speed every instant,
till we had gained sufficient impetus to glide right across the frozen
surface of the river to the opposite bank, which also sloped at a
convenient angle.
Steps were cut upon one side of the slides, by which we ascended to the
summit. Thus we were able to pass backwards and forwards, the rapidity
of the motion and the risk of upsetting giving excitement to the
amusement.
Alick generally took charge of Rose, who was not at all unwilling to
have him as her charioteer. The other boys had smaller toboggans, each
having one to himself.
Up and down the icy hills we went, and across the bright glassy river,
laughing and shouting for hours together; indeed, I confess that we were
never tired of the sport.
Sometimes I must own that we were upset, and rolled down to the bottom;
though we were never much the worse for the catastrophe, for of course
we were all well wrapped up in warm clothing.
The young stranger entered into this amusement with as much zest as any
of us. He quickly recovered his spirits, and, under the tuition of
Letty and Rose, soon found English words in which to express himself.
His English name, he told us, was Robin, though he had been called
Kishkanko by the Indians.
"It is a very ugly name, and we don't intend to call you by it," said
Letty.
"Pray don't; I would rather be called Robin, as I used to be when I was
a little boy by my father, and mother, and sister."
"Then you had a father, and mother, and sister," said Rose.
"Oh yes! and I love them so much, and they love me; and I wanted to go
back to them, and thought I should have died when the cruel Indians
would not let me," answered Robin.
"We want very much to hear how it was that the Indians took you away
from your family," said Rose; "you must tell Letty and me all about it."
Robin passed his hand across his brow, as if trying to collect his
thoughts. It was very evident that the circumstances were of a painful
description. He was about to begin, when it was announced that several
dog-sleighs were approaching the fort from the eastward. There was no
doubt that they were coming from Fort Ross.
We all hurried out to meet them, and in a short time we saw that Mr
Meredith himself was leading the party, which consisted of two clerks
and several hunters. He was on his road, he said, to Mr Crisp's
missionary station, to bring away his daughter Letty, and Rose, if her
parents would allow her to accompany him; and he was very happy to find
that they were already with us. He had heard rumours of the disaffected
state of the Indians in the neighbourhood of the station, and was
unwilling to allow his daughter to remain longer there. He intended,
indeed, to try to persuade Mr and Mrs Crisp to quit the place, at all
events till the return of spring, when, even if they went there again,
they might at any time make their escape down the river, should they be
threatened with danger.
Martin, however, assured Mr Meredith that his parents would not on any
account be induced to quit their station; and that, though they were not
blind to the danger, they were resolved to await whatever events might
occur.
On hearing this, Mr Meredith, who was anxious as soon as possible to
return to Fort Ross, determined not to go farther, but said that he
would spend two days with us to recruit his men and dogs, and then go
back to his own fort.
We were very sorry to part with Rose and Letty, though it was, of
course, but right that they should be under the care of Mr Meredith. I
was afraid that I should also lose Martin; but he had been so happy with
us that he begged hard to be allowed to remain on, and Mr Meredith
consented to let him spend the rest of the winter with us. Alick could
give him some work to do, while at Fort Ross there were already as many
clerks as could find employment.
We were afraid also, that Robin would be taken away; but Alick, having
discovered that his great wish was to be sent to the eastward, where he
affirmed that he had friends living, it was determined to allow him to
remain at Fort Black, as any travellers who might be coming from across
the Rocky Mountains were more likely to visit us than they were Fort
Ross, which was out of the road. It was settled that, should no one
appear, Robin should be sent by water when the navigation was again
opened in spring.
Robin himself would gladly have accompanied Rose and Letty; but when he
understood the object of our keeping him, he seemed perfectly reconciled
to the arrangement.
All matters having been settled, our friends prepared to set out. There
were three sleighs drawn by dogs. Mr Meredith took charge of his
daughter Letty, and Rose was driven by Mr Macmillan, the eldest of the
two clerks, of whom I suspect Alick felt rather jealous.
The third sleigh carried a small bell-tent, intended for the use of the
young ladies, as they would have to encamp several nights on the
journey. The rest of the men were to travel on snow-shoes by the side
of the sleighs, with which they could very easily keep up. They were
all well armed, for though Indians were not likely to be moving about at
that season of the year, it was still possible that, should they have
heard of Mr Meredith's journey, they might make an attempt to cut him
off; at all events, it was wise to be on the safe side.
We were very sorry indeed to part with them, but we kept up our spirits;
and as they issued early one morning from the gate of the fort, we all
sallied forth, cheering them on their way. We little thought at the
time what events were to occur before we should again meet.
Martin and I accompanied them for some distance on our snow-shoes.
"Now, lads, you have gone far enough," said Mr Meredith. "It is not
wise to make too long a journey at the commencement of winter, before
your ankles are well accustomed to the straps of your snow-shoes. You
will be getting the racquettes, and may knock up before you reach the
fort."
We were compelled to obey him, and wish him and our fair young friends
good-bye. We stood watching them till the sleighs appeared like so many
black ants in the far distance, while we could not even distinguish the
men who ran by their sides.
"Come," said Martin, "we must put our best feet foremost, and get back
as soon as we can. There's no chance of losing the trail so long as we
have daylight."
It is extraordinary at what speed a person wearing snow-shoes can run
over the hard snow. A snow-shoe consists of an elongated oblong
framework of wood, with cross-pieces; the interior filled up with a
strong network, on which the foot rests, with a hole for the play of the
heel. This is secured to the feet and ankles by leathern thongs. It
necessitates keeping the feet somewhat wide apart, to prevent the shoes
being entangled with each other.
A person not accustomed to their use is very apt to topple down and find
some difficulty in getting up again. Martin and I, however, had had
plenty of practice during the two previous winters, though we had not
gone very far on our return before we felt our ankles pain us
considerably. We stopped to rest, but could not venture to remain long,
as the cold was already intense; and expecting to be constantly in
exercise, we had not put on our warmest clothing. A short rest,
however, greatly restored us, and we had made good half the distance
back to the fort when Martin, who happened to look round to the
southward, exclaimed that he saw some dark objects in the snow.
"Whether they are wolves or Indians crouching down to try and get on us
unawares is more than I can tell," he observed; "but whichever they are,
we had better push forward, and endeavour to keep ahead of them."
I of course agreed with him, and as we went along we looked to the
primings of our rifles, so that we might be prepared to defend
ourselves.
"For my part, I would rather they should follow us than attack our
friends," I observed. "Perhaps they are some of the tribe Mr Meredith
heard of, and did not come up in time to see him pass; if so, we shall
render him good service by leading them up to the fort."
"You take it for granted that they are Indians," said Martin; "I am not
quite so certain of the fact. I rather believe that they are a small
pack of wolves; and if they were not so far off, we should hear them
howling to their friends in the neighbourhood to join in the chase.
However, we need not be afraid of them; for if they get within shot we
can kill a couple, and the rest are sure to stop and devour their
companions, and allow us to increase our distance." He made these
remarks as we were running on over the snow at a rate which would cost
even Indians or wolves a considerable amount of exertion to overtake us.
Before, however, we had made good another mile, the objects we had seen
were sufficiently near to assure us that they were wolves out on a
foraging expedition. That they would, on seeing us run, pursue us there
could be no doubt, and we occasionally looked back to determine when was
the best time to stop, in order to take a steady aim at the leaders.
"Now we must give it them," at length cried Martin, who had just looked
round.
We suddenly halted, and swinging our right feet round, confronted the
pack; then, both of us taking deliberate aim, we fired.
The two leading wolves fell, and, as we expected, the rest of the hungry
pack immediately set on them, and tore their carcasses to pieces.
Having reloaded, we again continued our course.
We had got some distance when the pain in my ankles again came on. I
asked Martin how he felt. He confessed that he was suffering in the
same manner. "It won't do to stop, however," he observed; "for these
brutes, when they have eaten up their friends, will again give chase,
and we shall not be safe till we are inside the walls of the fort."
We were still several miles from it, and I feared that I should be
utterly unable before long to get over the ground. Martin encouraged
me, and I persevered, though feeling inclined to drop at every step. We
had almost lost sight of the wolves, and I proposed resting for a few
minutes.
"We shall be able to make better play afterwards," I said.
"I think it would be wiser to go on," he answered; "but if you wish it,
we'll sit down and loosen the thongs of our snow-shoes."
We sat down, and I was induced to take mine off altogether and to rub my
ankles, hoping thereby to relieve the pain. We had not been seated many
minutes when the yelping of the wolves again reached our ears. Martin,
fastening the thongs, rose to his feet. "They are coming on; I was
afraid so," he exclaimed. "Quick! David, quick! or they'll overtake
us."
He assisted me in getting on my shoes--an operation which took some
time. I again stood on my feet, but the pain appeared only slightly
lessened.
"No time to lose," cried Martin, looking back. "Now, away we go," and
we ran on as before.
Fast as we went, the brutes came on faster at our heels, and their
horrible howls sounded louder in our ears. I felt as I have sometimes
done in a fearful dream. I was scarcely able to move over the snow, the
pain I was suffering making me fancy that I could not lift my feet;
still we were really going at a good pace.
Once more the wolves got within reach of our rifles. We acted precisely
as we had done before, and each of us killed a wolf.
Again we ran on, reloading our guns ready for another shot. We
resolved, great as was the pain we were suffering, not again, on any
account, to stop. The snarling, yelping sounds emitted by the brutes
showed us that, as before, they were tearing to pieces the wolves we had
shot.
We knew that we could not hope for safety till we were inside the fort,
for, from the experience we had had on other occasions, we were certain
that the animals would follow us up to the very walls. Twice in the
previous winter they had pursued our hunters till up to the fort itself.
Again we had to stop and fire. On this occasion we only killed one
wolf, which, of course, would take the brutes less time than two to
devour.
To our great relief we at length came in sight of the fort, by which
time the wolves were again on our trail. We ran on faster than ever,
though we were both so fatigued that we were afraid, should we again
have to fire, that we might miss altogether. We shouted as we
approached to call the attention of our friends.
Fortunately the lookout on one of the towers saw us, and several of the
men came hurrying out with firearms in their hands.
Seeing the wolves they advanced shouting. The animals were, however, so
directly behind us that not till we were up to them could they venture
to fire. They then let fly a volley which killed several, and the rest,
frightened by the shouts more than by the reports of the guns and the
death of their companions, turned tail and scampered off. Once in
safety, both of us sank down on the snow, and had to be carried into the
fort. Even after our snow-shoes were taken off we suffered intense
pain, and it was not for some days that either of us was able to walk.
The experience we had had made us both resolved to practise with
snow-shoes before we again attempted to make so long an excursion as we
had just performed. The winter wore on. That season occupies, as most
of my readers must be aware, a large portion of the year in that region.
For months together--that is to say, from the middle of October till
late in May--during the whole period, the ground is covered with snow;
the rivers are frozen over; the trees are leafless; every drop of water
exposed to the air congeals. The atmosphere is very clear, the air pure
and exhilarating, the sun shines brightly from the unclouded sky, and
when no wind is blowing existence out of doors is far from unpleasant.
Parties from the fort were constantly out hunting, and buffalo
frequently came up close to the very walls. We have often shot them
from the towers.
Robin was rapidly picking up his recollection of English, and could now
speak quite fluently. He was also, from being well fed and clothed,
gradually improving in appearance and strength. His manners and his
tone of voice were also good.
I had little doubt from the first that he was of gentle birth. He was
not very communicative about his early life, some of his recollections,
indeed, being painful. I picked up his history, however, by bits and
scraps.
He was born in the old country, and had come over when very young with
his father and mother, Captain and Mrs Grey. He spoke of a sister
Ella, somewhat older than himself; and a little brother Oliver, to whom
he appeared to be greatly attached. His parents had removed from either
Boston or New York to one of the western cities, where they lived, I
suspect, with somewhat straitened means.
Mrs Grey must have been an energetic woman, and had endeavoured, from
what I could learn, to support her family by teaching music and other
accomplishments. Captain Grey, who had been an officer in the army, did
not appear to have conformed willingly to his changed circumstances, or
to have sought for any employment. His great delight was shooting and
fishing, and he frequently took out Robin on his excursions, for the
sake, notwithstanding his youth, of his companionship.
Mrs Grey appears to have expostulated with her husband, wishing to keep
Robin at home for the purpose of educating him. Captain Grey on one
occasion, however, insisted on carrying off his boy, promising to bring
him back safe. He had bought a small fowling-piece for him, and wished
to teach him how to use it. It was natural that Robin should have no
objection to go, though he was sorry to leave his mother, and brother,
and sister.
"Now, my boy, that we are away, we'll make a long trip, and I hope to
come back with skins enough to pay all our expenses and have a good many
dollars over," said the captain, as they started from home.
They pushed away westward, crossing several rivers, till they reached
the very outskirts of the settled districts. The captain then bought
horses for Robin and himself, and for their two guides, as also a couple
of baggage animals to carry the skins he expected to obtain. They
reached the region frequented by buffalo, and succeeded in killing
several, as also some deer and other animals.
Robin said he liked the life well enough, though they had to go through
a good deal of hard work. He became a good horseman, and expert in the
use of his fowling-piece, so that his father expressed himself highly
proud of him. Robin could not now remember the names of the places they
visited; indeed, as he had no map of the country, his geographical
knowledge was, as may be supposed, very imperfect. His idea was that
all the rivers he saw ran into the ocean.
After hunting for some time, the captain sent his horses with the
produce of the chase back to a certain place to wait for him, while he
took it into his head to descend a river in a canoe, manned by three
half-breeds, for the sake of shooting wild-fowl.
They had gone some distance down, and were steering north or south,
Robin could not recollect which, when they went on shore in the
afternoon to form a camp, where Captain Grey intended to spend the
night. Having landed all their stores and put up a wigwam, the captain,
observing that there was time to shoot some birds, left Robin, who was
not very well, at the camp with one of the men, while he proceeded some
way farther down the river.
Robin, having a great wish to obtain some raspberries or bilberries,
which were ripe at the time, or some other fruit, while his companion
was engaged in cooking the supper, wandered away from the camp in search
of them. It will be better to give Robin's narrative in his own words.
"I had filled my hat with fruit of various sorts, thinking how pleased
my father would be to have some for supper. The priming had fallen out
of the pan of my gun, which I had taken with me to shoot any birds I
might see, as also to protect myself from bears or wolves, and I was in
the act of refilling it when I heard a rustling behind me, and presently
three Indians sprang out of the bushes, and snatching away my weapon
before I had finished the operation, two of them seized me by the hands.
"I felt dreadfully alarmed, for they were to my eyes ferocious-looking
fellows, dressed in skins and feathers, with their faces painted all
over in different colours. I was about to cry out for help, hoping that
my father might have returned to the camp and would hear me, when the
third Indian, who had possession of my gun, raising his tomahawk,
threatened to cut me down if I made any noise. Without more ado they
dragged me along, but finding that I no longer resisted, did not offer
me any further violence.
"These Indians were, I afterwards found, unacquainted with the use of
firearms. They allowed me to retain my powder-flask and shot-belt,
looking upon my weapon, however, with evident respect. They therefore
did not injure it, though they took good care not to let me again get it
into my possession, which, as may be supposed, I was constantly
attempting to do. One of them carried my hat with the fruit in it for
some distance, when he emptied the contents out on the ground and
replaced it on my head. What their object was in carrying me away I
could not tell, and it was not till long afterwards that I discovered
it. Had I known it at the time I should not have been so much
frightened, for I fully believed that their intention was to kill me.
"It appeared that one of them, who was an old man, had a wife with
several children by a former husband. The youngest of these had
recently died, and she had told her husband that unless he would bring
her back another son to replace the one she had lost, she could not
live, intimating that she should prefer a white son to a red one.
"The old man, whose name was Wamegon--at least that was the first part
of his name, for it was really much longer--had associated with himself
several younger men, who had promised to assist him in carrying out the
strange commands of his wife.
"They were on their way eastward for this purpose when they caught sight
of our canoe descending the river, and observing that I was in her,
resolved to take me prisoner. They had followed the canoe down the bank
till they saw us land, when they formed the resolution of attacking our
camp during the night, killing all who opposed them, and carrying me
off. Fortunately for my father and his companions, I had given the
Indians an opportunity of capturing me without executing the former part
of their intentions.
"They dragged me along in no very gentle way, threatening me with
instant death if I did not keep moving as fast as they wished to go. It
was getting rapidly dark, and I hoped that they would be compelled to
stop, for I was sure that my father would come after me.
"Had my hands been at liberty, I would have dropped all the articles I
had in my pocket to assist him in tracing me. As it was, all I could do
was to jerk off my hat; but one of the Indians immediately picked it up,
and replaced it on my head. Whenever we passed any soft ground I
stamped with my feet to leave a deeper impression; but my captors on
perceiving this took off my shoes, perhaps supposing that I could move
faster without them, and hurried on.
"Frightened as I was, I did not altogether lose heart, and resolved to
make every effort to escape. We must have gone several miles when two
of the Indians, without taking any supper, lay down, placing me between
them, with a blanket thrown over all three of us, while the other walked
about on the watch, to give timely notice should we be pursued.
"I was so tired that I soon fell asleep, and did not awaken till dawn
next morning, when the Indians, holding me tight as before, proceeded on
their journey. They stopped at last and gave me a little dried venison,
mixed with bear's fat, but I could scarcely eat it.
"Thus for four days we hurried on due west. Every night I hoped that I
might have an opportunity of escaping, but was night after night
completely overpowered by sleep. My bare feet were so wounded and
swollen that at length I could not walk. Old Wamegon on perceiving this
examined my feet, and took out a number of thorns and splinters. He
then gave me a pair of moccasins, which afforded me some relief.
"I now thought that I might perhaps escape. One night when my
companions were asleep I got up, and, snatching my gun, ran off with
noiseless steps in the direction from which we had come. I stopped to
prime my piece, intending to fight for my life, as I heard them all
scampering after me; but before I could pour the powder into the pan I
was overtaken and brought back. They did not in consequence, however,
offer me any violence, though I expected at least to be well beaten.
"The next day we reached a broad river which was too deep to wade
across. The old man took me on his shoulders and carried me over, the
water being high above his waist. As I knew that I should be unable to
recross it by myself, I almost gave up all hope of immediately escaping.
"It was not till now that I burst into tears; for, thinking that I
should never again see my father and mother or Ella, or my dear brother
Oliver, I felt very sad at heart.
"We still continued our journey westward. One afternoon the Indians
stopped at an earlier hour than usual in a wood. I saw them looking
about, when presently they found a large hollow log open at one end.
Into this they put their blankets and bottle and other articles. They
then made me crawl in, and closed up the end with logs so firmly that I
could not possibly break out. A few minutes only had passed after I had
been thus unpleasantly imprisoned, when from the perfect silence which
reigned around I was convinced that they had all gone away. Had it not
been that they had deposited their valuables with me in the log, I
should have supposed that they intended leaving me to die of starvation.
Though I first entertained this idea, I soon banished it, and after a
time fell asleep.
"When I awoke I was in perfect darkness, and no sounds reached my ears.
At last I heard the tramp of horses' hoofs. Immediately the idea
occurred to me that my father had set out on horseback and had traced me
thus far. I shouted out at the top of my voice, fearing that he might
pass the log, ignorant that I was shut up within it.
"Presently the pieces of wood which closed the entrance were removed,
and bitter was my disappointment to hear my captors' voices. Dawn was
already breaking when they dragged me out.
"I found that they had brought a horse a-piece, with another for me to
ride on. Old Wamegon making signs to me to mount, which I did, we set
off at a rapid rate in the same direction as before.
"We went on for several days, till we reached an Indian village
consisting of buffalo-skin wigwams. Out of one of these an oldish woman
appeared, who, after a short consultation with Wamegon, bade me get off
my horse, and then, taking me in her arms, covered me with kisses, which
I would very thankfully have avoided. She was, I found, Netnokwa, my
new mother.
"I felt--and looked, I dare say--very melancholy, and though she
intended to be kind, nothing she said or did raised my spirits. She
then took me to her hut and gave me some food, of which I stood greatly
in need. I slept in the hut during the night. Next morning after
breakfast she led me forth to a spot at some distance from the village.
Here all her own people and several strangers from other tribes had
assembled.
"It was, I found, the grave of her son, which was enclosed with stakes,
and on each side of it there was a smooth open space. Here all the
people took their seats, the family and friends of Netnokwa on one side
and the strangers on the other.
"The friends had come provided with presents--pots of sugar, sacks of
corn, beads, tobacco, and bottles of fire-water.
"Some speeches having been made, Netnokwa's friends began to dance round
the grave, when one of them came up, and taking my hand insisted that I
should join them.
"The dance was very like the usual scalp-dance. From time to time one
of them came up and presented me with some of the articles they had
brought; but as I neared the party on the opposite side they were all
snatched from me, and I was left in the end without anything. Thus they
continued to dance till near nightfall, when, almost dead with fatigue,
I returned with my new mother to the village.
"After this we moved further west, the tents and other property of the
tribe being carried partly on horseback and partly by the women, while
the men rode on ahead without troubling themselves about the fatigue
their squaws were suffering. I was compelled to walk by the side of
Netnokwa. She was generally very kind, as were her daughters; but the
men treated me with great harshness, often beating me because I did not
understand what they wanted me to do. I had all sorts of tasks--cutting
wood and bringing water to the camp.
"Old Wamegon one day put a bridle into my hand, and pointing in a
certain direction motioned me to go. I guessed that he desired me to
bring him a horse, so I caught the first I could find, and to my
satisfaction discovered that I had done what he intended.
"I remembered the words he had used, as I tried to do whenever I was
spoken to, and thus by degrees picked up the language of the people.
"Sometimes I accompanied the men out hunting, and had to return to the
camp with as heavy a load of meat as I could carry. Though I was almost
starved, I dared not touch a morsel.
"My Indian mother, who showed some compassion for me, would lay by a
little food, and give it when the old man was not in the way. Another
day I felt a blow on the head from behind, and immediately fell
senseless to the ground. It was not till many hours afterwards that I
returned to consciousness, when I saw Netnokwa bathing my head with cold
water.
"The old man coming in exclaimed, `What! is he there? I thought that I
had killed him. He'll not come to life again the next time!'
"This remark made me in future carefully avoid the old tyrant.
"On reaching a place where deer abounded, the Indians built up a long
screen of bushes, behind which they concealed themselves, and when any
deer came near they shot the animals with their arrows. This was,
however, an uncertain mode of obtaining venison.
"Some of their more active hunters would go out into the plain, and
creep up to leeward of any deer they might see, till they could get near
enough to shoot them. Sometimes when the grass was short they were
unable to conceal themselves. On such occasions they would lie down
flat on their backs, lifting their legs up in the air so as to resemble
the branches of a tree.
"The deer, who had much curiosity in their nature, would then frequently
approach, now stopping, now drawing nearer, till the hunter would
suddenly lift his bow, drawing his arrow to let it fly at the nearest
animal, which would in most instances suffer the penalty of its
inquisitiveness. Still they often missed.
"At one time, when the camp was in great want of venison, I offered to
go out and shoot some deer. The young men laughed at me; but I
persuaded the old man to let me have my gun. At first he refused; but
induced by Netnokwa, he at last consented, threatening me with severe
punishment if I did not bring back some meat. It was the first time
that I had experienced anything like pleasure after being captured by
the Indians. When I once more got my weapon into my hand, I resolved to
make good use of it, and hoped that the time would come when it would
assist me in making my escape.
"My Indian mother charged me to be very careful when she saw me setting
out, telling me that she was sure that old Wamegon would carry out his
threats should I fail to kill a deer.
"Withdrawing the charge, I carefully reloaded my gun, and started off.
I had been some hours in the prairie when I caught sight of a herd of
branch-horned antelopes, which I knew were likely to be attracted by the
device I intended to practise.
"Creeping on as I had seen the Indians do as far as I could venture, I
lay down on my back, and then slowly lifted my legs in a perpendicular
position, stretching them out so that I could watch the deer between
them, while I held my gun ready for instant use."
Robin made us all laugh by going down on his back as he spoke, and
putting himself in the curious attitude he described. He remained in it
while he continued his description:--
"The antelopes drew nearer and nearer. Every moment I was afraid that
they would grow suspicious and bound away, for they were far more
difficult to kill, on account of their speed, than other descriptions of
deer or the buffalo. They were evidently attracted, however, by the
unusual object they saw on the ground, and advanced towards me.
"They were soon within shot, and selecting a fine-looking buck which led
the way, I fired, and the animal rolled over. The instant I had pulled
the trigger I jumped up and began reloading my piece, being thus able to
send another shot after the herd, which at the report immediately took
to flight. Fortunately for me the shot took effect on another antelope,
and the animal dropped after going a few paces.
"I rushed forward, and with my hunting--knife quickly dispatched both of
them. I then took out their tongues, and having partially flayed them,
cut off a haunch from each, and loaded with meat I returned to the camp
in triumph.
"The Indians on seeing it could not doubt of my success, and a large
party instantly set out to bring in the remainder. After this I was
treated with much respect by the young men; but old Wamegon seemed still
to have a spite against me, and one morning he even went so far as to
drag me out by the hair of the head, and, beating me cruelly, threw me
into some bushes, shouting as he went away that he had finished me at
last. I had not, however, lost my senses, and returning to the tent
told my Indian mother how I had been treated. I cannot, indeed,
describe half the cruelties which that terrible man inflicted on me.
"Ofttimes, after the snow had fallen, I was compelled to follow the
hunters, and to drag home to the lodge a whole deer, though they might
have employed their dogs for the purpose, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that I could move along. I had some relief when old Wamegon
was away. He was only preparing, however, to cause me greater grief
than before.
"When he came back he exhibited a hat which I recognised as that worn by
my father.
"`We have killed him,' he said, with a horrible laugh. `You will have
no one now to whom to go should you run away.'
"I fully believed that my father was dead, and shed bitter tears at his
loss. I discovered, however, that what the old man said was false. My
father had, as I suspected, pursued me; but while riding on ahead of his
party, he had been surprised in the wood by Wamegon and the warriors who
had accompanied him. They had secured my father to his horse, and
brought him to their camp. Here they bound him to a tree, intending to
kill him the next morning.
"Though his hands and arms were tied behind him, and there were cords
round his breast and neck, he managed to bite off some of the latter,
when he was able to get at a penknife which was in his pocket. With
this he cut himself loose, and finding his horse, which was feeding near
at hand, he mounted, and though pursued by the Indians, rode off.
"They saw him no more, and he, probably thinking that I was killed,
abandoned the pursuit. This, however, as I said, I did not learn till
long afterwards. Two years passed away, and I still remained in
captivity, though never abandoning my intention to try and escape,
however little hope I had of succeeding."