EXTREME VIGILANCE IN THE FORT--FIRE!--THE CHARGE OF THE BLACKFEET--THEIR
TERRIFIC WAR-WHOOP--THE BLACKFEET RETIRE--THE SECOND ATTACK--"DOWN WITH
THE SPALPEENS"--A FRIENDLY WAR-WHOOP HEARD JUST AS AFFAIRS HAVE BECOME
DESPERATE--THE BLACKFEET RETREAT--OUR INDIAN ALLIES ENJOY A
SCALP-DANCE--HAVING EATEN ALL OUR PROVISIONS, THEY INVITE US TO
ACCOMPANY THEM ON A HUNTING EXPEDITION--ROBIN'S BADGER--THE BUFFALO
HUNT--THE HERD OF MOOSE--WATCHFULNESS OF THE MOOSE--THE "SUNJEGWUN"--THE
CREE CHIEF'S WARNING--WE START FOR THE FORT.
There was to be no sleep for us that night. Alick and I were
continually going our rounds, to see that all the men were on the alert.
As soon as Robin had set out I went to the tower nearest to the gate,
and watched anxiously for any sign which would show that he had been
discovered by the Sioux. I stayed as long as I could venture to do, but
all remained perfectly quiet in the direction I supposed he had taken.
So far this was satisfactory; I knew how well acquainted he was with the
ways of the Indians, and that he was not likely to be surprised. His
ear would be quick to detect the sound of their approach; his keen eye
would be able to pierce far through the gloom of night. Should any
parties, therefore, be moving about, I trusted that he would manage to
avoid them.
Midnight came at last, and so tranquil did all remain around that, had
we not seen the Indian camp-fires blazing up in the distance, we should
not have supposed that the enemy was near us.
Our guests were still asleep with their arms by their sides, ready for
instant use. For one thing I was glad that Rose and Letty were safe at
Fort Ross, though I had no doubt that they would have behaved as
courageously as any girls under the circumstances could have done, and
if they had not fired the muskets, would have helped to load them, and
would have tended any who were wounded.
We showed no lights from the fort, which might have let the Indians know
that we were on the watch. We spoke also in low voices, that, should
any of them be skulking round the fort, they might not hear us.
It was about two hours past midnight; though I confess that I was
beginning to get somewhat tired, neither Alick nor I had relaxed in our
vigilance. Martin was also doing his part in watching from the tower at
the south-west angle.
It was agreed that even should we see the Indians approaching we should
give no sign that we were awake, so that our fire, when once we opened
it, might have greater effect. If one side only was attacked, the whole
garrison was to go over to defend it, leaving only a single man at the
other angles to watch lest another party might assault it on that side.
I had just gone into the tower where Martin was keeping watch, when,
turning round as he heard me enter, he whispered, "They are coming!" and
he drew me to a loophole. I looked through, and could distinguish a
mass of dark forms just issuing from the gloom, crouching low down, and
trailing their arms so as to escape observation. Having satisfied
myself that they were really our enemies coming on to attack the fort, I
hurried down to tell Alick, and to summon the men for the defence of the
side on which I supposed the assault would be made.
"Remember, lads," said Alick, "don't fire a shot till I tell you, and
the moment you have fired get another musket ready for a second
discharge."
The men sprang to their posts at the loopholes, some going to the upper
part of the tower, and some to the lower story. We were all at our
posts, when suddenly a most terrific war-whoop burst upon our ears. I
never heard so awful a noise, though I had fancied I knew what it was
like. So fearful is the sound of the Indian war-whoop that even the
most savage beasts have often been frightened out of their wits.
Buffaloes have, it is said, been known to fall down on their knees,
unable either to run or make any resistance; and the bear has been so
terror-stricken as to quit his hold, and fall from the tree in utter
amazement and helplessness.
Again that fearful war-whoop arose, piercing our very brains; though
neither Martin nor I had ever heard it before it did not intimidate us,
nor did it the rest of the garrison.
We waited, as ordered, till we heard Alick shout "Fire!" when each man
discharged his musket, and immediately, as directed, grasped another.
The Indians, supposing that some time would elapse before we had
reloaded; sprang forward; but ere they could reach the walls another
volley laid many of them low, and we were prepared to pour in a third
upon them before they had again moved forward.
The shrieks and cries of the wounded rang through the air, for they were
so completely taken by surprise that for the time they forgot their
usual stoicism, and gave way to the impulse of human nature to cry out
with pain.
"Reload!" cried Alick, who had watched all their movements. "Fire the
moment one of them advances." Instead of approaching nearer, however,
the whole band drew back, when several muskets were discharged from
among them--the bullets being accompanied by a cloud of arrows; but
striking the palisades or flying over our heads, they did no harm.
"Those are the very arms we sold to the Indian the other day, I
suspect," observed Martin. "Sandy at the time said he was sure Mr Pipe
had some sinister object in view. He has managed to hand them over to
these rascals."
As soon as the Indians began to fire, Alick ordered us to fire in
return, he himself setting the example. As we had managed to reload all
the pieces we had already fired, and had several others still unused,
our bullets produced a fearful effect among the Indians, who retreated
farther and farther from the fort, till darkness hid them from view.
We sent another volley after them, when Alick ordered us to cease
firing, hoping that the enemy would not again venture to approach.
Immediately silence reigned throughout the fort. Not a shout was
raised, not a word above a whisper uttered, except when Alick in a stern
voice exclaimed, "Fire!"
The Indians had discovered that they could have no hope of taking us by
surprise; but, at the same time, we knew that they might again venture
to attack the fort, and that we must keep as much on the alert as
before. We felt confident that as long as they should assault the fort
in the same manner as at first we could drive them back, but should they
change their tactics the case might be different.
If the chiefs could restore the courage of their followers, they might
completely surround the fort; and should they venture to climb over the
palisades on all sides at once, we might have great difficulty in
driving them back.
Suspecting that they might make an attempt to get in in the way I have
last mentioned, Alick sent men to each of the other angles to be ready
should the Indians appear.
The remainder of the night went by. It was one of the most anxious
times I ever passed in my life. When morning dawned the Indians could
be seen in the far distance in as great numbers as before, but none of
their bands were visible near the fort. We had little fear of their
renewing the attack during the daytime, and Alick gave orders to all the
garrison, except a few men at a time required to keep watch, to lie down
and get some sleep. He directed me to do the same, promising to summon
me when he required to be relieved.
After I had rested about three hours he called me up, and I was very
glad to get some breakfast before going on watch. I spent all the
morning in one of the towers, keeping a constant lookout on the enemy,
who seemed in no way inclined to move, while I frequently turned an
anxious eye in other directions, hoping to see Robin with Sandy and his
companions returning to the fort.
In vain, however, I looked. No human being could I distinguish, either
on the more open prairie or among the trees in the distance. The day
drew on; perhaps, if our friends had discovered the vicinity of the
Indians, they might wait under cover till dark, but if they had not seen
them they would make at once for the fort. Still they did not come, and
darkness closed in upon us. We had another night before us of anxiety
and watchfulness. The same arrangements were made as on the previous
night, and Alick and I, assisted by Martin, were continually making the
round of the fort. At any moment we might have the whole horde of
savages upon us; yet, in the meantime, we could do nothing to defend
ourselves, except to keep our muskets loaded and ready for action. Even
though we could tell the direction in which the Indians had retreated,
there was no use in firing into the empty air.
The silence we maintained would, however, we knew, have greater effect
on our enemies than the loudest shouts we could have raised.
"I wish they would come on," exclaimed Martin; "the fellows, after all,
are but arrant cowards. They make noise enough when they fancy that
they are going to have things all their own way. I suspect they are far
enough off by this time."
"We must not depend too much upon that," I observed. "If they think
that they can surprise us they will try again. Perhaps they fancy that
we suppose we have driven them away, and will turn in and go to sleep,
and they are waiting till our eyes are fast closed."
"I wonder what o'clock it is," said Martin.
"Not many minutes to dawn," I answered. "We shall ere long see the
light breaking in the eastern sky."
Scarcely had I uttered the words when Martin, who had gone back to his
loophole, whispered, "There they are again, but coming on very
differently to the first time."
I looked out, and could see a dark line extending round the whole front
and side of the fort. I hurried down to Alick, warning the men in a low
voice to be on the alert. We went over to the opposite side. From this
also we saw the same dark line slowly approaching nearer and nearer.
It was very evident that the Indians had surrounded the fort, and
intended to attack us simultaneously on every side. Alick immediately
distributed the men in equal parties round the stockade, and directed
them as before to await his order to fire. The war-whoop the enemy had
before uttered was terrific enough. Suddenly the air was rent by the
loudest and most fearful shrieks rising from every side of us, and the
next instant showers of arrows, and a few bullets, came whistling above
our heads, and directly afterwards the Indians appeared emerging from
the gloom.
Alick waited till they were near enough for every bullet to take effect.
Most of our men were tolerable shots, but the Indians, instead of
rushing straight forward, kept leaping from side to side, and thus many
escaped. Though we had our second muskets in readiness, urged on by
their former failure, they sprang forward at so rapid a rate that before
we could fire a large number had reached the walls, against which they
placed long pieces of light timber, with notches in them to serve as
ladders. The most active of our people were engaged in throwing these
down as fast as they were placed against the palisades, while the rest
by Alick's orders kept firing rapidly away, taking up musket after
musket.
Active as we were, several of the enemy climbed to the top of the
palisades, but were hurled backwards, or, being shot as they appeared,
fell down into the fort. In spite of the fate which had overtaken their
comrades, others made most daring attempts to get in. Should two or
three succeed, they, with their tomahawks, might keep a space clear for
a sufficient time to enable others to follow them, and the fort might be
taken. Now they made a desperate assault on one side, now on another,
but were each time repulsed. We had the advantage of possessing a
platform on which we could run rapidly from place to place as we were
required, while the enemy had the ditch to pass and the high palisade to
climb before they could reach the top. This enabled us to defend
ourselves in a way we could not otherwise have done; still the Indians
vastly outnumbered us, and seemed determined not to abandon their
enterprise. Several of our men had been wounded, but not severely,
while numbers of the enemy had fallen.
Pat Casey was among the most active of the garrison--now firing his
musket, now pronging at an Indian who had climbed to the top of the
palisade, now using a broadsword which he had secured to his side, all
the time shouting out, "Erin go bragh! Down with the spalpeens. Arrah!
now you're coming in, are you? Just take that thin, and find out that
you've made a mistake."
The last sentence he uttered as he ran an Indian through the shoulder
and hurled him back into the ditch.
Each man of our party knew that he was fighting for his life. No mercy
could be expected should the fort be taken; still, in spite of the
courage and activity displayed by our people, there seemed too much
probability that the enemy would succeed. It was not thought likely
that they would attack the towers, but Alick considered it necessary to
keep a man in each, who was ordered to fire away, while he watched to
give notice should the enemy attempt to attack that part of the fort.
The darkness prevented us from observing the movements of the Indians,
but I fancied as I was looking out that I saw a considerable number
retreating, and I could hear no voices coming from that side; still the
rest continued the attack, though perhaps with less energy than before.
Some time elapsed without any effort being made to climb up the
palisades. Flights of arrows were continually shot at us, and our ears
were assailed with the most fearful shouts and shrieks. Presently, as I
was looking out on the west side, I saw a dense mass appear out of the
gloom, and to my dismay I discovered that it was composed of men
carrying large fagots.
I told Alick what I had seen, and he immediately summoned six of our
best men to that side of the fort, for its defence.
It was clearly the intention of our enemies to throw the fagots down
against the walls, so as to fill up the ditch and form a path up which
they could climb, or to set them on fire and burn down the stockades.
Alick, supported by Pat with half a dozen men, stood ready to receive
them; while others in the towers, which enfiladed the walls, kept up a
hot fire which struck down several of the Indians as they rushed up to
place their fagots.
It being necessary, of course, to defend the walls on the other side,
Martin and I were hurrying here and there as we saw the enemy
approaching.
"Here they come," I heard Alick shout out.
At the same moment a terrific war-whoop sounded in our ears.
"Fire steadily at them, my lads," cried Alick; "and if they get within
reach of our bayonets, let them feel the points."
"Shure! that's what we'll be afther doing," cried Pat.--"Won't we, boys?
Erin go bragh!" and a well-directed volley drove back the first body of
Indians who were attempting to mount. They had been sent apparently as
a forlorn hope, for the next instant another party still more numerous
appeared, while, as I hurried over to the other side, I saw a third
band, advancing evidently with the intention of making a separate
attack.
At the same instant the entire body of our enemies, uniting their
voices, uttered another of those dreadful war-whoops. Though we had
hitherto kept up our courage, but few among us believed that we should
be able to offer an effectual resistance. The next instant, however,
ere the shrieks of our enemies had died away, they were answered by
other cries which came from the forest. Could a fresh body of Indians
be about to attack us? Should such be the case our doom was sealed.
Such were the thoughts that passed through my mind.
Again that war-whoop sounded through the night air. "Hurrah!" cried
Pat, "those are friendly Indians. I know it by the sound."
Pat's assertion was corroborated by several of the other men. Our
well-nigh exhausted strength and courage were restored.
The Indians had heard these cries, and the formidable party which had
been mounting the fagots hurried back, while the last who had been seen
approaching retreated. We plied them more rapidly than ever with our
musketry. We could hear their chiefs issuing their orders, and in
another minute the whole line scampered off and disappeared in the
darkness.
Not many minutes afterwards we heard Sandy's voice shouting out, "We
have brought some Indian friends to your assistance."
We now, without hesitation, threw open the gate, and the next instant
Robin sprang forward and shook our hands, while Sandy with his six men
appeared directly afterwards.
"No time to stop," exclaimed Sandy. "The youngster found us, and we
fell in with some friends in time of need, who agreed to come along with
us. There they are; but they're afraid to come near, lest you should
mistake them for the foe, and pepper them. They and we must be after
the rascals who have been attacking you. Can't stop to ask questions;
only hope you are all safe. Keep Robin fast, or he'll be running after
us, and there is no need to let the lad run his nose into unnecessary
danger. I hope you are all right, though?"
"Yes, thank you; none of us hurt badly," answered Alick.
"That's well," exclaimed Sandy; and without more ado he and his men
hurried after the Indians, who were already cautiously moving on in the
direction our late assailants had taken.
"Don't pursue them too far, or you may fall in with fresh bands, and may
have a hard matter to fight your way back," shouted Alick.
"Ay, ay!" answered Sandy; "trust me and the Indians for that," and he
and his men were soon lost to sight in the gloom.
Several of our men eagerly begged for leave to go out and join Sandy's
party. Alick would, however, only allow six of them, including three of
the hunters to whom we had given refuge, to go. All being well armed,
we had no doubt that they would drive back the Sioux, and probably kill
or capture a number of them.
Robin, as Sandy had supposed he would, wanted to go also; but Martin and
I held him fast till the gate was closed.
"Now go and lie down, my boy," said Alick. "You have been on your legs
a good many hours, and have done us service enough for one day, or for
many days for that matter."
Robin somewhat unwillingly obeyed, having first taken some food, of
which he stood in need; and as he dropped off to sleep immediately, it
was evident that he was pretty well worn out.
We had now to wait for the return of our friends. In the meantime we
did our best to dress the hurts of the men who had been wounded. In
many cases they could help each other, in their own rough fashion, for
they were generally in so healthy a state that injuries which might have
proved fatal to people living what is called a civilised life, compelled
them scarcely to lay up for more than a day or two.
Three of our guests had been wounded, but they made light of the matter,
and declared that they should at once be able to proceed on their
journey.
Martin and I amused ourselves by collecting all the arrows which had
been shot into the fort, and a fine number we had of them. We agreed to
ornament the walls of one of the rooms with the arrows, and to send
others to our friends. We could not find the bullets which had been
fired, and concluded that they had all been shot over the fort, and
often into the ground on the opposite side, perhaps killing our foes
instead of us.
Considering the vast number of the enemy, and the desperate courage they
had displayed in attacking the fort, we had great reason to be thankful
that we had been preserved. I believe, indeed, that we ought to be
thankful every day of our existence, for we know not how many unseen
dangers we escape in our walk through life. I know that I did not think
so seriously of such matters as I do now; but I am sure that the earlier
we begin to think of God's protecting providence, the more anxious we
shall be to serve Him, and to refrain from offending One so kind and
merciful.
Another day broke, but still neither Sandy's party nor his Indian allies
had reappeared, and Alick began to fear that they had followed the enemy
further than was prudent. Should the Sioux have turned upon them with
the same bravery they had displayed when attacking the fort, our friends
would have run a fearful risk of being cut off, while we should probably
be again attacked with less prospect than before of success.
Though pretty well tired with our long watching and our desperate
exertions in defence of the fort, we were in good spirits. Alick
however who was prudent, had the arms reloaded, and made as much
preparation for defence as he considered necessary.
The Sioux, I should have said, when retreating, had carried off their
dead and wounded, to save them from the ignominy of being scalped, which
would to a certainty have been their fate had our Indian allies found
them on the ground. We were thus saved the horror of witnessing the
spectacle, as also the trouble of burying the dead. The Indians would
probably also have killed all the wounded, in spite of the efforts we
should have made to save them.
At length, about noon the watchman in the tower shouted out that he saw
a party approaching from the south-west--the direction the Sioux had
probably taken. We were for some time in doubt whether they were
friends or foes. At length Martin, who was on the lookout with me,
exclaimed: "Hurrah! I'm sure that's old Sandy marching ahead, with an
Indian chief by his side; and there come the men. They have thrashed
the Sioux--no doubt about that--and it will be a long time before the
rascals venture to pay us another visit."
I was not quite certain that Martin was right, and feared that his
imagination had deceived him. While we were discussing the matter, we
were joined by Robin, whose eyes were sharper than either of ours. He
had at once declared that Martin was not mistaken. We accordingly
announced the fact to Alick and the few men who were awake. The
sleepers were quickly roused by the shout of satisfaction which was
uttered, and there being no longer any apprehension of danger, we
hurried out to meet our friends, accompanied by Bouncer and a whole
tribe of smaller dogs, which lived under his rule.
"We've given the Sioux a lesson they'll not forget in a hurry,"
exclaimed Sandy, as we met. "We came upon them while they were
encamped, not dreaming that we were near, and before they could stand to
their arms we had shot down a dozen or more, including all the fellows
who had muskets, which the others in their fright, as they jumped up to
fly, left behind them. We took possession of the muskets, and followed
up the enemy for an hour or more. How many were killed it would have
been hard to say, as we did not stop to count those we shot down; but
our redskin friends have got thirty scalps, which would be about the
tally, as they looked out for all who fell. I don't approve of the
custom, for they are not very particular in seeing whether a man's alive
or dead before they lift the hair from the crown of his head."
Alick would gladly have prevented the slaughter which had occurred. It
struck us that probably the Sioux in their flight had thrown down the
men who had been killed or wounded in the attack on the fort, and that
these were included in the number Sandy spoke of.
Our Indian allies, after enjoying a scalp-dance outside the fort--not a
very edifying spectacle, but an amusement in which they seemed to take
an especial delight--were invited to partake of a feast which had been
in the meantime preparing. All our cooks had been engaged on it, and
though not of a very refined description, it suited the taste of our
guests.
We had buffalo meat and venison, boiled, roasted, and stewed, with flour
cakes, and potatoes the produce of our garden. A small amount of whisky
was served out; but Alick was careful not to give the Indians enough to
make them lose their wits. The chiefs, however, who asked for more, got
sufficient to make them loquacious, and some wonderfully long speeches
were uttered, expressing the affection they felt for us, their pale-face
brothers.
When night came on they encamped outside, as it was a rule never to
allow any large body of Indians, whoever they were, to sleep inside the
fort. As they were aware of this, they were not offended. The weather
being warm they had no great hardship to endure, though unable to put up
wigwams for their protection. Before lying down they had another
scalp-dance, which they kept up to a late hour.
We were in hopes that they would go the next day, but they showed no
inclination to move as long as they could obtain an abundant supply of
food. We, of course, were obliged to serve it out from our stores, and
should have been considered very ungrateful had we given them a hint to
take their departure. They thus consumed nearly the whole of the
substantial provisions we had in the fort, including flour and potatoes;
and not till Alick told them that we had but little more to offer did
they express an intention of going away.
Before doing so they invited us to accompany them on a hunting
expedition, which they proposed making in a few days, after they had
returned to their own lodges and obtained horses for the purpose.
Martin and I were eager to go, as was Robin; and we persuaded Alick to
accompany us, as he required a change after the arduous work he had gone
through. At first he was very doubtful about the matter; but he
consented at length to leave Sandy in charge, which he often had done
when compelled to be absent from the fort.
We started from home with our guns, intending to shoot on the way,
directing our horses to be brought after us. We were accompanied by
Bouncer, who was always our attendant on such occasions; and very useful
he often made himself, being expert in attacking all animals, but
especially cautious when he met with those with whose prowess he was
well acquainted. We had bagged two or three small animals and a few
birds, when, forgetting our usual custom of keeping together, we each
took a different path, which led us to some distance apart. Martin was
nearest to me; I could still see him between the trees, when I heard a
shot. I looked towards him; but as I saw no smoke, I concluded that he
had not fired. Directly afterwards he shouted, "Come on, David! I
heard Robin cry out; something must have happened."
I ran as fast as I could, shouting to Alick, who I hoped might hear me.
The ground being tolerably open in the direction I had taken, I quickly
overtook Martin.
"It was there I heard his voice," he exclaimed. "Yes; he's still crying
out. I can't understand it, but I hope nothing terrible has happened to
him."
Guided by Robin's voice, we at last got near him. At the same moment
Alick appeared in another direction between the trees.
Instead of being alarmed, we burst into a fit of laughter, for there was
Robin holding on to the bushy tail of an animal which with might and
main was making towards a hole near at hand. "Help me! help me!" cried
Robin, "or the beast will get away."
Robin pulled in one direction, and the beast, which I saw was an
unusually large badger, was endeavouring to scramble off in another,
dragging Robin after it. Before Bouncer, who had followed Alick, could
spring forward to Robin's assistance the badger had reached its hole,
down which it was struggling with might and main to descend; but Robin,
who had now no fears of being bitten, held on stoutly, while Bouncer
flew at the hinder quarters of the beast, of which he took a firm grip.
"Pull away, Robin, pull away," I shouted. "You can have the honour of
killing him yourself, with the help of Bouncer."
Robin hauled away, and so did the dog; but for some time it seemed
doubtful which party would gain the victory. At last Robin, by a
desperate effort, hauled the unfortunate badger out of the hole; and as
he did so he fell backwards, still holding on, and drawing the creature
almost over him. On this Bouncer seized it by the neck, and Martin,
taking up a thick stick which lay at hand, stunned it with a blow, when
it was quickly dispatched. We took off the skin, as we had those of the
other animals we had shot, and did them up to be sent back by the men
who brought our horses.
I mention the circumstance as it afforded us much amusement; and though
it will not appear a very important one, it showed Robin's determination
not to be defeated in anything he undertook. After that we used
frequently to observe, "Stick to it as Robin did to the badger's tail,
and you'll get it out of the hole at last."
It is what I would advise others to do when they have difficulties to
contend with, whether great or small.
The horses overtook us in the afternoon, when we rode on and camped by
ourselves for the night, intending to join our Indian friends the next
day. We had brought with us a small supply of provisions, in addition
to the game which we had shot on our way, expecting that the Indians
would be able to furnish us with buffalo meat, on which we had no
objection to live for a few days.
Next morning, having breakfasted and caught our horses, we rode on; but
it was not till nearly evening that we reached the Cree camp. We slept
in a skin-covered wigwam which they appropriated to our use, and the
following morning started for the southward in search of buffalo, which
were supposed to be in considerable numbers in that direction. We rode
on all day, stopping only to take a meal about noon, but not a buffalo
did we see. We had exhausted all our provisions, and regretted that we
had not brought more with us for our own private use.
Small fires only were formed, around which we lay down to sleep. It was
nearly dawn when the Cree chief, touching my arm, awoke me.
"Listen!" he said, putting his head close down to the ground.
I did so, and could hear a low, dull sound, as if numberless feet were
beating the soil.
"That is the tramp of buffaloes," he observed.
When, however, I sat up I could hear nothing. The chief told me to call
my brother and other friends, and proposed, as soon as we had had
something to eat, that we should set off in the direction from whence
the sounds we had heard proceeded.
I roused up my companions, and when they put their ears down to the
ground and listened, they also could hear the same tramping sound.
I was not yet perfectly convinced that the chief was right, but he
asserted that there was no mistake about the matter.
When we told the chief that we had no food, he looked rather blank, and
shortly returned with some dried venison, which we were fain to cook as
best we could before the fire. We had a small supply of biscuit, and a
stream at hand furnished us with water. Thus fortified, we mounted our
horses and rode to the top of a hill near at hand, from which we could
command an extensive view of the prairie.
Not a sign, however, of a buffalo could be seen; still the chief was
confident that he was not mistaken, and we pushed our horses in the
direction of the sounds we had heard for at least ten miles. When we
had gone about another ten miles we could just distinguish a black line
crossing the prairie.
"I told you so," said the chief; "there they are, and we shall in less
than another hour be up to them."
All we could as yet see was the mere margin of the herd, looking, as I
have said, like a black line thrown along the edge of the sky, or a low
shore just visible across a lake.
We calculated that the place where we first heard the sounds of the
animals' feet could not have been less than twenty miles off. As we
drew near we observed that the herd was in the wildest state of
commotion. The bulls every now and then rushing at each other and
fighting desperately, the sounds produced by the knocking together of
their hoofs as they raised their feet from the ground, their incessant
tramping and loud and furious roars as they engaged in their terrific
conflicts, created an uproar which it seemed surprising our horses took
so quietly; but we had chosen animals well accustomed to hunting the
buffalo, and they were as eager as we were for the chase. Under other
circumstances it would have required great caution to approach the herd;
but engaged as they now were they were not easily alarmed, and the Cree
chief giving the word we rode directly at them.
"Let the bulls alone," cried the chief, as we galloped forward. "Single
out the cows; they alone are worth eating. Don't stop to ram down your
charges after you have fired, but pour in the powder, and drop down the
bullet upon it. 'Twill serve your purpose, for you must not draw
trigger till you're close to the animal, or you will fail to bring it to
the ground."
We, of course, promised to follow his instructions, and dashed forward.
As we got nearer we saw that the herd was so densely packed that we
should have the greatest difficulty in making our way into their midst
without having our horses injured by their horns; not that the buffaloes
would have run at them, but in consequence of the rapid way in which
they moved them about, in their frantic rage, in all directions. We
therefore galloped along in front of the herd with the intention of
getting on their flanks, or finding some opening through which we might
reach the cows.
At last the chief proposed that we should dismount, and, leaving the
horses under the care of some of the men, try to make our way in on
foot. I thought this a very hazardous experiment, and made some remark
to that effect.
"Not so hazardous as you may suppose," answered the chief. "The animals
will not see you, and you have only to leap out of their way should any
come rushing in the direction where you are standing."
"I have often shot buffalo in that way," exclaimed Robin. "Keep with
me, David, and we'll see what we can do."