RETURN TO THE FORT--FIND IT DESTROYED--POOR SANDY AND HONEST PAT
MISSING--A WATCHFUL NIGHT--THE FISH-HAWKS--ROBIN'S SUSPICIONS--NO
HORSES--"UP, BOYS, UP!"--WE BEGIN OUR TRAMP--TURKEY EGGS VERY NICE FOR
HUNGRY MEN--THE SUNJEGWUN IS REACHED--BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT--THE BEAR
AND ITS CUB--I KILL THEM--ROBIN'S SOUP-POT--CREES OF THE PLAIN--OUR NEW
COMPANIONS--PICHETO--THE YOUNG CREE KILLS A BUFFALO--THE "POUND"--THE
HUNTING PARTY--THE CHIEF IS WILLING TO TRADE--OFFERS US HORSES FOR OUR
GUNS--THE FEAST.
As we approached the fort towards the end of the day we looked out for
the flag, which we expected to see floating over it, but it was not
visible.
"Can Sandy have forgotten to hoist it?" observed Alick. "It is yet too
early for him to have hauled it down. Expecting us, he would certainly
have kept it flying till dark."
"Perhaps your prognostications of evil may have come true," I said,
laughing, not at all thinking that such was the case.
"I trust not," answered Alick, in a grave tone. "I shall never forgive
myself if any misfortune has happened during my absence from the fort.
I ought to have remained at my post; though Sandy is so cautious and
vigilant that I considered he would take as good care of it as I could."
Martin and Robin now trotted up to us.
"What has become of the flag?" exclaimed Martin. "Robin says that he
has seen suspicious signs of Indians having been in the neighbourhood,
and see! I've picked up this arrow-head. It looks as if it had been
only lately dropped."
Robin confirmed what Martin had said, and expressed his fears that the
fort had been again attacked.
"We shall soon know the worst, at all events," said Alick; and putting
our horses into a gallop, we dashed forward.
We all uttered exclamations of dismay when, coming near where the fort
had stood, we beheld only a blackened ruin. The towers had been burned
to the ground, the palisades pulled down and destroyed, as was every
wooden building inside the enclosure.
"This has not happened by accident," observed Alick. "My worst
apprehensions are fulfilled. The Indians must have attacked the fort,
and having succeeded in capturing it, put the whole garrison to death."
"Perhaps some may have escaped, and are hidden in the neighbourhood,"
said Martin; and before Alick could stop him, he shouted out at the top
of his voice, "Hillo! any one hereabouts? Answer, friends."
"Stay!" cried Alick; "our voices may be heard by foes as well as
friends. Keep a look round; in case the former should appear, we may
have to fly for our lives."
We followed his injunctions.
"Alas! alas! poor Sandy and honest Pat and the rest. What has been
their fate?" I said to myself. We kept tight rein on our horses, ready
to turn round and gallop off in the direction Alick might select; but
not a human being appeared. We first made a circuit of the fort, and
examined the only shelter near at hand in which an enemy might be
concealed; but no one was discovered. We then rode into it, expecting
to find some signs which might inform us what had become of the
garrison.
That the fort had been attacked by Indians was now clear, for several of
our men lay dead among the ruins, their bodies fearfully charred, while
they had all been scalped. We searched everywhere for Sandy and Pat,
but could not discover the corpses of either of them. They might have
escaped, or too probably, perhaps, fallen into the hands of the enemy,
and been carried off to meet with a worse fate. It made us feel very
sad indeed.
Further examination showed us that the fort had been plundered of the
stores, provisions, and ammunition; not a particle of food had been left
behind. We had too much reason also to fear that the buffalo meat
obtained in our late hunting expedition had been captured by the enemy,
either before or after it had been brought into the fort.
Darkness found us still occupied in the melancholy task of searching
among the ruins.
"What are we to do now?" I asked.
"We must make the best of our way to Fort Ross, with the tidings of what
has happened," answered Alick.
"But our horses are knocked up, and we can go no distance to-night," I
said.
"That is indeed too true! We shall have to camp out in the most
sheltered spot near at hand, and allow our horses time to feed, though
we shall have to go without our suppers," said Alick.
With heavy hearts we rode out of the fort towards the nearest spot which
would afford a shelter during the night. We might have remained in the
fort itself; but the dead bodies of the garrison emitted an odour which
would have rendered that disagreeable in the extreme.
Having turned our horses loose, we managed to collect some sticks for a
fire, which soon burned up. We then lay down supperless, with our
saddles as pillows, and endeavoured to recruit our strength by sleep.
One of us in succession tried to remain awake to keep watch, but I am
afraid that both Martin and I dozed considerably when we ought to have
had our eyes open.
We were unmolested during the night, but when daylight returned and we
looked about for our horses, they were nowhere to be seen. They had,
perhaps, found their way to their favourite pastures, where they were
likely to meet with their former companions.
"We shall have a long tramp in search of them, but I make no doubt shall
find them at last," said Alick.
Though my brother tried thus to reassure us, the disappearance of our
horses was a serious matter. It was not pleasant to have to carry our
saddles in addition to the knapsacks we each of us had at our backs.
"The first thing we have to do is to try and get something for
breakfast," observed Martin. "If we had but some fishing-lines or nets,
we might easily get some fish which could quickly be cooked."
"As we have neither one nor the other, we must be content with whatever
we can obtain," I observed.
Robin proposed that we should at once go down to the river, on the banks
of which we might possibly obtain some wild-fowl; and as we were too
hungry to discuss the pros and cons for any length of time, we
immediately set out. Not far off a stream ran into the river, and we
hoped that near its mouth we might meet with some wild ducks. We had
not gone far when Martin exclaimed, "I see some birds; we shall have one
of them before long."
Great was our disappointment on going a little farther to discover that
the birds whose wings had attracted Martin's attention were fish-hawks,
whose flesh is anything but savoury; still, hungry as we were, we would
gladly have shot one of them and breakfasted off it till better food
could be procured. There were several of these birds congregated on a
tree overhanging the stream. Presently one of them which had been
perched on a branch pounced downwards into the water, and quickly
returned with a large fish, with which it rose above the surface. It
seemed wonderful that the bird could lift so heavy a weight.
The fish struggled in the claws of its captor.
"We must manage to have that fish," exclaimed Alick. And we ran on,
intending to shoot the bird and rob it of its prey; but as it reached
the branches, in its desperate efforts to lift so heavy a weight its
wings struck them, and letting go its hold, the fish fell to the ground.
"Shout! shout!" cried Alick, and shouting together we frightened the
bird at the moment it was about to pounce down to recover its prey.
We could see the fish leaping about, and just as it had almost succeeded
in regaining the water, Robin caught it, and carried it again up the
bank.
"Here we've an ample breakfast," he exclaimed, as he held it up.
"Providence has indeed been kind to us!"
"I propose that we light a fire where we are and cook it at once," said
Martin.
"I suggest that we move farther from the tree, as the scent is anything
but pleasant. These hawks have made nests here, and see! the ground is
covered with the remains of their feasts," I observed.
My advice was followed, and we quickly had a fire kindled, and the fish
we had so unexpectedly obtained roasting before it. It was none the
worse for having been in the claws of the hawk.
We saw the birds return, and hoped that they would again act as
fishermen for us; but after this they only caught small fish, which they
swallowed or tore to pieces as soon as they brought them out of the
water, and as it was important for us to husband our supply of
ammunition, which was not too plentiful, we did not wish to throw a shot
away. The ample breakfast which the fish afforded us greatly restored
our strength and spirits, and enabled us to consider calmly what course
it would be best to pursue.
"The first thing we have to do is to find our horses," said Alick. "We
will then return to obtain the meat which our Cree friends were to leave
`en cache' for us. Having obtained as much provision as we can carry,
we will then push on to Fort Ross, for it is obvious that we can do no
good by remaining in this neighbourhood. When there, I hope that Mr
Meredith will send notice to headquarters, and that a body of men may be
collected to rebuild the fort before the fall, or, if not, early in the
spring. It will not do to let the Indians suppose that they can drive
us out of the country."
Notwithstanding the weight we had to carry, consisting of our guns and
ammunition, and a change of clothing with the few other articles in our
knapsacks, and our saddles and bridles, we walked quickly on. About
midday we reached the valley where we expected to find the horses, but
not an animal was to be seen.
Robin, on examining the ground, declared that Indians had been there
lately, and we discovered before long indubitable signs that such was
the case. It was too clear, therefore, that after the attack on the
fort they had lifted all our cattle.
What, however, could have become of our own horses was the question.
They possibly might have followed the tracks of their companions. Alick
thought not.
"I am afraid," he said, "that our enemies may still be hovering about,
and that they, either last night or early this morning, having fallen in
with our steeds, have carried them off."
As he was not very confident of this, we continued searching about in
every direction, following the tracks which we supposed they might have
made. We had also to be cautious, lest our enemies should really be
near at hand; in which case they might suddenly attack us. Worn out
with fatigue, we were at last obliged to sit down near a wood, in a very
disconsolate condition.
Had there been any wild fruits ripe, we might have satisfied our hunger,
but there was nothing eatable we could obtain.
"Are we to continue our search for the horses, or must we give it up?"
I asked.
"It's useless, I fear, to hunt for them further," said Alick. "I feel
very sure that the Sioux have carried them off; and we too shall
probably fall into their hands, unless we beat a rapid retreat from this
part of the country."
Having duly discussed the matter, it was at last agreed that we should
at once make our way to the "cache"--that is to say, the high platform I
have described--and supply ourselves with food. We might there, if the
Indians had not left the neighbourhood, obtain horses and get some of
them to escort us.
"But if the Indians have left the neighbourhood, what are we to do?"
asked Martin.
"We must tramp it on foot," said Alick. "A couple of hundred miles is
nothing; we can accomplish it in ten days, even though we may be pretty
heavily-laden. I wish that we could get there sooner, and make more
sure of having the fort rebuilt before the winter. I am thinking not
only of ourselves, but of the poor Indians who are accustomed to obtain
assistance from us when hard pressed for food, as also of the many white
trappers who may come to the fort expecting to find shelter."
"But how shall we ever reach the `cache' without provisions?" I asked.
"We are sure to shoot something or other on the way, and we must not be
particular what it is or how we obtain it," answered Alick.
We had nothing to do but to get up and go on, with our saddles on our
backs. Had we not hoped to obtain horses from our Cree friends, we
should have left them behind us, fastened to the bough of a tree out of
the way of bears. Still we sat on for some minutes, lost in our own
reflections.
"Up, boys, up! we'll begin our tramp," said Alick, setting the example
and springing to his feet. We followed him, and he having laid the
course, we pushed forward rapidly.
We were fain to endure the pangs of hunger all that day, for nothing did
we see to kill. We talked of the fate of our late companions. Martin
thought it possible that some might have escaped. He could scarcely
believe that Sandy had allowed himself to be taken, and he suggested
that, when everything was lost, he might have slipped down to the side
of the river and perhaps got off in a canoe. When he said this I
regretted that we had not examined the river more narrowly.
The canoes belonging to the fort were kept in a cave with a shed built
in front of it which was not visible from the ground above, and any
people escaping from the fort might have got down during the night, and,
having launched a canoe, might have shoved off before being discovered
by their enemies. Alick differed from us. He was sure that the
Indians, when once they had obtained an entrance into the fort, would
have kept too vigilant a watch to allow any one to get out without being
perceived.
It was now too late to go back to decide this point, but he agreed,
should our Cree friends have already gone to the southward, to return,
and instead of proceeding overland to Fort Ross, to try to make our way
down the river in a canoe. This seemed altogether the most feasible
plan. When once embarked, we should run less risk of meeting with
hostile Indians; though, on the other hand, we should be unable to kill
any buffalo or other wild animals except deer, which we might possibly
meet when they came down to drink at the margin of the stream. I felt
much happier when this plan was arranged. I knew what it was to trudge
day after day over the prairie, and though we might be able to find our
way in fine weather, should the sky become cloudy or rain come on we
might have a difficulty in doing so.
We marched on till near dark, in vain looking out for game, and at last
were compelled to encamp. We chose the spot on account of a small
stream from which we could obtain water. I suppose the cold draught
assisted to keep away the pangs of hunger, though substantial food would
have been more acceptable. We of course lighted a fire, and lay down to
sleep by it.
In the morning we all found that we had been dreaming of buffalo humps
and deers' tongues, and only wished that we had the reality before us.
Having no breakfast to cook, we were able to start immediately it was
daylight. We, of course, kept our guns in readiness to shoot anything
we might see, but we could not catch a glimpse of any of the inhabitants
of the forest or the prairie.
Martin was nearly sinking with fatigue, for he was less accustomed to
the sort of life than we were; and even Robin, though much younger, from
having been long habituated to it bore it better than he did.
We were going through a wood when a bird flew out from a thick bush. It
was a wild turkey; but before either of us could fire the bird had
escaped. Bouncer ran off in the direction the wild turkey had taken,
and Alick and I followed him, but were unable to catch sight of it
again. On our return we heard Robin and Martin shouting. When we were
near them we saw them each holding up an egg.
"There are eight of them," cried out Robin--"two a-piece. We shan't
starve to-day."
They were indeed welcome, and we all expected a delicious meal off them.
"Don't be too sure," observed Alick. "Till we have broken one of them,
we don't know how long they may have been sat on."
This remark somewhat abated our delight. However, we quickly settled
the point by breaking one of the eggs, when, to our infinite
satisfaction, it was found to be perfectly sweet. Probably the turkey
had only just begun to sit. We, of course, therefore knew that the rest
would be equally good. Without stopping to light a fire, we each of us
ate an egg. Though they were somewhat strong-tasted, we agreed that we
had never had a more delicious meal. We carried the others, intending
to dine off them, should we not obtain more substantial fare. We walked
on with the same want of success as before; and about noon, feeling the
gnawings of hunger, we lighted a fire, and cooked the remainder of our
eggs. We found them far more satisfactory than those we had eaten raw.
The next day Alick shot a squirrel. That, besides the eggs, was the
only food we obtained during the journey. We found our want of
botanical knowledge a great disadvantage; for had we been acquainted
with the various products of the soil, we might not only have stayed our
hunger, but obtained wholesome vegetable diet.
We were now approaching the "cache," where we expected to find an
abundance of venison and buffalo flesh, on which we indulged ourselves
in the thoughts of banqueting and soon restoring our somewhat reduced
strength.
"There it is," exclaimed Martin, who had run on ahead. "We must get a
fire lighted, and we shall soon have a fine ham roasting. I feel as if
my teeth were in it already."
We reached the platform, and Alick and I climbed to the top. What was
our dismay to find that not a particle of food remained on it. How
thankful we should have been to find a single ham or a few buffalo
steaks! but neither one nor the other gladdened our eyes. We had to
descend with the sad intelligence. We looked blankly at each other.
"What is to be done?" asked Martin.
"We must try and kill a moose where we killed them before," said Robin.
"We shall lose three days if we do, and perhaps not get one after all,"
observed Alick. "We cannot afford the time. We ought to get back at
the river, and try to make our way down it as soon as possible."
"But how are we to get along without food?" urged Martin.
"We must do our best to obtain it, and trust to Providence," said Alick.
"Though I managed to kill but one squirrel, we may possibly meet with
more animals on our return."
Notwithstanding what Alick said, I saw that he was very much
disappointed, as we all were, at not finding the meat, as we had
expected. We hunted about in every direction to ascertain whether the
robbers had left any small portions behind them, but none could we
discover.
We came to the conclusion that the thieves, whoever they were, had been
watching us and the Crees, and directly we had all left the cache, had
hurried up and rifled it.
Robin was of opinion that our friends had quitted their camp directly
after we set off, and that, as they must be now at a considerable
distance, it would be hopeless to try to overtake them.
"All we can do is to turn our faces once more to the north," said Alick.
"Come, boys, there is no use mourning over our disappointment. Let us
push ahead and keep our eyes about us. Perhaps we shall even now get
something for supper."
We followed his advice, and without another murmur we commenced our
march. We got over five or six miles before it grew dusk, when we
camped near a pool of fresh water, numbers of which are found in that
well-irrigated region.
While Martin and Robin were engaged in cutting wood for a fire, Alick
and I went out in different directions, in the hope, before it became
perfectly dark, of obtaining something to eat. I had gone some
distance, and as it was rapidly getting dusk, believing that it would be
useless to continue out longer, I was on my return, when I saw a small
animal, the character of which I could not make out, rapidly running
between the trees.
Before I could get a shot at it, it had disappeared. I went on in the
direction in which I had last seen it, when it again appeared; but
before I could fire, a large animal, which I knew at once must be a
bear, seized it in its fore paws, and carried it, I felt sure, down a
hole which was close at hand. I now knew that the small animal was a
bear's cub, and that the large one must be its mother.
I searched about in every direction, when I at last discovered the mouth
of the hole. The darkness prevented me from seeing the bear clearly,
but I was sure that it was at the bottom of the hole. I accordingly
fired right into it, when, on the smoke clearing away, looking down I
made out the bear lying, as I supposed, dead.
I shouted to Alick to come to my assistance, but he was too far off to
hear me. Hunger made me forget the danger I might be running. Having
reloaded my gun--which Sandy had inculcated on me as the first duty of a
sportsman shooting in the forest--I placed it on the ground, and
stooping down, endeavoured to get hold of the bear to draw her out.
The moment I put my hand on one of her paws I heard her jaws snap. I
drew back as quickly as I could. It was providential that I did so, for
the bear at the same moment turned and sprang upon me, and as I
retreated she kept snapping her teeth so near me that I could feel her
warm breath on my face. How it was that she failed to seize me I cannot
tell.
As I leaped out of the hole, I caught up my gun and took to flight,
hoping to get behind a tree, from whence I could again take aim.
Looking round, I saw the bear, followed by the cub, pursuing me. Should
I fail to kill her, she might quickly tear me to pieces. I remembered
the caution I had received--never to fire at a she-bear with a cub until
the shot is sure to prove effectual. The bear was close upon me, when I
slipped behind a tree. She stopped for a moment to ascertain what had
become of me, thus giving me time to raise my piece, and the next
instant firing, I shot her through the head. A blow from the butt end
of my rifle stunned the cub, which I afterwards killed with my knife.
Taking the small animal on my shoulder, I made the best of my way to the
camp, cutting a notch every now and then with my knife in the trees,
that we might return to the spot where I had left the big bear.
Alick arrived at the camp just before me. Loud shouts welcomed me as I
was seen coming in with the young bear. The little creature was skinned
in a very few seconds; and having cut it up, we placed it to roast on
forked sticks before the fire. As may be supposed, we did not wait till
it was overdone, but as soon as the smaller pieces were tolerably cooked
we set to upon them. It was remarkably fat and tender, and with the aid
of Bouncer, who had the head as his share with other portions, the whole
of it was speedily devoured.
As we could not have found our way through the wood in the dark, we were
compelled to let the carcass of the bear remain, hoping that the wolves
would not find it out during the night. Next morning, accompanied by
Bouncer, Alick, Martin, and I set off to cut up the bear and bring in as
much of the meat as we could carry. Robin was left to make up the fire.
"I will see what I can do besides," he said. "I think I can manufacture
a pot in which we can boil some of the bear's flesh. It will be more
satisfactory than having so much roast meat."
We thought he was joking, as we did not see of what materials he could
possibly form his proposed pot.
The notches I had made in the trees enabled us without difficulty to
find our way to the bear. The wolves had not discovered it, though we
put to flight a couple of eagles which had scented it from afar and were
about to plunge down and feast on the carcass.
As we could not carry away the skin, we ripped it roughly away, and were
not long in cutting off the best portions of the meat, including the
paws, which would make, we knew, excellent soup, should Robin really
have been able to manufacture a pot, as he had proposed. Martin and I
carried the larger pieces between us on a long stick, while Alick
followed with the rest on his shoulders.
We were longer absent than we had expected. When we got back we found
that Robin had actually formed a pot of birch-bark, the outside of which
he had covered over with thick clay. It stood half full of water, by
the side of a hole in which a fire was burning. Round the edge of our
former fire was ranged a quantity of clean smooth stones.
"I told you that I should have a pot ready. We shall soon have some
soup if you will cut up the bear's paws," he said. "See, I have already
put in those of the cub."
"How will you make it boil?" asked Martin, lifting up the pot, and
finding that the water was cold.
"All you have to do," said Robin, who was sitting down close to the
spot, "is to fill it with the hot stones. We will then rake the fire
out of the hole, put the pot in and cover it up, and in a short time we
shall have as good soup as you ever tasted."
Bouncer, who seemed to take great interest in what was going on, drew
near to examine the pot, and would have poked his nose in had not Martin
given him a tap on the tip of it and sent him off somewhat ashamed of
himself.
While Robin's directions were being carried out, Alick and I prepared
some of the bear's meat for roasting, and cut up the remainder into
slices to dry in the sun, intending also to smoke them well before we
commenced our journey. Though the flesh of the old bear was not so
tender as that of her cub, we ate it with no little relish.
"Leave some room for the soup," exclaimed Robin; "that will be ready in
a few minutes, and will do us more good than the roast meat. It's a
pity we cannot carry some with us."
We accordingly stopped, and in a short time he produced the pot from the
hole. In spite of the want of salt and vegetables, the soup was
pronounced excellent. We fortunately had a couple of tin cups with
which to ladle it out.
We were on the point of starting, when Robin asserted that he heard the
tramp of horses. Putting our ears to the ground, we were convinced that
he was right, and that the sound came from the north-west, the direction
from which the wind was blowing. To attempt to hide would be useless,
as the fire which was still burning would have betrayed us, even had the
sharp eyes of the Indians not discovered our tracks. We could only
hope, therefore, that they would prove friends, who would allow us to
proceed on our way, even should they refuse to supply us with horses.
We therefore, having seen to our firearms, remained where we were, with
our backs to the wood, so that we might present as formidable an
appearance as possible should the newcomers venture to attack us.
All hope of offering any effectual resistance, however, was dissipated
when we saw coming round the edge of the wood a large band of half-naked
warriors, armed with bows and arrows, their hair streaming over their
backs--perfect savages in appearance.
"They are Crees of the plain," exclaimed Robin, "and are, I think, on a
hunting expedition. If we make friends with them they will not harm us,
as they are generally well disposed towards the white men."
The Crees saw us, and came galloping up, most of them flourishing their
lances, while a chief who rode at their head held out his hand as a sign
that he wished to be friends with us. The next minute we were almost
surrounded by the wild-looking horsemen. The chief dismounted, and
Alick advanced to shake hands. We all performed the same ceremony, and
the chief then asked who we were and where we were going. Alick replied
that our fort had been surprised and destroyed by the Blackfeet, and
that we were on our way to Fort Ross to obtain a force for punishing the
marauders.
"They are far away ere this, and you will not overtake them," answered
the chief. "It is a long journey too to perform on foot, and many days
must pass before you can get there. Come with us. We will entertain
you, and in the meantime will send out a band of warriors to learn the
direction your foes and ours have taken."
I remarked that while the chief was speaking he had been eyeing our
packs of provisions.
"We are somewhat hungry," he continued, "for we killed nothing
yesterday; and if you will share your food with us, we will amply repay
you."
We knew by this that the chiefs offer was not altogether disinterested,
and Alick saw that he must make a virtue of necessity.
"You are welcome to our meat, though it will go no great way among so
many warriors," he answered; "but we will show you where the carcass of
the bear is to be found, and if the eagles have left any of the meat on
the bones, there will be enough for you all." This answer seemed to
please the chief greatly, and I at once volunteered to conduct some of
the band through the wood to the spot where we had left the remains of
the bear.
Eight of the Crees immediately leaping from their horses, which they
gave in charge to their companions, set off with me. We found two
white-headed eagles banqueting on the bear; but as they had kept all
other birds of prey at a distance, a considerable portion still
remained. I shot one of the eagles, and the other flew off; and the
Indians having cut up the bear and formed it into packages for
carrying--one of them taking possession of the eagle, and another of the
bear's hide--they returned with me to the camp. The flesh thus obtained
was quickly roasted, or rather burned, in our fire, when it was rapidly
consumed by the hungry horsemen; Bouncer, who at first showed his anger
at the intrusion of the strangers, standing by and catching the scraps
thrown to him.
The chief condescended to eat some of our store, which was certainly
more tempting than the meat just obtained. The eagle, which had been
skinned and cut up, formed part of the feast. The Indians, who were put
into good humour by the ample supply of food they had obtained so
unexpectedly after their long fast, laughed and joked, and assured us of
their friendship. Alick on this observed that we should prefer carrying
out our previous intentions, for we had still food enough left for our
journey; but the Cree chief had evidently made up his mind that we
should accompany him.
"I cannot permit you to encounter the risk you would run by making the
journey on foot," he answered. "If you will come with us, you shall
have horses, and perhaps some of our people will escort you."
All the arguments Alick could use were of no avail. We found that,
notwithstanding the fair speaking of the chief, we were in reality
prisoners. As the band had no spare horses, we each of us had to mount
behind a Cree; far from a pleasant position, as we had to hold on with
one hand, while we carried our guns in the other, and had also our packs
on our backs.
Bouncer followed, keeping at a respectful distance from the heels of the
horses, which showed a very unfriendly disposition to kick him when he
came near. We rode on for some distance to the south-east, when we came
in sight of the skin-covered tents forming a large Cree encampment. The
women rushed out to welcome their husbands and brothers, staring at us
and inquiring who we were.
The chief, who by-the-bye was called Picheto, having informed them, they
invited us into their tents. They had been busy collecting a quantity
of the mesaskatomina berry, which they were drying for a winter store.
They offered us some of the juicy fruit, which we found most refreshing,
after having gone so long without any vegetable diet. They then placed
before us pounded buffalo meat, with marrow fat, served up in birch-bark
dishes. We followed the plan of the Indians, which was to dip a piece
of the pounded meat into the soft marrow fat at each mouthful.
At night we were invited to lie down to rest around the fire which was
in the centre of the tent; but the heat and smoke, with the close air of
so many human beings crowded together, snoring loudly, after the fresh
atmosphere to which we had been accustomed, prevented us from sleeping
till near morning. At dawn, after a hasty breakfast of more buffalo
meat and marrow fat, washed down with a drink formed of the
mesaskatomina berries, we each mounted a horse provided for us by the
chief Picheto.
Just before starting we witnessed the prowess of a young Cree, the son
or nephew of the chief. A valley was in front of us, on the opposite
side of which a buffalo bull appeared. Urging on his horse the young
Cree dashed forward, armed with his bow from the "bois-d'arc," his
arrows from the mesaskatomina tree, feathered with the plumes of the
wild duck, and headed with a barb fashioned from a bit of iron hoop.
He dismounted at the foot of the steep sides of the valley, which he
quickly ascended; leaving his horse at liberty, and approaching a huge
boulder, he crouched down behind it. The buffalo was at the time not
forty yards from him. While slowly approaching, the animal leisurely
cropped the tufts of the parched herbage. When about twenty yards
nearer, the bull raised his head, sniffed the air, and began to paw the
ground.
Lying at full length, the Cree sent an arrow into the side of his huge
antagonist. The bull shook his head and mane, planted his fore feet
firmly in front of him, and looked from side to side in search of his
unseen foe, who, after letting fly his arrow, had again crouched down
behind the rock. The Indian, now observing the fixed attitude of the
animal--a sure sign of its being severely wounded--stepped on one side
and showed himself. The bull instantly charged, but when within five
yards of his nimble enemy, the Cree sprang behind the rock, and the
animal plunged headlong down the hill, receiving as he went a second
arrow in his flanks.
On reaching the bottom he fell on his knees, looking over his shoulder
at the Indian, who was close behind him, and now observing the bull's
helpless condition, sat down a short distance off, waiting for the
death-gasp. After one or two efforts to rise, the huge beast dropped
his head and fell over dead.
Without a moment's pause, the Cree, knife in hand, springing forward,
cut out the animal's tongue, caught his horse, which had been eagerly
watching the conflict, and came galloping across the valley towards us,
being received with loud shouts by his companions.
"He's a fine youth," observed the chief Picheto; "before many years are
over he will be able to count the scalps of the Blackfeet he has killed
by hundreds."
Towards evening we reached another Cree encampment, from which we could
see some distance off, in a dale between low hills, a large pound formed
for the purpose of capturing buffalo.
We were hospitably entertained by the Crees, and the night was spent as
our former one had been. The next morning we rode forward to visit the
pound which I will briefly describe. It consisted of a large circle of
stout stakes, driven into the ground perpendicularly, close together.
There was one opening, at the entrance of which a strong tree trunk was
placed about a foot from the ground, and at the inner side an excavation
was made sufficiently deep to prevent the buffalo from leaping back when
once in the pound. From this entrance, on either side, gradually
widening, extended two rows of bushy posts, stuck into the ground about
fifty feet apart. The extreme distance between the outer end of the
rows, which stretched to about four miles into the prairie, was about a
mile and a half. These bushy posts are called dead-men.
Between each of them an Indian was stationed, their business being,
should the buffalo attempt to break through the lines, to show
themselves, furiously waving their robes and immediately again hiding.
This effectually prevents the buffalo, when rushing on at full speed,
from going out of the direct course. The chief invited us to take part
in the sport; which of course we readily consented to do. All
arrangements having been made, a part of the band, numbering some fifty
or sixty men, armed with bows and arrows, with no other garments than
their breech-clouts, set off on horseback in two divisions, followed by
a number of men on foot, who concealed themselves as we went along in
any holes or behind any hillocks they could find.
The two parties gradually separated--the one keeping on one side, the
other on the opposite side of a large herd of buffaloes, which we saw
before us. They both galloped on till they reached the rear of the
herd, leaving a few horsemen behind on the flanks. Having gained this
position, the Indians set up a shout which was almost as terrific as the
war-whoop we had lately heard, and then dashed forward, shouting as they
went.
The startled buffaloes looked round, and seeing no opening free of their
enemies by which they could escape, except that in the direction of the
pound, throwing up their tails and bending down their heads dashed madly
forward towards it. The Indians renewed their shouts, closing in on the
affrighted buffaloes, and every now and then, as a horseman got near the
animals, he shot one of his arrows, which, though it failed to bring the
creature to the ground, made it gallop on still more furiously than
before, plunging its horns into the rear of its companions in front.
Thus the herd was rapidly driven between the rows of dead-men I have
described. When once here there was but little chance of their breaking
through; for immediately they turned to one side or the other, up
started several Indians, who had been concealed, shouting and shaking
their robes. In this way the terror-stricken animals were kept within
the narrowing limits of the two converging lines.
Several had fallen, pierced by the arrows of the hunters. Now and then
one would turn upon its pursuers, only to meet with certain death from
their weapons. Thus on they went till they reached the trunk at the
entrance of the pound, over which they madly sprang, and were now
completely hemmed in by the stout palisades. We pursued them till the
whole herd was inside.
In vain the animals galloped round and round the pound, endeavouring to
find an exit. The instant one of them appeared likely to charge the
palisades, the Indians--men, women, and children--who were placed round
it started up, shrieking lustily and shaking their robes or any cloths
they had in their hands. The places of the women and children were soon
taken by the huntsmen, who shot down with their arrows the bewildered
animals, which were rapidly becoming frantic with rage and terror.
Utterly unable to make their escape, conscious only that they were
imprisoned, and not seeing their foes, they now rushed madly at each
other, the strongest animals crushing and tossing the weaker.
Dreadful indeed was the scene of confusion and slaughter--the noise
almost appalling created by the shouts and screams of the excited
Indians, the roaring of the bulls, the bellowing of the cows, and the
piteous moaning of the calves. It was painful to watch the dying
struggles of those powerful animals as they found themselves thus caged,
and we would fain have avoided witnessing them.
It was sad, too, to think that this waste of life was to benefit but
slightly its authors, who would take only the tongues and the better
portions of the meat, and leave the rest of the carcass to rot.
"What do you think of it?" asked the chief.
"That you would be wiser to kill only a few of the buffaloes at a time,
sufficient to supply your immediate wants," said Alick. "The time may
come when you will repent having slaughtered so many valuable animals."
The chief laughed. "It is the way of our people," he answered, and
Alick could get no other reply from him.
A considerable portion of the meat, however, was taken off from the
carcasses and carried to the tents, where the women were employed in
cutting it up into slices, afterwards drying it in the sun or pounding
it into pemmican, which was preserved in the fat of the animals.
We now thanked the Cree chief for his hospitality, hoping that he would
without demur now allow us to go.
"I cannot let you take your departure yet," he said, smiling grimly.
"We have plenty of good food now, and we will treat you hospitably. My
young men will not like to leave the camp while the fresh meat lasts."
"We should have been happy to have their company, but we are quite ready
to set out alone," answered Alick. "If you will sell us horses, we will
give you an order in payment on Fort Ross for blankets, or anything else
you may desire."
"You may purchase horses even now with your guns," answered the chief.
"We will sell you four horses for your three guns, and leave you one
with which to kill the game you will require for your support."
Hearing what the chief said, we now guessed the object he had in
capturing us. We were determined, of course, not to part with our guns,
as without them we could neither kill game nor defend ourselves.
Alick told the chief that he would think about the matter, but that at
present we were not disposed to agree to his proposal. We all looked as
little annoyed as we could, and let the matter drop. The Indians were
preparing to make a great feast on the meat of the buffaloes they had so
ruthlessly slain, and we hoped that when gorged with food they might be
off their guard and give us an opportunity of escaping.
The feast took place that night. The squaws had been busy for some
hours in cooking the flesh in a variety of ways. We, of course, were
invited, and sat down with the chief and some of his principal men.
Though generally abstemious, it is extraordinary what an amount of food
they consumed, washed down with whisky, of which they had shortly before
obtained a supply from the traders.
We took but little, pretending often to be eating while we let the meat
drop down by our sides, under the mats on which we were sitting. The
Indians feasted on till a late hour of the night, when they crawled into
their tents and lay down.
They, of course, might have deprived us of our guns by force, but from a
sense of honour as we were their guests, though they carried us off
against our will, they would not do this. We had therefore been allowed
to retain them, and took good care not to let them out of our hands
either night or day. Our packs had been left in the chief's tent, and
we used them as pillows.
In a few minutes the whole of the community were fast asleep; even the
dogs, the watchful guardians of a Cree encampment, had so gorged
themselves that they were unwilling to get up. Had a party of Blackfeet
made a sudden onslaught, the whole of the inhabitants might have been
slaughtered before they could have arisen to defend themselves.