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KUPEET AND SIMCLA.

THE FUR TRADERS OF
THE WEST

ADVENTURES AMONG THE REDSKINS

ERNEST R. SUPPLING

Al'THOR OF " THE LAND OF THB BROADS," " AFLOAT IN A OIPSV VAN," " THE STORY

HUNTKR," ETC., ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

LONDON :

FREDERICK WARNE AND CO.

AND NEW YORK.

1896.

\AH rightt reserved."}

H6^

ham^N.^ BW. ^k

«F

E.^o^B^'W

PREFACE.

That boys are strange beings none will care to deny :
Restless and buoyant as the waves on the sea, they are
ever on the move, and, like the sea, if they lose their
movement they lose one of their chief characteristics and
become dull, flat, and uninteresting.

To them movement is a necessity of life, and all they
engage in must have vigour and dash, or it will inevit-
ably be rejected as too slow and monotonous for their
delectation.

I know the British boy, his likes and dislikes; and
I know the kind of books he loves, and why he appre-
ciates them. Every page must carry him forward and
contain its store of interest, without long pages of de-
scription and sentimental platitude before he arrives at
the gist of what is about to happen.

Oh, he is an impatient fellow, is the English boy, and
does not like to be held unduly in suspense while the
story drags its slow length wearily along. Why does he
love "Robinson Crusoe"? Because every page brings
something strange and adventurous belore him. Why
is " Masterman Ready " in favour with him P Because
its movement is continuous. And so with all his
favourite books, adventure follows adventure, and seldom
a dull page confronts him; there is almost an entire
absence of the platitudes, long conversations and mental

2274'59

viii

PREFACE,

literary food wbich his father and mother and grown-up
brothers and sisters so relish in the works of the leading
novelists.

Very well ; knowing, as I do, the temperament of the
ever-rising generation, I have endeavoured to conjure
from my ink-vase and my brain, a story that shall be full
of adventures of a thrilling nature (without overstepping
the bounds of moderation and probability), of a kind that
contains nothing hurtful to the young mind ; one shorn
of all conversation, except where absolutely necessary to
explain the meaning of certain events, and one that, while
it shows that courage and energy are traits to be admired,
also goes far to prove that truth, sincerity, and magnani-
mity should also form integral parts in the composition of
the character of the boys of Great Britian.

Ernest R. Suffling.

BliOXFISLD LODOB,

P0BT8DOWN Road, W.
Midwmmer, 1896.

To MY Readers.

N.B. — Might I suggest the advisability of having an
Atlas handy when reading this story, as by so doing the
locality of the numerous places will the more readily be
fixed in the mind, and the narrative will be better appre-
ciated. The reader armed with an Atlas will thus kill two
birds with one stone — he will be more entertained with
the book and at the same time receive a good and lasting
lesson in geography.

£. It. S.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

I>AOB

The Return of Th4 Hunter.— A Beautiful Town.— Village Rejoic-
ings. — "William Doone of Fowey. — Baggage Ashore. — The Two
Brothers 1

CHAPTER II.

The Captain's Surprise.-~Ruth.— A Retrospect of David Rose and
William Doone. — A Thirty-five Thousand Miles' Voyage pro*
jeoted and safely acoomplidied.— A Glance at the Far West 12

CHAPTER III.

Doone's Dilemma. — He takes CouncU. — The Cargo of The Hunter.-
The Convoy to London. — Rupert's Ride ....

CHAPTER IV.

The Fur Convoy Starts. — The Conversation on Dartmoor.— A Start-
ling Proposal.— Its Acceptance. — The Land Pirates at the Inn.
— Fallen among Thieves. — Nineteen, Twenty ! — A Lucky Shot.
—The Furs Sold 25

CHAPTER V.

Springtime.— 7%« Hunter refitted.— A Glance at her Stores.— Her
Cargo.— The Plan of Campaign.— 7A« H\mter sails ... 39

CONTENTS,

CHAPTER VI.

PAOB

Pass the Gape Verdes. — Crossing the Line. — Pemambuco. — ^Donna
Anneta. — Tumbling round the Horn. — Valdivia. — The all-
fitting Poncho. — Socarro Islands. — ^The Pirate Vessel. — Suspi-
cious Questions. — Preparing for a Tussle. — A Stubborn Fight.
— A Terrible Carnage. — Despair of the " Hunters." — A Strange
Explosion.— Victory ! But How P 46

CHAPTER VII.

Repairs to Ship and Crew. — ^The Story of Robert Belton. — His
Early Life and Voyages. — Truxillo. — Captured by the Poyaia
Indians. — Dusky Jacilla. — The Pirates Executed. — An Escape.
— ^Visit to Agent No. 1. — ^The Tashtel Indians. — Their Dress,
Appearance, and Mode of Living. — Bartering for Peltries . 69

CHAPTER VIII.

A Pull up Eel River to find Agent No. 2.— An Indian Fort.— The
Wounded Men. — Camp Cookery. —A Night Attack. — A Parley.
— The Shadow of the Spear. — ^A Hand-to-hand Fight. — Trading
a Failure 81

CHAPTER rX.

Umpqua Head. — Oom-pa-nu greets the White Men. — Invitation to
a Sea-Otter Hunt. — Notes on the Animal. — Four Modes of Cap-
ture. — The Hunt. — ^A Feast. — ^Mrs. Doone and Ruth introduced
to Indian Life 92

CHAPTER X.

Up the Umpqua River. — Fort Cornwall and Fowey Pool described.
— First Trip Ashore. — A Successful Day. — ^The Fort and Store
commenced. — The Hunter Sails 102

CHAPTER XI.

The Building Proceeds. — A Surprise Party of Klamaths. — ^Another
of Tacons and Umpquas. — A Description of them and their
Bidarkies. — Bighorn Mutton. — A Canoe Expedition. — A Snug
Camp. — The Hunter ioixxnA. 112

CONTENTS,

CHAPTER XII.

PAoa

Mystery.— Land Pirates. — Stalking a Camp. — The Signal. — A
Battle.— The Fate of Captain Rose.— A Cave Dwelling.— Tug
of War. — Wrestling. — Friends meet. — A Bear Adventare. — A
Madman in a Canoe. — At Death's Door. — Work on the Island 124

CHAPTER XIII.

A Novel Means of Signalling.— The Remnants of a Crew.— A Tragic
Story. — A Peaceful Beginning ends in a Kick. — A Threat of
Revenge. — Danger apprehended. — The Chief gives a Signal. —
A Fearful Fight aginst Odds.— Death of both Red and White
Chiefs.— A Dash for Life. — The White Man's Revenge and
Heroic Death 147

CHAPTER XIV.

Escape in the Longboat. — A Terrible Sea. — A Sad Predicament. —
A Cave Sanctuary. — Fire from a Pistol. — ^The Dead Seal. — The
Interpreter's Death. — The Tramp commenced. — A Cudgel
brings Food. — Lost in the Wilderness. — Despair. — Red Men to
the Rescue. — Home ! 157

CHAPTER XV.

The Tenants of the Fort — A Western Hurricane. — The Bidarlde
Overset. — Doones to the Rescue. — Two Clatsops drowned. — A
Strange Burial.— Constructing a Bidarkie. — Felling a Giant
Trc3. — Some Artistic Carving and Weird Painting . . .166

CHAPTER XVI.

A Grand Hunting Expedition. — Canoes carried Sixty Miles. — Queer
Umbrellas. — Source of the Williamette. — A Callapu/a Ceme-
tery. — The Callapuya Village. — A Shot in the Dark. — A
Fine Breakfast. — The Ahsahta or Bighorn. — Washing Sheep. —
A Fall. — The Grizzly Bear described and encountered. — A Novel
Weapon. — Flight. — An Uncomfortable Night.— The Bear in his
Lair. — The Pit of Death entered.— Bruin's Fight and Defeat.—
A Deer Drive. — A Fine Day's Sport. — The Hunt concluded .

179

Xll

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVII.

PAOB

Back to the Lake.— A Callapuya Dinner-Party. — The Stolen Deer-
Skins. — A Skirmish. — The Village Fired.— Afloat again. — An
Ambush. — Stalking the Bobbers. — An Indian Game. — ^The
Gamblers Interrupted. — "Pay back the Arrow." — Woimded
remain at Source of Williamette. — Scalps and their Prepara-
tion.— The Scalp Dance.— Its Terrible EflEeot . . . .201

CHAPTER XVIII.

TheClatsops and Klamaths leave for their Summer Quarters.— Kiss-
ing Painted Faces. — Presents. — A Garden made. — Wild Goose-
berries and Currants. — Swimming the Pool.— The Candle Fish.
— Salmon Season. — Netting. — Spearing and Curing Salmon for
Winter 214

CHAPTER XIX.

A Signal of Distress. — Mrs. Doone in Bed. — Ruth and her Mother
as Huntresses. — Indians. — Ruth Fires. — So does Mrs. Doone. —
She Conquers but Falls. — Callapuya Threats . . .223^

CHAPTER XX.

The Fort in Danger. —Primitive Scaling Ladders. — The First Assault
Unsuccessful. — K'nick-K'neck. — The Defenders in Council. —
The Mines. — Another Attack. — A Holocaust. — The Wounded
oared for.— The Flatheads depart , 229^

CHAPTER XXI.

Beautiful Scenery of the West.— The Acorn Harvest. — Bread from
Acorn Meal. — Bartering. — ^A Ludicrous Incident nearly turns
to a Serious One. — The Furs in Store increase. — Races. — Perfect
Basket-weaving. — Nick-nacks of all Kinds. — **Wokas." — A
Temasoal. — A Premeditated Pilgrimage 23^

CONTENTS.

XUl

CHAPTER XXII.

PAOB

Programme of a Pilgrimage to Yerba Buena. — The Quartette start.
— Up the Umpqua. — The Camp. — A Simple Mode of Carrying
Gk)ods. — Sport in the Klamath Region. — The Tul^. — Towards
the Sea in Canoes. — An Earthly Eden. — Farewell to the Kla-
maths 250

CHAPTER XXIII.

Mount Shasta District. — Caught in a Strange Valley. — The Cave
with a Hole through it. — The Cougar.— Food at Last. — Raw
Mutton. — A Bullet Ballot. — Bernard's Adventure. — A Sfrange
Rope. — Out of the Vale of Despair. — Fire, the Friend of Man . 258

CHAPTER XXrV.

Fertility and Plenty once more. — A Peep at the History of Cali-
fornia. — Califomian Indians. — Their Food. — Burial Customs.—
The Sacramento.— The Wish-Ton-Wish.- Spanish Cruelty

266

CHAPTER XXV.

Down the Sacramento. — A Stranger hails. — Suspicions aroused.
—They make Tracks.- Hands Up !— Simola's Flight.— Closely
watched. — A Friend in Need. — A Desperate Struggle.— Death
of the Pirate Chief. — The Interpreter Hero. — A Laconic Epi-
taph. — Afloat again 276

CHAPTER XXVI.

Friendly Reeds. — Loads of Scamps. — Peacefully gliding Southward.
— A Village Physician. — Gold ! — Aboard a Native Craft. — Terba
Buena. — Tho Krate Schooner still in Port. — " Harbour Dues."
— Overhauling the Prize. — Home Again. — Joy and Sorrow . 286

XIV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEfl XXVIT.

PAGE

Refitting the New Vessel. — Metamorphosis of the Blue Belle, — Ready
to Sail. — What shall become of Fort Cornwall ? — Haste to the
Wedding. — Ra-ta-pal Disconsolate. — Kamsla Satisfied. — The
Wedding Feast. — Mexicans Disliked. — Don Miguel again.— A
Trip for Gold 292

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Homeward Bound. — A Gale. — Juan Fernandez. — They Land on the
Real Crusoe's Island. — A Tramp over Historic Ground. — Wild
Fruits. — Crayfish. — Manner of Capture. — Mount Tunque. —
Sleep Ashore. — Farewell. — Magellan Straits threaded. — Monte
Video 300

CHAPTER XXIX.

Pemambuco again. — Christening the Goats. — Cupid abroad. — Cap-
tain Bedford and Anneta. — Verde Island Oranges. — The Portu-
guese Sailors landed. — Nearing Home. — The Lizard sighted. —
Fowey reached. — The Return brings both Joy and Sorrow . 309

. ~ CHAPTER XXX.

A Bazaar opened. — The Last Council of War. — ]Mr. Doone speaks.
His Liberality. — A Present for Each. — Belton's Live Present.
Wedding Bells.— The End of the Yam ....

316

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

RUPBBT AND SiMOLA

" I BADE THE LANDLORD'S DaXTOHTEB GoOD EvENINO "

"Faeewkll, deab Anneta; Adieu!" .
The Fioht with the Fibatb ....
The Fbisonebs webe bbouoht fobtb fob Tobtitbe

OOM-PA-Nir INTBODUCED HIS FAVOUBITE SqTTAW
FOBT COBNWALL AND MaP OF DiSTBICT .

Theib tjnexpected Appeaeanoe tubned the Tide

Ra-PA-TAL OITAEDINO THE MOXJTH OF THE CaVE

The Boys assiditoxtsly pbactised Shoottnq .
The Clatsop Canoe was completely smashed
Blessino the Relatives of the dead Men .
They webe soon on the Tbail of the Beab
Quietly dbawino his Knife ....
The excited Huntebs scbambled down the Rocks
They pboceeded cabefully in Indian File .
The Tbio paddled by Ha-pa-tal and Bab-me-no
The Stockade was a complete Ruin
Bebnabd tbyino on Indian Faint .
Made a mighty Stab at the flying .^Vnimal
JvAN Febnandez: a Nioht Ashobe

OF Battle

PAOR

Frontispiece
. 35
. 52
. 59
. 90
. 99
. 113
. 128
. 135
. 145
. 169
. 173
. 193
. 197
. 205
. 207
. 217
. 236
. 245
. 271
. 305

C^e Jfur ^rivtrcrs of i^t Wit$t

CHAPTER I.

The Rsturo of The Hunter.— h Beautiful Town.— Village Rejoicings.
—William Doone of Fowej. — Baggage Ashore. — The Tvro Brothers.

It was a brigbt, breozy day, towards the end of October,
in the very year that Victoria, our gracious young Queen,
commenced her happy reign, that a small, but excited, crowd
o£ vilhigers had gathered upon the little stone quay at the
quaint old port of Fowey, in Cornwall. It was the second
occasion in one year that an event of importance had been
bruited through the village, and the inhabitants were all
agog with excitement.

The first event had been the death of King William,
the news of whose decease had reached the quiet little
humdrum village in less than a week ; which was quick
work sixty years since, when there were no telegraph wires
to flash the doleful news through the length and breadth
of the land with lightning celerity. The first event, the
decease of the King, was a national event, but the present
excitement, which was of such interest to the village, was
of local importance only — it was the home-coming of Cap-
tain David Rose in his trim little schooner. The Hunter,

Two years since the gallant Captain had left port, with
a very miscellaneous cargo, upon a trading voyage to the

a THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

western coast of North America, to try his luck at barter-
ing for bear robes, beaver, otter, deer, and other peltries.
It was a tremendously long a.id hazardous voyage for a
man to undertake, but Captaiil Rose was of iron nerve and
unflinching resolution, and being owner as well as skipper,
with neither wife nor children to give him anxiety, he had
staked his all in this one big adventure to the far West.

As he stepped on board to commence his voyage, his
remark to a friend had been, " I leave Fowey in debt to no
man, and take away not a single penny piece from the port
that would be missed if anything occurred to me. The ship
is mine, the cargo is mine, and the hope of a prosperous
voyage is mine also, and if God so wills it, I shall be back
in two years with a valuable assortment of peltries ; but
should a disaster happen to The Hunter^ why, it will be
like clapping an extinguisher over a candle — it will be
* Good-night to you, David Rose, and farewell to bonny
Fowey.' "

Let us just peep at the little town and see what it is
like.

Along the southern coast of Cornwall, between West
Looe and Mevagissey, the line of clifPs attain a consider-
able elevation, rising and falling like huge Atlantic
rollers. Between two of these massive granite clifPs,
which rise like giants sheer from the sea, is the entrance
to Fowey Haven (as the estuary is called), and a more
fitting title could not be given it, for the great guardian
cliffs completely shelter it from the prevailing, blustering
winds. One usually associates the word estuary with a
broad open space of water having low-lying land around
it, and so exposed, that the heavy winter seas may come
rolb'ng in without let or hindrance from the surrounding
shores. But it is not so with Fowey, for the entrance is

g:'

FOWEY.

80 narrow, that however fiercely the storm may rage upon
the main, it is all peaceful and comparative calm within.
It may hlow great guns out at sea, but open boats are in
no danger in this sheltered estuary.

We cannot wonder, therefore, that, in days gone by, it
was one of the principal ports in the west of England ;
and when the dreaded Armada threatened our shores, sent
out quite a formidable fleet to help to oppose and scatter
the Spanish dons in their Invincible fleet.

Coming to more recent times, is there ary wonder that
it was the chosen haunt of many smuggling vessels?
Captains watching the private signals from the bold head-
lands at the entrance to the harbour, could pop in and out
at all states of the tide and weather.

In those times Fowey wasalight among fishing ports, but
her radiance has now departed, the tall candle of prorperity
has waned, leaving but a little flickering spark to show
where once flashed forth the rays which helped to sustain
Elizabeth on her throne, and gain for her seafaring sons
the sobriquet of " Gallants of Fowey."

There still remain the great entrance hills and the
lovely pool of glittering water, into whose upper end the
river Fowey glides, and crossing the haven loses itself in
the sea beyond.

There still stands the old church, contemplating from
its prominent position the beauties of its surroundings. It
has looked down for several centuries on the fortunes of
the. little town at its feet, but never, it is feared, will it
witness such stirring sc -nes and thrilling times, as when
the Maiden Queen held sway in Merry England three-
hundred years ago.

The once long quay is but a fragment of its former self,
and much of it has ceased to exist since the great ware-

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

houses which formerly lined it gradually disappeared with
the diminishing trade, till nothing remains but a pleasant
sleepy little village, mustering but a few hundred inhabi-
tants, whose cottages and houses line the western acclivity
of the haven.

Notwithstanding its great past to look back upon, Fowey
still retains one of its features intact, and that is its beautv.

Clean, white-fronted houses, its fine old church, the
deep blue pool, the hills, the profusion of foliage and
flowers, forest trees, and healthy shrubs, several smart
trading vessels and a few tarry fishing vessels rocking
idly near the quay, all go to make it, even among Cornish
villages, a spot which lingers in the memory of visitors
to ancient Lvoncssc.

On the October morning in question, Captain Rose's
vessel had been sighted in the offing, and like wildfire
the news quickly spread through the village, and every one
was agog to sec the gallant skipper once more ; for he was
very popular among the people, and when at home was
sure to be first and foremost in anything that happened
to be on the local tapu.

Many of the younger fishermen and lads had scrambled
up to the top of the headland, upon which a signal pole
was erected, and this they had dressed with bunting from
the truck to the ground at the four cardinal points, so
that there was a most extensive show of bunting to greet
Tito Huutcr as she sailed into port, after safely accom-
plishing her round voyage of thirty-five thousand miles.

Flags were displayed on the vessels in the harbour and
on the quay, while from the open windows of the houses,
poles bearing bunting or coloured material were lavishly
displayed. From the summit of the church tower waved
a large royal standard, just as it may have fluttered many

THE " FEU DE JOIE:' %

generations ago, when the gallants of Fowey returned
from the fleet which had been in chase of the Armada.

As the weather-worn ship, with her patched sails,
showed herself at the entrance to the haven, the people
set up a hearty cheer, and the church bells rang out
with a merry peal, for the vicar was a warm friend of
Captain Rose, and willingly gave his consent for the
village ringers to welcome home their brave townsman.

On the quay there was quite a stir among the bustling
throng, for the village lads had brought down two very
ancient cannon, so old that no one knew how thev came
into Cornwall, they were of foreign make, and may have
formed part of the armament of the Armada. The
young rascals had mounted these obsolete cannon upon a
couple of fish barrows, and having attached ropes, brought
their ordnance through the village at full speed, yelling
at the top of their voices as they ran, and scattering the
people to left and right.

At the quay side they halted and loaded, and at a
signal two stalwart brothers named Doone applied red hot
irons from the smith's forge to the touch-holes, and bang
they went, sending out volumes of smoke ;,ud enough
noise to frighten the whole town and awoken the neigh-
bouring hills till they echoed again.

There was a bustle on The Hunter^s deck, near the
waist, and in a couple of minutes came an answering salute
from her four brass six -pounders ; these reports were so
unexpected that they quite scared the people, who for the
moment had forgotten that firing is a game two can play at.

As The Hunter neared the quay, many of those who had
friends or relations on board could contain themselves
no longer, they wanted to grasp the brave fellows once
more by the hand, and the time between the ship entering

$ THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the headlands to the momcut she should drop anchor was
too long for many of them to wait, so springing into boats
they pushed off from the quay, and boarded her as she
slowly and gracefully bore up the channel.

As the vessel neared the quay, willing hands helixjd the
bronzed sailors to furl the sails that had so safely wafted
the good ship across two oceans, and borne her crew back
to their loved ones at home. The young fishermen sprang
like monkeys up the shrouds, and in a very few minutes
the gallant Hunter was snugly berthed alongside the
quay. Such a hcene then took place, as only these who
have participated in the like can sympathetically describe.
Parted for two years, with thousands of miles of angry
sea between them, the reunion of husbands and wives,
fathers and children, brothers and sisters, was a touching
sight to witness. Such hugging and kissing ; such joy ;
such beaming countenances, and such streaming eyes are
seldom seen. Some of the poor women actually could not
find words with which to greet their loved ones ; their joy
utterly choked them. Many of the smaller children had
not seen their fathers for so long a time that they did not
quite know them, neither were the fathers quite sure of
their little ones, for there is a vast difference between a
youngster in arms and a little fellow of three trotting
about in breeches I

It was indeed a happy return ; as, of a crew of twenty
hands all told, not one was missing, and even the cabin
boy who had sailed away a thin lad of sixteen, had re-
turned a strong, '^turdy young man, a credit to his mother,
who quite embarrassed him with her loving embraces and
hearty kisses. Captain Rose was surrounded by a host of
friends, who all wanted to shake hands and congratulate
him at the same time. Questions were fired at him in

WILLIAM DOONE,

volleys ; in fact, he was completely stormed, and not only
stormed, but actually carried by assault, for kick as he
might, his townsmen raised him on their shoulders and
bore him ashore as a prize. Ho was a big powerful
fellow, but a single man in the hands of a dozen sturdy
fishermen is helpless, so he allowed himself, willy nilly, to
be carried to the village inn, where he was placed on his
feet and a speech demanded.

Like the hero that he was, he complied, first ordering
a barrel of ale to be brought out on the little green and
broached, that all might pledge his safe return in a
bumper. The abstemious Cornishmen were only too pleased
to have the opportunity, and as the horn mugs circulated
the Captain mounted a settle by the inn door, and for a
whole hour held forth to the good-tempered crowd, who
lustily cheered the recital of his various adventures.

Having spoken himself nearly hoarse, he presently
leaped from his vantage post, and, rushing forward, em-
braced a tall gentleman, who at that moment walked
quietly up. The new comer was the Captain's old school-
fellow and former trading partner, William Doone.

As they stood, hand in hand, they looked the very
picture of vigorous manhood, both of them typical English-
men in every respect. Captain Rose was rather above the
average height, of powerful build, thick set and massive,
with a large, tawny beard, bronzed visage, and two good-
humoured blue eyes.

William Doone was about the same age as the Captain,
that is, about forty, but much taller, standing six feet one
in his stockings ; he was not particularly broad, but had a
fine, deep chest, and long muscular limbs, which, by
their easy swing, showed great strength. He was dark,
and simply wore a moustache, the rest of his face being

TJIE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

clean shaven. His dark skin showed off his fine set of
teeth, which were often exposed by reason of his gay
humour and jocular manners.

The two men, arm in arm, made their way slowly along
the quay, the Captain stopping frequently to receive the
congratulations of his friends (who came from their houses
as he passed), and, leaving the little town behind, con-
tinued about half a mile along the side of the estuary,
when, ascending a slight acclivity which gave a fine view
over the water, they stopped at the gate of a pretty little
house nearly surro^mded by an orchard, upon the boughs
of some of the trees in which the golden apples still nodded
to the breeze.

As the two friends chatted up the pathway, the door of
the house was thrown open, and out stepped Mrs. Doone,
her face wreathed in smiles, and both hands extended to
welcome the wanderer home.

Then, holding him at arms' length, she scanned him
from head to foot, exclaiming :

" Now, wait a moment, David, let me see if it really is
you. Yes, it is indeed ; you great, brawny giant. Stoop
down," and, throwing her arms round his neck, she
saluted him with several hearty kisses, for they were
brother and sister. Then, linking her arms through those
of her husband and brother, they walked happily towards
the house, the exuberance of their joy making their coun-
tenances radiant with delight.

" But where are the boys, William ? — and where is my
pretty little Ruth ? " asked the skipper.

** Ruth," replied Mrs. Doone, " has gone to spend the
day at St. Austell, but will be home by eight o'clock, as
she will return with old Trereen the carrier. But surely
you have seen the boys ? "

THE TWO BROTHERS.

"■ No," said the skipper. " I rather expected they would
have been the first to leap aboard The Jltinter, but so far
I have not even seen them."

** I can account for them," said Mr. Doone rising,
" they would have been the first to greet you, David, but
knowing there would be a rush to board you they kept
ashore, and it was they who welcomed you with the salute
from the old cannon as you came alongside the quay.
Knowing you would have the whole town at you, I sent
them off on a certain little business w^hich should by this
time be about conclude^.."

Going to the door he gazed down the pathway towards
the village, and presently his face brightened up as he
exclaimed —

" Yes, here they come, and, by jove, deeply laden too.
Now keep your seat, David, for I expect the boys will
think you are sf'Il in the town, so it will be a pleasant
little surprise for them to find you here at anchor."
' In a few minutes the sound of happy voices and a great
deal oi heavy breathing and puffing was heard. The
sounds proceeded from the boys toiling up the pathway,
carrying something heavy between them. Then came a
cheery " Dad, give us a hand here, will you ? we've
brought a whole houseful of furniture on our backs, and
goodness knows what besides."

Mr. Doone stepped outside and burst into laughter,
which was the signal for the skipper and ^Mrs. Doone to
rush to the door also to see what was in the wind.

There were Rupert and Bernard, rer two sons, nearly
hidden by the number of articles they were carrying ;
they had been to the ship and brought Uncle David's
belongings with them. They had brought his bedding,
his canvas clothes-kit, and his old wicker-chair, which

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

they had unscrewed from the cabin floor. In this old
chair the skipper sat when he wished to be on the alert,
and could not afford more than an hour or two's slumber ;
if he turned into his berth he found it too comfortable,
and slept heavily, but if he sat down in the old wicker-
chair, which was so pliable that it gave with the rolling
motion of the ship, he was ready to jump up, dressed as
he was, and rush upon deck.

Besides these cumbersome articles, they had each a
basket ; one filled with eggs and butter, and the other
with groceries, so that they were, as Mr. Doone had
remarked, " heavily laden."

When the boys caught sight of their uncle's burly
figure in the doorway, they, with one accord, dropped
their respective loads in the pathway, except the egg
basket, which Mrs. Doone luckily secured before its con-
tents had been converted into a deplorable mess of butter
and broken eggs.

The meeting between the boys and their uncle was
indeed a hearty one, and as he grasped each lad by
the hand he could not help congratulating them on
their smart looks, for, during his absence, Rupert had
developed into a very fine young man, and Bernard was
also bidding fair to grow into a fine lad in another year
or two.

Rupert, who was now nearly twcD**'^, was like his father,
tall and dark ; there was " just a tathom of him," as his
uncle put it, nnd his daily exercises of rowing and
swimming had so developed his muscles that he promised
in a year or two to become as strong as his father. He
already had the frame, and only wanted to fill out and
" furnish," as it is termed, to make hxm an unusually
fine young fellow. He had dark hair, and intelligent

LIFE A yOKE.

dark brown eyes, while his nose being slightly curved,
gave him somewhat the appearance of a gipsy.

Strange to say, his brother Bernard was rather fair,
having light hair and blue eyes. He was just turned
seventeen, and of a sturdy figure, thicker set than his
brother, but not so tall by four inches ; but, as he said,
" Give me time, and I will eat plenty of pudding till I
catch up with Rue. I have four years yet to grow, and
surely I can do an inch a year ! "

He was fond of wrestling, and had won several prizes
for lads.

In temperament there was a great deal of difference
between the lads. Rupert was somewhat inclined to look
too seriously at his surroundings, while Bernard was quite
the reverse, taking everything in a humorous manner,
always trying to see how much fun could be squeezed out
of everything that came before him. His life was a con-
tinuous laugh, and, as he affirmed, " he was born laugh-
ing, meant to laugh through life, and hoped he might be
found with a smile on his countenance when his last hour

came.

Such were Rupert and Bernard Doone ; and now let us
see what followed the greeting.

CHAPTER II.

The Captain's Surprise. — Ruth. — A Retrospect of David Rose and
William Doone. — A Thirty-five Thousand Miles Voyage projected
and safely accomplished. — A Glance at the Far West.

The lads carried the goods and chattels up to the
house, and placing the wicker-chair in the sun, in a snug
sheltered corner, they seated their uncle on the " throne,"
as they termed it, and having brought out four other
chairs, the party formed an audience to listen to the,
skipper's yarns of a two years' voyage. /

Hundreds of questions were put and answered ; then it
occurred to Rupert that it would be better to wait until
Ruth came home in the evening before asking the skipper
to spin them the yarn through from beginning to end.
This was agreed to, and what with chatting, comparing
notes, eating and drinking, inspecting the pigs, and
perambulating the garden, the time soon slipped by and
eight o'clock arrived, at which hour Ruth was expected
home. y

All evidence of the return of Captain Rose was care-
fully hidden from sight, and he himself was spirited
away to a lumber room, while the rest awaited impatiently
for Ruth's return.

At last her footsteps were heard as she came up the path-
way, but instead of coming in at the door they heard her
proceed to the window, through which she was evidently
peeping to obtain a glimpse of Uncle David ; no one took

THE CAPTAIN SCUTTLED.

•3

the slightest notice, and presently she hurst into the
room with,

" Well, mother, I am disappointed ! why the news has
reached St. Austell that The Hmiter and her crew have
returned safely to Fowey, and I have been so excited at
expecting to find Uncle David here, that I have not eaten
a morsel since I heard the good news. Oh, mother, I do
feel disappointed," and the tears stood in her pretty eyes,
telling of her love for her uncle.

Poor Ruth sat down and did not appear at all herself,
and her brothers began to tease her, asking why she
heeded every little bit of gossip she heard.

" Why," said Bernard, " uncle may be down among
the mermaids at the bottom of the deep blue sea, for what
the folk at St. Austell know, and, if so, there will be a
nice row in Neptune's camp, for he was always a lady
killer, and if "

Crash ! Bang ! — and then came strange and excited
words from the scullery. Everyone leaped up, and
Mrs. Doone, flinging open the door, revealed Uncle David
vigorously rubbing his shin with one hand, and his nose
with the other. His face was smeared with soot, and his
coat covered with flour, but in spite of his wild appear-
ance, Ruth sprang into his arms, and very soon she had
transferred a part of the soot from her uncle's face to
her own.

Everyone roared with laughter, and on looking in the
glass the gallant skipper joined in the merriment, laugh-
ing till the tears coursed down his tanned cheeks.

Then he explained how it was he had caused such con-
sternation, both to himself and his friends. He left the
lumber room, intending to steal across the scullery, and
burst into the pnrlour as a surprise to Ruth, but unfor-

14 THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

tunately it was he who got the surprise, as he fell over a
pile of saucepans and tin ware, which had heen carelessly
left by the maid, that she might clean them early in the
morning, for in Cornwall but little work is done after
dark.

He had rather a severe cut on his shin and another on
his forehead, but Ruth's nimble fingers were soon busy
with scissors and plaster, and the wounds were skilfully
dressed.

Ruth's usual appetite returned at supper time ; after
which meal, in answer to the calls of the boys, the skipper
commenced the yarn of his voyage to Oregon. What he
said would be much too long to recapitulate, as it took him
several evenings before he, as he termed it, " dropped
anchor," or in other words brought his narrative up to
his arrival in Fowey Haven.

We will, however, summarise the principal items of
his voyage, and with a few incidental remarks concerning
both him and Mr. Doone, place the reader in possession of
several facts that are necessary for him to know, so that
he may grasp the why and wherefore of many things in
this veracious story.

Each evening during the recital of his adventures, a
select company of friends and neighbours were present,
and most cheerful were these gatherings of old friends,
who were pleased to listen to the daring stories of adven-
tures by sea and land, as told by the gallant Captain
Rose.

First we will take a retrospective glance.

David Rose and William Doone were both bom in
Fowey, of an old lineage, for their respective and
respected families had resided in tije district for many
generations.

THE TWO COMRADES.

11 over a

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arelessly
y in the

ne after

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ikilfully

.-1

s; after

skipper
^hat he

;»

►ok him

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i up to

;eins of

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3ion of

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ags in

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dven-

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m in

and

nany

As boys they went to school together, first in the little
village school, and afterwards to the grammar school at
St. Austell, a few miles distant. They were constant
companions, sharing the same bed at school, the same
lessons, and the same drubbings, for it must be owned
that being high-spirited lads they w^re frequently involved
in scrapes, both in school and out, which usually ended in
a wholesome and just castigation. It must not be sup-
posed that they were " bad " boys in the ordinary accep-
tance of the term, for they were not ; but they were
leaders among their companions, and planned and cap-
tained all the little exploits which boys usually indulge
in during their happy, callow school-days.

If an orchard was to be visited^ Rose and Doone were
there ; if a boat had to be captured for an hour or two's
fishing, they were in it ; if there was a fight with the
town boys, David and "William did not fail to leave their
marks on some of the foe. Being thus, like David and
Jonathan of old, more as brothers than friends, it is not
to be wondered at that when the time arrived for them to
leave school, they were apprenticed to the same skipper,
and sailed together to many a trading port on the English,
Irish, and Welsh coasts.

When the lads were out of their time, Rose, who was a
better sailor than Doone, became skipper of the Fairy
Belkf a small trading schooner ; Doone being engaged on
the same vessel as supercargo and factotum. The ship
was owned by Mr. Doone, senior, and upon his death,
when William was about two-and-twenty, she became his
property.

David Rose, who was two years older than William,
was a very steady, sober young fellow (his school pranks
were forgotten), and he quickly simmered down into quite

;

THE rUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the ideal sea captain, frank in manner, reserved in speech,
alert, and ever ready to seize any opportunity that pre-
sented itself for his own or his employers* advantage.

He and Dooue hit it capitally together, and eventually
the ship, stores, and cargo became the joint property of
the two young men ; for Rose was a saving fellow, and
had a little money by him, which, added to certain sums
advanced by his friends, provided a sufficient amount for
him to purchase a half share in the Fairy Belle.

By perseverance, frugality, and a fair share of good
fortune, their business affairs prospered ; and by-and-by
an event happened which further cemented the ties
which bound ithe fortunes of Rose and Doone together ;
this was no less than the marriage of William Doone 1o
David's only sister, Hetty. And a right happy marriage
it was, for Hetty was very fond of her big husband, and
managed his home affairs during his absence as if she
had been born with a quill pen behind her ear.

In due course Rupert was born, then came Bernard, and
finally happy, smiHng Ruth ; but then came a day of
sadness for the family, for Mrs. Doone, the mother of
"William, met with an accident which eventually caused
her death.

By his mother's death Mr. Doone's mode of life was to
a great extent changed, for he now become the owner of
a fair- sized farm, which was, however, mortgaged to a
considerable extent, and the working of which caused him
to spend much more time on land than formerly. Even-
tually, after spending nearly twenty years in the coasting
trade, he disposed of his half of the venture to Captain
Rose, and devoted his time exclusively to his farm and
business of ship's chandler.

Captain Rose's fair fortune continued for another two

A TREMENt)OUS VOYAGE,

or three years, till on a certain voyage to Bristol be fell
in with a party of Americana, one of whom had been in
the fur trade of the Ameiican far West, indeed, he had
been in Mr. Aster's service when that gentleman founded
the American Fur Company, by establishing a depot,
called Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River in
Oregon.

The stories of adventure, and the profits which were to
be made by trading with the Indians for furs, fired Cap-
tain Rose with the idea of fitting out a veesol and pro-
ceeding to the coast of Western America to traffic for
furs and peltries with the natives.

For six months he worked at the idea, knocking it into
practical form, and at last made up his mind to start by
fitting out a suitable vessel for the long and perilous
voyage of nearly eighteen thousand miles.

With Doone's assistance a smart schooner called Tlie
Hunter was purchased at Plymouth, and freighted with a
cargo of common guns, leaden rods for bullets, coarse
gunpowder, blankets, knives, coloured ribbons and tape,
needles, looking glasses, linen, iron and tin saucepans, tin
goods, and a hundred other "notions" as the Yankees
would call them.

The fitting out caused a great commotion in the little
half-hidden town under the hill ; but one fine day away
went The Hunter with her hardy crew, amid the God-
speeds of the entire population.

To follow the course of Captain Rose and recount his
various adventures would take up as much space as the
story which follows this introductory matter, so we must
content ourselves with a brief epitome of what was done
on the voyage out and at home.

The run across the Atlantic was uneventful. They put

THE FUR TRADERS 01' THE WEST.

in at Baliia for fresh provisions and ran down the South
American coast without mishap, till, nearing the Straits of
Magellan the weather became somewhat blustering, and
in going through the dreaded Straits they lost their
mizzen topmast, which broke off at the cap, and falling
upon two of the hands injured them severely. They put
in at a Peruvian port for a week, while the injured men
were attended by a doctor ; fresh water, vegetables, and
sheep taken aboard, and a new topmost made and rigged.

Then they sailed with favouring breezes northward ;
had the usual cases of sunstroke and dysentery while
passing through the tropics, and at length, after a voyage
of six and a-half months, ariived off the North Californian
coast. They ran along the coast slowly, making frequent
calls at the mouths of rivers and other likely places for
trading ; but found the natives either quarrelsome or in-
disposed to barter, the surroundings rocky and dangerous,
the locality unsuitable, the entire absence of population,
or some other circumstance to cause them to proceed
farther, till they came one day to a bold promontory,
which from their chart they knew to be Cape Blanco,
near the southern extremity of the Oregon coast. Here a
heavy westerly gale overtook them, and they drove before
it along the coast, fearing hourly that they should be
driven on the rugged shore and become a total wreck, but
as by stress of weather they were blown dangerously near
the shore, they, on the second day of the gale, perceived
a tall rugged headland jutting out far into the wild
ocean. . , ;

Strive as they would, they could not claw out to sea in
the teeth of such a gale, and gradually they neared the
massive, rocky headland, against which in a short time
they would strike, and then, God help every soul of them,

STORAf AND CALM.

for they were no belter than dead men. Everything that
human hands could do had been done, and now they tried
what human lips and tongues could do for their salvation.

They prayed : and as they prayed their deliverance was
shown them, for through the mist they saw, to their joy,
a smaller headland nearer to them than the huge one
upon which they expected to end their lives. Between
these two headlands they could discern certain effects upon
the sea which told them that it was the embouchure of a
river.

Now let the gale blow ; they ran cheerfully before it,
and in another hour were safely moored to the lea of the
small headland, a mile up the river Umpqua. Here they
stayed for several weeks among the friendly Indians, and
then cruised as far north as Vancouver's Island, - here
they received a great number of sea otter and deer skins
in exchange for their trinkets. Up the Columbia River, on
their return, they sailed for seventy or eighty miles to where
the Willamette River joins the parent stream, and were
fairly successful in their negotiations with the natives ;
but through the indiscretion of two of the crew, they had
to leave the trading port for fear of being massacred.
Here they met with several hair-breadth adventures which
we cannot record, as these pages will presently be filled
with many of even a more startling nature.

Back to the Umpqua River they sailed, and ascended it
for some forty or fifty miles to where it forks ; one branch
going to the west and the main stream to the south. Here,
upon an isthmus at the fork of the two rivers, they built
a hut, and spent the entire winter ; living in peace with
the Indians, whose village stood in a sheltered position on
the bank of the main river — the Umpqua proper. In the
ensuing spring the Prairie Indians came in with many

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

packs of fine furs, which they readily bartered for the
curious commodities of the white men.

Early in May they set sail for England, and after a
voyage of alternate calms and gales, some of which were
favourable to their passage, arrived in Fowey, as we have
seen, in the following October safe and well.

Such is the very brief epitome of the voyage, in which
the many most interesting details of adventures and
incidents have been purposely omitted, as they are really
not part of our story, although connected with it. Sufficient
has been stated to convey to the reader a reason for what
follows.

ClIArTER III.

Doone's Diltinma.— He takes Council.— Tlie Cargo of The llimUr.^
The Convoy to London. — Rupert's Bide.

When at the end of many convivial evenings the Captain's
account of his long voyage came to a close, it became his
turn to inquire into the welfare of his old comrade Doone.
This he did, and we will now give a short recapitulation
of Doone's account of his circumstances.

" Well, David, I must tell you frankly, I am not doing
at all well. As you know, there is a rather heavy mort-
gage on the f 'ir»n ; I have just one hundred acres, and the
mortgage amounts to £2,000, for which I have to pay £100
a year as interest. That I can afford, and I pay it as
regularly as quarter-day comes round, and am pleased to
do so ; but the mortgagee requires his money, and although
I have several hundred pounds that I can scrape together,
still, I cannot muster more than one-third of the mortgage.

" I am in a fix ; I do not wish to sell the farm, which has
been in our family for many generations, and I do not like
to borrow the money to pay the mortgagee, as I might get
into the hands of some sharp person who would, by-and-
by, foreclose and sell me up, house, land, and stock.

" My present income is ample for my wants, but I have
little prospect of saving enough to pay off the mortgage,
even if old Mr. Prothero would oblige me by waiting for
the money.

'"^ ^'^ r^^o^.s o^ ru^ ^^^^

better than one, so let the mL* *^ ""^ *"<' ^^^ are
^ into fi,„,e; a miM^'Z^,;-''''^' and we ^U

£: -"^^ ^^^ '» » p-«-i n.»„n;4t;te:^

specialty as t^ are ^11 Z^f *" '"' *«'-'
financial predicament '"^'^ ""« »»' of mv

tw2ered?oir ' '''' -"^^ "^^^ ourHttll

brlStfr ^"°"^' ""'''''- ^« ""ad conCnded. David
" Now look here AVi]i;„^ j »

this plaguy business fo;r;i.t^r°*^'"°'-'^'''»"'
cudgel my brain for a solutiZ^f I ^'^^a^'^nie I will
do not devise something pSi ^ f ""'*^' '^^ " I
into a new ship's biscuit ag^Tle/^/- "^ "^ *' ****''
most of w>atyou iust tJf 4. ^*'" "' ^ lave heard
add that I am' ^Zy'^JZllZi ""' ^f^' -«> ^ -7

:n'=stKdli^-S^^^^^^^^

upon the quay. ^ '"^ « t'"' W dry store-shed

i'n due course merchants from B„- * 7
camo to look at the valuaWe ^J^ . f • ""*' ^^y"""*''
™«ny of the bales ^erJtlZZ : "'' ""'^ " ^'^a'
^•"•y ample margin of profit?!; " ™*" *"' !«*' a

fe profit, but 8 great number of the

THE CAVALCADE.

best furs and peltries were reserved for the London
market.

"Weapons and curiosities picked up on the voyage, found
ready purchasers among the many Bristol merchants
who came to inspect the skins, but when the larger part
of the cargo had been disposed of the store was closed,
and its most valuable contents packed in four huge, lum-
bering waggons, ready to start tor London.

In those days there was no railway into Cornwall from
the Metropolis, so that all goods had to be conveyed by
road ; the distance from Fowey to I^ondon being nearly
three hundred miles, such a journey was quite a serious
undertaking. There were three horses to each waggon,
and as twenty-five miles per day was as far as they could
conveniently travel, the cavalcade would be just a fort-
night on the road, as Sunday would be regarded as a day
of rest for both man and beast.

It was a fine frosty morning in November, when the
little cavalcade commenced its long, weary, cold journey,
but both Mr. Doone and Captain Rose looked upon the
trip as a very pleasant one, for they anticipated a very
profitable termination to the yenture.

The cavalcade, as we have said, consisted of four wag-
gons, each drawn by three horses, with a reserve horse,
ridden by Bernard ; there were bix men to act as convoy
(two of whom > OiC well armed), while Mr. Doone and the
Captain, both well mounted and armed, brought up tho
rear.

A week previous to the starting of the waggons a
mounted messenger had been despatched, with notices to
several London merchants advising them of the coming
of such a freight of skins as seldom rriched London for
public sale ; ^aost of the fur trade being tarried on through

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE IVEST,

the agents of the Hudson Bay Company. The messenger
was also instructed to place advertisements in several
London newspapers, giving full particulars of the sales.
This trusty messenger who set out alone on horseback wks
Mr. Doone's eldest son, Rupert. A ride of three hundred
miles in our present well-governed country is very dift'erent
to what it was sixty years ago, when the highways were
infested by highwaymen, ever ready to plunder those upon
whom they could pounce with impunity.

Rupert had received his orders to travel only between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and these instructions he
rigidly adhered to, making the best of his v :^y ough
the wild western counties in broad daylight, iiiw young
man did the full distance in six days — a very fair per-
formance, considering the state of the roads and the many
hills ne had to cross, especially at the outset.

Without any incidents of travel worthy of note, Rupert
arrived safely in London on the Saturday after the
Monday upon which he set out, and there we will
leave him, in a state of astonishment at all he saw and
heard (for it was his first visit to the Metropolis, or, f
indeed, any largo town or city), while we see how things
fared with Captain Rose and his convoy

CUAPTER IV.

The Fur Convoy Starts. — The Conversation on Dartmoor. — A Startling
Proposal. — Its Acceptance. — The Land Pirates at the Inn.— Fallen
Among Thieves.— Nineteen, Twenty I — A Lucky Shot. —The Furs
Sold.

The first three or four days of the journey were most
enjoyable, being clear, cold, and sunny ; but the two
leaders had plenty to talk about and luany arrange-
ments to make, as they crawled slowly along the un-
dulating roads at an average of a little over three miles an
hour, which was the rate of their travel.

Having passed safely across Dartmoor, that vast western
wilderness, beautiful in summer and dismal and wild in
stormy winter, the conversation one day took this turn as
the comrades rode side by side over the springy turf.

"Now, "William, it is a fortnight since we had that
little chat about your affairs and your future prospects ;
but, as you know, T have had out little opportunity of
speaking to you on private matters while these things
were being prepared for the London market ; but now ihzt
we have a long day before us with nothing to do but to
ride and converse, with an occasional halt to wet our
whistle (for we sailors are so impregnated with salt as to
be ever in a state of drought), why, we can look into our
future prospects at our leisure. I say 'our,' because
whichever way I look at it, we seem to have been pre-

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

!«

ordained for partners, and right well we hit it ; what do
you say, William, eh ? "

" While we were partners,'* replied Mr. Doone, " we
did well together, William; but while you have been
successfully climbing the tree of prosperity, I seem to
have crawled out on a branch, which at any minute may
snap and bring me to the ground, from which I should
find it very difficult to climb again, even if I had any heart
left to attempt it.

*' You see I have had a bad year of it, David ; first I
lost - cows by some plaguy disease ; then, in April,
my littlu fishing lugger, Hetty ^ was lost, with all her gear
and two of her crew ; this was followed by the bankruptcy
of one of my creditors, my largest, in fact ; and now, to
crown all, that old rascal Prothero, seeing me on my
knees, tries to crush me still lower by foreclosing on the
mortgage."

" Cheer up, old comrade,'* cried the Captain, in his
boisterous manner ; " who can tell what the future has in
store for you ? Wait and hope, and probably things may
turn o^^t brighter than you anticipate.'*

" Uh, never fear, David, I'm not going to despond ; I
and my youngsters are alive and well, and while we have
health at our backs there is no need for crying peccavi.
But, my friend, I think you will own that I have had a
very large share of ill- fortune for one year ? "

" True, I have thought of that, and I am now thinking
of what I said a few minutes since as to our suitability to
share each other's fortune. We have constantlj'^ been
together since we robbed old Trevelyan's orchard when
we were schoolboys, and had the luck of being imcaught
in running the blockade, even when he had his men on
the look-out for us, eh ? Our apprenticeship together was

A FRIEND IN NEED.

»7

t do

a happy one, our partnership in the coasting trade was a
prosperous one, and why should we not again join our
hands and trade in unison ? "

" Because," said Mr. Doone, pointing to the waggons,
" you are, in comparison to me, a wealthy man, and my
affairs are in such a shaky state that I am afraid a
partnership is out of the question."

They rode on for a long time in silence, thinking deeply ;
but at length, as the horses walked side by side up a steep
hill, the Captain again spoke :

"What do you say, William, to my paying old
Hunks the £2,000, and taking the mortgage on my own
shoulders ? "

" Say ! why say you would make me the happiest man
alive, and I should pay you the £100 a year fo? interest
with the utmost cheerfulness."

" Very well, old comrade, when I have disposed of the
furs I will carry out my suggestion, but that is only part
of my grand idea ; now give me your opinion upon this
scheme.

" I have a project in my mind that I want you to help
me carry out, for it is one tliat in a space of three or four
years should make us both men of means — that is, it
ought to place us both in comfortable circumstances for
the rest of our days. Here is my plan—

" Before leaving my quarters on the IJmpqua River, I
placed a half-bred trapper, named Simola, in charge of
what remained of my cargo, instructing him to barter
with the natives until I returned to him next autumn.
With him I left two strapping young Mandan Indians,
who were with me on my Columbia expedition, and as
they have plenty of provisions to last till my return, they
should not only keep my trading station free from possible

»s

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

(but not probable) rivals, but have a good store of peltries
ready for me to take on board.

" I am certain that a great deal of money may be
made from this venture if you will help me to carry out
my scheme, which really requires two heads.

" 1 will offer you these terms- —

" Let your farm to your worthy old neighbour farmer
Treffry, who has been so willing to help you in your
trouble ; then, with what money you can scrape together
— some £700 I believe — you shall become my partner,
and I will place a like amount in the concern to victual and
freight The Hunter, and if more money is needed I will
supply it without prejudice to our equality as partners,
for your wife and family will be of considerable monetary
value in the affair. Pardon me putting it in that way,
but likening your youngsters and my sister to * stock ' is
merely my way of saying that if I have a greater
pecuniary share of the fitting out of the expedition, still,
your family will make your contribution of equal value
to mine, fo^ it is a well-known business axiom that ' stock
is as good as money,' " and the Captain roared at his
little witticism.

" Yes, yes ; I know that, David," said Mr. Doone,
looking extremely perplexed ; " but how do you propose
to turn Hetty and the boys into * stock ' ? "

* Why, in this way," laughed the Captain. " I propose
that when The Hunter is ready for sea that, leaving all
your Fowey property either in the hands of friend Treffry
or a trustworthy bailiff, you and your wife and family
shall take the voyage to the far West with me, and become
agents for our little firm on the Umpque River and the
district around. I will promise you it is a lovely place,
and has a grand climate ; it is healthy, and inhabited with

THE CO yf PACT,

friendly natives. I can then trade along the coast in
The Hunter, visiting the many tribes of Chinooks, Flat-
heads, and others who inhabit the coast during the
summer season.

" What do you say, "William ? "

Mr. Doone turned excitedly in his saddle and, grasping
his comrade's hand with a firm, honest grip, while tears
stood in his eyes, said :

" I cannot thank you enough for this great kindness,
David, it has quite unnerved me to think there is yet an
opportunity of gaining something to leave my boys and
Ruth, and I gladly say * Yes' to your proposition with but
one reservation — that Hetty also approves of our scheme,
and acquiesces in changing her comfortable English home
for a log cabin in the wild West. True, it would be but "■
temporary exile, and if all went well we should return in
two or three years with ample means to live once more in
dear old England."

So for the present the scheme was left in abeyance, the
journey and prospective sales being the principal themes
of conversation.

At the end of the first week the weather became very
cold, and several heavy snow- squalls occurred, which ren-
dered travelling very slow work ; but being so early in
the season — mid November — they had no apprehension of
enough snow falling to block them on their journey.

Enough fell, however, to turn some of the soft roads
into quagmires and greatly impede their progress, so that
to reach London by the appointed time they had to
prolong their day's work till 6 p.m., and this travelling
in the dark produced for them an adventure which
threatened to put a sudden termination both to the journey
to London and their subsequent voyage to the West.

THE PUR TRADERS OF Tl/E WEST,

It was getting towards the gloaming one evening wlien
the cavalcade stopped at an inn to ascertain if accommoda-
tion could be found for the horses and their drivers ; but
the landlord informed them that, though he could only put
half of them up at his house, he would see what some of
his neighbours could do to take in some of the horses and
men ; but while he was busying himself in this business
two well-to-do looking young men, who appeared to know

the district, informed Captain Rose that at N ,

about four miles on the road, there was a large, old-
fashioned inn that could afford them every accommodation,
and as they were going that way they would pilot them,
if they might be allowed to do so.

Their offer was accepted, as the place recommended
was but an hour's journey, and it was much better for the
vans to be in one yard, and the escort under one roof,
than scattered about a village, as would be the case if they
stayed where they were. The cavalcade was therefore
sent forward while the leaders stayed behind to explain
matters to the obliging landlord on his return. By
spurring on the steeds they could soon catch up to the
vans which went lumbering along but slowly. They
remained about twenty minutes, when, becoming tired of
waiting, and anxious to overtake their vans for fear they
might take a wrong road, Mr. Doone, the Captain, and the
two young men, who were well mounted, rode off, leaving
Bernard, who was fond of making incidents of travel, to
pay the score and thank the landlord for the trouble he
had been at in scouring the village for their benefit.

We must leave Bernard at the inn for a short time
while we recount what happened to the four travellers in
their endeavour to overtake the caravan. They chatted
amicably enough as they proceeded at a smart trot;

mmm

CAUGHT BY LAND PIRATES.

3»

Captain Rose and Mr. Doone riding side by side, with
one of their new friends on either flank, and all went
well enough till they came to a short steep hill, with a
wood or plantation on the right, and a gorse- grown
common on the left.

Without any intimation from their riders, the horses
slowed down to a walk in ascending the hill, when
suddenly, by means of some preconcerted signal, each
young man, from the interior of his riding cape, drew
out a pistol and desired the two friends to halt ; at the
same time reining back their steeds to either side of the
roadway.

The one who ctfvered Mr. Doone with his weapon
quietly said :

" I am very sorry, gentlemen, to part with such good
fellows so soon, but we have altered our minds, and do
not go farther with you ; kindly dismount and turn out
your pockets, as we are unfortunately in somewhat
straitened circumstances ! "

Mr. Doone, who saw that any attempt to snatch a
pistol from one of his holsters would be both foolish and
futile, suddenly drove hi.^ spurs into his horse's flanks,
and as the startled animal gave a mad plunge and reared,
he threw himself forward in the saddle to evade, if pos-
sible, the anticipated bullet.

His ruse, however, availed but little, for the robber
fired, and the ball sped to its billet, passing through Mr.
Doone's thigh, and entering the side of his horse, rolled
the poor animal orer in the roadway.

Unfortunately for its rider, the horse fell dead on the
spot, having been shot through the heart, and in falling
completely pinned his rider to the ground, so that it was
impossible for him to rise.

3«

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

ISilr. Doone was for a moment stunned with the sudden
fall, but opened his eyes just in time to see his assailant
draw another pistol and point it at his head.

Raising one hand in front of him, and entreating the
robber not to fire, he placed his right hand on the ground
behind him to raise himself, and in doing so put his hand
down upon the butt of one of his own pistols, which had
fallen from the holster. The robber saw the movement,
and taking deliberate aim at Mr. Doone's chest, pulled
the trigger, but for some reason a flash in the pan was
the only result.

The prostrate man noted this instantly, and raising his
own w^ vpon fired at the robber, sending a ball through
his breast. As he received his wound the robber was
standing in the stirrups, with the intention of hurling his
pistol at Mr. Doone's head. He was too late, however,
and as his arms dropped heavily at his side he sank into
his saddle, a gush of blood from his mouth and nostrils
telling of the fatal wound he had received.

Wheeling round, the robber's horse made away over
the common, and in the gathering gloom both the animal
and its lifeless burden were quickly lost to sight.
: Mr. Doone swooned away froia excitement and the pain
of his wound, which was greatly intensified by the weight
of the dead horse lying upon him.

Matters were not quite so bad for tlie Captain ; but what-
ever inclination for resistance he might have had was
completely subdued by his looking down the barrel of the
other robber's pistol, which was extended towards his head
at a distance of only three or four paces.

Obviously his only course was to obey the behest of his
captor, and alight.

This he did, and at the robber's command stripped off

AT DEATH'S DOOR.

Ills great coat and spread it in the roadway ; then, one by
one, he was ordered to turn out his pockets.

This alsi) he did, but that was not enouj^h ; he was
enjoined to take off his coat and waistcoat, and produce
the pistol and contents of his liolsters. These requests
were reluctantly complied with, and then to his mortifica-
tion, he was requested to ritle the pockets of his apparently
dead comrade.

This was too much for the Captain's temper, and he
commenced to use some of those choice flowers of speech
which one usually associates with anger in a sudor. Nay,
he went further, and flatly refused to sacrilegiously riflo
the clothing of a dead man (for so he supposed his friend
to be\

" Then, ray friend, there is but one way," salJ the
mounted robber, quietly. ** I will slowly count t>venty,
and if you have not then commenced to hand ojt the
belongings of your comrade, which will not be o? any
further use to him, I shall provide you with a leaden
supper, and do the work myself."

" One ! " and the pistol was held unquaveringly towards
the Captain's head.

*' Two, three, four," &c , came quickly from the robber's
lips.

When eighteen was reached, the Captain, with his
arms folded on his breast, exclaimed :

** You cowardly villain ! Fire, and be hanged to you ! "

•' Nineteen ! " from the robber.

Then, as his lips were forming the word ttreHft/, a loud
and startling rcix)rt was heard, and the thievish hand
which a moment before held the deadly weapon at the
gallant sailor's head, fell to his side a ghastly mangled
mass of bone, sinew and quivering flesh.

IhlB t^UR TkAttERS 0^ THE WEST,

With a couple of hasty strides the Captain was by the
side of his assailant, and taking him by complete surprise,
seized him by the waist, dragged him from his horse, and
hurled him with a thud to the earth.

In another second Bernard leapt over the fence and
rushed to his father, who had apparently been killed, and
tried to raise him, but could not do so us the weight of
the horse was too great for him.

. " One second, Berny," said the Captain, quickly, "while
I strap this fellow's arms behind him with my bridle-rein."

As they were tugging at the dead horse to get him
clear oi his master, three countrymen, who had heard the
shots fired, came upon the scene, and with their aid Mr.
Doone, who had partly recovered from his swoon, was
carried to an inn a mile farther along the road, ' re they
found the vans halted for the night.

Mr. Doone was put to bed, and a man despatched to
the nearest town for a medical man. In an hour he
returned, attended by a doctor and a man to take charge
of the prisoner, and lodge him in jail.

The bullet, in its course through Mr. Doone*s thigh,
had fortunately escaped both bone and large arteries, and
the doctor pronounced the wound of such a favourable
nature that he might travel in one of the vans in two or
three days, if no serious symptoms supervened.

On examination, the thief's hand presented a dreadful
sight. The bullet which had struck him had entered at
the elbow, and after ploughing its way along the muscles
of the forearm, had escaped at the wrist, only to enter the
back of the hand and completely shatter it upon the hard
stock of the pistol. The limb was next day amputated
above the elbow in D jail.

Of course, Mr. Doone and the skipper were both anxious

HERNARD'S STORY,

to hear how Bernard came to fire the lucky shot just in
the very nick of time, and we cannot do better than repeat
his own words.

When you left me and rode off from the inn I quite

"X BADB THE LANDLOBD's DAITaHTXB OOOS EYENINa."

anticipated having to wait some time for the landlord, but
I was much surprised to see him return almost before you
were out of sight. I explained to him that you had gone

on to H , thanked him for the great trouble he had

put himself to on our account, and paid the reckoning.

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WE Si.

" I bade the landlord's daughter good e\eiiing, and,
mounting my horse put him into a brisk trot, hoping to
catch you before you arrived at our halting-place, especi-
ally as you said you would ride slowly to give me time to
rejoin you.

" After I had ridden about a mile, I heard a pistol
fired at no great distance ahead of me, and then the soimd
of angry voices which reached my ears in the stillness of
the evening, without sufficient distinctness for me to catch
the precise words used.

" I stopped my horse and listened, then alighted and
ran qiiietly round the bend of the road where, to my
horror, about one hundred yards ofp, I saw two men on
horseback and another prone in the road.

" I scarcely knew what to do, not recognising any of
the forms in the crepuscular light, but hitching Beauty's
bridle over a gate-post, I seized my pistols from the
holsters and leapt over the gate into the plantation, and
ran swiftly, but iioiselessly, along behind the hedge to
where the mounted men were confronting each other.

"A glance over ine fence showed me that it was you,
father, who lay inanimate upon the ground, vhile uncle
was covered with the pistol of a mounted man, who was
seated with his back towards me.

"I had cocked my weapons as I ran, and although pant-
ing for breath, I took as steady an aim at the villain's back
as possible, but somehow refrained from, taking the man's
life, for he was but a few feet froiri me, although he knew
nothing of his peril. I suddenly altered my aim and
sighted for his upraised hand, thinking that to cripple
the rascal would be better than having a fellow creature'9
blood on my conscience all my life long.

" Getting his hand in my line of fire 1 pulled the

THE HIGHWAYMAN SENTENCED.

trigger, and with a shriek his hand fell shattered at his
side.

"You know the rest.

** Had my first shot proved futile I should have planted
the second hall fairly hetween his shoulders."

On the thfi'd day the party moved on again towards
London, the prisoner preceding them in charge of two
Bow Street runners, for he was wanted in the Metropolis
on more than one charge.

To abridge our story as much as possible, we may say
that Mr. Doone's wound gave him but little trouble, and
in a day or two after reaching town he was hobbling
about again.

The sale of the skins took place on three separate
days, and, as expected, realised good prices, the total sales
amounting to close upon £4,000.

Paul Venner, as the bloodthirsty highwayman called
himself, was tried at the Old Bailey, and for his share in
the attack on our friends and a charge of forgery, was
sentenced to transportation for life. His friend, who was
shot by Mr. Doone, died of his wound two days after the
contretemps.

By the time their business was finished in London,
over five weeks had elapsed since they left Cornwall, and
having sent the waggons and men oif on their return
journey to far-off Fowey quite a week before, our four
friends booked seats and on the 21st of December
mounted the ** Western Star " coach and journeyed to
Plymouth, where a conveyance was ready to take them
to Fowey, which they reached safely on the 24th, glad to
be at home once more to join in the usual Christmas
festivities.

Mr, Poo»e had by this time cjuite recovered from his

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

wound, and the trio told the story of their adventure with
the highwaymen as a capital joke, scarcely realising how
near the Doone family had been to a Christmas of sorrow
instead of one of joy.

Still, as Mr. Doone said, " All's well that ends well,
and thank God that he allows us once more to reunite
around our cheery fire- side and sing carols to His Son's
remembrance."

CHAPTER V.

Springtime. — The Hunter Refitted. — A Glance at Her Stores. — Her
Cargo. — The Plan of Campaign. — The Hunter Sails.

Spring had succeeded the mild winter which is usual in
our most favoured county of Cornwall, and everyone in
Fowey was happy and busy preparing for the harvest,
both of land and sea, which would in due time take place.
The harvest of the sea would come first, and at that the
inhabitants would toil cheerfully, while others, probably
of the same family, would be tilling the soil and sowing
the seed, which by-and-by would grow up and ripen into
corn, and prodiiro the land harvest. But besides these
two harvests } ; mother was being looked forward to,
and that was a harvest of skins and peltries in the far
West of America.

Mr. and Mrs. Doone uiid their family had signiiiod
their intention of joining their fortu' es with that of
Uncle David, and preparations were being made for a
long voyage and a long sojourn iii an uncivilised land.

The Hunter was hauled high and drv on the stocks, and
while some were scraping and re-cip^ving her bottom, the
suilmaker and his mate were helping the rigger to re-
canvas and refit her spars. Two carpenters were busy
refitting her interior and placing a bulkhead across her
hold so as to partition off a considerable space towards the
stern for a comfortable cabin, which was to be fitted with

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

lockers, tables, nipboards, and other contrivances in most
unexpected places. The hold was fitted for the reception
of skins, and the forecastle made comfort abh- for the men.
The cook's galley amidships was considerably enlarged,
and received u brand new cooking range and a perfect
armoury of pots, pans, and the other glittering articles
which go to make a good batterie dc cuisine.

Rupert and Bernard, styling themselves "ship decora-
tors," presided over the paint pots and brushes, and
during March they painted everything paintable, from
the figure-head to the taffrail, and from the white trucks
on the tops of the masts to the figures on the rudder post,
such a gaily decorated craft never before left Cornwall,
and if she arrived safely at her destination would cause a
deal of wonderment among the Indians. On the last day
of March T/ie Hunter was launched from the stocks and
brought alongside the quay to receive her stores and

cargo.

Now for a glance at her stores. She carried provisions
for two years, and wuen it is remembered that she would
carry twenty-five persons all told, it need not be wondered
at that the stores filled many waggons. There was for
several days a continual going and coming of carts and
waggons containing a heterogeneous assortment of all
kinds of food, drinks, and requisites, both for ship and
crew.

There were barrels of beef and tierces of pork, and many
huge casks of ship's bread and biscuits ; potatoes in heavy
boxes to protect them from rats and sea water ; large
canisters of tea and coffee, which were luxuries in those
days and only meant for cabin use ; sugar and molasses,
salt, pepper, and mustard, oatmeal for porridge, flour for
puddings and pies, butter in hermeti' ally sealed jars, dried

CARGO OF A TRADER.

fruits, bottled fruits, honey, and jam, salted fish, raisins
and currants, soda, soap, anu other domestic necessaries,
tobacco and pipes, oil, spirits, and wine for high days and
holidays, and many little nick-nacks which Mrs. Doone
took as " private ventures," as the captain called her spices,
pickles, and other little luxuries.

Then there were heaps of bedding, blankets, and sheets,
boxes of clothing, and boots and shoes, books, medicines,
crockery, guns and rods, colour boxes and drawing instru-
ments, and u host of cabin requisites.

Weapons for ofPence and defence had to be thought of,
and as our friends were going to a country where fre-
quently "might is right," they had to go well armed, and
this is how that part of the lading was carried out.

Five iron guns were mounted on deck, viz., four
4-pounders, and a long eight ; there were also two pivot
guns, one on either side of the vessel ; these were bell-
mouthed and intended to be loaded with slugs for firing
at belligerent boat crews. Forty muskets, and a like
number of pistols and cutlasses, were stowed in the arm-
chest, while deep down under the floor of the cabin was
made a powder room, lined with iron plates, which in turn
received a coating of duffel. In this was stored twelve
casks of gunpowder, some for use and some for barter, and
quite enough in quantity to have blo^yn up a huge three-
decker.

Last, but far from least, the cargo was stowed, which
for the purpose in view was of a most miscellaneous kind,
and as the articles are verv seldom to be met with on an
ordinary vessel, we will glance at some of them.

Here are huge bales of blankets, coloured cloths, calicoes,
and printed linen goods, all of the most gaudy and inex-
pensive kinds ; there are largo casks quite full of glass

li^

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

beads of all sorts, sizes, shapes, und colours ; another
full of knives, another of spear heads, axe heads, and
common swords. Those long cases contain trade guns,
with deal stocks painted vermillion and cast-iron barrels
more deadly to shooter than to shootee. Smaller cases
contain earrings, brooches, bracelets, and other jewellery
for the squaws (and men too), and, yet, other cases are
filled with mirrors, earthenware, mugs, and drinking
vessels, fancy bottles, and china ornaments. Sticks of
metal, about as thick as one's finger, are tied in bundles ;
these are round rods of lead to be cut up into bullets as
required by the natives. Then there are cases of tin mugs,
saucepans, kettles, and other culinary utensils, needles,
chains, brass ornaments; red, blue, and yellow povrders
for painting the persons of the Indians ; while drums,
flutes, whistles, tambourines, cymbals, and triangles fonn
the musical department, and who can tell what else was
stowed 'tween decks of the gallant Hunier ere she was
pronounced ready to put to sea ? Almost the last
articles to come aboard were twenty hogsheads of water,
the most necessary article of all.

Before our good friends sail away let us see how
things were to be left and cared for during their absence.

Captain Rose had paid ofE the mortgage on Mr. Doone's
farm, much to Mr. Prothero's chagrin, as that worthy
gentleman did not at all require the monei/, but had a
covetous eye on i/w farm itself, which was so pleasantly
situated that he longed to have it for his own estate His
idea was that by foreclosing, Mr. Doone would be in a
dilemma, and not being able to raise the money when
suddenly called upon, would forfeit the land.

As we see, however, the biter was bitten, for Mr.
Prothero was paid off, and an honest farm bailiff, John

PLANS I'OR THE FUTURE.

Trefry, left in charge of the farm and homestead until
Mr. Doone's anticipated return in about three years.

The plan of the partners was very simple. They were
to sail round Cape Horn and then up the west coast of
South America, till they arrived at the north-west coast of
California, where four men had been left at different places
to get the Indians in the mind to trade with the white
men. These were half-breeds whom Captain Rose had
left on his previous voyage home.

Then The Hunter was to proceed to the Umpqua River,
in south-west Oregon, and ascend it about fifty miles to
the station which the Captain had already formed. Here
n fort or trading house was to be built, and Mr. Doone,
his wife, sons and daughter, left in charge to barter with
the Indians, and send out agents among the outlying
tribes to induce them to trap, shoot, and hunt with a view
of bringing their spoils to the white men for trade.

Everything being settled at Fort Cornwall, as they were
to christen their new stronghold, the Captain was to sail
up and down the coast and put into likely places, and
purchase furs of the natives or half-breed hunters. He
was to watch for the signals of the four agents he had put
ashore in North California, and when they made certain
signs was to send a boat's crew ashore, with an assortment
of goods, and exchange them for the spoils of the native
hunters. This means he proposed to adopt, because,
although he had faith in the honesty of his own agents,
he had not with the tribesmen with whom they would
associate, for they would for a certainty murder the men
for the sake of the goods in their charge. No goods,
therefore, were left with the agents.

By holding out promises of profit when the big white
canoe, The Hunter^ returned, the agents' lives would be

<ri

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

quite safe, and they would meet with every assistance
from the tribes with whom they might happen to
sojourn.

On the 28th April, 1838, everyone in Fowey was
awake and astir by sunrise, very early it is true, but then
a great event was to take place that day ; it was the day
assigned for the sailing of The Huntery and did she not
carry some of the finest fellows that ever belonged to
their little town ?

To be sure she did, and fathers, mothers, brothers, and
sisters, uncles and aunts, to say nothing of cousins, had to
be up early to take leave of their relatives, whom they
might never see again. And it was a leave-taking, hearty
and true. Empty " good-bys," such as one hears when
everyday friends part, were not heard, but sobs and sighs
that came from the very heart's core sounded on all
sides, and many a fervent, silent player and ardent bless-
ing accompanied the handshaking and kisses, which were
the outward and visible signs of loving hearts parting, per-
haps for ever. Hearty, loud leave-takings there were, too
— rugged and honest — counterparts of the speakers' faces,
kind words were exchanged which would be the voyagers*
solace through many a weary night and perilous day.

Tears were shed, hopes were expressed, council given,
kisses and tokens exchanged, hands shaken, and forms
embraced, and then from the tall masts the sails dropped
down one by one, the moorings were cast off, and the last
lingerers stepped on the quays.

Cheer after cheer made the surrounding houses and
hills echo again ; while the breeze catching the sails sped
the good ship through the narrow exit from the htiven ;

«9'

THE HUXTER " SAILS

and as she glided through, the youtlis and maidens, old
men and children, who had assembled on the cliffs, again
raised their voices in loud hurrahs to speed the mariners
on their way.

An hour after, a speck on the grey horizon gave those
gathered on the headland the last glimpse of the good ship
Hunter, bearing away many a poor soul whose grave and
not his fortune was to be found in the land of the setting
sun — the Far West.

, i

nlMBai

CHAriER VI.

Paaa the Cape Verdes. — Crossing the Line. — Pernambuoo. — Donna
Annetta. — Tumbling round the Horn. — Valdivia.— 'I'he all-fitting
Poncho. — Socarro Islands. — The Pirate Vessel.— Suspicious Ques-
ions. — Preparing for a Tussle. — A Stubborn Fight. — A Terrible
Carnage. — Despair of the ••Hunters." — A Strange Explosion. —
Victory ! But How P

With the equinoctial gales over, and a fine summer in
prospect, the long voyage of The Jlunter was commenced
under happy circumstances, both as to time of year and
staunchness of ship, so that her owners and crew alike had
great faith in u safe voyage.

The Doones were all used to the sea, so that maUde-mer,
which so freque^-tly causes a considerable amount of dread
to those who " go down to the sea in great ships," for the
first time, had none of the usual terrors for them. Many
a contemplated pleasure cruise is nipped in the bud and
foregone, because of the dread of having to pay Neptune
his customary tribute.

It is a pity that the anticipatory contemplation of a few
hours' sea-sickness should act as such a deterrent to many
would-be sailors, as the after sensation of buoyant spirits,
hearty appetite, and healthy, clear complexion, amply
compensate for the transitory pangs of a brief spell of sea-
sickness.

I II

I ii

A SOlirAHy ISLAND,

;

The Booues had no fears of this kind, and simply
gloried in the motion of the bounding vessel and the tingle
of the cool salt air on their cheeks, as they rose at an early
hour each morning. In mid-May, the days on the Atlantic
are delicious, and the cool keen morning air soon gives
place to the balmy air of the middle day, which makes it
feel a positive pleasure to know and feel that one is alive.

Continuing their course, day after day, in a S.S.W.
direction, they passed the Cape do Verde Islands in broad
daylight, and so eager were the boys and Ruth to set foot
in a foreign land, that they begged the skipper to put into
harbour just for one day ; but as wind and weather were
alike fair, he was loath to comply with their request.

" I am very sorry," he said, " but we must make the
most of our time while the ship has everything in her
favour, for by-and-by, when we get to the Horn, we may
have to lie to for days, from stress of weather. We have
scarcely commenced our voyage yet, and do not know
what may be in store for us before we reach our destina-
tion. We are now in the tropics, and in a few days, if
all goes well, shall be crossing the line, when we will have
some nautical fun. Then we edge away westward, till we
sight the South American coast, and if I can manage it we
will put into one of the ports in Brazil, and give The
Hunter * a breathing spell * while we fill our water-casks,
and take in fresh vegetables, beef, and a half-dozen live
sheep. How will that suit you ? "

The young people were delighted with the proposal and
heartily acquiesced.

The weather now grew hotter each day, until one
morning at daybreak, an island was discovered right ahead,
which Captain Rose told them was the Island of St. Paul,
situated about 500 miles N.E. of the nearest land (Cape

" s

■1 r<

4.1 ■

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

S. lioque in Brazil) uml only a few miles north of tie
Equator.* • » ' . ,

" Now Bernard," said Rupert, ** there is the very place
that would suit you to live and become \\ second
Robinson Crusoe, 500 miles from the nearest land, no ono
to quarrel with or to molest you, and so hot that you would
need nothing in the way of warm food all the year round.
I will warrant every tree on the island to be evergreen,
which, I believe, is the case with all the trees in the
trcpics. Look through this glasi? and you will see a nice
little cove where you can keep a boat, and there, between
those jagged rocks, is a plateau where you might build a
wigwam, and live without having to pay rates and taxes.
Think of it and let us put you ashore. You Avill be king
of the island, builder, butcher and baker, your own doctor,
and finally, if you can manage it, your own undertaker.
What do you think of these advantages ? Say yes, and
we will lower a boat and maroon you."

Bernard thanked his brother, but was quite content
with his lot as a subject on ship-board, without wishing
to exchange it for a solitary monarchy ashore.

At noon that day they crossed the line, and great was
the fun they had. All the usual frolic appertaining to
passing the equator for the first time was indulged in.
Most of the crew had crossed before, but several of them
were new to the southern hemisphere, and with Rupert
and Bernard had to undergo all the pains and penalties
that Father Neptune chose to inflict.

Abel Kenway, the boson, represented his Majesty and
made a fine ocean god. He was stripped to the waist
and had great bunches of dripping seaweed hung round

* A barren rock belonging to Brazil, and now used as a "half-way"
telegraph station by an English company.

FUN ON THE EQUATOR.

his loins; while a splendid crop of hair, made of tow, and
a beard of the same material was formed into three long
plaits, or pig-tails. From his shoulders a patch-work bed
quilt swept downward to the deck, and completed his
costume. A tall tin crown was mounted on his head, and
in his hand he carried a trident. His myrmidons were
dressed in an equally fantastic manner, and at Neptune's
bidding shaved, lathered, and bathed all the new comers.

Even Mr. Doone took his share in the amusement, and
varied the proceedings by standing the barber's boy head
downwards in his own bucket of lather.

Oh, what a shaving brush was used ! and as for the
razor, its blade was fully two feet long.

Despite the terrible heat the fun was kept up till nearly
midnight, for Father Neptune brought forth his fiddle and
everyone danced themselves into a perspiration and then
took a souse into the sail filled with water, which hung
between the masts. The main brace was spliced, and
toasts drunk, songs sung, and various games kept up till
a late hour, so that the proceedings of crossing the line
were very unlikely ever to fade from the minds of the
participants.

Most of the crew, and the boys also, slept under awnings
on deck while in the tropics, for being towards the end of
May, the days were intensely hot, and even the nights
were none too cool.

So alike was one day to the next, that it was quite
difficult to remember the day of the week ; but what to
ordinary individuals would have seemed a period of dull
monotony, was to the boys a glorious time of fun and
amusement, and then hilarity and constant sportiveness
imparted itself to everyone on board, so that everything
went as merrily as a wedding bell.

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

One morning they noticed a number of gulls flying
above tbem, betokening their approach to land, and then
was frequently asked :

" How far are we from South America, uncle ? "

" At what point shall we first touch ? "

" How long shall we remain in port ? " and a score of
other questions, which had to be repeated and answered
several times before land was actually sighted.

" Now, my lads," said Captain Eose, " you see the South
American coast at last, and if all goes well we shall anchor
in Pernambuco harbour this evening. It is a queer place,
and you will enjoy yourselves, during a couple of days
ashore, for I will introduce you to my old skipper, Captain
Bedford, who settled there some seventeen or eighteen
years ago, and who will be pleased to show you about
Uhecity.'"

Pernambuco is indeed curiously situated, and is, in
reality, three towns under one municipal government.

As one approaches the coast, a long peninsula is seen
running nearly parallel to the mainland ; on this is built
the first portion of the town, which is called Recife. On
the seaward side of this is the harbour, defended by a line
of rocks, which at low tide are several feet above the
level of the sea, but at high tide they are covered. Forts
govern the harbour and dominate Recife, which is the
fishing and shipping quarter of Pernambuco.

Between the peninsula and the mainland lies the island
of San Antonio, upon which is built the town of that
name ; while on the shore of the mainland lies Boa Vista,
the third town. Bridges connect the three towns, which
at the date of our story contained some 50,000 inhabitants.

San Antonio is the heart and fashionable part of
Pernambuco, and contains the principal buildings — the

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

governor's house, prison, treasury, town -hall, barracks,
and the monasteries of the Carmelites and Franciscans.
Altogether it is a most strange place, even for an ex-
perienced traveller to visit for the first time, and to our
friends was quite a revelation of quaintness. Captain
Bedford entertained the Doones at his house for three days,
during which time they had a long drive into the interior,
and a long boating excursion about the towns and up the
river Capibaribe, having for their guide, Donna Anneta,
Captain Bedford's daughter. She was a beautiful girl of
sixteen, and acted as housekeeper to her father (who was
called Don Frederica) ,as his wife had been dead some years.

Poor Bernard was quite overcome by her beauty and
unaffected manner ; her dark eyes seemed to bum two deep
holes into the poor lad's heart, which in a great degree
spoilt his pleasure, as it did his appetite for two or three
days after they sailed.

Anneta was tall, dark, and slight, with wavy hair
approaching blackness, and of a most merry disposition,
which at times amounted to boisterousness ; yet there was
nothing vulgar nor unmaidenly about her ; she thoroughly
enjoyed herself, and made those around her do the same,
simply because she could not help it. Her very nature
was gay.

When the good ship Hunter sailed on the fourth day,
all the Doones were sorry to part with Anneta ; Ruth
and she had so romped together like sisters, being of the
same age, that their embraces at parting were not without
tears. Had Captain Bedford not been tied to Pernambuco
by certain business arrangements, which could not be
cancelled, he would certainly have taken the opportunity
of joining ihe party which Messrs. Eose and Doone pro-
posed he should do.

■1;

V <

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

Poor Bernard was quite upset at parting with pretty
Anneta; lie told her he would certainly come and see her
when they returned in a couple or three years' time, and
implored her to try and influence her father to take up

" FAEBWELL, DEA» ANNETA; ADIEU !"

his residence in England again when his present business
engagements ran out.

" For then," said he, " maybe I might be able to see
you frequently, whereas thousands of miles will soon part
us. Farewell, dear Anneta ; adieu ! "

STORMY MAGELLAN',

For two or three days he sat moping on deck, eating
but little and talking less ; but gradually his boyish spirits
returned, and while running down the South American
coast he no more sorrowed for " the girl he left behind
him," although his thoughts often flew back to Per-
nambuco.

The four thousand miles between Pernambuco and the
Straits of Magellan took them nearly six weeks to sail,
as they had contrary winds and gales, which greatly
delayed them ; in fact, when they arrived at the entrance
of the Straits, Captain Rose found the difficulties of navi-
gation so great that he decided to turn the Horn rather
than face the intricacies of the rocky Magellan Straits in
such blustering weather.

This course added several hundred miles to their voyage,
but the extra time involved lessened the risk, for by making
a wide detour they had ample sea room, which was of
great consequence in such stormy weather.

It is SI fficient for our purpose to say that the " turn of
the Horn " was safely accomplished, although it took them
more thaa three weeks to reach the west coast of Pata-
gonia, ar 1 even then they did so in a very battered state,
having lost their foretopmast, a boat, hencoops, and other
deck gear.

There was no help for it but to rig a jury topmast
and run for the nearest port in Chili, and this they did,
although it was some 1200 miles to the north of their
present position.

Valdivia, which was the port for which they made, is
situated in a beautiful bay, said to be the largest, safest
(from its natural position), and most capacious port on the
South Pacific coast.

The town, however, did not compare favourably in the

:i:

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

eyes of our friends with Pernambuco, which they had
left nearly three months since, as it was a mean, woebegone
little place, and seemed to have great afl&nity for fire,
having been nearly destroyed by that element on more
than one occasion ; and in passing we may add that in
1837, the year before our hero's visit, the town was so
shaken by earthquake that but little of it was left.
Indians, Spaniards, fire, sword, and earthquake have left
but little of what was at one time a prosperous and
wealthy town.

They stayed but three days at Valdivia, just long enough
to have a new foretopmast made and rigged, but this
gave the boys time for a scuttle ashore so as to see what
the inhabitants were like. They were not greatly taken
with the people, as they appeared neither civilised nor
savage, but merely an unsatisfactory link between the
two. Swarthy in complexion, unkempt as to hair, not
over clean in person, and strange in dress ; these were the
chief points about these South Chilians.

The " poncho," a kind of mantle, struck Rupert as a
very comfortable and picturesque garment. It was simply
a large piece of thick waterproof cloth with a hole cut
through the centre, through which the head is thrust, while
the remainder of the garment is allowed to hang down all
round the wearer. It is both picturesque and serviceable.

" Now," said Rupert, " that is what I call a sensible
article of apparel. It fits anyone ; there is no fussing
about to find the armholes ; no buttons to fasten, unfasten
or rumple one's temper with by coming off ; no pockets ;
no collar. It is simply perfection, and takes at least a
couple of lives to wear one out if it is made of good
material in the first place."

Then, having exhausted his eloquence, he persuaded his

DUE NORTH.

father to purchase one for him ; this was done, and Rupert
afterwards acknowledged that it was a most useful and
comfortable article. Put on or off in a moment, it after-
wards proved a friend to him in many ways, as by day it
carried his little sundries of travel, and served him for a
seat or a pillow on warm nights ; on cold ones it was his
counterpane.

Leaving Valdivia behind. The Hunter ploughed her way
northward ; for they had so far only proceeded half way
upon their long voyage.

With fair winds, they made good progress, running from
80 to 130 miles a day when the elements were favourable.
Day by day the time crept slowly away, slower now than
at the commencement, for the novelty of being at sea had
to a great extent given way to a kind of apathy, every-
thing being taken as a matter of course ; but not long after
crossing the line for the second time an event occurred
which effectively woke up every member of the ship's
company, from the cabin-boy to the skipper.

While running up to the South American coast. The
Hunter had been kept a long way from the shore, so as
to give her plenty of sea room in case of a storm, and that
they might miss any outlying rocks, and also be out of the
way of passing coasting vessels, which might run them
down at night. From Point Payta, in Lat. 5° south, they
were making a bee-line for the Californian coast, instead
of skirting the rocky shores of Guatamala and Mexico,
when one morning land was descried right ahead. At
this the Captain was immediately called on deck, for they
did not expect to sight the Californian coast for two or
three daj^s.

Captain Rose was soon on deck with his telescope, and
on consulting his chart made the land oui to be the island

wmum

=:«v«yyty,-

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

of Socorro, one of the Revilla Gigedo group, lying some
300 miles S.W. of Cape San Lucas at the southern point
of Lower California.

It is a large island, some 30 miles long, and the ship's
head was pointed directly for it ; her course was soon
altered to N.W. so as to leave the island on her larboard
side. There was only a light wind, and the vessel was
moving but slowly through the water, when a schooner
was observed leaving the harbour of Socorro and bearing
also to the west.

The ships gradually neared each other, and when they
were but a couple of miles apart, Captain Rose ordered
the Union Jack to be run up, so that the stranger might
know their nationality. To the surprise of those aboard
The Hunter, a Union Jack was also displayed by the other
vessel ; which bore up for them and signalled that they
wished to communicate. The sails of The Hunter were
therefore eased off, and her spanker brailed, to give the
schooner an opportunity of overtaking them sooner than
she otherwise would, for the stranger in a light wind
was a much faster sailer than The Hunter.

There was quite a commotion among the crew of
the latter vessel when it was seen that theirs was not
the only vessel belonging to old England in these distant
seas.

The stranger approached, and when within a hundred
yards, a man on the fore part of the vessel hailed Captain
Rose in English, but with a distinctly foreign accent,
" "What ship are you, and where are you bound for ? "

" The Huntery from England, bound for Columbia
River."

" What is your cargo, Captain ? "

" A general cargo," answered Captain Rose, with some

A SUSPICIOUS VESSEL.

suspicion that all was not right ; " but who are you, and
where are you from ? "

" This is the English schooner William III., from Costa
Rica to Yerba Buena, with fruit and mollasscs."

" Why, you are taking coals to Newcastle, my friend ;
they have plenty of fruit at this time of the year without
importing it from Central America."

" Captain of The Hunter, will you come aboard my vessel
and do me the honour of drinking my health in a bottle
of good Spanish Port ? I have also some of your country-
men sailing with me who would be pleased to see you."

To this Captain Rose replied, " Thank you all the same,
but I want to make the most of what little breeze there
is, and wish you a pleasant voyage. Good morning."

During this colloquy the Captain had had his eye on
the strange vessel, as he looked upon her with suspicion
for several reasons, among them being the fact that only
three or four hands could be seen on the deck of the
strange vessel, and they were of the pale chocolate com-
plexion peculiar to the natives of Central America ; no
white men were visible anywhere, except the swarthy
person speaking, who appeared to be a Spaniard. The
sharp eyes of Captain Rose also noticed four heaps of
lumber, two on either side of the deck, which he surmised
might possibly hide four guns.

As the Captain stood at the taffrail of The Hunter
several other men made their appearance from the after-
hatch of the stranger, and carelessly lounged about
her deck, which made him more suspicious that the
William III. was not what she purported to be — a
peaceful trader.

The mate Harding stood at the Captain's side, and in a
(juiet tone the latter informed him of his doubts as to the

1
u

i.ai

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

vessel alongside being honest in her intentions, and told
him to go quietly among the crew and warn them that
they must be prepared for a skirmish. To Rupert and
Bernard he gave instructions to open the arm chest and
powder magazine ; to bring powder and shot quietly on
deck in a covert manner, that no suspicion might be
aroused on the part of the stranger captain, who was now
seen to be talking to two of his men, although he never
took his eyes off The Hunter,

The latter vessel had now resumed her course with
the William III. about a cable's length distant on her
starboard quarter, but it was evident that she could come
up to The Hunter in a few minutes whenever she chose.

" What do you think of her, Doone ? " said the Captain.

" I am afraid, Rose, that she means us no good, so let
us arm quietly so as to show no bustle to the stranger,
and then, having arranged for the defence of the vessel
and assigned quarters to the crew, bring up powder and
cannon balls and load as quickly as possible."

Every man was armed with a cutlass and brace of
pistols, while eight of them also received a loaded musket
and ammunition.

Mr. Doone and the two boys were also armed, while
Mrs. Doone and poor trembling Ruth were locked in the
cabin.

Three men were told off to each gun, and at a given
signal they loaded them as expeditiously as possible ;
others, while they were thus occupied, bringing up bales,
boxes and casks, which were placed in certain positions
on the deck, and against them beds, blankets, &c., piled,
so as to form a couple of breastworks for the men to take
shelter behind ; and as these improvised forts ivere, to a
certain extent, bullet-proof, those inside them woidd be

THB FIGHT WITH THB FIBATB.

SUSPENSE.

ftt

somewhat sheltered from the fire of the enemy's small
arm=?.

Directly the pirate captain — for such he doubtless was
— saw what was going forward on The Hunter's decks,
his own guns were quickly unmasked, and the lumber
which had covered them utilised for protection in a some-
what similar way to that aboard The Hunter.

On came the William III., and to the dismay of our
friends, her deck appeared to be crowded with men of all
colours, from the swarthy Spaniard to the full-blooded
negro — there were fifty of them at least — and a more
fiendish lot of villains were never gathered together than
those who made the air ring with their horrid yells.

The men of The Hunter stood firmly at their posts, with
no voice heard except those of the Captain, mate and Mr.
Doone, who hurriedly issued their orders.

Rupert sprang from the hatchway with four small bags
in his hands, one of which was firmly rammed into each
of the four-pounders. They were bags of nails, and cal-
culated to do great damage to their black opponents.

Yard by yard the enemy approached, till, when nearly
alongside, she fired her guns at The Hunter, but no groat
damage was done, except knocking some holes through
her bulwarks and smashing a boat which hung on the
davits.

Not a gun was fired by The Hunter's crew, by the Cap-
tain's orders, and as the enemy ranged up alongside, her
commander shouted :

"Will you heave to, or shall we come aboard and
slaughter every mother's son of you ? "

Captain Rose's reply was addressed to his own men :
"Fire!"

And at the word, the guns belched forth their metal

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

contents, and several men were seen to fall on the enemy's
deck. This made them furious, and a continuous musket
fire was now commenced upon each vessel, v;ith the result
that three of The ILinter's men were hit — one of them
shot through the head and the other two severely
wounded.

The guns were loaded again, this time with odds and
ends of iron, and by the Captain's orders were hauled to
the waist of the vessel, as he anticipated being boarded
near the bows, the enemy having forged ahead.

He had not long to wait for his surmise to be proved
correct, for the sails of the pirate were suddenly braced
round, which caused her to collide with The Hunter^ s bows.
Grappling-irons were flung aboard, and over her weather
bow came at least thirty howling, yelling fiends, armed
with axes, pistols, and long knives.

** Steady, Hunters ! " cried Captain Rose, '* wait for the
word," and standing by the weather bulwarks, pistol in
hand, he waited till about twenty of the enemy had
reached his deck and were rushing to attack them ; then
in stentorian tones he cried : " Fire ! " and simultaneously
the guns poured their miscellaneous charges into the mass
of humanity before them.

A dreadful sight met the gaze of Captain Rose and his
crew as they charged forward beyond the smoke which
was quickly dispersed to leeward. At least a dozen of
the blacks were writhing on deck in mortal agony, while
three or four others were lying dead and motionless where
they had fallen. Still, there were plenty left to fight,
and yells, groans, and sharp reports told of the severity of
the melee.

Rupert and Bernard fought like lusty young Britons,
each brought his opponent down and turned to face

A SANGUINARY FIGHT.

fresh foemen. In front of Rupert was a gigantic yellow-
faced Mexican, who with his broad axe had already placed
two of The Hunter's crew /iom de combat, and this savage
immediately turned his attention to our hero, who,
nothing daunted, rushed at him with his cutlass, intending
to get a blow at the giant before he could swing aloft his
murderous axe, but ere he could accomplish his purpose,
he, in his eagerness, trod upon the arm of a dead man,
which gave a roll under his foot and threw him backwards
headlong to the deck, but not before the giant's axe had
descended upon him somewhere in the region of the left
shoulder.

The stroke of the axe, and the concussion with which
he came backwards upon his head, completely stunned
him, and he was as motionless as a corpse, when the giant,
thinking he had killed him, immediately stooped with
the intention of securing his watch and chain, the latter
of which had caught his eye. '

His hand was upon the chain when Bernard, who had
seen his brother stricken down, dashed forward, and with
a terrific stroke of his cutlass, sent the black's woolly head
rolling into the scuppers, where it lay, with its blood- shot
eyes wide open, to the horror of our hero.

Captain Rose and Mr. Doone, backed by their men,
fought heroically for two or three minutes, by which time
two of the guns in the rear of the combatants had been
reloaded. Suddenly the v*I/aptain cried out: "Knrtersto
the bulwarks ! '' and as they opened out, the gum were
fired at the remaining foe, at such a height above deck as
not to touch those lying on deck, for among them were
several of their own comrades. This completed the defeat
of the boarders, as those remaining leaped over th?) bows
of The Hunter, some reaching their own vessel iafely.

KSSM!

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

while others, suffering from wounds, jumped short, and
fell into the sea, where two of them were drowned. The
rest were saved by a boat from the pirate, except two who
were humanely hauled aboard The Hunter and placed in
irons below.

The William III. dropped astern, as if to take
breath after this terrible engagement, in which it was
calculated they had lost about ten killed and fifteen
wounded.

Of The Hunter's crew three were killed and five
wounded, including Captain Rose and Rupert.

The former had his left forefinger cut clean off and a
pistol bullet through his left forearm.

Rupert, poor fellow, was in a sad plight, for his collar
bone was broken and a cut in the back of his head exposed
the bone for a distance of about two inches.

Mr. Doone was the recipient of a black eye and swollen
forehead, both of which he received from the fist of a
negro, whom he had disarmed, but beyond making him
look ridiculous he felt no pain, and was as full of fight as
if he had not received a blow.

It was not a time for mirth, however, or his ludicrous
appearance would have caused considerable hilarity. There
was yet fighting to be done, and everyone on board was
very anxious and serious.

For fully an hour the pirate vessel kept about a quarter
of a riile astern, evidently repairing, attending to the
wounded, and concerting a fresh plan of attack.

The wounded of T/!^ 7/««^(?r were carried into the cabin,
where Mrs. Doone and Harding the mate, who possessed
some little medical and surgical skill, his father being a
doctor at East Looe, attended them. Rupert's collar bone
was set and he was placed in his berth, still perfectly

'J HE ATTACK RENEWED.

unconscious, but tended by the loving hands of his mother
and sister.

Refreshments were handed round to the crew, and
preparations made for another attack, should one be
made.

The guns were double shotted, and a few nails and odd
scraps of iron added ; muskets and pistols were loaded,
and boarding pikes improvised out of old bayonets lashed
upon broom-handles.

Captain Rose haranguing his men, unfolded to them
his plan should they be boarded again. Then, having
made all the necessary jireparatious, thry quietly awaited
the expected attack.

Two hours had now gone by, and it was seen that the
William 111*8 sails were being braced to the wind, so as
to give her more speed to overtake The Hunter, and in half-
an-hour she was alongside ; the crew of each vessel in the
meantime doing their utmost to cripple the enemy's shij).

The Hunter's crew fired at the rigging of their
opponents, but did not succeed either in bringing down
any of the spars, or even severing any of the principal
ropes. All they did was to make some large rents in the
sails.

The pirates were bent upon sweeping the decks of
the English vessel, but everyone not serving at the
guns had been ordered to ensconce himself behind sonio
bulky object, from which the constant crack of the rifio
told those at the big guns tliat thoy w(^ro being well
seconded bv their comrades.

Finding that he could make but little impression on
the English vessel with his six -pounders, the pirate
Captain determined to board her, and this time to lead
the attack in person.

• ■

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

Accordingly, the ships once more neared each other) and
again grappling irons were flung, while with demoniacal-
yells the corsairs leaped upon the deck of The Hunter to
the number of five-and-twenty, leaving only five men on
the deck of their own vessel.

The contest was fierce, but gradually the Englishmen
were overpowered by sheer numbers, and driven, some
into the forecastle and some into the cabin, Mr. Doone
being among the latter ; but when he bolted the door and
directed those with him to fire from the windows which
looked forward on the deck, he had but faint hopes of
anything like a successful resistance to the rascals, who
were now masters of the deck. It was a dreadful time,
and death appeared imminent.

Mrs. Doone and Ruth helped to load the guns and
pistols, which were fired rapidly, but almost at random,
from the windows along the deck ; those in the forecastle
also firing at the pirates who had ensconced themselves in
the forts amidships, w^hich had been improvised out of old
lumber, and so snug were they that but few shots took
effect upon any of them.

Bi;t why were the pirates so quiet, only firing a few
shots at intervals ?

They were busy cutting through the covering of the
hatch which had been securely locked with four large
padlocks, and probably when they gained ingress to the
hold they would plunder the ship, and then either scuttle
her or burn her with all on board.

Suddenly, as the defenders in the cabin were speaking
of this dreadful ending to their voyage, there came a
tremendous crash, and the lumber fort (built over the
main hattjh), in which the pirates were gathered like birds
in a nest, seemed to explode and fly in all directions.

ONE MORE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

Several of the black inmates were killed outright or mor-
tally wounded, and the rest, about a dozen in number,
appeared so panic-stricken that they did not know what
to do or where to run for safety.

Seeing that something startling had happened to the nest
of pirates, the inmates of the cabin and forecastle rushed
out and tittacked them on both sidrs. Bernard seized
the pirate captain round the waist from behind, not
wishing to kill him, as he might have done with his
cutlass, and raising him partially from the deck, as he
was a rather slim man, and Bernard, for a lad, extra-
ordinarily strong, hurled him against the bulwarks with
all his might. The man's head came in contact with the
massive woodwork with a dull thud, and the villain lay
at our young hero's feet an inanimate lump of humanity*

Seeing their leader killed, as they supposed, the rest of
the crew threw down their arms and begged for mercy,
which was granted ; but the Englishmen's mercy was
tempered with precaution, each man being searched for
hidden weapons, bound and seated on deck with his
back against the bulwarks ; and a villainous set they
looked, with their scarred and bleeding limbs and faces,
and fierce, roUing eyes.

The crew were so busy in carrying down and caring
for their comrades, securing the pirates and other urgent
duties, that no one noticed that the pirate ship had parted
from them, and was now some distance olf on the star-
board beam ; but such was the case, and it astonished
them greatly to account for the grappling irons gi^ing
way so easily as they appeared to have done ; but their
astonishnieiit was still greater when they perceived the
Wdliain lll.^n sails being trimmed, ana cL-.e dreaded vessel
bearincr down on tlieui once more.

fww u mwiM i

vmmK^': «'«wra!»'™,"««

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

What could it mean ?

Surely if the five men left to take charge of her while
the boarding part}^ were engaged on The Hunter, had
with the help of the wounded caRc off the grappling irons,
so as to escape when they saw the fate of their comrades,
they would not be so foolish as to return and give
themselves up to justice? Such a thing was past
belief.

But while these ideas passed through the minds of
Captain Rose and Mr. Doone, they were still more per-
plexed by hearing a right good English hurrah ! sent up
from the deck of tiie pirate ship.

What could it all mean ?

They saw five men on her decl^ waving their arms,
seemingly with delight, and behold they were white

men

Harding, the mate, put his helm over, so as to run
alongside the William III., and as the two vessels
came together the five white men threw the grapnels
aboard The Hunter, and in good English voices sang out
for Captain Rose to shorten sail while they did the
same.

In a few minutes they were just moving through
the water side by side, and the five Englishmen stood
grasping their countrymen's hands on the deck of The
Hunter.

Who were they, and whence had they come ?

■

CHAPTER VII.

Repairs to Ship and Crew. — The Story of Robert Belton.— His Early
Life and Voyages.— Truxillo. — Captured by the Poyaia Indians. —
Dusky Jacilla.— The Pirates Executed. — An Escape. — Visit to Agent
No. 1. — The Tashtel Indiana : Their Dress, Appearance, and Mode
of Living. — Bartering tor Peltries.

The ships being in close contact by means of iron grap-
nels, it was easy to pass from one lO the other, and without
stopping to hear more than that their fellow countrymen
were bound to the little tov/^n of Yerba Bueua, in Cali-
fornia (now a huge city), all hands set to work to carry
out Captain Rose's orders.

First, their prisoners, upwards of a score in number,
were attended to, which is to say, the wounded were taken
care of and the others confined in irons below, as there
were some desperate characters among them, including
their leader, Juan Alflas.

The dead were laid upon the decks of their respec-
tive vessels, and for the present covered with sails.
While some of the crew, aided by their allies from the
William III,, were busy splicing severed ropes and patch-
ing torn sails, others set to work to repair the woodwork
of The Hunter, and by nightfall everything was made
snug above deck, while the wounded of both vessels were
in good hands below.

At the evening meal, our friends ^\'ore joined by the
young man who appeared to be in authority over the
white men of the William III., who, towards th\^ vud u|

1 JP"-~-^» 1M LiIW l^I

70 THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the fight with the pirates, appeared to drop from the sky
and succour those on The Hunter, when so hard pressed
that, but for their timely aid, they would probably all
have been slaughtered.

To make the young man's story as brief as possible,
without spoiling its interest, we will epitomise the yarn he
spun to Captain Rose and those present.

" My name is Robert Belton, and I was born in the
Isle of Wight nearly twenty- three years since. When
I was fourteen years of age, my father apprenticed me to
the sea, for which I had a natural fondness, and it has
proved both father and mother to me, for both my parents
were drowned in a boat accident off Portsmouth, about
seven years since. Although I have had many ups and
downs in my short career, I cannot say the sea has been
unkind to me, and I love it in all its moods. It is, as I say,
like a mother ; it is angry at times and chides, but then
comes a time when the soft wind whispers through the
rigging, and lulls me to sleep in my berth like a tired
child, rocking me soothingly in its mighty arms ; and the
higher it tosRcs me, the more I enjoy it, feeling quite safe
upon it, wherever I may be.

*' I call it my father, because, so far it has provided
me with bread — ay, and I might say now and again,
with plum cake, for at times the sea has brought me
plenty.

** When I was eighteen years of age I made a voyage
to the West Indies, and liking the trade among the islands,
volunteered to join a small vessel belonging to the owners
to whom I was apprenticed, which sailed from island to
island trading in various commodities. Here I met with
many adventures, and did not return to England till my
term of indenture had nearly expired.

"My first berth wasi as second mate of a vessel bound

* '

IN THE HANDS OF THE POYAIS. 71

to the Ionian Isles, and from thence we visited Algiers,
Tunis, and Morocco. On my return to Southampton I
joined the Winged Star as first mate, and sailed away
again to the west, this time bound for Truxillo, in Central
America, which we reached in safety, and there I met
with an adventure which quite altered my course of life.

" Being fond of the gun I obtained leave of the skipper
to take one of the crew, and enjoy two or three days' run
ashore in the woods. Wandering too far into the interior
in search of game, we were captured by Poyais Indians,
who took us off to their camp, which was beautifully
situated on the banks of a river which emptied itself into
the sea between two lofty mountains, at a distance of
about seventy or eighty miles from Truxillo.

" The Poyais Indians were not at all harsh with us ; in
fact, but for a vigilant eye kept upon our movements, to
see that we did -^t escape, we did pretty much as we
liked.

"After three months of this life, during which we
taught the Indians many of the things only known to
white men, I lost my companion by tlie overturning of our
canoe ; although a good swimmer he never came to the
surface, being probably dragged below by some monstrous
shark, who fortunately took a greater fancy to him than
to me.

" During the months of my captivity, I had the mis-
fortune to attract the amorous eye of the chief's daughter,
who forthwith begged her father to give me to her for a
husban'l This high-handed proceeding, although prob-
ably quite conformable to their manners and customs, I
resented, and for my pains received a week's respite, in
which to choose marriage or the alternative of being tor-
tured to death, if I did not volunteer to accept the
gracious offer made me by the chief's only daughter.

.Ji

7»

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

" I must own I was on the horns of a dilemma and did
not know wliat to do, so finally, to save ray skin, made up
my mind to accept the dusky belle ; for, to do her justice, she
was a very pretty girl, with a plump figure and a silky
skin of the colour one sees among the inhabitants of the
north coast of Africa, a beautiful warm cinnamon brown.

" On the very day, however, on which I was to give
my consent to our nuptials, an event happened in our
village which quite altered my fate, and that was the
arrival of an armed party of SjDaniards from Ocotal, a
town about two hundred miles into th'^ interior. I ex-
plained my position to the leader of the party, who had
come to trade, and he laughed heartily at my want of
business acumen in not closing with the chief's offer to
become my father-in-law, as he was reputedly rich, and
his pretty Jacilla his only child.

'* I begged that I might go with the Spaniard where-
ever he was travelling, and to further my desire he pre-
tended, that I had run away from his employ six months
previously, and it was only on his promise to make me
return to the Poyais village within six moons — that is,
after I had served my time in his employ — that I was
allowed to accompany him, much to Jacilla 's chagrin and
disgust.

" From Ocotal, where I resided a month with my r le-
server, I wandered to the Bay of Amapala, on the Pacific
Coast, which was but a distance of eighty miles, and easily
performed in five day on foot.

" Wanderiijg round the bay, I came to a small town
near the foot of tl Oasiguina Volcano, at which I fell in
with an English sch ner, called the William Ill.y bound
for California. She had a crew of eight Englishmen, and
six negroes from the West Indies.

" I shipped as mate, but never had my name entered in

BELrO.\'S STORY CONCLUDED.

the ship's books, for that very night, while the skipper
and four of the crew were ashore, that rascally fellow
whom you hold prisoner, Juan Alflas, who is captain of a
native trading craft, came aboard the William III., with
his native crew, and a crowd of negroes and mulattoes
from a plantation, and carried the vessel off to sea.

" I and the other four Englishmen refused to help work
the vessel, and were promptly bundled among the cargo
in the hold. What the villain's project was in carrying
off the vessel I can only surmise, and I believe his inten-
tion was to carry on the calling of a freebooter, or pirate,
for the vessel was headed straight for the lonely Revilla-
Gigedo Islands, which he probably intended to make his
headquarters. Unfortunately for you, your vessel hove
in sight about an hour after Alflas had sent a boat ashore
to Socorro, for someone to pilot him in.

*' He immediately stood after you, with what result you
know only too well. From our prison in the hold v e
were able to look out occasionaly during the fight and see
what was. going on, and when we discovered that in the
last boarding melee, only five blacks had been left in
charge of our vessel, we resolved to make a bold bid for
liberty. We forced a hole in the bulkhead between the
hold and the cabin and crawled through into the latter,
where we found plenty of arms, which we seized and
rushed on deck. The blacks taken by surprise, were
quickly overpowered, two of them being shot and one
cut down with an axe, while the oth^r two surrendered.

** The pirates on your deck, protected as they were in
the lumber fort, saw nothing of our capture of the
William III., and knew nothing of it till we fired two of
her guns, loaded with anything that came handy, right
into the nest of the scoundrels on your deck, which you
recollect was the turning point of the battle, for you rushed

v(l

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

«(

out and attacked them on both sides, just as we threw off
the grapplings to prevent them regaining their own
ship."

It may be supposed that the brave young Rob I3elton
and his friends were the recipients of much praise and
heartfelt thanks from all on board The Hunter, and it
was no more than their meed, for they had saved the
lives of all.

Next day, the six dead men of The Hunter were sewn
in canvas and consigned to the deep, Mr. Doone, in a
faltering voice, reading the sea burial service over the
poor fellows' remains. The dead of the enemy, to the
number of twenty- three, were unceremoniously tumbled
overboard, and, despite their lawless character, the same
service was read over them as over the white men, for as
Mr. Doone said, " They would all appear before one God
find should therefore receive the same preparation."

On reaching Yerba Buena the pirates received a rough
kind of trial, and were all sentenced to death. The dread
sentence was carried out to each man, except one, who
escaped, and that one was Juan Alflas.

Bob Belton decided to cast in his lot with the Hunter-
ites, and shipped as second mate, vice Collett, killed off
Socorro. The other four Englishmen had intended stay-
ing at Yerba Buena in the hope of obtaining employment
or a ship home to England, but a very little persuasion
caused them to join the ship's company. A half-bred
interpreter, who knew the coast, was also entered on
the ship's books.

After a week in port The Hunter proceeded on her
rapidly shortening voyage, for another two or three days
would see her at the mouth of the Umpqua River.

The William III. was left in the hands of the magistrate,
a fussy little Spaniard, named Don Miguel Diaz, with the

I <

THE CAPTAlfS AGENTS.

understanding that, if she were claimed, she was to be
given up to her rightful owners, otherwise she would
remain Mr. Doone's property.

After leaving Yerba Buena everyone aboard The Ilunfer
appeared to regain their wonted spirits. In the genial
climate of the region in which they now found themselves,
the wounded men of the crew found their wounds to be
healing famously, for a fortnight had elapsed since their
sanguinary fight with the pirate.

Mr. Doone was well and jolly again, and Rupert's
injuries were nearly cured. His collar-bone had not actu-
ally snapped, but had received a severe fracture, and he
still used a sling for his left arm. The gallant Captain
walked his little quarter-deck as if nothing had happened
in the way of a fight, and only three of the crew were
still unable to attend to their duties.

As they sailed close in with the shore, along the coast
of California, a sharp look out was kept for the signals of
the four agents whom Captain Rose had put ashore on his
previous homeward voyage, some sixteen months before.
Three were to the south of the Umpqua River, and one a
few miles to the north of it. They were left thus : No. 1,
landed longitude 39*^ 20', near a lofty mountain (now
called Mount St. John) ; No. 2 in Humboldt Bay, at the
mouth of Eel River; No. 3, about thirty miles south
of Umpqua River, in a bay (now called Koos Bay) ; and
No. 4 a day's journey north of the Umpqua.

Early on the morning of September 20th, 1838, Captain
Rose was apprised that the mountain to be watched for
was in sight ; its summit rising to a height of 8,000 feet,
pierced quite through the clouds, which caused its base to
be in a hazy gloom, whilst its peak was brilliantly illu-
mined by the morning sun.

The Hunter was sailed to within a quarter of a mile of

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THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the shore and a hoat lowered, but before Captain Rose had
stepped into it two large canoes were seen putting o£E from
the beach, riding buoyantly over the long waves which are
usually breaking upon the shore of the mighty Pacific.
They were manned by Indians who paddled fearlessly up
to " the big white canoe," as they called the ship. A rope
was thrown them, and four of them scrambled on deck
and shook hands with the Captain, whom they recognised
at once as the "Blue Chief" (from the colour of his
clothes), who had placed Pembo (the agent) ashore, to live
with them till his return.

Through the interpreter, who spoke to the natives more
by signs than with his tongue, they informed the Captain
that Pembo was gone for two days' paddle in hia canoe
up the river, which they called by their native name of
Kaluthe.. and that he was expected back that day.

The chief invited the Captain ashore, and the skipper,
giving him a present of an axe and some beads, accepted
the invitation, indicating by signs that he would land after
sleeping, that is, early the next morning.

Accordingly, after an early breakfast, the long boat was
lowered, and the Captain, Bernard, four hands, and the
interpreter landed, being welcomed on the shore by the
chief, whose name was To-pa-na, and escorted to his
cabin, built cosily in a cleft of the rocks, near the bank of
a broad shallow river.

The pipe of peace was produced and smoked in silence,
which usual ceremony and prelude to business having been
gone through, To-pa-na informed his guests that Pembo
was not far distant, as one of his dogs had come into
camp an hour previous, with a certain token indicating
" Peace — help," and that he had sent a large canoe,
with a dozen of his people, up the river to see what was
required.

THE FIRST VISIT TO THE NATIVES,

W-iile they sat in a circle and talkv^^d, a runner arrived
to say that the canoes were in sight and would arrive very
shortly.

Bernard was eager to jump up and run along the river
bank to see the new-comers, but the Captain restrained
him, and bade liim keep his seat and his dignity, for it
was a matter of courtesy to remain squatted while the
chief kept that attitude.

Presently a great barking of dogs and clatter of voices
proclaimed that Pembo had returned, but not a soul in the
cabin stirred. Then the bear-robe, which did duty for a
door, was pushed aside and Pembo entered. He saluted
the Captain and those present respectfully and took his
place in the circle, while the ceremony of puffing at the
long stem of the calumet was indulged in in silence ; that
being finished everyone's tongue was loosened as if a spell
had been removed.

The scene was now one of animation, pleasure being
expressed on every face. Pembo was greatly liked by
To-pa-na and his people, and at his request the Indians
had had many hunts in the mountains for grizzlies and
other bears, and had been very successful, so that many
robes had been preserved pending the "Blue Chief's"
arrival. Of deer skins they had a large number, also of
that most valuable skin of all — the sea-otter.

The four men were ordered to pull back to the ship
and bring off Mr. Doone with an assortment of trading
stores.

While they were gone the Captain and Bernard had
ample time to look about them and take note of their
strange surroundings.

It struck them at once that these Bigger Indians were
not to be compared to Englishmen for physique, being
neither so tall nor so strongly built. They wear but very

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

little clotkirg, both sexes seeming content with a kind -of
petticoat or fringe round their waists,. made of stringy,
bark or long dried grass. All wear ear ornaments of a
curious kind, which is simply the leg or wing bone of
a pelican, about six inches in length, carved to the owner's
fancy.

The hair of the men is fastened up in a net, both hair
and net being retained in position by a wooden skewer,
from the butt end of which flutters a bunch of gaudy
feathers, taken either from the woodpecker (and dyed) or
from the tail of the eagle.

They are noted for their treachery, and not at all
pleasant in their manners and customs, dirt entering
largely into their cookery and being allowed to accumulate
upon their bodies.

The chiefs hut in which they found themselves was the
largest and best in the village, and was constructed in a
very simple manner.

A cleft in some huge rocks, some twelve or fourteen feet
wide, and about the same depth, had been selected for the
site ; into the earth, midway between the sides, a line of
upright posts had been driven, serving as supports for tV e
roof, which was composed of thick saplings lying horizon-
tally upon the tops of the posts, with their ends firmly
placed on the shoulders of the rocks. These, in turn,
were covered over with large slabs of bark, held in place
by huge fragments of rock. The front was closed in by
a wall of plaited rushes, and between two stout upright
poles, placed a yard apart to form the doorway, was sus-
pended a robe from the back of a monstrous grizzly bear.
In the centre of the floor a hole was dug, in which a fire
was kept burning day and night, the smoke finding a
vent through one of the numerous interstices of thp

BARTERING FOR SKINS,

dwelling, or through what was supposed to do duty for a
chimney — a hole in the roof.

Both men and women were exceedingly plain when not
absolutely ugly, very dirty, and very curious as to the
white men and their belongings.

Such were Bernard's mental notes on his first visit to an
Indian encampment. He could not help noticing, how-
ever, that many of the children, who were stark naked,
were very passable in looks, and one or two of them, with
their roguish black eyes and glossy black hair, even
pretty.

In a couple of hours the boat returned with Mr. Doone
and the goods for trading, but for a long time no trade
was done ; not a skin was parted with, although from the
amount of gesticulation used by the Indians, a looker-on
might have thought the whole encampment was changing
hands. The Tsashtels were exorbitant in their demands,
wanting as many as four or five leaves of tobacco for a
musk-rat skin, a far too high value on such a paltry
article.

Pretending he could stay no longer among such people,
Mr. Doone began to pack up his goods, and instruct the
men to carry the bales to the boat, and with this ruse he
was quite successful, and skins that had been priced at a
blanket each were to be had for a pipeful of vermillion
(paint -powder).

Now the women crowded round and bought coloured
calico and mirrors in great quantity ; brasp ^ "acelets were
also in great demand among them ; even the old women
of seventy bedecked their persons as much as their grand-
children, and it was most ludicrous to see an old crone, in
a state bordering on nudity, strutting about with brass
bracelets on her wrists and ankles and a circular mirror

THE fUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

hauging in front of her bosom, as proud as any girl of
seventeen.

The men had an eye to the useful as well as the
beautiful, and bought red, blue, and yellow powder-paint,
knives, axes, and fishhooks; but what most took their
fancy appeared to be various articles of bright tinware,
such as saucepans, mugs, and plates. One old fellow took
a great fancy to a bread- grater, which he looked upon as a
marvel when Pembo showed him how readily it would
reduce dried roots to a powder. He willingly gave a sea-
otter skin for it, and another for a little musical instru-
ment made after the style of a dulcimer, with wires
strained to various degrees of tension to produce the
gamut of sound. That it was out of tune did not matter
in the least to the savage ; discord pleased him as well as
harmony, plenty of noise was a %me quCi now with him.

Freshly caught fish and the roots of various plants
were set before our friends, and each took his portion upon
a strip of birch-bark instead of a plate. The fish — it was
halibut — was delicious, and was washed down with pure,
sparkling water, which fell in a cascade from a rocky ledge
about one hundred yards from the village.

Thus, in bartering and feasting the day rapidly ran its
course, and it was quite dusk when the party returned to
The Hunter with their boat deeply laden with various
fikins and peltries.

Pembo, who had received a gun, powder and bull,
twenty yards of red flanned, and various odds and ends, as
a present for his faithful service, stayed at the encamp-
ment to persuade the Tsashtels to procure more skins
before the winter sei in, Captain Rose promising to call for
him within two moons, and take him for the winter season
to their headquarters, Fort Cornwall, on the Umpqua,

CHAPTER Vlir. -

A Full up Eel River to find Agent No. 2.— An Indian Fort.— The
Wounded Men. — Camp Cookery. — A Night Attaok.— A Tarley. —
The Shadow of the Spear.— A Hand-to-Hand Fight.— Trading a
Failure.

At daybreak The Hunter sailed, and in due course lay-to
off the mouth of Eel River, where their second agent had
been left. As nobody could be seen moving upon the
shore, a boat was lowered, and its crew pulled to the
mouth of the river, but not finding any signs of human
beings beyond the remains of an encampment, returned.

The agent and Indians had apparently disappeared, but
to make sure, Mr. Doone, the Captain, and four hands,
all well armed, stepped into the boat and proceeded to the
shore. They ascended the river for three or four miles,
occasionally catching sight of an Indian, who slunk away
or hid himself before they could draw near enough to
hail him as friends.

Presently, in turning a bend of the river, they suddenly
came in sight of a Camp, completely stockaded for defence,
and evidently occupied by a numerous company of de-
fenders, for a great yell was raised as the boat was per-
ceived by the Indians.

The men were ordered to lay on their oars and wait
events, for the Indians might be belligerent and draw them
into some ambush.

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

To ascertain if the red men were friends or foes Mr.
Doone tied a white handkerchief upon his ramrod, and
waved it aloft as a sign of peace. In a couple of minutes
a canoe put off from the shore, and was swiftly paddled
with the current towards the boat ; in the bow stood a
brave waving a lopg green branch above his head, which
is a sigQ all the world over of a truce, friendship or peace.

When the canoe came alongside, the chief, who sat in
the centre, extended his hand, English fashion, and shook
hands with the Captain, who immediately recollected
the red man by his great size ; for he was a big, brawny
fellow, with a peculiar face, made more peculiar by a
strongly-marked scar on either cheek, which had been
caused several years before by a thrust from a spear,
during a little misunderstanding with another tribe.

Unfortunately, the interpreter had not come out with
the boat, but Captain Rose, by the sign language, could
understand that Juan Yoxah, the agent, was in bed in the
stockaded encampment. He also understood the chief
(Bal-bal-wets-gu) to invite them to the council- lodge for
a smoke, refreshment, and pow-wow, or business talk, and
they accordingly pulled on to the encampment.

Upon landing they were led to a cabin which stood
next to that of the chief, and' entering after thfcir leader,
they found their agent Yoxah and several Indinns evidently
ill, lying on beds of skins.

Yoxah welcomed the Captain as cordially as he was
able, for it transpired that he was sorely wounded in an
affray with a party of Shoshokies, who had pounced upon
their summer encampment at the mouth of the Eel River,
for the purpose of plundering them of their sea-otter
s'dns, of which they had about fifty. Indian-like, each
hunter had safely hidden his little hoard, and the enemy

A WHITE ''MEDICINE MAN:*

«S

only secured four of the skins that happened to be
stretched upon the frames to dry in the sun and wind.

The fight, though brief, had been severe, and the Sho-
shokies had left five of their men behind, two of whom
were severely wounded and three killed.

The Diggers had had one man killed, eight wounded,
and two squaws carried off. The two prisoners were to
be retained as hostages for the space of one moon, and
then exchanged for the captured squaws ; failing which
they would be subjected to some kind of fiendish torture,
and finally slaughtered.

All this had happened nearly a month previously, and the
morrow would see the unhappy prisoners executed, unless
the messengers who had been despatched to the Shoshokie
village, nearly one hundred miles distant, brought back
the squaws or a promise for their immediate delivery.

Mr. Doone examined the wounds of Yoxah and the
Indians and found that the ** medicine man," with his
idiotic nostrums and spells, was keeping the places open, so
that he might exhibit them to his comrades on the morrow,
to excite pity for them and so secure more devilish tortures
for the prisoners. He therefore sent three of the men
back to the. ship to fetch his medicine>chest and a stock
of trading goods, also a request for Rupert, Bernard, and
the interpreter to come ashore.

During the afternoon the boat returned, the two boys
being very pleased to be on shore together, as this was
Rupert's " first foot " on land since the fight ofE Socorro.
He was now nearly well again, but his father forbade him
using his left arm for another week or two.

Warm water was procured, the wounds of the sick men
washed, a little disinfectant applied, ^or suppuration and
festering had set in, and clean soft lin^ spread with sooth-

.*<*

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

ing ointment applied. A draught of physic was then
given to each man to clear the system, and they were
returned to bed again.

. It was a strange sight to see the curiosity of the Indians
and their anxiety to witness the ways of the white
" medicine man " ; the doorway and every chink in the
matting of the sides of the cabin were crowded with the
faces of those who had been forbidden to enter. All
round the cabin the matting had been raised and a line of
tuffed heads was exhibited, looking like a circle of largo
cocoa-nuts endowed with eyes. Not a word was spoken,
but like a ring of ghosts every man looked silently on,
deeply interested with all he saw.

Being by this time too late to think of trading, fires
were lighted, pots slung, and slices of meat placed on the
ers to broil. The boat was sent back with a letter to
jn, the mate —

"Do not expect us till dusk to-morrow. If wind
freshens, heave anchor and run a mile up the river, where
you will be snug and in deep water. — Rose."

The camp presented a weird appearance when the sun
had set in the distant horizon of water, the fire-glow
dancing among the cabins and throwing its light upon
the red skins of the savages, who cast grotesque shadows
upon everything around. Dogs ran about everywhere,
getting in people's way, and receiving the penalty of a
kick with a loud yelp.

Women sat and pounded roots in the firelight, and
served up the supper of well-cooked fish and smoky,
half -raw meat, to their white guests, who, in return, gave
presents of tobacco and pipes.

Sentinels were placed outside the camp and a vigilant
watch kept, for being the last day of the "moon of grace**
their enemies, the Shoshokies, might attack them in the

AN INDIAN BATTLE,

night to retake the prisoners and save them from the
ignominious death which probably awaited them. More
often than not the hour before dawn is selected by Indians
to deliver their attack upon an enemy, and in this case
no exception was made, for early in the momiug one of
the scouts was heard by a comrade to give a little scream,
and looking over some scrub and bushes, which grew to a
height of about four feet, he saw the poor fellow upon
the ground, being scalped by a Shoshokie warrior in full
war-paint. He had probably been tomahawked from
behind, but the little scream he gave was sufficient for his
alert comrade to hear, and hearing, to immediately arouse
the whole camp.

Mr. Doone, Captain Rose, the boys and the sailors,
immediately sprang up fully dressed and armed, and as
arranged overnight in a little council held among them-
selves, clambered up some rocks which formed one side of
the encampment, and ensconced themselves in a hollow
with a natural breastwork of jagged rock before them.

By this time, with horrid yells, the Shoshokies had
climbed the . stockade, and were fighting hand to hand
with the Diggers, who were much the more numerous
party, but not of such good physique nor so well armed.

The camp was quickly turned into a perfect pande-
monium, and the yells of the combatants, screams of the
women and barking of dogs, all helped to make the scene
a thrilling one to the party of Englishmen hidden among
the rocks, who had a bird's-eye view of the whole pro-
ceedings. Although it was still dark, the light from the
watch-fires threw a ruddy glare upon the dusky figures
in rapid motion, the shadows from whom were of gigantic
and fantastic form as they tossed and crossed and grew
and diminished during the fight.

The outer stockade was gained by the first rush, but

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

the wily Diggers had foreseen that this might occur, and
had erected a strong fort or citadel in ^he centre of the
encampment, which, being of earth and pieces of rook,
gave them excellent shelter. Most of them had retreated
into this fortress, while others who had been unable to
secure its kindly shelter were fighting either singly or in
small groups, grodurlly retreating towards their comrades,
who were, whenever an opportunity occurred, plying their
arrows with good effect among the nthletic Shoshokies.

Now and again a Digger would fall and be promptly
scalped, but when one of the enemy bit the dust his
opponent had no time to perform a like ghastly office
upon him, being eager to join his friends inside the
citadel.

By daybreak all had been driven into the fort except a
dozen squaws and some twenty children, who had been
captured for slaves and removed to the shelter of a clump
of trees on the river bank, about half-a-mile distant, and
there left in the custody of half-a-dozen Shoshokies, who
also took care of the horses upon which the warriors had
ridden from their distant camp. As there were nearly one
hundred horses it was reasonable to infer that quite eighty
men formed the attacking party, the remaining twenty
being spare horses in case of loss or mishap, or to carry
home the prisoners and booty the)' expected to capture.

Suddenly, at a signal from their chief, the Shoshokies
hid themselves behind whatever cover they could find,
and the battle seemed to be at an end, but that was far
from being the case.

The chief, Na-ta-pa^ advanced alone towards the fort,
bearing a white feather upon ii staff, as a signal that he
wished to parley with the beleaguered.

The Digger chief, Bal-bal-wets-gu, stood upon the
ramparts, and waved nn albino antelope- skin as a sign

THE SHADOW OF THE SPEAR.

tbat be would confer, and a parley commenced, the sub-
stance of wbicb was tbis.

Na-ta-pa affirmed tbat tbe two Digger squaws could
not be given up, as two of bis young braves wisbed to
marry tbem, but tbat two borses sbould be excbanged for
tbe two Sbosbokie prisoners.

Bal-bal-wets-gu declined tbe terms, and informed bis
enemy tbat one of tbe young women was already bis own
wife, and be coui^l not part witb ber upon any considera-
tion.

Tben commenced long speeches on either side, and
finally, as tbe Sbosbokie prisoners' release was refused,
the two Digger squaws were brought forward, and Bal-
bal-wets-gu was informed that if he did not deliver the
two men before tbe sun caused tbe shadow of a spear,
which he stuck upright in the ground, to touch a lino
which he drew with his finger, both the women would
be slaughtered before tbe eyes of their friends.

Tbe wretched women cowered at the foot of ii post to
which they were bound, and watched the shadow slowly
approach the mark upon the soft earth ; and as inch
by inch it crept nearer, until but a band's breadth of
space remained, they raised both hands and voices in
piteous supplication to their friends within, who could
save tbem from death (by giving up the prisoners) but
not from captivity ^ for their captors were determined to
have the women at any cost.

An inch of space only remained between the shadow
and tbe mark ; and in a loud voice Na-ta-pa demanded
the Sbosbokie prisoners' release.

The prisoners were brought from the hole in the rocks
in which they had been immured, and exhibited on the
ramparts of the fort-.

lial-bal-wets-gu now spoke.

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

" Let Na-ta-pa give up my squaws and go in peace,
and in two days these men shall be set free, although
they each killed one of my braves, and deserve death ;
but we desire peace, and my word shall be kept, for Bal-
bal-wets-gu would disdain to tell a lie even to save his
own life."

The shadow was now but half an inch from the mark,
and the women, despite the stoical character usually
ascribed to Indians, appeared delirious with despair at
their impending fate.

Amid breathless silence the shadow at length actually
touched the mark, and at a signal from their chief, two
Shoshokie warriors stepped forth with uplifted tomahawks
and approached the women, to carry out the dread orders
of Na-ta-pa.

The women's heads were raised by the hair from the
ground upon which they had fallen and their lives were
about to be taken, when two reports rung out and rever-
berated among the rocks like claps of thunder, and, as if
struck by lightning, the two executioners fell prone upon
the bodies of their unscathed victims.

The Shoshokies were astonished, and paused in their
intended rush upon the fort; but two, more energetic
than the rest, stepped forward to their fallen comrades,
and immediately paid the penalty of their intrepidity
with their lives, for they, too, fell dead. Their comrades
paused aghast, not knowing what to do next, and as they
thus stood irresolute, the interpreter, prompted by Mr.
Doone, called out to the Diggers to rush out and attack
the Shoshokies, and the white men would help them.

With loud yells Bal-bal-wets-gu led his men forth,
leaping over the earth-works and attacking the Shosho-
kies lustily. The six muskets of the white men were

\x.

A STAMPEDE,

«9

repeatedly fired, and such terror did they cause among
the enemy, who were quite unaccustomed to such weapons,
that they incontinently turned and fled pell-mell, leaving
the squaws hehind them.

The elated Diggers pursued their enemies with impla-
cable fury right to the spot where their horses were
tethered, and so eager were the enemy to mount and
ride away, that the women and children whom they had
captured were quite forgotten. The yells and screeches
of men, women, and children so frightened the horses
that a stampede was caused, and many of them escaped,
and a general flight was only averted by the fact of
their being well secured to the branches and stems of the
thicket in which they were hidden.

About thirty of the Shoshokies were able to secure
horses and ride away, while at least twenty others made
good their retreat upon foot ; the remainder being either
killed, woimded, or made prisoners. The chief Na-ta-pa
was among those who escaped upon horseback, taking
with him in his flight a pretty young squaw whose hus-
band and brother he hod killed in fair fight. He was a
man of noble stature and presence, and seemed to bear a
charmed life, for although both Kupert and Bernard
fired at him at a distance of less than one hundred yards,
they both missed him. When they had loaded and were
about to fire again, he was engaged in a hand-to-hand fight
with the two Diggers just mentioned, and they refrained
from firing at so brave a man, when the odds were already
two to one against him.

One of his enemies he slew with his spear, but before
he could withdraw the weapon he was himself knocked
down by the other, who wielded a formidable wooden
club. The blow being ill-directed did not cripple him.

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

and before it could be repeated he had seized his oppo-
nent by the legs and dragged him to the ground, when
with his powerful hands he nearly strangled him, and

THE PRISONERS WTERE DROUGHT FOBTn FOR TOBTUBE.

then seizing a spear which was lying near, transfixed him
to the earth, leaving it standing upright in the body.
Then shouting his war-cry and repeatedly uttering his

BROUGHT TO TORTURE.

9«

name, he seized the Indiau girl who was kneeling over
the body of her husband, and springing into his saddle,
galloped off defiantly to his home in the interior.

Such was the first experience of the Doones in savage
warfare, and for two or three days afterwards the excite-
ment in camp was so great, that nothing in the way of
trade could be entered into.

Fifteen scalps had been taken ; quite a record for this
particular tribe, consequently scalp dances and feasts had
to be indulged in, and great messes of fish, meat, and
roots eaten. Upwards of twenty horses had been taken
alive and seven others, which had either been killed or
wounded, weie flayed and cut up for the feast.

All this, though unusually entertaining to the Diggers,
excited no festive feelings in the breasts of the white men,
but rather a sense of disgust. Every man, woman, and
child seemed mad, and nothing but offensive sights and
gluttony were to be seen on ever^- side.

On the morning of the fourtii day eight prisoners were
brought forth for torture and execution, and although our
white friends tried by all means in their power to obtain
the pardon of the wretched Shoshokies, even by the gift
of many presents, the Diggers were not to be baulked of
their revenge, and the dancing preparatory to the tortur-
ing commenced. Seeing that nothing could save the
horrid butchery that would shortly take place, the white
party packed up and got the boat ready to take them back
to the ship.

Before leading, Captain Rose had an interview with
Bal-bal-wetfii-rgu, in which he informed him that he would
shortly return and trade with him, probably before the
next full moon.

CHAPTER IX.

Umpqaa Head. — Oom-pa-nu greetnihe White Men. — Invitation to a Sea-
Otter Hunt. — ^Notes on the Animal.— Four Modes of Capture. — The
Hunt. — A Feast.— Mrs. Doone and Ruth introduced to Indian Life.

Early next momiug The Hunter left Eel River, and
sailed upon her last stage northward, to the Umpqua
River, which was for a long time to be the home of the
Doones.

It was a fine day with brilliant sunshine when the estu-
ary of the Umpqua was reached, or rather the immense
headland which, standing out boldly like some old Rhenish
castle, guards the approach to the river. The abrupt clifE
of rock, which is such a conspicuous object for many
miles before it is reached, stands so far into the sea that
it forms quite a cape, and makes the lower promontory
which forms the southern shore of the estuary, appear
quite insignificant by comparison, although the clifPs rise
to an altitudj approaching 200 feet. This promontory is
of a crescent shape, forming a beautiful bay, whose sandy
shore made it very enticing to the crew of The Hunterf
raising in their nunds memories of dear old Cornwall,
with its rocks and bays, estuaries and sandy beaches ; the
climate, too, is not unlike that of the West of England,
and like it, subject to heavy rains in the winter season,
with very little fiost ; in summer the temperature is waim
and bland.

r •**

INDIAN CURIOSITY,

• So far, then, as dimate and scenery was concerned, the
Doones felt quite at home.

Almost before the anchor could be dropped in the bay,
three or four very large canoes put off to greet the long-
expected white men.

In the largest and most lavishly decorated one sat the
chief Oom-pa-nu, a huge, evil-looking savage, but who
had the character of being peaceful and friendly towards
white men, of whom he had seen but those who accom-
panied Captain Rose in his first expedition.

The bulky form of the skin-clad chief soon appeared on
the deck of The Hunter, and greeted the Captain very
heartily by shaking hands and patting him on both
shoulders as is their custom. With him came about
thirty men, clad in their early winter dress of skins,
which were preserved in a manner which did not prevent
them giving off noxious smells ; and this, added to the
custom of dressing their hair with fish-oil, did not make
the native presence at all agreeable.

Their curiosity was unbounded, and nothing was sacred
from their vigilant eyes and nimble fingers ; everything
had to be looked at, felt and even smelled, before they
restored it to its place. Unfortunately tlieir curiosity in
some cases led them to covet, and that in turn caused
them to steal ; so, in the end, all movable articles had to
be locked up or put in the cabin away from the nimble
fingers of the visitors.

Mr. Doone and the skipper produced a couple of long
clay pipes, of the kind called churchwardens, and these did
duty for the calumets, or pipes of peace. The slimncss of
the stems and their pure whiteness astonished the guests,
and at the end of the smoke one of the wonderful pipes
was presented to the chief, who cunningly signified his

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

admiration of tlie object to the interpreter in such a
manner that, without actually asking, it was obvious that
he wished to secure such a treasure.

In answer to inquiries, Oom-pa-nu expressed his willing-
ness to trade with his white friends, who were for a long
time to be his neighbours, but as this was a very great
occasion, business could not be thought of for a day or two,
the white men must take their ship up the river for a mile
to a spot where che anchorage was safe, and come ashore
as the guests of the chief, and hold a grand palaver and
feast.

Being the beginning of October, the days were rapidly
shortening, and the evenings, at times, becoming very
cold, and soon the winter rains with ocusional snow would
set in, and the chief therefore proposed, on the morrow, to
have the last grand sea-otter hunt before they prepared
their winter quarters, a few miles up the river.

This was acquiesced in by the Doones and Captain Rose.
The Hunter was accordingly sailed up the estuary to the
point where it contracted to the mouth of the river, there
she was anchored, and everything made snug for a stay of
a day or two ; after which she would sail up the Umpqua
to their destination. Fort Cornwall, as the solitary hut was
called, which was built on a peninsula at the bifurcation
of two rivers, at a distance of about forty miles from the
sea.

The boys, Mr. Doone, Robert Belton, and the inter-
preter, formed the party who were to witness the sea-
otter hunt, and they were afloat in the long-boat at day-
break, rowed by four seamen. Provisions and water were
taken in the boat, and as the first rays of the sun shot
over the hills in the east, leaving them silhouetted
against the purple sky, a number of canoes were observed
putting off from the shore, in the foremost of which they

.•

THE SEA-OTTER.

could see the chief waving a kind of flag as a signal to
hurry up.

They soon joined the procession, which quickly paddled
seaward, and at the chief's request Rupert was taken into
his canoe, while Bernard stepped in the canoe of a minor
chief, who had parted company with his nose, that neces-
sary organ having been sliced off in a foray some years
since. Bernard elected to accompany this man because,
as he afterwards said, he was probably the very ugliest of
an ugly tribe, and if he could only get used to him,
many of the others would appear quite good looking by
the simple force of comparison.

A few words anent the sea-otter may not be out of
place here, and we will describe the animtil before the
hunt commences.

The sea-otter differs in several respects from the com-
mon otter, and in some points approximates to the form of
the seal.

It is a large animal, measuring about four feet from
nose to tip of tail and sometimes more. Its fur is dark
brown, but mixed with many grey hairs which are longer
and stiffer than the rest. The face greatly resembles that
of the seal, and its small fore- paws those of the cat, but it
has very large and powerful hind feet webbed like those
of a duck.

It is found all along the western coast of North
America, from Alaska to the middle of California, but
favours the colder regions more than the warm.

The sea-otter is of a gregarious disposition, roving in
bands of twenty, thirty, fifty, and oven a hundred. Its
motion in the water is like that of a seal, a gliding, undulat-
ing sweep above and below the surface. Its favourite posi-
tion is to float on its back, and in this position it carries its
young, eats and even sleeps. Of all fur-bearing animals, the

nrHMIT

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

Bkin of the sea-otter is the most valuable, and consequently is
greatly sought after. There are several modes of captur-
ing the animal, viz., clubbing, spear-surrounding, surf-
shooting, and netting.

The clubbing is performed by the Indians, after heavy
gales, when the otters take shelter on the outlying rocks,
where they lie with their heads buried in the kelp-weed,
and fall a prey to the natives' clubs before they are aware
of their danger. This is the most dangerous method, as
the canoes have to follow as quickly as possible after the
tail of the storm has passed, and while the sea is still very
rough ; it is not therefore often resorted to.

Surf-shooting is carried out by parties of Indians in
their canoes, or bidarkies, who surround the rocks, and shoot
the animals with their arrows, either as they take the
water, or having taken the water, when they appear above
the surface to breathe. As a rule this method is not over
successful, as an otter is so quick in the water that it is
difficult to get a fair aim at one, especially with the com-
paratively slow flight of the native arrows (as compared
to the bullets from modern rifles).

In the canoe in which Bernard was a guest were
several otter nets, made of sinews, very cleverly knotted
together. They were about six yards long and four yards
deep, and he was surprised to sec in what a simple manner
they were used by the Indians.

About four miles from the shore was a long line of
rocks, which, on approach, were found to be covered with
thick beds of living kelp-weed, upon which four of the
natives landed, and in the most likely places spread the
nets without any fixing or tying, except that just here and
there, a few fronds of the weed were loosely tied or woven
through the meshes, near the edges.

B! iM B B=uai: aaBaM«3samM

THE SEA'' OTTER.

These nets would be visited yery early next day, to
see if anything bad been caught. The sea-otter is a
stupid animal when among the nets, for its feet become
entangled and it bus not the sense to disengage them, and
after a few feeble wriggles gives in, and on the approach
of the hunter is quietly knocked on the head, and taken
ashore.

The large canoe was now paddled back to the others,
which were at least two miles away, and having rejoined
them, the whole eighteen spread out in a line, at some
distance apart, to watch for otters and commence the hunt.
Each cance or bidarkie carried two men, except that in
which sat the chief, and the equally large one in which
Bernard had just visited the kelp rocks ; each of these
carried eight or nine occupants, and were more for war
than for hunting or fishing purposes.

The canoes were paddled very quietly along, at about
one hundred yards distance from each other, when
presently a silent signal was passed along to the chief,
that a sleeping otter was lying ahead. Upon being
notified of this, he pointed his spear to the object, just
discernible, about half-a-mile away, and silently, but
rapidly, the canoes surrounded the unsuspecting animal,
forming a circle round it about four or five hundred yards
in diameter ; then obeying another signal from the chief,
one canoe dashed out of the circle and approached the
otter, which was floating asleep, on its back, and had
arrived within fifty yaj ds of it, when, like a flash it dived,
and the canoe was quietly paddled to its place of disappear-
ance, and halted there.

After an anxious wait, and vigilant watching of a
quarter of an hour, the otter rose just outside the circle of
canoes, and the silence was immediately broken by

riiE fOr TRAnhiis <>/• tiik irMst

6vel*youe yelling with nil Lis might, while those in the
neafest canoe threw their spears, and beat the water with
their paddles, the other canoes in the meanwhile forming a
fresh circle round the spot at which the otter lust dived.

Kupcrt and 'Bernard shouted and yelled in imitation of
the Indians, and noted that each succeeding dive was of
shorter and shorter duration, because the Indians terrified
the animal before it could regain its breath. The end
was, that in an hour the otter's respiration had become so
impaired, and its body so filled with deleterious gases,
that it actually could not dive, and was quickly speared
and thrown into the chief's canoe.

Sometimes two or three were sighted at once, and the
canoes broke up into smaller circles, helping each other
whenever they could, but sometimes, by reason of their
wonderful swimming and diving powers, the animals
escaped from these smaller circles, and got safely away
from the hunters.

During the day, five otters w^re taken, and four seals,
and at dusk the canoes laden with the hungry, yelling,
excited Indians returned to their encampment on the
banks of the Umpqua.

The next two days were given up to feasting and
dancing, and here Mrs. Doone an^ Ruth had their first
introduction to Indian life.

To tell the truth, they were more than half afraid of
the Redskins, who, to the number of upwards of two hun-
dred, endeavoured, in their uncouth stylo, to make the
white ladies welcome to their firesides and wigwams.

Poor Ruth, at first, felt quite bewildered at the sights
and sounds around her, especially when Gortl-pa-nu, think-
ing to show her an especial mark of his toysA favour, took
up a junk of deer meat which was broiling on a stick over

OOX-FA-NU iKTSODVOMD HIS FAYOXT&ITB BaXTAW.

AN INDIAN BEAV7 \\

101

the fire, and cutting off a long strip of the rocking half-
cooked flesh, presented it to her upon a ctrip of clean
bark. Poor Kuth took the proffered gift, and was nearly
sick at the sight, and not knowing what to do with it, placed
it on the ground at her feet, and bowed repeatedly to the
chief, who was astonished to see his gift placed on the
ground, instead of being carried to the recipient's mouth,
where he expected to see the tit-bit worried and mangled
until it had disappeared down Ruth's throat, leaving her
face covered with smiles, to say nothing of blacks from
the embers and grease.

The interpreter soon put matters right, and by-and-
by Oom-pa-nu, at Ruth's request, introduced his favourite
squaw.

She was certainly not bad looking, but her face was
painted a bright scarlet, and her hair was so anointed
with rancid fish-oil, that she could be smelt before she
actually came into view. Ruth shook her by the hand,
and in so doing received some of the vermillion and
grease, with which the lady was bedaubed, which caused
her brothers to laugh most heartily ; they offered to paint
and feather her up in the same way as Uliba (as Mrs.
Chief was called), but Ruth declined this honour, and, at
the suggestion of her father, gave Uliba a small hand
mirror and got rid of her.

After a couple of days of this savage festivity, the
white people had had quite sufficient to last them a while,
so the next day, after vainly endeavouring to barter
with the savages, who were too excited to undertake
business. The Hunter sailed up the Umpqua River for
their new home,

?274<S9

CHAPTER X.

Up the TJmpqna "River. — Fort Cornwall and Fowey Pool described. —
First Trip ABhore.— A Successful Day. — The Fort and Store com-
menced. — The Hunter Sails.

If the reader happens to have a map of Western America,
he will perceive upon looking at what is now the State
of Oregon, but which was at the time of our heroes'
visit, an uncivilised waste, peopled only by savages, and
owned by nobody but the aborigines; that the Kiver
Umpqua is in comparison to the mighty streams of the
Columbia, Snake, Mississippi, Missouri, and other rivers
quite insiguificant. It rises among some hills between the
Cascade and Rogue Mountains, and runs westward some
seventy miles, then due north about eighty, and finally,
before reaching the sea, tends westward again for another
forty or fifty miles : it is, to give a better idea of its size,
about such another river as our Thames. It has several
branches, from forty to sixty miles long, which all help to
swell the current till it glides swiftly into the sea at Umpqua
Head, where in recent years a fine town has sprung up.

Those aboard The Hunter were very pleased with the
scenery as they sailed up the river, which for twenty-five
miles from its mouth was from a mile to half-a-mile in
breadth, and of great depth, by reason of the tremendous
floods which annually sweep down from, the mountains and
Ecour out the bed of the river by their impetuosity.

Captaii; Rose sailed his croft very slowly up the river

■'

THE FUTURE HOME SIGHTED.

loi

for fear of snags or sandbanks, which might or might not
be met with. So slowly did they proceed, as a swift current
lan against them, that after stemming the flood for nine
hours they had run but twenty-four miles, and under the lee
of an overhanging forest which crowned the precipitous
cliffs at this particular spot, they cast anchor for the night.

Next day everyone was up at daybreak, an early brqak-
fas^ consumed, and a start made for their destination, ^^^..^

Hour after hour passed pleasantly enough to the Doones,
as they were delightp*^ with the scenery, each bend of the
river producing fresh charms and splendid views. Rocks,
cliffs, woods, and hills in great variety formed an endless
panorama, while here and there on either side glimpses
were obtained of the lofty peaks of the Coast Range and
Rogue Mountains, which lost themselves far away in the
blue distance.

At length, towards the middle of the afternoon, the
river, which for some distance had been but a quarter of
a rail wide, suddenly expanded into quite a large lake, at
the eastern end of which the Umpqua turned abruptly to
the south, while a tributary continued to the east.

The boys could not restrain giving a hearty -!heer as the
Captain pointed out to them a little wooden shanty, stand-
ing upon what appeared to be an island, and informed
them that that was their future home — Fort Cornwall.
The crew took up the cheering and made the rocks echo
with their happy shouts, ai The Ilxmict^ now having more
sailing room, tacked across the lake, and at length came
to an anchor within a cable's length of Fort Cornwall, as
the wretched little hut was named, in four fathoms of
water.

Their vessel had been perceived by the half-breed left in
charge of the hut directly she rounded the distant bend of

104

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the river, and he and two Indians who lived with him
quickly came aboard the big canoe and reported "all well."
Of course, everyone was eager to go ashore after suet
a long voyage, it had lasted from the end of April to the
10th of October (just five-and-a-half months), but as it
would be getting dark in about two hours, the skipper
ordered all hands to make everything snug above and below
board, promising all of them a holiday ashore on the
morrow.

The boys were up before daybreak in the morning, and
while they are waiting for their father to accompany them
ashore we will take a glance at their future domain.

The Hunter lay in a beautiful expanse of water, almost
expansive enough to have the term " lake " applied to it ;
but it was not exactly a lake, but the broadening out of the
confluence of two rivers. The Umpqua, as we have stated,
rises in the south, runs with many twists and turns due
north, and then abruptly breaks off and tends due west to
the sea.

The smaller stream, called Deer River, takes its rise in
the Cascade mountains, which lie at a mean distance of
one hundred miles from the coast, and flowing west, falls
into the Umpqua, at what Captain Rose had christened
Fowey Pool.

At the bifurcation of the two rivers, a small elevated
peninsula ran out boldly into the pool, its higL^r end being
towards the west. The isthmus which connected this
remarkable piece of land with the mainla-id was very lor,
probably not more than four or five feet above the ordinary
level of the pool, but when the winter floods came down
from the mountains, pouring with giant might and foam-
ing impetuosity, the little isthmus was quite submerged,
and Fort Cornwall isolated from the mainland.

THE ISLAND DESCRIBED.

los

The piece of land forming the island or peninsula
(according to whether it were flood time or sumner) vas
of an oval form, being about 300 yards from E. to W.
and 200 from N. to S. From the narrow neck of th.i
isthmus the island sloped gradually upward for about 250
yards, at which" distance it had attained a general elevation
of about 25 to 30 feet, and from that point an abrupt
rise of from 10 to 20 feet took place, rising higher as
the west-end of the island was reached, so that at the
extremity were some bold clifPs, 50 or 60 feet high,
which sank straight down into the water on their western
face.

Bernard maintained that from where they were stand-
ing, upon the deck of their vessel, that the island gave a
very good miniature representation of Gibraltar ; but
Rupert, in whom no poetry could be found, likened it to
an old shoe very high at the back and having a very
pointed toe.

At the break of the ground, which formed a capital
shelter, stood a rough log hut some 12 feet square, round
which a tall palisading of fir branches, pointed at the ends,
had been erected This was Fort Cornwall, most grand
in name, but extremely humble in appearance, yet suffi-
cient for the wants of the half-breed and his two Indian
comrades, Ba-me-no and Ra-pa-tal.

Mr. Doone having joined his sons, they jumped into
the jolly-boat and pulled to the island, where they found
Simola, the half-breed, standing at a little apology for a
landing-stage, ready to hand them ashore.

The boys frisked about like a couple of young goats ;
flying from one place to another, climbing the rocks at
the west-end, and shouting to the men on The Hunter
that it was " the j oiliest place in the world," and asking

io6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

0"'^

them to hurry on with breakfast bo that they might get it
over and come aehore.

Down the steep sides of the cKffs the lads scrambled,
shouting into the numerous caves and crevices which the
winter floods had worn with their sweeping waters, and
they were not satisfied till they had made a complete cir-
cuit of the island, a distance of but little more than half-
a-mile.

Mr. Doone was enchanted with the position of the island,
which contained, according to his surmise, from eight to
ten acres ; he immediately perceived what a naturally
strong position it was, and one which might easily be made
almost impregnable against marauding Indians or others.

To the north, across the Deer River, rose the jagged
summits of the Coast Mountains, which, in parts, attain a
height of upwards of a mile.

To the south, across the Pool, was an immense forest
running far up the sides of another lofty range of moun-
tains, and broken here and there by bare hills of naked
lock, which, seen in the morning sun, had the effect of
several bald-headed old gentlemen looking over the top of
a thickly planted hedge.

To the east was a belt of trees, neither of great height
nor numerous, but just enough to screen off a rolling
prairie, which, from the cliffs above the hut, could be
followed with the eye till it lost itseli in the blue haze
which hung like a curtain around the feet of the Cascade
mountains, whose lofty crests were quite visible, although
nearly one hundred miles away. These crests were three in
number, called the Three Sisters, and rise to an elevation
of 9,000 feet.

The Cascade Range runs from Lake Klamath, in the
south, to the banks of the Columbia River, three hundred

A RUN ASHORE.

lo;

^«

J •

miles northward, and contains some of the finest and most
picturesque mountains on the American Continent.

Mount Jefferson is 10,200 feet high and Mount Hood
11,225 feet. This range of mountains, which completely
shuts in the lovely valley of the Willamette, possessed at
the time of this story only one known pass, and even that
fraught with so many dangers that it was seldom threaded,
except during the summer months, as the deep euow
drifts and piercing, cold winds rendered it impassahlo
from November to April.

By-and-by a hail from the ship prcclaimed that break-
fast was ready, and feejing a keen appetite had been given
them by their morning stroll, our friends were soon dis-
cussing the good things set forth in the cabin of The
Hunter.

At eight o'clock, a dozen of the crew in charge of
Bilton and Simola went ashore, on the south side of tbe
river, accompanied by Rupert and Bernard, all of them
with guns and provisions enough for the day, and having
instructions to return at dusk.

They landed on the south side of the Pool, and were
quickly lost in the shadow of the great primeval forest.

The remainder of the crew — two or three old hands,
and one or two sick — remained for a quiet stroll about the
island. Mr. and Mrs. Doone, Ruth and the Captain,, spent
the day on the island also, the two leaders concocting plans
for their immediate and future welfare, and this was the
result of their deliberations :

It was agreed that no more fitting locality could be found
for their new home than the island, and that on the morrow
they would commence the erection of a strong wooden fort,
a house, store, and sundry sheds and conveniences. There
was no tim6 to be lost in carrying out these desirable works,

io8

IHE FUR TRADERS OF IHE WEST.

.ff

■^

because the rainy season would commence very shortly,
followed by heavy falls of snow as the weather became
colder, and it was therefore arranged that the Doone
family, the ship's carpenter, and two hands, should land
upon the island and take possession as soon as a couple
of sheds could be erected to give them and the goods
shelter.

For this purpose Captain Rose would stay for a week,
and then make a trip to visit his agents, and gather what
furs and information he could for bis next visit in the
spring. He would return to Fowey Pool not later than
the 25th of November.

In the evening, soon after dusk, the shore-party returned,
tired, happy, and successful. They brought with them a
number of wild turkeys, a bighorn, and a fine grizzly bear
which had fallen to the musket of Bernard, who was
exceedingly anxious that it should be skinned so that he
might have the robe pegged out and preserved. The
claws he wanted as a trophy to hang round his neck a la
Indian.

The two Indians, Ra pa-tal and Bar-me-no, who had
made themselves part and parcel of the post, soon initiated
the boys into the mode of skinning and cutting up a bear.
They also showed how to cut pegs to fasten the edges of
the skins to the ground to dry it, and in due course to go
through the entire formula of preparing the skin in the
Indian manner, until from being as hard and dry as a deal
board, it became, in a few days, as pliable and soft as a
piece of thick cloth.

On the day after the hunting the whole crew took the
boats and crossed to the forest on the south side of the
bay, where they landed with ropes, axes, and the usual
paraphernalia for felling trees. They were instructed to

■m

THE MERRY GREENWOODS,

to9

cut down firs whose trunks were from six to nine inches
in diameter at the base.

They could find no trees of this description at a less
distance than half-a-mile from the shore, where a con-
siderable eminence was crowned with a wood of fine
pine-trees, most of them much too large for the purpose
of house-building ; but selecting the young trees they set
to work with a will, and with axe and saw had cut down
several score of trees by nightfall. They lightened their
labours considerably by song and jest, and made the
woods echo with the noise of their tools and the sound of
their merry voices. Now and again a shot would be fired,
as some strange bird out of sheer curiosity came to peep
at them, and at times pay the penalty of its temerity.

During the day two or three wandering Indians
came and looked at them, but did not venture very near,
being frightened at the reports of the guns occasionally
fired.

The half-breed Simola spoke to them, but they could not
be prevailed upon to approach nearer the white men than
one himdred yards, and the boys were quite willing that
they should keep their distance, for they were doubtless
outcasts from their tribe and not to be trusted.

" Wait," said Simola, " till the Klamaths arrive, either
within the next fortnight or after the winter, then I will
show you some fine men among them. They will pitch
camp on the bank of the river, in a clearing of the forest,
and then you will have an opportunity of seeing as fine
a tribe as any on the continent. They are brave and
honest, very truthful, and anxious to be near the white

men.

»»

After this eulogy, it leaked out that Simola's mother
was a Klamath, which explained why. he should so exalt

', %s*

T/^S t'VR tRAbERS OP ftik U^ESf,

this particular tribe ; and small blame to him for speaking
well of his mother's relatives.

At dusk they returned home, for by that name was The
Hunter endeared to them, and informed the skipper of
the number of trees they had felled, and next day were
sent to bring them to the island. This, however, they
found a very difficult task, for a pathway had to be cut
for quite half-a-mile through the forest to enable them to
drag the great trees to the shore. So great was the labour
that, although about twenty- five men — white and natives
•—were employed, it was not till the end of the fourth day
that the trees were dislimbed, dragged to the shore, made
into rafts, and finally hauled across, amid much rejoicing,
to the landing-place on the island.

The next two or three days were memorable and busy
ones, and the sound of the saw, axe, and hammer, min*
gled with the creaking of blocks and the ** Yo-heave-ho "
of the sailors getting up the cargo from below and taking
it ashore, were continually heard.

Work as they would, the week passed all too rapidly,
and was ended long before the roofs were on the large store
sheds which the men were building. It was, therefore,
decided that everyone ohould work on the island for three
of four days longer, and although this was extended to a
week, everything was still in a very backward state when
the time came for The Hunter to sail.

The work of building was so far advanced that a four-
roomed house had been constructed for the Doones, with
its back to the cliff at the west of the island ; on the left
of it a store and men's house of two stories ; on the right
stood the original hut and two partially built stores, and
in front another large store of two floors, the upper of
which was to be used as a fort and mounted with four-

mmm

PAnUW'Btr. TO •• 7ii^ PfLr\'T£R}^

ill

pounders, which the Ouptaiu had had put ashore from thd
vessel. Everything was in a Very unfinished state when,
on Kovemher Ist, Captain Hose embarked for a three
weeks' cruise along the coast, to look up his agents before
the winter set in, promising to return by the 25th.

The Doones, a carpenter, two sailors, Simola and the two
Mandan Indians were left behind as occupants of the new
Fort Cornwall.

To the flag which the boys displayed on the new flag-
sta£P, The Hunter dipped her colours as she slowly swept
seaward with the tide. Alas for her and her brave crew !
What a deal may befall in but a brief period ! Events
may quickly take place when least expected, which com-
pletely olters the career of a whole community, as we
shall see.

CHAPTEU XT.

The Building Proceeds. — A Surprise Party of Klamaths. — Another o£
Taoons and Umpquas. — A Description of them and their Bidarkies.
— Bighorn Mutton.— A Canoe Expedition. — A Snug Camp. — The
Hunter found.

After the departure of The Uiuifcry those left on the
island were by no means idle, employing every moment
of daylight from dawn till dark in the completion of their
homestead and fort, so that the days passed very rapidh%
and, it may be added, very pleasantly ; this was also the
case with the nights, foi' hard work is usually rewarded
with the much-needed deep and tranquil sleep.

Only two or three days after the departure of their
friends, the Doones were surprised to see a number of
large canoes quietly floating down the river towards them.
There were at least twenty of them, and each had several
occupants. The appearance of such o formidable flotilla
naturally caused some alarm ; seeing which, Simola
allayed the fear by explaining that he was expecting the
party, who were his friends, the Klamaths.

Mr. Doone was somewhat perplexed at this avowal,
thinking there might be treachery in it, but as Simola
had such an excellent character, he said but little to him
upon the subject, beyond warning him that no Indian was
to set foot on the island without special permission.

Both cannon were loaded and stood in the gateway ol

,jM\ • i„m^'i^ntm^'i> «*

.• fe*si»?^'«'*5-'' ,'"^ *,■>' vi.^

,,11

^AAA*?.

Ui;i

.^^0

'^i.'

5f4is\iLi

:^CS;;i^

r^A:

DeeR River

'/Y

y jt

.0^

Lllk*-*-!

ii <>.

Fov/CY Pool

KAI Kll

Pix

Hill
520"

■m

LiA^A,

Map op Region aroukd FORT CORNWALL.

h.Courfyarol. F Mtna Quarters. .

B.tVe//. G.fifens Berths

CWomens Largt Room H.Fur Shtes.
Xi.do2 Bad Rooms one abon other J.BasHon wittt Cans

E./r//cAe/,. . pj^^^ qp Island*

iSTHMyS

FOET COBXWAIiL AXD MAP OF DIoTElCT.

.«f>JV^

SUSPIC/OXS.

I'3

the Fort, ready for immediate use, and small arms placed
handy in case of an attack.

Simola smiled at the precautions, and informed Mr.
Boone that he would answer with his life that no harm
should befall the white men from his friends, but rather
that they would be a protection and guard to the fort
during the whole winter, while their hunters would keep
the little community supplied with fish, game, and venison
in return for any little presents that might be given them.

Mr. Doone could scarcely credit Simola's assurance that
a large tribe of Indians would come many days' journey
for the sake of the few presents they were likely to obtain
for their services with the white men. To all outward
appearance he took Simola's assurances for truth, but in
his heart could scarcely believe the half-breed, nor did
his reflections help him in the matter, as he remembered
that Indians usually do move to snug quarters for the
winter, have an insatiable curiosity to see white men and
their belongings, and, after all, might be of a friendly and
even helpful disposition.

Being in much perplexity he secretly kept a strict
watch upon Simola, but could not detect the slightest
cause for the assumption that he might be a traitor ; and
as he appeared to be an honest man, he treated him as
such and trusted him, but was prudent withal.

At the lower part of the island, not far above where it
joined the causeway leading to the mainland, a stockade
was erected, and no more than four Indians were allowed
on the island at the same time ; and fine strapping fellows
they were, who helped in many ways to further the com-
pletion of the fort, and anything else that was required of
them, while the hunters of the tribe procured an un-
limited supply of provisions from river, forest, and prairie.

ti6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

While the Indians were at work upon the island (as
unintentional hostages), Rupert and Bernard made several
trips to the Klamath camp on the south shore of the
the pool. It was snugly placed amid a clearing of the
forest, which surrounded it on all sides, except where the
river skirted it to the north. The lodges and cabins were
picturesquely placed in favouring sites among the rocks and
hillocks, and at night the cooking fires threw their ruddy
glare upon the waters, and made the encampment, from
the island; look quite like a civilised village. There were
forty-five men and lads, aboat twenty women, and perhaps
thirty or forty children — about one hundred in all. The
men were mostly above the average height, strong and
athletic, fairly well clothed in deer and other skins, and
had with them about twenty horses wLich had come by
another route. The women were far inferior to the men
both in physique and personal appearance; their good
looks, where any were present, being marred by their
habit of smearing their faces and persons with bands of
L'td and white clay.

Clay cooking-pots they had in plenty, but beyond those
their culinary utensils were nil.

Our heroes, on more than one occasion, went out with
hunting parties into the forest and ainong the nearer
hills, never coming back empty handed, for it was a
splendid game country.

By the 20th of November the fort and buildings were
rapidly approaching completion, and tlic Doones were
looking forward to the return of their friends ; but there
was yet another little surprise in store for thv^u in the
descent of six large canoes, or rather ascent, for the huge
clumsy vessels came from seaward.

blmola '"em out to meet the new ariivalp, to le>iru

«»

ARRIVAL OF THE CLATSOPS.

117

from whence they came and whither they were going,
holding in his hand a hranch of fir as a sign of peace.

He paddled among the canoes, and after a deal of
palaver and gestic ulation returned to the island, while the
canoes drew up on the north shore of the pool, and the
goods, women, children, and dogs were unceremoniously
tumbled out on the strand, while the great canoes were
laboriously hauled up above the water level, and the
Indians made every sign of encamping.

On his return Simola informed Mr. Doone that they
were a tribe of Clatsops, who had their winter quarters a
few miles up the Deer River ; but hearing that white men
had taken up quarters on the island, had resolved to winter
near them, that they might help the pale faces in any way
they possibly could.

More brotherly love ! more disinterested friendship !

What could it all mean ?

Mr. Doone could not answer his own question satisfac-
torily, so surmised that sociability was the custom of the
country, but for fear that other ends might be hidden
under this great profession of loyalty and goodwill, he
kept the Fort in true military style — closing the gate of
the stockade at dusk in the evening and not opening it
till an hour after daylight in the morning.

The Clatsop friends had come from the coast, where
they had resided during the summer, some fifty miles north
of the Umpqua mouth. They were Tacon and Umpqua
Indians, but we shall in this narrative call them Clatsops,
as they were really of that tribe though having distinct
tiibal differences.

Their canoes were between f )rty an(. fifty feet long, cut
out of a single tree, either white cedar or fir, and capable
of carrying five-and-twenty persons. These bidarkies have

■€

Ji8

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

gunwales which flare outward, so as to throw o£E the
breaking waves, and the stem and stem rising several
feet above the waterline are decorated with grotesque
birds, men, and animals, some of which Ruth took great
interest in. She copied many of the moat curious into
her book, for patterns of her embroidery work, as future
presents for her English friends.

In managing their canoes the Clatsops, kneeling two
and two along the bottom, sitting on their heels, and
wielding single-bladed paddles, from four to five feet Icng",
sweep along the surface of the water in a very g7- ce.. I
manner.

These savages will venture fearlessly in their apparently
unstable canoes on the roughest and most tempestuous
seas, which they ride upon like seafowl. Should a sea
throw the canoe upon its side and threaten to overturn it,
those on the weather side lean right over the gunwale,
thrust their paddles deep into the wave, catch the water,
and force it under the canoe, and by this action not only
regain an equilibrium, but give their bark a vigorous
drive ahead.

The Clatsops are by no means a prepossessing people,
being somewhat short in stature, and from constantly
squatting in their canoes become ill- shaped and crook-
legged. They have thick ankles and large, broad, flat
feet. Not a nice picture certainly, and to this may be
added the information that they have very insufiicient
clothing, and are dirty in their persons and habits ; so that
it will be seen that the Doones had not a very nice set of
savages for their neighbours. They had one good quality,
however, and that was, they were not given to quarrelling
with other tribes, but were like all others Indians sly,
crafty, and traitorous when they wished to gain any

Lv_

A RELIEF EXPEDITION.

119

particular end. The Tacons numbered about forty and
the TTmpquas eighty.

Such were the Clatsops and Klamaths, who had con-
stituted themselves friends and neighbours of the Doones.

The 25th of November arrived, and with it the com-
mencement of the rainy season, but although the boys
were paddled several miles down the river, nothing was
to be seen of The Hunter. Next day brought no ship,
nor the next, and the white folk of Fort Cornwall began
to grow more and more uneasy, surmising that Captain
Rose had met with some misadventure with his ship,
which might have run upon some unseen rocks and
become a wreck.

A council was held, and it was agreed that if The
Hunter had not returned by December 2nd, an expedition
should sail to the mouth of the Umpqua River to ascertain
if anything could be seen or heard of the overdue vessel.

The days pasted lingeringly away, but not a glint of the
lofty masts of The Hunter appeared, and on the 3rd of
December the expedition started for the Umpqua Head.

Two of the largest Clatsop can6es were requisitioned,
each with a crew of fourteen natives of the Umpqua tribe,
as paddle-men. Provisions tc^'O put aboard, and on the
morning of the 3rd the bidarkies were paddled down the
river. Rupert, three whife sailors, fourteen Um^^quas,
and four Klamaths were in one canoe, all fully anned,
and Bernard, Simola, Ra-pa-tal and Bar-me-no, twelve
Urapquas, and six Klamaths in the other, forty-four in all.

It was dark when they reached the estuary after a
hard paddle of ten hours, and had they not had the tide
with them for six hours it would have taken much longer.
They landed, lit several large fires, and erected shelter huts
of boughs and boulders ; and while their evening meal, of

^t\

1 20

T//E FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

which they were in great need, was cooking, they tried
ineffectually to dry their garments, for they had been
completely drenched by the heavy rain which had fallen
nearly all day.

The boys and other white men made themselves a very
fair hut of three rock walls, some boughs for roof and a
piece of a sail which they had brought with them. The
Ind; ins, used to open-air life, wrapped themselves in their
blanketci j>'"d /juried up under the lee of the canoes, which
were draA> ut of the water, or else with their feet
towards a fire and their heads tucked under their blankets,
slept soundly like so many huge dogs.

The morning broke fair, but very cold, and the Indians
did not look at all gay with their damp feathers and
smudged face ornaments of coloured clay, but they were
cheerful enough, and accompanied liemard inland, to
point out a spot where he might obtain a shot at a big-
horn. He did better, for he obtained two of these strange
animals, whose flesh is as fine in flavour as the finest
Welsh mu^* jn.

The camp presented an animated scene as the Indians
prepared breakfast, but although the redskins ate heartily
of the mutton, it must be confessed the boys had not much
stomach for it, as it looked very uninviting, being cut
into long flat strips and hung over the smoky fire. Some
parts of it were done fairly well, other parts nearly raw,
and all of it smoky, oily, and mangled.

Savage ways have a romantic touch about them in
books, but when one is brought into personal contact with
the sons of the wilderness, much has to be encountered
which is decidedly unpleasant.

They embarked and proceeded to the headland, and
although they strained their eyes to the north and south,

^t>

A CANOE VOYAGE.

121

nothing could be seen of The Hunter. As the sea was
fairly smooth it was agreed to coast southward to the
mouth of the Eel River, where Captain Rose's native
agent might be able to give them some account of the
vessel and her crew.

The skill with which the Clatsops managed the canoes
was marvellous, and the timing of their paddles excited
the boys' admiration ; so precise and in unison were they
in their movements, that thef least word from the steers-
man was followed out by every man, as if the whole
crew had but one brain between them.

The distance from the Umpqua River to the Eel River
is about two hundred and fifty miles, a most formidable
task for a couple of canoes to undertake, and at the end
of the first day when they went ashore into an inlet for
the night, they had only covered about thirty miles,
despite their continuous paddling.

A council was therefore held, and as it would probably
take them eight days to reach Eel River, it was deemed
imprudent to attempt it at a time of year when storms
and foul weather might be expected ; besides which, Mr.
Doone was quite without aid, and had ordered the canoes
to be hack at the Fort in eight days at latest.

It was at length proposed that they should paddle as
far south as they could on the morrow, keeping a sharp
look out for The Hunter, and if she did not make her
appearance by the finish of breakfast on the fourth day
out, they were to return.

The sailors, aided by Rupert end his brothers, sat late
that night fashioning two sails from the large piece of
sailcloth the boys had brought with them as a kind of
protecting awning for them to sleep under.

Next day they were up at sunrise, breakfasted, and

122

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

away early. The sails helped the paddlcrs greatly, and
the wind being N.W. was in their favour. They passed
thousands of seals lying on the outlying rocks and swim-
ming about with a graceful undulating motion ; two or
three sea-otters were also espied, but they were on a
voyage of discovery and not on j, hunting expedition, so
the meek-eyed beasts were left unmolested.

It was calculated that they ran at least fifty miles
that day, and towards dusk they noticed some twinkling
lights on shore, which they took to be fires ; they there-
fore made for a large opening which lay upon this side of
the fires as they proved rightly to be on closer inspection,
and landed in a sheltered nook between two large rocky
clifis. It was now nearly dark, and they lit their own
fires in such a position that they could not be seen by
those whose fires were at the head of the bay.

While supper was being prepared two scouts were sent
to reconnoitre, who quickly discovered that they were the
camp fires of a large party of Digger Indians. They
numbered about eighty men, and having no women with
them, showed that peace was not altogether their design
in being camped where they were.

Two sentinels were placed to guard the encampment
during the night, others taking their places during the
hours of darkness, at intervals of two hours.

How strange were the surroundings of the tojs when
they woke in the night ! Great rocky cliffs towered above
them, and the twinkling stars looked coldly down as they
lay gazing around at the sleeping forms of the Indians,
whose coloured blankets could just be discerned as their
wearers slumbered around half-a-dozen fires, which shed
a fitful light upon their recumbent forms grouped in
strange attitudes. The waters of the bay looked inky

■<i(

A GREAT SURPRISE.

t I

black, with here and there a faint touch of silver as a
ripple caught and reflected the light from the pale stars
above.

Morning dawned, and the boys and their cboipanions
awoke. None were allowed to leave the camp for fear of
being seen by the Diggers, who might not be friendly.
Two spies were again sent out to reconnoitre, and on their
return informed the boys, through Simola, that the
Diggers had been on a plundering expedition, and had
captured a great quantity of spoil, among which were
several bales of blankets, which they were about to
divide.

The question at once arose, " From whence coidd they
get hales of blankets? Could they possibly have li^en
received in barter from The Hunter ? "

To set matters at rest, Simola, accompanied by the two
Manadans, Bar-me-no and Ra-pa-tal, volunteered to go
boldly to the Digger camp and see how matters stood, the
others were in the meantime to keep themselves closely
hidden, and only to venture out if Simola fired his musket.

The trio set off, but had not been gone ten minutes
when Simola came running back alone, quite out of
breath with excitement.

"I have seen The Hunter ! " he exclaimed.

"Where? "said the brothers in a breath, before he
could explain himself further.

"Not half-a-mile from here," the half-breed replied,
" but she is burnt and deserted ! Follow me closely, so
as not to be seen."

^v.

. ^ '

CHAPTER XII.

A STjstery. — Land Pirates. — Stalking a Camp. — The Signal. — A Battle.
- — The Fate of Captain Rose. — A Cave Dwelling.— Tug of War. —
Wrestling. — Friends Meet. — A Bear Adventure. — A Madman in a
Canoe. — At Death's Door. — Work on the Island.

Calling the men to strike camp quickly, Simola ordered
the canoes to be pushed off and everyone to embark.

By his orders the canoes were paddled round the point
which had prevented them from being seen by the
Diggers, and there, full in view, lay the hull of The
Huntevy burnt nearly to the water's edge.

The brothers could scarcely believe their eyes, but on
approaching the dismal wreck they could discern the
half -obliterated white letters T UNT—R.

Here was a mystery ! What did it all mean ?

"Where were gallant Captain Rose and his crew ?

The interior of the hull was a mass of blackened debris
— chaotic — indefinable.

Who had set fire to their beloved old ship ?

Had her crew been overcome and killed, or had bhe
been accidentally stranded, and being irreparably injured,
set on fire by the Captain ?

Who could tell ? #

But stay ; what are those lumps on the sandy shore
which look so strangely like human beings ?

They paddle towards them, and, alas, recognise the

TREACHERY SUSPECTED.

125

remains of four of The Hunter* h crew. They are mangled,
burnt and blackened, but their tattered clothing unmis-.
takably proclaims their identity.

The white men were aghast with horror, while their
Indian allies looked on in wonder.

What should be done? was the next question, and
again Simola came to the rescue by offering to go, at-
tended by the two Mandaus, who spoke the language
better than he, to the Digger camp and seek an explana-
tion.

After making arrangements as to certain signals,
Simola departed with his comrades, and while he was
making slow progress toward the Digger camp, by keep-
ing along the rugged rocky shore, Rupert carried out a
plan which was suggested to him by the sight of the
corpses of his former companions.

It seemed perfectly plain to him that a robbery
attended with fatal violence had taken place, or the
blankets and other goods would not have been in the
hands of the savages at the head of the bay ; if such
were the case he intended to attempt the recovery of the
stolen property and the punishment of the delinquents.

The plan hit upon by Simola and Rupert was that the
former should visit the enemy's camp and ascertain if
they were friends or foes, and if the latter, whether they
were guilty of treachery to their friends aboard The
Hunter. If friends, he would climb the rock at the head
of the bay and wave a pine-branch as a signal for his
friends to approach ; but if they were enemies he would
fire his musket, making as an excu&j^ to the chief the
pretence of sigiialling to some of his canoe-men to bring
up a supply of "firewater,** of which all Indians are
inordinately fond. Then, after sending a man forward

126

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

with a largo bottle, Rupert was to follow, under eovei,
with his whole force, and fall on the unsuspecting
wretches who had treacherously slain the white crew.

After Simola had departed, Rupert ordered all but
two men to enter the canoes again, and with these two,
who were to act as decoys, he left a large bottle of trade
gin.

The canoes were quietly paddled back to their lust
night's halting-place, where the crews, disembarking,
proceeded to the rear of the enemy's camp by making a
long detour inland among the rocks and tangled masses of
wild shrubs, lianas, and trailing undergrowth. It was
very slow ad unpleasant work, even to the Indians, but
they presently came to a dry, or nearly dry, watercourse,
along the margin of which they walked, jumped, and
tumbled faster than amid the tangled underwood.

Luckily Indian palavers are long-winded affairs, and
Simola, being a half-breed, enjoyed the pride of being
principal in a long talk, so did not hurry matters, ov our
heroes and their men would not have had time to secure
the commanding position overlooking the camp of the
unsuspecting savages, who, heedless of all precaution, in
the fallacious sense of their security, had not a single
picket posted around the camp in case of a surprise.

Two hours had elapsed since they started from the
canoes, during which time but a couple of miles had been
traversed, which was a proof of the rugg?d and trackless
nature of the district.

From their position behind a thicket the brothers could
look down upon the skin and bark lodges of the Diggers,
and anxiously awaited the preconcerted signal of peace or
war.

It came at length,

FIREWATER AND BLOOD.

Simola, haranguing with the chief and two or three
other head men, walked to the big rock and coolly fired
his musket as a signal for the " firewater " to be brought,
and as coolly loaded his piece again and strode back to the
circle of natives, who were seated on the ground, antici-
pating a grand carouse.

More talk followed, pending the arrival of the " fire-
water."

Rupert scarcely knew whether to fire at the treacherous
Diggers now, or when the spirit arrived, but quickly decided
to strike while the enemy was quiet and unsuspecting, as
they were quite double his own force in number.

Placing his silent moccasined Indians in front, with
instructions to fire two flights of arrows at the enemy, on
his giving the signal, and then rush in with their
tomahawks and knives ; he and his brother, the carpenter,
and the two sailors, constituted themselves a kind of rear
guard, which was posted where a path led between two
rocks to the right of the camp.

The signal was a volley from the white men's guns,
delivered at the group of headmen standing near Simola,
and right good execution it did, for three of the four fell
to the ground, while Simola brained the fourth with a
blow from his rifle.

Sixty arrows immediately after flew silently among the
surprised Digger warriors, 'and then from their ambush
the thirty Clatsops and Klamaths dashed among them, and
a fierce hand-to-hand struggle ensued, in which, after the
first shock, the Diggers being more numerous, held their
own, till, with a loud hurrah, the white men, with loaded
muskets, dashed from their hiding-place into the thick of
the enemy, and with their unexpected appearance turned
the tide of battle, for the Diggers fled in all directions,

■Ml

IjilBW

ia8

• t

2//£ FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

evidently thinking that the sailors whom they had slain a
day or two before had returned to life to take vengeance

TH£IB UNEXPECTKD APFEAIUNCE TUBNED THE TIDE OF BATTLE.

upon them for their frcachery. Throwing down their
discharged muskets, the white men pursued the enemy,

A SAD RELIC.

129

and with pistol and cutlass made sad havoc among the
retreating foe.

All was soon over, and a search instituted through the
camp for anything that would give a clue to what had
really befallen the late crew of The Hunter.

Simola had pretended to be friendly with the Diggers,
and from the chief had obtained a recital of what he called
a battle with the white men on the great canoe. He said
one of the white men had killed the chief's son, and his
death being resented, a fight had taken place, the crew
all killed, and the ship, after being plundered, run
aground and burnt.

Knowiiig the capacity of Indians for lying, no
one could say how much of this story was true, but
of two things there remained no doubt: that some at
least of her crew had been killed, and the ship burnt and
plundered.

, A great store of goods was found which had belonged to
The Hunter f and also a rather large stock of sea-otter, seal
and deer skins, which appeared that a trading transaction
had led to some disturbance, which had ended in a dreadful
catastrophe to the white men, who were outnumbered five
to one, and probably taken unawares.

As Be^mard was searching among the goods ii* the
chief's lodge, he came across a relic which caused him to
sit down and indulge in an agony of weeping, for he had
discovered his uncle's clothing, which proved that he, too,
was numbered with the dead.

It was a sad day for the boys, and their martial
triumph was quite overshadowed by grief at their dis-
covery. That Captain Rose and his brave men had
perished now appeared quite certain, and the boys were
beside themselves with grief. Here was a realisation of
their hopes of happiness and adventure in a far land !

130

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

■^.«%s:-

The latter they certainly did not lack, but the former
seemed to have left them for ever.

Simola suggested a feast upon the enemy's provender,
and to this Rupert acquiesced, knowing it would be the
very thing to please his Indian allies.

Four men were despatched to bring the canoes to the
rocks at the foot of the camp, and four more posted as
sentinels for fear of a return of the Diggers, of which
there was but little probability ; but precaution is no >y here
more needful than in dealing with the red man.

Four others were detailed to collect wood and build
fires ; and yet four more to drag the dead into a d^ep dell,
for their ghastly wounds and contorted features were not
calculated to add to one's appetite.

Upwards of twenty Diggers were found dead, and no
doubt a great many wounded had been carried off by their
comrades, as is the custom in savage warfare.

Two Clatsops and a Klamath were killed, and three
Clatsops and the carpenter severely wounded. " Chips,"
as Jack Fleming, the carpenter, was, from his trade,
called, was one of those lively fellows who sees the
humorous side of every tiling ; and although he was so
severely wounded that he could not stand, having an
arrow wound in his thigh, which completely pierced it,
and a spear thrust through his foot, yet he Avas full of
humour as well as pain.

He vowed the savages knew he was a Hampshire hog
(he T/us born at Lymington) or they would not have ham-
strung him as they do pigs. " Besides," said he, " I know
that old fellow ^^,'ith the big spear wanted ray * trotter,'
or whv did he aim his harpoon at my foot, bad luck to
him?'*'

Cheerfulness was Jack's stronar trait, a characteristic in

• I

SCALPS, DANCES, AND REVELRY.

«»

many a bold "Jack," both in and out of her Majesty's
navy ; and it is that inborn cheerfulness that makes tho
English sailor what he is, a straightforward, happy-go-
lucky messmate.

The woundod were carefully tended and laid in tho
bottoms of the canoes, and the fish and flesh being cooked,
a grand feast was held ; after which a war dance had to
be indulged in by the Klamaths and Clatsops, in which
they worked themselves up to a perfect frenzy, reciting
songs of their prowess, ii\ which they referred to them-
selves as having wiped out the whole Digger race ; and
as they gesticulated and danced, with horrid yells of
triumph they waved aloft the bloody scalps of the
enemy.

While this saturnalia was progressing, the brothers
and Simola concocted their plans for the return journey,
and soon after noon the recovered goods and the piles of
skins were placed in the canoes, and preparations made for
the voyage home.

Everything being ready to start, four or five Umpquas
took brands from the fires, and, with fiendish yells, set
light to the various lodges and cabins which composed the
village, thus completing their work of killing, spoiling, and
desolating the treacherous Diggers.

They found the : oa much rougher than on the outward
trip, but the sails helped to steady the canoes considerably,
as the wind, having backed a little to the west, was still
somewhat favourable to their progress.

By nightfall they had made but twenty miles, and in
landing had great difiiculty in getting tlie canoes ashore,
as they were now very deeply laden, and no estuary or
friendly bay gave them the opportunity of landing in
smooth water. *

132

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

By dint of great skill they succeeded in getting safely
ashore, but in doing so much of the cargo was saturated
with sea-water ; but even that was better than a capsize, in
which everything would probably have been lost.

As they landed it commenced to rain, but some largo
caves gave them excellent shelter, some of them being so
large that the canoes, after being unladen, were carried
into them out of the rain for the men to sleep in. Drift-
wood is very plentiful all along the coast, and some of the
drier pieces being cut up with tomahawks, big fires were
lighted and supper soon under weigh.

During the night the wind greatly increased, and when
dawn broke such a sea was presented to view, that
launching the bidarkies was out of the question. There
was nothing for it, therefore, but to make the best of their
situation till the gale blew itself out and the sea
moderated.

Although the weather was cold and wet, yet the
surroundings of the boys were so strange that they (apart
from the knowledge of their uncle's death) quite enjoyed
llie company of their strange companions. How different
to their quiet humdrum life in their native Cornish vil-
lage ! There, all was peace and order, law and security.
Here, war, bloodshed, no law and no security, was the
order of things. The life was new to them, and was
exceedingly strange. They were leaders of a band of
I ndians ! They felt very important, quite heroes ; indeed
they felt what they were — a couple of sturdy English lads,
not likely to let trifles knock them under when there was
anything to be taken in hand.

The Indians played strange gambl' g games, and tlu n
showed feats of skill with their bows and arrows and their
tomahawks, chatted round the great fires, and recited talcs

A TUG OF WAR,

of loV(\ war and adventure, which, according to Simola's
interpretation, required to be swallowed with large pinches
of salt.

On the second day the wind dropped, but the rain
descended in a deluge, and although the sea moderated a
little, it was still too much agitated to think of launching
their long, frail bidarkies, so they spent the day in all
kinds of games, and among others, feats of strength were
introduced, at an hich the Englishman proA^ed more than a
match for the red men.

A tug of war between three white men and four red
men caused the Clatsops to become very excited, and some
of them even betted their blankets on the result. Indians
are so fond of gambling that they will sometimes stake
horses, arms, and even their squaws in some foolish game
of chance.

The two boys and Freeman, one of the sailors, who was
a very heavy man, weighed about forty stone, while their
four opponer would probably be some two or three stone
more, but wha the Englishmen lacked in weight they
balanced in strengtii find knowledge ci hauling on ropes.
It was to be " best two ov^ of thre pulls," and in the first
pull the white men had the advantaco from the outset,
and won in three or four minutes fiuin the word being
given to " haul."

This was too sudden a victory, however, to produce
much excitement, so Rupert gave 1 is comrades the wink
to prolong the struggle, even ii oy were getting the best
of it ; but four heavier men were opposed to them in the
next bout, and the struggle was really a good one ; but
slowly and surely the rope came in till the Englishmen
had nearly secured victory, when Rupert, amid deafening
yells, slipped and lost his hold of the rope.

■■

»34

THE PUk TRAbkRS OF THE WEST.

Their opponents quickly hauled the two whites over the
line and won the bout.

For the third and final tussle the excitement was
intense, as the ^anie four redskins came up to the rope.
The Indians yelled, danced, smacked hands in token of the
acceptance of a bet, and shrieked wdth delight when the
r3d men gained a few inches of rope, so that the cave
lesembled pandemonium.

Cries, ejaculations, fierce looks, and yells of delight
made the whole thing very exciting, and every inch of
rope gained one way or other was greeted with loud shouts
from the partisans of either side. The bout lasted a long
time, and then, by a preconcerted little oh ! the English-
men suddenly slacked the rope, which caused two of the
redskins to lose their footing; this was fatal to their
success, for amid a perfect storm of yells and shouts of
laughter, they were drawn over the line by the three
perspiring white men.

Wrestling on a floor of skins and blankets gave sturdy
Bernard an opportunity of showing an amount of sirergth
and skill which fairly astonished the natives, who were
amazed and delighted at his prowess. He rose in their
estimation as one most wortliy of being a chief, and they
christened him on tho spol '* Big Bear."

The outlook at night ^\ us propitious for a start next
day, as the rain having ceased, and wind gone down, the
sea was rapidly calming.

Big fires were made, and with Ra-pa-tal guarding the
mouth of the cave, all were soon wrapped in their blankets
and peaceful slumber.

The morning was very fine ; and anxious to make up
for lost time, they made a very hurried breakfast, and

[

BA-PA-TAIi OUARDINO THE MOUTB OF THE C4VE,

THE JOURNEY RESUMED.

»37

were afloat soon after the sun Had shown himself upon
the tips of the hills.

The occupants of Fort Cornwall would no doubt be
dreadfully anxious as to what had happened to them, as
well as for the fate of The Hunter , of which they were at
present quite ignorant. This was tlTe day on which they
should have returned to the fort, and here were they
more than a hundred miles away, with a rough sea before
them. There was no help for it, however, so they took
turns at paddling with the Indians, both to keep them-
selves warm and to help in lessening the number of miles
to their home.

Another night came and another landing was made at
the mouth of a river, this time in a calm bay. As usual,
they had a big meal, and men after a nine hours' paddle
on the sea can eat a big meal, one that would simply
astonish a town dweller, however hard he may work. A
long paddle in the keen sea air made these men have
appetites like wild animals ; they become ravenous and
eat like wolves, and after their gorge, like wolves, they
slept.

In savage life there are no set times for meals, for they
go upon a journey till they are realhj hungry, and then
they cat as if they had not had a meal for a week,
and did not anticipate partaking of another for a like
period.

Next morning, in dull, threatening weather, the two
canoes were manned, and another stage of the return
journey commenced. When once on the sea the men
seemed to rouse themselves, and to a dreary monotonous
chant kept splendid time with their paddles, making the
canoes travel at great speed. Just as a horse will accom-
plish a homeward journey quicker than the outward one,

138

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

80 did these Indians seem to gain energy the nearer they
got to the mouth of the Umpqua River.

In the middle of the afternoon one of the men lying
forward in the leading canoe gave a cry and pointed
ahead. Sweeping the horizon with his telescope, Rupert
brought into view a large canoe, but at so great a dis-
tance that, although he could see that it was full of men,
yet he could not tell which way it was moving.

This telescope, it must be noted, was a " great medicine"
to the Indians, and they looked upon it as something
supernatural, and would not upon any consideration touch
it, for fear something evil should happen to them. On
one occasion when Bernard had been using it he omitted
to put the leather cap on the large end, but an Indian
who dare not approach too closely, asked him to " Shut
telescope eye — eye bad medicine — make Injun quick
die."

Half-an-hour more at the paddles revealed the fact that
the canoe was approaching them rr idly, and another half-
hour brought them so close that Rupert recognised the
canoe as belonging to the Clatsops, who had evidently
come all this distance, some seventy miles, to meet them.

The greeting at meeting was very hearty, if yells and
yelps enough to deafen one can be taken as a criterion.
It was soon discovered that the canoe had been sent by
Mr. Doone as a kind of forlorn hope, to gather news either
of The Huutcr or his sons.

The chatter among the re-united Indians was more like
what one would expect to hear from the sudden meeting
of forty or fifty females, than from a tribe of supposedly
reserved and stoical Indians.

When they landed for the night at the entrance of the
Umpqua it was quite dark, but these sons of the wilder-

THE '' LOXG EYE

>»

ness paddled as unerringly to their usual landing-place as
if it had been broad dayli^^ht ; and what the boys took to
be a caso of seeing, like cavs, in the dark, was not due to
greater visual power than that possessed by white men,
but to the fact that the natives knew every rock and rugged
gnarled tree in the estuary, and the distance from object
to object, so it was really observation rather than eyesight
that guided them.

When they commenced the ascent of the Umpqua next
day, they found that owing to the recent rains the river
had risen considerably during their absence, and was
flowing seaward with great velocity, retarding their pro-^
gross so much that it was doubtful if they would reach
Fort Cornwall in two days, whereas it only took them one
day to descend the river.

Strangely enough they met with two adventures on the
river, one on the first day with a bear, and on the second
with a mishap, which was near costing a couple of lives.

The first incident was, that at a distance, some object
was noticed coming rapidly down the river towards them,
perched upon a floating tree-trunk that had broken adrift,
and which the Indians pronounced to be a man, who was
perhaps trying to get across the stream by this means, as
he appeared to be using a paddle on one side of his
strange bark onl}'.

Bernard with his wonderful "long eye," as the Clatsops
called the telescope, put quite a different construction on
the occupant of the log, for he could see that it was an
animal — either a bear or a panther.

As it approached it was seen that it was a medium-
sized specimen of the former, and what appeared to be a
paddle was in reality a branch which flapped up and down
in the water with the rolling of the log.

140

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

W !

Quickly a dozen arrows were fitted to as many bows
and launched at the animal, who showed his great white
fangs and growled at the archers, for three of the arrows
found a billet in various parts of his carcase. By the
time other arrows were notched to the strings, the bear
was quite close, and of the twelve arrows discharged
only two or three this time missed their mark, the rest
burying themselves in various parts of the now furious
animal, who, losing his footing slipped off the log, and
commenced to swim towards the nearest bidarkie.

Not one of the arrows which struck him proved im-
mediately fatal, but the blood-tinted water showed that he
had been very severely, if not mortally, wounded.

Rupert and Bernard sat quietly with their muskets
across their knees, wishing to see the Indian mode of finish-
ing the shaggy swimmer, whose tenacity of life is even
greater than that of the nine-lived cat.

The bear reached the canoe, and had actually got both
his forepaws over the gunnel, when the chief, who had
restrained his men from further attack upon bruin, aimed
a blow at its chest with his lance, but by some means acci-
dentally struck tae gunnel of the canoe, from which it
glanced, and the bear catching the shaft in its mouth,
gave it such a jerk that the chief, who was a man of con-
siderable age, fell overboard, completely on the bear's back.
The bear immediately released his great paws from the
canoe, and turned to claw his aggressor, whose face was a
perfect study of horror at the sudden turn which things
had taken. In a moment, both the brothers sprang from
their seats and fired at the animal, one of the bullets
fortunately completely penetrating its skull and killing it
on the instant. The chief was picked up much the worse
for his icy bath and sudden shock, but none the worse for

A MAD INDIAN,

141

ti .V

tlie bear, who had not had sufficient time to carry out its
fell intentions.

On the next day a more serious incident occurred. One
of the Clutsops who had been wounded in the head by a
tomahawk, during the fight with the Diggers, appeared to
go suddenly mad, for he commenced to howl like a dog,
and behtive in such a violent manner that two of his
tribesmen were told to hold him, so that he did not leap
out of the bidarkie. He was a powerful young fellow, and
after a few minutes of perfect calmness, suddenly seized
hold of one of his guards and tumbled him out of the
canoe, and before anyone could prevent him, flung his arms
round the second and jumped overboard with him also.

The first swam to another canoe and was picked up,
but the madman and his friend disappeared beneath the
chilly surface, bobbing up again some twenty yards lower
down - the river, struggling frantically ; the madman
screaming and yelling as well as he was able, and the
other calling in gasps for help.

The canoes were turned as quickly as possible, or rather
the men faced about, and followed the struggling men
who were battling violently, sometimes under water and
sometimes above. Then the madman appeared to throttle
his opponent, for he ceased to struggle, and every one
looked upon him as past help ; but a few seconds after, a
canoe shot alongside the exultant madman, and the
brother of the drowmed man, leaning over the bow of the
canoe, with a terrific blow of his tomahawk clove the
madman's skull, who sank with the apparently dead
body of his tribesman locked fast in his arms.

Ijikc lightning the brother sprang overboard, and dived
beneath the rusliiug water, bringing both the bodies to
the surface half a minute after, when they were instantly

M«

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

seized aud dragged into the canoe. So locked were tbcy
with their death grip of each other, that considerahle
force had to be used to part them.

Rupert ordered the canoes ashore, had a fire lighted,
ndmiiisterod brandy, bled and chafed the apparently
drowned brother ; had hot stones applied to his spine,
armpits, and feet, and used every means in his power for
an hour, when to the astonishment of all present return-
ing animation became apparent, and finally the man
recovered, liernard was from his wrestling powers stiled
" Big Bear," and Rupert was now styled " White
"Wonder," for the Indians fully believed he had raised a
dead man to life, ascribing miraculous power to his tkill
and the efficacy of the flask of pale brown liquid.

On a fine frosty morning tho last stage of the eventful
voyage was commenced, and by noon the three canoes
came in sight of Fort Cornwall, and were immediately
perceived by those on witch, the flag being hoisted to
welcome their arrival. . . ,;.

Mr. Doone came down to the landing stage to meet his
long absent boys, and before they spoke a word saw by
the expression on their faces that something of a startling
nature had occurred.

They walked up to the house together, and there related
the sad fate of their uncle and the crew of The Hunter.
Mr. Doone was dumbfounded ; the death of Captain Rose
came upon him with terrible severity, and left him and
his family in a peculiarly awkward predicament.

The Captain and he had come out to the wilds of
Western America to trade together as partners for a
couple of years, and now, on the very threshold of their
career, both ship and partner had been taken from him,
leaving him and his family upon an island, surrounded by

A SAD RETURy,

savage men, who might ut any moment turu upon him
and his family and exterminate them. No means of flight
was left them, as although ships might at long intervals
pass the mouth of the Umpqua, not one by the merest
chance ever entered the river.

A long, wild winter was before them, and they were
not at all used to roughing it ; neither were they used to
the manners and customs of their friendly but savage
neighbours, whose enmity they might incur by some
simple act of omission, as easily as by the commission of
something distasteful to them.

"Now, dad," said Rupert, with eyes which spoke of
hope and the confidence of youth, '* I think you take a
much too sombre view of our case. Why, really, we are
not so badly off after all. We have a very strong position
on this island, a good house, stores, and a substantial
little fort ; provisions and water are plentiful, and so far,
both the Clatsops and Klamaths have proved themselves
very friendly and useful to us, and why should they ever
be otherwise ? "

" I, for one," chimed in Bernard, his clear blue eyes
sparkling with health, " vote them a joUy se;t of fellows ;
you should have seen them pitch into those horrid Diggers
and chastise them for us ; and look at the long canoe voyage
they undertook at your suggestion, without any thought
of reward ; why I should not mind trusting myself any-
where, cither on sea or land, with them, neither, I am sure,
would Rupert."

" Not I," answered his brother ; " in fact this winter I
hope to have som? big hunts with them for elk and
grizzlies if father will spare me."

" Well, boys, things maj' turn out brighter than thty
appear to me just now, and certainly our position might

144

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

be worse ; at all events, we are comfortably housed and
want for nothing, so we must not meet possible trouble
half way."

" Come, William," Mrs. Doone soothingly remarked,
" you must not take my poor brother's death so much to .
heart, Ruth and the boys and myself are still left to your
care ; and as the boys say, brighter days may yet be in
store for us, so cheer up, dear husband, for their sakes
and mine I "

But Mrs. Doone's face belied her words, for as she
spoke the tears welled in her eyes, and coursed down her
cheeks, as she thought of the terrible death of her beloved
and only brother.

Ruth sat at her father's side with her head pillowed on
his breast; and altogether the family gathering was a
very sad one.

For a long time no one spoke, each appeared absorbed
with his or her own thoughts, till, with the vigour and
brightness of youth, Rupert broke the silence.

" Now, dad, let us try and forget our sorrow by employ-
ing our minds and our energies. Let us finish our build-
ings and the fort and stockade, making ourselves snug and
secure for the winter. There are yourself and * Chips,'
and the two seamen, and Bernard and I, besides 8iniola
and the two Mandan Indians — nine in all ; strong and
hearty, except Freeman (whose wounds will, however,
soon have healed), and surely if any disturbance took
place with our neighbours, we could with our muskets
and cannon hold our own against any odds ! Still, we
will not talk of that, though we must a%ays be prepared
for cincrgencies.

"Come, let us set to work and fini/h the house and fort,
then the men's house, and lastly the stores,"

WINTER WORK,

»45

Accordingly, on fine days everyone worked with a will,
and at times eight or ten of the neigh-
bouring Indians were allowed on the
island to help.

Snow fell now and again, and every-
thing looked very wintery, but when
outdoor work could not be undertaken
there was plenty of fitting and contriv-
ing to be done indoors, and Mrs. Doone

- -IXfCiJftbLU

THE BOTS AaSIDUOUSLY PBACTISES SnOOTn^Q.

and Ruth in their departments were as busy as the n on.
To help them, three or four young squaws were regularly

146

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

engaged at the fort, sewing, making, mending, washing,
and cooking ; for Mrs. Doone soon made them understand
what was required of them, and taught them how to do
many things, especially to braid their raven hair without
using fish oil !

In the long evenings Simola acted as schoolmaster,
teaching the white men the Klamath language, and a
chosen few of the Klamaths were taught English.

The toys assiduously practised shooting, and would
sometimes give an exhibition of their skill before the
Clatsops, their old chief being particularly fond of witness-
ing them hit any small article suspended from the branch
of a tree, with a single bullet. Both Rupert and Bernard
became so expert that they could send a bullet through a
soft leather ball about the size of a man's fist, hanging
from arbranch at fifty yards' distance, three times out of
four.

Thus the days went pleasantly by, till nearly Christmas,
aad nothing of any moment occurred, except petty
quarrels among the Indians, which their chiefs quickly
decided and adjusted.

CUAPTER XIII.

A Novel Means of Signalling. — The Bemnanta of a Crew. — A Tiagio
Story. — A Peaceful Beginning ends in a Kick. — A Threat of
Revenge. — Danger Apprehended. — The Chief gives a Signal. — A
Fearful Fight agninst Odds.— Death of both Red and White Chief i>.
— A Dash for Life. — The White Man's Revenge and Heroic Death.

One briglit frosty day towards Christmas, one of those
clear, cold, healthy days, with a serene blue sky and keen
air which brought the colour to the faces of the white
men, and made the Indians anxious to go on the huntiug
path, a ccmmotion was observed in the Elamath village,
where a great bustle was taking place. Rupert and
Bernard, ^ ho were on the island, signalled over to Simola,
who was among the Klamaths, " What is amiss ? "

This was done by means of flags and two copies of an
English dictionary; one at the fort and the other in a box
by the Klamath flagstaff. A box, by the way, which
appeared so uncanny to the Indians, that they never
approached it very closely. The volume they called
" the talking papers."

The mode of signalling was very simple, being accom-
plished in this manner :

First, flags were used to indicate the page in which the
word could be found. Thus 1 — 6 — 3 denoted the number
of the page. Next the number of the word from the top
of the column was indicated, and as there were two

148

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

J i

I ,

rl ,

columns, if the flags were hoisted straightway to the mast-
head it was indication of the fint column, but if on their
way to the truck they were dipped it meant column two.

Small words were omitted ; thus the question under
notice, What is amiss ? was signalled '* "What amiss," is
being understood. This signal saved a pull or paddle of
half-a-mile across the swift flowing river.

The startling answer signalled was :

" White men arrived."

Mr. Doone and Bernard quickly leaped into the boat
with the two sailors, and pulled across to the Klamath
camp, and upon landing were hurried off to the chief's
lodge, where, to their surprise, they found three haggard,
exhausted white men, reclining by the side of the big fire
of logs which burned in the centre of the wigwam.

They were so exhausted that they could scarcely speak,
and so much altered in appearance, that Mr. Doone and
his son did not recognise them as having formed part of
the crew of T/ie Hunferf but such they were. The boat-
swain Polton, a sailor named Pendrick, and the young
mate Pobert Beltoi (who with his apparently charmed
life had again escaped death by a miracle) were the sole
survivors of the hapless crew.

They were too weak to be moved, so Mr. Doone sent
stores from the fort, and visited them twice a day for
three days, by which time they "N 'ere sufficiently recovered
to be able to leave the lodge of ^hc kind old chief, Sek-
kona, and cross over to the fort.

Once among their white friends they picked up wonder-
fully, and as Fleming, the carpenter, remarked, "You
could see them aswelling wisibly before the naked eye."
So one might almost have done, for the skeleton frames
put on flesh at a great rate, but of course long before this

THE BEAUTIFUL HAVEN.

149

time Belton had told his story, and we will here recapitu-
late the principal portion of it from the time The Hunter
sailed from the island.

" On leaving Fort Cornwall, we dropped steadily down
with the tide to the mouth of the river, and moored there
for the night ; proceeding next morning southward along
the coast, visiting the farthest agent in due course, and
trading with the Indians for peltries ; and so we came
hack northward, staying for a day or two at likely places
for trading. At length we came to a very pretty bay, at
the head of which we discerned smoke arising from several
fires, denoting the presence of Indians, and that suggested
trade ; so we anchored for the night, and at daybreak sent
the boat into the bay to take soundings ; but directly it
rounded the high rocks, the Indians caught sight of it,
and soon surrounded it with their canoes. They appeared
very peaceable fellows, although noisy, and curious to a
degree.

" Some were allowed aboard The Hunter, and by means
of signs, and sounding with a long ash pole, they showed us
that there was plenty of water, even at the sides of the
haven, which was most beautiful in its surroundings, even
at this time of the year ; in the summer months it must
be a veritable fairyland. The trees hang quite over the
cliffs and cast their reflections in the smooth sea water, and
the rocks are festooned and covered with pretty creeping
plants, which, when in full bloom, must look very beau-
tiful indeed.

** Captain Rose was on deck, and on the chief; named
Bun-de-pah, being introduced to him, they shook hands
in the European fashion, for somehow these Diggers have
learned how to bid a white man welcome in his own style ;
and after a present of refreshment to the principal men,

150

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

it was intimated that the Captain was willing to trade with
the natives.

" The natives signified their willingness to barter their
peltries and firs, and a couple of canoes were dispatched
to the village to bring back an assortment.

" In a short time they returned, and the Captain ordered
a collection of goods to be spread on deck ; blankets, tin-
ware, knives, fish-hooks, paints, and mirrors, were all
there in great variety.

** They were duly inspected by the savages, but not a
stroke of business was done, for the Diggers proved to be
very Jews in their dealings, and required twice or thrice
the value of the peltries which they brought on board,
which were the commonest and worst skins they possessed,
reserving the better kinds for subsequent barter.

" Captain Rose endured the impudence of the savages for
a long time, till at last, wearied with such lengthy wrang-
ling, he took a musty old deerskin which Bun-de-pah
offered him and banged it about the old fellow's ears, and
finally expedited his descent into his canoe with a good
hearty kick in the rear.

" The old chap was beside himself with passion, and
went off breathing terrible threats of vengeance upon the
white men generally, and their chief in particular.

" I did not like the look of matters at all, and begged
the Captain to up anchor and put to sea, for the savages
out-numbered us ten to one, besides, there was little
business to be done with such a horde of Shylocks.

" The Captain only laughed, and pointing to the four
cannon and the arm chest, expressed an opinion that
he could mow the naked savages down like wheat if they
ventured on his deck without his consent.

*' Towards evening I renewed my entreaties for him to

A STORY OF TREACHERY.

'51

leave the haven, but in vain, he only asked me not to men-
tion such a cowardly thing to him again, and finding that
he was getting very angry with me I left him and went
below.

" On the following morning at dawn, while the Captain
and I were still asleep, a canoe came alongside steered by
the old chief. Bun-de-pah, who had apparently swallowed
his humiliation, and signified his wish to do business with
the Captain on his own terms, as he thought that I'fter all,
the white chief, as he styled Captain Rose, would know
more about prices than he did.

** The second mate who had charge of the deck watch told
him he could not wake the Captain yet, as he went to bed
very tired. The savages were content to wait, and, as they
appeared to be unarmed, were allowed to come on deck.
Another canoe presently succeeded the first, the occupunts
of which were also permitted on deck.

" Cy-and-by other canoes surrounded the ship, and the
Indians began to climb aboard on all sides, which caused
the mate to become alarmed, and fearing that treachery
was abroad, he called the Captain and myself.

"Sailors do not take long to perform their toilettes,
and accordingly, in two minutes, we were both on deck
among the thronging savages. The interpreter came up
to me and whispered that he was afraid that the short
cloaks of skin which many of the natives had donned,
were simply worn for the purpose of concealing weapons
of some kind.

" Hearing this, I approached the Captain and urged him
to clear the ship and get away ; but although he had at
first made light of my advice, he quickly noticed the in-
creasing number of canoes around the ship, and began to
scent danger. Thereupon he ordered some of the crew to

r '

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

heave up the anchor, while others were sent aloft to shake
loose the sails preparatory to sailing.

" Bun-de-pah at this change of front offered to harter
skins with the Captain, prompted, apparently, hy the speedy
departure of the ship, and a hurried trade was accordingly
commenced. The principal articles hargained for hy the
savages were knives and axes, and in a very short time
every savage was armed with one or the other.

" The anchor was now nearly apeak, the sails hung from
the yards, and in a loud and authoritative voice the Cap-
tain ordered the ship to he cleared of the redskins.

"A peculiar cry was at this moment given by the dusky
chief, which was evidently a preconcerted signal, for im-
mediately a yell went up on every side, and the savages,
brandishing war-clubs and knives, made a sudden rush
upon their marked victims.

" The first who fell was Johnson, the clerk, who, while
leaning over a bale of blankets bargaining for a pair of
worked moccasins, was stabbed in the back, and, staggering
to his feet, fell with a crash down the companion stairs.

" The sailmaker, who was sitting on the taffrail, sprang
to his feet, but was immediately knocked backwards into
the water over the stem, when the men guarding the
canoes quickly killed him with their paddles as he endea-
voured to swim ashore.

** Captain Eose in the meantime made a desperate fight
against fearful odds. He was, as you know, a powerful
and resolute man, but he was unarmed, having come on
deck like the rest of us, quite unprepared. Bun-de-pah
at the outset singled him out as his own particular prey,
and rushed upon him with a formidable tomahawk. The
Captain, seeing the turn matters had taken, had time to
draw out his large case-knife from the sheath, and with

u_ji,-i--mj ' -"

A FIGHT AGAINST FEARFUL ODDS.

153

one terrific blow laid the redskin chief dead at his feet.
Seeing this, several of the stoutest warriors attacked the
gallant skipper at the same time, but he defended him-
self with great vigour, and dealt crippling and ripping
blows right and left, strewing the quarter-deck with
wounded and slain. He shouted to me to try and get to
the cabin and procure firearms, but I was fully employed
in guarding myself against three yelling demons.

" Seeing that I was quite hemmed in, he started forward
himself, fighting his way towards the cabin, but his foes
were too numerous for him, and, covered with wounds
and faint from loss of blood, he leaned against the mizzen-
mast, when a savage from behind dealt him a blow upon
the head with a war- club, which brought him to his
knees, and thence, another blow laid him prone upon the
deck, where he was hacked with knives and thrown
overboard.

" Seeing the Captain killed, and all the rest on deck
either dead or at the point of death, I killed the two
nearest of my foes with a war-club I had picked up, and,
dodging the third, made a dash for the shrouds, which I
reached safely, and quickly joined the seven men who
had been sent aloft to unfurl the sails.

" From aloft the aspect of the deck was terrible : dying
and dead men, pools of blood, and broken weapons, covered
the white planks from bows to stern, and the sight to us
was the more terrible from the fact that we were all
unarmed (I had dropped my club when I sprang up the
shrouds), and appeared to have no chance whatever of
escaping with life.

" Our only hope of saving either our lives or the ship was
to descend the rigging suddenly, and make a desperate
dash for the cabin, where we could arm ou, selves and

5*1

»54

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WESl

soon clear the deck of the redskins. At a given signal we
proceeded to let ourselves down the running rigging, but,
alas, the attempt was only partially successful, for one
poor fellow fell in the attempt, and was immediately dis-
patched; another received a mortal stab in the back as he
was descending, and a third, Dick Day, the armourer, was
clubbed just as he was going down the hatchway.

** The other four of us reached the cabin safely, where
we found the clerk, Johnson, still alive, but mortally
wounded. "We quickly barricaded the cabin door, cut
holes through the top panels, and, as quickly as we could
load them, fired the muskets among the thronging savages,
who quickly vacated the deck d tumbled helter-skelter
into their canoes.

" Having so far rid the ship of our fierce antagonists, we
cast loose the deck guns, which were loaded, and fired
among the retreating canoes with such effect that we
sunk one and cut another completely in two ; probably we
did not kill or hurt many of the occupants, as the water
was all alive with black heads making rapidly for the
shore.

" We loaded one gun with nails, but it is doubtful if the
charge did much execution among the natives, as, by the
time the gun was fired, the range was too great. Many
having arrived on shore had hidden among the rocks,
but the number of carcases floating in the haven told its
tale of carnage.

" During the day not an Indian was seen afioat, their
respect for our guns being too great ; neither were we
molested during the ensuing night as we anticipated we
shoidd have been.

" Of all our crew of eighteen, only we four and the
interpreter remained alive, and he was with the Diggers

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

^1%

on shore, not as a piisoner but as a friend ; and it was
from this man that I gained my knowledge of what
transpired after we left the ship, in the longboat (about
an hour before daylight). I will tell you what happened
as near as 1 can in his own words, premising the story by
stating that Johnson, the clerk, knowing death was upon
him, refused to quit the ship.

" "When the day dawned The Hunter still lay at anchor
in the bay, her unfurled sails flapping idly in the wind ;
this the Indians did not expect, as they apprehended that
the * big canoe * would have sailed away in the night.
After a time, as no one appeared on deck, one or two
canoes stole out to reconnoitre, and as no one showed
themselves upon The Hunter^ they grew bolder, and took
the interpreter in the largest canoe to parley with the
palefaces.

" Circling round the ship, they paddled their canoes
nearer and nearer, till, when quite close alongside, poor
Johnson made his appearance on deck, more dead than
alive. He made signs of peace, and invited them aboard,
but it was a long time before they ventured to comply.

*' At length two or three bold fellows climbed up the
forechains and gained the deck, only to find that the clerk
had gone below again. A signal was now given, and
other canoes were urged forward, keen upon boarding and
plundering the prize, so that the decks were soon
cumbered with savages all intent on plunder. Many
were on the sides of the vessel, and a great many along-
side in the war canoes, when, without the least warning,
with a loud roar the vessel blew into a thousand pieces.
Arms, legs, trunks and heads hurtled through the air, and
dreadful havoc was made in the surrounding canoes.

*' The interpreter, who was at the forepart of the ship,

156

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

and consequently at the opposite end to that at which the
explosion actually occurred, was thrown into the water,
having sustained but little injury.

" According to his statement the bay presented a dread-
ful spectacle after the explosion, and but little of the ship
remained, and that little took fire and drifted towards the
shore, where it grounded and burnt itself out. The bay
was covered with fragments of the vessel and of the
canoes ; and, while some of the Indians swam madly for
the shore, others, struggling in their death agonies,
screamed and sank for ever. Those who were near the
shore, and had escaped death or injury, were aghast and
stupefied at the extent of the catastrophe, and with frantic
haste landed and hid themselves.

" Upwards of a hundred were killed outright, and many
more horribly mutilated. The lamentations and wailing
in the village was indescribable, and what had one day
been a community of two hundred and fifty warriors,
could not on the next muster one hundred.

" Such was the tragic and heroic death of Johnson, the
clerk, who acted the part of an avenger, and perished
amid a holocaust of his savage enemies."

***

< >

3*r^-'

CHAPTER XI'v^

£:M:flpo in the Longlniat.— A Terrible Sea.— A Sad Predicament.— A
Cave Sanctuary. — Fire from a Pistol. — 'Ihe Dead Seal. — The Inter-
preter's Death. — The Tramp Commenced. — A Cudgel brings Food.
— Lost in the Wilderness. — Despair.— Red Men to the Bescue. —
Home !

Resuming his narrative Bclton said :

" When we left the ship's side, it being still dark, we
steered for the open sea, intending, if possible, to make
our way northward along the coast, till we reached the
tJmpqua River. However, we were doomed to terrible
disappointment, for directly we rounded the headland we
found such a sea running that we dare not venture upon
it, neither dare we return to the bay, as we should
assuredly fall into the hands of ihe Diggers, who would
torture us in some diabolical m'.iimer before finally
slaughtering us,

" We gradually drifted southward, being momentarily
in peril of being swamped, but managed to edge in nearer
to the shore, till we were about three miles along the
coast. Fearing we should ship a sea and fou.x^er, Vvx-
agreed to attempt a landing — a most hazardous thing to
do, but we had really no other choice.

" All went well till we were within a couple of hundred
yards of the shore, when a following sea pooped the boat
and sank her, rolling us out over the bows as she went
down.

" Fortunately wo were all fair Bwimmers, but nef4^ the

«i I

158

THE. FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

shore the breakers were a perfect chaos, and swimming
was out of the question ; we could only struggle amid the
foamirg, rolling tow of the broken billows till we were all
presently thrown on shore.

** Polton and Pendrick were able to scramble above high-
water-raark, but I was so exhausted and full of water that
I could not stand or walk to save myself, even after the
send of the wave had driven me ashore, and although I
frantically dug my toes and fingers into the yielding sand,
in an endeavour to anchor myself as it were against the
back-tow, I could not gain sufficient hold to prevent
myself being again torn back by the rush of water, and
hurled once more into the sea.

•* I was now so spent that I gave myself up for lost, when
a friendly billow caught me, and with incredible swiftness
hurled me once more on shore, when Polton and Pendrick
seized me and dragged me safely above the whirl and
strife of the seething sea.

" Then I fainted.

" Recovering after a long period of unconsciousness, I
inquired for Tremumy, the cook, the fourth of our party.
My friends pointed to a heap of seaweed in the corner of
the cave in which we were located.

" It served as a pall for the body of poor Tremanny, who
had been drowned and cast ashore.

** Only we three remained of the crew of the fated Hunter.
We were in dreadful straits, being without food or water,
our clothes saturated with brine, and we know neither
whither to go nor what to do, besides which the weather
was very cold and inclement. We were in fear the Indiana
might discover us, and if they did a fearful death would
certainly await us. ,

** We passed the day in gathering together pieces of

i»

FIRE FROM WET POWDER,

'59

driftwood which had been cast up at diiferent times by the
sea, with which to make ourselves dry sleeping places of
some kind on the higher rocks at the far end of the
dripping cave, and, taking oft' our sodden garments, hung
them up to dry, keeping ourselves warm as best we could,
for we had no means of obtaining a light to kindle a fire,
or rather were not aware of it till late in the afternoon,
when Polto!' suddenly asked me if the pistol I had in my
pocket was loaded.

•* I could not but help smile at his query, remembering
that the pistol, although loaded, had been in my pocket
during my swim. I told him it was loaded, but that the
powder wo\ild be quite wet, and the weapon therefore
useless for defence.

" * Yes, yes ; I know that,* said he ; * but we can obtain
a light with it, and when it is quite dark make a fire, dry
our «;lothes, and warm ourselves, which will be at least
comlnrting.'

•* We drew the charge of powder, and, with a strip of
my shirt, made a kind of slow match, and hung it up to
dry, joyful at our anticipation of a fire during the night :
the smoke by day would probably have betrayed our
whereabouts.

'* Our chief concern was now for food ; water we
obtained from a rill which trickled down the rocky side of
the cave, and, forming a pool, brimmed over and lost
itself seaward in the sand.

** Our slow match and the flint of my pistol gave us the
desired means of kindling a fire, and while one kept
guard at the mouth of the cave the others slept. A pile
of sand was gathered together near the fire for the pur-
pose of smothering it should any signs of an approaching
enemy be heard or seen.

■■ !l

i6o

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE ]VEST.

" Morning fuiiiid us in a famished state, and we spent
the next day in making some rougli traps from wood
and strips of our clothing, intending to set them a little
way inland after dark, to endeavour to catch some small
animals to provide us with sustenance during our tramp to
Fort Cornwall, which, by following the coast, we hoped to
succeed in doing.

"During the day a dead seal was washed ashore near
the mouth of the cave, but we dare not go out and bring
it in before dark for fear of being discovered. We gazed
upon the seal as upon a great treasure, for it meant to us
food, and probably life.

" We were tantalised with two fears as we eagerly
watched the waves playing with it ; one was that the sea,
which had given it to us, might as easily snatch it away,
and the other that if we did secure it after dark it might
be in a state unfit for human food.

** Darkness appeared to be a long time setting in that
night, but we waited and waited patiently till it had quite
closed in, and then I ventured forth and drew the great
creature to my comrades in the cave. As Providence
would have it, it was perfectly fresh, and, as we each
possessed our jack-knives, we soon skinned it and cut it
up. The blubber we used as fuel, and the flesh we cut into
thick steaks, and hung on slips of wood to c3ok for food.

•* We had tasted no food for about fifty-five hours, and
could not wait for the meat to be cooked, but ever and
anon helped ourselves to portions that appeared cooked,
or rather, less raw than the bulk. We ate the horrid
semi-raw seal flesh with avidity, and I may almost say,
relish ; and when we could eat no more for that meal,
we cooked about twenty pounds for future use. This took
U8 far into the night, and we sat in council while the meat
was Qooking,

DEATH OF THE iNTERPRETER,

i6i

■ ** During the next day we were to prepare ourselves for
flight during the ensuing night, and intended to sleep as
much as possible, so as to gain vigour for bur long tramp.

"During the early morning we were alarmed to hear
the sound of gun» being fired, and, after listening some
time, surmised that the Diggers must have been quarrel-
ling among themselves, or else trying the muskets they
had obtained from the ship.

" We remained within the cave in great fear, and all
was quiet till late in the afternoon, when we saw a man
coming along the beach towards us, keeping in the shadow
of the cliff where it was practicable. He appeared very
feeble, and occasionally staggered as if he would fall. To
our astonishment we soon made him out to be the Inter-
preter. No one else was in sight, and when he was
within a hundred yards of the mouth of the cave he
seated himself on a rock as if his strength was spent, and
loosing his shirt in front commenced to bathe his breast,
by which we took it that he had been wounded.

" He seemed in such sorry plight that at last my
humanity overcame my fear, and creeping stealthily along
by the cliffs, I approached and silently motioned him to
follow me. He staggered to his feet, and when ho
reached me I assisted him to the cave, where we attended
to his wound and gave him some water ; the seal meat he
would not touch.

" Poor fellow, his hours were numbered, and even to
speak was a great effort to him, his wound having
evidently injured his lungs. He told us of the fate of
The Hunter, and of the explosion causing the death of
scores of the savages, but what surprised us most was the
news that a couple of canoes had arriveu in the Bay tliat
morning, containing Rupert and Bernard Doone, some
other whito men, and about forty Indians. It was tlio

i6?

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

firing of this party we had heard, and had we only have
known we could have returned to the Bay and you
would have taken us back to Fort Cornwall. It was now
to6 late for us to think of venturing back to th6 Bay, as
the interpreter told us the canoes had gone northward
a short time after thrashing the redskins.

" On interrogating the poor fellow, it appeared that
he had not shown himself to the white men, for fear
they might imagine he was an accomplice of the
Diggers in their attack on the ship; neither had he a
real opportunity, for the Diggers watched him closely
as if suspecting that he had by some meano brought the
two canoes upon the scene.

"Finally, when the attack took place, one of the
Diggers, suspecting him of treachery, had plunged his
knife into his breast, leaving him for dead. He only
recovered consciousness in time to see the two large canoes
putting to sea. He followed to the shore, but failing to
attract attention from the receding vessels, had, not
knowing whither to bend his steps, staggered towards
our cave. An hour after this recital vomiting of blood
commenced, and soon the poor fellow succumbed. "We
buried him in a hole dug in the sand, close to our old
comrade who was lost in the attempt to swim ashore.

"We waited patiently in our cave until we reckoned the
Diggers had retired for the night, and then, each with a
thick cudgel cut from the driftwood, and a good supply
of cooked seal flesh, started for Fort Cornwall. Our
little wooden traps we left behind uuvisited, so cannot saj
if any foolish animals were caught in the clumsy con-
trivances, or no.

" Less than an hour brought us to the entrance to the
haven, where lay the blackened bones of The Hunter ^ and

A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.

163

from the beach we could see the watch fires of the
remnant of the Diggers, who had returned after you had
paddled away to sea. "We dare not approach their camp,
for fear of watchful sentries, but slinging our provision of
seal flesh round our necks, plunged into the cold sea, and
swam across to the opposite point, a distance of about five
hundred yards. We all reached the shore safely, but had
to help Polton for the last hundred yards, as having a
larger share of seal meat than we, it floated about his
neck and face and inpeded his movements. Polton is
endowed with a vonicious appetite, which renders him
capable of consuming as much as two ordinary men ; thus
it nearly came to pass that his b:* % appetite cost him his
life.

"Being safely across, we made the best of our way north-
ward over the rock-strewn beach, trotting whenever we
came to an open stretch of sand, partly to keep ourselves
warm, and partly to put as many miles as possible
between ourselves and the Diggers, who, if they saw our
footprints, might follow and track us down.

" Walking in wet clothes we found dreadful work, as
the salt water chafed our limbs to such an extent as to
excoriate the skin in many places. Resting at times, wo
kept pegging away till dawn, when we lighted a fire
between some rocke, by means of the pistol and slow
match, the latter of which I bound round my head when
swimming in the inlet. Here we dried our clothes, had
a hearty meal, rested for nearly three hours, which ;>reatly
refreshed us, and about ten o'clock we started north
again.

'*13y the next night, we reckoned ourselves safe from
pursuit, and found comfortable quarters in a woocy dell
near the shore. Our meat was all coosumcd on the dcooud

164

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

day, and we began to feel very tired and weary, so much
so, that we decided to attempt a short cut by taking a
N.E. route across the interior, instead of making the much-
longer, but more certain, journey along the coast, and up
the Umpqua River. Our rash decision, however, almost
proved fatal, for during the next four days we travelled
over country of the worst description, trackless and
tangled ; we had frequently to make long detours to avoid
almost impenetrable forest, and rocky chasms.

" It rained on two or three days, and we quite lost our-
selves, and, being foodless, began to despair of seeing
white faces again, when, by a lucky shot with his cudgel,
Pendrick happened to break the leg of a small deer, as it
rushed past us at a distance of a few yards. Then,
although on three legs, we had much trouble in catching
the animal, but when we did we killed and skinned it,
drinking its blood, and eating the flesh raw, as our
craving for food was such that we could not bring our-
selves to wait while it was being cooked.

" I expected we should all have been ill after such a
ghoulish meal, but the contrary was the case, for we felt
wonderfully refreshed. We stripped the bones, and put
the meat in the deer skin, taking turns to carry it, but on
the third day after killing the animal, the meat was -all
eiten, and again hungry and hopeless, w^ stumbled on-
ward, scarcely knowing whither. "We were now com-
pletely lost.

"Day after day passed, and except for an occasional
snake, and two squirrels, we had nothing to eat but bark,
and at last Pendrick informed us he could s:o no further;
Polton nlso gave in, saying we mig-ht as well die there, as
a few miles further on. We were completely lost in the
forest, and T, like the others, thinking it was no use to

AT DEATH'S DOOR.

fif

struggle further against fate, sat down on a fallen tree
to await death. Our clothes hung in rags about us, and
our bodies were by this time reduced to skeletons, and as
Pendrick and Polton lay on the sward beside nie, they
looked so still, and thin, and white, that I looked upon
them as dead men.

" I sat some time ruminating whether to push forward
without them, as I still had strength enough to stagger
onward, or stay and die with them, when from behind a
tree an Indian stepped forth, and with bent bow and
notched arrow approached us. I held up my hands to
show I was unarmed, and felt shaken at the sight of
the native, that my strength failed, and I fell backward
over the log on which I sat.

"When I came to, my friends were sitting on the
ground eating, while on all sides we were surrounded by
the swarthy faces of Indians, who, by their leathern
dresses, we knew were not Diggers.

"They gave me food ; some dried salmon and bear meat,
of which I consumed a small quantity. Feeling a little
revived, I made out from their signs that they were
friends, and would take us to some white men, who lived a
few miles off. They were a hunting party, and took it
in turns to carry us, pick-a-back, up to their camp, from
which, across the water (our eyes could scarcely believe
the sight), we beheld Fort Cornwall, with the dear old
Union Jack waving above it ! . •

;•:* • • * • ♦ '^ . ^

" That, Mr. Doone, is the history of our troubles since
we parted from you at the beginning of November."

Ruth and Mrs. Doone, did all they could for the poor
fellows, and when Christmas Day arrived no one enjoyed
. the merry time more than Belton, Polton and Pendrick.

CHAPTER XV.

The Tenants of the Fort, — A Western Hurricane. — The Bidarkie OveJ^
set. — Doones to the Rescue. — Two Clatsops Drowned. — A Strange
Burial.— Constructing a Bidarkie. — Felling a Giant Tree. — Some
Artistic Carving and Weird Fainting.

There were now quite a strong party of whites in resi-
dence at the Fort, and perhaps it will be as well to refresh
our memories with their names. They were — Mr. Doone,
his wife, daughter, and two sons ; Belton, the mate ;
Fleming, the carpenter; Polton and Pendrick, Freeman
and Adams; eleven in all. Besides these were Simola,
the half-breed, and the two Manaidan Indians, Ra-pa-tal
and Bar-me-no, who, for some reason, had T/andered
several hundred miles from their home.

These were the occupants of the Fort, but during the
day several Clatsops or Klamaths and their squaws
found either employment at, or received permission to be
at the Fort.

During early winter the buildings were finished, and
when the weather proved propitious, hunting parties
were formed to make xpeditions with the Indians. These
parties were accompanied by four white men on each
occasion, never m. "i nor less, as Mr. Doone considered
five white men quite . w enough to remain for the defence
of the Fort, in case of sudden surprise.

The store sheds, altogether, contained rather a fine col-
lection of furs, and the Indians were constantly overhaul-

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.

167

ing them to see that they were in good preservation.
Some had been collected on the voyage up the coast, some
bartered from the Clatsops and Klamaths, and a fine
haul made from the Diggers, and brought up in the
two long canoes.

During the winter the boys thoroughly enjoyed them-
selves among their Indian friends, and we will now see
how they occupied their time.

One day in January the sky became very overcast, and
the thermometer was low-r— some 40 degrees — scarcely low
enough for snow, yet there was a peculiar stillness in the
air, which portended that something out of the common
was about to happen. The birds understood the strange
light and the calm atmosphere, and hurried away to
shelter in the forest.

"What is the matter, Simola?" asked Bernard, "are
we going to have snow, or why is the sun so hidden ? "

" No snow," replied the half-breed, "but big wind, great
wind from sea. Wind pull up tree and wigwam like
feather."

An hour went by, during which the darkness dispersed,
and then a sighing wind crept up from the sea, followed
by a booming noise in the distance.

Everything had been made snug at the Fort, and the
wigwams of the Indians on either side of the river, which
were not in sheltered places, were struck, and the poles
laid over rocks, the covering skins placed over them, and
then great stones laid upon them to hold all firm. Under
these rude shelters the Indians with their squaws and
children crept to await the storm, for they knew from
experience what was approaching.

They liad not long to wait, for with a sudden blast it
swept down the valley of the river with a loud nmibling

.168

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

like thunder, and the rain poured down with a heavy rush,
and in such torrents as we in England never see. It
came down steadily for a few moments, then, suddenly
the wind would take it and beat it down so fiercely upon
the river that the water appeared to boil. The trees bowed
to the blast, losing limbs and branches here and there,
which were snapped ofE and sent whirling into the river.

The hurricane came in such palpable form that each
shock made the log buildings of the Fort tremble, and
greatly alarmed Ruth and her mother ; but Mr. Doone
assured them of the strength of the buildings, and, having
faith in his knowledge and words, their fear was somewhat
allayed.

The flag-pole, which stood in an unsheltered position,
rocked greatly, and then suddenly snapped off two feet
from the ground. No further damage occurred to alarm
the tenants of the Fort for a long time, but how it fared
with their neighbours they could not tell, as the deluge of
rain formed an impenetrable curtain at no great distance
from the Fort. '"^^

At midday, j ust as dinner was announced, a tremendous
gust of rushing wind took the great wooden gates of the
Fort and wrenched them from their hinges, but no one
dare venture out to secure them, so violent was the storm.

The waters of the Umpqua towards evening rose so
much that the isthmus was covered, and the island com-
pletely isolated from the mainland.

The storm at length spent its strength, and all in the
Fort retired thankfuUv to bed. -

At daylight the wind had died completely away, but
the rain had not ceased, although it was much less in
volume. The boys climbed into the upper room of the
bastion to take a look around, and to their surprise they

A CANOE WRECKED.

169

saw one of the Clatsop bidarkies making for the island.
It was managed with consummate skill, and the great tree
bolls and branches floating in the river avoided in a most
masterly manner. Rupert called to his father to come up,
which Mr. Doone did, very pleased to see the friendly
redskins coming to pay him a visit, probably to ascertain
if any damage had been done to the buildings by the
storm, and if so to offer their aid in setting matters right.

THE CLATSOP CAJTOE WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED.

While he was speaking to the boys, and when the canoe
was within fifty yards of the landing-place, or where the
landing had been (for it was completely demolished by
the rushing, rfeirts-laden river), the Clatsop canoe was
completely smashed in by an immense fir-tree, which
dashed against it with the force of a battering-ram, while
the paddles were avoiding a tangle of big boughs and
other floating dangers.

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170

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

The dozen Indian occupants of the bidarkie were imme-
diately thrown into the water, and began to strike out in
yarious directions. The three Doones, shouting to the
other members of the Fort, seized coils of rope and nished
to the rescue. Three of the Clatsops had seized hold of
the log which had caused the accident, another had clam-
bered upon the mass of floating debris, and all were being
carried seaward in the whirl of rushing flood-water.

The other eight were attempting to reach the island,
but the current being so strong they made but little head-
way. Fastening ropes round their bodies, Bernard, Ra-
pa-tal, and Bar-me-no were soon in the water, the shore
ends of the ropes being grasped by Mr. Doone, Rupert, and
others, and paid out so that the swimmers could reach the
struggling men. Then each haying securely seized his
man, they were quickly drawn safely to land.

Again the trio entered the water, and after a great
struggle, during which extra ropes had to be bent on,
three more Clatsops were safely landed.

Both rescued and rescuers were now completely ex-
hausted, and the ropes being unfastened, Rupert and
Simola attempted the saying of the other two fast tiring
Indians who, instead of nearing the island, were steadily
losing ground from the force of the current.

Longer ropes were procured, but the whirling tide had
swept the poor Clatsops beyond the grasp of their would-
be rescuers, and the drifting, broken branches so impeded
their moyements that they were presently drowned before
the eyes of their rescued comrades and the white men.

Rupert and Simola were drawn ashore in an exhausted
condition, haying sustained many contusions while
struggling to the help of the redskins.

The Klamaths had witnessed the catastrophe and could

A CLATSOP BURIAL,

171

be seen running down the opponte bank of the riyer, bent
on aiding the men who were drifting down towards the
sea. Two of the Clatsops had mounted the fir log and
were using branches as paddles, the other, who had pro-
bably been injured, hanging on behind like a human
rudder.

Just before rounding the bend of the river the log had
been navigated so close to the bank that the Klamaths
were seen to throw hide ropes to the men and drag them
ashore, witnessing which, those at the Fort sent up loud
cheers.

The fourth man, seated on his ark of rubbish, was
carried out of sight round the bend, but as the Klamaths
were in full pursuit of the unwilling sailor, little fear was
entertained for his safety.

During the morning the whole party of Klamaths
returned to their village and reported " all well," inferring
that all the men had been rescued. It was afterwards found
that one of them had had his leg broken ; it was the one
who himg so grimly to the butt of the floating tree.

The Clatsops recovered the bodies of their comrades a
couple of days after the disaster, and the white men,
being as a mark of favour invited to the burial, went to
witness the ceremony.

The dead Indians were fully dressed in their deer-skin
garments, their faces painted, and the bodies each placed
in a small canoe. Each corpse was then fully accoutred
with bow and arrows, knife, and fishing spear, his paddle
placed beside him, and a supply of food stood at his head,
that he might not starve while on his way to the " happy
hunting ground."

The friends then took their leave of the poor bedaubed
corpses, dropping many little tokens and trinkets of affec-

»:«

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

tion into the canoes, whicli were each hoisted upon the
shoulders of four sturdy men, and a long procession
formed.

The wailing and howling of both men and women was
incessant, and to the accompaniment of dismal chants, and
the monotonous thumping of hide drums, the dead Clat-
sops were conveyed to their last resting-place. The burial
ground was a peculiarly situated rock, which jutted out
into the river, some half-mile from the village. It was
quite a bold promontory, about sixty feet high, and upon
the top of this the canoes were deposited upon stakes
driven into the ground, and there left for the immediate
relatives to weep over.

It was a very affecting sight to see the old chief of the
Clatsops sitting upon a throne-like rock, dressed in full
regalia, and with his white locks surmounted by a curious
kind of bead and feather crown, blessing the relatives of
the dead men before they took their places in the funeral
cortege. The whole scene was very earnest and impressive.

Numerous other sepulchral canoes showed that this was
the usual burying-place of the Clatsops. Round these
canoes poles were placed, which were festooned with bead
and grass trappings, from which depended many trinkets
such as Indians love ; but so sacred are these burial
places held by other tribes, that nothing is ever stolen
from them for fear of evil spirits pursuing and punishing
the thieves in some way.

For some days after the ceremony, nt sunrise and
j9imset, the relatives of the deceased men would repair to
the vicinity of the canoes, singing dirges and giving
vent to loud wailings and lamentations, which, heard at a
distance, had a very weird effect.

Such was the class of funeral which the white men

BI^S'INO THB BELATITE3 OF THE DEAD MEN.

MAKING A BIDARKIB,

'75

attended, and right glad were they to leave the dreadful
place, for the exhalations from the numerous defunct red*
skins did not add purity to the atmosphere, which was
tainted for some distance.

A few days aft^r the funeral, the supreme chief of the
Olatsops, Eamsla (Oom-pa-na was chief of the Tacon
trihe) announced to the boys that his men were about to
construct a long canoe, or bidarkie, to replace the lost
one, and invited them to stay with him while it was
being made, and Mr. Doone's consent having been
obtained, the boys went off joyfully to the Clatsop
village.

Instead of one, two canoes were constructed, one for
sea and another for river work. The former was under-
taken first. Going two or three miles inland they came
to a place where some very fine pine trees grew, some of
those in the rough uplands being majestic with their
deciduous foliage, and gigantic in size, reaching upwards
of 250 . feet in height and of proportionate thickness.
One or two patriarchs were probably nearer 300 feet than
200, but these were much too large for the purpose
required.

Selecting a fine straight pine of about 120 feet in
height and 6 feet in diameter near the ground, the
Indians set to work with their hatchets to cut it down.
Four men worked at one time at the monstrous trunk,
others taking turn in relays, but so great was the task
before them that when darkness came the great pine still
stood erect, though a deep and broad gash encircled its
stately trunk.

Props about twelve or fourteen feet long were now placed
all round the base, and the upper ends firmly notched
into the thick bark, the lower ends being planted firmly

176

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

in the ground so as to support the monarch. Again the
Indians plied their axes, this time by torchlight, until,
the slenderness of the supporting stem made it ^langerous'
to continue, for fear the tree might fall and crush the
cutters.

During the day huge heaps of brushi^ood had been
collected, and this was now placed round the boll of the
tree, under the props, and when the whole space between
the tree and props had been entirely filled, Kamsla
applied his torch at various points till the whole pine was
a mass of flame.

It was a weird sight to see the Indians — men, women
and children — running about in the ruddy glow of fire
and torch, which made the near tree stems stand out in
bold relief, while those at a little distance looked like
great red granite pillars, marking the boundary of an
outer world of Erebean darkness.

Everyone gave the wounded tree a very wide berth,
but watched the great red tongues writhing round the
poles and catching the dry bark many feet up, and
making miniature fires in many places, while in dense
volumes the white smoke rolled upward among the
limbs of the surrounding trees, and hung among the
feathery branches in slowly-moving clouds, forming a
kind of glowing, ruddy canopy over the onlookers.

After a long wait many of the props burnt through,
and then, suddenly, without a moment's warning, the
doomed tree gave a nod, and, with a sudden jerk, slipped
straight downward into the fire, causing myriads of
sparks and much burning lUhrk to float aloft ; then, with
a hissing crash, it fell headlong to the earth, bringing
with it boughs and lesser tree-tops, and losing twenty or
thirty feet of its own summit as it fell. The Indians set

AN ARTISTIC FINISH.

17?

up a yell us the gigantic spar measured its length on
mother earth, for the first part of their task was accom-
plished: — they had obtained their timber.

For the next fortnight, all the able-bodied men and
women worked upon the tree-trunk to fashion it into a
canoe. Daj' and night the work never ceased. Fire and
axe were plied continually, both being used to form the
outer shape and to hollow out the interior.

The boys were very interested to note the skill with
which the men built their fires on different portions of
the tree-trunk for the purpose of hollowing it out. Af
soon as the fire had burnt a good-sized hole, it was rolled
forward, there to continue its burning, while the spot
upon which it had just rested was hacked out with rude
axes and knives.

A select party — the artists of the tribe — in the mean-
time busied themselves in carving what they were pleased
to call a bear's head for the prow of the canoe. It was
certainly a clever piece of work, and had some grotesque
likeness to a grizzly with exaggerated eyes and teeth, and
a neck about four feet long lavishly covered with an
intricate barbaric pattern.

Hauling the new canoe to the river was a work of great
labour, as, for a distance of nearly two miles, a path had t:)
be cut wide enough to take the big rollers upon which
the vessel was transported. It was a great success, and
floated beautifully, being propelled by twenty paddles,
beside a bowman and steersman.

While this great canoe was being made in the forest,
another was made in the village by the old men and
women. This was for river work, and was about thirty
feet lonj? and nearlv five wide.

A frame of pliable wood was first put together wit'i

178

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

fastenings of deer thongs and sinews, over which long
smooth sections of birch bark, which required great care
in detaching from the trees, was sewed with long strands
of fibre, which the squaws procured from the roots of the
spruce trees. "When all was properly fastened, every
scam and cruck was payed over with pine resin, which at
certain times of the year exudes from the trees in large
quantities.

The canoe was so light that it could be carried on the
shoulders of four men, and so strong that when afloat it
would carry a cargo of between two and three tons.
Eight men formed her crew, a bowman, six middlemen
with paddles, and a steersman.

To finish their Argo Mr. Doone gave them a pot each of
, yellow, and red paints, which Rupert applied so
A,, .stically that the whole tribe were lost in admiration.
He painted eyes and fins and great scales upon it, so that
when afloat it looked like some huge, gaudy, marine
monster, such as one reads of in fairy tales. The chief
was so pleased with the decoration that he gave Bupert
a very fine mantle of sealskins as a mark of his appro-
elation.

CHAPTER XVI.

A Orand Huatinflr Expedition. — Canoes catried Sixty Miles. —Queer
UmbrellM.— Souroe of the Williamette. — A Calkipuya Cemetery. —
the Callapuya Village. — A Shot in the Dark.— A Fine Breakfast. —
The Ahsahta or Bighorn.— Washing Sheep.— A FaU.— The Grizzly
Bear described and enoountered. — A Novel Weapon. — Flight.—
An Uncomfortable Night.— The Bear in his Lair.— The Pit of
Death entered.— Bruin's Fight and Defeat. — A Deer Drive. — A Fine
Day's Sport. — The Hunt concluded.

Ix the early part of March a stir was made in the Clatsop
camp, a great hunting party was being formed for a hunt
in the Coast Range Mountains, towards the north. The
party consisted of Eamsla and nine men, and being on
friendly terms with each other, five £lamaths were in-
vited, and gladly joined the party. Belton, Rupert,
Bernard, Fleming, and Ra-pa-tal also joined the expedi-
tion, which was to be away a month. Eamsla, the leader
of the party, was a fine, athletic man, and his vei^ presence
relieved Mr. Doone of anxiety for his sons' safety.

The weather was now becoming much milder, with an
occasional cold or wet day, but certain signs indicated to
the Indians an early and warm spring, as the grass began
to grow and the buds of certain shrubs to swell preparatory
to bursting into leaf.

Four light canoes were taken, and each man was well
armed and provided for sleeping in the open air, bivouac-
ing wherever they might happen to be. Each canoe was
to carry five persons besides the equipment.

i8o

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

Everyone in both camps turned out to see the party
depart, and some of the young bucks tramped the first ten
miles with them, carrying the four canoes between them.
Four loops of wampum were attached to the gunnels of
the canoes, through which the paddles were thrust, and
formed capital bearers for the shoulders of four men when
travelling. Although twenty feet long and three and a-
half feet broad, each canoe only weighed about one hun-
dred pounds, while the impedimenta of weapons, cooking
pots, blankets, &c., would bring the weight up to about
two hundred and forty pounds ; quite enough when it is
pointed out that the river they were to paddle upon was
nearly sixty miles to the north-east, and the nearest point
being its source, they would have to follow the mere brook
till it became sufficiently wide and deep to float the light
bark canoes.

There were no trails, and in parts scarcely a deer track,
so primitive was this land of the lordly pine and craggy
sierra. Hills, dales, rocky defiles, forests, ravines and
swamps had to be traversed before the Williamette River
could be reach jd, but as time was their own thev had no
great need to hurry.

. Soon after noon the party of young bloods who had
accompanied them set out upon their homeward journey,
yelling and yelping in their peculiar fashion, and making
the woods and rocks ring with their noise. Many children
had followed the whole ten miles, some of them not a
dozen years old, and now they faced the return ten miles
with perfect unconcern, so inured to fatigue from babyhood
are these sons of the wilderness.

Rupert and Bernard fairly revelled in the wild life they
lived, for the atmosphere of those distant regions was so
pure and invigorating that it acted like wine upon the

SONG AND STORY.

t8i

fipirits of the young Englishmen. The same may be said
of Belton, for he was but three years Rupert's senior.
Fleming, late ship's carpenter, now hunter and trapper,
was the comic man of the party, and although on the wrong
side of forty, was as lively and hearty as any man in the
troop — never tired, always cheery, ready to go anywhere
or do anything ; such was " Chips."

For three days the party travelled on very happily,
carrying their canoe& * n their shoulders where the ground
was level, hauling them up over the rocks when they came
to abrupt places, and puddling them over when they came
to any of the numerous small lakes among the valleys at
the feet of the mountains round which they had to tramp.

Two small deer were killed by Indian arrows, while a
fine elk, after being stalked by the boys for a whole morn-
ing, escaped, much to the regret of the whole party.

The fourth day was- a very wet one; in fact, such a
deluge of rain descended that they halted and turned their
canoes upside down, forming a square with them, and
covered them with pine branches : they made rude but
very effective shelter huts.

They were jolly enough in their strange dwellings, and
smoking, song singing, and tale telling passed the day
away very comfortably. The white men sang a number
of sea-songs, with rousing choruses, which greatly delighted
the Indians, who in turn sang some of theirs, which
Fleming averred had " as much tune in them as the clack
of a mill-wheel, while the vigour and fortissimo rendering
of some of their refrains would have been enough to deafen
the said miller or drive him mad."

Late on the fifth day they encamped by the side of a
most beautifully and romantically situated lake, which
Kamsla said was the source of the river Williamette : it

I82

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

flowed due north about two hundred and fifty miles before
falling into the Columbia River at a distance of about one
hundred miles from the sea.

The Williamette was both shallow and narrow for
several miles, and abounded in rocks, so it was not till the
noon of the sixth day that they were able to launch their
canoes with any degree of safety. The heavy rain of the
fourth day had caused the river to attain a considerable
velocity, so that very little work with the paddles was
required, except by the steersman, who had to be very
wary lest some rock or partly submerged snag might
bring the voyage to an untimely end.

On a high piece of ground, on the left bank of the river,
the boys noticed an Indian burying- ground, which they
visited. Here the dead were laid to rest in lean-to huts,
made of rough logs, in one end of which a hole was left
for the purpose of placing food for the deceased, presum-
ably to help to sustain him on his journey to the Happy
Valley, where the Indians' paradise is supposed to be.
Poles were erected near the head of each grave, and on
tbese hung the decaying remain^ of trinkets and weapons
which had once belonged to the tenants of the graves.

The place of sepulture seemed to have been neglected
for many years, but what appeared strange to the boys
was the presence of " tombstones." These were slabs of
wood or stone, upon which were cut a number of hiero-
glyphics of heads, hands, weapons, dots, lines, animals,
and what-not. These the Indians could read as well as a
white man could a book.

Here is one that Bernard noted in his pocket* book.
Commencing at top was the figure of a deer upside down,
on either side of which were a number of short horizontal
lines ; next, below, came the head of a bear ; then a toma-

A GUIDE TO PARADISE.

183

hawk with three perpendicular lines to its right, and three
fuzzy-looking things on the left, &c., &c.

This was the interpretation of the strange signs.

The deer was the dead man's crest, or tokens as the
Indians call their family hadge, and, heing inverted, sig-
nified the death of the hearer. The horizontal lines denoted
war parties led to actual comhat. The tomahawk and
three perpendicular lines pointed to the fact of three
wounds having heen received. The head of the grizzly
showed that the defunct warrior had slain one with his
own hand, and the three fuzzy objects were three scalps
taken in battle.

What more could a monument in "Westminster Abbey
tell of a dead warrior than this rudely-carved slab of stone
in an Indian grave-ground ? It was a bare, truthful
epitome of the man's career, without any lying laudation to
make the dead man appear more than he really had been.

Some of the graves were very small, and upon peeping
into the interior a dog's skull was in most cases seen.
These were the graves of infants, and the dog's skull was
placed there because the dead child, being so young, could
not find its way to the Place of Souls in the Happy Valley ;
but the dog who can find his way anywhere, even in the
dark, could easily guide it to its destination !

To the left of the river rose the towering heights of the
Coast Mountains, among which the party intended to hunt.
At intervals rivers flowed into the parent stream from
between the mountains both right and left, and by-and-
by they came to one on the left larger than the rest,
up which the canoes were headed, and by night they
reached the farthest navigable point of this river, which
swelled out into a small lake of twenty or thirty acres
in area, above which loomed the grim black form of

t*^

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE' WEST.

a fine mountain, wUch was one of a range running nortli
and south as far as the eye could reach. The sides of the
mountain were covered with trees for some distance up,
beyond which, straggling bushes and mossy rocks gra-
dually led to barren peaks.

On high ground, by the bank of the lake, surrounded
and sheltered by a wall of rocks, stood an Indian encamp-
ment, composed of about twenty lodges, from which roughly-
hewn steps led down to the beautifully pellucid water.

Kamsla asked for the chief, who presently came down
and invited everyone ashore in a hearty manner, especially
the white men, whom he had heard were on the TJmpqua.
He immediately recognised Rupert and Bernard from the
personal description that had reached him from Indians,
who had handed it on verbally from one to the other till
it had reached his ears. Indian news travels from tribe to
tribe very quickly, and here was ap instance of personal
description being carried from mouth to mouth a distance
of at least one hundred miles in a most correct manner.
Although Indians are not particularly noted for truth,
yet when they convey any intelligence of this kind it is
•usually done without any embellishment being inserted
for the sake of picturesqueness.

Now, suppose the description of a family were conveyed
viva-voce a hundred miles in England, what would it be
like after it had passed from mouth to mouth among a
few old gossips ? Take the statement, " The Doones arc
a fine family, father and sons being all six feet in height.'*
No. 2 gossip says, " I hear the Doones are big men, much
over six feet." -No.' 3, "They tell me the Doones are
nearly six and a-half feet high." No. 4, "What a fine
family the Doones are ; somewhere between six and seven
feet high, I hear." No. 5, "lam told those giant Doones
are oil seven feet high," &c., &c. So that, with a few

> «

A SHOT IN THE DARK,

185

more transmissions, Gog and Magog would appear cMldren
to them.

Leaving the canoes on the lake in custody of the tribe
of fishing Indians, the hunters, taking all they required
with them, pushed forward on foot to the mountains,
which appeared to recede as they advanced. It is a
peculiar illusion, that when the atmosphere is very clear,
distant elevations look much nearer than is really the case.
Although the band walked steadily onward for several
hours, the foot of the mountain was still some miles dis-
tant when they made their camp-fires for the night.

Four fires were lighted, and after supper everyone
turned in early, so as to be up with the eagle in the
morning, for in this far country the lark is unknown.

Two men kept watch during the night, tramping round
the sleepers in a monotonous circle, one going to the right
and the other to the left ; beiog relieved about every two
hours.

Towards morning, while it was still quite dark, one of
the Indians on guard gently touched Rupert and awoke
him, meantime pointing steadily with his finger into the
blackness of the night. Rupert, half asleep, blinked and
winked, but could see nothing for a minute, but presently
he perceived the bright eyes of some animal looking
fixedly at him. He knew it was a large animal by the
distance apart of the two green, glistening orbs.

Here was a chance that must not be missed.

Kneeling down, he took a long, steady aim with his
musket, right between the scintillating eyes, and fired.

On the instant the eyes disappeared, and at the same
time both white 'md red men sprang to their feet in alarm,
clutching the weapons which always lie beside their owner
when sleeping in the open.

Rupert cried out, "All right, comrades, do not be

» *

|86

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

alarmed ; I have fired at some large animal and fancy I
hive killed it."

He was about to spring forward to make a rush for the
spot where the animal had stood, but Eamsla, seeing his
movement, seized him by the arm to restrain him from
running into imseen danger.

" No go quick, " he said, " perhaps bear no dead ; kill
white man ! "

Eamsla was right ; hurry in cases of this kind often
leads to fatal results, and as the whole party slowly ad-
vanced to the spot pointed out, a great bellowing and
hubbub suddenly commenced some fifty yards to the right.
Everyone was now fully excited, and many of the Indians
rushed to the fire and seized brands, and with them ran
forward to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.

It was a fine elk, caught by the antlers between the
branches of a low- growing tree. Rupert had fired too
low, the bullet taking him in the chest, but the wound
appeared very slight, to judge by the tremendous efforts
the animal was making to escape from bondage.

Seeing the helplessness of the elk, the Indians closed in
with him, and while one gave him a well-directed blow
upon the head with a club, which dazed him, another
sprang in an^' cut the throat of the fine fellow, thus
securing his hide free from spear and arrow holes.

There was no more sleep that night ; the huge deer
was skinned, and in half-an-hour juicy steaks were being
broiled over the embers, which, when done, formed a most
substantial meal, such as men require who have a dozen
hours' mountaineering before them.

During the day several herds of deer were seen in the
yaUeys, but too far off for a shot, and they were in no
way molested, being reserved for the downward trail.

HUNTING FOR MUTTON,

187

Their first quest was the Bighorn or Ahsahta^ whicli the
boys had heard described as a kind of sheep, but they were
agreeably disappointed to find that it wis much more in
the form of a deer, except its head, which resemUed that
of a sheep, its horns being twisted lower th^n its nose.
It has short hair, like that of a deer, but of the colour of
wool, and its movements very much remind one of a goat,
bounding and leaping from the crags with wonderful
agility and surefootedness ; so much so, that it seems a
perfect pleasure for them to seek the most rugged and
frightful situations; this is probably for the sake of
security both against human beings and wolves.

The Indians consider the flesh a great delicacy, and
prefer it to the flesh of any other animal. It must be
sought for among its mountain fastnesses at the highest
point of vegetation, as it very rarely descends the moun-
tains, except in unusually severe weather during winter.

The swift-footed fellows could be seen high up upon
the mountains, peeping over the rocks at their would-be
destroyers, and must have enjoyed the panting and puff-
ing of the two-legged beings if they had any sense of
pride in their own capabilities, or any vein of humour to
laugh at the awkward movements of the human race.

The white men, not being used to mountaineering, soon
lost their breath, and their legs trembled with the exer-
tion, so that the Indians gradually outpaced them, and
dividing into two parties, made a wide detour, signalling
to our heroes to keep where they were.

By this manoeuvre the ahsahtas were to a certain
extent surrounded, and the Clatsops, crawling behind
rocks and scrubby bushes, now and again obtained a
shot with their powerful bows, and two or three of the
mountain sheep fell to their arrows.

i88

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

Belton and Bernard saw three ahsalitas grazing on a
kind of hanging bank of grass, at the end of a shelf jof
rock, just wide enough for one person to walk along at a
time.

They moved quietly along the rocky ledge, so as to
obtain a shot before the animals could bound away.

Presently they came to a spot where they could take aim
without being seen, just at the far end of the rocky ledge.

" Take the end one," whispered Bernard, ** and I will
fire at another." Bung ! bang ! went the two guns, and
an ahsahta fell dead, but the other two immediately
sprang towards them, no doubt intending to make for
the path, which appeared the only means of getting to
or from the green spring herbage upoi. which they were
browsing.

The young men had guessed the intentions of the
animals correctly, but in imagining they had only to stand
on the pith to turn the frightened animals back, they
were very much out of their reckoning, for being used to
dash across the rocky ledge and up the mountain side on
the slightest sound of alarm, they essayed to do the
same now.

Away they came, and dashing round the corner, took
both Belton and Bernard by surprise, and before either
could draw a knife the great horns came sweeping along,
and not having room to pass Belton's legs, caught in his
trousers ; Bernard gave a grab at the animaPs head, and
then all three lost their balance and fell over the rocky
ledge into the valley below.

Luckily the side of the declivity was well covered with
shrubby plants, which, wbile breaking the fidl force of
the fall, were not rtrong enough to actually stop three
such heavy objects, as they came clutching and tumbling

BERNARD AND TtiE '* BAA-LAMB,

i8o

over each other, till they finally plunged into a great bed
of nettle^ at the bottom.

As it happened, Rupert aud Fleming, with two or three
red men, were witnesses of this contretemps y and roared
with laughter, vowing afterwards that they could not tell
who won the race down hill, for there was such a mixture
of arms, legs, boots, and hoofs, men and mutton, thut they
all appeared to land at the same time.

Bernard found himself cuddling the sheep, who made
desperate struggles to escape, and the foothold being pre-
carious the match was very even. The ahsahfa did not
appear to be hurt in the least, but Bernard was bleeding
from mouth and nose, while Belton lay stunned several
yards lower down.

Catching sight of his brother running towards him,
Bernard held on like grim death, shouting for aid at the
top of his voice. The great beast was so strong that ho
dare not lose his hold to clutch his hunting knife even for
^ minute, and ever and anon he received a blow from the
hoofs of the animal that made him wince again, as the
hard pedal integuments came in contact with his shin.

Rupert soon put an end to the struggle by a deep blow
with his hunting knife just behind the animal's shoulder.
Then, receiving an assurance from Bernard that he was
all right, he again burst out laughing at the hardy
hunter who had nearly been killed by a baa-lamb, as ho
called it. His face and shirt were covered with blood
from his face and nose, which decoration, added to a
countenance stung all over by nettles, made him indeed
look a remarkable object.

Fleming and the Indians had, in the meantime, rushed
to Belton's assistance, and had found him quite uncon-
scious, but by dashing water in his face they quickly

I90

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

brought him to. He must have struck his head against a
stone in his descent, for there was a large lump upon it
which effectually prevented him from wearing his cap
for the rest of the day. He felt sick and shaken, but
both young men were all the better after a good supper
off their dead enemy, followed by a long night's rest.

Thus ended their first day's ahsahta hunting, a some-
what unique and slightly humiliating one, for all had
their laugh at them, but being good-tempered fellows
they were not a bit put out by it.

The measurements of Bernard's capture were as follows :
— Nose to base of tail, 65 inches ; length of tail, 5 inches ;
girth of body, 53 inches; height, 46 inches; the horn
44 inches long and 15 inches in circumference at the base.
It was a male, and an unusually fine specimen.

During the succeeding days, animals of various kinds
were killed, from the common muskrat to the lordly elk,
but no signs of a grizzly had so far been seen, that is, of
the animal himself, although there was frequent evidence
of his recent presence, both in the discovery of his lair
and his huge footprints. As none of the latter were
recent, it was no use following them up, especially as they
crossed and recrossed in varying directions, which, even to
the Indians, would make the trail difficult if not impos-
sible to follow up.

The grizzly bear is the only really formidable animal'
of these regions, and is the favourite theme of hunters in
their nocturnal yarns of adventure among the E.ockies.
He grows to an enormous size, and makes battle in a
terrible manner if closely assailed, only relinquishing the
fight at death. If wounded, his rage becomes frantic,
and he will pursue his adversary with great spirit and
fierceness, and as bis speed is greater than that of a man,

DESCRIPTION OF A GRIZZLY,

If«

the natives either hunt him on horseback, where the
nature of the ground permits them to do so, or in his
rugged fastnesses set log traps for him with great success.

In attacking he stands on his hind legs, looking a most
ferocious monster, and as he can spring several feet, his
attack is as deadly as that of any animal in the world.

Woe to the horse or rider who comes within reach of
his terrible claws, which are sometimes nine inches long,
for they sweep and tear through flesh and bone. His hug
is also terrible ; one fair hug being enough to kill the
strongest man.

He lives in caves or holes in the mountains, under the
roots or fallen trunks of trees, and in various places which
are difficult of access.

He is omnivorous in his eating, and very fond of fruits,
honey, beech mast, acorns, and roots ; which latter are
easily dug up by his fork-like fore-claws. He will some-
times kill a very large deer weighing several hundred
pounds, and drag the carcase home to his den a mile away.

His tenacity of life is wonderful, and unless he gets a
direct shot through the heart or head, the wound is rarely
mortal. Indians have fired their arrows at him till he
has looked like a porcupine, but even then they have not
touched a vital part, and he has eventually escaped.

Such is a sketch of the animal our heroes so longed to
encounter.

Fleming was the first to make the acquaintance of a
grizzly, and in a very unpk^isant manner.

One day he was not very well, and as one man was
always left to guard the camp and cook for the party
who were hunting, he had volunteered to be that one.
During the afternoon he felt better, and was engaged in
frying some slices of deer meat, when he heard a

."^

,/■

192

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE IVEST.

sniffing sound behind him, and upon looking hurriedly
tound, there was a huge grizzly, advancing with silent
footstep!^ upon him.

The frying-pan was in his hand, but his gun being
some distance off, the useful culinary article was his only
weapon ; he pluckily waited until bruin was nearly up to
him, and then, taking aim at the monster's artful beady
little eyes, flung frying-pan and meat at him, hoping to
blind or hinder the animal, while he made good his retreat.

Alas, his aim was inaccurate, and the boiling fat landed
on the bear's forehead and neck, sending hira into a violent
fage at being treated so inhospitably.

Down hill being easier than up, Fleming fled valley-
wards for his life, taking such gigantic steps as he had
never in his life taken before, with the bear in hot pursuit.

To his joy, Fleming found he could outrun the bear,
who had apparently injured one of his feet, so after going
half-a-mile or so, being pumped out wit li his exertions, ho
hid behind a rock. It was no use ; bruin's nose very
quickly found him out.

Again the ex-carpenter fled for his life, and this time
hid aniong some bushes, and for half-an-hour listened for
any sound from his pursuer, but heard none.

lie was beginning to congratulate himself upon his
fortunate escape when the bear again discovered him,
and this time the poor fellow was at his wits' end to know
what to do, but off" he ran again towards some large pine
trees which grew a long way down the mountain side, and
when he reached a suitable one, panting, tired, and terri-
fied, he climbed it and fixed himself in a fork.

He had hoard the Indians say that grizzlies seldom, if
ever, climb, and taking their words for gospel, made him-
self as comfortable us possible on the forking branch.

UP A TREE,

>9)

In half -an-hour his enemy was at the foot of the tree
of refuge, looking up at the carpenter and licking his
great chaps as if anticipating the unusual luxury of
dining off a white man.

Fleming hollowed and yelled to the full extent of his
lungs, but the sighing of the wind through the pine

THSY WESE 800M ON THB TSAIL OS" THE B£AB.

needles was the only reply. There the unfortunate man
sat all night, numbed with cold and famished with hunger.
His sickness of the previous day had vanished : Dr. Bruin
had completely cured him.
When doy broke, to his great delight the bear had gone,

THB FUR TRADERS OF THE iVEST,

and before he dared venture from bis percb be beard
the wild yells of the Clatsops who were searching for
bim.

An hour afterwards be was sitting quietly in camp
eating and telling bis story to bis friends, who had
imagined all kinds of dreadful things when they returned
to the camp and found it deserted.

The tale of the treed hunter caused much merriment,
and after breakfast, which for once had been a late one,
the party set o£E to find, &nd if possible kill, the cause of
poor Fleming's bad night's adventure. Although be bad
not bad any sleep he was as alert as any of the party, and
shouldering his gun trudged off with the rest.

Going to the tree, which was at once dubbed "Fleming's
Bunk," both from the fact of his running to it for succour,
and of its being bis bunk or resting-place for the night,
the Indians were soon on the trail of the bear, following
a track of which the white men saw nothing except in
soft spots. After balf-an-hour the trail led into a rocky
defile, and there the red men said the grizzly would be
found ; but to go down into such a rock-formed amphi-
theatre would have been like entering a grave, for it would
certainly mean death. The Indians tried to entice the
bear from bis cave with lumps of half-cooked deer meat,
which they threw to the entrance, but in vain ; bruin
would not respond to their invitation to dine.

Seeing this, Fleming grew impatent, and, as the little
valley was surrounded with men, he quietly 8li|)ped down
a crumbly path, unheeding the cries of lf||^ friends to
return, and coolly walked to the mouth of tJE^ cave. He
was very alert, however, having bis gun cocked and ready
before him. As be halted at the entrance a loud roar
proclaimed the fact that bif enemy of the previous night
was at home, and following bis roar the animal emerged

HAND TO HAND WITH A GRIZZLY.

t92

from his lair, and stood on bis hind legs, offering a fair
aim. Fleming fired, and the ball struck the animal fairly
in the chest, causing him to emit a loud howl ; then,
dropping on all fours, be sprang towards Fleming, who
turned and fled.

Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! went the guns of Belton and
the boys, ond a flight of arrows was delivered by the
redskins, but all this fusilade did not stop the bear,
though two bullets und half-a-dozen arrows found their
billet in his huge carcase.

Fleming rushed for the gulley which he had descended,
but his foot slipped, and, to the horror of all, down he rolled
to meet the furious bear, but the animal, maddened by
more well-aimed arrows, did not for some reason touch
him as he lay face downward upon the ground, but looked
upwards to ascertain whence the arrows came.

Seeing there was yet a chance of saving their old
comrade, Rupert and three Klamaths scrambled cautiously
down to tackle the bear at close quarters.

One of the Klamaths made a tremendous blow at the
animal's head with his tomahawk and missed, but the
bear, catching him in the stomach with his cruel claws,
completely disembowelled him.

Rupert was more fortunate, for, approaching the monster
from behind, he drove a spear completely through its body,
but before he had time to withdraw it for another thrust,
the bear swung round, completely upsetting him upon his
back, and as he fell placed his great paw on his chest, and
was about to gi^aw at him, when a well-directed shot from
Belton struck the animal in the head and made him
stagger. Blood was now flowing from bruin in a dozen
places, and by a timely rush from all sides with spears
and axes the himters soon laid him dead across the body
of RupcTt, who fainted under the immense weight.

ig6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

Fleming and the others soon pulled the carcase from the
inanimate Rupert, who was covered with blood, but he
had fainted from the pressure of the bear's weight, more
than from any actual hurt, and was soon on his feet again,
although his nerves were terribly shaken for some time
after.

The unfortunate Klamath was buried hard by, and the
camp removed to the place of the bear fight ; so that that
evening, although they slept on the field of victory, yet
it was a dearly-bought one, and wailing and chanting
were carried on by the Kl.amath's comrades all night.

The collection of skins was now carried down to the
valley, and a guard placed over it, while the remaining
eighteen men of the party indulged in a final piece of sport
among the deer.

This was to be a deer drive and would take two days
to perform. The party was divided into two companies,
one of twelve and the other of six hunters. The latter
took possession of a pretty little vallej^ completely shut in
on three sides by rocky hills, except where a river flowed
through a gorge at the further extremity.

The duty of the six men was to place themselves on the
edges of the valley, to keep hidden from view, and to
mark the position of the deer as they entered.

The twelve men spread themselves out, about three
hundred yards apart, but were to make no noise, espe-
cially the white men, who were not to fire a shot on any
account.

They advanced quietly lU day in a crescent form, show-
ing themselves occasionally to the startled deer, who
naturally ran from them towards the cul-de-sac in which
the rest of the party was concealed. By dusk the driving
party formed a cordon across the entrance of th© valley,

A DEER DRIVE,

190

whicli was not more than a quarter of a mile wide, so that
the men were now only some thirty or forty yards apaib.
In these positions they laid down and kept watch, so that
nothing should pass them in the night. At daybreak a
loud whistle was heard from Kamsla, and the hunt com-
menced. The six men in ambush, four white and the two
Mandans, now commenced to fire as rapidly as they could
load, and upon any signs of the deer trying to break
through, the twelve beaters set up such discordant yells,
and made such wild gesticulations, that the poor gentle
creatures were driven back into the valley.

Being bewildered, they ran round the valley at a great
pace, and as they came in range of musket or bow, so they
were shot down, till in a perfect frenzy an old buck made
a dash for liberty by breaking through the Indians who
guarded the entrance, and, being followed by the others,
they broke the blockade and the hunt ended; but not
before thirty-one head had bitten the dust, including half-
a-dozen fine elk, twenty black tails, three wild hogs, and
two goats.

Skinning the animals took the entire day, and on the
following they packed up their heavy burdens of skins,
and started for the lake on which their canoes had been
left, having enjoyed a fortnight's very successful hunting.

The party slept the next night at the foot of the moun-
tains, the two brothers sleeping a little apart, as was their
custom, aud this habit came near costing Rupert his life.

He had not yet recovered from his adventure with the
bear, and slept very heavily, and as they were in a sup-
posedly friendly district, no watch was kept.

For some reason, at daybreak, Bernard awoke in great
perturbation, and looking towards his brother, who was
sleeping soundly a few yards off, saw to his horror an

200

THE FUR 2RADERS OF THE WEST,

Indian rise from behind the trunk of a tree, upon which
his brother's head was supported.

The rascal leaned forward to glance at the sleeper,
quietly drawing his knife as he did so, and was about to
use it with deadly effect upon Kupert, when Bernard,
unobserved by the savage, drew a pistol and shot him:
through the head.

The camp was alive in a moment, and the dead Indian
scrutinised.

"He Callapuya," said Kamsla, "he bad man. AH
Callapuya bad man. We watch Callapuja, or they kill
white man and Klamaths too." • .

And Kamsla was right, as events quickly proved.

What awoke Bernard he never knew, but his experi-
ence of saving his brother's life was one of those occult
incidents of a psychological character which have never
yet been clearly demonstrated.

We know that between certain individuals there is
some unknown psychological affinity, but what causes it
or how it is transmitted no one can explain, satisfac-.
torily.

Bernard dreamed of peril — his mind was upset, and ho
could not sleep — something of dire import awoke him — he
opened his eyes, and in the nick of time shot the Calla-
puya. They were the facts of the case, but what caused
the dream and awakening no one can tell !

CHAPTER XVII.

Back to the Lake.— A Gallapuya Dtaner-Party.— The Stolen Deer Skins.
— A SkirmiBh. — The Village Fired.— Afloat again. — An Ambush.—
Stalking the Robbers.— An Indian Game. — ^The Gamblers Inter-
rupted. — " Pay back the Arrow." — Wounded Remain at S lurce of
"WiUiam'^tto.— Scalps and their Frepardtions. — The Soalp Dance. —
Iti Terrible Effect.

TiiEY found the population of the little Indian encamp-
ment greatly increased on their return to the lake, for it
now mustered about thirty lodges. Their canoes were
quite safe, and were soon packed with the skins and impe-
dimenta of the party, which unfortunately lacked one
man at the steering paddle of the fourth canoe ; the brave
fellow who had perished in endeavouring to succour
Fleming.

Thinking to save as much time as possible, the hunting
party wished to bid the Callapuyas good-bye and start at
once on their homeward journey, but the old chief would
hear nothing of it. They must stop, he said, that night,
and have a hunting feast, and on the morrow they should
proceed pn their way.

Might is right in the wilderness, and there was nothing
for it but to stay as they were desired.

Heat was very plentiful, and the old chief sent his
young men to a neighbouring swamp to shoot some geese
and ducks, which they did, and the whole afternoon was
taken up with the preparation and cooking of much food.

202

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

The great feast commenced at dusk, and continued with
great gluttony far into the night. " The hunting dance "
was performed by a number of the Callapuyas, who bor-
rowed several deer-skins to clothe themselves for the occa-
sion, and everything passed off satisfactorily.

In the morning the hunters, who were anxious to com-
mence their long return journey, breakfasted early and
prepared to start, but on asking for the deerskins in which
the dancers had been dressed the previous night, the old
chief endeavoured to make out that they were a gift, and
the young men who had danced in them had gone off to
snare quail.

Kamsla pointed out that he considered such conduct a
breach of hospitality, and that either the deer- skins or
something of equivalent value must be given to his friends
the white men. This request produced a deal of palaver,
and it soon became apparent that all was not right —
possible treachery was contemplated.

Rupert placed two men in each canoe, cautioning them
to look out for any kind of surprise, while he and the
remainder, all on the qui vive, remained in a group upon
the brow of the cliff overhanging the river.

While a great deal of heated argument was proceeding
between Kamsla and the old chief, it was noticed that a
great many of the redskins belonging to the village were
absent. This in itself was enough to cause alarm, as it
appeared evident that some treachery was afoot, and, as if
to confirm this, Belton cried out from one of the canoes
that the stores had been ransacked during the night, and
a number of tin and iron cooking vessels, knives, &c.,
stolen.

Eamsla taxed the old chief with this robbery, and the
old villain having no excuse to offer drew his knife, and

A SKIRMISH WITH THE CALLAPUYAS,

203

■•

would have stabbed his accuser to the heart, but seeing the
turn things were taking, Bernard had covered the chief
with a pistol concealed beneath the poncho he was wear-
ing (it was raining), and as the old chief stepped forward
to take Kamsla's Hfe, he fell dead at the latter's feet, shot
clean through the body.

The Oallapuyas, who were all armed, drew round the
little band in a threatening manner, but the guns of the
white men acted as a check upon their advance, or they
woTild have doubtless slaughtered the whole band of
hunters. Slowly the band retreated to the canoes, but
upon embarking several arrows were fired at them, happily
without seriously hurting any one.

Upon this Kamsla begged the white men to shoot one
or two of the traitors as an example of their power, or
they would all be murdered before they could get far
down the river.

A couple more arrows now came from the village, one
of which passed through both cheeks of a Clatsop, who
knelt in a canoe with the steering paddle in his hand. The
arrow would have gone quite through but for the feathers,
which were wet with the man's blood.

At this, four shots were fired among the cowardly
thieves on shore, and two of them fell mortally wounded.
The rest fled precipitately in all directions, hiding them-
selves in any available place.

Kamsla now ordered the canoes to put back, and,
leaping ashore with his men, ran up the slope and com-
menced lex talionis, by ransacking the chief's and two or
three other lodges. This was not done without opposition,
and two Glatsops were killed by arrows, and Kamsla him-
self woimded in the thigh.

The white men who had leaped ashore to aid their red

204

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

allies fired whenever they saw a head pop up from behind
a rock, and if they did not do much execution they at
least held the enemy in check while their village was
being looted to compensto for what they themselves had
stolen.

The plunder having been conveyed to the canoes, the
usual finishing touch of Indian warfare was carried out,
namely, the village given over to the flames.

With all haste the excited hunters scrambled down the
rocks, and the canoes were pushed off, the plunder having
been distributed between the canoes, which now only
carried seventeen men.

After leaving the lake the country was very flat for
three or four miles, but the river was prettily fringed with
reeds and rushes, over which a kind of willow hung its
graceful, frond-like boughs, now green with the young
spring leaves.

It was expected every minute that a flight of arrows
would be aimed at the occupants of the canoes, for they
did not for a moment doubt but they would be attacked
before they reached the junction of the "Williamette
River, and their expectations were eventually fully
realised.

They paddled for two or three hours along the somewhat
shallow and rocky stream, till they came to a tract of
rising ground, through which the river had cut a course,
deep and narrow ; indeed, so much did the stream contract
at this point that it was not more than thirty yards wide.

Here, if anywhere, the expected ambuscade would be
laid, and the canoes were halted for a debate before
attempting to negotiate the half-mile whose end they
might never live to see.

The ambush would doubtless be on the left bank, as it

O.V THE TRAIL, 205

wa3 naturally fitted for a surprise to be delivered from,

-#-*p'fe(ii=^

THX EXCITBO EX7ITTBBS BO&AKBLED SOW^T THX BOOU.

and probably it would take place at the narrowest part of

ao6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

tlie river. It was, therefore, deemed advisable for the party
to disembark, and, leaving one man in each canoe, to steer
her through the rapids, push forward along the left bank
with the remaining thirteen, and boldly confront the
enemy, if there were any to rout.

Accordingly, every man refreshed, and then went
ashore, except the steersman of each canoe.

The shore party proceeded cautiously in Indian file, the
Klamaths first, the white men in the centre, and the
Clatsops bringing up the rear — " white man sandwich,"
as Fleming called it. The canoes kept a hundred yards
in the rear, so that in case of alarm they would have time
to turn before being attacked. Usually the water in this
narrow channel ran very swiftly, but as very little rain
had fallen for the past fortnight it was somewhat
sluggish, a point much in favour of the steersmen, who
had but little trouble to steer their craft, which were drift-
ing about two miles per hour.

As expected, the Callapuyas could be seen by the shore
party some distance ahead, hiding behind rocks so as to be
out of sight of their expected victims in the canoes. They
appeared to be so intent on watching the river for the
advent of the canoes, which they could not yet see, because
of a bend in the river, that they had not seen the party
land.

Kamsla taking command, led the van, the rest follow-
ing silently in his footsteps.

The canoes were silently signalled to stop under an
overhanging bank, while Eamsla led his men by a long
detour to a considerable wood, which ran to within a
hundred yards of the rocks overlooking the river, among
which the foe were in hiding. .

He now placed Bernard at one end of his forces, and

A GAMBLING GAME,

Hupert at the other. Bclton and Fleming he placed at
equal distances, and so disposed of the rest of his men that
there were three red men between each white man.

There appeared to be about thirty of the enemy, who,
screened from the river by the rocks, sat in groups of four

THEY PBOCEEDED CABEFTTLLy IN INDIAN FILE.

or five, gambling with pieces of wood, while four of their
number were seen in secure hiding places, watching for
the canoes to appear round the bend of the river. For
obvious reasons they could not tell at what hour the
canoes would arrive, so with Indian patience they watched
the coming from their vantage posts, while their comrades

208

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

beguiled the time with the well-known Indian gambling
game.

The game being played was one much in vo^ue among
most Indian tribes, and a similar game is seen in England
under the name of Tippit or Coddam.

Four players take part in the game, each two being
partners. The opponents sit on the ground facing each
other, two of the players taking possession of a piece of
carved wood something like a draughtsman. It is the
aim of these two to hide the piece secretly in one of their
four hands by manipulating it under their blankets or
behind their backs. The piece being hidden in one oi
their hands, their four arms are extended, and their
opponents have to guess in which hand the piece is con-
tained. Not a word is spoken, and the game continues
sometimes for hours.

Indians are inveterate gamblers, and will stake all their
belongings in their love of games of chance; wcopons,
horses, dress, and even their wives and children, have at
times been the stakes played for.

This was the game in progress while Kamsla was
making all his arrangements, and now, stationing himself
in the centre of his line of men, he imitated the cry of a
blackbird, and immediately a flight of arrows was sent
among the gamblers, who sprang to their feet, except two
or three who were severely wounded.

As they sprang up the four white men fired, and three
more of the enemy fell, whilst the remainder, panic-
stricken, hardly knew which way to flee from the deadly
" thunder sticks," as they called the white men's guns.
They therefore, with Indian instinct, crouched among the
rocks, and in turn took the offensive, firing their keen
orrcws whenever one of Kamsla's men showed himself.

"PAY BACA' THE ARROW,

aoQ

This went on for nearly half-an-hour, without any par-
ticular damage being done on either side, as the trees and
rocks afforded effective shelter to the combatants, and
Kamsla, becoming impatient, coolly walked out with a
green branch in his hand as a sign of parley.

The firing at once ceased.

He informed the enemy that it was useless for them to
try and hide from the white men's guns, for, unlike
arrows, the bullets would find them out behind the rocks,
and kill them. He told then! in a most lofty manner,, as
he pointed towards their, homes, that they had better retire
before the white men fired again, as every bullet meant a
Callapuya's life. He finished his harangue by promising
them if they returned peaceably homeward he would
spare their lives ; but they only derided Hm.

The answer from the treacherous enemy came in the
form of a couple of arrows, one of which pierced Eamsla's
leather hunting shirt, and the other struck his thigh just
about the spot in which he had been wounded a few hours
previously. Fortunately, the wound was protected by
several wrappings of linen and an outer bandage of soft
deerskin, which prevented the arrow from penetrating.
The chief shook his fist at the hidden enemy, and,
as well as his painful leg would permit him, stalked
slowly and heroically back to the cover of the trees,
behind one of which he ensconced himself, and drew the
cncrimsoned arrow from the fleshy part of his left breast.
It was but a flesh wound, and he handed the missile to
Ila*pa-tal, who was a noted archer, with the remafk :
** Pay back the arrow, my brother."

Finding the white men did not fire (they were getting
short X>f ammunition, and did not wish to waste a single
charge), the enemy grew bolder, and would jump on the

310

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

rocks for a moment, and then, drawing the fire from the
Clatsop bowmen, disappear before the hastily-aimed arrows
could reach them.

Their chief was a fine young man of about five-and-
twenty (son of the old villain shot in the scrimmage in the
morning), and he also would occasionally leap on a rock
and wave his hand in an insulting manner, and jump
behind his rocky shield again before an arrow could reach
him.

Noting this, Ka-pa-tal fitted the blopd- tipped arrow to
his strong bow and narrowly watched the movements of
the young chief, who presently ventured to mount his
rock again to taunt the foe; but Ra-pa-tal, anticipating
his leap to the rock, stood with bow ready drawn, and
like a flash of light the long light stem of tho arrow was seen
quivering in the breast of the rash young man, who, with
blood gushing from his mouth, fell to rise no more.

With glittering eyes the archer turned to the wounded
Kamsla and said, " Ra-pa-tal pay back arrow — good ! "

Seeing their young chief faU, the savages ventured cut
from the rocks to lift him to a place of safety, which gave
the Clatsops a favourable opportunity of showing their
skill as archers. The enemy were rather nonplussed at
seeing the turn events had taken, and Kamsla, no^^'cing
this, ordered his men to sling their bow8> and, lance in
hand, to make a charge among the enemy.

All advanced at a run towards the rocks, the Indians
giving their war-whoop, and the white men a loud
hurrah ! Bang went the muskets, and down fell five of
the enemy, one ball having passed clean through u man's
chest, bringing down another behind with a dreadful
woimd in the head.

Gui^s were quickly clubbed, and, standing with their

7UE WOUNDED.

211

backs to the rocks, the white men rolled the enemy over
like nine pins, for they were but as big boys to the stal-
wart Englishmen, and in two minutes the battle was won,
and the paltry red thieves in full retreat homeward to
their village, which they would find in ashes.

Six of the wretched Callapuyas were dead, and seven so
severely wounded that they could not follow their brethren,
but they were carefully attended by their white conquerors,
and left among the rocks for their comrades to carry
away, which they would be sure to do, when tho canoes
had departed.

Three Clatsops and one £lamath were severely wounded,
and Belton had received a very heavy blow on the shoulder
from a war- club, which had, without breaking any bones,
rendered his arm quite useless.

The canoes were signalled, and the wounded men placed
in them, while the rest walked along the bank of the river
amid the long prairie grass for a couple of miles, when,
being safe from any surprise of thfi enemy, they drew
the canoes ashore in a little bay, where they had a qv.iet
bathe in the limpid water and a good meal. Then, turning
everything out of the canoes, they repacked them prepara-
tory to the start homeward.

Quite a large collection of skins had been taken from
the Callapuya village, including two bear-skius, several
dozen beaver, and ten sea-otter skins : not a bad haul for
a small party, and one that more than compensated for
the stolen deer-skins.

The homeward journey took much longer than tho
outward, as they had to ascend the Willi amette Kiver,
consequently the current was aga nst them.

Arriving at the farthest point on the Williamette, it
was found impracticable for the whole band to proceed

213

THE sFUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

onward with the canoes, as the nkins were quite as much
as the party could carry, being now reduced to fourteen
able men. It was therefore decided to leave the canoes,
skins, and the four wounded men behind, under guard of
six others, while the remainder continued the journey
homeward. On the arrival of the hunters a party of thirty
or forty Indians could be sent to bring home both the men
and baggage left behind.

Bolton, Bernard, and four Clatsops remained with the
wounded.

In three days the others reached the Fort, and sent back
a party of thirty-two Clatsops, under Ra-pa-tal, who, a
week after, returned to the Fort without further adventure ;
two of the wounded men having in the meantime nearly
recovered.

The arrival of the canoes and wounded was the signal
for a great display of feeling on the part of both the
Clatsops and the Klamaths, who first mourned their dead
with dirges and wailings, and then performed the scalp
dance with triumphant yells and the usual savage rites.

Bernard, who was ever eager to acquire knowledge, was
shown how to prepare the scalps which had been taken :
six by the Clatsops and three by the Klamaths.

The scalps he noticed were about three inches in
diameter, and taken from the crown of the head, just
where the hair seems to form a centre from which it
gyrates, or branches off all round the head ; consequently,
it is impossible to cut two scalps off one head.

A long willow wand, as thick as one's little finger, and
about fouF feet long, has its top bent into a loop, and, in
the circular space thus left, the scalp is fastened all round
with thin sinew, so as to make a kind of long-handled fan,

THE SCALP DANCE.

213

The dance takes place at night, and is continued for
from seven to ten nights, darkness being made hideous
with the exclamations of the dancers.

The Klamaths and Clatsops performed the dance in each
other's camps on alternate nights thus.

Young women, each carrying a scalp, formed a central
group, round which the warriors to take part in the dance
formed a circle. Each man vaunted forth the most ex-
travagant boasts of his own great prowess, and the whole
band commenced to dance and jump round, brandishing
their weapons, and yelling and yelping like fiends incarnate.
The efPect was the more heightened by the performers
being lighted by the remainder of the tribe, who carried
blazing pine torches.

Catlin, in his great work, says: —

" While the dancers are making their frantic leaps and
yelps and thrusts, every man distorts his face to the
utmost of his muscles, darting about his glaring eyeballs
and snapping his teeth^ as if they were in the heat (and
actually breathing throup;h their inflated nostrils the very
hissing death) of battle !

** No description that can ever be written could ever
convey more than a feeble outline of the frightful effects
of these scenes, enacted in the dead and darkness of night,
under the glaring light of their flambeaux ; nor could all
the years allotted to mortal man in the least obliterate or
deface the vivid impress that one scene of this kind would
leave on the memory."

The Doones witnessed the dance on the first night, but
both Mrs. Doone and Ruth were so horrified at the
display that they begged Mr. Doone to return with them
to the Fort.

\':

\ m

(

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Oat ->j>8 and Klamaths leave for their Summer Quarters. — Kissing
Pain; > " -es. — Presents. — A Garden made. — Wild Grooseherrieg
and Cui. «. — Swimming the Pool. — The Candle Fish. — Salmon
Season. — ^Netting. — Spearing and Curing Salmon for Winter.

The spring had now arrived in all its vernal beauty.
The forests were again clothed in emerald ; the flooded
river had resumed its normal height ; flowers peeped
forth, and nature seemed to wake again after its long
winter sleep. Everyone in the camps and at the Fort were
busy.

The Clatsops bade their white friends good-bye, and,
packing all their belongings in their canoes, migrated to
the coast lor the warm season, there to fish, and hunt the
sea-otter and seal, and to procure a store of sturgeon and
other fish.

The Klamaths also embarked in their great skin battcaux,
and returned to their distant homo on Lake Elamath,
beyond the south spur of the Cascade Mountains. They
had about 250 miles to travel, but as the greater part
would be by water, they did not appear to mind it in the
least, and promised to return in the autumn and encamp
again near the white men for the ensuing winter. They
also promised to hunt and trap during the summer, and to
bring back with them the result of their prowess for
barter.

N-

DEPARTURE OF THE INDIANS.

ai5

It was a busy scene, this embarking of two whole tribes,
and one the boys so thoroughly enjoyed that they could
never possibly forget.

Every man, woman, and child had to shake hands with
the great white chief (Mr. Doone), his wife, sons and
daughters, and many of the children, all of whom were
freshly painted, insisted on kissing Mrs. Doone and Ruth,
much to the amusement of all present, for the puint came
o£E on their faces to such an extent that they looked more
like Indians than whites. When a mirror was handed to
them they laughed as much as anyone at their blue, red,
and yellow mottled faces, and wondered what their friends
in Fowey would have thought if they could have beheld
them.

Each Indian brought a present, and — expected one in
return ! What innocence ! It was their custom, and as
such had to be adhered to.

Bead moccasins, bags, weapons, slippers, models, charms,
skins, dried fish, wampum, bark cloth, &c., were received,
and English commodities given in exchange, and by-and-
by the Klamaths, amid the usual yelps and yells, paddled
away ; and then the white ladies washed their besmirched
faces, being fearful of perpetrating a breach of etiquette if
they did so before the departure of their savage friends ;
it would never do to wash away their coloured kisses before
their very eyes.

A garden of half-an-acre had been dug on the island,
and was now planted with vegetables, hedges having been
made round it of gooseberry and currant bushes, which
grew wild in some parts of the woods. These Mr. Doone
had carefully planted late in the preceding autumn, and
hoped, by careful pruning and attention, to obtain a finer

^-- ^

2l6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

crop of fruit than could be gathered from the bushes in
their wild state.

During his frequent wanderings among the mountains,
Mr. Doone had found some fine specimens of both goose-
berries and currants, growing in their uncultured and
wild state, and of these the Indians, under his directions,
brought down enough to quite surround his garden with
a double hedge.

Of the gooseberries there were three kinds. The purple,
on a particularly thorny, stunted bush ; a fine flavoured
yellow, growing, strangely enough, on a thornless bush ;
and a deep purple, of a grape flavour.

There were also three kinds of currants. One was a
yellow-coloured berry, with the flavour of our ordinary
red currant, this growing from four to five feet high.
Another was a well-flavoured purple, growing on a bush
which rose eight or nine feet above the earth ; the third
was a beautiful scarlet, of sweet but delicate flavour, and
only reaching a height of about four feet.

Mrs. Doone found plenty to do in making and mending
clothes for the family, in cooking, and other domestic
duties ; but with all this both she and Ruth found leisure
during the beautiful long summer days to make excursions
far into the forests and up the lower mountain sides.
Either Mr. Doone and Belton, or the two boys, accom-
panied them, with a couple of Indians, and a young squaw
to assist in carrjang the various articles required ; and it
was not an infrequent occurrence for them to be away
from the Fort for three or four days at a time, as they
camped out during the delightful warm nights, and
enjoyed the roving life.

Both Kuth and her mother soon became expert marks-

•n W'v

»u.i^-^rj

1UE TIUO PADDLED BY BA-FA-TAL AND BAB-UE-NO.

SUMMER ON THE ISLAND.

•19

women, and many a wild turkey and small deer fell to
their aim. Besides being very fair shots, they also became
capital swimmers — indeed, Buth frequently swam from
the Fort to the abandoned Klamath camp, where Bernard
had erected a lodge for her, that she might change her
wet dress for a dry one, and then take a long walk before
returning in a little birch-bark canoe to the island.
Indeed, the ladies became in time perfect Amazons, enjoy-
ing the wild life as much as the men.

They were, indeed, happy days for the Doones; no
sickness, no lack of anything in the way of food or raiment,
no work when they would rather play ! Probably, how-
ever, the average English boy would consider their play
savoured of work, and that, too, of the hardest, if they,
as it sometimes happened to Rupert and Bernard, tramped
twenty, twenty-five, and even thirty miles during a day
when in pursuit of big game — frequently only to witness
its escape after all ; or, if they had to paddle a canoe up
the river for six or seven hours at a stretch, to get a few
shots at wild fowl on a small lagoon, which was situated in
a very lonely spot neur the Cascade Mountains. Their
work was a pleasure, and their pleasure was to work.
Nothing came amiss to them ; they would saw, dig, cut,
plant, fish, shoot, or build, as their father desired, and
whatever they took in hand was performed promptly, light-
heartedly, and with a will.

One evening', when they were sitting at the new landing-
place they had built, they caught some curious small fish,
which Simola said were rarely seen so far up the river,
as it was a sea fish, and although in the winter it swarms
into the estuaries and mouths of the rivers, it is seldom
seen in smmner. It resembles the smelt, and is called

220

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

Uthlecan, or tbo candle fish, and contains so much fat
that the natives dry it and use it for giving a light in
their wigwams, setting fire to its tail and burning it like a
candle.

Early in July they were one morning surprised to see
two large canoes coming up the river, and imagined the
occupants might be hostile, for in these wild regions no one
is a friend till he has shown his true colours. Everything
in the Fort was kept ready for an attack, which, among such
treacherous barbarians, might occur at any time. Fortu-
nately, on the present occasion there was no need of alarm,
for Ra-p» tal pronounced them to be a party of Tacons.

Thej made straight for the Fort, and having landed,
Kamsla, who was with them, informed Mr. Doone that
he had returned for the salmon fishing. Salmon, ho ex-
plained, were now at their best, and were running up
well, and it had been the Clatsop custom from time im-
memorial to catch and dry large quantities of this
nourishing fish for winter sustenance. If, after they
(the Indians) had rested a couple of days, Mr. Doone and
his two sons would like to accompany them, they would
catch and dry enoujyh fish for the v.'inter*s consumption
of everyone in the Fort.

Mr. Doone, wishing to see the mode of capture and
cure, consented, and the trio, accompinied by Ka-pa-tal
and Bar-me-no, went oflf to the rapids, under Kamsla's
leadership.

The rapids were about twenty miles up the river, and
in one place formed a fall of about four feet, between a
rocky island and the shore. Here the party landed, and
for a couple of days the whole of the Tacons, some thirty
in number, occupied themselves in felling small trees, and

THE SALMON FISHIXG.

erecting, curiously, but ingeniously, constructed stugcs,
which overhung the river, to afford them a secure footing
from which to fish

The operation of catching was performed in two ways ;
by netting and spearing.

The first was by means of small, but clumsy, nets, which
were kept distended by means of hoops, and mounted on
long, tough, wooden handles. With these, the men
adroitly scooped up the salmon, which congregated at the
foot of the falls, in great numbers, and having them
safely in the bag of the net, they tossed them ashore
to the squaws.

Others stationed themselves at eligible spots, armel
with long spears having barbed heads, and with these
terrible looking implements, they impaled the fish, and
cast them struggling on shore, where the ready squaws
quickly killed them with a blow upon the head, delivered
with a club, in a very business-like manner.

When killed, they were split open, beheaded, and
gutted, and hung to dry in the sun, on skeleton scaffolding
erected for the purpose. When thoroughly dried in the hot
sun and wind, they are beaten into shreds between stones,
and packed in quaintly shaped baskets. These baskets
are cylindrical, about two feet high and one foot in
diameter. They are made of a kind of grass-matting,
lined with cured salmon skin, and when they are crammed
full of pounded salmon, cords are passed through other
cords in the edge of the baskets, and drawn tight.

Twelve of these packages aie secured together with
mats, and the whole strongly corded round ; the salmon
is then ready for taking to the Indian village ; where it
is placed in a dry situation, enveloped with more matting,
ftnd stored ready for winter consumption,

322

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE JFEST,

If well made up in this way, salmon will keep in good
condition for several years.

After witnessing the whole process, the Doones onco
more entered their canoe to return to the Fort, not caring
to stay and see the salmon feast, which usually winds up
the fishing, as it is nothing but a piggish exhibition of
gluttony, and a saturnalia of posturing and yelling such
as Indians alone love.

■

CHAPTER XIX.

A Signal of Distress. — Mrs. Doone in Bed.— Ruth and her Mother as
Huntresses. — Indians ! — Ruth Fires. — So does Mrs. Doone. — She
' Conquers but Falls. — Callapuya Threats.

■

Nearino the Fort, the Doones were surprised to see the
red ensign floating upside down, and as they paddled still
nearer, they saw that now and again it was dipped, and
then hauled back to the masthead.

Evidently something was wrong, and the raising and
lowering of the flag was done to attract attention.

On rounding the point, they could not see a soul about
the Fort, so examining the priming of their flintlocks,
they pressed forward with redoubled speed, fearing some-
thing untoward had happened during their five days*
absence.

Bupert and Bernard seized the spare paddles and re-
inforced Bar-me-no and Ra-pa-tal, the four men making
the canoe hiss through the whirling current, which was
also in their favour.

When close to the landing stage, Kuth came running
from the Fort, closely followed by Belton, both with a
look of mingled pleasure and alarm on their faces.

** For heaven's sake," cried Mr. Doone, " what has
hap^Dened. Your mother ? "

** Mother is safe, daddy dear, but we are in great danger

, !

2-4

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE IVEST,

from hostile Indians; come in at once, and we will tell
you what has happened."

Linking her arm in her father's, they quickly entered
tho Fort, and found Mrs. Doone in bed.

"Now hoys, and husband," she exclaimed, as they
excitedly entered the chamber, " don't be alarmed, for
although I am in bed, I am only a little bruised and
shaken, and when I tell you all the trouble, you will say
it might have been much worse. Sit down, and I will
tell you what has happened."

They sat down, very much relieved to find that Mr?,
Doone, who had been injured in some mysterious manner,
was not very badly hurt, or she would not be able to
smile upon them as she did, although now and again, as
she turned in bed, she could not hide a twinge of pain,
which made her brows contract, and the habitual smiling
curl, at the corners of her mouth, take a downward
inflection.

**I must own, William, that I have been very im-
prudent during your ibsence, having, with Ruth, brought
about an adventure which might have had a fatal ter-
mination to us both.

"Yesterday, I proposed to Iluth to go across in a
canoe to the north shore, and make a little excursion
inland, to try our skill, by having a shot at anything we
might happen upon during our -wanderings.

" After walking two or three mik^s, we saw half-a-dozen
black-tails grazing in a pretty little grassy vale ; but as
they were near some timber on the far side of the valley,
we stalked round, and each singling her quarry, both fired
at once. I beat Ruth, for my shot killed a deer on the
spot, but Ruth's shot struck her mark high in the shoulder,
and the deer, with shambling gait, tried to follow rts

MRS. DOONE'S STORY.

225

comrades towards the forest ; so, naturally, after loading
we followed, but soon found the animal, although wounded,
could easily out-pace us.

" Seeing this, we gave up the chase, cut down a sapling,
, pon which we slung the dead dear, by tying its four
hoofs together with wampum, and placing the pole across
our shoulders, commenced our triumphant march home-
ward.

" We were very exciied, and very happy, and were both
carolling away at * Old Towler,* when, just as we had
reached the narrow defi[e> about half-a-mile from the
deserted Clatsop campin^^ place, an arrow came whizzing
along, and stuck fairly in the ribs of the dead deer we
were carrying.

" Our first thought was to drop the deer, and scream
for assistance. A second thought told us screaming
would be useless, as no one at the Fort could hear us,
and it would only show our assailant or assailants that
we were frightened, which would never do.

"Poor Ruth looked very scared, and unslinging our
muskets we faced about, but could sec no one.

" Then we joined hands and ran towards the landing-
place of Clatsops, where we had left our canoe.

" When we had run only about one hundred yards, we
heard footsteps behind us, and knew they were Indians
by the padlike fail of their moccasins, which made their
steps almost noiseless, except for the cracking of twigs
and rustle of leaves.

" We looked round and saw, to our consternation, four
half-naked, armed savages, tearing after us, and rapidly
overtaking us ; so hurriedly telling Ruth to keep slowly
trotting towards the landing, I knelt down and presented
my weapon.

sa6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

" The savages stopped immediately.

'* Then I rose, and commenced, as well as the uneven
ground would permit me, to walk backwards, but the four
painted fiends encroached so much, that I again knelt, and
this once more had the effect of checking the foes for the
moment.

" It was only for a minute, however, for when I turned
and fled, they yelled and run rapidly after me, and when
I reached Ruth, who would go no farther without me, I
only had breath to say, * Kneel quickly, Ruth — take steady
aim — and shoot the first man.'

" It was a dreadful thing I know for me to say, but it
was our only chance.

** As she knelt, a couple of arrows hurtled past, for-
tunately without hitting us, and as the second two were
about to draw upon us, Ruth fired.

*' We heard a dull thud and a groan, and the foremost
Indian, who was only some fifty yards distant, threw up
his arms and fell headlong upon his face.

** Again we turned, but this time we walked instead of
running, and while Ruth loaded, I ever and anon turned
and pointed my weapon toward i our three pursuers, who
kept at about one hundred yards distance, till with tremb-
ling limbs we reached the shore.

" Ruth stepped into the canoe, but before I could follow
aud push off, the three][riatheads, for they were of that
tribe, in full view of the Fort, made a rush towards us.

** I was standing in the shallow margin of the river,
where the water little more than floated the canoe, but to
take steadier aim I knelt in the water, and when the
leader was about twenty yards aw , I fired straight at
his chest, and he fell. Ruth, at the same moment, stepped
out of the canoe and fired at the other two men, and

A WAR PARTY OF FLATHEADS.

227

missed them, but to our delight both turned and fled, and
on reaching the black rocks, slipped behind them and
discharged half-a-dozen arrows at us, but they all fell
short.

" I felt so exasperated at the idea of four men trying to
kill two women, just for the sake of their long scalp-locks,
that I heartily wished I had only enough nerve, and then
I would have scalped the Flathead before his comrades'
eyes, to show what an Englishwoman can do when she is
assaulted."

Mr. Doone and his sons were greatly amused at Mrs.
Doone's warlike peroration, and laughed till the tears ran
down their cheeks. This exhilaration was doubtless partly
due to their pent-up joy at the safety of Mrs. Doone and
Ruth.

"But how were you hurt, mother ? " both the boys
asked at once.

"Tell ihom, Ruth," cried Mrs. Doone, "for after
my triumpL and warlike recital I cannot recount my
fall ! "

" Why," said Rum, " wo pushed off in the canoe, and
laying down our guns, paddled us if fiends were after us.
Simola, Freeman, and Fleming wer* putting off to us in
the boat, but we signalled to them * No,' and soon arrived
at the landing-place.

" They helped us on to the laudinj^-stage, but as mother
was stepping up the six steps to +1 c path, she fainted and
fell backward upon the rocks several feet below.

" Her back and right hip are very much bruised, and
she received a very severe shaking ; but we will soon put
her right again, won't we, mother ? "

" Oh, yes,*' said Mrs. Doone, cheerfully, " a day or two's
rest, and I hope I shall be about again. There is one

228

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

thing, it is no use ailing here, for any doctor but a
* medicine man ' is unknown.

" Now P jpert call Fleming in, and he will tell you
that the band of Callapuya Indians you fought with near
the Coast Mountains have been reinforced and have fol-
lowed your trail, and have come in force to attack the Fort.

"The four who molested us were a kind of advance
guard, and were Chinooks or Flatheads, as I could see at
a glance by their ugly foreheads.'*

Fleming, who had seen the main body of the Indians,
on being interrogated, said they were undoubtedly mostly
men of the Callapuya tribe ; he knew them by their totem
ajid their manner of war paint.

Simola said he had taken a canoe that morning, and with
Belton had been within one hundred and fifty yards of the
shore, close to which the enemy was encamped. There
appeared to be eighty or ninety warriors. Simola parleyed
with them, and learned that they had come to revenge
their fallen chief and comrades, and, in spite of the white
men's " thunder sticks," they would come over, burn the
Fort, kill the pale faces, and carry thair scalps home to
decorate their lodges on Lake Pil-gar-na-wish.

Having heard these startling details, Mr. Doone called
a council of war, at wiiich all were present, and it was
simply resolved to fully prepare and then wait events.

The Flatheads inhabit the land at the mouth of the
Columbia River, but the tribe is divided into several
branches, one of which is the Callapuya section. They
obtain the name of Flatheads from the fact that when they
are infants their heads are comp esscd between boards till
the skull is flattened from the brows to the apex of the
head, which is thus forced to an inordinate height, giving
them a most grotesque and repulsive appearance.

* .»

CHAPTER XX.

The Fort in Danger.— Primitive Scaling Ladders.— The First Assault
Unsuccessful. — K'nick-K'neok. — The Defenders in Council. — The
Mines. — ^Another Attack. — A Holocaust. — The Wounded cared for
—The Flatheads depart.

As the Fort was always kept in a state of readiness against
any sudden attack, but little preparation had to be made
to give the foe a warm reception.

The inhabitants of the Fort numbered just a dozen with-
out Mrs. Doone and Ruth, who had recently shown them-
selves so skilful with the gun that they would prove
valuable combatants within walls of the Fort.

The two brass cannon in the bastion were loaded with
odd pieces of iron and old bolts, nails, &c., for at close
quarters these miscellaneous missiles form a kind of shrap-
nel, spreading and scattering destruction over a wide area.

A sharp watch was kept both by day and night, and
those not on sentry duty slept fully dressed, with their
arms at their sides.

For a couple of days the Flatheads could be seen busily
engaged making rafts, quite convinced that they could
overcome the Fort by sheer numbers, being at least seven
to one.

Simola, who well knew the Indian mode of attack,
surmised that probably the assault would be delivered in
the night, an hour or so before dawn.

The river having run very low, it was improbable that

«3o

Tff£ FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

they would attempt a landing by scaling the rugged sides
of the island, but would land on the isthmus and take the
strong wooden pallisade by escalade, rearing notched trees
with which to climb over. They would then undoubtedly
attempt to set fire to the buildings, killing the defenders
as they rushed out to prevent being suffocated.

To frustrate this plan three men watched the north, west,
and south of the island, while two others were deputed to
hide near the pallisade and give the alarm, if the enemy
were seen, by firing their muskets, so that all might hear
the report and rush to the Fort for shelter.

The pallisades were about ten feet high and sloped out-
ward, so that a man could not climb them ; but that the
enemy might readily be seen if they attempted to climb
this defence, a couple of large fires were lighted and several
horn lanterns hung about on poles.

One morning very early the Flatheads were heard
approaching ; the run of their pontoons and rafts on the
gravel of the istl^mus could be distinctly heard ; and as
there was plenty of time, and no need to cause unnecessary
alarm, Bar-me-no, who with Ra-pa-tal, was on the watch
at the pallisade, ran and awoke those asleep in the Fort,
who came quietly out and dropped into holes which had
been dug in the ground to form rifle-pits. Of these there
were eight, and each was quickly occupied by a man armed
w'th two muskets. Polton and Pendrick mounted guard
on the hill behind the buildings to see they were not
attacked in the rear, which was not likely, as the cliffs
there were quite fifty feet high and most difficult to climb.

Mr. Doone and Belton remained in the bastion to take
charge of the ladies and fire the brass guns.

The time of attack was well chosen, as it was for
summer time very dark.

THE ATTACK ON THE FORT.

331

All was still within ; but outside the pallisade a stifled,
subdued combination of sounds was heard ; but the
defenders not being able to see beyond the beams of
wood, could not tell what the noises portended.

They had not long to wait for a solution, however, for
presently some poles appeared here and there over the
pointed pallisade, by which they surmised that the Flat-
heads had taken a raft to pieces to form rude scaling-
ladders.

Two or three heads now peeped over, but they were
immediately fired at by the riflemen, and disappeared.
This happened two or three times, and then came a long
pause. More grating sounds were heard as the redskins
toiled to bring up and erect more poles ; which being done,
there was another pause. Suddenly quite a dozen Flat-
heads appeared above the pallisade at once, and as quickly
eight shots were fired at them ; some of the redskins fell,
killed or wounded ; two in their hurry tumbled over the
pointed timbers and were hurt, whila one or two others
retreated, so that but three actually got over unscathed,
and of these one leaped into the river, and the other two,
making a rush to the rifle-pit occupied by Freeman and
Bernard, were quickly slashed down with cutlasses, which,
in expert hands, are much more effective weapons than
tomahawks.

At this unexpected repulse there was much commotion
among the savages, and as the first pale streak of dawn
now gave a little light, Mr. Doone could see from the
bastion tower that the savages were undecided among
themselves what to do next, whether to make another
attempt or re-embark.

They chose the latter alternative.

** Run, Belton," cried Mr. Doone, " and tell those in

232

2HE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the rifle-pits to wait until I fire a pistol as a signal, and
then to rush to the loopholes in the pallisades and gi\e
the red rascals a good fusilade as they depart."

When, a couple of minutes later, he turned to tell
Mrs. Doone and Ruth that their enemy were about to
embark, the latter was not in the apartment; but
thinking she had gone below, he drew a pistol and gave
the signal.

Then to his surprise he saw his daughter make a run
between her two brothers to the stockade, and coolly take
her stand and fire her musket at the retreating throng
of Flatheads, several of whom never left the shores with
whole skins.

There was joy in the island that day, and with little
ceremony the bodies of six savages, in all the hideousness
of war-paint and feathers, were tossed into the brown
waters of the Umpqua, to be borne to the mighty Pacific,
there to float on its heaving \ som till fish and fowl
should consume them.

In the evening a council was assembled, consisting of
the whole of the members of the Fort, at which Mr.
Doone could not help noticing that they had become so
imbued with Indian manners that the pipe of peace was
unconsciously smoked, even in their family circle. True,
it was not a single pipe, but it was remarked that each
man quietly took out his own pipe and filled it with
k'nick-k'neck, and commenced puffing, presumably to clear
his understanding.

Strangely enough, not one of them smoked real tobacco
leaf (which, although a native of America, does not grow
in the far West), but a mixture of various herb leaves
and a certain bark, to which the aborigines of the States
give the generic name of k'nick-k'neck. Their pouches

THE HIDDEN POWDER MINE,

233

are formed from the skins of small animals, which are
preserved whole, with teeth, claws, and tail complete, but
for the Indian dandy beautiful skins are not good enough,
so he sets his squaw to work, with porcupine quills and
beads, to ornament them, and this they do in a most
patient and artistic manner, so that a present of a worked
tobacco pouch is no mean gift, even to a white man.

The war council was a lengthy affair, and some capital
suggestions were made. Simola, Ra-pa-tal, and Bar-me-no
afErmed that, far from being disheartened at their first
defeat, the Flatheads would assuredly return to the attack
with fresh methods of surmounting the stockade, or other-
wise gaining access to the immediate vicinity of the Fort
buildings, which they would attempt to destroy by fire.

They implored the white men to use their big "shoots,"
as they called the cannon, for if the enemy once got
inside the stockade they would probably capture the Fort
and slaughter every one of its defenders.

Mr. Doone promised that he would carry out a scheme
he had concocted which would give the Flatheads such a
surprise they would never venture to attack them again.

Parties of three men were told off to guard the island,
watch and watch, in three-hour turns, each night, and on
the second night Mr. Doone and his two sons contrived
so that they were on watch together, for the purpose of
preparing a surprise for their enemies when they next
attacked them.

On relieving the watch at midnight they proceeded to
the Etockade, each carrying a spade, a bag, and a lantern
of horn. Clambering over the stockade, they, by Mr.
Doone*s instructions, dug three holes about a foot square
and two feet deep, about ten yards apart, each con-
nected by a shallow trench about three inches deep.
Then, opening the bags, each took out a small wooden

231

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

cask, which was placed upright in the hole dug for its
reception. They contained gunpowder, and were then
connected by fuses which had been manufactured from
cotton rag steeped in a solution of gunpowder.

The barrels were covered with stones and turf, while
the shallow trench along which the fuses were laid was
covered with twigs and grass, everything being left in as
natural a manner as possible. All being finished, the
three resumed their watch, were duly relieved, and retired
to sleep, with instructions to be called on the slightest
cause of alarm.

The night passed without anything being seen of the
enemy, the next also, but on the fourth night, at 3 a.m.,
all in the Fort were suddenly awakened with the news
that the enemy were crossing high up the west fork of
the river, with the evident intention of attacking on foot
from the mainland, beyond the stockade. The night was
not very dark, so that the bulky rafts, with their teeming
freight, could just be discerned.

In the Fort everything was prepared ; the boys slept in
the bastion, the cannon were kept loaded, and every gun
in the place also — about thirty in number^ — was loaded
and stood ready to hand ; pistols and cutlasses were also
distributed to each man, so all they could do was to
calmly await the coming attack.

An hour — a long, long hour — passed, and then Fleming
and Bar-me-no, who were watching at the stockade, re-
ported that the Flatheads were stealthily advancing, each
bearing a huge faggot of brushwood on his back, and
asking the defenders to take their places in the rifle-pits ;
but to the surprise of all, Mr. Doone ordered everyone
inside the Fort, and enjoined them neither to speak nor
show a light of any kind, as he wished it to appear that
no watch was being kept.

THE MINE EXPLODED.

a35

In a short time a light was ohserved on the far side of
the stockade, which soon leaped into a blaze, throwing
the thick piles into strong relief, except where the red
glow pierced through the chinks between the posts, which
soon began to take fire.

The Flatheads had piled their dry brushwood against
the stockade, and were burning it down so as to make a
dash for the Fort when the timbers fell.

Everyone looked askance at Mr. Doone, who calmly sat
upon a chest in the bastion and smoked his pipe, simply
giving answer to all questions by repeating the solitary
word, " Wait."

In a short time one or two of the stockade posts were
nearly burnt through, and Mr. Doone began to fear the
savages might have discovered his mines and removed
them, or that something might have gone amiss with
them ; but on reflection he came to the conclusion that the
savages would know nothing of such a use for gunpowder,
and would not be likely even to look for what they knew
nothing about. He kept his surmises to himself, and
smoked on till

Boom ! boom ! ! came two reports ; and then an explo-
sion of flame and incandescent embers, as the centre of
the burning stockade flew like gigantic sparks from a
blacksmith's anvil in all directions.

The Fort was shaken to its foundation (as with an
earthquake shock), and everyone present (except those in
the secret) was greatly alarmed.

Yells and groans were heard, and everyone in the Fort
looked at those near him, as much as to say, " Whatever
has happened P "

Then, with one accord each prepared to dash off to the
scene of the catastrophe, and Mr. Doone had great work

236

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

c ^ v?i;>

./ 'I A-*fH

;^-^vr '^'^'^rTr^^JpC''.

/ ^

^ijip^''*''^

to restrain
them, till he
shouted,

"If you
value your
lives, stay
where you
are ! "

.^^- <- "

THE STOOKADB WAS A COHFLETE BXTOr.

THE FIATHEADS DECIMATED.

237

Almost immediately, another fierce explosion rent the air.

The third cask had exploded !

**Now/* said Mr. Doone, **you may go; but, mind
you, the enemy are still more numerous than wc."

All scrambled down the steep stairway and tore off to
the stockade, followed by their leader ; but on reaching
the scene of the explosions, the sight which met their
gaze filled them with horror.

The stockade was a complete ruin, and the ground
beyond was strewn witl^ dead and dying men, some of
them crawling away on broken limbs, and others in such
agony that, beyond writhing in paroxysms of pain, they
were beyond movement to escape. Some were unscathed
or but slightly wounded, and were supporting or carrying
away their more unfortunate comrades, and had Mr.
Doone been wicked enough to order the pursuit of the
beaten foe with cutlasses, scarcely a Flathead would have
been left alive to tell the tale in their far-off village.
They were allowed, unmolested, to do the humane work
of carrying off their friends to the mainland beyond the
isthmus.

Then, like good men, the members of the Fort set to
work, and gathering together all the Flatheads who
showed any signs of life, ministered to their wounds, in
which act Mrs. Doone and Ruth took an active part.
About a dozen were thus treated, while a score of dead
warriors were thrown into the Umpqua, to follow their
predeceastd comrades to the mighty Pacific.

During tlie day, Simola and the two Mandans, were
sent with a ilag^ of truce — a green branch — to the Flat-
head camp, to ask the remnant of the warriors to come
over and fetch their wounded companions, but such a
dread had seized them of approaching the white men that

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

they declined, although an assurance was given that no
them harm should hefall them.

On hearing this, Mr. Doone had the wounded men
placed in canoes and ferried over to the shore near the
Callapnya camp, where they were left.

On the canoes returning to the island, the wounded
men were carried by their comrades to the camp, and
treated in the usual Indian way of " kill or cure."

After three or four days they gave signs of departing,
seeing which, Rupert and Simola crossed to the camp
with an oak branch of peace, and the chief came to the
sLore and spoke with them.

" They were about to depart," he said. ** They had mis-
taken the power of the white men, and were sorry they
had been so foolish as to quarrel with them. They had
come on the war-path nearly a hundred strong, and now
returned to their sorrowing relations with scarcely half
that number. Why had they made enemies of the white
men ? He could not say. Never again would his tribe
molest them, but if he might shake the great white chief
(Mr. Doone) by the hand he would swear that for ever he
would be his friend. Might he cross to the Fort ? "

His request was granted ; he shook the chief of the
white men by the hand, wondering at his great stature,
and when Mr. Doone made him a present of a dozen yards
of red flannel, a gaudy blanket, and sundry other things,
he was perfectly astounded, and at a loss to account for a
man, whom he had tried to kill, sending him away laden
with presents.

Next day the Flatheads with much shouting and
brandishing of weapons departed, and the company of the
Fort never saw or heard of them again.

CHAPTER XXI.

Beautiful Scenery of the West.— The Acorn Harvest. — Bread from Acorn
Meal. — Bartering. — A Ludicrous Incident nearly turns to a Serious
One. — The Furs in Store increase. — Races. — Perfect Basket-weav-
ing. — Nick-nacks of all Kinds. — "Wokas." — A Temascal. — A
Frea:editated Pilgrimage.

With its beautiful balmy days, spent by the Doones in
work and amusement by moimtain and river and in the
forest, the summer glided rapidly by, bringing the glow-
ing colours of autumn upon tree and shrub only too
rapidly.

The winter foliage of the forests of the West would, to
the painter, be a vision of arboreal grandeur, of which not
even the pen of the poet could give more than a faint
idea.

Our English woods have undeniably beautiful colour-
ing, but the largest of them would be but a tiny patch
amid the enormous primeval forests of what is now the
State of Oregon. To stand on a mountain side and look
down upon one of these forests clothed in its glorious
autumnal robe, and stretching away beyond the range of
human vision, is a sight never to be forgotten. Tint
beyond tint, wave beyond wave, the leaves form a perfect
Eca of living, brilliant colour, which, after running the
whole gamut of yellows, greens, and reds, gradually fade
away into the purple, dim distance, bounded on?y by
the horizon or interrupted by the sudden outcrop of some
mighty, cragged mountain-top.

Ii f

240

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

All the white men admired the magnificence of the
scenes around them, which quite perplexed the Indians,
who, knowing no other scenery from their birth, wondered
what there could be in trees and rocks to strike the pale
faces with such admiration.

With the arrival of autumn and its matured beauties,
many of the Clatsops returned from the coast ; these were
principally the old men, squaws, and children, whose duty
it was to search for and store the plentiful crop of acorns
which annually fall from the patriarchal oaks on the
mountain side.

After the Clatsop gatherers had been at work nearly a
fortnight harvesting in the forest, the Klamaths also
appeared, bent on the same labour, but as each tribe kept
to their respective sides of the river, the acorn harvest
was a very peaceable affair. Tons and tons of acorns
were collected and stored away for bread-making during
the five winter months.

Their method of making bread is curious. The acorns
being husked, are ground between stones, answering to
our own ancient querns, the newly-made meal being
placed in rush baskets, through which water is slowly
allowed to percolate, which, to a certain degree, removes
the peculiar bitter flavour which it is not possible wholly
to eliminate from the meal.

The meal being kneaded into dough, is made into little
masses Kke Norfolk dumplings, about the size of a man's
fist, and these being rolled in leaves arc covered with hot
stones and baked. "When cooked, the loaves, if kept free
from twigs, sand, bark, and other little odds and ends
usually found in food cooked by the natives, are quite
palatable, and when concomitant to a piece of salmon
bnked in vine leaves, Jirc even relished by white men.

BARTERING FOR SKINS.

2\\

By the end of October, the remainder of the Clatsops
returned from the coast ; their long bidarkies laden with
six months' spoil in the way of peltries, dried fish, etc.

Then, having rehabilitated their village, trading com-
menced at the Fort, and for two or three weeks all hands
were kept busy bartering for seal and seal-otter skins, also
the skins of certain rare aquatic fowl. Gesticulating,
yelling, and shouting, fierce looks, supplicating manners,
unconcern, eagerness, and a dozen other characteristic
traits were shown by the Indians in their dealings, but all
disregarded by the traders, who, having fixed a price,
adhered to it.

The redskins showed their cunning nature in every way
by keeping the best until the last, trying to palm off the
inferior skins for the better kind ; hiding spear holes or
torn places with great ingenuity, and lying in the most
barefaced way, frequently without even the slightest need
or advantage.

Nt ver more than twenty redskins were allowed upon
the idand at one time ; but as they made as much noise
as th^-ee times the number of ordinary people, it was
sufficiently lively for all concerned.

The Clatsops were accomplished thieves, and a sharj)
eye had to be kept upon them, but even then they now
and again succeeded in filching small articles.

Some of these thefts led to scrimmages between the
traders and the Indians ; one of these was of such a
comical nature that it may be as well to mention it.

Bernard had made a bargain with a big Klamath (who
were usually much more honest in their dealings than the
Clatsops) to purchase a certain skin for twelve measures
of paint, ten of red and two of blue. The colour was a
dry powder, and Bernard measured out ten thimblefuls of

242

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

red colour into the man's pouch, and stood the tin down
on the table while he turned round to reach down the tin
of blue.

Probably the sight of the unguarded tin of resplendent
red colour was too much for the Indian's integrity ; for
when Bernard turned round again he saw some colour
spilt on the table which he had not noticed before. He
accused the Indian of purloining some more paint, but
the man denied it, and refused to have the quantity in
his bead-worked pouch remeasured ; whereupon Bernard
attempted to take the pouch away from him by force.

They were both big, strong fellows, but Bernard's
wrestling skill gave him the mastery over the red man,
and very soon the latter was thrown upon the floor, but
even then he clung tenaciously to his treasure, jmd the
two, amid much laughter, rolled over and over, and as they
both wallowed into a pool of water, caused by their over-
turning a washtub, the pouch burst, and the powder
escaping, flew over the antagonists ; so that in a minute
or so it looked us if a combat to the death was being
enacted, for the water and the paint mixing caused both
men appear to be covered with blood.

Bernard ultimately obtained the pouch, but by this
time so little colour remained in it t]iat, for purposes of
investigation, there was not sufficient left to prove the
Indian's guilt.

Regaining his feet, Bernard held the pouch aloft in a
jeering manner, which so greatly exasperated " Big Rock "
that he struck the white man in the chest with his clenched
fist, and Bernard promptly replied with a fair and square
blow between the eyes which sent "Big Rock" off his
legs as clean as if he had been kicked by a mule.

The poor fellow was dazed, and with true pluck Bernard

A BLOODLESS VICTORY,

tepped forward and helped the fallen man to his feet,
holding out his hand frankly to his late opponent.

" Big Rock," whose hand had sought his knife, drew
it, but seeing that the pale face meant him no harm, with
a sudden dash cast it at Bernard's feet, and, seizing his
hand, grasped it cordially and heartily.

"White Bear" (Bernard's cognomen), said he, "have
we not hunted together, and sat in the same canoe ? Have
we not climbed together, and are we not brothers ? Does
brother fight against brother? !Never! Let us, there-
fore, be friends and brothers again."

So " Big Rock " and " White Bear " shook hands again
and the incident was over.

Ruth, who stood trembling by, happened to have a
mirror in her hand, which Mr. Doone held to each of the
belligerents, that they might see their countenances, which
were daubed and streaked with vermillion in all directions.
This produced a roar of laughter, and the squabble ended
very quietly, for ** Big Rock " not only received ten
measures of red and two of blue paint, but Mr. Doone
added six more of yellow, which quite healed the wounded
feelings of the Klamath.

The Klamaths had a great quantity of deer, musk rat,
beaver, fox, land otter, minx, and other skins, which in
due course found their way into the stores of the Fort.

By having these two powerful tribes encamped by them,
the Dooncs secured the services of about four hundred
persons, M'ith no other outlay than what they chose to
give for the peltries purchased. They had now an enor-
mous quantity of furs, but till some means could be dis-
covered of communicating with a civilised place they
could not possibly dispose of them.

During the winter the boys sj)ent more of their time

244

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

I
t

among the Indians than at home, and being ever eager to
learn what they could of the manners and customs of
their friends, never let an opportunity of gaining know-
ledge slip idly away.

They tasted everything the Klamaths ate, and some
strange things were among the number ; among them
being snakes, lizards, horye chestnuts, grass seeds, pine
seeds, tule roots, and even grass and clover, which are
reckoned quite luxuries and fattening articles of diet.

Running races was a favourite amusement among the
natives, and such powers of endurance did they possess
that the white men were quite outdone by them. Some of
their races* were to the top of a mountain spur, which was
about three miles distant, and upwards of 1,000 feet high.
Out and back over rough ground and various impedi-
ments, with a stiff rocky climb, was sometimes accom-
plished by the winner under an hour. So keenly were
these races contested for some paltry prize, such as a knife,
spoon, or a row of beads, that the winner would sometimes
fall at the end of the race and lapse into a state of insen-
sibility for some time, and the exertion on more than one
occasion caused bleeding at the nose to the contestants.

The women were very clever at weaving baskets and
bowls out of a kind of sedge-grass, and taught Ruth the
art as far as they could ; but tr}- as she would, with all
diligence and patience, she could not make more than one
article in half-a-dozen thoroughly water-tight, as her
teachers did. They, from long experience, not only 'nade
their sedge vessels water-tight, but actually used them for
boiling food in.

This process was accomplished by dropping hot stones
into the water until it boiled, and Ruth noticed that an
Indian squaw could make a basket of water boil much

ORNAMENTAL WORK.

245

quicher by placing hot stones in it, than she herself could
by setting a saucepan over the hottest firo.

Another thing which pleased pretty Ruth, was to take

lessons from the Kla-
maths in making all
kinds of ornaments
with skins, feathers,
bark beads, quills,
hair, and other ma-
twial, and
both she
and her mo-
ther made
many pretty
ar tides dur-
the
long winter
evenings.

BEBNAED TEYING ON INDIAN PATXT.

Slippers, caps, gaiters, belts, pouches, gun and knife cases,
and many other things were worked and presented to Mr.
Doone and the boys ; so that at last they were tricked
out in all the bravery of the Indians, except the decoration

346

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

of their faces with paint ; an ordeal which Bernard once
submitted to, but found it far too sticky and uncomfortable
to indulge in again.

Like the Indians, they allowed their hair to grow long,
and Mr. Doone's beard, never being cut, soon lengthened
down to the region of his waist, and in the winter he
wore it tucked into his hunting shirt to keep his chest
warm.

Among the Indian articles of diet which the boys grew
to become fond of, was the wokas of the Klamaths.
" Wokas " is the seed of the water lily, which the Indians
collected in the autumn on the Klamath Lakes.

Men, women, and children construct large rafts and float
about among the great lily beds on the shallow part of the
lakes gathering the seed vessels. When the rafts are full
of the lily capsules, they are taken ashore, and the little
bulbs spread out to dry ; this being accomplished, a great
threshing takes place, and the seed is stored away in fibre
bags for winter use.

When a little was required for consumption it was
shelled by parching over some live embers, being first placed
in a shallow sedge basket. This was ground into meal
and formed into cakes. The Indians declared that a meal
of wokas gave them greater staying power than any other
food they knew of, and upon trial the boys found that it
was a food upon which great faith might be placed where
tasks of endurance had to be performed. It was to the
Klamaths what porridge is to the Scotsman, or the leaf
of the coca plant to the natives of Central and South
America.

Among their medical customs are many in which sheer
ignorance or credulous superstition play the principal part,
and faith has to go farther than physic.

THE TAMASCAL.

247

One cure tbey have, however, wliich is frequently
tried with great success. This is what they call a tammcal
(sweating house), which is really a primitive kind of
Turkish bath. Belton, on one occasion was net at all
well, and although Mr. Doone prescribed for him from
his simple medical stores, yet he did not appear to regain
his normal health, and, obtaining Mr. Doone's consent,
ventured to try the tamascal.

One was soon constructed thus :

A large deep hole was dug in the ground near the bank
of the river, and a dome of bent boughs, grass and earth
constructed over it. Only one entrance was left, just large
enough for a man to squeeze himself through. Belton
and two Indians entered, and the former being placed,
naked, on a log of wood, the performance commenced.

Heated stones were hsmded in through the aperture
(which was closed with a deerskin), iind placed round the
patient, and water poured upon them. This caused clouds
of steam to rise, and very soon Belton was in a streaming
perspiration.

• Then, having been parboiled, he was pushed through
the opening, when he was seized by four Indians, who
unceremoniously soused him in a pool of icy-cold water,
which took his breath away, and made him feel that
one tamascal in a lifetime was quite, if not more than
sufficient.

This performance was repeated sij^ times ! and thepafichf,
who by this time had become a victim (much to the enjoy-
ment of the white men who stood around, expecting poor
Belton to give in and cry a go), was next seized by two
more inquisitors, wrapped in blankets, carried to a lodge
and put to bed, limp and tired out.

Next morning, after fifteen hours' soui. ^ sleep, ho

248

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

awoke, nearly dead — with hunger. His wants were sup-
]ih*cd, and in an hour ho was allowed to rise and dress,
feeling as well as he had ever felt in his life ! So much
for Indian treatment-
It was such a novel id'^jv that all the white men were
in turn taken with imaginary illness, and successively
tried the tamascaly each testifying to its wonderful exhil-
arating virtues, and even Mrs. Doone and Ruth, in the
hands of the squaws, took their turn, and after it was
over admired it as much as the men. Here was the
primitive idea of the Turkish bath among savages ; prob-
ably there is nothing new beneath the sun.

Christmas and New Y«- 's Day were kept with great
feasting and rejoicing; and although the Iiid'ans had
never heard of the festivals before the advent of the white
men, yet, so fond are they of dress, pageantry, feasting
and drinking, that they enteied into the carnival with
the utmost zest, and under the leadership of Rupert and
Bernard, processions were formed, dances organized, and
feasts prepared, which lasted from Christmas Day till
New Year's Day without intermission !

The Indians all agreed that they had never known such
times, and probably spoke the truth.

In January, 1840, a council of white men was held at
the Fort, to devise some means of reaching a place of
civilisation, where they might find a market for the skins,
and procure fresh supplies of barter- goods, clothes, and
various necessary stores.

The result of the long and earnest " palaver *' was, that
early in the spring, the two boys, with Polton and Simola,
should proceed with the Klamaths to their home on the
Lake of that name, and from thence make the best of their
way to the little town of Yerba Buena, and, if possible.

A JOURNEY JN PROSPECT.

bring back the WiJUam III. schooner which had been
captured by The Hunter in the memorable engagement
on the outward voyage.

The boys were delighted with the prospect of such an
adventurous journey, and longed for the lagging winter,
with its cold rains, to glide away, and give them the dry,
bright days of spring, that they might commence their
contemplated pilgrimage.

CHAPTER XXTI.

Programme of a Pilgrimage to Yerba Buena. — The Quartette start. —
Up the Umpqua. — The Camp. — A Simple Mode of Carrying Goods.
— Sport in the Klamath Region.— The Tu't'.— Towards the Sea in
CanoeH.— An Earthly Eden. — Farewell to the Klamathg.

Towards the end of March, 1840, the weather set in
very fine, with every prospect of a fine spring, which was
evinced by the early show of bursting buds and green-
tipped grass. These signs soon made themselves apparent
by causing uneasiness to the Klamath Indians, who began
to talk of departing to their Great Lakes for the summer.

Mr. Doone had arranged with the old chief that Rupert,
Bernard, Pol ton, and Simola, who were to form the little
expedition to Yerba Buena, should accompany them as far
as the Lakes, whence they could push on alone.

The programme, as laid out by Mr. Doone, was simple
enough on paper, but, oh ! the difference when trackless
wilds have to be passed ; where the skill and resourceful-
ness of the traveller are his only safeguards against wild
men, wild beasts, the elements, and death in many forms,
including that from hunger.

" Starting early in April,'* said Mr. Doone, " you will
proceed by bateau to the head waters of the Umpqua,
whence, with your Indian escort, you will journey on foot
to the Elamath Lakes, by way of a defile or pass in the
Cascade Mountains, if the snow will permit you to do so,

PREPARING FOR A yOURNEW

«5i

OS in those liiji^h altitudes it frequently lies till quite Into
in the spring.

** A week or two will be spent nt the Lahes, and then
the quartette will re-eiubark and eontinuc the journey by
bateau sixty miles down the Klamath lliver.

"Having abandoned the water, the most diflfieult portion
of the journey will eommenee, as you will find yourselves
in the terribly mountainous district of Mount Shasta
(14,440 feet hif^h), a rej^ion full of danj^ers, wild, barren,
and cold ; the home of the mountain lion and grizzly bear.

" Proceeding due south, you will, in about one hundred
and fifty miles after leaving the Klamath ^jake, strike the
Sacramento lliver, whose upper waters are not navigable,
being rocky and full of rapids. Keep near its banks, and
follow its windings until it presents u fair surface, when,
by boat, canoe, or raft, you can, with the current, continue
south to the mouth of the Sacramento. It falls into a verv
large bay, some fifty miles long and twenty wide.

•* Having arrived safely at the little village of AFartinez,
you will procure a boat to convey you across the bay to
Yerba Buena, where you will endeavour to secure u
vessel large enougli to convey us to England. The pirate
ship, William III., if she is still unclaimed, would be
the very vessel for our purpose."

This was the main plan of the projected journey, but,
as ideas occurred to him, Mr. Doone added scores of little
details and pieces of advice for his sons' benefit.

Great preparations were made, in a quiet way, for the
long and dangerous journej'', which, it was hoped, would
be accomplished in less than three months, there being
about a thousand miles of trackle&s, or rather pathless,
country between them and their destination.

Early in April, all being ready, the tribe of K la maths

252

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

accompanied by our heroes, set o£E on their long journey,
amid much yelling, gun firing, singing, and other wild
tokens of delight common to savages.

Belton tried his utmost to accompany the brothers, but,
as Bernard slily remarked :

" You will be very worthily employed if j'ou look to
the welfare of Ruth during our absence.'*

Ruth blushed, and reminded her brother that she was
quite capable of taking care of herself, a remark that was
possibly meant as much for Belton as Bernard.

The paddle of one hundred miles up the Umpqua was
very pleasant to the boys, who, having mastered the Klamath
language, joined in the wild paddle chants, which made
the rocks and woods ring and echo again, while the birds
flew frightened to shelter, as the ten large flat-bottomed
canoes or bateaux were propelled against the current by
the sinewy arms of the noisy natives.

On the third day the river became very rocky and
shallow, so that towards evening they could go no farther,
whereupon, disembarking, they hauled the skin canoes
upon land and camped for the night.

Oh ! what a wild scene it was. It looked a very
pandemonium. Rocks and trees were fitfully lighted by
the glare of five-and- twenty camp fires, round which men,
women, and children were assembled, performing various
culinary duties; their half-clothed forms' and bronzed
limbs made them look more like a horde of demons than
human beings.

All this the boys took in and enjoyed immensc^ly, for
such scenes fall to the lot of but few to witness, and what
would take pages to describe must be left to the vivid
imagination of the reader to picture for himself. The
materials are ample : bjire rocks, various kinds of trees,

»-,,a*

um^

INDIAN METHOD OF TRANSPORT.

253

*if.F'

gullies, upturned canoes, savage men, women and children,
yelping dogs, water, glowing fires, much smoke, more talk
and noise, and a great deal of smell. Blend these, reader,
to your own taste, and, doubtless, you \nM form a very
fair picture of Indian camp life ; one probably far more
presentable to civilised eyes and ears than the actual
living camp itself, with its noisome smells and sights,
which to a novice would at least take away his appetite for
the little delicacies offered by the Indian cooks !

The long tramp over the Cascade Mountains (a distance,
by the tortuous route that had to be threaded with all the
baggage, of nearly one hundred and fifty miles) was a very
trying one, but, having very little regard for the time spent
on the journey, the Klamaths took matters very quietly.

The boats were laid bottom upward in a ravine, so pro-
fusely covered with tangled brushwood that none but
ihemeelves would be likely to look for such things as skin
bv^ats in such a wild place.

The goods and chattels of the party were bound up in
packs of various weights and sizes, to suit the varying ages
and degrees of strength of the carriers. As usual, the
squaws were made the principal beasts of burden, and
carried the heaviest loads, while many of the men were
loadless, or only deigned to carry a few light articles, and
these more for their own use than to be of any service to
the tribe or family.

One curious mode of carrying heavy loads the boys
quite admired, both for its simplicity and its utility.

A couple of strong, straight saplings, about sixteen feet
long, were cut down, and being placed on the ground
across each other, in the form of a long U'tter X> they
were strongly bound at the crossing with sinews. The
join was made about six feet from the ends of the poles,

1 .

254

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the tips of which were about three feet apart, like a pair
of shafts. Between these shafts a squaw took her place,
with another woman on either hand to help her drag the
burden. From the bifurcation to the after end, pieces of
light wood were lashed across, and upon these the packs
of tliree or four women wore placed, the odd spaces being
fitlad with pots and pans for cooking and usually a child
or iyff). The latter, if young, were fastened between a
coupljb of pieces of birch bai'k, like a tortoise between its
shelly, to prevent kicking, and then tied to the wheelless
cart/i

puch is an Indian lorry ; light, simple, useful, and

cap !

The journey to the Lakes took nearly a fortnight, and

devoid was the lofty mountain range of sustenance,

both in the way of game, shrubs, and roots, that everyone

set up a cry of joy when the distant lodges of the Klamath

village came in view.

Two of the days occupied in progressing through the
iiss had been dreadfully wet and bitterly cold ; and it was

wonderful sight to the white men to see how well the
ttle ill-clad children stood the inclemency of the weather.
Use, or rather the habitual non-use of clothing, seemed
to them a second nature.

Sjveral hundred Khimaths came out to meet their
returning tribesmen, and appeared awe-stricken to see
white men among them, most of them never having seen
one before.

Their curiosity was very great, and when llupert and

Bernard, having been led to the Council Lodge of the

supreme chief, offered to shake hands with the old sachem,

appeared to look upon the ceremony as a kind of honour

mich too great for him ; but when the young men spoke

GIGANTIC BULRUSHES.

a|§

to him in his own language he became quite alarmed, and
looked upon them as very uncanny beings, with something
of a touch of the supernatural in them.

Simola, however, soon put matters right, and during
the ten days the little party from Fort Cornwall stayed
among the Klamaths they were honoure I in every way.
Hunting and fishing parties were organized, and such
excellent sport enjoyed that it was with great reluctance
they tore themselves away from such comfortable quarters
and boon companions.

The principal lake was so vast us to look like an
inland sea, and in their fishing expeditions upon it they
went quite out of sight of land.

One thing that struck the boys was the tremendous size
of the bulrushes at the south end of the lake, some they
measured being fifteen feet high, and having a head like
a policeman's staff. This was used as an esculent by the
Klamaths, who called the plant tule, and averred that
farther south, in the marsh lands, it was quite common.

Two canoes, each with four paddles, were placed at the
disposal of the voyageurs, to take them upon the next
section of their journey down the Klamath River towards
the sea.

On the 10th of May the white men left Klamath Ijake
amid a very noisy ovation, and were paddled down the river
by a party of their swarthy friends, twelve in number.

The first night's camping-place was at the mouth of a
tributary river coming in from the left, and gave the
brothers a view of scenery such as surpassed all they had
hitherto seen.

Trees of many kinds grew on every side, and spring
flowers lined the river banks in wo.iJrous profusion. The
tributary river joined the parent stream by leaping over a

256

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

foaming cascade, some score feet liigb, with such
impetuosity that the rush of water had fretted the lofty
banks on the opposite side of the river into a strange fret-
work of caves and pinnacles, which, in the waning light,
appeared to be some palace of enchantment, built by fairy
hands.

Over the fall great trees grew, and threw both branch
and root in gnarled and serpentine forms over the seething
current, into whose swelling bosom huge trailing ropes of
parasitic plants trailed down their emerald-leaved tendrils,
as if .sporting with the foam-flecked water beneath.

Birds of many kinds perched in a most unconcerned
manner on swaying boughs, as if man was to them a
friendly animal, instead of being frequently their most
relentless enemy.

Far away (but looking very near), high above even the
surrounding mountains, rose the snowy peak of Mount
Shasta, now basking in the pink light of the great red
sun, slowly sinking in the distant Pacific.

" Is not this a grand scene, Polton ? " queried Bernard.
"Can you conceive anything more sublime and romantic ?"

" Axing your leave, Master Bernard," was the reply ;
" but I'd sooner have a pipe of 'bacca ! "

Truly a case of throwing pearls before — a sailor ! On
the second evening they camped at the mouth of another
stream, which also came in from the south. Up this they
turned for half-a-mile and disembarked upon the bank in
a most romantic spot, where the foot of a civilised mcri
had probably never trod ; neither perhaps that of a i t.d
man for a long time, as the curious domed houses of the
beaver were seen on all sides, unmolested and unseen.

Next morning the boys were up at daybreak, and steal-
ing from the camp watched the curious little tiat-tuiltd

THE KLAMATH^' LAST CAMP.

257

tree-fellers at work, as tbey were tlie first they had seen
in a colony, although near Fort Cornwall they had now
and again seen one or two.

Four were shot and skinned as trophies, and breakfast
having been discussed they embarked and pushed up
stream, due south. This stream being navigable, but
snaggy and rocky, it took them the whole day to ascend
a distance of twenty- five miles, to a point where there was
80 little water, that they coidd proceed no farther by
canoe.

Here, on a grassy knoll overlooking the stream, the
Klamaths made the last camp for their young white
friends, who from this point v arc to journey by them-
selves.

In the morning presents were given to each of the
Indians, who, after breakfasG, set out on their return jour-
ney, leaving the white men to prosecute their rugged and
perilous way alone through the Shasta region.

Without a care or trouble in the world, the little party
set ofE on their journey due south, carolling in the bright
morning sunshine as blithely as a posse of boys returning
carelessly homeward from a village school.

''^1

•til

:a^i..i^a..iU>..-..^

CHAPTER XX III.

Mount Shasta District.— Caught in a Strange Valley. — The Cave with a
Hole through it. — The Cougar. — Food at Last. — Raw Mutton. — A
Bullet Ballot. — Bernard's Adventure. — A Strange Rope. — Out of the
Vale of Despair. — Fire, the Friend of Man.

As the little party toiled on, they found that Mr. Doone's
direction, " go due south," was very different to its accom-
plishment, for, upon the second day, they found themselves
being hemmed in on all sides by wild mountains, round
whose craggy sides they had to make long detours.

Forests, rocks, dashing streams, dreadful precipices, and
dangerous defiles, surrounded and interrupted them which-
ever way they turned ; and by noon of the third day they
came to a spot near Mount Shasta (nearly as high as Mont
Blanc), which appeared to be their ultima thule. It was a
rocky valley in which scarcely a blade of grass or anything
else grew, and, so far as they could see, it had no outlet to
the south, west, or east, but only the one rocky gully down
which they had scrambled from the north. It was a dismal
place, and nothing but a large straggling pool of water,
studded with rocky islets, was to be seen in its whole
expanse.

Such a place contained nothing in the way of food,
either animal or vegetable, and their stock of eatables was
none too large, as a man cannot, besides his accoutrements,
carry more food than will last a few days, and the little
party, feeling certain of their ability of providing suste-

TIRED— COLD— HUNGER.

25":)

nance with their guns, had not troubled tliemsclves much
lor the morrow, leaving it to take care of itself.

While they continued searching round the valley
for a means of escape, feeling like four mice in a
breadpan, to their chagrin they had neither fire nor
food with which to cheer themselves. They had manaiicd
badly with their provisions, and now had to suffer for if.

The night was cold, very cold for the time of year ; so
wrapping themselves up in their blankets, they huddled
together for warmth in a little '---k among the rocks.
During the night it became so cold that tlu^y could scarcely
sleep, a fact due to their great elevation, for they were
upwards of a milo above sea level.

They awoke, tired, stiff, cold, and hungry ; ai:;l to
make matters more miserable for them it was raining;
a cold, sleety drizzle which chilled them through aiid
through.

What should they do ?

A council was held and the result was, that while
Bernard and Rupert scoured the place for something in
the way of food, Simola and Polton were to make a sur-
vey of the valley towards the south, to find a means of
exit, the four agreeing to meet again at their sleeping
nook of the previous night when the sun was due south
(noon).

Siraola and Polton wandered and climbed for two or
three hours, slipping, bruising, and hurting themselves on
the wet rocks, but outlet they could find none. Faint with
their exertions and hunger, they wandered on hopelessly,
till suddenly Polton stopped to examine a hole in the wall
of the valley, which might lead to the lair of some wild
animal. Both men stooped to look into the aperture, when
what was their surprise to find that, at a distance of

26o

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

twenty or thirty feet iiloiig the tunnel- shaped opening,
they couhl perceive daylight.

" Hallo ! ** said Polton, " why that's the very place we
want ; but how deep is it on the other side ? Maybe we
shoidd want the length of a ship's cable to get soundings
out of yon porthole."

" Crawl in, friend, and peep over," rejoined Simola.
"Artcr you, Simmy," replied Polton. "I'm a poor
hand at crawling ; try your luck, sonny, you're thinner
than me."

Down went Simolu's gun, and dropping on his hands
and knees, in he went ; but in another minute he retreated
quicker than he entered, for an ominous snarl on the right
of the cave showed it to be tenanted by some wild animal.
Both took to their bcels and made off a hundred yards
or so, when tliey stopped to reconnoitre. Simola had
dropjDcd bis cap near the entrance of the cave, and being
without his gun also, resolved to venture back for their
recapture, under cover of Polton's musket.

They laughed at their own cowardice, and acknowledged
that they were no better than a couple of schoolboys ; but it
was only an instance of sudden panic, such as often occurs.
When one runs others follow, without hesitating or wait™
ing to know why ; but a little time for reflection brings the
bold man to a halt, he faces the danger, others support
him, and usually the danger, often imaginary, is overcome.
They had r ly returned a few paces towards the cave
when they again came to a halt, for they saw first a great
paw and tL ' a head protrude stealthily from the i^iouth
of the cave. '^hey knew the animal in a moment.

It was a cougar or puma, one of the panther tribe.
Both men advanced rapidly towards the animal, Simola
especially so, for fear the puma might make a meal of hia

THE CAVE AND ITS INHABITANTS.

261

beaver-skin cap. Seeing them return, the animal shmk
into his den, and try all they could, nothing would induce
him to budge from his hiding-place ; so at last Simola sent
Polton back to the rendezvous, while he kept guard over
the puma.

Polton found the boys awaiting him at the pool, having
luckily with them a young mountain sheep, which they
had shot. Two had been killed, but one fell into a ravine
from which it was impossible to recover it.

They now had meat in plenty, but no fire with which
to cook it, for not a stick could be found in the whole
valley.

One of them shouldered the mutton, and limping, tired
and downhearted, they joined the picket at the den, which
was at once their salvation and their dread ; for doubtless
if they killed the puma they could crawl through the cave
and emerge on the other side, so as to make good their
escape from the terrible desolation of the valley, which
they termed the " Vale of Despair."

The sheep was skinned and the hide and offal laid nejir
the entrance to the cave, with the hoi^e of enticing the
puma forth, to offer himself as a target for their four
guns.

The wily animal declined the offer, and the sun set,
leaving the four companions, partially exhausted with
hunger, to face another cold night, in which the silent-
footed animal might attempt .to a.ssuage liis hunger by
kill'ag one of them.

It was a cold, wet night, and at the first dawn of day
the four companions turned out stiff' and chilled to the
bone.

No puma came forth, although they sat for a weary
two hours, silently watching behind the great rocks.

■ 5a
■s<i

26:

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

Forty hours* fast is no joke, and Polton at last cried
out — " Mates, I'm not going to starve any longer while
there is good meat to be had, and if we have no fire I
mean to cut my share raw."

While the others looked on with loathing, he cut off
some nice pieces, chopped them very fine with his knife,
and sprinkling the mess with gunpowder to season it,
consumed it with avidity.

The loathing of the others gave place to a desire to try
a sample, and soon each had his knife at work, and a good
meal was made. Of the poor sheep but some inconsider-
able fragments remained, such was the keenness of their
appetites.

Trotting about to circulate their blood, Rupert remarked :
"Who is game to beard the leopard in his den?"

To which no one replied, till Simola asserted that
unless some one did, the puma would starve them out.

After much talk and controversy all four agreed that it
was their only chance to escape from the valley, so it was
decided t*" ballot and see who should be either the hero or
victim of the day.

Four bullets were accordingly placed in a cap, one of
which was marked with a knife.

Amid much excitement Rupert drew first.

No mark was on his bullet.

Joy illumined his face ; the dread task was not his.

Simola excitedly thrust in his hand, and drew forth a
bullet, with like result. Polton and Bernard had still to
draw.

Polton, with glittering eyes and bounding heart, thrust
in his great hand and drew forth a bullet, which he held
up to the scrutiny of the others.

It was not marked !

ADVENTURE IN A CAVE.

The marked bullet was therefore left for poor Bernard.

Without a moment's hesitation, and wishing to get his
task over, he quietly hitehed up his collar round his
"throat, took an extra pull at his waist-belt, and marching
up to the cave, coolly knelt down, and, to the surprise of
the others, fired his piece straight into the opening.

This, he explained, was to give him an opportunity of
loading his flintlock more carefully, for fear of a missfire.

All ready ; he placed his hunting-knife in his breast,
where he could easily grasp it, and, dropping on his knees,
thrust his head into the cave.

There was a light at the far end, for through the
distant aperture he could see the sky, but no puma wiis
in sight. No doubt, therefore, the animal was in an off-
shoot of the cave, either on the right or left hand.

Pushing his gun ahead, ho crept cautiously along, a
few inches at a time.

Forward ho went, but although in his progress he
could faintly discover clefts and separations in the rocks,
he could see nothing of the puma.

His heart beat fast, for the absence of his quarry was now
more a source of alarm than its presence would have been.

He expected to have seen the creature in its lair, but
now he was perplexed, and felt every instant as if he
were about to be pounced upon from behind.

Onward he crawled, his nerves braced to their utmost
tension.

At length he was within ten feet of the further open
end of the cave, when there was a snarl and a roar behind
his very heels !

He gave himself up for lost, as the cave was not wide
enough for him to turn his gun in, nor lofty eneugh for
him to kneel upright.

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THE FUR TRADERS OF THE IVEST.

With all his might he pulled himself forward in a
desperate attempt to reach the further exit, but in doing
80 he somehow touched the trigger, and his gun was dis-
charged, bringing great pieces of the roof down upon him.

The puma, frightened at the report, rushed out at the
entrance, and was immediately shot by the three watchers.

Poor Bernard was partly stunned by the falling rock,
and nearly choked by the gunpowder, but, to his com-
rades* inquiries, managed to assure them he was not much
hurt.

Rupert quickly entered the tunnel-like cave, and found
his brother prostrate on his face, quite unconscious,
pressed down by several heavy pieces of rock, which he
at once removed and passed to those behind him, who
conveyed them out of the cave.

Lying flat upon his brother, ho just managed to squeeze
past him, and looked out of the further aperture.

The rock dropped sheer down a good thirty feet, and
then, in hummocky masses, extended at a steep slope
down to a woody valley some two miles away.

Repassing Bernard, he seized him by the feet and
dragged him to the exit, where he could obtain fresh air.
He felt his limbs, but could discover no injury. He had
simply fainted from shock and excitement, and soon came
to. He sat up, and having eaten a little lean, raw
mutton, quickly revived.

All sat outside the cave for an hour's rest, and then
falling upon the puma, they skinned him, and from his
hide and that of the sheep they made a rope with which
to lower themselves down the cliff.

Fastening it round a rock, they threw the end over,
and found it reached within a dozen feet of the ground.

Simola, being lightest, went first, to test the strength
of their improvised rope.

FIRE, THE FRIEND OF MAN,

865

He landed safely.

Belts were added to the rope, and the puma, cooking
pot, guns, and other articles were lowered to him. Then,
successively, the remaining three men descended, and
although Rupert's thirteen stone tried the rope exceed-
ingly, yet it held firmly, and in a few minutes they had
the pleasure of knowing that " The Valley of Despair "
was passed in safety.

Carrying the horrid-looking, f^kinless carcase of the
puma in turns, the party made for the forest in the
valley, where, with flint and steel, a fire was lighted, and
after a tantalising pause, a hearty, cooked meal was once
again enjoyed.

"What a friend man has in fire," sententiously re-
marked Bernard. " What would flesh be without it ? "

" True," quoth Polton, as he lighted his pipe, " what
would fobacco be without it ? **

CHAPTER XXIV.

Fertility and Plenty once more. — A Peep at the History cf California. — •
Californian Indians. — llieir Food.— Burial Customs.— The Sacra-
ment. — ^The Wish-Ton-Wisli.— Spanish Cruelty.

Each successive day of their journey now become more
enjoyable, for the desolate mountains gave place to green
valleys and tangled woods, and the cold winds to beauti-
fully warm, and even hot, days, and tolerably cool nights.
Game was plentiful, and water to be had everywhere, so
that the i)arty wanted for nothing. They thoroughly
enjoyed their })leasant outdoor life, and, as usual in wild
places, quite disregarded time, pushing on when they had
a mind, or stopping to shoot or fish when so disposed.

At length, one morning, as they travelled onward, they
espied in the hazy distance a winding river, glistening m
the sun, which made it look like quicksilver amid the
misty surroundings. As the early sun burst through
the haze of the morning, they saw that the river was of
fair proportions, and by mid-day they could see Indian
lodges and people upon its banks.

The Indians were peaceful but suspicious, not at all
liking white men, who had at times treated them harshly.
Probably it would be more correct to say that farther
south the Indians were treated with great austerity, both
by the priesthood and the few white men who found their
way to the country from other parts.

CALIFORNIA.

267

Just a little digression to malcc our story better under-
stood. In 1642 the first attempt at colonisation of this
region was made by the Jesuits, who sent many missionaries
into the country, and built mission houses and generally
governed, or misgoverned, the country with a high and
heavy hand, till they wore expelled in 1767.

In 1768 Upper California was occupied by an expe-
dition sent from Mexico, and colonised by the establish-
ment of a number of mission stations under the Fran-
ciscans, which attained to a fair state of prosperity for
all but the poor aborigines, who appear to have been
looked upon as cattle or wild animals, and treated as such.

In 1823 the missionaries refused to recognise the
authority of the Mexican Government, which at that
period endeavoured to turn it into a province or state, and
accordingly the Mexicans in 1833 suppressed the mission
stations and secularised their property.

Thus at the time of our friends* visit California belonged
tc the Mexicans, and it was about this time that it began
to attract the attention of both Americans and English-
men, and, as a matter of course, petty revolutions occurred,
which greatly loosened the control of the Mexicans over
the country, and finally, in 1848, California was ceded to
the United States. A few weeks later the gold fever
broke out, but with that we have nothing to do, as that
happened just eight years after the period at which we
have arrived in our story, viz.. May, 1840.

Our little party, after some show of reluctance, were
allowed to enter the Indian village, and alter food had
been set before them, and a friendly pipe indulged in,
a more favourable view of their visitors was taken by
the natives, and finally, on receiving a few trinkets as
presents, they became quite friendly.

2C8

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

Two days were ppcnt with these people, so as to gain
an insight into their mode of life, and to hear what was
going on in those regions.

Their houses, or lodges, are built in a peculiar manner.
A circular hole being dug in the ground, about four feet
deep and ten feet across, a thick, upright post is planted
firmly in the centre, rising to a height of eight or nine
feet. Poles arc then laid from the sides of the hole to
this post, and on them matting, twigs, reeds, or even sods
and stones, are laid, and the dwelling is complete. The
fire burns near the centre, and emits a pungent smoke,
which, although it appears to have little effect on the
natives, is quite painful and even unendurable to Euro-
peans. A hole in the roof serves for a chimney, and a
hole cut in the side for a doorway. Nothing could be
simpler, surely. No chimney pots to bo blown off, or
hinges or locks to break !

The bed is constructed upon a raised platform of poles
and reeds, comfortable coverings being made from skins
and warm blankets woven from geese feathers. Such is
a Californian native's home.

Acorn bread and wild clover, as a kind of salad, were
placed as luxuries before our heroes, who, being used to
an omnivorous fare, found the food fairly palatable when
eaten with juicy antelope steaks. Grasshoppers, eaten
an nafiu'ff, or made into a kind of cake, are used as food
by these people, just as Arabs eat the locust, but, fortu-
nately for our friends, these delicacies were not just then
in season.

Neither Rupert nor Bernard could for a loDg while
obtain any sleep during their first night in the camp,
because of the dreadful howling and moaning of a

A STRANGE KIND OF MOURNING,

269

number of women in a hut loeatccl close to their sleeping
place.

Thinking they were prisoners or slaves, they inquired
next morning of the chief the meaning of the hideous noise.
They were informed that it was their custom to cremate
the dead, and for a certain period loud wailings were
nightly kept up by the female relatives : hence the doleful
noises which disturbed the white meu's slumber. The
chief sent for two of the mourners, who appeared with the
lower part of their faces daubed with some black, sticky
pigment, which made them look hideous. This was the
mourning they wore for their relative, and indeed was
part of the defunct kinsman.

When the cremation has taken place, a certain portion
of the embers of the deceased is mixed with pine-resin,
which is liberally plastered over the lower portion of the
naturally ugly faces of the female relatives as a mark of
respect to the dead — a strange custom truly.

The white men found to their joy that the river on
whose banks they stood was the Sacremento, and, having
bartered certain brass buttons, two knives and a kettle, for
a couple of small canoes, they proceeded rejoicing on their
way, glad to think their toilsome tramp over rocky moun-
tains and almost impenetrable woods was at an end. For
the remainder of the journey the water would take them
quietly along without much exertion, which was indeed a
blessing, seeing that they were footsore, and their clothes
in a very dilapidated condition.

From the point of embarkation to the mouth of the
Sacramento was a distance of about two hundred and fifty
miles, and this the little party hoped to accomplish in
about eight or ten days, having the stream with them \ but

'»

270

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

as they proceeded the country was so lovely that they could
not resist going ashore here and there for a day or so.

Game was plentiful, and the days very warm — at times
almost too much so.

Bears, deer, wolves, otters, foxes and wild cats were
among the animals which fell victims to their guns on
their several expeditions, while the peculiar crested quail
supplied them with several dainty meals.

Speaking of deer, Simola did a strange thing one day
which deserves mention :

Wanting some fresh meat, Rupert and Simola went
ashore to provide some, but met with little success, only
bagging a bush turkey.

On arriving at the river bank to join their friends, t)ie
canoe was not in sight, and they sat down on a fallen tree
to wait. Tiring of inactivity, Rupert returned to the
woods to see if he could add to their stock of provisions,
and in a few minutes started a noble deer and fired at it,
but the bullet found a billet in a tree trunk, and the deer,
unhurt, darted off towards the river.

Strangely enough it made for the very spot where
Simola silently sat watching the flowing stream.

Rupert shouted, ** Look out, deer ! " and Simola sprang
to his feet ; but before he could unsling his gun the deer
was upon him. Quick as lightning the half-breed drew
his hunting knife and made a mighty stab at the flying
animal, and by a lucky chance pierced its heart, the
animal falling dead over the bank into the river. It was a
wonderful achievement, and no doubt great luck attended
the stroke. •

One day having wandered some ten or twelve miles
eastward from the river bank, they came upon a large
tract of rolling prairie land, upon which they observed

A,V EARTHLY PARADISE.

hundreds of little mounds, like molc-hill8 but much
larger, near which scumpered a number of little animuls
about the size of a rabbit, but more resembling the
marmot in form.

These animals Simola called spormopliilcs, but our
heroes had no difficulty, upon a closer view, in identifying
them as the " prairie dog," or, as the Indians call them,
wish-ton-wish.

The little fellows when not too closely approached sat
by their domed burrows, and gave forth tiny barks, which
appeared quite ludicrous when accompanied by an in-
ordinate amount of wagging of «heir three-inch tails.

English-like they could not see an animal in a wild
state without a desire to kill it, and accordingly a dozen
were quickly shot and skinned.

Half-way down the Sacramento they came to a valley
which was perfectly ablaze with flowers, and the four men
were so astonished with the profusion that they rested on
their paddles in utter admiration, and suddenly, with one
accord, both canoes were turned shoreward that their
occupants might revel in such a floral ramble as they had
never indulged in before, although they had viewed many
beautiful scenes, made still more beautiful by the rich
colouring and fragrance of its flowers.

" Surely," said Rupert, " never such a garden as this
has ever been seen by mortal since our first parents
tenanted Eden ! "

Bernard's only reply was a vigorous sniffing, and
general look round, while he nodded his head and pressed
his lip3 close together as a sign of his utmost approval.

Roses, however, have thorns, and, as the boys discovered,
the floral fields have their drawbacks, one of which is the
presence of snakes. Two rattlesnakes which they shot

THE FUR TRADERS OE THE WEST.

were both big fellows, one of them, which Simola called
a cascavul, measuring nearly nine feet in length.

Of course, as usual with everything they shot, the
snukes were skinned, and duly added U) their rapidly
increasing collection of hunting trophies.

When about iifty miles from the mouth of the river,
they one evening came upon a party of Indians, who were
paddling up the river in two canoes. Probably there
were twelve or fourteen altogether, but upon seeing the
white men they stopped paddling, being evidently in fear
of them.

This somewhat surprised the white party, who, being nu-
merically so inferior, were not likely to become aggressors,
especially against natives who had done them no harm.

Simola knelt up in his canoe and endeavoured to make
them imderstand by signs that they were friends, which
they at length seemed to comprehend, and allowed them-
selves to be approached.

Simola had great difficulty in understanding their
spoken language, but by the help of much dumb show and
gesticulation, which can be read by all Indians, he was
soon able to explain the cause of their alarm.

It appeared that on the previous day, while encamped
upon a epit of knd jutting out into the river, so that they
might be as much away from the tormenting mosquitos as
possible, a party of five Spaniards had come suddenly upon
them, and, without a friendly word or asking leave, had
seized their renmants of food consisting of deer meat and
sturgeon.

Such a high-handed proceeding natui*ally led to an
altercation, which resulted in one of their number being
shot dead. In retaliation one of the Spaniards was killed
with a knife, but, seeing the Spaniards reloading their

TENDING THE WOUNDED.

875

pieces, the Indians became ularmed, and turning, fled to
their canoes.

They reached them, however, too late to get awuy
before the rascally Spaniards had loaded, and a discharge
of their four pieces resulted in the death of two more of
their number, and the severe wounding of a couple of
others.

These two poor people — one a man the other a woman
— were taken ashore and kindly tended by Rupert and
Bernard, who washed and bound up their wounds with
pieces of birdskin, from which the feathers had been
plucked. These coverings were afterwards tied with fine
deer sinew, and made excellent surgical dressings. The
man was wounded in the neck and the woman in the leg,
both clean wounds, breaking no bones.

The ire of the little party was roused at the dastardly
conduct of the brutes who called themselves white men,
and the two brothers made up their minds, if they came
across the gang, to call them to account for their
wantonness.

They camped with the Indians, and next morning,
bidding them adieu, continued their journey down the
now broad and deep river.

CHAPTER XXV.

Down the Saoramentt). — A Stranger hailti.— Suspiciuns arouMed. — They
makeTraoks. — IIuudB Up !— Sunu1a'8 Flight.- Closely watched.— A
Friend in Need.— A Desperate Struggle. — Death of the Pirate Chief.
. — The Interpreter Hero. — A Laconic Epitaph. — Afloat again.

The country they were now passing through was beauti-
fully diversified : woods, mountains, valleys, rocky defiles,
islands and tributary streams forming an endless, changing
panorama as the two canoes glided, with but little propul-
sion, silently onward towards the sea.

Simola and Polton were steering their respective
canoes, and the brothers indulging in dolcefar nicntc, when
they were suddenly hailed from the shore by a man who,
despite his semi-Indian costume, appeared to be a white
man.

Glad to have an opportimity of speaking to a white
after so many weeks* absence from the Fort, they turned
their canoes shoreward, and landed near the stranger.

The man begged for some food, and invited the new
comers to his little encampment in a pretty green dell,
through which flowed a little murmuring brook, which
sparkled and eddied in the sunHhine, as with babbling
song it flowed buoyantly on to join its great parent, the
Sacramento.

In a queer jargon the stranger asked the companions to
bring up their belongings to his camp and spend an houi' or

A STRANGE WHITE MAN,

877

two with him. This the boys wore pleased to do, as they
anticipated obtaining a useful store of information
respecting tJie dintrict and the place of their quest, Yerba
Buena.

A hearty meal was enjoyed by all, after which a smoke
was indulged in, while the boys obtained from the
stranger replies to their questions, which appeared to bo
given with some amount of hesitation and almost re-
luctance.

They did not at all like the appearance of the man, but
being used to crafty countenances, deceitful eyes, and
underhand modes of dealing, they felt quite at their ease,
seeing that the odds were four to one in their favour
should treachery be abroad.

The man now and then threw imeasy glances to right
and left, and could not look them in the face as they spoke
to him; but for all that they obtained a great deal of
information from him, although, probably, much of it was
unreliable.

" About eighty miles would bring them to a sharp bend
in the river, which thence tended westward for about forty
miles, where it entered a tremendous bay. At several
places on the river bank they would pass houses which
had but a few years previous been mission-stations, and at
them they could gain any information they required.
Yerba Buena lay across the bay, some fifty miles from the
mouth of the Sacramento, and to reach it they would have
to hire a little native >vessel, unless they liked to tramp
round the coast to it — a distance of quite a himdred
miles." All this and more they obtained from the
swarthy individual in whose company they sat.

By-and-by, he in turn wished to know something of
them, and when Simola mentioned that his companions

«78

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

were Englishmen, a look of intense hatred passed over
his features, and when he learned that their business was,
if possible, to secure a ship, called the William ///., his
eyes fairly blazed with pent-up passion.

lie asked a number of questions of Simola, ending with
one in which he requested to be informed if his visitors
had ever belonged to a ship called The Hunter.

Simola replied that they had, and upon receiving the
half-breed's reply, the strange man ground his t«eth, but
said nothing : he merely rose, and saying he would gather
his new friends some currants, which grew wild hard
by, he strode off.

" What do you think of him, Simola ? " asked Rupert.

" I not like him. He not good man. We must go
quickly and leave him. He may have bad friends. See,
there are two huts ! Why he have two huts ? Why he
swear when I say you English sailors on The Hunter ship P
I not like him, and before he can mischief us, we must

go."

So spoke Simola, and the rest of the party concurred in
his advice, and at once conmienced to gather their traps
together, preparatory to making for their canoes. All
being ready, they walked towards the river in Indian file,
Rupert first, and Simola bringing up the rear, somewhat
behind the others.

The way was between rocks and much undergrowth,
but as there was a well-defined path they could move for-
ward rapidly enough.

Suddenly they were brought to a standstill, by the
words, "Halt! Hands up !! "

As each had his musket slung on his back, there was
nothing for it but to obey, and they accordingly dropped
whatever they were carrying, and elevated their hai^d^

Tim WHITE AJEN CAPIURED.

as desired, and seeing the muzzles of three guns pointing
at them from among the brushwood, they stood thus, and
awaited events.

Three swarthy villains now appeared at the spots where
the gun barrels had protruded, and while they still aimed
their weapons at the little party, the man who had so
kindly gone to gather currents for their eating, quickly
came forward and tied the hands of Rupert, Bernard,
and Polton behind their backs, but when they looked
round for their companion, Simola, he was nowhere to be
seen.

This disappearance quite disconcerted the three English-
men, for they could not tell whether he had merely
escaped, or had all through been playing into the hands
of their captors. At any rate, they were now in a terrible
fix, and would only be too glad to get out of it with their
lives, let alone the loss of their weapons, ammunition^
canoes, and belongings in general.

They were marched back to the green valley with its
sparkling stream and the two odd-looking thatched huts ;
but under what different circumstances were they now
placed to what had been the case half -an-hour before !

With blows they were driven into one of the huts, over
which one of the villains mounted guard, while another
made preparations as if going on a long journey, and such
proved the case, for after a good meal, away he went to-
wards the river.

No food was given to the prisoners during the rest of the
day, but one of the three captors, who spoke a littlo English,
informed the three prisoners that their leader was the
captain of the ship which had been taken by Thi Hunter
nearly two years before, and that on the morrow he was
going to have his revenge, by putting them to death in

MSi,

280

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

the presence of some of his companions, who were a few
miles down the river at a village horse sale.

Bernard tried to bribe this man, but the cut-throat only
scoffed at his offer, averring that he hated the English
quite as much as Juan Alflas, for an Englishman had once
given him a sound thrashing for stealing a half-dollar,
and besides, he was not, upon any consideration, going to
be done out of his fun on the morrow.

At dusk, a fire was lighted near the door of the hut, and
another man placed on guard to relieve the one who
could speak a little English. The latter sarcastically
wished them "Good-night ! may you dream happy dreams !"
., Sleep forsook the eyelids of the three prisoners, who
spoke but little, their thoughts being bent upon some
means of escape ; but, alas, how could they think of
escape with a man seated at the door, watching their every
movement, while two others slept in the adjoining hut,
not twenty yards away ?

Might not the wily Simola also be watching that they
escaped not ? For was he not probably false, or why had
he left them so silently and suddenly ?

Thus thinking, and occasionally turning their aching
limbs, the dreary hours passed slowly away. Their only
hope was that their guard might sleep, but, to their
chagrin, at about midnight he was changed, and the
English-speaking ruffian again appeared. Two more
hours passed wearily away, but not a sign of sleep showed
itself in the crafty black eyes of their guard, although all
three prisoners watched him narrowly but furtively.

When all was as quiet as the grave, a strange thing
suddenly happened. A black shadow fell on the watcher;
there was a dull thud and a bump, and then, to their sur-
prise, Simola stood before them armed with musket,
tomahawk, and knife.

A FIGHT TO THE DEATH.

a8i

With the latter he cut the bonds of the prisoners, who,
trembKng with excitement and the cramped position in
which they had been lying, were about to follow their
deliverer out of the hut, when Juan Alflus and the other
Mexican, hearing the noise, suddenly emerged from the
other hut, and seeing how matters stood, raised their guns
and fired at the escaping prisoners.

Simola uttered a loud groan and fell forward on his
face, while Bernard felt a stinging blow in his left upper
arm, and knew that ho had been shot.

Like lightning, Rupert and Polton closed with their
assailants, and although unarmed, commenced a deadly
struggle in the ruddy glare of the camp fire, which was
kicked about in all directions.

The Mexicans drew their long ^mives, but the English-
men being both powerful men, gave them no chance of
using them, and thus in deadly grip they wrestled to and
fro among the blazing embers, uttering savage cries, and
straining and panting for the rnnstory.

Rupert quickly threw Aluus, whose long hair falling
among the hot embers caught fire, but Rupert dare not
loose his hold for fear of receiving a fatal stab with the
knife his opponent still clutched.

Although Rupert's hands were scorched, he still
held his opponent in his iron grip, and thus the two men
lay glaring with deadly hate into each other's eyes, each
seeking the other's life ; not but that the Englishman
would gladly have released the pirate if he would have
gone away without further molestation, but that was quite
out of the question. It was a case of life or death !

Very soon Alflas's clothes caught fire, and he suddenly
relinquished the knife that he might be more free to
struggle with his powerful foe.

38a

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

Rupert looked round for sometbing with which to dis-
patch his man, and then for the first time saw his brother
lying face downward, across the body of Simola, at the
entrance of the hut. The gun, tomahawk, and knife of
the latter, were lying close to the bodies, and fixing his
eyo upon the tomahawk, he suddenly released his
opponent, and at a couple of bounds seized it.

As he stooped to pick it up, Alflas, who had also sprung
to his feet, made a lunge at him with his long navaja, which
Rupert cleverly avoided by stepping aside. From the
impetus of his rush, and meeting with no resistance,
Alflas stumbled forward, stretching out his hands to save
himself; this brought him within striking distance of
Rupert's tomahawk, and with a mighty downward blow
he buried it, to the haft, in the back of the pirate's skull.
There was no need of a second blow. Alflas was as dead
as Nimrod. He had lived a villain, and had died a villain's
death.

Panting from his violent exertions, he looked around
for Polton and the other Mexican, but they had dis-
appeared.

He cried out, " Polton ! where are you ? "

Then came a voice as from the earth itself.

" Here T am, master, but I can't get out ! "

Making for the spot indicated by the sound of the
voice, he quickly discovered Polton, who had fallen into
a deep, straight-sided gully, at the bottom of which was
about three feet of water. The sides, although only about
ten feet high, were so overhanging, that the poor fellow
could not get out, although he had been trying to haul
himself up by the ferns and creepers, but they had proved
much too frail to support his heavy weight, breaking
away in his hands.

BERNARD SORELY WOUNDED.

283

It was a pretty little place into which Polton had fallen,
a kind of deep rift in the rocky earth, about twenty feet
long and six or seven wide ; the sides, from bottom to top,
being covered with a profusion of pretty ferns and trailing
creepers.

" Where is the villain whom you were struggling
v/ith ? " cried Rupert.

" Oh ! here he is ; I've settled him right enough,"
answered Polton, gleefully. "J had to drown him to pre-
vent him drilling a hole through me with this little
toasting-fork."

And he held up a bowie knife with a terrible twelve-
inch blade.

" As we struggled I saw this here hole, so I took *im
in my arms and jumped over with 'un, and drowned he in
this here water."

With the help of a long pine branch Polton was drawn
to the bank after much puffing and kicking, and the two
immediately and instinctively turned towards the hut to
discover what had happened to their friends.

Rupert carefully, but quickly, turned his brother over
upon his back, and gazing upon his ashen face uttered a
cry of horror, for his brother was, to all appearances, dead.

Tearing open his jacket he placed his hand over his
heart, and to his unutterable joy discerned that it was still
beating.

After examining him all over he discovered the wound
in his arm, and judged rightly that his brother had only
fainted from pain and shock. Poor Bernard always
appeared to be damaged whenever anything untoward
befell the little party.

In the meantime Polton had examined poor Simola, and
with tears standing in his eyes, for the two had always

384

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST

been great friends, dropped the wrist of the half-breed
with an emphatic : —

** Dead ! and true grit after all ! ! "

Bernard at|length regained consciousness, and, although
groaning with pain, allowed his brother to bind up his
wounded arm.

The ball had passed quite through the upper arm, and
although it had struck the bone and fractured it, it was
not broken.

Poor Simola was hastily laid to rest in a little flowery
dell, and while Rupert relighted the fire, Polton carved
in rude letters upon a piece of pine-wood what he
called an epitaph. It consisted of but two words, which
read: —

((

FAITHFUL SIMOLA.

>»

Although they had doubted his integrity when he so
suddenly disappeared, he had proved himself, as Polton
had said, " true grit."

He had evidently lurked around the camp, watching for
an opportunity of succouring his white friends, and, that
it might cause no noise, had killed the sentinel with
a heavy club.

A noise had, however, been unavoidably made, and the
other two villains awakened by it. They had sprung up,
and, seizing their pieces, fired point blank at the escaping
prisoners, with the dire result of killing one and wounding
another.

Alflas's body was placed in a sitting position, with its
back to the wall of one of the huts, and in his hand was
placed a page from Rupert's pocket-book, bearing these
words: —

** Law all the world over — a life for a life."

TO THE CANOES.

28;

This was for the expected band of rufhans to see and
read it if they could.

Day was now breaking and the party of half-breed
scoundrels would arrive in an hour or two to witness the
pirate's revenge upon his captives ; it was therefore agreed
to partake of a good meal and collect their belongings (all
of which they found in the chief's hut), and make a start
before the visitors had time to arrive for the expected
execution.

Their canoes were quickly found among some brush-
wood by the river, and an hour after sunrise they pushe<l
off in the larger and better of the two canoes, feeling any-
thing but secure until they had seen and passed the ex-
pected party who would come up the river to witness their
execution.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Friendly Reeds. — Loads of Soamps. — Peacefully gliding Southward. —
A Village Physician. — Gold ! — Aboard a Native Craft. — Yerba
Bueoa. — The Pirate Schooner still in Port.— "Harbour Dues." —
Overhauling the Prize.— Home Again. —Joy and Sorrow.

They floated cautiously down the river, keeping a good
look out for the unwelcome party they expected soon to see.

Half-a-mile, a mile, they dropped slowly down, and
then came a bend in the river, which they approached
with great caution, for fear of coming suddenly upon the
enemy. Peering round the jutting bank, they saw, to
their relief, nothing ; that is, nothing of their expected
foes, but a quarter of a mile ahead they saw a thick bed
of gigantic reeds, among which they might hide till
their danger was past.

They made straight for the opportune shelter as hard
as they could paddle, and upon reaching it crashed their
canoe far into the dense growth, so that it was completely
hidden from the view of passers-by, although they them-
selves could catch a semi- obscured view of the river in
front of them.

They waited quietly for quite a couple of hours, and
then heard faintly in the distance the sound of voices
singing and shouting. Poor Bernard lay at full length in
the stem, pale as the lily but firm as the oak. The pain
gnawed at his arm with sickening monotony, but the brave

liiatM.

lM<Ml^l

Mttattm.,^ --. ■

THE SCUM OF MEXICO,

28;

fellow uttered not a murmur. His gun rested beside him,
and he was ready to use it as best he could with his
uninjured arm should occasion require.

In the pirate's hut four guns had been found, and these,
with Simola's and tiieir own, made their armoury up to
eight pieces, all of which were loaded and placed ready to
hand in case of their being needed.

Slowly the voices came nearer and nearer, till at length
hazily between the close stems of the tula reed, two canoes
could be seen, each containing ten or a dozen men.

These were paddling very unsteadily amid much noise,
laughter, and foul language in Spanish, Indian, and to
the boys' disgust, English.

Heeding nothing but the fiery pulque, which was being
handed round, they quickly passed our heroes, and round-
ing the bend, were soon out of sight.

With a fervent prayer of thanks for their safe deliver-
ance from the last of the pirate's friends, the canoe of the
three voyageurs was again paddled into the middle of the
stream, and all day long simply guided down the channel
without any exertion of paddling.

They progressed for ten hours at the rate of nearly three
miles per hour, and seeing a village on the left bank,
landed just as evening was calmly closing in.

The people were very hospitable, and insisted upon
carrying Bernard ashore in a hammock stretched upon
poles, to the house of a man who had the reputation of
being very clever as a doctor and surgeon.

At this village, th< future town of Sacramento, our
hero stayed ten days, so as to give Bernard's arm an
opportunity to recover ; and during their rambles round to
neighbouring villages, they made the startling discovery
that many of the people hud nuggets of gold in their

(

288

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

■ \

houses, which were stored up us being of some vulue, but
for which they hud no inurket !

Here wus un opportunity not to be lost ; und finding
out who hud the best lumps, tliey burtered six of their
guns and uU their little nick-nucks und trinkets for gold.

There wus such u demand for the muskets thut quite a
rivulry wus set up umong the people, and the weupons were
disposed of at nearly one hundred times their reul value.

Only a few years later the secret of where these
nuggets were found was divulged, and thousands of
diggers flocked from all parts of the globe to try their
luck with Dame Nature. Captains left their ships, soldiers
deserted from the army, merchants left their counting-
houses, and doctors and lawyers their practices, to rush to
the land of gold — California !

Our heroes carried away with them about twenty
pounds of virgin gold. It was worth a great deal, but in
bulk was very small, in fact one pock't of a hunting-shirt
would have held it all comfortably. As twenty pounds
weight, however, would be a most uncomfortable freight-
age for a man's single pocket, the nuggets were divided
between the three, and dispersed over their persons in the
manner most convenient to each

Each of the white men bought a gaudy sash which
went twice round their waist, and in these each secreted
his gold, while his pipe and pistols were also carried
there to divert attention.

It was arranged with the inhabitants that they should
visit the village again early next spring, bringing with
them a great variety of goods for barter.

The distance to Yerba Buena was still nearly two
hundred miles, but it so happened that a Spaniard was
about to start for that port in a large native trading craft,

YBRBA BURN A AGAIN,

propelled by long sweeps and a square- cut sail of ^fMv
matting.

A bargain was struck with this man to land thflm at
Yerba Buena, and to provide them with food on the foTn*
days' voyage on condition that ho received a musket, half-
a-pound of powder, and a score bullets in payment.

The voyage down the Sacramento was uneventful, but
the trio of Englishmen enjoyed themselves as they quietly
sat under an improvised canopy of matting, \g keep the '
glare of the hot July sun from their heads, and admired
the grandeur of the scenery on either hand.

Upon reaching the bay they were quite surprised at its
extent, as thousands have been since, for it i» in reality
a land-locked sea.

The village or town of Yerba Buena,* built rn the
hollow of some hills, was safely reached on the 15th of
July, and in due course Rupert and Bernard presented
their father's letter to the fat little magistrate atr<l
governor, Don Miguel Diaz.

As our heroes surmised, the ship had not yet been dis-
posed of, and Don Miguel declared that if certain — well,
what he called harbour dues, were paid there vrv ^ nothing
to prevent the William III. being taken away by the
representatives of Mr. Doone ; for, although she had lain
by the little quay for nearly two years, nobody had come
forward to claim her. It was evident that so long as
Don Miguel was made the recipient of **palra-oiI," or as
he preferred to call it '* harbour dues," the ship was still
Mr. Doone's, hull, masts, and sails.

This matter of adjusting, or rather broaching, the pre*
liminaries of a pecuniary settlement with the cunning
magistrate was a somewbat delicate afPair, but it was it

* What would the hoys now think of Yerba Buena (8aa Franeisco)
with its 250,000 inhabitants !

v,^ ■■■^

390

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

length arranged that the three Englishmen should he
guests of Diaz for a month while the ship was refitting,
and that ho sliould he paid two hundred dollars, or its
equivalent in gold, yb/* ihcir accommodation and sustenance!
■ The old fellow was not aware that his visitors had quite
twenty times this amount with them, or he would not
have hcon content to allow them to recover the ship for so
smuU a sum, but, lucking the knowledge, he and all parties
were perfectly satisfied.

A dozen labourers were hired, and under Pol ton's
supervision the vessel was thoroughly overhauled. She
was half full of water (but her timbers were sound), and
being pumped dry was careened and recaulked. She was
thoroughly cleaned from stem to stem, and at the
month's end presented quite a smart appearance to what
she did when the boys first took possession of her. No-
thing more was done to her than to make her seaworthy ;
painting, new sails, etc., being left for Mr. Doone's con-
sideration when the vessel reached Fort Cornwall.

To help to work the vessel to the Fort, which was a
voyage of a little over six hundred miles, six Mexicans were
shipped, who, although protesting that they were thorough
sailors, knew very little of the management of an English
ship when they were once out of sight of land. Still they
behaved themselves, and were willing to do all they could,
and everything went well.

That there was but little wind was a blessing, for during
the two years* detention in harbour, some of the rigging,
both standing and running, had become very rotten, and
H strong breeze would have played sad havoc with it.

Taking advantage of the tides, which helped them
considwably (which the wind being N.W. did not), they
reached the dear old " Head of Umpqua,'* as Bernard
would call the giant bluff which guarded the mouth of the

sj^jjI^L

THE RETURN TO THE FORT,

fl9t

river, on the evening of the fifth day, and two days later,
on the morning of the 2(>th of August, 1840, rounded the
hend of the river and came in full sight of their fine old
wooden home. Fort Cornwall.

They had no flag, so a red shirt took the place of one.
It was seen at once, and immediately answered by the
Union Jack being run up at the Fort.

The boys scarcely knew how to contain themselves
during the brief time which the vessel took in reaching
safe anchorage near the island.

Boats immediately put off to meet them ; and soon Mr.
Doone and the rest of the inhabitants of the Fort were
aboard the new vessel, which, amid much excitement on
the part of the white men and the amazement of the poor
Mexicans, who wondered what all the commotion was
about, was brought to an anchor.

Mrs. Doone and Ruth both wept over the safe return of
the wanderers, and then laughed for happiness, and prayed
for thankfulness. They had been away just upon five
months, and great alarm had been expressed at the Fort
for the safety of the little expedition ; indeed, grave fears
began to be expressed that Mrs. Doone would never see
her stalwart sons again ; but fortunately all had ended
happily, except that the brave Simola had been left behind
in the beautiful California valley, and his death was
sincerely deplored by everyone at the Fort, especially by
the two Indians, Ra-pa-tal and Bar-me-no, who wept for
him as they would have done for a brother.

The half-breed*s heroic death saddened the hearts of
all, especially that of Mrs. Doone, who grieved that
she could in no way reward the poor fellow, as he was
dead, for saving the lives of her two dear sons, who,
but for his faithfulness, would probably have met a cruel
death at the hands of the inhuman pirate, Alflas.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Refitting the New Vesael.— Metamorphosis of the Blue Belle. — Beady t!o
Sail. —What shall become of Fort Cornwall ?— Haste to the Wed-
ding. — Ra-pa-tal disconsolate. — Kamsla satisfied. — The Wedding
Feast. — Mexicans disliked. — Don Miguel again. — A Trip for Gold.

It was now too late in the year to think of returning to
England ; it was therefore decided to winter in their
very comfortahle quarters, and, when the weather was
fitting, to employ their spare time in overhauling the 8hi|y,
and making her as perfect as possible with their Hmited
means.

Her hull was recaulked in one or two places that showed
signs of leakage, while her seams and the bottom xh
general were served over with tar, which was obtained
from the giant fir-trees growing around.

Her cabins were rearranged and added to ; berths made,
cupboards fixed, and lots of little comforts concocted and
provided. > • '■■v ,

The Klamaths, who once more wintered'iiear the Fort,
were diligently employed in making fibre ropes, and such
strong, serviceable ones did they make (partly from M^.
Doone's suggestions) that the ship was completely re-
rigged from stem to stern. The chief difficulty was thus
surmounted, as the native ropes were very nearly as strong
as the ordinary hemp ones, and when they required to
bo made stronger for standing rigging, such as shrouds

PROVISIONING FOR THE RETURN. S|9|

ftnd stays, it was an easy matter to make them thicker, by
adding more and thicker strands.

All the sails were unbent and washed, patched, and
re-sewn where necessary, and by the end of February
everything about the ship looked spick and span, for she
was gaily painted a pale blue colour, and, in consequence,
re-christened Blue Belle.

March was devoted to storing everything aboard, ready
for the voyage home, and this occasioned work for both
Clatsops and Klamaths ; for while the former set about
.preparing barrels o* fish, whch were packed in salt
especially distilled from sea-water, the latter rangod the
country for deer, bear, and bighorn meat, which was
also salted and placed in barrels.

The barrels which had contained beef, pork, flour,
treacle, and other goods on the outward voyage, were
now used for Pd,lting all manner of things, including the
above meats, sturgeon, salmon, halibut, cod, and turbot.

The huge iron tanks which had been brought from
England were utilised for the water supply.

The fine collection of furs were stored in boxes and
stowed in dry places for the long voyage, and something
like two tons of goods, made by the India.^s, were also
safely stored aboard. These consisted of all kinds of bead
and quill work, pouches, slippers, caps, bags, gun-cases,
pipe and knife-cases, etc. Basket work of wonderfully -
woven grass was also taken in great quauti^^^'es. ]5o\vs,
arrows, clubs, shields, kiiives, spears, and other weapons
were included ; also a number of full-sized quaintly-carved
canoes from 15 to 40 feet long. With all these articles
the ship floated dangerously light, so another fortnight
was spent by Indians and white men in cutting down some
of the finest timber of the district, and putting it on

291

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

board. In this way, about 150 tons of splendid straight
oak, chestnut and maple and pine were stowed in the hold,
and by April 14th, 1841, everything was ready for com-
mencing the voyage to dear old England.

What was to become of the Fort was the next question.
Should they blow it up ? or burn it down ?

iia-pa-tal and Bar-me-no, on hearing these suggestions,
with great diffidence asked that the Fort might be given
to them as a winter residence, and Kamsla added his
entreaty to their not inconsiderate request, urging, that
as they were going to marry two of his daughters he
and they could all live there together, in fact, it would
make him a splendid seat of government for his tribe.

On condition that the weddings took place forthwith,
Mr. Doone had no objection, especially as the strong,
wooden buildings would be of no further service to him.
Would the braves consent to a hasty wedding ? They
could then repent at leisure.

The question was put.

Certainly they would.

Indian marriages are very prosaic affairs, so much so,
that in this case, as in many others, the blushing maidens
V ere not consulted, and the whole matter was merely a
question of barter jetween the two young Miindans and
the wily chief, Kamslr..

For his bride, Bar-me-no gave a red c; !:, a pair of old
trousers, two knives, a hatchet, and a heap of odds and
ends that the Doones had given them, as being of no
further use to themselves.

Ra-pa-tal was not so fortunate, for his comrade having
made his bargain first, had satisfied Ihe old fellow with
odds and ends, and nothing which Ra-pa-tal had to give
would now please the dusky chief, so that it looked very

BsdbPOH

BUYING WIVES.

295

much as if he would have to be content to remain u
bachelor.

Here was a dilemma ! The poor Mandan looked blankly
round, but all he could see was a circle of laughing faces,
whose owners were merry at his expense, but they did
not help him at all.

Then Rupert came to the rescue, attd, seizing a large
fish-basket, walked round and made a collection. Gifts
came in from everyone, for the Mandan was a great
favourite with all. Kamsla's eyes sparkled when he saw
the good things which fell into the basket, and, no doubt,
regretted letting Bar-me-no off so cheaply.

The contents of the basket being placed before him, he
was so eager to examine the various articles, that on Mr.
Doone asking him if he were satisfied, he, without re-
moving his eyes from the presents, simply pushed his
daughter towards her intended husband, and calmly sat
down upon the ground with the basket betwet n his knees,
and examined the goods one by one, just as a child would
look over a pile of new toys.

The weddings took place with due foiinality, tmd in
the evening a great carnival was provided, at which were
assembled every man, woman, and child, both of the
Klamaths and the Clatsops. Huge fires lighted the laugh-
ing groups with their lurid glare, and the hideously
painted faces and grotesque dances made the scene a
memorable one to the white men, as it was probably the
last of such scenes their eyes would ever rest upon. Such
shrieks and yells, as only the lungs of savnge people can
give forth, made the trees and rocks reverberate with sounds
like those which emanate from wild beasts. Several scrim-
mages took place, and many wild scenes occurred which
came narrowly near setting the two tribes fighting, but by

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

diplomatic intervention Mr. Doone succeeded in keeping
peace between them, and the saturnalia lasted far into
•the night.

Such was the wedding of Ra-pa-tal and Bar-me-no, and
on the morrow, April 15th, 1841, the good ship Blue Belle
weighed anchor and stood for the Pacific, surrounded by
,the canoes of the savages, who yelled themselves hoarse,
aiter their manner, in wishing a farewell to the white
men, who were about to return to their distant home in
the big flying canoe.

Many of them followed in their canoes quite to the
mouth of the Umpqua, and came aboard for a last hand-
shake, and — another little present !

The Mexicans were very glad to see the last of the
red men, for, strangely enough, neither Klamaths nor
Clatsops had taken to them, and on many occasions it
would have gone ill with them but for the interference of
the Doones, whose word was instantly obeyed by both
tribes of Indians.

The Mexicans were neither white men nor red ; they
were but half-castes in the eyes of the Indians, and hence
the very colour of their yellow visages was against them.

With a fair wind they stood down the coast, joyfully
looking forward to their return to distant Fowcy, and the
following was the muster roll: — (1) Mr. Doone, (2) Mrs.
Doone, (3) Ruth, (4) Rupert, (5) Pernard, (6) Belton,
,(7) Freeman, (8) Fleming, (9) Polton, (10) Pendrick,
and (11) Adams.

Belton was made skipper. Freeman first mate, and
Polton second mate ; Fleming, carpenter ; Pendrick, boat-
.swain ; and Adams, cook. Such was the ship's company ;
<l^uite sufficient to make a coasting voyage, but very short-
.lumded for such a voyage as the Blue Belle had before her.

DON MIGUEL.

Mr. Doone, therefore, resolved to strengthen his crew
whenever he had the opportunity of doing so.

On reaching Yerhe Buena the Mexicans left the ship,
hard work and a rolling sea not at all agreeing with their
constitutions.

Mr. Doone and his sons accepted the hospitality of
Don Miguel Diaz, who, besides being the governor and
magistrate, was also owner of a fine plantation, and a
general merchant to boot.

To have an English family beneath his roof just suited
the Don (Mrs. Doone and Ruth being also invited ashore
-on the second day), for it tickled the vanity of the rotund
joaagistrate, and also gave him an opportunity to display his
;goods, and thus bring his commercial capabilities into play.

Mr. Doone purchased a number of grass hanmiooks, also
some barrelled pork, and other comestibles for the voyage,
and, what was to them a great boon, two rolls of linen, of
which they had run short some months previously — in
fact, their underwear was more like a network of holes and
tatters than anything else.

To the magistrate's great pleasure, Mr. Doone signified
his intention of staying a week or two with him, so that
his boys might take another trip up the Sacramento,
which they wished to visit again for the supposed purpose
of gazing once more on the beautiful scenery.

For this purpose Don Miguel allowed the boys to use his
pleasure boat. This craft was in form like a very large
canoe, rising high at stem and stern. She was fitted with
■one mast, carrying a single sail, made of fine woven fibre.
In the stem was a cabin capable of sleeping three or four
persons. The waist of the vessel was open, but the forward
part decked, the space between the deck and bottom being
Ipr^i^rgo. In the waist were seats for four rowers, ao

29S

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WESl.

that when the wind failed manual power could be
utilised.

The real purpose of the voyage was to give the brothers
an opportunity of taking whatever English goods still
remained in Mr. Doone's possession to the village (and
vicinity) at which Bernard had been so kindly received
the previous autumn, when his arm was fractured. Their
instructions were, to barter for nothing but gold, and to
be back in fifteen or sixteen days at latest.

For fear of arousing the jealousy of Don Miguel, the
goods, guns, ammunition, &c., were transferred from the
Blue Belle to the Qimxati during the night, and in the
morning, Bernard and Rupert, attended by Adams, as
cook (for fear of an accident by poison), sailed away in
company with four half-breeds, who were to act as crew
for the price of a blanket apiece and their food.

On the 6th of May, after an absence of fourteen days,
they returned with the news that, alth<.)ugh they had dis-
posed of their cargo, they had made but a poor bargain in
comparison with that of the previous autumn.

They were hospitably received by the natives, who were
glad to see them again, but during the months which had
intervened since their visit, a party of Yankees had been
among thom, and bartered with them for then nuggets
and gold dust.

This took place in October, and the Americans had
stayed six months in the district, doubtless both to pass
the winter and to endeavour to learn from whence the
inhabitants procured their gold. With them were two
Scotchmen, who were still in the locality, and, being
found, were very pleased to obtain a passage back to

A CAPITAL BARGAIN.

299

England as sailors before the mast ; they therefore returned
with the boys.

For the goods they had bartered Mr. Doone calculated
that the boys received about eighteen pounds {avoirdujwia)
of dust, shingle and nugget gold. This was a tremendous
increase upon the real value of the goods, which cost some
£40, and Mr. Doone was delighted at what his boys called
a bad bargain.

Besides the two Scotchmen, Mr. Doone shipped four
Portuguese sailors, promising to land them at Lisbon, of
which city they were natives. This brought the ship's
company up to twelve, with which the voyage could be
comfortably undertaken.

On May 10th the good ship Blue Belle turned her bow-
sprit due south, and, after her passengers had bidden a
hearty farewell to the little Don, bowled gallantly away
for distant Cape Horn.

: I

I' fil!

CHAPTER XXVIII.

jEEomeward Bound. — A Gale. — Juan Fernandez, — They land on the
Real Crusoe's Island. — A Tramp over Historic Ground.— Wild Fruits.
— Crayfish. — Manner of Capture. — Mount Yunque.— Sleep Ashore.
— Farewell. — Magellan Straits threaded. — Monte Video.

•^The voyage south to the Horn was for several weeks of
idii uneventful nature, and only once did they meet with
•laad weather, and that was of only two days' duration,
when a north-easterly gale blew with great force, and
drove them with much speed before it. It also took them
far from land — in fact, they simply set their storm-sails
«nd ran before the blast, knowing that in from twenty to
fifty hours such gales usually blew themselves out, wheoSL
they could again resume their proper course.

The morning of July 1st, the day after the gale, was
one of those beautifully brilliant, lazy times, which are
only experienced in the tropics. The ship just quietly
drew through the water, rising gracefully to the heave of
the rounded swell of the ocean, while the sun, pouring
down on her decks, appeared to make her as idle as her
crew, who were sitting and lying about at their ease,
having nothing whatever to do. The sails, only partially
filled with the warm air, wafted the vessel quietly onward
at perhaps two knots per hour, when at noon Captain
Belton ** shot the sun."

" What do you make it, Belton ? " asked Mr. Doone
from his hammock.

" Longitude 76° 39' west, latitude 33° 2' south, sir.'

" And what distance are we from land ? "

yUAN FERNANDEZ,

3*1

" Well, from the mainland we are about three hundreet
and forty miles, but I shall edge in nearer as we run
south."

** But why do you say mainland^ Belton ; surely we are
not near any islands, are we?"

" Oh, yes, you know Juan Fernandez lies in 31° 28'
south latitude, and longitude 79° 5' west, so we are within
eighty miles of Crusoe's famous island."

Out leaped Mr. Doone from his hammock, and ran to
the cabin, where the family were busy patching up the
remains of their clothing.

** I say," he cried, as he burst in upon them, " Beltori
says we are within eighty miles of Juan Femandea,
Crusoe's Island! What do you say, boys; shaQ w©
visitit?"

Down dropped their needles ; for the boys were quite
expert with these wonderfully useful adjraicts to drnlised
life, and, throwing their garments on the table, they
rushed on deck and quite dazed Belton with their querieft

It was quickly decided to visit the celebrated islaBid
and anchor there for one night.

The breeze continued so light that it was past noon of
the next day when they actually arrived ofE the island,
although it had been in sight since daybreak. It had
been a morning of anticipatory excitement, and now that
they lay near the shore, they almost felt as if they could
swim to the beach, so long did the boat appear to be
before it was lowered into the water.

The sea is so deep on the eastern side of the island thatt
at one hundred yards' distance from the shore they
moored the ship in seventy-five fathoms !

The island is much larger than is generally sup^xxsed,
Mr. Doone estimating its length at twenty miles, and ltd
breadth about an average of six miles, or, roughly speak-

301

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

ing, about two- thirds as large as the Isle of Wight; bo
Crusoe had ample space for pedestrian exercise.

The boys, and in fact, all who landed, were in a high
state of excitement ; for were they not on a spot which,
with but very little claim to any veracious history, was
known wherever in the world the English tongue was
spoken ? The romantic fiction of Defoe's pen has given
it a greater celebrity than if it had been a spot where
some great historical event had occurred.

The boys were a little disappointed to find the island
iuhabited by about a dozen Chilians, to whose country it
belonged, but such picturesque barbarians did the said
population appear, that they gave quite a character to the
island, and although no verbal conversation could be held
with them, yet by signs they made the Englishmen wel-
come. To Mrs. Doone and Ruth they were particularly
gracious, and learning by signs that the party would
stay at least thirty-six hours, they invited them to a
dinner, which consisted of fish of several kinds, goat's
flesh, vegetables, and fruits. Food on the island is ex-
ceedingly plentiful and varied.

A party was formed for exploring as much of the
island as practicable in the short time at their disposal.

Near the landing-place were three huge caves, which
had many years before been used as prisons for about
five hundred convicts, but it was found impracticable to
keep them within bounds, and they frequently escaped to
the more inaccessible parts of the island, where they lived
a life of ease, fettered with no restraint whatever. The
penal settlement was therefore removed once more to
the mainland.

The vegetation of the island is profuse, and its edibles
so abundant that a large number of persons could find
sustenance without anv extraneous aid whatever.

CRA YFJSH.

303

During: their wanderings our party saw, among other
trees and plants growing wild, the cherry, peach, apple,
fig, strawberry, balm, radish, mint, and others ; so salu-
brious is the climate that every fruit grown in the British
Isles would grow in Juan Fernandez in wild luxuriance.

They passed through several considerable woods, and
crossed a number of rocky rivers which flowed down from
the great mountain in the interior, and on their way to
the sea, amid beautiful surroundings, broke in sparkling
waterfalls and foaming cataracts.

Some of the valleys were filled with a kind of wild rye
or oat-grass, which was a couple of xcet over the heads
of even the big Doones, which caused pretty Ruth to
exclaim:

" What a paradise for a donkey ! how I wonld like to
pension old * Sir Bray * (her donkey) here, if the poor
old fellow is still alive ! "

"Never mind the donkey," quoth Belton, with a
roguish look. •' If I only had a suitable companion, I
could very well live here without a pension."

The rugged rocks jutted out in serrated points into the
deep blue sea, and in the clear pools immense crayfish
could be seen, of which Mr. Doone was very fond I'his
becoming known to their guides, they halted and com-
menced to catch them.

Thin fibre cords, baited in a peculiar manner, were
used, and in a couple of hours an immense number of the
toothsome, sprawling crustaceans were secured.

The mode of catching them was very simple. Upon
the end of a long fibre line a loose bundle of refuse fibre
was looped and bunched, so as to form a mass nearly as
large as a man*s head, and this mass was baited by tying
pieces of goat's flesh and fish among the tangled strands
of the fibre.

304

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

This being done, the fisherman seramblej out on the
rocks, where, on the lea side, he could see down sereral
fathoms into the clear water. Having marked the croj-*
fish he wished to secure in the depths below, the baited
bundle was lowered quietly down, and allowed to rest near
the fish. Very soon it was seized, and gradually the
claws and bony parts of the fish bc-camo entangled with
the fibre, which was then defily hauled to the surface and
the victim secured.

The Chilians did not miss above one crayfish in four
after they had once commenced to devour the bait, but
the Englishmen were lucky if they landed one in lour.
The mode of capture appeared ridiculously simple, bn*
they soon found that it required much skill and knack to
accomplish successfully.

The mountain, called Yunkqne, whieh is about 3y50Olti
high, they did not ascend, but as the whdie island ia
mountainous, they ascended one about four miles from
the harbour, and although it was only 1,500 feet abcr^
the ocean, it gave them a view nearly over the enline
island.

During the long tramp, Mr. Doone confessed to a iiei^
ing that possessed him and which prompted him, in a
ludicrous manner, to endeavour to discover Crusoe's foot*
print, as that worthy did Friday's about one hiiiidr«d
and forty years previously.

That night, tired out with their fatiguing travels of the
day, the entire party, except the ladies, slept ashore in
grass hammocks slung between the trees. Most of them
were so tired that it did not need the sighing of the cool
sea air through the palm leaves, nor the sound of the
waves^ they broke upon the shore, to lull them to sleep,
for ten minutes after entering the hammocks the sound

7-.:^^" :i^uMjeA 5|t*^

JUAN FEBNA2n)EZ: ▲ MIQHT ASHORB.

FAREWELL TO JUAN FERNANDEZ,

307

of heavy breathing and incipient snores told that Mor-
pheus held sway.

Next morning an iron tank was brought ashore, into
which a couple of hundred large crayfish were placed ; the
receptacle, beirg afterwards three parts filled with salt
water, to keep t'lem alive till required for table, and again
taken aboard.

Vegetables and fruits having been bartered for in large
quantities, for sundry articles that the simple inhabitants
took a fancy to, the water casks were next filled at a
cascade v/hich fell upon the beach from a considerable
elevation, and caused itc showers of liquid diamonds to
scintillate most brilliantly in the rays of the cloudless sun.

All this and more being accomplished, the Blue Belle,
to the regret of all on board, once more bore away south
towards Cape Horn. The lofty peaks of Juan Fernandez,
the erstwhile home of Alexander Selkirk, the prototype of
Defoe's " Robinson Crusoe," remained in sight till the sun
WJnt down, and the evening haze shut the island from the
gaze of the English lads who were exceedingly loath to
leave it.

Cooler and cooler became the breezes as the good ship
neared The Horn, but as the wind was favourable it was
decided to run through the Straits of Magellan. This
rocky, barren, inhospitable coast, the home of storms and
icy winds, s in winter a terror to the mariners, but in the
summer the passage, as on the present occasion, is fre-
quently pleasant, and saves a long trip round Terra del
Fuego.

Here was the Blue Belle with Patae-onia on one side,
and Terra del Fuego on the other ; places which the boys
had read of and now longed to visit but Mr. Doone would
not heai of the ship being stopped even for an hour,
although they sadly wanted to pay a visit to a Fatagonian

3o8

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

camp, and see with their own eyes whether or no the
natives are of such gigantic stature as travellers allege.

By July 22nd Cape Virgin was on their port heam,
and as they turned the ship's head to the north-east, they
thanked God that the worst half of their voyage had been
safely and pleasantly accomplished, and the rocky Straits
of Magellan threaded.

Before the month was out they had a couple of days of
bad weather, which split one or two of their old sails, and
started some of their water barrels, giving thorn what
Pendrick called " a high old shake up."

It was, therefore, with joy that they ran iiito Jtionte
Video harbour on August 7th, where they anchored for
three days, while new sails were being made, and sundry
needful ship's stores taken on board.

This gave Bernard and E-upert time to look about what
was in those days a small city.

Built upon a peninsula on the eastern side of the har-
bour, Monte Video has a very fine appearance from the
sea, and the great mountain to the west, from which it
takes its name, further he^ps to give a picturesque and
grand appearance to the surrounding country.

The brothers took Ruth ashore, and showed her '^I
great Plaza and the very fine cathedral but being windy,
the dust from the unpaved streets flew in such clouds, that
to their unaccustomed eyes it was almost unbearable, this
circumstance to a great extent spoiling their pleasure. In
the winter, they were told, the great drawback was mud,
and of the two evils Ruth declared that after all she pre-
ferred the dust, which nuisance might be mitigate*.! by
wearing a veil.

Under weigh again, on August 11th, they proceeded
northward along the coast, from which they were seldom
more than one hundred miles distant, although they never
saw it.

Mf;

CHAPTER XXIX.

Pemambuco again. — Christening the Goats. — Cupid Abroad. — Captain
Bedford and Anneta. — Verde Island Oranges. — The Portuguese
Sailors landed. — Nearing Home. — The Lizard sighted. — Fowey
reached. — The Betum brings both Joy and Sorrow.

On leaving Monte Video, Mr. Doone signified his inten-
tion of calling at Pemambuco, which news at once put
poor Bernard quite in a fever, for the lovely Anneta,
daughter of Captain Bedford, Mr. Doone's old friend,
immediately loomed before him. Hopes and fears as to
whether his first love were still alive and well, and if she
ever thought of him, quite upset the poor boy, and as they
neared the port he became quite useless as a companion to
his brother ami sister, and was constantly lost in thought
when they addressed him. They of course teased him
greatly, and when Rutli in fun proposed to christen one
of the goats they had brought from Juan Fernandez
" Anneta," he caused her to blush, falter, and finally give
up teasing him, by suggesting that the other goal should
be christened " Jack Belton ! '' Bernard certainly scored
by this smart repartee, for Ruth teased him no more.

Poor Ruth, who had hitherto been fond of Captain Bel-
ton's company, and treated him in the same familiar
manner as she did her brothers, was set seriously thinking
over this gibe of Bernard's.

She secretly asked herself the pertinent question : " Do
I love Belton ? "

3IO

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

"No, surely not," she answered herself. "I admire
him for his manly bearing, his great courage, his talents,
and his straightforwardness, but that is certainly all.
What nonsense to take notice of my brother's joke ! "

Alas, the modest maiden deceived herself, and although
she fancied herself quite secure from any power of Cupid's
art, she was already in the toils without knowing it,
' Ithough her partiality to Belton had not escaped the vigi-
lant 'wes of her mother.

Bt ' could scarcely contain himself when they came

in sight Pemambuco, aud every half hour he bothered
Belton with the questions, " How far are we off ? What
time shall we take to do the distance ? Shall we be sure
to get in to-night ? " etc., till at last the skipper told him
to go and have a sleep, and he would wake him when
they arrived in port.

This did not at all suit Bernard, whose eyes were as
bright as the sun over his head, so he sighed and resigned
himself to circumstances.

At 7 P.M., on the 10th September, the Blue Belle
dropped, anchor in Pernambuco harbour, but no one was
allowed to land till the morning, so that Bernard had to
endure a sleepless night, tossing about in his berth with
the vision of Anneta constantly before him.

Next day Mr. Doone and his family paid a visit to
Captain Bedford, whom they found alive and well ; his
daughter Anneta was also at home, much to the delight
of the younger Doone.

Captain Bedford had retired from his appointment
some three months previously on a very fair pension, and
shortly intended to return to England with Anneta, who
had evinced a great desire to reside there. His affairs, he
said, would take a month to settle, which was much more

VERDE ISLAND ORANGES,

311

than Mr. Doone could think of waiting for his old friend,
but he infonned him that if he cared to leave such of his
affairs as could not be immediately settled, and sail with
him in the Blue Belkj he would undertake to wait one
week for him.

After due deliberation, Captain Bedford decided to
accept his friend's offer of a free passage for himself and
daughter, and accordingly, to Bernard's intense delight,
Anneta and her father appeared on the deck of the Blue
Belle on September 18th as passengers for dear old
England.

Everything favoured the voyage, and they had a
splendid run across the Atlantic to the Cape de Verde
Islands, at one of which, San Antonio, they stayed just
long enough to procure fresh water, vegetables, and fruit,
as Mr. Doone had a wholesome dread of scurvy breaking
out on board, and he Itnew that the finest antidote was
vegetables and fruit, and as it only meant the loss of a
few hours, it was very pradent to take such pleasant
means of keeping all aboard in good health and spirits.

The orange crop was just ripening, and having pro-
cured a supply from a large grove, they found the
beautiful fruit a great luxury. Bernard found oranges
just the very thing by which he could show his attention
to Anneta, and it would have delighted him to have
peeled her a score, but like everything else, one can have
too much of them, and when they cloy they are apt to
produce revulsion; but to do Anneta justice, she kept
Bernard very well employed, for she gave freely to those
around, so that Bernard had no cause to grumble.

Strangely enough. Captain Belton also found oranges a
fine medium between himself and Ruth, and so, probably,
have thousands of other lovers since the days when Adam

y ■

The t^uk TRADEks of the west.

and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, which Eastern
legend afHrms to have been the orange.

So fond did — well, certain persons, appear of the golden
fruit, that when, a week after, lofty TenerifPe reared his
pointed head above the ocean, there was a great outcry
for more, and Mr. Doone, ever anxious to oblige, and to
see all he could in voyaging, put in at Funchal, and made
another purchase of various fruits, conspicuous among
which were the much-desired oranges.

The next persons to become excited were the Portu-
guese sailors, who had been promised that they should
be landed at Lisbon, and as Funchal is only about
one thousand miles from that city, they daily grew
more and more happy and wishful to once more see
their beloved Tagus, and the earthquake-shaken city on
its banks.

As the wind was fair, and the captain therefore wished
to cross the Bay of Biscay as quickly as possible, the Bhie
Belle was not taken up the broad estuary of the Tagus, but
was hove-to off the little town of Belem, five or six miles
west of Lisbon, where the Portuguese, with loud thanks
for their kind treatment, and many farewells to their
messmates, jumped into the boats and were quickly
pulled ashore by Pendrick and Polton.

Being now short-handed, and the time mid-October,
when gales are of frequent occurrence, all sail was
crowded upon the vessel to get clear of the rock-bound
Portuguese and Spanish coasts; and with a run of a
thousand miles end their tremendous voyage of 18,000
miles by a smart spin across the dreaded Bay of Biscay,
and, finding the Lizard, make a safe ei^try into the
harbour of their beloved Fowey.

With a W.S.W. wind, they bowled merrily along, each
day reducing the run by from 100 to 150 miles, and as

-1

HOME AGAIN,

313

each day dawned so did the anxiety and excitement
increase to catch sight of dear old England.

They left Lisbon on October 17th, and on the 20th,
early in the morning, passed Cape Finisterre, the nose of
Spain, and were fairly in the Bay of Biscay, which they
quickly knew, for it was very rough, and their progress
much slower ; however, on the 21st they sighted TJshant
Island, and gave it a wide berth, for having once passed
the island, where many a stout vessel has left its ribs,
they were fairly into the English Channel.

Hurrah ! only one hundred and fifty miles remained,
of which they accomplished ninety-five on the 22nd, and
for fear of running in too close to the land, sail was
shortened for the night.

At daybreak everyone was astir, and just before peep
of day the Lizard Lighthouse was sighted about ten miles
due north. Three cheers went up for the first glimpse of
old England, and as they had nearly fifty miles to run,
the whole theme of conversation centred on, " What time
do you think we shall be in?'* On this all-absorbing
question the Captain was consulted, and he put it thus :

" Wind S. W. ; time now 6 a.m. ; distance to run, say
forty -seven miles ; average speed, if the wind holds, and
it probably will, six knots an hour. There you are, Miss
Ruth, now you can sum it up for yourself ! "

Ruth did so, and gave the answer with her face aglow
in the sharp morning air, "We shall arrive then, Mr.
Captain, at ten minutes to two precisely, and mind you
do not waste any time in getting past the Heads."

The Blue Belle was scarcely so punctual as her Captain
had predicted, but at 2 p.m. she was within a couple of
miles of the entrance to Fowey Haven, and her two brass
guns having been loaded, were now fired, and her flags at
foremast and mizen raised but half- mast high.

3'4

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE fVEST.

The flag on the headland was dipped in response, and
when a little later the ship's head was turned due north-
ward into the mouth of the harbour, quite a crowd had
collected to witness the entrance of the weather-worn
little vessel.

The one word, " Doone," had been signalled to the man
at the look-out, and immediately there was a stampede
towards the quay, and for the boats.

We need not dwell long on the reception given to the
Doones, as it was a repetition of that given to poor
Captain Rose four years before. Nothing could exceed
the heartiness of the welcome of the people of Fowey, and
Mr. Doone and his sons were quite mobbed by the kindly
endeavours of the villagers to all shake hands and ask
questions at the same time.

But, alas ! among the happy throng were others whose
hearts were nigh on breaking, when they heard the news
of the death of Captain Rose and several hands — four of
whom belonged to Fowey.

Like a few drops of poison in a winecup, the sorrow
brought to the relatives of the four dead men caused the
ebullition of joy to simmer and cool down, until a chill
seized upon the minds of the people as they gazed at the
fluttering flags hanging in their lowly positions.

Then honest John Trereen, Mr. Doone' s steward, came
hurrying down, and was received on board by the master.
John's cheery voice and hearty manners appeared to put
good spirits into everyone again, and the first shock of
the sad news being over, the people rejoiced once more at
the return of the Doones and the remnant of the crew.

As old Pendennis, the blacksmith, said : " It's better
for the sojer to come home with a wooden leg than not
return at all."

/I ;

■■

CHAPTER XXX.

A Bazaar opened. — The Last Council of War. — Mr. Doone speaks. —
His Liberality.— A Present for Each.— Belton's Live Tresent.—
Wedding Bells.— The End of the Ynm.

The homecoming of the Doones was a remarkable event
in the history of Fowey, and for a long time was the talk
for miles round, people coming from long distances to see
both the adventurers and their ship, while many of them
wished to see the strange things brought from across the
seas.

On the quay was a long black store belonging to Mr.
Doone, and in this the quaint cargo of the Blue Belle was
placed, forming quite a museum, or as we in later days
should call it a " Bazaar," and as everything displayed was
for sale, quite a large business in curiosities was carried
on for several weeks. All this was left in the hands of
Rupert and Belton, while Mr. Doone went off to London
to dispose of his rich collection of furs and tho gold.

With him he took four largo waggons and eight men
as drivers and escorts, for fear something serious might
happen to them as it did when last he went to the great
metropolis.

"What with advertising the goods, waiting for the sales,
and collecting the purchase-money, seeking for and buy-
ing furniture, and other goods, delays from snow in
returning, etc., it was over six weeks before they again
arrived at Fowey, and several weeks more before they
could become accustomed to their old ways and settle
down again to civilised life.

3i6

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

"When the spring came, Mr. Doone called what he
termed a " grand palaver," to which the late crew of the
Blue Belle were invited, and without exception all accepted
the invitation.

A good meal was spread upon the board with true
Cornish hospitality to which all, with the appetite of
those accustomed to toil in the open air, did ample justice,
and if afterwards a little eau cle vie, which had escaped
custom's duty, was served out to each man, it did them
no harm, being taken in strict moderation, but caused
their good humour to bubble over and their pent-up
hilarity to burst forth in song and laughter.

Aftc they had enjoyed themselves for some time, Mr.
Door.ci rose and signified his intention of making a little
speech, and, clearing his throat, he began thus :

" My men, I have asked you to come and take a meal
with me, that I might have the opportunity of thanking
you for your services, during some ticklish times, in the
past three years. We have gone through some strange
adventures together in a far-off land, and I have come to
look upon you rather as friends than as employees ; I am
therefore loath to part with you, for on all occasions you
have not only done your duty, but, as I have reason to
know, have always studied my interests and had an eye
to my welfare."

Here the great fellows looked V'3ry red, not having
expected such an eulogy upon their conduct, and broke in
with little exclamations of, "It's only our duty, sir!"
" You've always been kind to us," etc.

"Now, my men," Mr. Doone proceeded, "I have a
proposal to make to you. Would you like to remain in
my service ? "

" Of course, we would ! " came from all the men at
once.

I !

MR. DOONE'S PRESENTS.

3»;

" Very well, then ; I am going to embark in the
coasting trade again, and if you like to keep your names
on the ship's books you shall remain Blue Belles as long
as you do your duty and behave yourselves to my satis-
faction.

" Captain Belton, I appoint you skipper, if you will
accept the berth, and I will at the same time make you
part owner. What do you say ? '*

" Say, Mr. Doone," said the young fellow effusively,
" why, say yes with all my heart, and I trust that for
many years good fortune may smile upon my endeavours,
and give me prosperous voyages for our mutual benefit.
I could not desire a better crew, for I know that, come
fair, come foul, they are men to be relied on. I will say
no more, for my heart is more full of thanks than I can
find words to express."

Belton sat down amid the applause of all present,
fairly glowing with pride and joy at his good fortune
and advancement.

"Now, my men," said Mr. Doone, "I am not going to
send you away to-night empty-handed, for I have a present
for each of you. I have a big parcel and a small parcel for
each ; the large parcel contains some cloth and sundry
little articles I purchased in London for you, and the
small one contains a few sugar-plums. Bring in the big
ones first, boys.**

At this Rupert and Bernard brought in some large
parcels, each inscribed with the recipient's name, and, as
each received his present, pretty, buxom Ruth added a
little packet which, with much laughter, each man
squeezed and shook to ascertain its contents, but without
any correct diagnosis, as a doctor would call it ; where-
upon Mr. Doone, who sat next to Freeman, said :

" Open it, Freeman, and see your luck."

318

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST,

He did so, and found it contained ten sovereigns, done
up in cotton wool, to keep them, as Euth said, from con"
mmpiion ! Each roan found, on opening his packet, that
he had been similarly treated.

It was noticed that Belton had not been among the
recipients of a dole, either of material or money, but,
addressing him, Mr. Doone commenced :

" John Belton, I have now to speak to you upon a more
serious matter.** (John turned red and white by turns,
and looked very uncomfortable.) " Last week you asked
me to give you a certain present, which I said I would
take time to think about. Mrs. Doone and I have con-
sulted together, and have decided to give you an answer
to your request to-night.'*

Here Kuth sidled round to her motl^er, and, *owing
her arm around her waist, nestled up close to 1 parent
like a timid child, keeping her eyes steadfastly bont upon
the floor.

" You have asked me for a very simple thing, yet it is
one of the greatest gifts a man on this earth can receive ;
it is the hand of a true woman. To most parents the
thought of an only daughter leaving their roof would have
a touch of sadness in it " (now Ruth moved her arm
from her mother's waist, and, throwing it round her neck,
hid her flushed face on her breast), '* but I have watched
you closely, John, for the past three years, and admire your
character and manly bearing. Give me your hand, lad."

Belton complied mechanically, scarcely knowing what
he was about ; then, turning to his daughter, Mr. Doone
resumed :

** Ruth, my lass, can I do aught else to add to your
happiness than say ' yes * to John's request ? Have you
fully made up your mind to wed a sea-rover ? Speak
up, my child."

WEDDING BELLS,

319

" Quite, father," said Ruth, with a beaming, ruddy-
countenance, " and, since my home will be on your estate,
there will be no grief at having to leave you and mother.'*
As she spoke and turned to look at her mother the tears
came to her eyes, as if to belie hor words, but they were
tears of joy, and as her father took her hand and placed
it in the sailor's broad palm, her measure of joy was com-
plete, for tears of happiness so filled her eyes that she
could scarcely see her beloved John.

Her hearing also seemed at fault, she could but indis-
tinctly hear her father say something about "blessing
and good fortune," when everyone present sent forth such
rousing cheers that they made the old rafters ring again.

Rupert ard Bernard seized their sister and congratu-
lated her, while Belton, who would not relinquish the hand
he had secured, gave her a hearty salute before the whole
company as if to bind the troth, and then gallantly led
the blushing maid back to her mother.

It was late that night when the merry party broke up,

but when it did happiness was in every heart.

« « * If * «

, When May came round there was again joy in Fowey —
double joy indeed, for on May-day the bells rang out their
merriest peals, as on that day Ruth Doone become Mrs.
Beltoxi, and Anneta Bedford, Mrs. Doone — a Doone lost
and a Doone gained.

The whole town was en fete, and every vessel and boat
in the harbour put forth its best display of bunting in
honour of the occasion, while all who chose to come were
invited to a field near Mr. Doone's house, where tables
were spread, bonfires lighted, and dancing kept up to a
late hour.

Trereen was for his services placed in a small farm, and
Bernard promoted to be Mr. Doone's factotum, a house

323

THE FUR TRADERS OF THE WEST.

being built close to his father's, in which Anneta ruled

as Mrs. Doone the second.

^ * * « « «

Mr. Doone made a large profit of his collection of
furs, indeed they realised nearly £4,000, while the gold
was sold to the Master of the Mint for £2,000. Thus,
with what he obtained in addition for the timber and
Indian goods, he was enabled to settle down and live very
comfortably.

Rupert,* as his share of the profits, received £1,000,
and, not having had enough of adventures, became the
partner of a young sailor, named Horace Jackson (a
schoolfellow), who, having had some experience in the
West African trade, was desirous of trying a trip on his

own account.

* * * * * *

Now, having spun my yam, I must ask my young
readers one favour, and that is, to take an atlas and prose-
cute an imaginary voyage of their own, by following and
noting every place at which The Hunter called on her
outward journey, the wanderings of the Doones in Oregon
and California, and the return voyage in the Blue Belle.

Having done this they will have taker a step to advance
their knowledge ; for, if what I have written in this book
should not add greatly to their store of incidents worthy
of remembrance, still they will have received one lasting
benefit — a capital lesson in honesty of purpose, self-
reliance, and geography.

* Possibly at some future time I may see my way to write more of
i,ais young rover, for many startling adventures fell to his lot on the
African coast between 1842 and 1850.

THE END.

PKINTKU BY J. B. VIRTUE A^U CO., LIMITED, CITY BOAO, LONDON,

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