"ARRAH! NOW, MR. INJUN"--COPPER-SNAKE BRINGS VALUABLE INFORMATION--
DANGER AHEAD--ROBIN CONTINUES HIS NARRATIVE--SHEGAW'S OFFER--HIS NEW
MOTHER KEZHA--INDIAN GAMBLING--ROBIN KILLS A BEAR--MUSKGO--SAD PLIGHT OF
ROBIN AND MUSKGO--PESHAUBA SUCCEEDS IN PURCHASING ROBIN WITH
FIRE-WATER--ROBIN SHOOTS AN ELK--HE IS CHASED BY A GRIZZLY, WHICH TURNED
OUT TO BE OLD PESHAUBA--ROBIN ESCAPES FROM THE INDIANS--HE FINDS A
CANOE--HIS DESPAIR ON MISSING THE CANOE--HE IS DISCOVERED BY SANDY--JACK
PIPE--OUR MEETING WITH OPOIHGUN--SANDY STARTS AFTER MR. JACK PIPE--THE
FUGITIVE PARTY--BLACKFEET ON THE WAR-PATH--THE FORT IS BESIEGED--ROBIN'S
COURAGEOUS PROPOSAL--HE STARTS TO WARN SANDY.
Some time after Robin had arrived, one evening an Indian was seen
approaching the fort.
The gate, as was our custom at that time of day, had just been closed,
to prevent the risk of surprise, as there was sufficient cover in the
neighbourhood to conceal a body of enemies, who might have taken it into
their heads to try to possess themselves of our property.
As the stranger, however, came boldly up to the gate, it was supposed by
Pat Casey, who was on watch, that he could have no sinister intentions;
still, Pat, wishing to be on the safe side, shouted out, "Arrah! now,
Mr Injun, whoever you may be, halt now, and tell us your name and
business."
Though the Indian could not have understood a word Pat said, he guessed
the meaning of the hail. I, hearing Pat shout, joined him, when the
stranger replied in his own language, "I am Miskwandib. I received a
kindness from a young pale-face some time back, and come to return it."
On hearing what the stranger said, I recognised him as "Copper-Snake,"
to whom I had given a portion of food when Pat and I had lost ourselves.
I immediately went down with Pat to admit him. He knew me at once, and
entering the gate without hesitation, took my hand.
"I am glad to find that you have got safe back to your friends," he
said. "I knew that you had, for I tracked your footsteps, that I might
be able to guard you from danger. My people never forget a kindness
received, and wishing to show my gratitude, I now come to warn you that
there are those on the war-path who will before long attempt to take
your fort, and possess themselves of the arms and powder and shot, and
the rest of your property in it. They are cunning as the foxes, and it
may be soon or it may be some moons hence before they appear, and
they'll take good care not to give you warning. Miskwandib has spoken
the truth."
"I feel very sure that you have, my friend," I observed; "and I'll get
you to repeat your account to my brother." Copper-Snake willingly
accompanied me, and I introduced him to Alick, who, after he had offered
him some food and a pipe, requested him to repeat all he had said to me.
He gave also further particulars which induced us fully to believe that
he spoke the truth.
Alick invited him to remain during the night, as he looked thin and
fatigued. He gladly accepted the invitation, and was greatly delighted
when Alick presented him with a musket and some ammunition.
"I shall have no more fear of starving," he exclaimed, as he eyed the
weapon. "I can now kill buffalo and deer, and defend myself too against
all my enemies."
Altogether, Alick was satisfied that the Copper-Snake, though his name
was not significant of good qualities, was an honest man, and he
consequently advised him to come with his family and settle near the
fort.
The Indian replied "that he would think about the matter, but that
though some of the pale-faces he had met with were good men, there were
among them many bad ones, and that he had hitherto preferred keeping at
a distance from them."
He showed, however, no suspicion of us, and lay down to sleep in a
corner of the hall, making himself perfectly at home.
The next morning at daybreak, after he had received as much as he could
carry, with his newly-acquired gun in his hand he took his departure.
Alick and I considered that Copper-Snake's warning should be attended
too, and that every necessary precaution should be taken to avoid
surprise. Sandy, however, was of opinion that he had come with a
cock-and-bull story for the sake of gaining credit for the information,
and thus getting something out of us, as he had succeeded in doing.
Some days passed by, and as no enemy appeared, nor did we hear of one
being in the neighbourhood, we began to think that Sandy was right, and
gradually our vigilance decreased, till we no longer took any unusual
precautions against a sudden attack.
I must continue Robin's narrative, though, as I said, I only picked it
up piecemeal, as he was in the humour to talk about past events. He had
not been so long among the Indians without acquiring somewhat of their
manner and reticence. I had, indeed, to pump him to draw out what I
wanted to know. He was more communicative generally to Martin, to whom
he had taken a great liking from the first.
"Did you ever expect to become like an Indian, and to be contented with
your lot?" I asked.
"No," he answered, "I did not. I always remembered that I was an
Englishman, and resolved to make my escape if I could. I had won the
confidence of Netnokwa, and the young men respected me for my skill in
hunting. At length my powder and shot came to an end, and I could no
longer use my gun. I tried to shoot with a bow and arrows, but it was
long before I attained anything like the skill possessed by the Indians,
who are accustomed to practise with a bow from their earliest days. I
sank, consequently, in the estimation of the tribe. My great wish was
to obtain some more ammunition; but the Indians always prevented me from
communicating with any white men, from whom alone I could have got it.
"We continued moving farther and farther west, till we met a tribe of
Indians with whom we had never before come in contact. They were far
better mounted than our people, and looked much more savage. They were
Sioux, and from several articles I saw among them I knew that they must
have been in communication with the fur-traders.
"They appeared to be on friendly terms, however, with Netnokwa's people.
I had soon cause to be sorry for this, as I found that one of their
chiefs, Shegaw by name, was bargaining to purchase me for his wife, who
had lost a son, as Netnokwa had done. He offered some blankets,
tobacco, beads, and knives; but Netnokwa would not accept them.
"`No,' I heard her say; `I have lost one son, but I will not willingly
lose another.'
"Shegaw, however, persevered, and at length appeared at our wigwam
followed by several men carrying a ten-gallon keg of whisky, besides the
blankets and other things he had offered. This was more than Netnokwa
could withstand, especially when old Wamegon came in and declared that
he would kill me if she refused it.
"The exchange was at once made. I was handed over to Shegaw, and the
whole of Wamegon's tribe set to work to drink up the spirits. They were
not long in doing that. When last I saw my Indian mother and tyrannical
old father, they both lay on the ground helplessly tipsy. It was not a
very edifying spectacle, but I was very well aware that my new owners
would, should an opportunity occur, reduce themselves to the same
condition.
"I made all the inquiries I could respecting the country and the rivers
running through it, that I might know in what direction to go should I
effect my escape.
"How my new mother would treat me it was impossible to say, but I
thought from Shegaw's appearance that I should not be much better off
under him than I had been while living with old Wamegon.
"The tribes now separated, my new owners moving westward, while the
others returned towards the east. It was considered a wonderful thing
that they should have met without coming to blows. The farther west
they went, the less hope I had of making my escape, because, even should
I get away from my present masters, I should in all probability fall
into the hands of those who had sold me.
"After travelling several days we reached Shegaw's lodges. Making me
dismount, he led me by the hand to his own dwelling, where he presented
me in due form to his wife, Kezha. She was much younger and
better-looking than my former mother, and, I thought, had a more amiable
expression of countenance. Thus far I had changed for the better.
"I soon found, however, that I was not to eat the bread of idleness; for
I was employed in cutting wood, attending to the fires, and bringing
water to the camp. Though Kezha herself did not beat me, she could not
prevent others from doing so.
"The tribe with whom I was now living were great hunters; as they were
constantly engaged in the sport, food was plentiful among us, and we did
not suffer from the extremes of famine which many others are doomed to
bear, in consequence of their neglecting to cultivate the ground. They
also preserved and laid by a store of provisions for the time when deer
or buffalo might become scarce.
"The abundance in which they lived made them despise other people and
indulge in many vices. Whenever liquor could be procured, they took it
to excess, and I had good reason to be afraid that in some of their
drunken fits they would take it into their heads to kill me. They were
also greatly addicted to gambling. They had a variety of games; one was
that of the moccasin. It is played by a number of persons, divided into
two parties. In one of four moccasins a little stick or small piece of
cloth is concealed. The moccasins are then laid down by the side of
each other in a row, and one of the adverse party touches two of the
moccasins.
"If the one he first touches has the thing hidden in it, the player
loses eight to the opposite party; if it is not in the second, but in
one of the two passed over, he loses two; if it is not in the one he
touches first, and is in the last, he wins eight. The articles staked
are valued by agreement. A beaver-skin or a blanket is valued at ten;
sometimes a horse at one hundred.
"There is another game played with circular counters, one side of them
being plain, while the other is painted black. Generally nine are used,
but never fewer. They are put together on a large wooden bowl, which is
placed upon a blanket, when the two parties playing, numbering perhaps
thirty people, sit down in a circle. The game consists in striking the
edge of the bowl so as to throw all the counters into the air, and on
the manner in which they fall upon the blanket or into the bowl depends
the player's gain or loss. If the player is fortunate in the first
instance, he strikes again and again until he misses, when it is passed
on to the next. So excited do the Indians become that they often
quarrel desperately. They will play on at this game for hours together,
till they have staked everything they possess.
"On one occasion Shegaw, who considered me as one of his goods and
chattels, staked me, and I was lost to a Cree chief.
"My Indian mother, on hearing that I had been staked and lost with other
property, cried very much, and declared that she would not agree to my
being given up. On this Shegaw, who was afraid of offending her, agreed
to challenge the other Indians to a fresh game, and to stake several
packs of peltries, the whole of our remaining property.
"I stood by, watching the game with some anxiety; not that it signified
very much to me who became my master. Our party won, and I was restored
to Kezha. It was only for a short time, however. She was as fond of
the fire-water as are many other Indian women, and when once she began
to drink she would give everything she possessed to obtain more liquor.
For a short time she made more of me than she had hitherto done.
"I managed to regain, too, my credit with the young men of the tribe. I
had obtained a bow and arrows, and by constantly practising, became
tolerably expert. During the winter I was allowed to go out by myself,
for the Indians could always trace me, and they knew well that I could
not travel far should I attempt to make my escape.
"I was one day crossing a small meadow, an open space encircled by
trees, when I unexpectedly fell up to the middle into the snow. I
easily extricated myself and walked on; but remembering that I had heard
the Indians speak of killing bears in their holes, it occurred to me
that it might be a bear's hole into which I had fallen. I accordingly
returned, and looking down into it, I saw the head of a bear lying close
to the bottom of the hole. Had I gone down farther I should have fallen
into his very jaws.
"He did not appear to be inclined to move, so fixing an arrow in my bow,
I shot it with all my force into the animal's head between the eyes.
Immediately I had done so I got another arrow ready, but on looking down
I saw that the bear did not move. I ran to the wood and cut a long
stick, and returning with it thrust it into the bear's eyes. As the
creature still remained perfectly quiet, I was convinced that it was
dead, and stooping down, endeavoured to lift it out of the hole.
"Being unable to do this, I returned home, following the track I had
made in coming out. As I neared the tent I saw a fire burning and a pot
boiling on it.
"`Here, my son, is some beaver meat which we have obtained since you
went out in the morning,' said my mother.
"Having eaten some, for I was very hungry, I whispered to Kezha, `I have
killed a bear.'
"`What do you say, my son?' she asked.
"`I have killed a bear,' I replied.
"`Are you sure that it is dead?'
"`Yes,' I answered, `it is quite dead.'
"On this my so-called mother seized me in her arms, and began hugging
and kissing me.
"The bear was sent for, and as it was the first I had killed, it was
cooked, and the hunters of the whole band invited to feast with us,
according to Indian custom.
"The next day another bear and a moose were killed, and for some time we
had an abundance of food. Old Kezha had another adopted son, Muskgo.
He and I used to go out hunting together. I suspect that he was set to
watch over me, though we were on very friendly terms.
"We frequently hunted two or three days' distance from the camp, but
were very often unsuccessful, when we were almost starved. On one of
our hunting-paths we had formed a hut of cedar boughs, in which we had
kindled fire so often that at length it became very dry. We were lying
down at night, after an unsuccessful day's hunt, when we lighted a fire
to keep ourselves warm, for the weather was intensely cold. We had just
dropped off to sleep when some of the sparks blown by the wind caught
the cedar, which immediately flew up like powder. Happily we scampered
out without suffering much, but we were left till daylight without any
protection.
"At dawn we set off towards the camp, hoping that some of the other
hunters would have been more successful than we were. So intense was
the cold that the trees as we passed were constantly cracking with
frost. We had soon to cross a river which appeared to be frozen over
hard, but when we had got a little distance from the shore the ice gave
way, and I fell in. At the same moment Muskgo broke through in the same
manner.
"I kept upright, and only wetted my feet and legs; but he threw himself
down, and was wetted nearly all over. Our hands being benumbed with the
cold, it was some time before we could get off our snow-shoes, and we
were no sooner out of the water than our moccasins and leggings were
frozen stiff. Our spunk wood got wetted by the water, and when we at
last reached the shore we were unable to light a fire. Our clothes also
were so completely frozen that we could scarcely move.
"Muskgo was in such pain that he at once gave in and declared that he
should die. I held out, for though I had no enjoyment in the existence
I was enduring, I still hoped some day to make my escape. I therefore
kept moving about as well as I was able, and at length reaching the
forest, found some rotten wood which I used as a substitute for spunk,
and was able, greatly to my satisfaction, to raise a fire.
"We immediately set to work to thaw and dry our moccasins, and having
put them on, we had strength to collect more fuel for a larger fire.
Lying close to this, we completely dried our clothes; and though we had
nothing to eat we did not complain, since we had the enjoyment of
warmth.
"Next morning again setting out we proceeded towards the lodges. We
were still some way from them when we met old Kezha bringing us some
food and dry clothes. She said that `knowing we should have the river
to cross, as we did not appear she was convinced that we had fallen
through the ice.' It will thus be seen that the old woman had a kind
heart, though her temper was very uncertain.
"Sometimes we had an abundance of food in the camp; at others for many
days together we were almost starved, and had only nuts or berries to
feed on. I cannot describe one-tenth part of the incidents of my life
at this period.
"We had again accumulated several packages of peltries, which it was
intended to exchange with the fur-traders for blankets and numerous
other articles of which the tribe were in want.
"One day, however, another party of Indians, under a chief called
`Peshauba,' or the `Crooked Lightning,' came and encamped near us. He
had been trading successfully with the white men, and had a large supply
of blankets, beads, knives, and several casks of fire-water.
"He came into our camp bringing with him a bottle full of the
fire-water. He offered some to Kezha. She at first refused, but at
length was induced to take a cupful. I watched her as she swallowed it,
when her eyes began to roll, and, stretching out her hand with the cup,
she begged to have it refilled. This Peshauba willingly did, and cup
after cup was swallowed till not a drop remained. She begged to have
some more; but Peshauba replied that he could not give it without
payment, and that he would only sell a whole cask. She at once offered
him all the beaver-skins and a large quantity of buffalo-robes.
"Still he was not content, and insisted on having me and several other
articles. She cried with vexation, but at last, finding she could not
obtain the fire-water, she exclaimed, `Take them all, but only bring me
the rum.'
"Peshauba got up and, without saying a word, returned to his own camp.
He was not long absent, and came back with a party of his young men, who
carried the cask of rum. On depositing it they lifted up the bales and
other property which they had taken in exchange, and walked off with
them, Peshauba leading me by the hand. I knew that there was no use in
making any resistance, though I felt very indignant at being thus bought
and sold.
"I was sorry, too, at leaving old Kezha, who, although now presenting a
very melancholy spectacle as she lay rolling helplessly on the ground,
had yet been kind to me on many occasions, and I was not likely to be
better treated by any one else.
"It is not the custom of the Indians, however, to trade in slaves;
indeed, I was not looked upon as one exactly, but rather as a new member
of the family. The idea of making slaves of their fellow-creatures is
entirely contrary to the nature of the Indians. They will either kill
their enemies or let them go, or, if they wish it, receive them into
their tribe on equal terms. I had to obey Peshauba as a son obeys his
father. He and his wife treated me with considerable kindness.
"We moved away westward when my former friends turned back towards the
Red River. I was allowed as much freedom as before, and as I had become
a tolerably good hunter, was sent out by myself. On one occasion
Peshauba sent me out to bring in the meat of an elk which he had killed,
accompanied by two girls. Finding the animal large and fat, they
determined on remaining to dry the meat, that they might have the less
weight to carry. I, knowing it would be wiser to obey the order I had
received, took up my load and started for home.
"Observing several elk as I went along, I resolved to try and kill one
of them. Hiding myself in a bush, therefore, I imitated the call of the
female elk. Presently a large buck came bounding so furiously towards
the spot where I was concealed that, seeing he would break through the
bush, I dropped my load and took to flight. No sooner did he observe
me, however, than he turned round and fled in the opposite direction.
"As I should have been laughed at for my fright, I returned, wishing to
kill an elk. I again imitated the cry, and after some time another
animal came towards me, so cautiously that I was able to shoot him dead.
As I could now make my appearance at the camp with some credit, I took
up my load and proceeded homewards, intending to return with others for
the flesh of the elk I had killed.
"I had gone some distance when I saw what I took to be a bear. At first
I believed it to be a common black bear, and prepared to try and shoot
it. When, however, the creature continued to advance, I supposed that
it must be a grizzly, as a common bear would have fled. I therefore
turned, and began to run from the beast; but the more swiftly I ran, the
more closely it followed.
"Though much frightened, I remembered the advice Peshauba had given me--
never to attempt shooting one of these animals unless trees were near
into which I could climb; also, in case of being pursued, never to shoot
until the creature was close to me.
"Three times I turned and prepared to let fly an arrow, but each time
the bear was still too far off, so I again turned and ran on. Thus I
continued till I got close to the lodges, when what was my surprise, on
looking back, to see old Peshauba himself! He had on a bearskin cloak,
the hood of which he had thrown over his head, thus making himself,
aided by the dusk and my fright, resemble a real bear. He laughed
heartily at my alarm, but commended me for having obeyed his
instructions. My conduct, though I had not exhibited any great amount
of bravery, greatly raised me in his estimation. Supposing that I had
become reconciled to my lot, he allowed me even greater liberty than at
first, and many months passed by spent in hunting, and sometimes by the
young warriors in going on the war-path against their enemies. We had
moved a long way to the westward, when, being encamped on the plain, I
went out with several companions on a hunting expedition towards the
north. At the extreme limit of our excursion we found a stream which I
learned ran down into a larger river, and I was told that that river
flowed on for hundreds of miles towards the ocean.
"On hearing this, the thought seized me that I might possibly by its
means make my escape. We had several times been encamped in the
neighbourhood of rivers and lakes, on which I had learned how to manage
a canoe.
"A long time elapsed, however, before I could carry my plan into
execution. Though I several times visited the river on my hunting
excursions, I could not find a canoe; though I might have built one, I
should to a certainty have been overtaken before I could finish it. I
cannot describe all the events which occurred in the meantime. I was
often ill-treated, both by Peshauba and other members of the tribe, and
often, when game was scarce, almost starved.
"At last I managed to get away from the camp with a small supply of meat
which I had secreted, and making a wide circuit, proceeded towards the
river. I hoped that I was not pursued, and that it would be supposed I
had only gone out with the intention of hunting. Reaching the stream, I
continued down it, examining both banks in the hopes of finding a canoe
of some description.
"I cannot express the delight I felt when I discovered a small one
hauled up on the shore. It belonged, I concluded, to some Crees we had
met with. As I could find no traces of the owners, I at once launched
it, and seizing the paddle, shoved off from the bank. The current
carried me swiftly along. I had got to some distance when I heard a
voice calling to me; but I could not have returned against the current,
even had I wished it. I continued my course, therefore, till darkness
came on, when I landed, and, hauling up my canoe, slipped under it.
"The next morning, as soon as there was a gleam of light, I started off
again, stopping only to eat some of the small supply of food I had
brought with me. I had my bow and arrows, and I hoped to replenish the
stock on my way.
"Not wishing to exhaust all the food I possessed before I had obtained
some to supply its place, I one day landed, with the intention of trying
to shoot some birds or animals. Seeing no signs of any one having
visited the spot, I hauled up the canoe on the bank, and went off into
the wood.
"What was my dismay, on returning, to find my canoe gone! I saw tracks
on the ground which puzzled me exceedingly, as I was nearly certain that
they were not those of an Indian, though I could not surmise who had
formed them. I was almost in despair, believing that I should have
perhaps hundreds of miles to travel on foot, and might be unable to kill
sufficient game to support existence; still, plucking up courage, I
resolved to persevere, and was making my way, as far as I could
calculate, to the north-east, when I saw a person approaching the spot
in which I was hiding myself.
"I could see through the bushes, and great was my joy to discover that
he was a white man. On this I immediately showed myself. Though I had
great difficulty in understanding what he said, so long a time had
passed since I had heard English spoken, yet I quickly made out that he
wished to conduct me to a place where I should find my own countrymen.
"As you may have guessed, my new friend was Sandy McTavish."
Such is a brief outline of Robin's narrative. He told us several other
events of his life, and observed that there were many more which he had
not mentioned, and which we only heard at intervals afterwards. He
became very much attached to us all, and he himself was a great
favourite with every one in the fort; indeed Alick and I looked upon
Martin and him as brothers, and few brothers could have regarded each
other with greater affection than we did.
Still Robin was anxious to set out, in the hopes of rejoining his
parents and assuring them of his existence. They might have supposed
that he had been killed, or perhaps, as was the case, that he had merely
been kept in captivity.
His great fear was that his father might have lost his life in
attempting his recovery, and should such have happened, he thought of
all the sorrow his poor mother must have endured for their sakes. Still
some time went by, but no opportunity occurred of sending him on to Fort
Garry, the nearest place from which he would be able to make his way in
safety to the States. As he did not remember the name of the town in
which his mother was living, he would still have great difficulty in
finding her.
"I must beg my way through the country till I can do so, but while I
live I will not abandon the search," he exclaimed.
"You shall not have to do that," observed Alick. "All the means I
possess shall be at your disposal, and I feel sure that others when they
hear your history will gladly subscribe to assist you."
"But I may never be able to repay you," said Robin.
"I shall not expect repayment," answered Alick. "What I have shall be
freely yours, and if you ever have the power of returning the money, and
I happen to want it, I will trust to you to do so."
The spring was advancing; the snow disappeared as the sun got hotter and
hotter, and the ice broke up in the river and went rushing downwards,
huge masses tumbling over each other, grinding together till they became
small pieces and quickly melted away.
The grass grew up, the wild flowers bloomed--no others are to be seen in
that region--the leaves burst forth, and the forests once more assumed
their mantle of green.
We were all actively engaged--some in cultivating a field of Indian
corn, another of potatoes, and a kitchen garden in a sheltered spot near
the fort. Our chief business, however, was hunting; for though some
animals are killed in the winter, many more are shot in the spring and
summer. We have a spring, though vegetation proceeds so rapidly, when
once the winter has taken its departure, that it is a very short one,
and rushes, as it were, rapidly into summer.
The trappers were away with their traps to catch beaver. Nearly all
other animals are of value--bears, badgers, squirrels, foxes, hares,
rabbits, opossums, otters, minks, martens, raccoons, skunks, musk rats,
and weasels--but the beaver is one of the most valuable. We one evening
had returned after a shooting excursion to the fort, when an Indian,
followed by two squaws carrying a couple of packs of skins, was seen
approaching. Alick went out to meet him, and invited him in, with the
intention of purchasing the peltries, supposing that his object in
coming was to sell them.
He declined allowing the squaws to enter the fort, but when invited came
willingly himself. Though he spoke the Cree language, he had more the
appearance of a Sioux.
Sandy, who was within at the time, warned Alick not to trust him. He
set a high price on his peltries, and said that he would only sell them
for arms and ammunition, as he had blankets and cloth enough in his
lodge for all his wants; he required six muskets and a large stock of
powder and shot.
We were not absolutely prohibited from selling muskets to the Indians,
but our instructions were to try to induce them to take blankets, cloth,
tobacco, beads, and cutlery.
"But you are alone, my friend, and can require but one gun for
yourself," said Alick.
On this the Indian got up and made a long speech. I should have said
that he had announced himself as Opoihgun, "a pipe;" on hearing which
Sandy at once dubbed him "Jack Pipe."
"Opoihgun is not alone," he began; "he has many young men who follow
him, who desire guns to supply themselves and their squaws and children
with buffalo meat and venison. They know how to clothe themselves with
the skins of the animals they kill, and despise those people who wear
blankets and cloth garments. What Opoihgun has said he intends to keep
to. If his pale-face friends have no guns or ammunition, they cannot
hope to obtain his peltries. He has spoken, and is like those mountains
in the far west, not to be moved. Lift them up and bring them here, and
he will part with his skins for nothing."
He went on talking for some time in the same strain.
"Well, Mr Pipe, but suppose you take three guns and the remainder of
the price either in blankets or in tobacco, will that not content you?"
asked Alick.
Opoihgun, who was smoking, puffed a cloud from his mouth, and pointing
to the west said, "Bring those mountains here."
We knew by this that he did not intend to change his mind. Had Alick
consented to do what is done too often--produce some bottles of whisky--
he would very probably have obtained the peltries on his own terms. To
do this was entirely contrary to his principles. We had some whisky in
the fort, but it was dealt out in small quantities only to those who
required it.
Though the company instructed their factors not on any account to sell
whisky to the Indians, it somehow or other found its way into the forts,
and by the same unaccountable means the Indians very frequently got
drunk, and parted with the produce of their long days and nights of
hunting, receiving very small value in return.
Mr Meredith and Alick had never fallen into the abominable practice of
making those with whom they were about to trade drunk, but always gave
fair value for the peltries they received; consequently the more soberly
disposed Indians resorted to our fort in preference to others which they
might in many cases have more easily reached.
Mr Pipe, though he first only asked for the guns and ammunition, now
increased his demands, and begged to have some tobacco, and ornaments
for his squaws. Alick promised the latter, and advised him to trust to
his generosity about other things. At length the bargain was concluded,
and the packs being brought in and found to contain the skins the Indian
had stated, the guns, powder, and shot were handed to him. Doing them
up into two packages, he placed them on the backs of the two women, and
ordered them to march, promising soon to overtake them. Alick suggested
that it was imprudent to send them without protection. On this Mr Pipe
laughed, grimly observing "that they knew how to take care of
themselves, and that no one would venture to molest them."
He then returned into the fort, and after smoking another pipe, got up
and went round the place, carefully examining every portion, looking
into the stores and the huts and round the walls. We had at the time no
suspicion of his object, but thought that he was only prompted by
curiosity. At length, as evening was approaching, he bade us farewell,
saying that he should overtake his squaws by the time they had encamped
for the night.
The next morning Martin, Robin, and I had agreed to go out on a shooting
expedition! in order to obtain some wild-fowl, which had assembled in
great numbers on a lagoon, a short distance from the fort, near the
river. We had concealed ourselves in some bushes, hoping that the
wild-fowl would come in the course of their flight sufficiently near to
enable us to shoot them. We had remained in ambush for some time, and
were feeling somewhat disappointed at our want of success, when who
should we see but Opoihgun stealing by out of a wood. He had taken off
most of his clothes, and his black hair was streaming over his back. He
looked about cautiously, as if he expected some one to meet him.
Just at that moment up flew a covey of wild-fowl, when Martin,
forgetting that it might be of importance to ascertain what Mr Pipe was
about, fired at one of the birds, which, however, flew off uninjured.
The Indian looked round with a startled expression of countenance,
supposing apparently that the shot was fired at him, and ran off fleet
as a deer towards the narrow part of the lagoon, across which it was
evident he intended to make his way. We started up from our ambush; but
though he again looked round, and saw us, he only fled the faster.
"I say, David, I believe that fellow came here with no good intentions,"
observed Martin. "I vote we give chase and make him tell us what he was
about."
"You know more about the Indian customs than I do, Robin. What do you
say?" I asked.
"He was here for some bad purpose," answered Robin; "but I would advise
you not to follow him. He has friends in the neighbourhood. We may
depend on that, and they may set upon us if we go far from the fort. As
I was watching his countenance yesterday, it struck me that I had seen
him before, and I am nearly certain that he's a friend of Peshauba's
from whom I made my escape. As I saw him again to-day I felt more
certain than ever, and I suspect that one of his objects was to get me
back, though, as I do not think he recognised me yesterday, perhaps he
fancied that I was not at the fort."
Robin was so positive on the matter that we thought it advisable not to
follow the Indian. We accordingly retreated towards the fort, though
very unwilling to return without some ducks for dinner.
When we told Alick what had occurred, he approved of our conduct.
"There was something not altogether canny about Mr Pipe," observed
Sandy, "and I am very glad no harm happened to you boys."
"I didn't like the man's countenance, and suspected his intentions from
the first," said Alick; "however, I could not refuse to trade with him,
though it's more than probable that he stole the peltries he brought us.
We'll send out and try to find out more about him."
Besides the old Scotchman there were fortunately six hunters at the
fort, who were immediately dispatched, well armed, under Sandy's
command, to follow the trail of Opoihgun, and to ascertain where he had
gone and what he was about.
Alick would not let any of us accompany the party, considering that it
would be useless to expose us to the danger we might have to encounter.
While they were away we caught sight of a small band of men in the
distance coming towards the fort from the south-west. As they got
nearer we saw that there were six persons.
"They are Indians, and seem in a great hurry from the way they come
along," observed Martin, who was with Robin and me on the top of the
tower.
"They do not appear to me to be Indians from the way they run," said
Robin. "I should say that most of them are half-breeds, though there is
one of them who looks like an Indian."
I thought that they were all Indians, though they had no war-plumes, and
I saw no ornaments glittering in the sun.
"Whatever they are, they seem very anxious to reach the fort," said
Martin. "We'll soon know the truth of the matter, for they must be here
before long."
As the strangers approached, we caught sight in the far distance of
another party far more numerous, who appeared to be coming on as fast as
the others were; still the latter were certain to reach the fort some
time before them.
Upon informing Alick, who was in his room, he said at once that the
smaller party were flying from the others, evidently hoping to obtain
refuge within the fort.
"We must give it them, whoever they are, whether Indians or
half-breeds," he added; and immediately calling the few men who remained
in the fort under arms, he and I, with four or five others, went to the
gate to receive the fugitives. They soon got up to us, and we found
that Robin was right--five of them being half-breeds, with one Chippewa
Indian.
They were all panting for breath, having evidently had a long run.
As soon as they could speak, they told us that they had been out hunting
buffalo, and had already collected a large quantity of meat, with which
they intended to load their horses, when they were surprised by a body
of Sioux, far outnumbering them, who had carried off their horses.
Believing that to attempt the recovery of their animals would be
hopeless, they had been compelled to leave their property behind them,
and make their escape from their camp, which they expected would be
attacked the next morning.
It was not till daylight, they supposed, that the Sioux had discovered
their flight. They had already made good a considerable distance
before, from the top of a hill they were crossing, they saw their
enemies in the far distance coming after them. They now discovered,
from the number of those who were following, that if they wished to save
their lives they must increase their speed, and not stop till they had
got safe into the fort.
Alick bade them banish their fears, and promised to protect them.
Though our garrison was greatly reduced by the absence of Sandy and the
men who had accompanied him, we lost no time in making preparations for
the expected attack.
Unless the wily Indians were very numerous, they would scarcely venture,
we concluded, to assault the fort in the daytime, and would probably, on
discovering that those they were chasing had got safe within the walls,
halt at a distance till they could form their plans.
Our first care was to send out Pat with the other men to bring in the
horses and cattle feeding in the neighbourhood, which the Indians to a
certainty would otherwise have taken the liberty of lifting, as would be
said in Scotland.
There was time to do this--at all events to save the greater number.
Those at a distance would have to take care of themselves, and their
sagacity would induce them to scamper off on perceiving the approach of
the Indians.
We had a well to supply us with water, and abundance of provisions, with
arms sufficient for six times the number of our present garrison. These
we had loaded, and placed some in each of the four towers, and others at
different spots near the walls, so that one man might fire several in
succession. A lookout was also stationed at the top of each of the
towers, to give due notice of the approach of the enemy, as we could not
tell on which side they might attack us.
We were well aware of the cunning they would exercise, and that they
would employ every trick and stratagem to take us by surprise. Possibly
they would creep along the bank of the river during the hours of
darkness and try to scale the walls on that side, or one party might
come boldly to the fort to attract our attention, while another might be
stealthily approaching from an opposite direction. We had at all
events, we knew, to keep very wide awake.
The hunters who had been pursued, overcome with fatigue, were not likely
to be of much use in keeping guard, so Alick told them to lie down and
rest till they were wanted for the protection of the fort. We anxiously
looked out for the return of Sandy and his party, and our fear was that
they might be discovered before they could reach us, and be attacked by
the Sioux.
The enemy were now seen drawing nearer and nearer, coming over the hill
in the distance. We could distinguish even the war-plumes of the chiefs
waving in the wind, and the glitter of their arms and ornaments. They
formed a large band; indeed, we knew that no Sioux, except in
considerable numbers, would venture to cross the Cree country--feeling
themselves strong enough to fight their way back, should they be
attacked, as they might expect to be, by their hereditary enemies.
There is no peace between the Sioux and the Crees.
These we knew from their plumes and war-paint to be Blackfeet, the most
savage and warlike of the northern tribes.
They approached till they reached a spot just beyond musket range. They
there began forming a camp, so that we knew they intended regularly to
besiege the fort. None of our little garrison, however, were in the
slightest degree daunted. We had all the requisites for standing a
siege--water, provisions, and an abundance of arms and ammunition. A
few small field-pieces in our towers would have been of use, but it had
not been thought fit to provide the fort with them, and we had our
muskets alone to depend on, with some pikes and swords.
Night now came on, and hid the enemy from view, and a short time
afterwards their camp-fires blazed up, and we could see dark figures
moving about in considerable numbers. Still, Alick suspected that they
might have dispatched a party to come round and try to surprise us on
the opposite side. When Robin heard this he offered to go out and watch
the camp, so that he might track any body of men who might have set out
with this purpose in view.
"I cannot let you do that," answered Alick. "You may know the Indian
ways very well, but were you to be caught they would to a certainty kill
you, and we can spare no one from the fort at present."
"But I will, if you'll allow me, try to find Sandy, and warn him that
the Sioux are in the neighbourhood," said Robin. "I want to prove to
you how grateful I am for all the kindness you have shown me. I might
be the means of saving Sandy from falling into the hands of the enemy."
Alick did not answer immediately.
"Your proposal to warn Sandy is an important one," he said at length;
"still I am very unwilling to accede to it. You would run a very great
risk of being tracked and discovered by the Sioux, and I should never
forgive myself if any harm were to happen to you."
"Let me go then," I said; "I would rather run the risk than expose Robin
to it. As I am older and stronger, and know the country better than he
does, there will be less danger of my being caught."
"I cannot agree that you know the country better than I do," said Robin.
"During the different excursions we have made I noted every leading
object we passed, in the mode I learned to do while I was with the
Indians; and though I do not wish to disparage your knowledge, I suspect
that I could with more certainty find my way on a dark night than you
could."
I could not help acknowledging that Robin was right, for I had often
remarked how perfectly he knew every spot he had but once passed, and
that often he could find his way when the rest of us were in doubts
about the matter.
Alick was so convinced of the importance of warning Sandy that an enemy
was near at hand, that he at last consented to allow Robin to set out on
his proposed hazardous expedition. No one in the fort was so likely to
succeed as he was. Martin did not know the country as well, and Pat
would probably have made some mistake, and been caught by the enemy.
The rest of the men were more accustomed to the river, or to conduct the
sleighs or beasts of burden between the different posts. Robin having
taken a good supper, and examined his gun and ammunition, declared
himself ready to start. The night was dark, and unless any of the Sioux
should have crept up to the fort for the purpose of watching us, he was
not likely to be discovered on leaving it. Alick, Martin, and I
accompanied him to the gate, and each of us warmly wrung his hand.
"May Heaven protect you," said Alick. "Be cautious, my boy, and don't
run any unnecessary risk."
We concealed our lanterns, lest the enemy might perceive the light as
the gate was opened, and suspect that some one was leaving the fort. We
stood for some moments watching our young friend till he disappeared in
the darkness, when the gate was again carefully closed.
I believed that Alick half repented allowing him to go now he had set
out, for he had endeared himself to us all, and we felt how deeply we
should grieve should any harm happen to him.