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'' ^■7cf>r7< S>^ Of^^J ' ) < ': ' <i 'I I II '«. t< I ' 1! u II |« 'I n ,^ . r^ ;.■ ^ < '^^ .rv->-'-' r^:L 'c^^^ .^f- . ^ f ' THE YOUNG RANCHMEN OR PERILS OF PIONEERING IN THE WILD WEST f < f w 'rjjfh!' exclaimed the Indian, 'does tlie jiale-faoe tliink l)e ran awake liis long-eared ])ony?" PA(;k 131. I <tl f THE YOUNG RANCHMKN OR PERILS OF PIONEERING IN THE WILD WEST By CHARLES R. KENYON ILIjUSTRATED by -WALTER S. STACKV TORONTO THE MUSSON BOOK CO. LIMITED CONTENTS. Vi'X^ I CHAP. I. AT HOMK IN CANADA, . II. TIIK PALAVKK, .... III. TIIK OUTFIT, IV. A lillisil WITH TMK UHD-SKINS. . V. HUFI'AI.O HUNTIN'U, VI. TIIK THUKSHOIJ) OF TIIK UOCKIKS, VII. (JAUUIKI) OFF HV UKD-SKINS, VIII. THE PURSUIT, .... I.\. UK.SCUKI), X. HOUND THK CAMI'-FIHK, M. CONN IF AND KIINFST, . XII. THK ROCKY MOUNTAINS, XIII. CAUOHT NAl'l'INC XIV. UNLOOKKD-FOR TERMINATION (U- THK MOOSK XV. AN KXCITIN<J CHASK, . XVI. CONDEMNED TO DKATH, XVII. SUSPENSE AND TRAGKDY, XVIII. THK PERILS OF THK UAHS.VTCH, . XIX. RUN TO (iROUND IN A CANON, I U N I , I'AOK ir. ■2U lis «)2 7:} HI los l'2l 12H 13.-) !.')() 182 I i CONTENTS. < HAIV XX. A hero's death. XXI. A LETTER AND A DREAM, XXII. A I'LUCKY EXPLOIT, .... XXIII. A TRYINd PARTINC AM) EXCITING HUNT, XXIV. A NIOHT ATTACK, . . . . XXV. THE END OF IHE JOURNEY, XXVI. THE FATE OF THE EMIGRANT TRAIN, . XXVIL BOUND TO THE .STAKE, .... XXVIII. CONCLUSION — TECONSA PAYS HIS DEBT, PAOK 194 208 '220 231 244 254 261 2«« 275 LIST OV I LLIST RATIONS. I'.M.r, •r<^'1«!' excljiimed the Indian, 'tloos the i>al«' fm-e tliink lie can awake his lonj^'-eared pony '/ ' Front i.sjnor. She saw with honor the painted and bedizened (ij^nire of a stal wart youn*,' Tnd ian o.', He fell back with a heavy <,'ioan into Connies arms 20l The chief tore ojien the front of his victim's shirt, when something arrested his attention 269 »1M# a; PAOK 194 208 •22U 231 244 254 261 '2m 27o pam: k lie 'icrr. )f a ... ()."» ...2Ul llieri ....269 'i THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. CHAPTEJf 1. AT HOME IN CANADA. " Ah, Kobert, my good fellow, is that you i I was bcgin?iing to think you were lost in those interminable forests. We expected you home weeks ago," exclaimed ]Major Weston, turning from the ])retty girl witli whom he was conversing in the verandali of a low, snugly-built ( "anadian farm-hou.se, to greet a stalwart man of forty years of .age. The sun was setting in a Ijlaze of gcjlden light over the distant waters of Lake Huron, and its rays rested upon tlie mini's dark hair and shaggy cap of racoon skin, with the tail of that animal lianging down be- liind, and lighted up the outline of liis oddly-clad figure. " I hope my long al)sence has not been any incon- venience to you, sir," he said gravely, making a military salute ; " but, owing to the very severe winter 10 THE YOUXG RANCHMEN. and consequent late breaking up of the ice, it was impossible for the lumljerers to :ioat their timber- rafts down the river as early as usual, and if I had left them and attempted to find my way back to the settlements alone, I should most certainly hav^e got lost. For, much as I have learnt by my stay in the backwoods, it is still a mystery to me how the hunters and trappers succeed in finding their way through such bewildering solitudes." " Well, Kobert, I am glad you did not attempt anything so rash as returning across the country alone. But come to the house ; I am sure you must be ready for supper after your long tramp. I daresay the lumberers would not be able to spare you till they reached Hamilton or Toronto ? " " Ixight you are, sir. I got my discharge at the latter city, and, except for a lift now and then in some farmer's waggon, I have walked every mile of the way here. But where is the missis ? Pardon me, sir, but 1 begin to fear that something has hap- pened, for I notice that botli you and Miss Constance are in mournmg. " Yes, Itobert, your dear mistress ' fell asleep ' within a month after you left us last autumn. She drooped and died like the tender vine-leat at tlie first chill Wast of winter." Major Weston sighed deeply as lie spoke. He was a tine, soldierly-looking man of about fifty years of age, who, after serving with distinction I AT HOME IN CANADA. 11 ' through the Crimean war, had at its termination retired from the army on half-pay. Having a del.cate wife and young family, with but small private means, he then determined to emigrate, as so many of his brother officers were doing, to Canada, where a small income would go very much farther than in England. Accordingly, the "Westons had come there the sum- mer before, accompanied by Eobert Lazenby, who had been with the Major in the capacity of soldier-servant throughout the war with Eussia, and who, on obtaimng his discharge from the army, had gladly re-entered the service of his old officer, to whom he was nuch attached. However, soon after Major Weston and his family were comfortably settled in Canada West, or Ontaiio as it is now called, Robert asked and obtained per- mission from his master, who really had not sufficient work to keep him profitably employed during the winter months, to join a party of lumberers who were going beyond the settlements to cut timber. Being a green hand, as they termed it, Robert's wages were small ; yet the wild, free life in the depths of the Canadian forests, and the cheerful society of his rough but good-natured comrades, who were mostly French Canadians, was just what the ex-soldier en- joyed, and, being a handy fellow, he soon became quite expert in the use of the American axe. Now, in the spring, he had returned to his master. 12 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. with much experience and skill thus acquired as to the various shifts and expedients of camp life in the hack- woods, all of which was to prove of the greatest service to himself and the family he served. "Where are the young gentlemen, Master Frank and Master Harry, please Miss ? " asked Eobert, when, in a very short time indeed, Connie placed a dish of fried ham and eggs before him. "They went off to the river early this morning, with gun and fishing tackle, and provisions enough to last until evening. I expect them home at any minute, as they promised me they would return for supper." Constance Weston, the Major's only daughter, was a tall, graceful girl of eighteen, with large dark blue eyes and curly golden hair. Her nose was a Grecian one, and her mouth and chin were prettily shaped. Moreover, she had a remarkably sunny smile ; so that altogether she made a picture which once seen was not easily forgotten. " Connie, Connie, where are you ? Come here, Connie, and see the spoils of the chase," shouted the merry voices of two boys from the stable-yard at the back of the house. " Oh ! I am so glad you have come," answered their sister, as she ran to meet them, closely followed by her father and Robert. " What a load for poor Daisy to carry ! Is that large animal a deer ?" I AT HOME IN CANADA. 13 jre, ;he the eir by isy " Yes it is," replied the younger boy ; " Frank shot it with his rifle." "And here," said Frank, pointing to a curious animal, something like a fox with the head of a dog and a round bushy tail, "is a racoon which Harry shot while I was fishing ; its fur is very valuable. But, hillo ! Who is this with a racoon on his head ? Why, llobert ; have you come back, old fellow ? I'm very glad to see you." And, seizing the honest servant's hand, he gave it a hearty shake. "Oh! how jolly!" exclaimed Harry, springing forward and following his brother's example. " I had been wishing you were back again to accompany us on our hunting expeditions. What fun we shall liave ! " With many exclamations of pleasure and surprise, the whole party set to work to unload the old pony. ]Major Weston looked much pleased at the success of the young huntsmen, and remarked that they had ol)tained enough game to stock their larder for at least a fortnight. Besides the deer and racoon, there were a couple of wild turkeys, three wild geese, two brace of ducks, balf a dozen pigeons and a musk rat (valuable for its fur), also a fine salmon in Frank's basket. "A very successful day's sport and no mistake," said the IMajor, with a glance of pride at liis fine, handsoine sons. 14 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. Frank, the older of the two, was about seventeen, tall and fair, with li^ht rmlv hair, l)hie eyes and finely-chisell(Ml features, of wliicli the mouth was per- haps tlie most rcniiarkaltle, its tliin lips, tooetlier witli a stron^^ square jaw, i^nviuL,' an expression of deter- mination to tlie frank, open countenance. His lithe, •graceful fi^un^ was not calculated at first sight to give one the impn^ssion of great strengtli, hut a])pearances, we know, are often deceptive, and some of the l)oy's schoolfellows had already ex})erienced, to tlieir great discomfiture, tlie truth of this saying in his cise. So beautifully ])roportion('d was the rather spare bul well-knit muscular frame as to com])lctely disguise the boy's tremendous strength. Harry, who was two years younger, formed a striking contrast to his brother and sister, for he had dark hair and eyes, and a swarthy skin. ]fe was withal a handsome boy, though his l)eauty was of a dili'erent ty])e from theirs. Firmly l)uilt, with dee]) chest and l»road shoulders, he gave pro- mise of great strengtli should he attain to man's estate. During supper that evening, Robert and the boys related their seveial adventures and experiences, and they carried on an animated discussion until far into the night. At last, however, the Major intimated that it >vas high time to retire to rest ; and, after conduct- • AT HOME I\ TAX A DA. 16 ing the usual family devotioiis, he ])a(le thoin each "(fOod night," with the remark that lie intended to hold a cabinet council, or, as it is called on the West Coast of Africa, a "palaver," the next day iifter l)reakfast. CHAPTER 11. THE PALAVEli. The next mornin<,^ as soon as all were assembled in the little parlonr after their early breakfast, Major Weston consideralilv startled them by announcinLj his intention of quittin*^ Canada and joining a large train of emigrants, which, he learnt from the papers, was shortly going from the Missonri to the new Kldoradd — California. " You see," said he, " the great drawback to this colony is the long and severe winter, which, although in some respects beneficial, as affording opportunities for social intercourse, mental culture and relaxation from the severer and more urgent labours of the other seasons, yet has, on the other liand, in my opinion, nun'e than counterl)alancing disadvantages in the fact that a great juirt of the exhausting labour of tlie spring, sunnner and autumn is rendeied necessary solely on account of the ])rotracted rigour of the ('anadian winter. In other words, six months oi tluj TIIK PA!. AVER. 17 year are laboriously spent in providing sustenance for the farmer's family, and more especially his live stock, (hirinj^f the otlier six : just, as of old, the seven years of famine ate up the seven years of plenty, in California, on the contrary, the settler's horses, cattle, iind slieep can pick up their own livinjL,' out of doors all throu«,di the year, and thus save the vast amount of labour re(piired, holli here and in the Eastern States of the Union, to provide sulUcient hay and other fodder to cjirry them through the long winter months. Consequently, the farmer in such an equable climate as that of Upper California may be said to have the whole twelve months in which, not only to [)roduce enough food for home consumption, but also a surplus for the market, while he saves the wear and tear of havinu: to crowd the work of twelve months into six. Much of that work, in the case of the Yankee and Canadian farmer, is necessarily luiremunerative, as it merely goes to sustain his live stock during the dead season." " Hear ! hear ! " exclaimed Frank and Connie. "Hurrah for California!" shouted Harry. " ( )rder ! order ! " said the Major. " 1 believe llobert wishes to make an observation, if you will only give him an opportunity of being heard." Silence having at last been restored, llobert arose from his seat, looking not a little confused at suddenly finding he had concentrated the thoughts and eyes B I 18 THK \'()VSfi RANCHMEN. of tlu' whole cont'orunce upon liinisclf, and tliat I'acli nu!nil(L'r of ii was waiting; in silent exixMiiition for what he was ^^oinij; to say. liobert was a l)iave man, and had faced di-ath many times on the battlefields of the Crimi'a ami in the trenehes hehne Sel)asto}>ol ; Init, as he afterwards dechired to Frank and Hurry, he never felt half so foolish and "scared like" in his life as wlien he .i^ot up to sjK'ak then, amidst such i»rofound silei wv And to think," said he, " that 1 had uot very little to say, jind did n(jt know how to say that ])roperly; for you see, youn^^ gentlemen, 1 am no scholard, and there was the Major looking', as you may say, ri^ht through me. I just wished the iloor would open and would let me sink out of sight."* However, with an ellbrt, Lazenby recovered his self-possession sulliciently to say, " ^.*lease, sir, I was only going to ask you if there are good markets in that country you speak about — Californy, I think you call it. I hope you will excuse my taking the liberty to speak to you as knows so much better than myself: but it seems to me, from what you liave said, that it is further from England than wliat we are now, and the markets here are very ])oor to what we had in Warwickshire. Only think of them selling wheat at three shillings or four shillings a bushel, when at home as good a sample would have fetched seven or eight shillings. I don't pretend I .# TMK rALAVER. 19 Ivou hut |)oor of live Ind to know, bill it strikes nu; that the fnrtliLT W(j are from Kii^laud tli(! jtoorcr arc tin; iiiarkiits ; and what is the use of havin^^ a lot of stuff to sell if ti»ei(^ is nowhere to sell it for a fair ]»ri('e T' As Iiohert sat down, with a sii^h of relici' that he hail overcome the little dillicidty of making' a speech, his master replied, " 'I'here's sound common s(Mjse in wiiat you say, my man. l have; carefully studied the <luestion of markets for honui produce, and if you will pass me that map beside you, Frank, 1 will point out th(! ])rinci))al towns already existing' in California, and also show y(ju that, near the part where I think of seltlint;", there are known to hv. considerable deposits of ^(tld and silver. Mines, too, are beinn- openecl on every side, so that there will no doubt soon spring up a brisk local denuind for wheat, oats, mai/e, beef, dairy ])roduee, hay, and other things for the use of the hardy nuners and their teams of horses and nudes, " Mere, you see, to commence in the north-east, is Sacramento, a thriving town, situated on the river of that name ; while nearly due west is San Francisco, the (pieen city of the West, with its magnificent harbour and Ijcautiful bay. Proceeding S(»uth, along the coast we find, besides places of less note, Monterey, San Luis ()l)ispo, Santa liarbara, Los Angelos, San Bernardino more inland, and San J)iego, <Scq. So that, you see, 1 am not thinking of taking you to an absolute wilder- ness, by any means, but to a country which — if only so THK YOI'NO UANTIfMEN'. a i)art of vvliat is suid jiImjuI il Ix' true — possosses in its fertilo |)liiin.s, pleiisunt cliiniitc, and vnluahlc iiiiiuTal deposits, ludiniiti'd <'a|>a])iliti('s of di'VclojHiicnt and wealth." " Tliank you, sir," said Kobert ; " I am now <iuiie satisfied as to the market prospects, and a mildei- climate will well r('i>ay tiie loni,' journey." " When do you j)ropose to start for Missouri to join the emigrant train, father?" incpiired Frank. " As soon as 1 can get oil' — probably in a week. What little furniture and other l)ulky articles we have must, of course, be sold by auction ; but we can talk matters over at some other time. T must now be of[' on old Daisy to the town, to arrange with the auctioneer and transact other business. I therefore declare this meeting at an end." " I beg to projiose a vote of thanks to you as chair- man, dear father, ' said Connie. " And I beg to second it," exclaimed Harry, jumping to his feet ; " and 1 wish we were going to sell otl' to- day. What fun it will be travelling over those im- mense plains and mountains, hunting all kinds of game, and having occasional brushes with the wild Indians, both of which are said to abound in those distant regions." C'HAPTEU ITT. TIIK Ol'TKIT. liUr- )ing to- iin- of ,viM lose A TKW woeks jiftcrwavds tin; W'ostons readied St Louis, th<' cliief (ily of Missouri Jiud ^'real eoinmercial metro- jiolis (»f the ('entral Mis,sissi])i)i ViilU'V, vvluTe tliey at once set busily to work to procure tlie nccussary out- tit for tlui forniidal>l(i journey of two thousand miles which lay before thcni. l*erhai)s no jdace in the world atlbrds j^reater facilities for the purchase of the thou- sand-and-one articles indispensable to the emigrant, miner, hunter, trader, or traveller tlum this important city, so famous for its extensive trade and various munulactures. Thti first purchase our emigrants had to make was a roomy l)ut light and well-constructed two-horse waggon, with the usual white canvas cover — in fact, tlu; emigrant waggon so familiar to all who have sojourned any length of time in the Western States of America — a somewhat contined but by no means uncomfortable combination of carriai^e and dwelling- 22 THE YOUNG RANX'HMEN. house in one. fastened behind the vehicle was a wooden trough or manger, out of which the horses could eat their feed cf maize or oats whenever a halt was called for the purpose. At the repository of one of the best known horse- dealers in the city, Major Weston, who was a good judge of horse-flesh, bought a i)air of fine chestnut liorses, or rather mares, five years' old, and standing about fifteen and a half hands high. They were well bred, active animals, short in the leg, deep in the chest, with round full barrels, well ribbed home, higli withers and crests, and well set-on shapely heads. They were such horses as delighted the eyes of the Western faruKir, combining as they did the qualities of speed and endurance, strength and activity. When they were decked in their new harness and placed abreast (as usual in America) in the light canvas- covered waggon, the whole presented such a smart and serviceable appearance that Ifobert and the boys could scarcely refrain from an enthusiastic shout of admira- tion and delight. A magnificent saddle-horse was purchased of the same dealer. It was five vears' old and about fifteen hands and a half high. This superb and well-bred animal was coal black, without a speck of white anywhere about him ; while his Ir.rge, fiery eyes, dilated nostrils, shapely head, and noble carriage, unmistakably showed liis Arab descent. THE OUTFIT. 23 the As liobert led the beautiful creature out iu frout of the hotel for the inspection of those who had not been with Major Weston when he bought him, Connie, who was naturally most enthusiastic in her expres- sions of admiration, enquired the horse's name. "The Black I'rince," answered her father. "Oh! I don't like that; it is loo lonu," exclaimed the girl. " Let us re-name him Saladin! " " Yes. Saladin ! that's the name," shouted Harry. " Very well," said Major Weston ; " Saladin sl^all it be. But, now, lead him away, liobert, to the stable, and then return to us, for we shall need your services in helping to choose and carry many otlier e([ually interesting, useful, and necessary things." "Fire-arms, for instance," said Harry, as liobert led away I he horse. "And a small tent, with poles and ropes complete, for you and Frank and myself to sleep in," said Major Weston. " Connie must have the waggon, and Kobert will have to be content with as comfortable a slee})ing- place as he can arrange for himself l)eneatli it." "Connie can sleep on my tool-chest," said Frank; "for, of course, I must have a chest of carpenter's tools, father." "Of course," said the Major; " [ imagine we shall find you a very useful man, Frank." " It is well he learnt to be such a skilful joiner," said Connie, adding to her brother; "you will feel glad 24 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. now tliJit you devoted oo mucli time as two hours a day for two years to tlie business, and that father paid for you liaving lessons from a first-rate workman. Why did you do it, father ? Did you anticipate sucli a time as this?" " I have always tliought it well for a youth to learn some handicraft thoroughly, as well as to go througli the usual routine of school and college education," replied Major Weston. " I may have got the idea in the first place from some of our Continental neigh- bours. It is said that in the palmy days of Poland every youth above the labouring class, even to the liighest noble in the land, was obliged to learn a useful trade or liandicraft, so tliat, in case of i reverse of fortune (that proverbially fickle dame), no man need be reduced to helpless want, or forced to live on the charity of liis friends and neighbours. That was true and manly independence. Xo wond<3r Poland once held such a proud position among the nations." " I was always glad you let me be apprenticed for <i time 1^ a clever machinist," said Harry ; " it gives me such a sense <>f power to be able to take the most intricate machniery to pieces and to put it together again, after it has been cleaned, without any difficulty. Besides, one always feels one might invent alterations or other machines for other purposes, which might be equally useful." " ' Knowledge is power.' What does not the world ■, :. 5 i i THE OUTFIT. 25 Id owe to its great inventors ^ " said Major Weston ; " and when I saw your genius was a more inventive one than your brother's, 1 determined you should have every advantage." " That was a I'ood working-model he made of a steam-engine," said Frank, with generous admiration of his brother's talents. " Yes ; but I like the water-wheel lie nuide at uncle's large farm in Warwickshire best," said Connie, •' for it turned the great churn so beautifully, and was so very useful." " You will tind all that you learnt on your uncle's farm most useful now," said Major Weston to his sons. *• How little I thought, when I had to leave you and your mother so long there during my absence from England, that it was the very s[)ot and the very training that would prove most beneficial to you in your future life I " Then, laying his hand aflection- ately upon Connie's shoulder, he said in a low voice, as if he were thinking aloud, " I did not plan it all, for 1 could not foresee what was to be. A higher Hand shapes and moulds our lives, and leads us by a way that we know not." Often afterwards, Connie thought of her father's words, when the vicissitudes and dangers of their wandering life seemed at times to be almost over- whelmhig ; and the gentle, tenderly-nurtured found inexpressible comfort in doing so. girl I 26 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN'. But now Harry was saying what a good thing it was that he and Frank liad assisted in all sorts of farm-work ever since he could remember, and that under their uncle's tuition they had become practised and fearless riders, able to follow the fox-hounds over difficult country with skill and l»oldness. " It was so good of uncle, too, to give us those active little Welsh ponies when we were quite small boys," said Frank ; " nothing else than a ' bullfinch ' would daunt them and cause us to have to make a detour." "What is a Indltinch ? " asked Connie; "I used to think it was a bird ? " The boys laughed merrily as they explained it was a thick, high bullock-proof hedge. " Your own riding ought to have told you that," said Frank. " You forget that, though I often accompanied you and uncle on your rides, he was always careful not to take me into such difficult places as your term ' bull- finch ' would express," said the girl. " And quite right, too," said her father. " But here is llobert. Xow we will go and make our pur- chases." It would take far too long to describe all the articles our travellers had to procure. A few, how- ever, from their importance, must be mentioned. First, there were the fire-arms, which Major Weston bought at the best Gjunsmith's in St Louis. Some of THE OUTFIT. 2T to he |\v- )n lof them could not at th.at time liave been supplied in any other country in the world but America. Two of these were splendid little repeatinuj riHes, which, when once charged, could be fired tliirteen times without removing the weapon from the slioulder ; or, if desired, they could be loaded and used as ordinary breechloading rities, the twelve cartridges in the magazine situated in the butt of the riHe being held in reserve for any sudden emergency. These splendid weapons were perfectly reliable up to a distance of five hundred yards. Tlien there was a couple of first-rate long-range rifies, sighted up to one thousand yards, and four six-chambered Colt's revolvers. The proper belts for carrying these and tlie sheathed bowie or hunting knives were procured at the same place. Thus, eacli of our adventurers was provided with a rifle, revolver, hunting-knife, and belt, in addition to the useful shot-guns and a light sporting rifie which they had brought with them from Canada. Even Connie had been taught to use the latter with considerable skill. Of course, a good supply of ammunition was laid in ; also the small tent with its pole and ropes, which Major Weston had mentioned as the future sleeping apartment of himself and sons, and tlie tool-chest, which was to make Connie's bedstead and to contain Frank's well-assorted tools. Amongst these latter were axes of different sizes, from tlie small hatchet 28 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. to the heavy felling-axe ; also all the other numerous articles witli vvliich a well-fitted tool-chest is generally supplied. Major Weston also purchased an oil cooking-stove, with the necessary utensils — kettle, steamer, frying- pan, and a good-sized sheet-iron oven to place on the top of the stove for baking purposes ; for a good part of the emigrant's contemplated journey lay through so desolate iiud dreary a region that even wood enough for fuel could not always be procured. In the capacious waggon were also stowed away many necessaries, such as bags of Hour, oatmeal and rice, tin boxes, cups and plates, knives and forks, and a few buffalo robes and blankets ; and, lastly, two or three waterproof sheets to throw over tlie ground beneatli the blankets at night to prevent the damp from striking tlirough. CHATTEU TV. A BRUSH WITH THE RED-SKINS. At It'ngth all was ready, and the long train of emi- grants, with their canvas-topped waggons and drivers, horses, mules, cattle, &c., set out on what seemed an almost interminal)le journey. They could only j)ro- ceed at a slow pace, on account of the cattle and other live stock, which some of the emigrants took with them to form the nucleus of future herds and droves in the fertile vales of California, the native cattle of which State were known to be of a very inferior and diminutive breed. The party was altogether too strong to be attacked openly by the roving bands of Indians during the weary journey across Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado, although the latter sometimes harassed their march in hope of picking up stragglers, or carrying off horses or cattle. But Major Weston, who had by general consent been made commandant of the party, kept so strict a watch over the train while in the Indian 30 THE YOUNG KANCHMEX. country, tlirovviiij^ out mounted scouts in front Jind on each tiank \)y day, and setting sentries at regular distances and keeping mounted i)atrols constantly encircling the encampment by night, that the only surprise which was attempted was easily beaten oil'. This adventure mi;'ht have ended most tra<'icallv for some of the party if it had not been for the cool courage and adroit action of Frank "Weston. It occurred about a week after crossing thci upper reaches of the Republican Fork of the Kansas lliver, in what subsequently became a part of Colorado territory. The train had halted for the mid-day rest and meal, when the ever-watchful commandant, wIkj was surveying the prairie through his glass, fancied he saw something unusual in the movements of what appeared to be a drove of wild horses or nnistangs a long way oit* across the plain. Calling Frank, who was scouting on that side, to him, he told him to ride cautiously in their direction until he got near enough to ascertain clearly whether they were only mustangs or a party of mounted savages trying to approach unobserved. At the same time another scout was despatched to warn some of the women and children, wlio were herding their cattle and horses along a small stream of water in that direction — its verdant banks offering a tempting bite to the hungry animals — to head them back towards the camp, for fear of an Indian stampede. I A BRUSH WITH THK UKD-SKINS. 31 angs oach was Iren, lant au Scarcely liad the order luien com])!!!!!! with, ami tlie stock turned in the direction of the wair^ons, when Frank was observed gallopinLj l)ack, hotly ])ursued hy a score or two of yelling savages. 'IMie latter weie mounted on their nimble ])onics, wliich they urged to their utmost speed. At onc(; tlierc; was a scene of the wildest confusion, the women and children running madly towards the cam]), with heartrending screams and cries for hell); while the men hastily seized their guns and rifles, and hurried to the rescue. They would, however, have arrived too late to save half a dozen of the poor creatures, who, having crossed the little stream before mentioned, had failed to get their cattle over it again when the alarm was lirst given. These terror-stricken individuals would soon have been overtaken and scalped, or carried olt' l)y the ])lood- thirsty Arapahoes, had not Frank, ])erceivhig their danger, suddenly wheeled his horse round, and, at the risk of his life, made a bold diversion in their favour by charging straight at tlie foremost Indian, who seemed to be their chief, llnslinging his repeating ritle at the same moment, Frank (piietly look aim and tired ; but, foiled by tlie motion of the horse and the speed at which both lie and liis antagonist were riding, the aim proved untrue, so that, instead of striking the chief, the ball entered the pony's shoulder, and both ro lied For over c a moment the pli 11 n. the savages were so thunderstruck 82 THK YOl'NG UANCMMKN'. by this sudden inanonuvrc that tlicy almost uncon- seicmsly dr(»w rein. liefore they eouM reoover their self-possession, Frank stopped Ids horse and, raising,' his rille, iired two shots, woundin;^^ a eouph» of the Indians, who fell from their horsc^s. Tliis seemed lo l)reak the spell, and, slioutiuL,^ out thcnr fearful war- wh(J0p, and a^^ain led hy their ehief, who had mean- whihi sucee(Mled in disenf^icdnii" himself from his fallen steed and lea])in<;' upon one of those from whieli the wouncUul red-skins had dropped, they all galloped head- lon<;' towards Frank, brandisliinj^' on high their glittering tomaliawks, ready for hurling at him as soon as tliey f'ot within striking distance. On came the dusky warriors like a whirlwind, the ground shaking beneath the heavy tread of tlieir foaming mustangs. A few brief moments, and their ruthless hatchets would have crashed thr .ugh the brain of the intrepid young pale- face. ]^ut the boy had not waited for them ; lie had already turned and tied. The gallant Saladin, knowing well what was expected of him, was now coursing over the plain at such a pace, that, in spite of their efforts, the Indians soon found themselves completely distanced. Changing their course, therefore, they once more guided their ponies in pursuit of the screaming women and children. These unfortunate creatures had made such good use of the time gained by young Weston's devoted efforts to shield them and draw the enemy's attention on himself, that they were now within a couple of A MIM'STI WITH TIIK HE|)-SK1\S. :J3 « hundriMl yanls oi the ])ai'ty of nu'ii liastily collcctiMl iin<l lM'!".i«Mi l>y Major Wvston, who were liurryiii^- to llicir assistance. IJiavcly and tit'iccly as tlu' Xorlli AniLTJcan Indians: will tiinlit when the advantage sct-ms to !)«> on their side, and the vielory piaetieally assured, they will, on a sudden change in tla^ situation of afl'airs or a dis- covery that they had niisealeulated the stren^^lh of liieir enemy, at once retreat with the utnu)st pre- (•i[»ilancy. Perceiving the a])proach of a well-armed body of men, the Arai)ahoes would doubtless, under ordinary circumstances, have turned and disaj)peared until, per- chance, a lietter ojijxtrtunity for murder or i)Iundej' presented itself. Uul, maddenetl Ity the loss they had sustained, and panting for revenge, they seemed di^ter- mined that their ]>rev should not esca])e them when almost within their grasp. In vain did Krank's riHc ring out, as, galloi)ing ])arallel with them, he tired shot after shot into their ranks. Two or three moi'e pome and tluiir tawnv riders came down with a crash ; hut the wild career of the others wjis not st(>p))e(l for an instant. On swe])t the vellin<' mob. Fiftv viirds more, and their nervous fingers would have clutched the hail* of their frantic victims; but, liark ! what is that i "Halt! steadv, mv men; make readv ! itrescnt! tire!'' shouted out the Major's clear voice. u 34 THE YOINCI HANrir.MKX. ()1)s(M'vin<^' tlic fimiiincnt (l;mu;('r »if tlic fui^ntivcs, md liiivinu' 'i<»t liis iiit'ii witliiii a limnhcd yiirds or ho 'n o of tlu! Iiidiiiiis, 1r! knew no lime imist bu htst ii' iho lives of 1!k3 f;)nii(!r wen; to he saved. As tliu sL'iilturc'd vollcv iiiii'' out, sfvcral of thtj foremost/ Nvariioi's Idt iIk; dust ; and (o coiiiplctti the discoiiitiluri^ of tlu; rest, Itotli l-'rank, wlio had coiik! U|), and Major Western disci lar^cd their revolvers into the waverinij, mass. This had tlu; desired elleet, Un- the whole band wheeled suddenly round and lied as fast as it had come. From be^innini,^ to entl the whole ail'air only oeeupit^l a few minutes, and but for the unlucky red-skins who hiy dead or wounded on the uround, it would htivo seemed almost U) the startled emigrants more like a frinhtful dream than a real incident of life. The scene which followed was most touehinsj,' : wives and children, rescued from the very jaws of death, were fondly clasped in the arms of husbjinils and ])arents, witli cries and tears of i^ratitude and joy : while, now and then, a half-suppresseti sol) broke from tirst one and then anotlu'r of the sympathetic crowd of by- standers, the most callous of whom were seen to brush away a tear. As for Frank, the hero of the hour, he was (piite overwhelmed with thanks and ])raises ; and, conscious that he was liettinu,' very hot and red in the face, he was looking about for some loop-hole of escape from f -;* A nifi'sTr WITH thk red-skins. 35 fi^i-itivos, ■ rds or .so I St if th(! 1 I of the 1 >l('t(i tlie 1 i!»l COIIK! 1 LTS into I Hi'C't, for I I Jli'd iis fl ciul tin? H but for 1 d on the ■ .stiirtltMl I ii real 1 : wives 1 til, were I pareiils, I le, now ■ rst one 1 of by- 1 t l»rush 1 ■; ([uite 1 iiscious 1 aee, \w. 1 e from ■'a his eiii1)arraH!Hini4 ])ositioii, wlion fo]'t\niately he espied one of the riderless In<lian ])onies earei'rin^' about the ])lain. lUurlin,^' <ajt sonu'tbin^,' to the elVeet that lie was lilad if lie laid l)een of any service, hi' ^ave his hojse the rein and dashe<l away in ]»ursuil of tlie excited animal, which, tindin.i,' ils(df followed, tossed u|i its iiead, and, ,Ljivin,u' one or two terrified snorts, was soon scampering over the i)rairie at its uttermost speed. Tlie musianu', a dark chestnut nearly fifteen hands hiuli, with lonj^f fluwini;" mane and tail, ])roved to l»e one of llu^ finest s])eciniens of tiu! breed. Frank soon lu'came aware tliat, unencumbered Jis it was witli any lauih'n, it would ])Ut even Saladin's speed and endur- ance to the test before its cap)ture would be efVeeted. Auain and a^ain, as the nolde tlKjrouufhbied l>rouglit his rider almost within reach of tlie trailini;" l)ridle, the active little (chestnut shot aside, antl, doubling; like a hare, lie was a (juarter of a mile ofV in another direction before Frank could uet his larger horse round and continue the chase. At last, however, he uianaLiCtl to seize the embroidered reins before the mustan<;' could repeat the manceuvre, and returned with the n(nv submissive aninad to the canij). Meanwhile, ATajor AVeston had given orders for the bodies of the dead .Vrapahoes to be buried and the wounds of the living to be attended to, after which such of the hitler as weie not much injured Vvcre at 36 THE YOUN'f! HAX(;HMEN. 01100 dismissed, and tlio reniuindcr a.< soon as they woiv jil)le to walk. This inercifnl treatment seemed (^uite iiK'om})relieii- sible to the ]-oor creatures, and it was witli ditlieulty they were; made to understand tliat tliey were free to depart wlieresoever tliey wished to go. Tliey liad evidently ex[)eeted to l)e put to death, if not tortured into the bargain. " Jiravo ! Master Frank," shouted Lazenhy, as soon as the youth approached, leading the eaptured mustang — " that will make a good horse for Master Harry to ride ; he is always wishing there was another Saddle- horse for him, so that he could ride about as much as he likes. And, between ourselves, sir, 1 believe that would be for sixteen hours out of the tweuty-four if lie could only olilain a mount." And ttie good- natured servant indul!'e<l in a heartv laugh at his own jocosity. " Where is my brother i " replied Frank, smiling. " AVith Miss Connie in the waugon, I Ijelieve, sir." " Then, lead tliis horse gently there, wliile 1 ride over yonder to rej)ort my capture to the commandant : then I shall follow vou home." AVhen Fraidv reaclieil their waggon a ([uarter <»f an hour later, he found both Harry and Connie still admiring the proud little chestnut. The former had mounted and was riding the mustang about to show off its paces to the delighted girl. A nilUSH WITH THE IlED-sKlN'S. :n as they n])relien- -liHiculiy free tu lioy Jmd tortured ^ soon as staii^L>' — {arry to §addle- luucli as ve tliat '-four if g0( Mi- lls own ^■ir." I ride ndant : of ail e stili (T liad ) show " Well, how do you like your new horse .' " asked Frank. "Oh! he's perfection itself. lint, say, am I really to have him for my own { What says my father i " eagerly <[uestioned the excited lad. " 1 have just been risking him, and he says that, as 1 captured the animal, he belongs to me to do as I like with ; and therefore 1 make him <.»ver to vou. lra[)pings and all." "Hurrah!" exclaimed Harry, making his new (,'liarger i»lunge and rear ])y tossing his cap high into the air in the exuberance of his spirits. " Vou are a brick and no mistake ;" and tiien, bursting into song, he continued, in the inspiriting words of the well- known musical toast — "For lie's a jolly {^ood ii'llow I For he's a jolly good fellow ! For lie's a jolly good fellcnv ! Which nobody can deny," c^c. Jiobert and Connie laughingly joined in the chorus. I '^ CHAl'TEJf V. BUFFALO HUNTING. Av.ov' a N\('i;k after tlieir iiiemomble encounter with the roviiiL^ ])an(l of Arapahoes, the emigrants reached the south branch Oi the Nebraska, or I'latte liiver, which tht'y crossed I'V a ratlier difticult ford. TUv stream is here more than half a mile wide, but, owing to the dry sunnner weather, its waters were fortunately low — in some parts not more than a foot or two in de})th, and nowliere at this sj)ot more than three or four feet dee]); otherwise, its treacherous (piicksands and irreiiular bed would haye made it a dantjerous as well as trouldesome object in their path. The greater })art of a day was spent in elfecting the passage of this perplexing riyer, but at length all A /ere Siifely landed on its northern bank. Two or three [ileasant marches oyer higli, rolling prairies, abounding in traces of buffalo and other large game, brought them to the Xorth lH)rk. Till! eciutry now became broken and uneyen. i ■r BT'FFALO IIUNTINCJ. 39 Si 2e. iter witli ;e lii\'t'r, (1. The t, owing tunately two ill liroc or cksaiids rolls as 'fl'ecti]i<; igtli all Two or )rairies, game, iiieven. Stcop lofty banks often bordered the river, and obliged tile, caravan to strike olf into the more open prairies. For some days past they had frer^uently noticed a curiously-shaped conical hill, the summit of which ran u[) rpiite narrowly to a great height, resembling a lofty pillar. Some of the travellers who had been on tra[)i)ing oi' hunting expeditions to the liocky ^fountains on other occasions, and who now acted as guides to the expedition, said this curious phenomenon was kiiov.n l)v the name f)f "The Chimnev." It is i[uite a landmark, and can be seen thirty or hjrty miles awav in clear weather. A., the emigrants approached the base of this towering cohunn, ]\lajor AVeston held a consultation with the heads of the company, and it was decided to f(jrm their camp there for a few days, in order to try and replenish their scanty stock of fresh meat by organising a l)uHalo hunt on a somewhat extensive scale. The same evening Major "Weston ascended to the base of the " Chimney," in company with his younger son and two or three experienced hunters, or, more strictly speaking, emigrant farmers, wlio had (>ncc bec-n on huntiuL;' (excursions into the neighbour- hood in the service of one or other of the rival fur companies. Tiiis was in their vounu'er davs, when the coni])eti- li*)n between the American Fur ("omiuinv and the I- V \U)c\<y ^Mountain Fur ('om])anv for active vountj; 40 TMK YOL'N(; KANXHMEX fi'ontier'.s-iiKMi, lo assist in conveyin;^' su|)])lies to the (lill'ereiit rradiiig centres or ])oints nf rcnde/vous iinionf^st the nionntain ranges and remote valleys of the baekltonc! of Aiiieriea, riiised tlie scale of remunera- tion to a tempting' sum. After returning from one sucli enterjaise, souk^ would again settle down quietly to the comparative monotonv of tlie ordinary farmer's or Ijackwoodsnmns life; but many hecame so (enamoured of the wild, free life of the haidv tra])pers as to join their ranks permanently. There must be something leally very fascinating and enjoyable to some natures in the rough un- trammelled existence of these intrepid mountaineers. The very dangers and hardships to which they are constantly' expo.sed, and to which they not unfreipiently succumli, seem only to increase their thirst for more adventures, and to jinimate them to deeds of greater daring. Enchanting the life nnist be, indeed, to induce men to forego all the comforts of civilisation for the discomforts and adversities of a half-savage and perilous career. The small reconnoitring party having . gained the summit of the mound at the foot of the chimney -like shaft by dint of hard clind,)ing, sat or reclined upon the jutting rocks which formed, as it were, the founda- tion of the colunni. Exliaustcd and well-nigh l)reathless as they were from the precipitous njiture of the ascent, a simultaneous exclamation of- astonishment MrFFALO HUNTIXG. 41 s to the Rk'/VUll.S lll(JVS of iiiuiiera- roiu (^1113 I quietly fiirincr'.s iiiiourtHl to join eiiiatiiig igh un- :aineers. hey are (iiieiitly more Li:reater induce 'or the jerilous mI the 3y-like upon )unda- Ltliless f the inient and pleasure burst from their lips as their delijuhted eyes hclield llie niaLiniticent ])anorania s]n-('ad out lieiiealh and around them. Far away to thi' north, in the midst of the vast jdain, rose the dark and ])on- derous ,uroup of mountains called the lUack Hills. These looked like some massive and detached outwork of the i^rand stupendous barrier formed l)y the liocky Mountains to tlu^ westward. Thouyli the loftv peaks of tiie former reached to llu^ heij^lit of OTOO feet aljove st-ii level, they were quite dwarfed by the exalted snow-clad sununits of their tall neighbours — Fremont's I'eak, on the o])posite side of the wide tract of prairie, mounting skywards to an altitude of lo,57U feet. St)uth and east of their elevated stand-point ex- tended level or rolling prairies as far as the eye couhl reach, intersecte»i by numerous rivers and creeks, and, uiost important of all to our hungry travellers, dotted liere and there with herds of buffalo, some roaming over the short dr}' grass of the j)lain, wliili' others were feeding or Iving down in the vast natural pastures around. AVestw; id the ground was more broken and ele- vated, rising gradually to the Cheyenne I'ass and the I*ark Mountains; while beneath thenltiowed the Ijroad waters of the Platte Kiver, widening out into an imposhig stream l)elow its junction with the South Fork, and threading its wav eastward like a hu«4e 42 THE yount; raxcttmex. ii snake ,Ljli(lin_£,' silently over ihe grass-covered ])liiins. Ifavini; Itceome satisfied of tlie i)roxiniit}' of hw^i] herds of oull'alo, and lin_L,'ere(l a ivw minutes to admire the lovely rosocoloured tints tlirijwn across the snow- ti]»])ed peaks of the Rocky Mountains l>y the settinj^ sun, ^lajor Weston and his companions rpiickly descended to the cani])ing ground. Tlie next day was spent in pn^parations for tlie hunt an'l in resting the horses, so that they might he in wod working order on the following; dav. Fires arms of all descriptions were cleaned, and hunting- knives sliari)ened. Large Hat stones and smooth houlders from the river-he(l were hrought to l)e ready, in lieu of mortars, for ])ounding the meat when making ])ennnican. This article may he calleil the trap[)er"s stair of life; on it lie often subsists for months, with scarcely any ad(htional food. It is ])re]>ared hy first cutting the meat into thin slices and drvinu" it, after whicli it is l)ruised in a mortar, or between smooth stones, uiitil thorou'ddv disinteu,Tated ; the fat is then, melted and pouied over it, and the mess ti«'litlv com- ])ressed into small bags made out of the l)uiraloes' skins. Thus preserved, pemmican can l)e kept for several ;nonths without spoiling, and it is said that half a ])ound of it is e(puvalent to two pounds of ordinary meat. As may be imagined, Frank and Harry were in a lively state of excitement al the pros])ect of taking jtart in a bufl'alo liunt. and when at last the eventful # BUFFALO HUNTIXO. 4d (lay anivfd, botli were quickly 0([iiippO(l und stntionud in the plju'C assitj^nud to tluMii at one end of the liii(5 of horsi'iuen. liobert LazcniUv rode onc^ of tlu3 clu'slimt harness mares, in attendance on his voun'' masters. Altoyiether tliere were twenty v.cll-mounted hunters, under the connnand of two experienced horderers and former trapi)ers, named Sanson and Indian r»ill. Major Weston remained in cam]) with the rest of the men, as a precaution against Indians, they hein^' now in the neighbourhood of the warlike^ Sioux. Tlie scouts who had been sent olt' to discover the exact whereaV)outs of the buffaloes havin^^ returned, the whole party proceeded cautiously in the direction indicated. As soon as thev reached the sununit of a low bank of hillocks they perceived a Hn(! lu-rd of the huge animals roving slowly across the valley below. From the wav in whicli tliev stopi)ed (^verv now and then to turn their heads in the direction of the hunters, and to sniff the air, it was evident that their suspicions were already aroused. This, however, was rather owing to the keen sense of smell possessed by these unwieldy creatures than to any lack of precaution on the part of the hunters. The latter bad been careful to approacli from the leewai'd side, so that what wind there was blew fro'-i the Itull'aloes towards themselves, and only a few of the men had ])eere(l warily over the bank, after first dismount ing from their 44 THE YOUXO UANCHMKN. steeds jind iidvanciiiL^ on hands and knees. The leader, havin<; tlius reconnoitred ihe uanie, hrietly eautioned tlie youn<,'er nienil)er.s of Ids troo}) to l)e earel'ul not to shoot one another in tlie excitement of thc^ chase, and then, ^dviniLj tlie word to charge, tlie \vliole party set spurs to their horses, .nnd clearing tlie ridge, galloped down the op])osite slope at the top of their s])eed. The wliole herd at once took to liieir heels ,i >i scampered oil' in lieadlong flight. "What glorious sport!" shouted the excited Harry, as his active mustany hounded gailv along. "Wait a hit," said his brother, "until we get into the thick of them; only mind you do not come to grief. A wounded bull'alo is a niosi dangerous animal." "Never fear," replied the boy; " Clhieftain seems to understand the business well ! I 've no douljt he has taken part in many a IniH'alo hunt befoie to-day." "Hark, that was a ritle-shot!" said liobert; "some- one is already at work." " Well, here we are just on their heels. I'oor brutes, how they are straining every nerve to escape ! " cried Frank. " Each single out a beast," said Itobert, '" and get close alongside before firing." " All right," exclaimed the l)oys, as they guided their horses to the side of a couple of the fattest and m'KFAI.O KUXTIMJ. 45 voiingest-lookin^' cows, whilf INjInu't liinisell' sjiijijUmI uut u huge l)iill. All was now tlie greutcist conlusion ami uj)r()ar, the reports of rilles and pistols, the sliouts of the hunters, and tlie l)ello\ving of wounded and infuriated bull'aloes, toi^ether witli the heavy tramp of many hundreds of Ijoofs, creatine;' a deafening tumult ; while every now and tlien a dull heavy thud announeed the sudden downfall of one of the huge creatures. ])oth the young \V(!stons soon succeeded in slaying their first victim, and having dropped a handkerchief or cap to identify their l)ooty, contiinied in imrsuit of fresh spoils. Flushed with success, Harry next cssay(id t«> hring down !i magnificent bull. Frank shouted lo him not III 1)0 rasli, l»ul only received a wave (tf tlu* hand in reply; and the next minute both the butlalo bull and Harry disappeared (»ver the brow of some rising ground in front. Frank's first im})ulse was to dash after them, in order to keep his l)iotlu!r in sight and render any assistance that might Ije necessary, but at that moment a loud shcKit from Jiobert arrested his attcmtion. " Look out, ^Master Frank !" roared the man, in tones of the greatest alarm and excitement. And not with- out reason, for, on glancing hasuly l>ack, Frank per- ceived, to his horror, a huge bull cliarging straight towards him. The white foam was dripping from its niouth and down its Hanks, where il minuled with the 40 TlIK Y()UN(i RANCHMEN. blood *,'ushiM|uj from iiunicrous luillijl-wounds in its lU'C'lv and sliouldia-, wliilo its diluted nosiiils jind tiurce ,L;liivin^' vyvH showed it to 1k^ mad with ]»ain and fury. Fraidv liad slackimod his jcici! lo a canter, nnde- cidcd \vh(;lh(.'r lo follow llarrvor not : lait, aroused to Ids own imminent dan''(!r 1)V tlie sii^ht wliieh met his l(jok d. h h I Kin^' lound, Me sia spurs to his horse an( urged him (piickly aside. 'I'he huli'alo was within a few feet of him as Sakuhn leaj)t forward — a moment s liesitation, and Itoth liorse and rider would have been hurled to tJa^ ground by IIk; furious (juset. " Thank lUiaven, he is safe I" ejaeulated poor JJolterl, who was almost l)eside himself at the tliouj^ht of his yoiuig master's j)eril, especially jis luj was the jaimary cause of it, owing' to his having failed to bring down liis j)rey, although he had tired no less than ten or twelve shots at the beast. In Keidiiifffi Karrat'in' a curious instance of the ditliculty of killing a ladfalo is inc^ntioneii, and is as hdlows; — " ]\Ir I'eide tired fourteen balls into the chest of a l)uti'alo before he killed him, and Mr Scott, with a view to ascertain whether a ]>all tired at the head would break the frontal bone, discharged Ins rilie at a dead l)ull within ten })aces ; tlu; ball did iu)t penetrate, but merely entangled itself in tlie liair, where it was found. It had struck tlu^ foreliead an(l left a mark l)efore it rebounded."' BUFFALO lirNTING. 47 f Frniilv imiiKMliatcly Joincfl the servant in jtursnii of the \v(»nn<lo(l animal. Iml just as lii'.'V canic up willi it, and wt'ii! on llie point of tirinn', it sank down I'xliaustcd (til ihc t^ronnd. Tlu; next moment it roiled over on the uronnd and exjiired. In tli(! meantime Harrv had overtaken the hull ho was in pursuit of, and hrou^ht him to this ''nuuid l>v a well-dire('te(l shot hehind his ear. After which, reinin.u' in his horse, he ai>proaehed tlie hull in front, with tiu! intention of i^ivin^' him tlu; ftiiii> dr i/nhr l»y a shot hetweeii {\h\ eyes, sup[tosin_i;' that would at onee en ter th d's 1 1(3 anniuus hram aiui put a speedy en( 1 ih d to I us suileiin.us. iris sat^aeious ehi'stnut, iiowever, was lietter a((|uainted with the dani^erons nature of tlu; wounded hull'alo, and refused to a})])roaeh Inm ; thereu])(»n Harry foolishly dismounted, and (juiekly hoithlini;' his horse to pnn'ent its eseii])e, julviineed towards his hu,L;'e ([Uarry on foot. He was in the aet of raisin^ Ins rillu t(j take aim when the. ]m\\ suddenly sjtran^' to his feet, and, loudly hellowiuLi', rushed straight at the astonished hov, if This was more than he had har^ained for, and what Wonder if he drop[)ed his wea[ton, and, paralysed witii fear, stood rooted to the .ground ! AVhen the taljles have heen so .suddenly and Utr- rihly turned upon him, many a full-grown man — yea, manv a Imivc^ man- has heen foi- a moment unnerved. It cannot, therefore, he a niattei- of sur- I I 48 THE yoVSa IIAN'CII.MKN'. Il I jH'isc tlmt ail iiicxpfricni't'd lad <»!' liftcM-n years, or rather less, sIiduM lose liis liea<l at sueli an awhil iiioiiieiit. 'I'he enra,u;('»l lieast was williin a few feet of liiiii, and the next instant i»i)<»r Harry nil«;ht have heeii knoeke(l down and j^'ored to death had not a loud sl»out of "Jump aside!" rau<ilit his ears. Instantly recovering;' his presence of mind at the familiar sound of his Itrother'.s voice, ho s])ran;j: li.uditly aside, just as the hot hreath of the shaiu'uy monster smote his face. Jt was a veiy narrow cseajie indeed, and for a moment or two Many stood daze(l and motionless; lait this was onlv momentaiv. and uuieklv uave place to an ardent desire to retrieve his character as a fear- less hunter in the eyes of his brother and Kol>ert, who had now almost come up to liim. Sprin^in^ l(» where his rith* lay, he snatched it u]>, and ([uickly took aim at the hull, which, having- cliccked its pace, was in the act of turniuL,' round to renew the charge. He lired and liit the heast in the side, Itut it only shook itself, and, more savaj^e tlian ever, rushed madly at its enemy. ilarry was now perfectly calm and collected, and (ail- ing to his friends not to interfere, manfully stood his ground, tiring shot after shot from his repeathig-riHe into the breast of the advancing hufl'alo, l»ut with !il)parently so littler effect that both Frank and Kobert >vere on the i)oint of discharging their lities at thu I i m'FFALo nrxTixn. 49 <(' boast. They had (lisiuoiiiited from tlicir horses, and knoll down npon the <,'r()und, in order to insnre a steady and accnratc aim if tliey found it necessary to lire. AVith rifles leycdled and tin^'ers on thci triggers, they folloNved the bull's course, and perceiying it within half a dozen yards of the di^termined boy, {''rank \vas about to cry "Fire!" ])ut at that very instant the huge creature drop[)ed down dead almost at Harry's feet. With a shout of triumi)h the latter jumped upon the carcass of his late formidable {intu- gonist, and, intoxicated with victory, executed a sort of Highland jig on its sliaggy body. I'Vank and Robert heartily congratulatcMl the hero on his success, and then, finding that the herd were now scattered in every direction, they remounted their horses and returned to the camp. ^leanwhile the rest of tin; hunters, weary with slaughtering, were slowly straggling back for fresh horses to harness to the rough shulges which had beim constructed the previous day ready for hauling in the buflalo meat. The latter was in great abund- ance, and the horsemen having purposely attacked the bulialoes in such a way as to drive them during the hunt in the direction of the camp, the sleighs Iiad not far to go for the meat. All was now bustle and excitement ; while some skinned and cut up the car- casses, others drove the laden sleighs back to the older yucn, and the women and children, whose duty it was D S 50 THE YOUNG UAXCHMEN. to ciil llic llc'sli into thill .stiii)s and dry it on stages erected over liirt>e tires. Sonic of the meat received no further preparation, hut the greater portion was afterwards made into pemmican, as hefore described. Eventually Harry jn-esented his sister Coiniie with the beautiful skin, or robe, as it is called, of the line bull he had killed. CHArTEE VI. "THE TIIKESHOLD OF THE ROCKIEf^. "What i^^rand cliffs!" cried Connie, a few days after- wards, with an exclamation of deliLi;ht. " Yes," said Harry, who was riding near her just then ; " are they not exactly like fortifications, old castles, and lofty turrets ? " "Exactly. I wonder what they call them; such bold, high clilfs must surely have a name." "I sliould think so, indeed. I will ride on to the front and make in(|uiries," said Harry, as he gave* Chieftain his head and cantered forward to wliere his father was conversing willi Sanson and Indian I>ill. Left U) lierself, the girl sat ([uite still on her favourite seat in tlie front of tlie wauuon. As .she ga/AMl on llie wild and ])ietures([ue scene l)cfore her, she wondered how such curious freaks of nature coultl have been brought about, and whether llicre were anv- wliere in the annals of mank' a record of these crag.s. She was not destined to be disappoinicii. 52 THE YOVJNG RANCHMEN'. Wlh^n Harry returned lie was accompanied by liis ,t'iitlier, who had come to tell his daughter all that he knew or had been able to learn about them from tlie trappers. Major Weston drew his horse close alongside the waggon as he said, " Harry tells me you wish to know the name of these extraordinary clii'f's." " I do, indeed," replied Connie. " I feel sure they have a history, and I should not be surprised to hear that you have read about them in one or other of your American books of travel." " You are right, my dear, for Sanson tells me they are called ' Scott's lUuffs,' and, curiously enough, T was reading about them only the other day." " (^h, how fortunate ! — in Willis's Anrcdotis / " ■' Xo, they do not relate to tlie country so far west as this. It was in Washington Irviug's Advent urrs of Captain B(nincville. The story is, moreover, a very sad one." " Oh, dear ! but you will tell it to me ?" '■ Certainly. And you must remember, dear child, that sadness and iov alternate in this life like rain- clouds and sunshine, and the one is no L'ss beneficial than the other, in its right time and place." Connie remained silent ; and after a brief pause, in which her father's thoughts were (nidently carried back to some fond reniembrance of tlie past, the story was begun, of •'THE THRESHOLD OV TttE tlOCKIES. it ^•3 " It seems," said Major Weston, " that many years iij^o a party of luniters were descending the npper i)ait, of tlie liiver I'latte in canoes, when their frail vessels were suddenly swamped. Their ammunition was all spoilt, and they were consequently unable to kill game for food. In these straits they contrived to live on su(.'li edible roots and wild fruits as they could find until they arrived at Laramie's Fork, a small allluent of the north branch of the Nebraska, about sixty miles idjove these cliffs. Here one of the unfortunate men was taken seriously ill and was unal)le to i)ro- ceed any further. His companions, therefore, came to a halt, intending to remain where they were until he had recovered. When out searching for roots, however, they came across the fresh trail of another pa^'ty of white ^nen, and the temptation to abandon their helpless companion, and l)y a forced march seek to overtake this party, proved too great for them to resist." " {Surely they did not leave him alone to die ! " cried Connie, with emotion. " Thev could not be so heartless as to desert a comrade in his hour of need." " If they did, they were cowards and scoundrels," exclaimed Harry, very emphatically. " J)oubthss they thought if they remained with him they might all lose their lives," said the ]\Iajor ; " but what will you think of them when I tell you that, I i 54 THt: YOUN^G tlANCHMEK. wliuii they had succeeded in overtaking the party of wliitc men, they actually concealed their faithless desertion of Scott, and said that he had died of (h'sejise ? " "()h! father; what wretches! Surely they would afterwards suffer agonies of remorse wlien tliey re- iiiemhered wlint they liad done." " I only liope tliey did," cried Harry, " and tliat tlie ]M>or fellow's ghost liaunted them all the rest of tlieir lives, tlie hrutes !" " Gently, Harry ; remember that the only perfect Miui has said, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' However," continued the i\Iajor, after a sliort pause, " these misguided men must have felt some remorse when, on returning the following sununer in company witli others, tliey chanced suddenly upon the Ideached bones of a human skeleton, which, by certain unmis- takable signs, they recognised as Scott's. This was fully sixty miles from tlie place where they had deserted him, and they knew that the unluippy man must have dragged himself that innnense distance before death ^ut an end to his sutlerinu,s." " How very sad ! " said Connie, her blue eyes dim with tears ; '" and he had not even the poor consolation of knowing that henceforth these clilt's would bear his name and form his imperishable monument. "With what despair he nuist have looked u]> at their niassi\e proportions ami towering crests ! " "THE THRESHOLD OF THE llOCKIES.'* 55 "Let us hope that he looked still higher to the help that never fails," said her fath !r. Each absorbed in their own thoughts, the travellers journeyed for some distance in silence. This was at last broken by an exclamation from I lariy, who, pointing in the direction of tlie river, unslung his riHe, and giving the rein to his horse, started away at a brisk trot. "Wliat's in the wind now, T wonder?" observed the Major, as lie watched his son disappear round a ckunp of alders in some low-lying ground to the right. " Why, see ! " exclaimed llobert ; " there they go." And as the man spoke a small herd of deer emerged, with leaps and bounds, from the oi)posite side of the covert. At the same moment came the report of a riHe, jmd one of the graceful creatures sprang high into the air and then fell motionless upon the ground. " Bravo ! " " Well done ! " Such were the exclamations of Major Weston and liis servant liobert, as they witnessed the skill of the young sportsman. " A capital shot, upon my word," continued the former, while a proud look shone for a moment in his keen grey eyes. " Depend upon it, that Lid 's a born luinter." The deer proved to l)e one of the black-tail(Ml species, a very tine variety, which abounds in that particular neighbuurhood. Subsequently both Frank I I 56 TUE YOUNG RANCHMEN. and Harry shot a considerable lunnber of lliuni, and their flesh proved a most welcome addition to the daily bill of fare. Having now entered upon the peculiar territory of the restless and predatory Sioux, however, the emigrants were obliged to proceed with caution, particularly as the nature of the ground wr's so very favourable for the purposes of the Indians' favourite mode of warfare, an ambuscade. The scouts were doubled, and made to beat up the country both in advance and on either side of the train, exploring every nook and hollow, clump and ravine, which could harbour a lurking band of red- skins. But, with the exception of one or two false alarms, all went well until one of the outermost spurs of the liocky Mountains was reached. The travellers had encamped on a grassy strip of land bordering the Laramie jork, a branch of the Platte lijver. It was somewhat early in the evening to form their camp, but the pasturage being unusually good at this spot, it was decided to halt, so that the horses and other animals might have the benefit of a good feed before entering on the hardships which they would necessarily have to encounter in crossing the rough and elevated region of the Medicine Bow Mountains and Bridger's Pass. As the next day happened to be Sunday, the poor creatures would be able to make the most of the luscious pasture. "THE THHESHOLI) OF THE ROCKIES. 87 V t A lovely evening succeeded tlie somewhat liot and sultry day, and as soon as the usual liglit repast was finished, Frank and Harry asked their fatlier's ]iei- mission to get out for a couple of liours' sliooting among the neighboiu'ing rocks. Tiiey liad observed several mountain sheep, or bighorns, as they are called, nimbly springing from rock to rock, or croj)- ping the tufts of scanty herbag(! wliich grew here and there amongst the stones and jutting crags of their lofty and almost inaccessible feeding-grounds. "And may not T accompany them, dear father?" pleaded Connie. " It is so long since I had a good scramble, and tills is such an invitinu; evening for one. But I forgot," continued the girl, with a sliglit toucli of sadness in her tones, " I should l^e a drag on my brothers' movements, and " "Oh, no, you would not; we should bo delighted to have your company — indeed we should," broke in both boys simultaneously. As Connie was about to thank her brothers for their kind observations, Major Weston remarked that lie had no objection to her going with them, provided that they did not wander far away from the camp, as they had not met with any signs tluit Indians were in tlie neighbourhood. At tlie same time lie cautioned his sons to observe tlie utmost vigilance and circum- spection, and on the slightest symptom of danger to return at once to the encampment. The young 58 THE YOUNG UANCIIMEN. ])coplG were soon equipped for tlie elmse, and, takin,*,' llobert willi them, set out for some bold cliffs about a mile off'. Here tliey liopcd to meet with some of the beautiful and active creatures called bighorns. This animal is often confounded with another inhabitant of the Kooky ^fountains, the (h-in nuniffout, or mountain sheep, which is not so gregarious in its habits, more ibau two or three being seldom found togetlier. With the exception that botli tliese curious animals Ijave lieads like the common sheep, and ])iefer U) seek their food, and indeed to pass tlieir lives, amidst the most ruggcnl and inaccessible cliil's, except when the snows of winter oblige them to descend into the valley for grass, there is little resendjlance between them. The bighorn is altogether a liner animal, witn the hair and body of a deer rather than of a sheep, and its flesh is said to be particularly fine; and delicate in ilfivour. The liorns frequently measure over three feet in length and twelve or fourteen inches in circumference where they emerge from the head. The mountain sheep, on the other hand, is shorter in the kg, and is clothed with a combination of long coarse hair, overlying a thick coat or fleece of short fine wool, the former admirably suited for throwing off wet, tl;e latter for sustaining the animal heat. Some naturalists arc of opmion that this animal is derived from the Argali of Asia, found in the Himalayas and the elevated plains "THE THUESHOLD OF THE ROCKIES." 59 running vvcstwurd to tho Caucasus, and cast and north to Kamscliatka and the sea, and tliat it crossed tho ice at IJehring's Straits. The bighorn answers more to llie description of the Ovifi traydaphn^i, or bearded Argali ; in size and figure bearing a considerable resemblance to the deer tril>e. It frequents the inland steppes of Barbary, and the mountains of Egypt, but, curious to relate, it is the liocky Mountain sheej), and not the bighorn, which in America possesses the goatlike appendage of a beard. " Whist ! I see .something moving on tlie edge of tliat frightful precipice," whispered Frank, as they approached the foot of the clifl's. " AVhere ? " inquired his sister excitedly. "Just above that solitary bush, which seems to be growing out of the solid rock there," answered Frank. " Oh ! I see it," exclaimed a chorus of voices, in a rather loud sort of stage whisper. " Hush ! not so luud, please. Ah ! lie raises his head ; he has heard us, I fear." " Wl»at a noble fellow lie is ! " said Connie. " How I should like to sketch liim in that very etlective attitude ! lUit I fear he would not wait long enough for me to do so. See, he is stamping his foot to warn liis family and friends, I suppose, that there is danger about. What magnificent liorns he has ! I wonder their weight does not make him afraid of over- 60 THE YOUN(J UAN'CHMKN*. l)alan('iii,L,' liinisdf, peiaiii'^f down ut lis in iluil nmnnur rii^'lit over a sliccr ])r('ci])i('('." "All! tluii'c lie <,'(K'.s ! What a wonder lie does not break liis neek, .sprin<,nn;^' in tuat reekless manner from rock to rock ! " said Frank. "Why did you not liave a slioL at him, sir?" queried Robert. « li Because, my dear fellow, I should i)refer one of the youn^i^er members of liis tribe," answered Frank, laughini,^. " Yes, I should think that would l)e the venerable leader of thi; iloek, judginj^' by his innnense horns and ,Lfeneral appearance," observed Harry thoughtfully. " I thiidv, Connie; dear, if you don't mind, it would be better for vou to remain here, while Harrr and 1 try to stalk one of these bighorns ; the rocks are too steep and diilicult for you to be able to keep up with us, and Ifobert cjin stay with you until our return." " Oh ! certainly," replied Connie ; " I would ratlnn* rest here a little. I fancy T shall be al)le to secure some pretty and rare specimens for my botanical album. There seems to be a great variety of beautiful llowers in the nooks and crannies of these rocky dells, and Eobert can mount guard on that pulpit-shaped rock and enlarge on the wonders of Central .\orth America, or, by a stretch of the imagination, fancy he is back in the Crimea, and that the clifis above " THE THIJESIIOIJ) OF THE HOrKIEs u 1 (51 hiiu nr (' the slubbfU'U w 'all.> and buttk ment s of Seluisto; 1 " "I'll mount tlic rock, M iss, and welcome,' sai 1 the wDrtliy IJolK-rt ; "but { IS tor the rest, it will take mc all my time to keep a good look-out for prowlin.u; Indians. It seems to mo such gentry as them are iv.n times more crafty and danuerous enemies than eyen the cunning llussians used to be." A merry laugh from Connie and a " Piravo, Kol)ert ! " from Harry was the only reply that reached the soldier-seryant as he clambered U) the top of the rock which was to serye as a temporary watch-tower. Ere he reached the sunnnit the young hunters were speeding away towards the neighbouring highlands, and he watched them until they disappeared behind a shoulder (»f the nearest clitTs. CHAPTEK VII. rAUinEl) OFF liY 1{ED-SKINS. An }iour had passed, and Connio was Ijeginiiint,' to wish her brothers wouUl return, when a slirill but (h'stant whistle, which she immediately reco,L,mised as Frank's, eaui^dit lier ear. "What is the meanin*; of that, T wonder T' slio said somewhat anxiously to llobert. " Oh," riiplied the man, deseendin*;- (luickly from his elevated j)osition as he spoke, "tliat is for me. Master Frank told me that if they shot one of those big- liorned i^oats that they were goinu; after, and required help to gi't it down to the bottom of the rocks, he wouhl l)low a lon^' shrill blast on his whistle, like that we have just heard." "Then 1 shall be left here alone :*" said the ,L»irb in tones of alarm. " Well, Miss, if you are anyways frightened, of course 1 will not leave you." " (Jh no; you must certainly go and help my 1 mothers; CARRIED OFF HY REU-SKINS. 63 it was foolisli of uw, to be afraid when thcro is really no danj^er," she replied, half ashamed of her momentary weakness. " I know you will hasten haek as (^uiekly as you can, and in tlu; meantime T will make a rou^di sketch of that curious turret-like rock which you have just vacated." " Then you are ([uite sure, ^liss, you don't mind my leaving,' you for half an hour or so ^." "Not the least, liol)ert; now j^^o, and get hack as soon as you can, that's a good fellow." The next moment Connie found herself alone, and her heart sank within her as she glanced round at the desolate as])ect of the i)lace. She half repented of her boldness in allowing the servant to depart, and even ran lo the top of one of the numerous little hillocks, with the intention of calling him back, but changed her mind when she saw him already nearly half-way to the cliffs ; and persuading herself that her fears were groundless, she sat down upon the grassy slope. Then she took out her pocket-book and began to sketch the bold outline of the distant moun- tains, with the nearer beetling crags and high blull's, and, as a foreground, the l)old i)ul[)it-lik(^ i-ock already described. At first she kei)t looking u}) from her work, and casting timid glances in every direction to make sure that no savage animal, biped or quadrup(;d, was near. Presently, howev(ir, as her mind became absorbed i]; her drawing, tlie uneasy feeling gradually 64 THE YOITNfJ RANCHMEN. wore away, and with it hur vi^^ilaiice, until even the rasping noise made l)y a ground-squirrel as it worked away with its sliarp teeth at tlie shell of a hickory nut close behind her, or the loud wliirr of a cuvey of (juails, as they rose from a neighbouring tliicket of low ])ushes, failed to startle her, or to cause even a careless look in the direction whence the sound pro- ceeded. All at once the girl sprang to her feet with a startled cry. A dark shadow had fallen across her j)aper, and, looking round, she saw with horror the painted and bedizened ligure of a stalwart young Indian standing close at hand, with Ids keen black eyes intently fixed upon her. " Ugh! my fair sister is like an antelope surprised by the hunters :— but why does slie wander so f;ir hoin the lodges of her friends ^ Is she ignorant that these i)lains and mountains are the hunting-grounds of the white man's foes, tli", In'ave Sioux 1 " Connie's first imi)ulse had been to seek safety in flight, l)ut when slie heard herself addressed in such respect" '!>le Englisli tlie thought Hashed across her mind that, after all, the savage miglit not have any liad intentions towjirds her. She rellected that it would have been easy for liim to have killed or seized her at onee had he so desired, and in any case it woulil be absurd for her to attempt to outrun an Indian. Jjesides, he seemed to l»e alone, and might she not Slie siiw willi liunor tln' it.iiiitctl ;iml iKMli/cncd limiio of ;i 4iil\viut yuniij; Iiitli.ui. • rARRIED OFF BY RED-SKINS. 65 adroitly engage him in conversation until her brothers or Kobert returned ? Surely it must already be time tor them to be making their appearance. Acting on tliis conce])tion, she said to tlie young chief, for such he evidently was — " My red brother certainly alarmed me ; his step was so light that I knew not of his approach until his shadow darkened the leaves of my .sketch-book ; but in spite of his dark words, I trust the Sioux chief comes as a friend ; and I heartily invite him to accompany me and my companions — for I am not alone, at least only for a very short time — to our encampment yonder. My friends will wel- come a sachem of tlie famous Sioux, and the i)ii)e of peace shall go round, and love and friendship prevail, as it ought always to do, between the white and red man." " IMy sister has a nimble tongue, antl her words sound very fair, Init there can be no peace between her people and mine when the pale-faces invade our hunting-grounds, and kill and drive away the l^ull'alo and antelopes without even seeking leave. Ugh ! the long-knives treat the rea men like dogs." The Indian's eyes Hashed, and a vindictive expression stole across his swarthy countenance as he continued — " but Teconsa shall have his revenue. Ah ! ah ! he will take the I'olden-haired dau<^hter of the pale-face leader in payment of this trespass on his lands. Come, my pretty one, you nnist follow V^ 66 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. m < me. Quick, now ; you shall be my wife, the wife of tlie chief Teconsa. Wliat, you refuse ? ah ! then, I must use force." So sayiug, he stretched out his hand to lay hold of the girl, but at that moment he was seized in the grasp of a gigantic young emigrant, named Ifigby, who had crept up unperceived by the Indian, so absorbed was the latter in his project of carrying of}' the lovely maiden. Ethan lligby was the only son of a well-to-do farmer of Madisonville, Kentucky, who, being of a restless and enterprising nature, had sold his possessions and tlirown in his lot with the emigrants. Ethan had received a fair education, and was in every way superior to the general run of American pioneers, who, though often good honest fellows, are, as a rule, somewhat uneducated and rude of speech and manneis. This young emigrant hail fallen desperately in love with the fascinating Miss Weston almost from his first sight of her, and although naturally rather shy, he never lost an opportunity of paying her such attentions as he could, or doing her any service which ci: cumstances might reipiire. It was impossible for the object of all this devotion to remain un- conscious of the true state of affairs. But unable as she was to reciprocate his attachment, (Jonnie Weston found Ethan's attentions most embarrassing, and being desirous not to cause suclj a good and nM!W*]Ul'^^ft. CARRIED OFF BY RED-SKINS. 67 manly fellow any nnnecessary pain, she studiously refrained from giving him any encouragement. She therefore let it be seen in numberless ways that she regarded him with no warmer vsentiments than those of friendshij) and respect. Ethan, indeed, perceived this i)lainly enough, but being of a sanguine tempera- ment, he did not despair. " I iijill make her love me," he would say to liimself ; " she nmst love me, or life will not be worth living. If I cannot win her, then 1 should like to die for her, and show her how great and true my devotion really is." Poor young Kigby I he seemed to iiave a presenti- ment even then that one (jr other was to be his fate. On the present occasion he had noticed Miss Weston leave the camp in company with lu;r two brothers and che servant Itobert, and being well aware of the dangerous neighbourhood in which they were encamped, he shouldered his ritlo and followed some distance in the rear of the party, determined not to l)e too far oil' if anything wrong should befall the light of his eyes, as he delighted to call Constance. After liobert had left his conspicuous post of observation in answer to Frank's whistle, young Iiigby had dra\/n nearer to the spot occupied by Miss Weston. As he lay, screened from observation by some low wormwood bushes, he fiad perceived the stealthy approach of the Sioux chief. (Irasping his 68 THE YOTTXr; IIANCHMEX. II rille, lie took stciuly aim at tlio Indian, witli tlie intention of firiiiu; if tlie latter i-liowed the slightest (Iispositi('iJ to injure the uirl. He soon found, however, that such was not the design of the savage, and at once decided upon taking him prisoner instead of shooting h^n. Like all truly brave men, the young emigrant shrank from shedding the hlood of a fellow-creature, except at the last extremity and when no milder measure! would suiHce. Accordingly he laid down his trusty rille, and taking juI vantage of whatever cover the nature of the ground afforded him, stole ([uietly up behind the Sioux brave, much in the same way as the latter had stolen \\[) behind Miss Weston. The man(ruvre, as we have seen, was so far perfectly successful, owing, in some measure no doubt, to the preoccupied state of th.e Indian, who was quite absorbed in the endeavour to possess himself of the lovelv white «nrl. Connie gave exi)ression to the glad sense of relief she felt at this timely sense of deliverance by a few heartfelt words of gratitude to her deliverer. Then she sprang to the top of an adjacent boulder to see if there were no signs of her absent brethren and Kobert. An exclamation of intense delight escaped her lips as she beheld three distant ligures emerge from behind the shoulder of rock previously referred to, and com- mence to cross the intervening stretch of level ground. . CAUIIIED OFF BY REFKSKINS. 69 Til an instunt her liaiulkercliicf was waviiif,' at arm's Icn^'tli al)ovc her head, and in a few moments the si^nial was answered by lier approachin;^ friends. Tliis little incident did not est'ai)e the quick eye of the captured Indian, who immediately ceased liis fruitless strugi,des to free himself from the powerful grasp of his huge captor, and suddenly imitated the sharp bark of a prairie dog three times. The effect was magical. In less time than it takes to write it, a score or two of Sioux warriors suddenly emerged from the shady bosom of a leafy little dell not fifty yards away. It was as if the ground hail quietly ()[)ened and discharged the mothiy band of decked and painted red-sknis. There was a hurried rush, and the next moment Itigby, who, on perceiving how matters stood, had released his prisoner in order to defend himself if possible from this fresh danger, was surrounded by the tierce mob of excited savages, who, with knives and tomahawks brandished aloft, only awaited a signal from their chief to hack the unfortunate young man in pieces. Surprised as he was at the desperate situation in which he so rapidly found himself placed, and almost unarmed, having only a small hunting-knife, the young Kentuckian betrayed no sign of fear. Placing his back against the large boulder up which Connie had scrambled, and drawing his tiny weapon, he stood like a lion at bay. Terrible as the situation v/as, Connie could not help It,' II' If' 1 it ^0 THE YOUNG UANCIIMEN. thinking' what a fine subject lie would iiitikc in that detiiuil attitude for a clever artist. Tlie splendid physiiiue, the Hashing eye, the feet tinidy planted, the l»road exi)ande(l chest, and the tinely-shaped head thrown proudly back, displaying the swcdling muscles of his massive yet iinely-i)roportioned neck — this, together with the wild a; d threatening group of sjivigo figures tbut cm '^'Uj. ;.3.jcu him, all combined to form a scene at once gjiid did terrible. In calmer moments it always suggested lu Connie's mind the image of some ancient gladiator standing in the arnia of a (rreek or Koman ampliitheatre, and prepared to battle for his life against the fierce and hungry wild beasts already loosed upon him. For a few brief moments a deathlike and ominous silence prevailed as the chief contemplated his noble enemy with a look of mingled auger and admira- tion. Then he motioned to his warriors to stand back, and advancing towarjls Kigbv addressed him as follows : — " The big pale-face i>j - cry brave, he does not know fear, liis heart is large ; but he cannot tight all my men at once and hope to live. Let him throw awjly his knife and become my prisoner ; he shall not be hurt. Teconsa has spoken." " Never !" cried liigby ; " I will never be taken alivii or abandon this helpless lady to your tender mercies while I have strength to defend her!" CAUniED OFF liY RED-SKTNS. 71 " Bui Lliu odds are too grt'ut," ])leii<li'd (.'oniiie, who was anxious to suv(i lier i^ndlaiit ('liani[)ion'« liTe. " I beg you will ihnnv down youv knife and suhniit to I'C bound ; it is the. only cliaiicu fur boih of us. ]>esi(U's. 1.. 1]) is near," slu^ v liispered. " 1 nijl a,y down my bowie-knife since it is your wish," said the young man, suiting the action to tlie words, " and with it perchance my only hojje of making a successful resistance, for, as I said before, I will never surrender to a red-skin, to be tortii;t'(! uid made the sport of all the fiendish tribe. 'N;. [ will put no faith in an Indian's promise. »Vu '»': your hell-hounds, cowardly chief! AVhat odds "♦:' 1 do lo.se my life," he added bitterly, "since it is of iitJe value to those for whom alone I would care to retain it, and consequently only a burden to myself 'f At this point one of the Indians rushed up to his chief and whispered something in his ear — no dcjubt to the effect that the young hunters and their attendant were approaching the spot, for he inunediately ordered half of his men to lay aside their arms and secure the now defenceless Kentuckian, while the rest brought up the horses which had been secreted in tlie hollow dell or ravine. The latter party fpiickly performed their allotted task, but their comrades were less fortu- nate. They rushed upon their solitary intagonist with the confidence begotten of overwhelming numbers, but only to be dashed aside, or hurled back again like some 72 THE YOITNfi UANrnMEX. inij^'lity wave wlicn it bruiiks ai^^aiiist a stu])lK)ni nuk. Once, twice, and yet a tliird time did lli^diy cjist lliem otl'; and then a fallen Indian sei/.ed his lei^'s and elnng ti;4htly round tlieni, which so ini])eded and elo<^%'ed Ins ellorts lliat at the next onset lie was home to the eartli, hrini^dn^ down three or four of the savages with him. Meantimci Teconsa had seized (Jonnie, and, assisttMl hy one of his warriors, had placed her before him on his horse and ^galloped oil*. He was (juickly followed hy the remaininif Indians, wilh the exception of two unfortunate wretches. These were luiahle to extricate themselves from beneath the stalwart frame of their desperate adversary, who lay with one under each arm, thus et'lectually pinning them to the ground. •tmmmimmmtmtmim CHA1>TE1I VIII. THE PUKSUIT. Scarcely Ii.ad the Hyiii*; IiuUiiiis disappeared when the two y()Uii»4 Westous and Kubert ruslied breatli- hsnly up the littl(! mound, and, astonished beyond measure l)y tlie siiL,dit which met their eyes, stared wildly around, hidf expectini^^ to be immediately set upon by a host of lurking savai^es. As they drew near th(^ place where their sister was to have awaited their return, they heard sounds as of horses' hoofs and struggling men, and, almost beside themselves with the wildest apprehensions of what might have befallen her, they rushed madly forward. Had the Indians remained in ambush they could easily have killed or overpowered so rash a party. Older and more ex- perienced travellers or hunters in these dangerous solitudes would, in the same circumstances, have approached with the utmost caution and circumspec- tion ; but the suspense of the returning hunters was so terribly keen as to cause them to forget everything 74 THE VOTING UANCIIMKN. except llu'ir loved one's inessiii^' (liinm'r. Frank was the lirst to reco^niise their travelliiii^ companion, Kthan lii;^)))', in the hu^^'e })rostrate li;^nire that held a wri^f^liii^' Indian Ijenealh each arm. " What has hai)pened ? Tell me at once !" cried the excited lad. " Secure these .i^n-easy scoundrels first with some of that cord you carry, and then I will help you to track the other thieves, and release Miss Weston," was the l)rompt rei)ly, as promptly acted upon. " Now these ro,L;ues are safely bound, hack to hack, and heel to heel — follow me," (3xclaimed tiie young Kentuckian, striding rapidly forward on the track of the vanished war-i)arty. For some time they pressed forward in silence. The trail was plain and easy to follow until they began to come near the pass that led towards the heart of the wild and lofty mountains. It then began to grow less distinct at every step, owing to the harder nature of the ground and the approach of darkness — for the sun had long since set. At last even Kigby was obliged to confess that he was uncertain whether the whole of the party had taken the route they were then pursuing, or whether they had divided, and half of them gone in another direction in order to balUe their pursuers. " It strikes mc," said Kobert, " that it would have been wiser to have made the best of our way buck to- / THE PrUSUIT. 75 ^ cnmp and procuriMl (issistaiK-e ; we could tlicn liavo^ot toi^'etlior fi stroni; i»irty of wiiU-niountt'd volimtt'i'rs, and follo\v('(l thoso crafty red nicii with some cliance of success." "That's what T 'vo been thinking' for tlie last half- hour," said lii,L,d)y, " but I could not nuister sullicicnt courage to say it, for I am sure these younj^ gentle- men would, like myself, have preferred at all hazards to attempt the rescue of their sisti'r, rather than return without her. Wluit will tlie Conunandant think of us when we relate the horrid slory? Jle will say, and justly too, not knowing tlu; wIkjU; of tlie circumstances — * Cowards, why did you not save my daughter, or perish in the attempt ?' " "And the worst of it is," said Frank, "wo — or rather I — disobeyed my fither's instructions, for he particularly enjoined the utmost carefulness and circumspection, and I am most fearfully and inex- cusably to blame for leaving my sister without any protection." " Jiut everything seemed so calm and peace fid, and we all thought there was not the least risk in leaving Connie for a short time, but I wish " and liere poor Harry brok'' down and wept disconsolately at the thought of u^e fearful calamity that had befaUen them. " Let us make at once for the camp," said Frank : " I should be worse than a coward if I allowed aiiv 76 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. { considerations of personal censure to interfere with my doing all that can be done to retrieve my error ; and I feel certain that the plan proposed by Kobert is the only one that offers the least chance of success. It is sheer madness to expect to overtake and defeat the Sioux wlien we are on foot, while they are well mounted and acquainted with all the intricacies of the rugged mountain region before us." " Hist : " said Kigby sharply, throwing himself down and placing his ear to the ground. " Yes," he continued, " T was not mistaken ; there is a mounted party approaching at a canter — Sioux in search of us, I'll be l)ound. Follow me up these rocks, where no liorseman can reach us, and where we shall Ije able to conmiand the pass. Quick, now, or we shall be too late ! " After a brief but somewhat hazardous scramble they all four reached a kind of natural gallery wliich overlooked the entrance of the narrow defile through which the cavalcade was rapidly advancing towards tliem. liigby directed his companions to take up their positions under cover of some detached masses of rock which had lodged on the gallery in their descent from the clifis above, and then he cautioned them to examine their rifles, to see that all were riglit and fit for service after their rough and hurried scramble. The moon, which was only in its first quarter, had . THE PURSUIT. 77 now risen, .and cast a weird and uncertain liglit upon the wild and desolate spot, brilliantly illuminating the l»old masses of grey rock where its rays fell directly upon them, and throwing the densest sliaduws vvliere such was not tlie case. For a few seconds the silence was only broken by the sharp clatter of the horses' hoofs on the hard and stony ground ; but as the troop began to emerge from the deep gloom of the narrow pass, Itigby, confident that his surmise was correct, and that they would turn out to be the same party of Indians tl.at liad carried oil Aliss Weston, whispered to the young Westons to take steady aim at the first two horsemen, while he and Lazenby made sure of the next two. " It won't do," he continued warningly, " to throw away a single sliot. Let no one fire until I give the woid. Steady now ; here they come ! " The riders had checked their steeds and were ap- proaching at a walking pace. The moonlight fell full upon the four wlio were a little in advance of the rest, and from their garb and accoutrements, and the fan- tastic trappings of the horses, l)oth Frank and Harry, who were posted beliind tlie same rock, were convinced they were the hated Sioux, so, witli their fingers on the triggers of their rifies, they Ijreathlessly awaited the word to fire. " Now," said Kobert, in a hoarse whisper, " had we not better fire before they pass beneath us ? " at m 78 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. But his compjinion, wlio was stariiii^ fixedly forward, suddenly threw up the levelled barrel and shouted out, " Hold ! they are friends, or at least white men ; and yonder is IMiss Weston herself, or my sight cruelly deceives me." " Hurrah ! what joy ! " exclaimed Harry, " Connie, dear Connie, is it indeed you ? Speak and relieve our anxiety, for we are almost dist ''acted on your account." " Yes, it is Conrie," replied the sweet and well- known voice," and I am well and unhiirmed, thanks to most providentially meeting with these brave kind friends." " Thank God ! " said Frank fervently. "Amen!" responded Ji(jbert and the young Ken- tuckian. Connie's escape had indeed been marvellous. On reaching the mountains, the Indians had divided into two bands, as conjectured by Ethan liigby, and whiie half their number turned to the northward, the other, led by Teconsa, with his captive still held in front of him, followed the river, whicli here threads its way through the narrow defiles and deep gorges whicli atlbrd an outlet to its waters, and constitute the only pass betweeii a bold spur of the Park Mountains and Laramie I'eak. The poor girl had endeavoured by tears and en- treaties to induce the chief to v^t^tore her to her THE PC HSU IT. 79 friends ; but neither the promise of a costly rjiiisom, her earnest supplications, nor her final threat of the terrible vengeance of her soldier parent, had any ap- parent effect on the heartless savage. Exhausted with grief and fear, Connie would have fallen from the horse but for the strong arm of her powerful captor. At last, finding how hopeless and unavailing were all her efiorts to obtain release, she ceased struggling, and endeavoured to resign herself to the thought that, after all, she was under the pro- tection of the Almigiity. The short twilight was now rapidly giving place to darkness, and still the Indians rode silently o!i, with- out any sign of halting to form the usual encampment for the night. Suddenly, however, as they entered an o})en valley, they were confronted by a well-armeil and well-mounted party of hunters or trappers ap- ]tioaching from the o})pusite direction. The red men instantlv drew rein and wheeled their horses njiunl the way tiiey had come, but not before their i)resen('e had been discovered by the advancing whites. Te- consa alone maintained his giound. He saw that to retreat by the narrow pass, already blocked by Ids ri'tiring followers, would b(; to court disaster. Familial wilh ivery path and on I let of the rocky wilderness he knew that there was at a short distauci^ to the right of him the entrance to a similar ravine to tliat through which he had just passed. Setting spur.^ to F !l "i THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. his horse, tlie chief raised the luud wur-whoop of the Sioux, and made as if he were j^oiiii,' directly towards the group of hunters, who formed in line, and with their riHes levelled, ])rei)are(l, as they thought, to receive a wild charge of Indians. Wlien, however, he had covered half the distance that intervened between himself and his enemies, Teconsa suddenly turned his horse's head and made straight for the passage men- tioned. Conni(; felt that now or never was her chance of rescue, so, with the courag<i of despair, she raised a loud and piercing cry for help. f CHAITKIJ IX. \ KKSCLliL). Constance Weston's wild, lialf-despnirini: cry was liL'Jird, and tlie next instant a lin^jing liritish clieer resounded tlir(>ni;li the ai^'. At tlie same time tliree or four lior.semen staited in liot pursuit. 'I'lie liorse u])(»n wliic! the youni,^ Sioux and his captive were mounted wa? not the usual Indian ]«>ny, hut a powerful and wfU-hred animal wliieh liad doul)tless l)eeu stohni fron. tlie eanip of some hukless travellers or hunters, jind, on account of its spec and Vjeauty, had Ijeen a])pro})riated by the chief \v iself. Moreover, the latter knew every turn Jind twist -f the dillicult route, and f(»r some time the issue f the chase seemed more than doubtful; i.ideed, t)i<' Indian succeeded in distancing; and leavin«j far behind him all except one of his pursuers. This last seemed determined not to be shaken olK Jle was mounted on a splendid grey horse, and its 82 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. lii,'ht colour enaViled Connie to see how cleverly it followed their steed's retreating stops over the most ditlicult country, horse and rider both seeming exempt from fjitiujue or fear. At last, exhausted with its double burden, Teconsa's steed no longer answered to the bit and spur, so that the white horse gained rapidly upon tliem. Perceiving that continued flight was useless, the chief pulled up, and for a moment seemed to hesitate whether to remain •^•nd figlit Ids iiersistent tracker, or to dismount, leave his captive, and escape on foot. A rapid glance at the determined countenance and flash- ing eyes of the noble youth who, pistol in hand, was riding down upon lum, made the Indian decide in fjivour of discretion. In a few moments, therefore, he had disappeared fiom sight amongst the neighbouring rocks. The sudden m.'inner in which Teconsa sprang from his steed brouglit Connie als(j to the ground, but fortunntelv .he was not hurt; and the next moment her gallant rescuer iiad leapt from his horse and was assisting her to rise. " I trust you are none the worse for this perilous adventure. Xo doubt you have been carried off from one of the frontier settlements," he said. " None the worse, thank you," rrplied Connie, " ex- cept feeling very tired, although 1 have not been placed at the tender mercies of these horrid Indians for so RESCUED. 83 long a time as you suppose. It was only a short time before sunset that I fell into their liunds, and my friends are encamped not far from here." " I am very glad of that," answered the stranger ; " we will all push on and join your camp for tlie night, and thus relieve the terrible anxiety which your friends must doubtless experience on your account as soon as possible." " You are most kind," said Connie, a slight blush suffusing her pale cheeks as her eyes met tliose of tlie handsome stranger earnestly fixed upon her ; " and my father will not know how to thank you sulhciently for your noble exertions on my behulf. Indeed," she added with emotion, " we shall botli i)c ciernally in your debt." " Xot in the least," he re[)lied, " I count it a greiit privilege to have been of any service to you;" and he gracefully raised his broad-brinnned liat, disi)laying a smooth white forehead and a mass of curly dark- brown hair. " But," he continued, glanjing anxiously round, " it won't do to linger here. Permit me to assist you on to my own horse ; he will carry you safely, while I can lead the other until it has re- covered itself suHiciently for me to mount." Connie quickly obeyed, for it was an easy feat for her to keep her balance on a man's saddle ; and as they slowly retraced their steps she could not help admiring ihe tall athletic figure and easy courteous ;Ml ; 11 > 11 84 THE YOUNG llANCHMEN. rimniu^r of her cluuiiiinj^' yt)""i,' conductor, who fre- quently j^liinced lichind to (issure himself of the safety (►f his clijir^'c, iiud to utter a few cheerful words of en- courajfeinent while leading the way down the rugged and dangerous ravine. They had not ])roceed(Ml far, however, l>ef(jre they met some of tiie youth's com)_)anions coming in search of him, and together they soon reached tlie rest of his party. The latter had jjcconu; somewluit anxious about Connie's deliverer, es})ecially a tine-looking man of conuuanding ajtpearancc, who seemed to Ite the leader. Captain Trevor, It.X., had been sent from England on important (lovernment l)usiness to liHlish Colundjiu ;nid Vancouver's Island, and was now returning home by waj )f the Cnited States. Me was accompanied by his son Ernest, a servant, and some llocky Moun- tain trai)pers and hunters, whom he liad engiiged to escort and guide him through the Indian country. Some of these latin* individuals belonged to a class known as the Free Trappers of the West, who are thus graphically described by Wnshingtou Irving in his Adi'cnlurcfi of Captdin JJoiinrrillr : "Their very appearance and eciuipinent exhibited a piebald mix- ture, half civilised and half sava<j;e. Manv of them looked more like Indians than white lueii in their garbs and accoutrements, and their very horsi's were ca[)arisoned in barbaric style, with fiaitastic trappings." And again : *' There is perhaps no class of men on the f^i UEscrKi). 85 face of the earth who lead a life of mori' continued exertion, peril, and excitement, and who are nmre enamoured of their occupations, tluin the Free Traj)- pers of the Xortli-West. Xn toil, no dant^'cr, no privation can turn the trapper from liis pursuit. His passionate excitement at times rescmhles a maniii. [n vain may the most vii^alant and cruel savages beset his path ; in vain may rocks and precipices and wintry torrents oi)pose his progress; let hut a single track of a beaver meet his eve iind he forgets all dani'ers and defies all ditticulties." This motley escort were themselves proceiMhng to St Louis to dispose of their peltries, or skins of l>ulfalo, beaver, fox, and other animals, and to lay iu a store of anuiiunition, trinkets, and such articles as would be useful in their occupation, and in itartering with tin; Indians for peltries. It was after many weeks of arduous travelling through the vast mountain wilder- ness, and while making a forced march in order to reach good pasturage for their hungry horses, tluit Ca]»tain Trevor and his fellow-travellers so opportunely encountered the ))artv of Sioux who were carrvinu ott' Miss Weston. \i ';i m C^HAITKI^ X. HOrXD TIIK CAMP-FIKE. Tei.'IMIilr wms the anxiety of Major Weston, and indeed the whole cani]*, at the ])rolon,ij;ed absence of Miss Weston and the hunlinj4-]iaitv, inchidinu' younj^ lli^by, who was supposed to liave accompanied tliem, i»s he had been ohservecl to shoidih'i' liis litle jind h'av(i tli(^ camp soon afterwards. Parties of the most active and ex])erienc(Ml of tlie emi;:i;rants were ()ri;Mnise(l and <lespatclied in search of tlie ahsentees. One was headed l)y the Major liimself, and great wns his deliglit wlien, on approacliing the spot from whieli his daughter liad ])een cariied oil', he nu^t a large; })arty of white men, among whom he quickly recognised his beloved children, witli Riubv and liobert. There was a scene of great rejoicing in the canii) thai: night. Major Weston invited the English naval otticer and Ins son and young Kigby to his n 'I ' •! 4 HOUND THE TAMr-l IKK. 87 own tent, and feasted them on the besi his stores aflurded. The rest of the strani^ers were hospitaidy entertained l)y the most well-to-do amongst tho emi^^iants. The stirring ineidents of the evenin<,' naturally formed the chief toj)ie of the conversation, and were u;rai»hieally descrihed hy some of the participators. Connie j^Mve an elo([nent account of Mthan liiL;lty's ,i;allant efVorts on her hehalf. and his desjx'rate stru^^i^de with overwhelmiu^' nund)ers of the enemy. She also <lescrihed her tcnrihle ride, the fortunate encounter with ('a})tain Trevor's Jjarty, the clever ruse of Teeoiisa, and l]»e excitini;' pursuit and idtimate rescue of her hy Krnest Trevor. As she leached that part of her story relating to the latter hero, a close observer might have n(jticcd some h(;ightening of the colour on her cheek and a slight tremor of her voice. Kighy, too, who, with <*yes fixed intently on the speaker, had hiuin listeniug with wrai)t attention up to this point, moved uneasily in his i»lace, at one momcua half rising from the bundle of faggots which served him for a seat, and the next stirring the crackling and sputtering tire with one of his huge feet. As Miss Weston concluded, he arose, lighted his pipe with a red-hot endter, and paced several times to and fro, as if in deep thought. It was oidy when JIarry l)egan to descrilu' the fearful shock experienced by himself, Frank, and IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V- ^ // {./ ^ .V :/- f/. ^^% ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 l^|2B |2.5 ■50 ■^" R^H US 1^ 12.2 1.4 -► <^fe V] ^/. > ,^ y >^ /A Photographic Sdences Corporation 4^ ^nr 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 >'*' 88 TUK YOUNfJ llAXCHMKN. Iiobert, on discoverinif the loss of their sister, and tlu'n tlieir lio])eless pursuit, with its ha]»])y termina- tion at tlie most critical moment of the ambuscade, that tlie }'oun,L»" Kentucki;in resumed his seat and his equanimity. The niiiht was now far advanced, hut everyone's nerves liad l)een strung; to such a j)itcli of excitement that even without tlie copious drauglits of strong cotl'ee, so liberally provided and i^ladly partaken of, sleep would have seemed out of the question. It was therefore })ro]iosed by Captain Trevor that the fire should be replenished, and that each in turn should tell som(^ authentic storv of Indian adventure. The suugestion having been received witli acclamation, it was innncdiately acted upon, and first one and then another told stories of the Indians, which showed that the white men had often treated them with great cruelty, and that their vindictiveness and enmity was only a necessary consequence. Finally, Ernest Trevor related simply and pathetically the story of how the famous Cornstalk, Sachem of the Shaw- nees and king of the Northern Confederacy, was basely detained prisoner wdien he had gone to the Fort of Point Pleasant to make overtures of peace, and afterwards cruelly murdered, together with his heroic son. "It is lu) wonder," exclaimed voung Trevor, in con- elusion, " that thenceforward, the Shawnees, the most ^ KOUXl) THK CAMP- FIRE. SO warlike tribe of the West, Itecame the most deiidly and iniplaeabli' foes of the wliite man." .Everyone had been hsteninu,' to the narration with breathless attention, while the young- man bt'traycd by the tones of his voice the i^enerous emotion stirred in his breast at the thoiiurht of the cruel and untimelv <leath of such noble warriors. And when lu' hud ended more than one of iiis hearers brushed awav a tear, while the spirited but lender-hearted Connie wept audiblv. 'J'he Commandant arose from his seat when he perceived that, and .uiving" his daughter his arm, led her li^ently away to her own snug quarters in tiie waggon, and bade her an atl'ectionjite good-night. 'I'l! I I M CHAPTER XL CONNIE AND ERNEST. Most of the wearied travellers slept until a very late hour the followinif morning. The other emigrants had long ago breakfasted and oeenpied themselves in various ways, Sunday morning though it was— for there weie v/orks of neeessity, sueh as preparing food, <*v:c., wliieh in their migratory life must V)e attended to when there was a halt — before Major Weston's party began to show signs of being awake and about again. Jlobert rose first, and laying aside the rug in which he had been ; leeping, set about replenishing the fire with tlie great boughs and dry tree-roots which had been collected the evening before. Then he went across to the waggon, and tapped rather loudly at the woodwork of it. " Well ?" said Connie's voice from within the canvas- covered vehicle. " Miss Connie, might I be so bold as to ask you to i ! K r< ml nil cq y^ CONNIE AND KRNKST. 01 make haste and got up. I slioiild like us to have a nice breakfast for our guests," said the worthy man. " Master was saying to me last night," he added, " tliat we were to have some steaks of venison and a couple of the buffalo tongues we have i)n'serv('d. It '11 be a power of cooking, though — on Sunday too !" " But we cannot heli) that, Ilobert," returned the girl's cheerful voice; "we have; no cold meat, and I will soon manage the cooking." "That you will, Miss, for I never saw anyone like you," replied Robert, with an air of great satisfaction as he returned to the tire. Connie hastily diessed. She had passed a vt.-ry restless, uneasy niglit, at one time falling asleep and dreaming that she was being carried of!" again by a terrible Indian, then awaking in terror to the sooth- ing recollection that Ernest Trevor had saved her life. Somehow she tlioutj'bt of that much oftener tlian of tne e(|uallv brave conduct of Ethan Kiiiliv. Ernest had CO. le to the rescue at such an extreme moment, when she had had time to realise her danger, and had been watching eviny hope of deliverance die oiU, as she thought, for her. Then — but how can we exi)lain how it is one young man finds favour in a giiTs (t\v.:< when the other, equally deserving, sighs for it in vtiin? It was of Ernest Connie thou<>ht as she lin^'crcd u moment before her little hand-glass to tie a knot of pale-blue ribbon at her wliite tliroat. It was because I ■ ti I 1 » ■ y n 92 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. ot him ihdi she regretted that hei* face looked altsohitely colourless. Slie was not usually at all solicitous a])out her a])pearance. liut then, as she said to herself, circumstances alter cjises, and she might nc.'ver see young Trevor and liis fallier again, and she would like tliem to carry away a ])leasant memory of the girl whose life the younger had been the jneans of saving. I*ee])ing through a chink in tlie canvas of the waggon, si 1(3 could sec Ernest Trevor ])acing u]) and down in earnest conversation with his father at a little distance. "How liandsome he looks, and how Imive he is!" vshe tliou^ht. And then, mindful of the duties of hospitality, she descended from the; waggon, and was sf)on l)usily engaged in citoking, while Robert spread the breakfast cloth on a table of nature's own con- struction, a Hat moss-covered mound. Captain Trevor, coming up to tlie fair cook pre- sently, i'o!nplim(3nted her on lier cmphjyment, and looked admiringly at the graceful way in wliich, with sleeves ui)turned and wearing a large a])ron, she was })erforming it. H3 was })leased with the modest, unassuming manner in which she replied, and the ingenuity with which she led the conversation away from herself. The breakfast was pronounced a great success. After it was over a space was cleared within the e ¥ «i CONNIE AND ERNEST. J)8 encampment, and, witli tiic iic([uies"ei;('o of tlie otlun' emigrants and travellers, it was announced that Major Weston was about to read the Morning Service of the Chnrch of England. Very soon many men, women, and children had assembled, and i)erfect order prevailecl while the Major read in his sonorous tones th(^ heauliful words of the Knglish Liturgy. Two or three liymns were sung, and after a short address from ('ajtlain Tn^vor, who was annomiced as " tlie stranger amongst us" hy Major W(\ston, the congregation dispersed. Later in the day Connie and Krnest Trevor had more than one long conversation together, in wiiich they were eacli delighted with the similarity of their tastes and opinions. It was a new exju'rience foi* each to lind anotlier fresh young mind alike, and yet how deliglitfully unlike, its own. And tlu'ougli all their pleasure the tliought of tlie approaching sepani- tion on the morrow intervened with its dark shadow at intervals which became shorter and shorter. When Connie, with Ihished cheeks and downcast eyes, was preparing l)reakfast the following morning Captain Trevor and his son came to her, and tlie latter said abruptly, " I have liiien trying to persuade my father to allow me to g(j to California with vour party. Miss Weston. I should like it so nuicli better than going home to study medicine in old England." in m 94 TJIE YOUN(i UAN'CHMEN. C( looketl [ill I uiiiiii.stakuble Hush of |)loasm('. '• Jiut, Ernie, it \N()u1(1 hreiik your uiotlicr's heiiil if 1 riiLiiviKid alone," inl('i']M)sc(l his fatlier in somewhat pained accents ; " and yuu know what her ^neat wish for you is. I am silent about my own." "Oh ! of couisi' 1 will give u[) my wishes for yours and lier's," said Ernest quickly, "only I cannot help reiinatinu' that duty and inclination should be so widely severed. So you must let me make mv little moan." " Certainly, my boy," but Captain Trevor did not stop to hear it. He sauntered away to meet Major Weston, who was returning from liis morning Itathe in tlie river. " Do you not think it would be a grander life to figlit the Hglit of civilization in the wilds of California than to return to swell tlie crowded ranks of a crowded [)i'()fession in England : "' asked Ernest. Connie hesitated. For one moment the idea of societ pi. ■ty during their long journey, and then perliai)s perman- ently in the strange country to which they were journeying, seeniec I v ■ry allurin; Should .she per- suade him — he required little persuading — to urge the matter .still further with his father ? Should she suggest that his mother might be appeased and won over to consent to the altered plan ? She spurned the ■ '~-^' !*1btM roWIE A\I> KIIXKST. !).■) ihouixht, and I'aisin-'' licr l)eautiful ('V«'s to Iiis, shn aiiswcrotl, " I think, Mr Trevor, lliat notliiiin' in tin? worM is so urand as for onii to ^ivc up (aic's own inclination for llie sake, of duty, especially »luty to one's ])arents." Mrnest liowcd, with a ,nlance of keen admiration at the nohle L^irl, hut lie had no time to reply, for just then his father and Major Weston joined them. A eou])l(! of hours afterwards, however, while the others were all enLi;a,L!;ed with ))artin,L;" remarks and mutual comi)linu)nts iind good wishes, iiiidinj;' himself alone near (.onnii;, for the gallant grey stood hetween them and the rest of the; party, Ki'ucst raised the girl's hand to his li[)s, murmuring, "I)uty shall ]>e hencefoith my motto, Miss AVeston, for }our sake an»l for the sake of all that is good and nohle." Connie was deei)lv aflected, and as ht; turned awav she placed a Iock(!t in his hand, hegging him to accc'pt it as a small nu>numto of the valuable service ho liatl rendered her. Witli a glance that expres.sed more than he could say, Ernest vaulted into liis saddle, and, lifting his hat, cantered after his friends, v,ho liad hy this time already started. Connie stood looking after him for a few moments, and then she too disai)peared from the scene. Some- thing evidently required her presence in the waggon, her brothers concluded, as she did not leave it G on TIIK Y()r\(; HANT'FrMF.X. lor ([\\\Ui liiilf ail liour. AVlum slio did slit; looked very ])ido, and ai»i»c'ar(Ml to ])v. disincliiUMl to coii- V(11'.S(!. Mciaiiwiiilc tlui vast train of \va"i^'L;ons had once nioru been set in motion, and tlu; faces of tlie patient travellers tnrned westward. Connie ])resently took her accustomed seat in tlu; front of tluj wa^u;on, and in vain tried to l)e cheerful. Her usuidly l)Uoyant s])irits s<'emed weigluid down l»y an undefinable dread. Sonui terrible forel)odin<^' of evil had taken possession of lier, a foreltodin;^" as real us it was strange and uiiaccountal)le, which would not be shaken oil'. At length, to divert her mind, she took up a small book. It was a collection of Longfellow's poems. Carelessly tiu-ning over the leaves, she came upon one of her favourite pieces, " The l*salm of Life," which of course she knew by heart. Even when she had laid down the volume, the words — "Tell me not in mournful numbers Life is but an emjjty (h'eani, For the sdul is (U-iul that sluinhers, And things are not wliat they seem,'" were almost ringing in her cars, for they seemed strangely appropriate to her feelings and circumstances at the time. Again, as she watched the way-worn emigrants tramping bravelv forward alongside their active teams, I CONNIE AND FUNEST. 07 ,|il onroiirrtC'iiic,' tlicm with voiro and wliij), or anon ]>iit- tini,' tluMF own broad shoulders to the wheel t > lielp them ont of sonu! dee]) watercourse' or treacherous hoo;, slie thou_nhl of llu^ vers(! which seemed i)ar- ticularly ai)j)lical»U' to their situation — "Not c'lijoynuMit and not sorrow Is our destined end or wav ; r>ut to act that each to-nioriow Finds us further tlian to-dav." Presently the _L,dil took u)> some half-finished so(dvS which she was knitting;' for one of the poor enn'oi-ant's children, and as she workcid her thouohts urijid^jiHy hecame more cheerful. She remembered how y<»unj^f Trevor had positively asserted that he would revisit America as soon as he had passed his exiimination, and before settling down to a practice. Moreover, he had promised to look up the Westons, whc^rever they mi,u;'hl be settle(l, and Connie felt sun; that he would kee[) his word. rI- ill I flifBTTOr 1 ',■ ,4., ■:i.::M^'''i m : ' "^r. ■;":' :!r'';;::;.'ii.'i'.,;,,i*i,|ij;;|ii|,«il|iltei|fl| ■lt?l$'4' Tf^^^ II CHAlTKi; XII. THE KOCKV MOUNTAINS. After l»r(';ikin«i; up tlicir vnm]* on the Liirainic Itivcr, tli(i oinij^nauts struck out in ii wcsti'ily (niection. For two or tlir('(^ (lays their routi» lay across broken and (lillicult ground. The jiasturam' wiis .n'ood, however, and ^^anie al)un(lant, so that the horses and otlier live stock and their owners fared e({ually well. The _L;reat drawback was the necessity for constant vi«;ilance owini,' to the proxinuty of the warlike Sioux, to^^^ether with the fact that the nature of the ^n'ound was favourable to a surprise. It was i)rol»ably owinL,' as nnich to the skill and forethought of the conmnndant, aided by the experience of two or three old trappisrs and hunters, as to the strength of the company that ui) interference occurred. The Indians were several times observed to signal to one another from the summits of the adjacent hills, but they never ventured upon an attack. Although tlie land rises gradually all the way from the Missouri to the base of the uiouutains, it was not ...-x i TIIM Un( KY MoI'VrAINS. 1)1> until llii: I'ourtli iiKiniinLr afhT Icjiviu;^^ tlicir ciiiiip on lliu Lariiniic IJivcr tlmt, tlic t'liiiLjraiits fairly cnin- iiiciM'cd ilicir si rn;x,!j;lc's tn suniiount tlic Nasi luirriri- which funns the ^rcal hacklMtnc oi- (li\ idiii^' r;iii^(i n|' Xni'lh AiiH'i'ica. This iiiinicnsr chain is calliMl ihc |{(tckv M(»untains, and extends hir iiearlv L'OOO miles tVoni the Anahua<' Mountains nf Mexico to the nmuth of the Mackenzie Ifiver in the Arctic ()cean. As tim leadin;^^ wa.Lj.nons readied tlu; siuuniit of a rocky ridjj;e kr.own as the Afedicine r»o\v Mountains — a sort of shoot or spur of the main ran,L?e — the; sun was nearly settinii'. What a magnificent ^ iew hurst U})on the slight of tlie weary travellers! Standin;^' holdly out hefore them NVen; tlio IJocky Mountains in all their grandeur and immensity. In front of them and to ri^ht and left, as far as the ey(! couhl reach, stretched liil^^e after vu\[fr. and ))eak after i)eak. Almost du(! west rose; th(! frowning masses of the Tark Mountains, their lofty sunnnits culminatii.,^' to the sonth in the towerini^' liei^ht of Long's I'eak. This nohle huuhnark mounts skyward to an altitnde of over 14,000 feet, and is capped with eternal snow, lien; also th(3 watershed, or ''the great Divide," as it is called, bends backwards and forwards, enclosing deep and fertile valleys rich in pasturage and timber. These are known as parks, some of which are of large size, hence the name of the mountains. i I':, iil » : f fl i :: 100 THE YoUNG HANCHMtN. In tliese parks rise some of the great rivers which go to swell the waters of the Mississi})pi and the Missouri on the one hand, and the Kio Colorado on the other. To the north-east, Laramie Peak stood out in lonely majesty, while far away to the north-west rose the snowy summits of the AVind Kiver Mountains. The three Titons reared themselves upwnr»ls in the far distance until their shadowy outlines were lost in ,L;auzv cloud. Vmt, nearer, the rays of the setting sun tipped the mountain points with crimson and gold, and the ])roud and snowy crest of Fremont's Peak assumed tirst a dazzling rohc of liquid blue, then yellow, violet, and i)urple — by turns a sapphire, a topaz, or tin amethyst. Then it gradually changed and became suli'used with the warm, l)right rose-coloured light of the after-glow. And, finally, as the sun sank lower and lower below the horizon it turned into a miu;htv chrysolite. The Wind liiver range of mountains forms one of the most remarkable features of these Western Alps. It is a vast watershed in which three of the mightiest rivers take their rise. The first of these is the Missouri, which runs a south-easterly course of no less than 2500 miles before it enters the ^Mississippi, and then their united streams, after flowing southwards for another 1500 nules, discharge their waters into the Crulf of Mexico ; secondly, there is the Columbia liiver, which Hows in nearly an opposite direction into «^ ^ II mai THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 101 V the Pacitic Ocean ; and, lastly, the Green Jlixor or IVio Colorado, which finds an outlet to the southward in the Gulf of California. After tliat, the progress of the emigrant train, thougli interesting, became somewhat monotonous. How they struggled througli the sand and dust of that desolate re<don which borders on the Bitter Creek ! And how at last tlicir eyes were gladdened by the sight of the clear and sparkling watc^rs and 'j;rassv banks of the Green lliver ! Here Major Weston aud his fellow travellers determined to halt for a week or ten days in order to recruit their jaded animals. The last lUO miles had all but finished some of them, owing to the terrible nature of the barren tract through which tliey had had to pass, and the fact that they were already much reduced in fiesh and si)irits by the long journey up the mountains. For nearly two days and one night the emigrants had l)een unable to procure water for their horses and otlier live stock, and had only a scanty sup[)ly carried in bottles and other vessels for their own use. It was touching to observe how eagerly the poor, dumb [inimals stru<i:<j;led forward when once the broad stream was sighted. They seemed io strain evtuy nerve of their weak and emaciated frames in order to slake the fiery thirst that was consuming them. Tlie camp was formed on the western Ijank of the V If fr 102 THE YOUNG UANCIIMEN. river, in a sjtot wliero llicre was alMindaiicc of c^ood j:!;ra.ss. Here tlic ))nor animals were all liirned loose to feed and take tlieir well-earned rest. As, however, parties of Jilaekfoot Indians were reported l>y the eonimandant's seouts to he in the nei.L,dil)oiu'hood, every preeaution was taken to prevent their l)ein,i^' stolen. Sentries, with rifle in hand, were jdaeed at regular d th rhieh th )ek intervals all round tne pasture on wnieu tne sioeK was grazing hy day, and at nightfall the latter were driven into an enclosure [)repared for them l)etween the wau'^ons and the river. As it was al)solutely neeessary for the emigrants Lo remain there sometime, the eamp was formed with more than ordinarv eare. It was situated within the bend (»F the river, which thus i)rotected about half of its circumference. Tlie other half was secured by cutting a trench and throwing up a bank, which was eventually rendered still more effective by driving in a line of stout stakijs, so as to form a sort of open palisade about 5 feet high on top of the low bank. These stakes were cut from young cotton-wood trees which abounded in the neiuhbourhood. ]\Iaior Weston took especial care to clear off any trees or bushes which were found growing within ritle shot of the camp on either side of the river, as these would have afforded cover to any lurking savages, and enabled them to approach near enough to pick off the sentries or tire into the camp. -fsaa THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. \0t\ OwiiiL' to til >f Willi rl< th niiiiihen operations were completed before sunset on the diiy after their arrival at the Seeds-kee-dee Agie, as the Indians call this river. While Frank, who was naturally of a warlike dis- position, had taken an active part in fortifying,' the camp, Harry had accomi>anied two of the scouts, who had orders from his fatln^r to beat ui) the countrv around in search of game, and also to note if there were traces (»f anv «a'eat number of lUackfeet in the nei<dibourhood. They only came across the smoulderinL!,' aslies of a tire which had been recently deserted l)y a small piirty of the latter gentry, but in crossing a narrow valley about two miles from camp they came u]>on the track of a somewhat numerous herd of moose dcov. Ahrv kneel- ing down and making a critical examination of the ground, the elder scout — an old tra[)per and hunter who answered to the name of Indian Jjill — declared that the trail which led northward was not more than a few hours old. "Hurrah !" shouted Harry, forgetting in his excite- ment that he had only l)een permitted to accom)»any the scouts on the distinct understiinding that he was to be as stealthy as a cat, and never to s^x.^ak above ii whis})er. " AVhist ! yonker," hissed the old hunter, casting a withering glance at the boy ; " you 're only lit for a r ! *l! 104 THE YOUNfJ RANCHMEN. nmrormiiii;' part y . P.* yer want to bring the whole tarnation tribe of I'lackt'eet down upon us?" "You bet lio don't for lii.s own sake!" replied tlie other man <^ood-naturedly, n(Aieing Harry's ihished face ; " I guess he 's no more wish U) part with liis glossy young hair than you have, old hoss, with that grizzly scalp of your'n ! l)Ut you cannot put old lieads on young slioulders !' " Wal, I calculate yer 're about right tliere ; but look spry and let us gcjt back to camp." " To camp ! wliy, aren't we going after the moose ?'' exclaimed Harry in tones of despair. All the visions of an exciting liunt which his vivid imagination had pictured suddenly vanishing into tliin air. " Never fear, my lad," rei)lied tlie old hunter, who really admired tlie boy's ardour ; " but we may as well let them know at the camp, which is not far from here, what we are after. We sliall probably not come up with the moose before sundown, in which case we shall have to be out all night." " And I guess the general would want t(j know what 'ad become of Master Harry l)efore tlien!" l)roke in tlie other scout, with a knowing glance at the youth in (piestion. " Besides," lie continued (piickly, as he caught the angry Hash of the boy's eyes, " we shall want a couple of mules to pack the meat on. l*erhaps, too, some of our comrades would like to share the sport." THE llOCKY MOUNTAINS. 105 o " Right you are !" said Harry, and the next moment they were Imrrying back to the eamp. The news that moose deer wer(i within a few hours' niareli of tliem spread like wild-fire, and a party of hunters was (|uickly collected to join in the chase. Each man carried a few jao visions in a blanket strav)ped over his shoulder, and was armed with rifle and l)Owie knife. There were a dozen of them in all, including Frank and Harry Weston, Kighy, Sanson, Indian IJill, and Jfoljert La/enlty. The latter individual and a raw-lxjued vounii" Irisliman, wiio had followed tlie fortunes of his master from one of the New England States, each led an active mule. Indian Bill, l)y tacit consent, took connnand of the expedition. Instead of returning to the spot where the tracks of the moose were just discovered, the crafty old hunter struck out in a north-westerly direction. He had often spent months together in the Clreen liiver Valley and the wild and desolate region tliat bordered upon it ; sometimes in company witli a ]arg(; party of boon companions, and at otiiers trap[»ing the beaver with but a single comrade to share his lonely existence. He had thus become familiar with the favourite haunts of the different species of game, is well as of tlie fur-bearin<4 animals and beasts of prev that frequented the district, and so !iad a shrewd susi)ici(jn of the spot where the moose were likely to be bjund. The hardy pioneers who first made tliese desolate *''i m I r :?. ■ m ;■■ hi .< r. ill i 106 THE YrrtTNCi HANOI rMEK. regions their chosen ImnliiiLf LjvnuiKls cirried, so to s})L'iiiv, their lives in thcar liands. Many of the rivcsrs, valleys, and otlier features of tlie eountry are named after the ]»oor trapi)ers and liunters wlio tlien; fell victims to the savage einnity of the; red men. Tliougli it is only fair to state that, as we have seen, tlu^ latter were often goaded on to nnirder in retaliation for acts of cruelty and violence experienced at the liands of the wliites, who, moreover, were not unnaturally looked upon l)y tlie Indians as intruders and tres})assers. It is recorded tliat when Colonel Fremont, wlio liad ol)taine(l a commission from the United States ( Jovern- ment to explore the vast territory lying l)etween the Mississippi and the Pacific, led liis first expedition, in 1842, into tlie Western Desert, the Indians were greatly excited. Jealous of his advance, they were (^vervwliere on the alert, and everv nirjht the travellers had to fortify their cam)) and appoint sentinels to watch. 1'he farther they proceeded the greater grew the danger, and every man of the party had to familiarise himself with the pr()l)al)ility that the whole caravan would fall a ]irey to the savages. At the Laramie Fort the Indians used every endeavour, hoth by sup])lications and threatenings, to turn them back. ])Ut Fremont was not the man to be turned from any enterprise on which he had once fairly embarked. He met their wild declamatory speeches, we are told, in the same strain, and in spite of their "J '•roiKB THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 107 roitoruled assuviinces that lu' and his pJirty would l»e slain, I'L'HolvL'd to proceed. " AVe will not «:^o back," he said ; " we are the soldiers of the "reat cliii'f, your father. He has tohl us to come liere and see tliis country and all the Indians, his children We liave thrown away our Ixxlies, and will not turn hack We are few and you are many, aiul may kill us all: l»ut there will Ixi nnuh cryiuL^' in your villiit^es Do you think that cur j^Tcat chief will let his soldiers die and fori^et to cover their graves? liefore the snow midts his warriors will swec]) away your villages as the lire does thc^ prairie in the autumn.'"^ This unshrinking resolution is said to have won the respect of the red men, and tlu^y desist<'(l from any further attempt to stay his advance. One old chief even sent him a young Indiiin to act as guide. It would have been well for the poor Indians if no worse adventurers tlian these connnanded l»y the high- minded and ]»atriotic Fremont had ever enter(*(l their remote territories. * Coloiiol Juhii Cliarlo.s Frt'iiiout iu Leisure Hoar for 18.'i7. ' I CHAPTEll XIIT. CAUfMIT NAPPING. The pjirty of hunters f,'ui(le(l 1>y Indian liill pushed biiskly on in tlie direction of tlie liear Mountains. The day was rather hot, and the yount? Westons, es])ecially Harry, found dilTiculty in keei)inL;' up with tlieir more seasoned eoini)anions. Nevertheless they were t(jo proud to complain, and it was only after nnich lU'ging tliat they at last condescended to mount the two pack nuileS. Their line of route, which had for some time been almost parallel with the river, now struck out over a wide ex})anse of dry ])arren n'round, sparsely over- spread with sliort benty grass, and a few stunted rushes. A liot and fatiguing marcli of several miles ihrougli this dreary region at length brought them to the Ijanks of a small stream which falls into the Muddy Fork or southern brunch of the Black Kiver, ^ CAUGHT NAl'PINf}. 109 Here a luilt wjis ralh.'d, iiiid, after quenoliinjr their tliirst at tlie little bnxjk, each man threw himself on the j^iound to take a short rest and snatch a few mouthfids of food. AVhile thus recruiting' llieir strenuth and si)irits for the ai»]»roachinL,' hunt, Iiulian Hill vouchsafe*! a few observations thereon. " Wal, hovs, hiar we Ix; iit last ! " said the taciturn old trapper, " and if I'm not a J)own-Kaster, we'll s))ot tlu^ elk af(ne wi^'re nuwh older." "Where do you expect to find them i'' said Frank. " AVal, I ^uess it's not a lon^^ chalk from hiar, young man." "Down by this stream, do you mean," broke in the impatient Harry. "AVal, yaas, since yer're so nnghty in([uisitive. They're in a low, marshy Hat where this crik jines the Muddy Fork — you bet ! " " Shure, an it's meself '11 be plased to see a bit o' timber, anyhow ! For I 'm jist milting away enthirely in this murthering sun, loik a morstd o' chaze at the hind of a toasting fork ! " exclaimed tlu; Irishman, as he wiped the moisturii from his brow with the cuff of his coat. There was a general Liugh at this little speech. ]>ut Indian liill looked anvthiuLi' but pleased, and scowled menacinglv at the offender as he rose to «dve Of o directions iox continuing the march, *T!. ■\i ii K<l no THE Yorxn RANCHMEN. Half tli<'. party, under Ihii Icailtjrshij) of Sanson, wero ordurcjd lo cross over tliu stream and move down its l(!ft l)ank, wliil ; tlie rest cuntinurd ilieir course jdon^^ its ri<^dit. After ])roceeding very cautiously in this manner for al)out Iialf a mile, Sanson suddenly stopped and beckoned to Indian IJill to cross over to where he stood. There was a shori. whisj)ered consultation, a brief examinjiti(tn of the i^round at their feet, Jind then the two hunters, nuttionin^ to their men to remain where they were, advanced stealthily towards a clump of willows that ,t^Tew near the strc^am, about two hundred yards a' ly. This ])roved to l>e the connnencement of the lon_L,f strip of marshland which extended on both sides of the stream for nearly two miles to its junc- tion with the ]\Iuddv lujrk. It was not until nearly half an hour after their disa])])earinL;' from si^ht amongst the willows, that the two old scouts returned and comnmnicated to their companions the results of the vccunnaisancc. It transpired that they had followed the track of the moose until it divided : the ereater part of the herd havin<j; crossed over to the riu,ht bank of the stream jdjout a mile further on. The hoof marks, it was said, were very fresh, so that the elk could not be far away. After a brief deliberation, it was decided to skirt the outer edoes of the marsh so as to encircle the deer, and thus to drive them buck towards the i CAUr.TIT NAPPINO. Ill soutborn end nvIhtc; the luintors stood. There was iinotlu'i' ('hinip of willow and cottoii trooH nearly ()])l)().sit(^ to the one already mentioned, and on the sanM side of it, hut ahont two hundred vard.s further from the ereek. Between these two ])oinls \h(> Ljround was pretty iirm and the j^^rass much heati-n down into ])aths and lanes as if l)y tlie ]>assa;^ni of lar;^'i; game. It was evident that this narruw strij) formed the favourite point of in«,'ress and egress for the dillerent kinds of deer as well as the luiUalo which, each in their season, freciuented the spot. Here, therefore, would he the best ])ositions in which any of tiie hunters could conceal themselves in order to obtain a good shot at the game as it was tlriven out of the marshy Hat. As, moreover, it was an understood thing that tlu; young AVestons were to have the posts of honour in this their first moose hunt, it was speedily arranged that they should renuiin in ambush in the covers described, while the rest of the party drove out the game. The mules were taken across to tlie ri!*ht bank of the creek, and secured amongst a thicket of young willow and alder trees, so as to l)e out of sight of the expected deer. At the last moment it was decided, at their special desire, to leave Robert in attendance on his young master Frank, while Padily, as the Irislnnan was ccjm- inonly called, acted in like capacity for Harry. The Vj M I 'I it!. I lu 112 THE YOT^NfJ RANCIIMKN. son f)f Klin was likewisi! instniclud to kccj) an cyt; on the two mules. Acconlin^^ly, I'Vank and Kohert were soon .snu<^dy (Misconccd within tia; leafy cover of the outer cluinp, whilst JIarry and his rou<;h hul li^lit heaited assistant hid themselves heneath tla^ drooping hianehes of iho taller trees which .^I'ew l>y the stieam. Meanwhihs the rest of the hunters formed into two ])arties of four each, and had started to make a circuit of the marsh, one taking' the east(!rn and the other the western mar^nn. Their ])lan was to proceed in this manner until they reached the Muddy Fork ; which river, ilowiuL;' as it did, almost at right angles to the small creek that intersected the marshland, formed, as it were, the base of that chosen haunt of the elk and the liul'l'alo. Here they were lo march inwards; and having- taken up their stations at ivgular intervals across this base, but within call or sight of one another, were, at a given signal, to start back towards the apex of the marsh where their comrades were waiting in andiush, thus frightening whatever game there nught be in their direction. The two leaders, Sanson and Indian ])ill took every precaution against accidents, warning their men on no account to tire at anything that might hap'pen to cross their ])ath or start lip in a line with the tw(j entrance clumps or with their own line of march. This manuouvre of necessity took up a considerable PArclirT NAPPlNCi. ua time, on account of the distance which liad to l»c tniV(fi'scd and th(! somewhat <liflicidl natiuc of the l^round. Xow, Harry and Tatrick ()'l''hdicity, for sucli was the Irislmian's real name, l»ein^' naturally nf restless and active dispositions, soon discovere(l that Ivinu: in amhush was by no me. ins tlieir fort(^ How- ever rcjmantic iind interestinii; it miifht he in tlieoi-y. it was to their irre[>ressihle natures, decidedly slow and monot(jnous in ])ractice. Accordinuiy they soon heuan to cast aljout them for soiue comrenial nu'thod uf relieving- the tedi'.im of their jKtsition. "He dad!" said I'atrick, "me foot's aslaj^e, I do Ix'lave, wi' .S(iuatulatin.i; here, loike a rickety toad, all the blessed avenin^'." "All tie eveninjj;, do you say?" rei»licd Harry, laughing. "Why, we've not been here more than twenty minutes at the outside, but, nevertheless, I'm about as tired of it as you are. Supi^jse we just stroll as far as the stream tluire ? " OTlaherty was on his feet in an instant, and, for- getful of his foot, r(,'aehed the creek in a few rapid strides. " Your foot is not very bad, 1 tliiidc." said Harry, chaliingly. A <^YUi was his only answer, but the next moment the Irishman, who was looking hard into the water, uttered an exclamation of surprise, and began to un- lace his boots as fast as he could. I 111 » t 114 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. " Whatever 's tlie matter ? " said Harry, sharply, wondering whether tlie man was going out of his head. " Matter indade ! " answered Pat, who had now thrown off his boots and stockings, and was beginning to divest liiniself of his nether garments likewise. "Matter indade! x\n', be all the powers, isn't it nieself as 'as just seen as foine a salmon as hiver walked into the nit of a Lilly poacher." "A salmon?" repeated Harry, "surely you must be mistaken ; it is nmch more likely to be a large trout, 1 should think." Without deigning to answer, O'Flaherty jumped into the creek. Owing to the fact of a fallen tree having partially dammed up the stream in this spot, the water was idjout two feet deep, consequently the fish had plenty of room in which to disport itself. Ine creek, however, was so narrow that the fisli was easily driven into the shallow water al)ove the dam ; but it was not so easily captured even tlien. Although actively assisted by Harry, who liad taken his stand inmie- diately above the pool, tlie Irishman was continually foiled in his efforts to seize the finny monster. Once and again the latter seemed on the point of being captured ; Ijut no sooner did his pursuers attempt to seize him, than, with a mighty splash and a vigorous stroke of his great tail that sent the mud and water all over them, he darted back into the pool, CAUGHT NAPPING. 115 Both Harry and O'Flaherty had become thorouglily excited, and redoubled their efforts to secure the tish. So absorbed were they in this stirring occupation, that they had forgotten all about the moose, until several rille sliots, fired in quick succession, and at no great distance from them, startled them to a sense of their position. Harry was the first to recover his self-possession and to grasp the exigencies of the situation. Springing upon tlie bank, he seized his rifle and rushed towards the edge of the cover, where he and Taddv liad at first been stationed. He feared lest he should miss his chance of a shot at the noble game of which thov were in pursuit, and bitterly regretted that he had ever ([uitted his post. At this stage his reflections were suddenly terminated by tlie tramping of hoofs, the breaking of boughs, and ■ <her sounds, which unmis- takaltly heralded the approach of some large animal. Springing behind tlic trunk of a large tree, Harry anxiously awaited the creatures appearance. He was not kept long in suspense, for in a few moments the branches in front of him were brushed aside, and a huge beast, much larger than a horse, advanced rapidly towards him. Harry was taken quite aback at the ferocious aspect of the monstrous creature, and scarcely knew whether to stand his ground or run away. The moose, however, did not seem to be aware of his proxi- mity, but appeared to be making for the creek. Its >l m IK) THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. brejilliin*^ was laboured, its eyes L;lariii<r, and its flanks and l)reast covered with lar^aj Hakes of foam. It had evidently Iwen wounded, for blood was mingled with the froth that dripped from its lolling tongue Suddenly tlu; brute stopped, and, raising its lieavily antlered head, snifi'oil the air and gazed suspiciously around. Now would have l)een the time for the voun«; hunter to hav(! planted a l)ullet in its breast, for it was not more than fifteen })aces from him. But Harry's nerves were not (piite e([ual to the occasion. His hands trenddinl so violently that he could scarcely hold his ritle, and his feet seemed rooted to the ground. He expected every moment that the elk would discover his whereabouts and charge down upon him. In vain lie tried to com])ose liimself and bring his ritle into position for a successful shot. His nmscles refused to obey his will, and he felt like one in the agonies of nightmare. After what ftcomed to be an age, the elk uttered an angry cry, the hair on his neck bristled u[), and he trotted heavily forward in the direction of the jmjoI where Harry had left O'Flaherty. The spell was broken, and, as the enraged animal passed within two or three yards of him, Harry levelled his rilie, and took a steady aim through the shoulder. To his great disgust he pulled in vain at the trigger — the weapon was at half-cock, iu his excitement he ^Jtm^ I CAUGHT XAPPIKG. 117 it had fort,n)Uen to (jock it. The few niomeiits wliiuh wero coMsuiueil in (UscoveiiiiiT and repairing,' the fatal omission niaired his o[)[)(jrtunity. The moose had passed. Hanv (luicklv aimed and fired at the hack of its head, in the liope of ])ierciiiL,' its Isvain, hnl the l)all struek the mass of solid hone whieh forms the hase of the creatnre's p(jnd(!rous horns and fell flattened to the earth. The elk almost drop[)ed on its knees from the force of the l)low, hut, recoverini,^ itself hy a ^reat- efibrt, it uttered a tierct^ snort of ]»ain and ra^e and continued on its onward course. Some object in front evidently absorbed the attention of the enraged animal. " Look out, I'addy I" shoute(l the ])oy at the to]) of his voice. Ihit the Irishniiin had already ])er('eived his danger. He had just cleansed the mud from his feet and le,i;s, and was in the act of resuminLi; his dis- carded habiliments, when he heard the angry cry and rush of the ukjosc, followed by the report of Harry's rifle. Jum})ing u[ion his feet, for he had been sitting on the edge of the stream, O'Fhdierty looked wiklly around. At first he could not see anything on accoiuit of the dense foliage, Init the trani]) of hoofs and the crashing of branches, produced by the ra))id approach of some huu'e a',nmal, together with Harry's warninc: shout, put him i'lto a statu of the most lively appre- hension. 118 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. Although an hour ago he had been boasting of tho execution he would do as soon as the moose were found, he was so perturbed that he ev(;n forgot all about his gun, which he had laid aside on lirst spying the fish. " Sure ! an' it must be a wild iliphant they've started, bad luck to them!" exclaimed Patrick, and, without another moment's loss of time, he commenced to climb the nearest tree, a small cottonwood. Scarcely had he reached one of tlie lowest branches when the elk broke cover a few yards away, and charged riiiht under the tree in which he had taken refuse. The fact was, that O'Flaherty liad ascended in sucli terrible haste that his toilet was not by any means completed. The riglit leg of his blue cotton panta- loons danL,ded in mid-air as he strui^^'jjled to make cjood his position in the poplar. This Haunting portion of his quondam attire seemed to have the same irritating effect upon the moose that the waving of a red Hag has upon a bull. At the first onslaught the maddened creature passed harmlessly by, merely brushing the offending garment aside. Finding, however, that it still hung defiantly down in spite of poor Paddy's efforts to kick it away from him, the elk turned quickly altout and com- menced butting and tossing at the thing with its liead. The upshot was, that before O'Flaherty could disen- gage himself from the fatal raiment, it had become CAUGHT NAPPING. 119 I: entangled in the monster's horns. The next instant tlie unfortunate man was jerked from his perch quite on lo the elk's back, and the brancli to which he clunLT, beinij- half rotten, came down witli liim. As Harry, who had followed in the track of the moose, approached the spot, he heard a terrilied shout — " Och ! hone! Hel]) ! Murther ! " cried poor Paddy, as he found himself suddenly across the animal's l)ack. "With the instinct of self-i)reservation, however, he clutched with both hands the long C(jarse hair which urew on the neck and shoulders of the irate creature, and getting his legs iirmly astride, successfully resisted its utmost eflbrts to shake him off. "Bravo, Tiuldy ! " shouted Harry encouragingly; " stick to your stall, lad ! " " Arrah, Sirrh, it's not disndiounting I was thinking of unless you've a moind to hould the craythur's head for me ! (^w, murther ! whativer's the baste con- timplatin' now ?" continued poor Tat, as the elk, after executing sundry high leaps and other antics, suddenly stood perfectly still. " Now, I'll i)Ut a bullet through his head ! " ex- claimed Harry, as he raised his ritle to his shoulder. " No, be me sowl, 1 'd rather ye wouldn't, for fear o' accidents, tho' its meself as knows ye're illigant at shoolin', iuthirely ! " ' I , I ' 1 120 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. The next minute the moose, luyini^ back liis lonj,' mule-like ears, started off at a territic pace; tlir(ni,ifl\ the belt of timber. Clearin^^ the little l»r(jok at one bound, he passed ([uickly through the lliicket of younger but denser trees, where the mules were secured, and skirting the edge of the marsh, made as if direct for the river. "Ow, murther: Help!" There was but time for this one desi)airing cry from the terrified Irishman ; for, as the elk rushed straight through the trees and bushes, it was all the poor fellow could do lo jjn^vent himself from being scratched or bruised, or swe[)t from his seat and dashed to the ground bv the overhanging boughs. CHxVPTEK XIV. IJNLOOKED FOU TEKMINATIOX OF TFIE MOOSE HUNT. Tfieuk is II curious animal of the carnivorous class, inlial)iting tlu; northern regions t)l both the old and ihe new world, which preys upon reindeer and elk as well as smaller iininuils. It is called the glutton, and is said to be so voracious that when once it has succeeded in ett'ecting a lodgment upon the back of one of these large deer, nothing can make it loose its hold. In vain does its victim run wildly through the thickest woods, rubbing itself against the trees and breaking the boughs with its powerful antlers ; the glutton having stuck its sharp claws between the shoulders of its prey, remains firmly fixed behind. Its pertinacity is so great that it is said pieces of its skin are often discovered, by hunters and others, adhering to the trees against which it has been rubbed by the wretched deer. AVith bull-dog tenacity the glutton sticks to its post, until having eaten its i m 11 M I ?i- lii 122 TUE YOUNG llANCHMEN. ;i way to tlie poor creature's vituls, the deer at length succuiuhs. Like the yhitton, tlien, ( )'Fliiherty stuck to the moose. He ehitched the huL,'e aniinur.s bristlinj^' mane with hands and teeth, and threw liiniself as flat as possihle uj)on its back. Fortunately for him, the thicket did not extend for more th('in iifty or sixty yards beyond tlie creek, .and being mostly comprised of young alders and willows, it offered Ji much less stubborn resistance to the passage of the elk than would have been the case with trees of a less yielding nature. Just as Harry was wondering what was best to be done he heard a noise behind him, and looking round saw Frank and Itobert hasteniu*' towards liini through the clump. " Hillo ! Harry," said the former, '* what's the matter ? We thought we heard cries for help, so we hurried here as fast as we could. AVhere's Paddy?" " Gone off on the back of a huge elk, at the rate of twenty miles an hour, I should think," replied the younger boy. " On the back of an elk T' " Yes, what is to be done ^ He cried out most piteously for help as the huge creature dashed olf with him." " But how in the world did he get upon the elk's back ? " asked Frank, wonderingly, " and having got iL .„-^-..^a.ir-r....--ryjv»^MHWI V TERMINATION OF THE MOOSE HUNT. 123 there ami found he did not like it, what was to hinder his jumpinj^f ofl' aj^ain ? " " And hcing gored to deatli ! " replied tlie boy. '* Tint there is not time to explain more than that the poor fellow came into his unenviable position entirely against his will, and precarious though it may ])e, he naturally prefers tlie back to the horns of ji dilemma! " "Oh, you facetious Harry," said tiie elder brother, laughing, " where 's Kobert gone, I wonder," lie con- tinued. " Here I am, sir," shouted the latter individual from the thicket beyond; I'm unho])l)ling the mules and putting on tlieir l)ridh*s, as I thought, may be you'd want them." "Why! of course tlie very thing!" t^vclaimed Harry. " Kobert's an old campaigner, and has got his wits about him," said Frank, smiling, " you had better mount one of the animals and liobert the other," \u' continued, addressing Harry; "and gallop oil" to (^'Flaherty's assistance, while T give the alarm to the rest of the hunters. ' " All right," answered the boy, and the next minute he and liobert had cleared the thicket, and were urg- ing their fleet-footed nmles in rapid pursuit of the then distant moose. The latter, with his luckless rider, was making straight for the Muddy Fork Hiver, and with that «ii I I Hi id Ji ill Pi ■ 'f 124 THE YOrNO RANCHMKN. I , » peculiar instinct that prompts these animals wlien plaj^'ucd by Hies and hard pressed by the hunter, to take to the water, he phniL^'ed into the nearest p(X)l. For a moment or two, O'Klaherty was quite under water, but, presently the moose rose to the surface near tlie middh; of the river, and there it remaineil with only its heatl above the water, liy sitting U])ri<fht, the Irishman was just able to keep his head also above the surface. In this ])redicament he cried loudly for help. Attracted by his cries, ]Iarry and liol)ert soon reached the spot, and, not perceiving the two heads, were about to pass on in search of a ford. TJiey supposed that the moose had crossed over the river, and had probably rubbed oil' its unwelcome burden against one of the trees which thickly fringed the further bank of tlie stream. " Arrah ! now, bad luck to ve ! would ve l)e after desarting a poor boy in his extrimity ! " exclaimed a deprecating voice which seemed to proceed from what, in the uncertain light, and deep shadows cast upon the water by the rays of the setting sun, appeared like two old stumps sticking out of the water. " Whist ! " cried Harry, " Kobert, that's Paddy's voice » >' " Where in the world are you, Paddy ? " shouted Harry. "Och! thin, I'm here, worse luck, and drhowning afore yer 're very eyes ! ) »> iLi. TERMINATION OF THE MOOSE IK'NT. 125 "Oil! T see liovv inattc^rs stand," <'xrl{uine{i Harry, W'lio liad l)cen shading his eyes willi his hands, and staring hard at the suj)po.sed stump. " That's \)(n)T I'uddy's head, and tlie one beyond is the head and horns of the elU. The ])rute is trying to drown the poor fellow, wliat can we do to help him ? " "We must throw him a rope and pull him ashore," answered llobert, wlio had already dismounted and was quickly ding the packing cord which unw aiiacned lo iiis saddle. "Of course, the very thing!" said 1 Tarry, as he jumped down Jind hol)hled the mules to i)revent their straying away wiiile he and llobert were engaged in rescuing the Irishman. In a few minutes Robert had succeeded in throwing the cord within reach of O'Flaherty, who quickly secured it round his waist. " lieady ? " shouted Harry. " Yis, Sirrh. But, och hone ! I'll be drhowned enthirely afore ye get me ashore ! " ' Never fear," replied the boy. " Take a good long breath. Shut your mouth and loose your hold of the elk, and we '11 have you out of tlie water in less than no time. Are you ready yet ? " Toor Pat at last summoned uj) courage to give the signal, and was carefully and speedily dragged ashore by his two friends. '• You are well out of that my lad ! " said llobert, I i i'' 126 THK YOUNCJ HANCIIMEN, jis ho ^av(! tlio liiilf (Irowiu'd man liis Imnd to luilp liim ii}) th(5 bunk. " Th(»re, him n^'ainst ni(! until you L'ct your breatli." Ik^ <M)ntinu(Ml, .sui)iK)rtin«i him in his arms. Meanwhihi llarry was intently watrhin'' thcnnoose. Ilchcvt'd of its awkward Iturdcn, it swam rapidly towards {\n\ triius which frini^'cd thii further side of the river. It had, however, searcely scramhh'd asliore when Ifarry lired a well-direrted sliot, whieh l)rou<4lit the ])oor ereatun* to its knees. Klated l>y Ids success, the youni;' hunlcir was lusli- in^^ oil* to lind a ford Ity whicli to cross the river when Kohert siud. " St(»j), Master Harry, vom had better juni]) on one of the mules, and I will follow you with the otlier ; the water is pretty d(;ep even below the )()() 1. 1 "All ri<,dit," said Harry, mountin*,' the nearest nude as he s])oke, and j^allopinj^' oil' to the place indicated. He hiul 'f()t safely over the stream and was hastenini^' towards the now prostrate elk wlien he heard the sound of hoofs close beliind him. Supposinic that it was liol)ert on the other nmle, he did not look round, but uri^'ed his animal to t^a'eater speed lest he should miss the honour of l)ein,i,' first in at the death. Had the excited boy but cast one l)ackward glance over his shoulder he would have had no further 1 TEKMINATION oK T||K MOOSK HUNT. 127 thuiiglit to )ii\\' to tin- iiuHJSL', liiil wtiiild liiivr cockL'tl his rifle iuid ])n'iiiin'(l to tiiilit for lilV' mikI lilicrty. It was not, liowt'wr, iiiilil liisl lln- lu-ad jumI tln'ii tho in'ck of ji linrsc, instL'iid of a mule, drew uradiialiy aloii<4sido of him that he hjokud u[» with a startlud cry. h was too latt^ ! Tho l>rawiiv arm of a Sioux hid iaii alrcac ciicirc lud 1 lis waist, and in anotlici )tli instant h<^ hdt liimsulf lifted Itodily fnmi his scat. In s})ito (»f his kicks and slinuulcs the iinfortnnalc hoy was soon placed nnceremonioiisly across the horsu's withers in front of his savage captor. It Wiis then jtoor Harry's turn to cry out for help, whicli he did lustilv until silencccl hv a hlow on the head from the btitt-end of a uuii. I r: ' 1 ^I WM ^ j^^P^^ m^ik^m ^M ^^^J^ j^ioKSHO! j^^H^^Rtf^*^" ^ Jtt J^ PI ^^3^y^9 m^M §S ^^^^ CHAPTER XV. AN EXCITING CHASE. h ' HAYiNCr secured liis victim, tlie Indian turned his horse's head and liurried oil' in the direction of one of the spurs of tlie ]3ear Mountains, wliere probably r. i)arty of hunters from liis own tribe were encamped. He was, liowever, already pursued. After attending to the necessities of the poor Irishman, and placing liim in a comfortable i)osition on tlie bank, Robert took oil' his coat anil threw it over him. Then promising to return as soon as possible, he mounted the remaining nude and hastened after his young master. The ex-soldier had scarcely I'cached the further bank of the river when he was startled by loud cries of " Help : Robert ! Indians ! Help ! " Although but a .-iiort distance from the spot whence the sound pr(»ceeded, Robert was unable to see what was taking- place on account of a sniall but dense clump of a \; ' t AX EXCITINr; CHASE. 120 trees aiid bushes which frinuied th(i river at tliis point. Urujinj:,' forward his mule with repeated bloA's of tlie eoil of rope wliich lie carried in one hand, the .ij;ood fellow quickly circled tlu^ intervening obstacle. No sooner had he done so than he found himself in the presence of an enrn'gency calculated to test even the resources and ])roniptitude of an old cam- paigner. Galloping over the prairie in front of him was a solitary horseman on a powerful horse. The savage was fully armed with gun, tomahawk, and scalping knife, and held across his knee a i)rostrate tigme, which, although the cries had now ceased, Kobert at once recognised as that <»f his young master. The man's first im[)ulse was to endeavour to cut oti' the Indian's retreat. The latter, in striking awav fr om the river in the direction of the mountain already referred to, was riding almost directly across the line taken ])y Kobert in skirting the trees, and consequently in doing so the redskin lost most of the advantage of his earlier start. Moreover, his horse was heavily handicapped by reas<ui of his double burden. Encouraged Ity sucii consideiations as these, and rendered desperate by the thought of the issues which were at stake, Uobcrt plied the coil of rope to liis nude's Hanks with unceasing energy. The territied creature scarcely seenuid to touch the u'ound as ii i; ': ! 130 THE VOrXfJ UANrHMEN. Hod onward with outstrotcluMl neck Jiiid tail. Already iIk; two or three hundred yards which at iirst sepirated pursuer and pursuetl had been sensibly dh'iinished. The frequency with wliich the wily savage jrlanced back ovc^r his shoulder and tlien cruelly jmcked his ove^weii^dited steed with the point of liis scalping- knife, showed tliat he was beconiinu,' a])pre!iensive. The mule beuan to iUv^ but Lazenby urged it forward with voice, rope, and l)it. A few minutes more and he would have lu'en within striking distance. Robert clubbed liis riHe and loosened tiie knife at his l)elt. He dared not five, for the Indian, • louljtless with the very object of deterring him, was bending closely over his young captive. ])y a tremendous eliort the mule, which was a line specimen of its race, had reached within a few lengths of its e([uine com})etitor, when the hitter's tawny rider suddenly sat upright. I'efort; liobert could divine his intention, the crafty redskin had turned in his seat and levelled his u,un mnm him. Kobert 'ristinctivelv drew rein. Tiie mule, thus sliar[)ly checked, threw up its head ar.d received the l)ullet, which was discharged at that instant, in its biain. Down came the j»oor mule headlong to the ct;rth, its rider being thrown on his face some fifteen feet further on. Inn'tunately t^.u phiin was Iiere clotluHi with a short AN' KXriTI\<J CHASE, 181 :: 1:1 but dense rjrowth (tf grass, which was already half turned intcj natural hay by the dry and heated atniosjiliere of these uleyated tracts. 'I'his luckily broke Ids fall, and Koliert wiis soon on his feet and little the worse for his tund)le. lUit what chance had lie now of sayiii'4 his younu' master ? I lis licet nude was stretched lifeless on the ground behind him, and eyery moment increased the distance between himself and the lad he had striyen to rescue. Suddenly a thought struck him— there was still one thing that could oyertake tlie flying courser, and that was a ritle ball. As liooert stooped to [»ick u[) his ritle, which had fallen from his hand when he was hurled to the ground, he heard a derisiye laugh, and, looking u]). saw that the Sioux Ijraye had wheeled round and was beckoning him w^ith gilje and jeer to follow. "Wait a moment, you scoundrel!" cried Kobert, as he disengaged a tuft of withered grass which ha<l become twisted round the lock (/f his weapon. " Wait a moment, my fine fellow, and i '11 make you laugh out of the wrong corner of your mouth." As liobert spoke he stepped back behind the carcass of the mule. '■ Ugh ! " exclaimed the Indian, " does the pale-face think he can awake his long-eared pony ^ Let him try ! " tSu saying, the crafty redskin, doubtless aware of his ;iif j. .1 ; '. ifc I 132 Tin: vorxr, kaxchmkn. (iiieniy's purpose, faced (juickly iib(»ut iij^ain and ron- tiiuicd lii.s llij^ht. Al tlie siiiiu' iiioiiieiit liolKiil threw hiniselt' down liehind the mule and, kivellin^' his rifle across its motionless Ixulv, took a steady aim at tlie (luieklv retreating horse. Tlie hnllet sped on its way with unerring certainty, and entering just V)ehind the shouMer, ])ierced the lieart of the nobki creature, wliich bounded liigli into tlie air, and then fell lifeless to the ground, llarrv, already dazed by the blow he had received u])on his liead, was flung for some distance along tlie grass, Init the ln(Uan, less fortunate, lay pinned beneath liis steed. " Harr}', Master Harry 1 I hope you 're not hurt, sir," shouted Lazenby, as lie rushed breathlessly up. " No, no, I am all right, old fellow," answered tlie boy, as he jumped u})on his feet, delighted to find that matters had taken so favourable a turn. "Thank (Jod for that !" was the fervent response. Meanwhile the Indian was making the most frantic attempts to disengage himself from his fallen horse. lUit all to no purpose, as the whole weight of the animal's carcass rested upon his right leg. Seeing his predicament, and with thoughtless generositj, liobert sprang forward to his assistance. The savage, how- ever, expecting no mercy, mistook the poor fellow's purpose, and seizing his tomahawk, which lay withiii AN LXCITINfi CHASE. I :}.S reach, liu Imilcd it with tenilic force ;it his WDuld-hc deliverer. Tlie hitter perceived tlie moveinenl, and (hicked his liead, hut harely in time to avoid th(3 iiiurderoii.s axe, which actually swept nil' the ch)S('- fitliug old forage cap that he wore. "Well, that's polite of vou, and no mistake, vuu copper-headed villain ! " exclaimed La/enhy, greatly exasperatetl. " ^'ou 've no more mannt^rs than a voosiau . Tliis was a, favourite expression of the ex-sohher's, who had once been severely wounded in llu; ( 'rimea hy a dying Russian, to wiiom he liad given a drink of water, and who. thus refreshed, spent his sole remaining str(jngth in discharging his musket at the retiring fi>rm of his generous benefactor. "What a narrow escape! l>ut, never mind, old fellow," said Ifarij, as he picked up the ca]), *" there's some excuse for an Inchan wlio makes no profession of civilisation, much less of rliristianity. besides, he doubtless mistook vour intention, and thought vou were going to give him the coup de f/nhr.'' " The what, sir i " " Well, in plain English, to knock him on the head," explained the boy, with a merry laugh. " lUit, hillo ! who conies there ?" he continued in a tone of surjjrise, and pointing in the direction of the river. Robert looked in that direction, and then set about reloading his ritie with the utmost despatcii. This •:- ■it! I i i I 134 THE YOUNG KAXCHMfiN*. done, he again directed his j^aze .-ii the horseman, for such the approaching object appeared to Ijc. " Oh : it 's all right," lie s:iid at last, " tliere'>. nf» iiiii^taking the, gait oi' that animal, and, if I am not getting near-sighted, it 's liigby liiniselt' who 's astride it . I I o )l ': >U'^^^/jM^ i>a^ CHArTEK XVI. CONDEMNED TO DEATH. Lazenby was right. The rapidly approaching figure was that of the young Kentuckian bestriding the mule from which poor Harry had but lately been ho un- ceremoniously snatched. It turned out that liigV)y had reached the river soon after the irishman's rescue, and, hearing from him that young Weston and Lazenby had crossetl over in pursuit of the elk, Ethan determined to follow and assist them in skinning and cutting up the meat. Once across the river, he quickly discovered tiie trail, but was somewhat puzzled to find how soon one of the nmles had diverged from it towards the open prairie. Pusliing hastily forward, however, he soon sighted the fallen moose. lUit where were the hunters ? Ah ! there was another trail leading into, or rather nearly parallel with the one he was on. It came from the direction of a small cluni}), or island, as it is called, of cottonwood trees, a hundred yards i''\ 136 THE Yorxr; haxchmen. a way to hi.s ri^lit. lV!rhai).s it was wliere the mule and his lidor, whoso (livcrguiicc, lie had already remarked, had returned a^ain to llie traek ol tin; elk. Xo, the ]ioot'-})rints were those of a horse and not a mule. What eould it all mean ? Who was th(» solitary horseniiin, and what did he want ? Such were the ([Uestions that presented themselves in rajwd succession to the mind of the youni,' Kentuckian as he hurried anxiously forward. A strange forebodinif of evil had suddenly taken possession of him which he tried in vain to resist. Visions of JUackfeet Indians and ani])uscades, Crows and treacherous Snakes floated across his mental vision. " Whist ! what is the meaning' of that ?" he suddeidy exclaimed, half aloud, as a gunshot resounded throu<;h the silent eveninjf air. " That shot was not lire(l from any shooting inui of our company," he nnised. The young Kentuckian had halted and was listen- ing intently for some further indication of what was taking ])lace. All at once a kind of low whinny caught his ear. lie looked in the direction whence the sound proceeded, and there perceived tiie head of a mule which, with ears pricked, was gazing (piietly at him from among the tall flags and reeds of a swampy piece of ground close by. This was the animal that poor Harry had been riding until so unceremoniously kidnapped by the mounted Indian. The mule belonged to Iligby's i :l CONDEMNED 'in DKA'IH. l:n fntlici', and, apparently glad to sue its young niaslcr, it stoctd perfectly still until tlic latter caine up and led it caret'ullv on to tlie firm ground. Ethan ([uiekly adjusted the bricUe, and was tighten- ing tli(! saddh^ girths when a seeond and shari)er, thougli less noisy report readied his ear. "Ah! that's a rifleshot!" exclaimed the hunter, and s]»ringing upon the mule's hack, he galloi)ed ra])idly off in the direction whenc(» the sound ]>ro- ceeded. Mi ■* r>ravo ! Kthan, old fellow, we're very glad to see you !" exclaimed Harry, accosting the newcomer as he drew up beside them, " we were just wondeiing what we shoidd do with this implacable redskin T' "Do? why, iirst of all release the i)oor wretch from his painful position ! " replied the kind-hearted Ivigby, " can't you see the horse is lying on his toot i " and he stepped forward to assist the Indian. "Take care what you are about!" shouted Robert, " the rascal has nearly brained me a moment ago for attempting the same thing ! " "Oh! never fear, I car — " The young Kentuckian suddenly stopped short and stared hard at the countenance of the prostrate; warrior, who returned his gaze with untlinching hauteur. Each recognised the other in the same moment. ■n I 138 THE Yf)rN(i RANCHMEN. ' leconsii ! '* l'.L,']i! the bijj, i»Jile-l'ii(:(3 luis not for^otU'ii ihc cliicf who caiTicd olf iha ,i;()l(UMi-li{iirL'(l maiden ! He can liavc ])is revenj^L'. Tt'con.sa is like a trapped beaver. " " Von forget that I am not a vindictive redskin like yourself!" nq)licd I{i<;l>y, scornfully, as lie motioned to Ills companions to assist him in rcmovinu the heavy carcass of the horse. This done, they set the Inilian upon his feet, and, tinding that he was not nuich Inn't, they hound liis wrists tightly tog(!thcr Ix'hind liis l)ack, and hade him on pain of death march quietly Ijeside them. Having mounted Harry upon the remaining nndc; the whole purty lost no time in retracing their steps. Tiie sun was within an hour of setting and they had a long way to go before reaching the appointed rendi'zvous. " We nnist not forget the moose," said Kigby, " it is not far out of our road, and won't take long to skin if we all bear a h.'ind." " Certainly," replied Harry, " it would never do to return to camp luiadorned l)y the trophies of the chase, especially after the loss W(; have sustained in that useful mule." " Well, at any rate, Master Harry, we shall have a l)risoner of war to show ! " said llobert, as he glanced admiringly at the tall, proud figure of the. Sioux chief, who strode haughtily along by his side. s rONOEMNKI) TO DKATH. i:{i) Thore was iiiucli in h-ll in ihu liiintini^ ciini]) tliat iiijjlit. Hurry VV^cstoii and ( )'Fljiht'rty wt^ro the^ heroes of the Ijour, and many and sinccn; wen; llu; coniifrat- ulations tliey leceived. Lazmlty, too, rccoivcd a fair sliare of attention, and n(j little praise for the prompti- tude h(j had displayed in elVeciinn- his vniina master's rescue. " And wliat's to he done willi tli«' ]>risoner Teconsa V enquired Frank. "Hold a drum-head court - martial on him," sug- jj;ested liobert. " Shoot him I " cried one old trai)per. "Make him run the ,i;a\uitlet," said another. "Tie him u]» to one of these trees and leave him to perish of huufijer and thirst, as sonu^ of Ids tarna- tion tribe once did to a brother of mine," liissed Indian Bill, as he darted a look of deadly hatred at the eaptiye Sioux. The latter took no notice of the remark, indeed he appeared pi^rfectly obliyious of all that was beiuL!," sai<l. His hands had lieen set at liberty, and he sat ([uieth smokinj.^ a long pi])e. A stalwart trapper who had been constituted gaoler, pro tern., stood oyer iiim with loaded rifie. Many nf the trappers and hunters had sidlered more or less severely at the hands of the Sioux in days gone by, and, excited l>y the words of Indian Hill, tliey seemed bent upon wii)ing ofi' old scores and ready for any mischief. Tlie clamour rose higher and higher, and ' i "'' 140 TIIK YOlNd KANCIIMEN. \ i soini! even drew theii- hnv^ hiintin;^ knives imil sjnan^' lo their feet, as if tlicy wtmld, then and lliere, fall upon tlie ha])less redskin and stah him to ih(! heart. 'I'he eahnesl j)erson in the ^ji'oiij) seenie(l to he the elnel' liiniself. Allliou^li liis knowk'd^e of Kni^lish. together witli tlu; ^'estur(?s of llie crowd that sur- rounded liini, made liim well aware of his critical position, yet he smoked calmly on, intently watching- the wieaths of spiral smoke as they rose rej^ularly upward from the howl of his l>ipe. lie was a line- looking' sava<^e in the prime of his youth, and hoth Frank and Harry were lost in admiration at the stoical indifl'erenei! he disjdayed to the very alarminj^ state of aiVairs all around him. The scornful, vet scarcely i)erceptihle smile that played {U)out the corners of his mouth alone hetrayed how keenly he was alive to all that was passin*^'. At this moment a toweriuf^' form was seen forcing,' a way through the knot of an^ry men. It was Kthan l{i<,d)y. " Stand hack there ! " he shouted, as he placed him- self in front of the prisoner. " This man, redskin though he he, once saved me from l)eing hiicked in pieces hy his fellows, and I 'm not j^oing to stand hy and see him hutc'nered in cold hlood. The man who aims a hlt)w at Tcu^onsa shall learn wliat it means to make an enemy of Ethan Ki,u;hy I " "Eh ! and of Itobert Lazenby, too :" exclaimed the roN'DE.MXKI) TO DEATH. 1 M «^\-s()Mi('r, slr]»]iiiin up hoiilc tin- Imut' Kt'iitucUian, and, what is more," li (' CO ntiiuicd, " I (laiiii the Indian as ]\\y jdisoiicr, lor I lliiid^' ynti will nnl dis- ]»iilc tlic fact that I was the means nl' siMMirinj^' hini." " Vou aiv liulil llicic, Ijohcit, my man. and I will sea thai lut harm comes to tln^ Sioux ehiel' until he is l)rought up liefore my lather, Major Wt'stou, tu rect'ivu wiuiteNci' j)uni.shmenl he may see tit to in- tlict," said Frank. "And who, in tlu; name of lortune, are you, luy fine voun<' eoxeondi:'" tauntini'ly demanded an ill- favoured fellow who had been out; of the liist to erv for the prisoner's blood. This cowardly wreteh, a true type of some of the lowest classes (jf trappei's, who shoot down the poor Indians as though thev were so many wild bi^asts, whenever thev cross their ]>ath, was furious at Kigby's interference and chani- l)ionship of the Sioux chief. JUit a wholesome dread of the younj;' Xentuckian's ])r(jwoss obliged liim to smother his indignation as far as it concerned the latter. Youn<4 Weston's unlooked-for interference, however, and the air of confidence with which he spoke, drew down upon him all the blackL^niard's pent-up ire. The retined-lookin;.;' and faii'-haired English lad, moreover, seemed to be a safe enijugh mark at which to vent his s})leen. Meanwhilt; the faithful liol)ert was scarcely restrained by IIigi)y, who was opportunely backed by a warning glance I :r f .t t III iil' ' 142 THE YOUXfJ UANCH.MEX. from Frank, from nishiiiy straight at the insultin*^ trapper. " And so," continued the latter, waxing bolder as he misinterpreted the boy's contemptuous silence for fear, " and so yer tliink to lord it over free and independent trappers and liunters, as yer precious daddy does over a parcel of poor emigrant folk, do yer, my tine young liritisher?" As lie spoke, the braggart had advanced inconveniently near to the subject of iiis attack, who showed his contem])t and displeasure by turning his back u])()n him, with an expression of extreme disgust, and the added caution, "Have a care, my man, or I may be compelled to chastise vou ! " Tliereupon there were some hisses at the oMender and a murmur of sympathy with young Weston, whtt was always- a favourite on account of his free, cheerful disposition, and more especially after his noble con- duct in the Arapahoe incident. These adverse demonstrations, however, did not tend to soothe the trapper's wrath, and, suddenl}' raising his hand, he caught Frank a heavy cull' upon the ear. The retaliation for this act of indi;;nity was as complete as it was sudden and unexpected. Like a woundtid tiger, Frank turned upon his cowardly assailant. The boy's brow was crimson, and his eyes Hashed tire, as he glared for an instant upon him. Then with one swift and well-djrec ted ' t 1 OONDEMNEl) TO DEATH. 143 r on its lilt ti(\ ])low, strai^lit from tlic shoulder, lie. felled the bullv to the earth. It all happened so suddenly that the by-standers were thunderstruck. Then tliere was a loud and simultaneous burst of applause at younj,' AVeston'a startling manifestation of !atr'?ngtli and resolution. As for the crestfallen trapper he slowly rose to his feet and slunk away to the adjacent stream to batlie his throbbing temples, muttering raid cursing as he went. Doubtless he would like to have tried con- clusions once again with his redoubtable young adver- sary, but he saw that the sympathy of his comrades was all with the latter, and that, even if successful, he would be likely to receive yet rougher treatment at their hands. When matters had calmed" down again, it was decided to send Teconsa under an escort to the emigrant camp on the (Jreen lliver, to receive his sentence from the commandant, jVLijor Weston. Accordingly, early the next morning, Kigby and Lazenby marched out in ch.irge of the Indian, while Frank mounted the mule ai-d rode on as quickly as he could in advance, both to ap]n'ise his father of tlu' success of the hunting ]»arty, and to tell him of tlie capture and near approach of Teconsa. He was also commissioned to send back an empty waggon and a team of four mules or liorses, to br r in the elk meat and skins. m 144 THE YOl NG RAXCHMEN. A ftw hours later, a temporary court had been instituted, which was presided over by the elder liigby, Ethan's father, and a jury of intelligent men. And the Sioux chief was arraigned before it on the following charges : — First, the unlawful and forcible seizure, carrying away, and detention of ]\Iiss Weston. Second, kidnapping and assaulting Harry Weston, and attempting to rnurder Eobert Lazenby. The prisoner was understood to plead " Not guilty." The trial lasted several hours, during which time Harry and others arrived in camp and gave their evidence. After all the witnesses had been called, old liigby summed up with considerable shrewdness and ability, and then the twelve jurors retired behind a waggon to consider their verdict. Five minutes sutiiced for them to discover that they were almost all of the same mind, and, on returning into court, and in answer to the President's question, the foreman, amid the most profound silence, pronounced the ominous word, ''Guilty ;" "but," he added kindly, "some of us recommend him to mercy." The unmistakable murnuir of applause whicli greeted the announcement of the verdict showed that it was in keeping with the popular feeling. Silence having been at length restored, tlie Indian was asked if he had anything to say before his sentence CONDEMNED TO DEATH. 145 was pronounced. He had been allowed to sit durinj^ the trial between liis two guards on a bencli formed ])}' a piece of ' oard supported between two Hour barrels placed on end. When it was over, however, the chief rose to his feet, and, after glancing round defiantly, he folded his arms across his broad chest, and made a fiery and ehxpient speech. '■ Vagabond l*alefaces," he said, " there is eternal war, war to the death, between your race and mine, between red man and white ! Your fathers came from beyond the broad waters, from the rising of the sun. They held up the branch of peace, and begged a little ground whereon to nuse corn for their families. The red men's hearts were big ; they had plains and forests, hills and valleys, rivers and lakes — they gavt; without stint to the weary suppliants. " And what has been their recompense ? The wliite men have become strong and numerous. They have cut down the forests and destroyed the game, iiud now thev are crossing tlie ''reat river, the Mother of waters, and spreading themselves over the prairies. They are like locusts, they tat up the land, and there will soon be no ])lace left for the Indian's winwain. " White men, there can be no peace Ix'Lween your l)eople and n.ine. The (Ireat Spirit has placed the red men or^ these boundless hunting grounds ; and We will not yield them \\\) without a struggle. '* !l I i l.f: \m N » 1 i ] I4(i THE YOrXf! ilANCHMEN. " You say llie land is wide, but it is not wide enough for us both. The ( Jreat Spirit has not made tlie red men and tlie white to live together. If we bury the hatehet and permit you to remain we are lost ! '' Where are the Hurons and the Iroquois ? " Wliere an; tlie Mohawks and the Shawnees ? " Ah ! you know well — their names alone remain. ** I tell you there is war to tlu; death between your raee and mine, and tlui struggle will not and cannot cease until tiie white man or the Indian shall perish from the earth. You liave got me in your jwwer and can kill me if you choose — I am ready ; I die but once. But T shall not fall unavenged, the lodges of my people are vi^ry near. The Sioux warriors are brave, they will avenge the blood of their chief, and there will be nmch weeping in the camp of the long- knives. It is enough, Teconsa has spoken." As the chief resumed his seat, the deep silence which had prevailed during his fiery and pathetic harangue, was broken by murmurs of sympathy from many in the crowd. One or two half smothered sobs were heard, proceeding from a waggon which stood near, and also ]\[ajor Weston's voice endeavouring to soothe his daugliter's generous grief. " Certainly, my child, I will do all 1 can to save his life," he was saying ; " and, as the commander of this train, I can at least claim the privilege of remitting the death sentence." ( hi CONDEMNED To DEATH. y 147 of of " You must do more, dear father," urged his daughter. " You must insist upon iiis being placed at liberty." "All!" lie replied, with a deep sigli, "1 should rejoice to see niv fellow travellers setting a merciful example to these poor savages, that tliey may catch some glimmer, liowever faint, of the Christian Faith. But come with me, dearest," continued the Major, ' and you shall plead yourself for Teconsa's life and liljerty. They will not deny any request that tlie Queen of the Camp, as they call you, may make, whereas it will not do for me to put too great a strain upon the silken roins of my autliority." Meanwhile, the judge was proceeding to i)ass sen- tence upon the prisoner — after a brief and apparently heated consultation with two worthy comrades. Assuming a stern and solemn attitude, old lligby began as follows : — " Teconsa, Chief of tlie Sioux, you have been found guilty on each and every count of the indictment against you. It is therefore my painful duty to sentence you to death. I am sorry for you. You are a brave man, and have niiidc a grand sj)eech. But you are a heathen and a redskin, and you liave therefore no claim t<t belligerent riglits. We are Christians, and savages such as you must not presume 1<» dispute our entry into your ancient domains. You must be content to lie down 'and let us trample you it. n Ill I I 148 THE VoUNG ranchmen. boiieatli our feet. PiitrioLisiii is a tiiiu tliiii.ii;, but it is not to b(i indulged in l)y savages. Xo, it is tlie Divine. ii<:ht of civilised beintrs. liesides. we are Cli I said l)efore. d Ol e must mi] upon inferior races such as yours the desiraljilil^ conforming to the rules of Christian ])ractice. I will read you some of tin.' noble precepts f»r the Christ- ianity we profess. Here they are, in the very words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: — " ' 1 say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which des]ntefully use you and persecute you.' "'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' "'Love your enemies and do good .... and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Higlicst, for He is kind unto the unthankful and the evil.' " ' lie ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.' "'Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condennj not, and ye shall not be condennied; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven ' " ' For with the same measure that ye mete, withal it shall be measured to you again.' " All but the most stupid amongst the audience soon discovered what the Tresident meant l»y these re- COKDEMNED TO DEATH. 149 marks ancl f|Uotations, and Iiis manifest irony causod tliose who had betrayed any revengefid feelings to- wards the captive to feel decidedly foolish, and con- seqnently, in some cases, angry. Tlie recommendation to mcrcv not bein*' unanimous was out of order, and therefore the Judge was not able to give effect to it in passing sentence ui)on the prisoner, liut, by speaking as he did, Kigby hoped ti.' pave the way for Major Weston to exercise his pre- rogati\e of mercy. in 1 ^ i m IS \l 1 ' -i 1^:- i ^1 » I I I CHAPTER XVII. SUSPENSE AND TRAGEDY. The elder Kigby wus a man who«?e enuracter would have insured liini respect and esteem in any walk in life. His kindly, genial nature won the hearts of all who knew him, while his high sense of truth and honour, and of justice, ever tempered by mercy, lent weight to the acknowledged force luid sagacity of his counsels. For a few moments it seemed as if mercy were to prevail over malice and revenge. Several young men, indeed, were already on the point of springing forward to cut the prisoner's bonds. They were, however, arrested by the angry remonstrances of a cli(pie of unrelenting trappers and frontier's men. " Not so fast, my young bucks ! " exclaimed one of these worthies, a ferret-faced, cadaverous-looking man, with long yellow-red haii" falling down to his slK)ulders. "T guess yer'd not hit so keen to loose ihe pesky i' (■ SUSPENSE AND TRAGEDY. 151 Injun if yer \\ bin treated liku this ! Look liijir," and, as lie spoke, he puslied back liis long unkempt hair with his bony fingers, revealing the horrid fact that both his ears had been cut completely oil". As soon as the exclamations of horror and pity occasioned by the sight of this terriblt^ nnitilalion had subsided, the trapper continued, " Yaas, 1 calculate yer'd not feel so squeamish about letting that worth- less redskin have his deserts if yer'd l)een in my shoes three years ago this fall." '* Tell us the story, man," said a woman standing near. " Wall, that 's soon uoi.^i," replied the mutilated one. "1 was setting my traps one morning, along the side of a little creek that Hows into the Yellowstone, when 1 was suddenly set upon and made prisoner by a band of Crees. Fortunately the Injins were in a g(jod humour, having just cai)tured a lot of horses from some poor emigrant folk, or I should not be hiar now, not by a long chalk. However, they stripped me of every rag I had on, and then cut off my ears, just to remember me by, as they playfully remarked, the demons! Y'ou l)et ! 1 swore a terrible vengeance. Count the notches on the stock of my rille. Tharteen ^ Yaas, that's the death roll ! Tharteen less of the duskv varmints for one pair of cars ! " and Y'ellow Fox, [is the Indians called him, emphasised the concluding sentence bv striking the butt of his ^mn sharp] v on ' t y''i " 1 *>. 152 THK Yot*NYJ IIAN'CIIMEIC. tli(3 ground and ,s(|uirtin«Li: fur^h i volley of tobacco juice. " Vou murderous wretch !" exclaiiiuid Krank Weston, who liad come up in time to hear the concludin*,' i)art of his speech. " Vou richly deserve to he hound liand and foot and delivered up to vour enemies ! It is indiscriminate, cold-blooded slaughter, like that which you have Just confessed, which maddens the ])oor Indians and makes them retaliate without mercy upon tlie first unlucky white who falls into their hands. You and such as you have very much to answer for ! ' "Much, indeed!" echoed Ethan Itigby, only too glad of the opi)ortunity <jf supporting his young friend in the luesence of his lovely sister, whom he had observed to be approaching with lier father, " those wortldess ears of yours have cost a hea^) of lives already. For every notch you have marked, I '11 wager, some innocent white has lost his scalp. It 's a pity those Cree genlry didn't cut otl' your head complete wliile tliey were about it. Y(ju may scowl and club your gun, assassin, for you never killed those victims in fair liglit. V>\\t uidess you take yourself and youv ugly shooting-iron oif at once, I '11 break the stock and notches off against your stupid head." As young liigby concluded, he advanced to carry out his threat, but his first step forward was the signal for Yellow Fox to slink otl' amongst the crowd. w St^SPENSE AND TUACJEDY. 15:^ Teconsa's fate, however, still liiiii^' in llie balaiiee, for, while soine a])])l{iiule(l youn^' Weston and his enerj^^jlic RU])i)oitei',olliers hissed and (leniandeil that the sentence of deatli should he earried out. It was evident tliat the eanii) was divided, and Major Weston, wlio liad eonie u]*, noticed with dismay that llie niiijorily of (Ik* older and more infhiential men were o])])os('d to the advocates of mercy, and that the ranks of the latter were cliietly made up of the youn^^T men and women and chihhen. This was an ominous (Hscovery. J hit the Miijor was still more startled to find, a few minutes later, that the extreme party were already ([uietly nudving preparations for the prisoner's execution. The latter was even then l)ound securely to a young tree, near tlie southern extremity of the cam]), and a tiring ])arty was ])eing arranged. If, therefore, the hulian's life was to he s])ared, there was not a moment to he lost. Ordering Franiv to remain hy his sister, and telling lier it was too late for her to interfere, the commandant forced liis way ra[)idly through the crowd wliich was hurrying up to witness tlie execution. In his anxiety to save the life of the interesting chief ho did not stoj) to consider that it might l)e dangerous to interfere witli the sentence of the court. The sullen air of the men wlio surrounded Teconsji showed Major AN'eston that they were bent on Ijlood- I 1 s fi 154 THE YOVSC, HAXCHMKy. I shed, yet, iiothinjj; dauiitcd, ha coiiimandt'd them to full ))a('lv. " Cii]>tuin," said one, lioary-licadcd old trai)por, who wont It}' the name of Old Abe, and who had consider- al)l(! inlluence over the majority of the hunt(!rs and frontier's men, " Captain, ye 're a hravo man, thouL,di yew air a Ihitisher! Ver've had no ^M-eat expariencc of these eussod redskins, jjowever. Yer '11 excnse me saying so, but its only j^rcen horns like yerself that ever think of treatinj^ Injuns with marcy ! I'll jest tell yer of an all'air that took pLiee not so very far to the nnrthard of this hiar camp." And (^Id Ahe crossed his hands over the muz/le of his lon<; riHe, which he had planted, butt downwards, in front of him, and, with his chin restint^ u])on the back of his hand, ])roceeded to relate the following incident, one of the most tragical in the annals of the American Fur (.'omjtany. "Yer call me Old Abe now, boys," he began, while his keen grey eyes gleamed shar[)ly anjund to note if he had an attentive audience, " but I was a young man when I took service with the American Fur Compjiny, under that prince of leaders. Major Ifenry Vanderburgh. Well, yer see, in trying to lind the best trapping grounds, we had lost our way and wanderctl into the heart of the lUackfoot country, without knowing it. One day, our scouts, who were out in advance, came hurrying back into camp with the SI'SPKNSE AVI) TIlArjEPY 1 )0 ularininj^' luiw.s that tliey had just stuiiildtMl iipmi (he tract's of a l)ainl of lUackfcet. " Vandcrlmruh m.'idc lij^ht cf tlic inatt^T, and. takiuj,' iiu; and seven or eiL,dit nioi-e men with him, rode oil" to ascertain wliat trulli there was in llu! leport. Sure enoUjL^di, W(! liad not ])ro(('e(led far, Iteforc wa came ui)on the; still smoiilderinLi' tires of a desertecl cain)). Several carcasses of recentlv slauLfhli-red ItulValoes lav around, and it was evid»'nt tliat a huntini,' party of Indians liad, within tliu last hour or so, heaten a hasty retreat from the spot. They were, in all i)rohal)ility. still lurking in th(^ nei^hhourhood, and oni" lead«'r rashly determine«l to follow thc^m up.'" "Ah!" interrupted Major Weston, at this point, " the old story, 1 perceive*. White man's ajijgression and red man's revenj^'e ! The* hunted (piarry turning upon his relentless ]>ursuer. i>ut go on with your story!" he continued, noticing the impatiences of the bvstander.s. " Well, sir, to he sure," continued (31d .\he. with a condescending smile at the Major, " .some of us did suggest that it might he just as well to 'let sleeping dogs lie,' or at any rate send to our camp for reinforce- ments, but our leader's counige was all ablaze, he seemed to siufV the l»attle from afar, and ' Forward,* was the word. " The lilackfoot trail led .across prairie and woodland until '^ entered a dark and gloojuy ravine, the steep ' i l! 156 THE YOUNO RANCHMEN. hanks of which, toweriii<( lii.nh ahove us on either hand, were overj^n'own witli trees and hrnshwood. Save for the j^^^'ntle rippling of a tiny stream, the de*^" nlence was only l^roken hy tlie tramp of onr horses' feet. " Suddenly there arose a fearful tumult of yells and rille shots. The whole dell seemed to he suddenly alive witli Indians, who sprang from hehind every tree and shruh, firing their guns and Itrandishing their spears." As the old man bpoke, Major Weston thought involuntarily of Sir Walter Scott's words — " At once there rose so wild a yell Williin that dark and narrow dell, As all tlu! tiends, from Heaven that ftll. Had pealed the banner cry of hell."' " To make matters worse," continued Old Ahe, " the horses reared and plunged so that it was impos- silde to make the hest use of our weapons. " Our galhint leader's steed was shot under him by llie first volley, and falling, it pinned its ridcir to the ground. In this Icrrihle i»redieament he called loudly upon .is to assist him to rise. It was in vain; his fate was sealed. ( )ne man made the attempt, but was overjtowered and sc.-.ped before his eyes. I and most of my comrades were severely wounded, and we only saved our lives by headlong flight." ■' Antl what l)ecame of the hapless Vanderburgh (* " inipiired several voices iu a breath. SUSPENSE AND TRAGEDY. 157 " All, it was a pitiful sight ! — a sight I shall never forg'-t ; " continued the old trai)per, his voice shaking with emotion. " As we glanced back over our shoulders, we observed tlie exultant Blackfeet a])proach to destroy the prostrate gentleman, who had not ceased strug,L:ling to disengage himself. Now he saw that lie nmst die, but, with that dauntless courage whicli always dis- tinguished him, he determined to sell his life as dearly as possible. His hand still grasped his trusty rifle, and the first warrior that advanced received its con- tents in his heart, and fell dead to the earth. ]>efore, however, Major Vanderburgh could draw one of the pistols from his bolt he was struck (1(.>wn by a blow from a tomahawk and s[)eedily despatched. "Such was the untimely end of ]\rajor Henry Vanderburgh, one of the bravest and most poi»ul.'ir leaders of the American Fur (V)m[)any. And such," continued Old Abe warnin(>lv, " will be vour fate, Major AVeston, if you don 't aid in exti-rminating these rascally Indians." " I should richlv deserve a like fate if i did wantonly take i)art in their destruction," rc[)lied the com- mandant. "l>ut," he continued, in a ]»ersuasive tone of voice, "let us now release the pool' Indiun. T am sure he has been suHiciently punished already by the suspense in which you have kept him. And brave men, such as I know manv at least of voii to be, caiinoL surely stitie the generous impulses which must 158 THE YOL'Xr; UAXCHMEX. stir your liearts at tlie siglit of his wondrous forti- tude." "Ell! but, yer sec^ w(;' re only carryin' out tlie sentence of the court," re])lied a grini-lookin.u; emi- i^'rant. "Ah! certainly, Imt that sentence lias never been confirmed hy myself as commander, so I' 11 find the judge and see if we can't have it altered to expulsion from the camj*," responded the Major cheerfully, as he started on his errand of m(Tcy, He saw, or fancied he siiw, unmistakable signs of relenting in the attitude of the self-constituted execu- tioners, and he tliought they would l)e glad of an opportunity to retire honourably from the position in wliich thev had placed themselves. Unfortunatelv, however, this was only the case with a few individuals amongst them, and no sooner had the officer disap- peared than they once more ])re])ar('d to shoot the prisoner. The better disposed remonstriiled und attenipte(l to frustrate tlu^ sanguinary deed, but they were soon silenced and hustled to one si<le bv the more violent t, l)arty, who outnund)ered them ten to one. A dozen determined-looking men arrived, with rifies of as niany difierent patti'rns, nnd took their stand in front of the condennied man. The crowd was not slow to take the hint, and instinctively fell back — a movement that was perceptibly accelerated by the <-< r Ill )t -a SUSPENSE AND TRAfJEDY. 150 r sudden order to " Present Arms," followed 1)V the instantaneous levelling of i\w, deadlv rille-barrels. A death-like silence had fallen over the expectant crowd as thev waited the order for the riilenien to fire. The click of tlui locks was distinctly heard, and sent a shudder throuj^h many a hrc^ast as each haniiiKU' was raised to the full cock. But, even in that brief interval, before the fatal word " Fire " was uttered, there was a sudden startling,' cry, and a tall ,i,drlish fi«i;ure darted (quickly across tiie open s]»ace, and tlirew herself in front of the living tari^et. it was (,'onstance Weston. The noble, high-spirited girl had become aware of the imniineiit tragedy, and, with characteristic prompti- tude and self-forifetfulness, she at once determined if yxjssiblc! to savit tlu; poor Indian. Frank had been called away from liur to assist his father in the search for old liigby, and it was while on her way to their own waggon she had learned what was taking jdace. She immediately k traced her steps, and quickly skirting the crowd, boui ded between the astonished marksmen and their victim in the very nick of time. It was a rash act, and might have cost the girl h(!r life. lEowever, there she stood, like some lovely vision of a guardian angel. Her luxuriant golden hair had fallen down, and hung in long wavy masses over her shoulders and down her back. The efiect was heightened by a momentary gleam of sunshine, which esca})ed at K M ,i i I !-■ 1!| I .1 I if 160 THE YOrXfJ KANCHMEN. I ! that instant from a bank of clouds, beliind which, as though to hide its face from a deed of bloodshed, tJie sun was rapidly declining. Miss Weston thus appeared to be surrounded by a halo of light, and, as slie stood with one hand uplifted above her head, she seemed lilve some noble goddess rebuking the cruel ])urposes of man. The ellect was magical. One by one the ready guns were lowered, until only one weapon remained levelled. It was that of Yellow Fox, who, reluctant to lose the chance of gratifying liis quenchless thirst for vengeance, seemed as if he would even sacrifice the beautiful intruder herself ratlier than be baulked of his prey. As the bystanders began to liiss and cry " Sliame ! " there was a sudden commotion in the crowd. Some of those who stood nearest to tlie oflender were nearly knocked off their feet by a tall powerful man, who, rushing forward, seized the levelled rifle with both hands, wrested it quickly from the owner's grasp, and threw it, right over the heads of the people, into the adjacent river. " Bravo ! Ethan," for it was he, " well done, sir ! ' shouted Frank and the ]\Iajor as they arrived at that moment on the spot. The young Kentuckian, how- ever, had not yet done with his ugly antagonist. lioused to fury by his sudden discomfiture and the loss of his trusty ride, Yellow Fox drew his long I ( SUSPENSE AND TRAGEDY. IGl i-lv V lio, the long \ liuntiiij^-knife, and, uttering a yell of frenzy, sprang upon liis adversary, liut Kigby was too (|uick for him. Catcln'ng the wrist of tlie hand that held tlie knife witli Iiis left hand, and taking him firmly by the throat with the other, Ethan held him at arm's lengtli. In tliat vice-like grip Yellow Fox was utterly power- less. In a few moments he began to turn black in the face, and would soon have been strangled, had not his antagonist mercifully released him. Then the wretched man, thoroughly cowed, slunk awkwardly away to try and recover Ins lost weaj)on from the bottom of the river. The young Kentuckiau looked contemptuously after him for a moment, and then glanced defiantly around, as if to inquire whether there were any one else who would like to threaten Miss Weston in his presence. But if there were any base enough to raise a hand against a brave and defenceless woman, they were too discreet to ])etray any such desire, especially since Major Weston, assisted by Frank and Lazenby, liad l)y then collected [i band of resolute men to keep order. As soon as the excitement hnd partially subsided, Major Weston addressed the people as follows: — " Comrades, I Iiave investigated the matter suth- ciently to discover that undue influence, to use n(j harsher term, was used to prejudice the jury, (jr some of them, in tlie late trial 1 therefore demand a new if 162 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. one, unless you will consent to tlie immediate release of the prisoner. I think he has already suffered more than enough at the hands of a small but violent section of the camp, men who are steeped in the l)lood of the poor Indians. xVfter the noble and touchin*,' speech of Teconsa himself, and the scathing irony of our al)le l)resii'ent, we must be totally devoid of mercy and compassion if we refuse to urant tliis heroic chief his life and lilterty." As the Major })aused for a moment there was a murnnir of applause, accom])anied by other unmistak- alde signs of a wholesome reaction in the feelings of the crowd. The sight of Connie AVeston in tears — for her feelings had once luore got the l)etter of her will — produced a great impression upon most of the emigrants, who simply ad(jred her. This hopeful state of aliairs did not escape the commandant's notice, and there was a decidedly con- tident ring in his clear sonorous voice as he exclaimed, " Friends and comrade^,, I ask you to give life and freedom to the Sioux chief. Do you consent ? Then hold up your hands in token thereof." A sea of hands was immediately raised, and, as tlie Major turned and severed the prisoner's cords, a hearty cheer was given. Teconsa was free. Thus restored to liberty, the Indian's first act was to shake his deliverer heartily by the hand. Then he drew himself up and looked haughtily arounil upon I i a SUSPENSE AND TRAGEDY. 163 the excited crowd. Gradually his countenance assumed a more softened expression, as he noticed the general and spontaneous display of joy and satisfaction at his release, but this suddenly changed to one of fierce and deadly hatred as his eye fell upon Yellow Fox and the rest of his would-he executioners, who were regarding him with vindictive suUenness. (Jiving them one withering glance of scorn and defiance, the ', hief turned u])0u his heel. At this moment he caught sight of Connie Weston, surrounded by her father and brothers. The Indian's face brightened as he hastened to greet her. " Light of the West ! " he exclaimed, as he took the girl's fair hand in his tawny palm and pressed it to his heart ' you have saved Teconsa's life ! Henceforth the chief, your father, may lead his followers, his herds and ilocks wheresoever he inav ciioose. The Sioux warriors will not point a gun or raise a hatchet against him. The paleface chief has the eye of Jin eagle, but his heart is tender ; he woidd not strike a fallen foe. His children are like him, brave and generous. Ugh ! if the white men were all so there might be peace l)etween us ; but some of them are dogs," he continued, with Hashing eyes, as he looked in tin* direction of Yellow Fox and his party. "They would have killed the JSioux chief like a trapped beaver, but lie would not have died unavenged : his warriors are alreadv come to look fur their chief." I \\ » ^'!h i ; 1 164 THE YOUNG IlAXCHMEN. While the Tiidiaii was s])e{ikiii<f, the sljarj) hark of a fox was heard beyond tlie river, and was answered l»y a hke ery from th(; opjjosite sid(^ of tlie cam]). " Indians I Indiiins!" shouti'd several voiees aL once, and the whole eanip was immediately thrown into a state of agitation and ai 'rm. "Turn out •he }^\!f;rd: uiuiji he hKuistwojks," were Major Weston's or-'er; ,, alteiml in ealm but decisive tones. "Adieu, white maiden, we must jiart." said the chief. " Ciive me one lock of that golden hair, tliat Teconsa may never forget the service rendered to him by the daughter of a paleface chief." Scarcely knowing what she did in her agitation and alarm, the girl caught up the knife which lier father had thrown aside after severing the prisoner's bonds, and quickly cut off one of the coveted tresses. At the same time, she urged the chief to fly for his life, for she knew that if his men made an attack upon the camp nothing could save him from the fury of the trappers. As the Indian took the coveted little souvenir, he stooped down and kissed the fair liand that presented it. Then, pressing the lock of hair to his heart, he said, impressively, " The golden-haired maiden will ever live in Teconsa's heart. Farewell." The next moment he was bounding quickly towards the river. As he approached the bank, Connie ob- SUSPENSE AND TRAr.EnV. 165 sowed, throuuli tho giitliorini,' darkiK'ss, tlial hv. was intercepted \)y a lij;in(! svliicli rose from the cover of a few l)ushcs. The dayli^dit was fast waning', ])Ut (Vmnie n^('0<,niise(l tli(^ laiii ungainly form. It was thai of Yellow Fox. She started jind uttered a crv of terror, as ' ;'r eye; caut'ht the faint <dininier of li<'ht which revealed that he held a knife in his uplifted hand. The chief was unarmed ; he would surely j>erish. No ; he springs lightly aside, and avoids the u'-'W. Then he ru.shes upon the trapper, hefore ■>'; sn recover him.self, and hurls him hackward v'to the river. There is a loud splash. Teconsa .'.tot i^;s to pick up the knife which his adversiiry ha; 'in.pped. Then he plunges after him into the river. There is an upheaval of the water, a cry of des[)air, and all is silent again in that direction, except for the smooth, regular strokes of a solitary swinmier. Pre- sently the latter emerges on the further l)ank of the river, and, brandishing the knife ahove his head, utters the loud and fearful war-whoop of the Sioux. It is Teconsa. The cry is taken up and repeated on all sides ])y hundreds of throats His warriors encircle the camp. Ii M III 'it Thanks to the admirable discipline taught l»y Major Weston, order was already restored tht're, and every man was armed and at his appointed post. 166 THE YOUNG KANCHMtN. TIk; Tndiaiis {i(lvanc(!(l from Ihc cover of the trees and l)ushcs, and seonicd al)out to rush the defences ; but, at II si^^'nal from their chitif, they all at f»nee fell buck, and disappeared as suddenly as they had come. A few days later, as the enii^nants were about to ))reak up their cami) and continue their journey, they observed a lloek of vultures eirclini,' nnmd Jind de- scending upon a little islet half a mile below tbe encampment. Some men were sent to ascertain the nature of the carrion that attrjicted tlie foul birds. It was the dead bodv of the wretched Yellow Kox. His sculp was gone, and he had been stubbed to the heart. (HAITEK XVIII. THE I'EKILS OK TIIK WAHSATCH. Teconha was as <^'0(kI as his word, and llie eiiiij^ranls imrsut'd the remainder ut' their niounlain journey unmolested lo tlie very passes of tlie Walisatch. Kvcn tlie marauding' lUackfcet and predatory Crows, doul)lless in com])liancc with some potent hint or thi'eat of their conciuerors. the dreaded Sioux, ai'])eared to have been temporarily transformed into honest and peace-abiding- Indians. With unwonted forbearance, they allowed the long train of waggons and live stock to pass through their midst, without even att«'mpting to stampede the horses or cut oil' stragglers. This immunity from attack, while marching through a region hitherto considered one of the most dangerous parts of the route to Salt Lake City, tended, naturally perha})S, to some relaxation of vigilance, when once the haunts of these mountain banditti were left be- hin<l. The emigrants had still, however, a journey of some tifty miles before them ere reaching the isolated 168 THE YOCNO IIANCHMEN. r <'ity of tlic r.attor-Day Saints. And, ultli(ni«^'h llicir routes was no loiii^'cr infcsttMl l»y ''rows or lUackfeet, it j)asso(l tlirou^di ^'looniy (Uitilcs and narrow valleys which wcn^ not always oxenipt from the dreaded veils jind war-whoops of trihes scared v less liostile. •' It.' The Snakes and liannacks, who lived to the north- ward, had not yet learned tlu^ benefits of })ea('e, and their war ])arties occasionally penetrated as far soiilh as the up] >er reaches of the Ogden and IJear llivers. It was not indeed until some years later that they were civilized by (Jeneral Conner, when his batteries and battalions swept half their warriors to the i^'rave. The emigrants hsid crossed the l>ear IJiver, and were now descendini^ the Western sIojjcs of the mountains. The head of the train had just entered a long narrow valley, and Indian P>ill and the two young AVestous were out scouting al)out a mile in advance. The two youths had early shown a s])ecial aptitude for till! latter duty. They were not only fond of adventure, but, being well mounted and liold riders, they had gradually come to be recognised us peculiarly litted for the work. In conjunction with the old Indian fighter or one of his veteran comrades, they had headed the march all the wav from the (rreen Kiver, and had by this time earned the appellation of " The Boy Scouts." " Is it not rather strange," said Frank, abruptly breaking the silence in which ihey had been riding for THE PERILS OF THE WAIISATCH. 160 the last half-hour, ' that we should have crossed tluise ii li mountains from East to West without seeini^ a single specimen of the unj^ainly animals fium wiiich they are su]»])(ised to take tlu.'ir name ?" " Ves," chimed in Ilarrv in tones of dis-^ust, " thev mi<,'ht as well have si)elled it r>-A-li-E for all the )»ears we hav(! se'en." Frank made some gay retort, and then their }>eals of merry laughter were echoed and re-echoed from the neighhouring rocks. " H'st !" cried Indian Bill, checking his horse. A low growl caught their ears. " Ah ! it seems our laughter has awakened some- thing more substantial tlian echoes," whispered Frank to his brother, as they also jndled up. " I wonder if it's a gii/zly," .said Harry, uniler his breath, and in tones tremulous with excitement. " Very likely," answered his brother, " but .see, liill is motioning to me to hold his horse.'* The old hunter, who was a fi^w yards in atlvance, quietly dismounted and gave the end of the bridle into Frank's hand as he came u}), " What is it and where is it ? " (piestioned the latter. " Wal, it a bar, that 's sartin, but war she s located is jest what I want to find out," answered the hunter, somewhat testily, as he examined the nipple of his rifle to make sure that the cap had not fallen oir. The uext minute he was cautiously making his v/ay 170 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. li up the dry bed of a watercourse which in stormy weather doubtless contributed its mite to swell the waters of the Great Salt Lake. The boys watched him until lie was lost to sight behind some huge boulders, which had probably, at some period or other, been detached from the adjoining cliff's and fallen into the gully. Five minutes — which appeared to the impatient youths more like half an hour — elapsed, and then came the sharp report of a ritle. Its echoes had scarcely died away amongst tlie rocks when the old hunter reappeared, running and leaping down the stony bed of the mountain torrent at a pace wliich spoke volumes for the agility of a man of over sixty years of age, but wliich threatened the direst conse- '[uences to neck and liml) if by chance he missed his footing. " What on earth s the matter i " exclaimed Frank. " He must for once have missed his aim, and " " Sure enough the bear's at his heels !" cried Harry, witli wild excitement, as, just then, a huge grizzly made its appearance in hot pursuit. " My word ! there 's no time to lose," said Frank. "Hold these horses." And throwing the reins to his brother, he sprang from his saddle and unslung his repeating ritle. In a few seconds more he was hasten- ing to tlie hunter's assistance. Harrv did as he was bid, althouj'h at such a i I THE PERILS OF THE WAHSATCH. 171 moment inaction was hard to bear ; but that pecu- liarly resolute, nay almost imperious look, wliich the presence of clanger always evoked in Frank's hand- some face, warned him that remonstrance would be useless. Without a word, therefore, tin; young lad looped the bridles over his arm and half turned in his saddle to watch the exciting drama which was taking place in his immediate vicinity. Indian P)ill had reached within tiftv vards of his would- 1)0 deliverer, who, ritie in hand, was hurrying to meet him. The bear was so close upon the hunter's heels, however, that it seemed to Harrv as if nothing could save him, and he trembled lest Frank also should perisli in his rash but gallant etibrt to savt; their old comrade. The gully was at this spot about six feet deep, witli aluKJSt perpendicular sides, and liarry could only see what was taking place by liding to the very edge of tlie channel. Hi; noticetl that Frank had halted, an«l posted himself behind a boulder about four feet higli which stood by itself in the centre of the water- course, some couple of liundred yards lower down than the mass of detached rocks already referred to. His feet were planted widely apart and the ])arrel of his ritle rested ui)on the top of the Itoulder, over whicli Ik; also leaned. His ciieek lay against the slock and his linger pressed the trigger in readiness for 172 THE YOUXr, RANCHMEN. instant action, but as yet the body of the Hying man intervened between the deadly weapon and its mark. " Now," cried Harry, in liis excitement ; " now 's your time." He was too far off for his voice to have been easily heard, or at any rate heeded, in that critical moment, but lie would have been more tluai human if he could have sat there unmoved at such a iuncture. The old hunter was within a dozen yards or so of the boulder behind which his young friend was posted, when, either by accident or design, he suddenly fell to the ground. With surprising rapidity the huge grizzly stopped its slianibling kind of gallop to poke its muzzle into the side of the fallen man, Ijut at that instant came the report of Frank's ritle, and the sudden lifting of the brute's head, and an angry snarl, told plainly that the shot had tnken efi'ect. The ungainly animal had reiired itself u[), and was sitting upon its haunches, as tliough to obtain a better view of its surroundings and enable it to determine from whence the injury proceeded. Tliis was just what Frank desired, and lie seized tlie opportunity to fire shot after shot into tlie monster's breast. At such . close quarters his repeating ride proved very efl'ective, even against a grizzly bear, and Frank had the satisfaction of seeing its hug(» frame ([uiver and then totter and fall, as i^ iittenipted to advance upon him. ,v. ' THE PERILS OF THE WAHSATCH. 173 ladian Bill had been partially stunned by his fall, and as lie lay upon the ground the carcass of the beast came athwart his long legs. The weight of the bear at last roused him from his semi-stupor and he endeavoured to rise to his feet, but, of course, without success. Frank was about to step forward to his assistance when a shout from Harry arrested him. " Back ! quick, ])ack ! " cried the boy, imperatively. " What 's the matter ? " shouted Frank, as he leaped on the top of the boulder, in order to see over the edge of the gully. " Wliy ! look there ! What 's that ? " replied Harry, pointing down the valley as he spoke. Frank looked in the direction indicated, and even stood upon tiptoe on the boulder, I tut could see noth- ing alarming. A few ])uzzards, <loubtless attracted to the vicinity 1>y Iheir wonderful instinct, were already perched upon some neighbouring crags, in readiness to feast on po^r J>ruin's remains. And a bald-headed eagle soared high overhead in tlu^ cloud- less sky. But, except Harry and their horses, these were the only signs of life discernible. " 1 don't see anything, but we will b(; with you in a second or two ! " he shouted, as he jumped down, and seizing (^le of tlie l)ear's paws tried to drag the carcass to one side. "Try to lift her a bit," said Indian Bill. "It's i r if i i* 1 ■[ t ' 1 1 1 ! 1 i I ! 174 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. impossible to pull her on one side, as she 's iii a hole. Frank accordingly chanj,'ed hi.s tactics. " That '.s the ticket, yonker ; if you could jest lift her half •h r an men I i^'uess I could ]>ull tlie.se old stumps of mine from under her," .said r>ill, encoura<^in^ly. Frank was no weakliuL^, but though he pulled and tugged with all his might, he could not rai.se that ponderous carcass the hundredth ])art of an inch. Hot and exhausted, both he and Indian Bill had desisted a moment from their exertions, when Harry's voice reached tlicm j\gain, and this time in accents ot tlie greatest alarm. "Indians! Indians!" it cried. "Make haste! Make haste ! " Frank and the old hunter looked at eacii other in dismay. Then the lattei- waved his hand in the direction of tlie advnncing emigrants. " Kun ! run," he exclaimed, " and mount vour boss. You b(»vs must ride back and give the alarm (piick !" " And leave you here ? " .said Frank. " Never ! but I '11 despatch Harry and return immediately." And before lie bud tinished the sentence he was hurrying down the g'llly at a pace which even sur- pas.sed liiat of Indian IJill wlien pursued by the gviv,:1y. " D( i 1 sho./ yourself!" the old hunter called after hv?n, ' .4 id tel! the yoi ker to look sHppy ! He THE PERILS OF THE WAHSATCH. 175 noedii't be afeiird of loosinj^' my old mare, she *11 take care of lierself, von l)et » " The warning was not unnecessary, foy in his eager- ness to get within e;>sy speaking distance of his brother, Frank liad ahuost forgotten the danger of liis (jwu position. Thanks to the old hunter's kindly caution, however, he took care to keep under the cover of the high banks, and nianai^ed to reach witliin a dozen yards of tiie sjxtt where Harry was waiting, witliout the possi- bility of even an Indian's shar]) eyes having seen him from tlie vfdlcv. " What on earth are you doing, to be so long T' cried the l)oy, in tones of minuled anger and alarm, as he struggled to control the horses, which were evidently getting excited from ■omc! cause or uthei". " Look shar}) and mount!" he lontiiiued, "or I shall liave to let Saladin g(j ; lie 's nearlv ])ulling me out of rnv saddle and the Indians aie close u])on us." Frank could then distinctly hear the sound •. horses advancing at a gallo}). "Never mind me!" he cried, "I nuist stay with Bill; loose his mare and ride back for vou life and give the jdarm.'' " What ! and leave you here ? Are you mad ? Where is Bill— hurt?" " No ; but the bear fell dead on top of him and pinned him to the ground, and 1 cannot dt^suiL hini. " U >i ; f !| I ;l n 17G THE YOT^NCJ UAXCHMEX. u rr\ Then we shall all l)e killed ! " re])lied Hariy, de.spairin<^dy, as lie cast an anxious glance over his should(;r at the ra])idly ai»i)roachinc( Indians. " Never fear, old fellow," was Frank's cheering;' reply. " Yoii are not going to be so silly ».s to let them catch you with such a horse as that under you, and they '11 know nothing about IJill and me here if you don't tell them." " Then am 1 to take Saladin with me ? " queried the boy, somewhat reassured by his brother's confident tone and manner. " Yes, he '11 lead well enough, and no doubt Bill's mare will follow. They might betray us if they were left behind. Now, go at once, before it is too late." As though to emphasise the latter remark, a fierce yell burst ui)on their ears. Harry hesitated no longer. The frightened horses reared and plunged, but lie wheeled them skilfully round and dashed away up the valley, Chieftain and Saladin galloj)ed along side by side, and Indian Jjill's mare, which was loose, followed close on their heels. Frank scrambled up tlie side of the gully to some overhanging bushes which grew on its edge, and, having wormed himself beneath them, peered cautiously out under the branches. As ho did so a terrific; yell almost close beside him caused him instantly to draw back his head, and for a moment he thought he was discovered. His repeating ritle, which he had dragged hf I THE PERILS OF THE WAHSATCH. 177 3(1 after him, lay within easy leaeli, and, as lie clutehed its cold liarrel, lie determined if his worst fears were realisi'd to juinp ii|»on his feet and sell his lif«; dearly. After Ct few seconds — which almost seemed like hours — of terrihlc suspense, the yell was answcrifd twice from a little lower down the valley, and then to Frank's ^^real relief, the Indian scout, who must have ridden u}) to icconnoilre the s[iot where Harry and his horses had douhtless been seen, cantered olV to rejoin his coni[)anions. At the S(>und of tlu^ mustang's retreating footsteps, Frank breathed a heartfelt prayer of thanks^•ivillg for his wonderful escape. He then looked forth again and was delighted to see Harry and the horses nearly half way up the valley. Just at that moment, however, a prolonged yell of rage or triumiih, he could not exactly tell which, reached his ear. Looking in the direction whence tiie sound proceeded, he saw a long array of mounted Indians sweep at full galloj) over the hrow of a low stretch of rising ground which had hitherto intervened between them and tla^ objects of thcnr pursuit. Tli(?y made a giillant show, those wild horsemen, as they careered along, their plumes Hoating in the wind and their shields and lances ulittering in the sunliuhl. liut Frank could contemplate them without dismay, for ho knew that they had no chance of overtaking his brother, even if he. had not obtainefl so gcnd a gtart, and he felt little an.xiely us Lu the latter not ;•;? 17.S THE YOUNO RANCHMEN. K being able to i^ive timely warning to llie advancing emigrants. He well knew thjit a few moments would suflice for the lad to muster a score or more of well armed and determined men to check th(? sudden onset, and that even if the Indians })ersevered in their attack when they found so large a train, their ultiniJite, nay, speedy n^imlse was not a matter of doultt. With these reflections, Frank retraced his ste])S to where he had left his imprisoned comrade. " Wal, young s([uire, you 've not let those screech- ing liannecks annex that curly wig of your 'n, 1 see ; but 1 've been raal uncomfortable al»out you, to say nothing of myself," and, in his delight at seeing Frank ItiLck safe and sound, tlie old hunter grinned from ear to ear. " 1 've had a most jn'ovidential escape, liill ; one of tlieir scouts- came within {i few feet of where I was lying under some bushes," Jinswered Frank. " J>ut," li(^ continued, after a ])ause, "how do you know the Indians are Bannecks ? " " l)y their war-cry," replied liill. " If you 'd fouglit tlieni as many times as I have, or had been with me and Sanson last fall, when a party of them chased us for two diiys and nights througli these mountains, you \\ not forget that awful whoop of theirs ! " " 1 don't tliink 1 shall ever do so as it is," answenul the youth warmly. " Wlu'U iheir scout utt(?vud his THft PERILS OF THE WAHSATCH. 179 ltl()()(l-cur(lliii«4 yell just over my huad I ihoiit^lit my time hud come, I can assure you." " Aud mine too, you bet!" avcircd Hill. t;lan( iuj,' uneasily at the shaif^'y carcass which held him fast. " Ves, you uuist indecMl have had to sulVer," said Frank symj)athisingly, "aud the sooner we devise s(jme means of rcleasin^^ you the hetter." " I M rather have my le,L;s cut oil' than };'o thr<»UL,di another ten minutes like that," declare(l the hunter emphatically. "A hamstrung horse with a ]tack of huuL^ry wolves ahout to sprin;^ at its throat could scarcely feel worse than 1 did lyiut; heljtlcssly here without even a charge in my ritle, and (!.\pcctin^^ the red-skins upon me every moment." " It must have been like some horrible dream," said Frank, as though speakini^ to himself more than tiic ha])less ])risoner: and then, after a little reflection, he said to him ! " Ah, I have it ! T wonder we did not think of it before," " What is it,yonkcr," in(piired \V\\\ almost hopelessly, as his dark t'yes followed the youth, who spran;^ over the bear, and then stooped down at the other side of it. "Your boots, man, your boots!" exclaimed I-"rauk. ■■ If we could only L^et them ofl', it would l.)e easy to draw your lei^s from under tlie brute.' "You bet: it would," reified IJill jovfullv. ' bullv for you, yonker ■ " !l ; U h 180 THE YOrNci J{AN'CIIM1:N\ Witlumt imu'li dilliculiv riiink iiiimMLr('(l to '4ot at Iiill's fjM'l, and divest tliciii of tlu; Iniu'*' Wcllin^^ton ImmiIs wliiili encased tlieiii. After that it Nvas enm- iiarativelv easy, l»v their united etlorts. to I'ree the ini]>risoned limhs. And s(»on I'.ill was standini^ \>) triuni}>li ujton the eareass of the ^riz/lv. reloading!: his Kentucky rille. I sliould like to l<no\v."' said Krank. as a IV w niinut(\s later they started on foot to I'euain the enii- 1,'rant train, "how it came aoout that that hear so eoni- idetely turned the tahles on you ^" "Wal, you see, 1 didn't know the ole IikIn was at liunie when 1 fired at. lier cul>." n']»lied the hunter. " ( )h ! then you killed her cuh, did you .■ " inouired Frank, with sinjirise. " \'aas," answered liill testily. "If I lired at it 1 reckon I killed it." "Oh! 1 understand now how it all haitpened." said Frank, without noticin*;' liis coin]»ainoirs fractiousness. He felt that the latter was entitled to a little indul- .L!;ence after thi' yery tryinn' e\]>erience he had ^one throui^h. After walking' for s(tnie lime in silence, Indian I'ill observed that they must return and secure their hear meat as soon as they had ascertained what had become of Harry and his pursuers. Frank was about to midvc some reply, when liill suddenly laid his hand on his arm and said, " Wlii.st !" I 'I III; PKiui.s OF Tin: waiisatcii. 181 Tlu'v ixttli sto])|i(Ml at once and listoiiud iiilt'iitly, and then looked in each ollicr's faces. ■' I tlinuudit so," >aid tlu! InintiT tersely, as lie started oir a;_;ain at a lon^f sIuik liini,' walk, wliieh ()]ili^;(,'d Frank almost lo rini to keejt nj) willi liiin. "Was that noise tiring • " asked Frank. " ^'ou lilt ! '" was the laidiiic reply. 'I I ;) \) IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V- u.. ^ m 1.0 I.I '-1^ 12.5 " 1^ 12.2 1^ lllllio 1.8 i-25 1.4 III 1.6 ^ 6" ► V] <^ ^P}. ")> *> >>' ^.w^"/ '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 0^ 4B 1^ iS- ' %^ ^ \\ n OHAPTElt XTX. RUN TO (IHOUNI) IX A CANON. Connie liad oivcii tlio old scout Indian JUll and liis two youtliful colleagues, her gallant brothers, a pleasant greeting as they rode past on their way to the front that sunny morning. She occupied her favourite seat in front of the waggon, and employed her time in alternately reading a book which lay on her lap and in trimming a large broad-brimmed hat she held in her hands. "Oh ! Kol)ert," she said presently, " are there many waggons in front of us ? " '•' No, miss," replied tiie man cheerfully, as he touched his caj), " not m(»re than half a <l()zen T should say. " Then could not you drive a, little faster and izet ahead of them ? What with the dust they stir up and their huge tilts (piite half the view is inter- cepted I " 'I r RUN TO GROUND IN A CANON. 18:^ '' Certainly, miss, but I don't like to chani>:(' niv place in the ranks without orders." "Oh ! I dnn't think niv fatlier would have the least t. objection," said Connie," at any rate I will take all the responsibility. The air is so clear to-day that there must be a lovely view down the valley if one could only see it." "All ri^ht, Miss Connie, we'll soon taki; the lead," said Lazenby, as he cracked his Iouli; whip. " (let along, my beauties," he continued, addressing his horses as was his wont, as thoui>]i thev were human beings, " we must push on at tlu; double unless we intend to be half the day in taking up our new ])osi- tion. Ah ! Ruby, for shame of yourself. Steady, little mare ! " this to the ol'lside chestnut, which seemed inclined to take liberties and i)lay uj) a little as they started off at a l»risk trot. As they ])assed the second of the preceding waggons, which belonged to the Jiigbys, Ethan mounted his horse and trotted after them. Ever since that ever-to-be- remembered-day when Connie was surprised by Teconsa and his Sioux braves, the young Kentuckian had taken u]ion himself the role of especial escort to his com- mandant's daughter. Xo one ventured to (question his right to the responsilde, though sidf-constituted office. Althougb in everything else the soul of manlv good nature, on this point he was, as O'Flaiierty ex- pressed it, like a bear with a sore head, and was III m ;.f ' :1 ! 184 THE YOUNG RAXCHMEX. extremely sensitive to anythiiii:: a])proac]iinj^f to banter. This liad been l)roii<rlit lionie to the Irishman in away tliat he was not soon likely to forL^'t, and in a manner more foreible than polite. For no sooner had Paddy, on one nidncky occasion, ventured to exercise his native wit on wliat appeared so tempting a topic, than he found liimself seized by irresistible force, and, the next moment, he was obeying the law of projectiles and gyrating througli space as thougli Ihuig from the arm of s(mie ancient catapult. He aliglited upon the body of a mule, which, fortunately for the l)iped, but unfortunately ior the quadruped, happened to be lying at full length upon the sward near by. " Uood morning, Etlian," said Connie, smiling and aeknowledfdn<4 his low bow as he drew near to the waggon, liobert was making tlie horses walk, as they had then got well beyond tlie half dozen men who formed the advance guard of tlie emigrant train. " Good morning, ]\riss AVeston. I am sorry to see that caution still holds an inferior position in your list of virtues.'' " Caution ! " exclaimed tlie girl, looking up at the young Kentuckian with both surprise and amusement. " Why, surely you do not anticipate any danger here in broad daylight, and almost within sight of Great Salt Lake City ? " " It is never wise U) take too much for granted in these moantains," answered Uigby seriously, as he llUX TO OUOUXD tX A C'AXOX. 185 unsliing the riHe from liis slioiildor Jind lu'ld it across liis horse's withers in front of him. A momentary look of concern flilled across the .j^irl's face as she watched this ominous pre]»aralion for action, which affected lier evtm more tlian the j^^^'ave tones of liigby's voice. l>ut soon the; lovely view Itefore them and the lua-andeur of tht; mountjun u;orges on either side absorbed her attention, and, aided by tlu^ natural buoyancy of her disposition, dispelled her half-fled,i;ed feais. " What a deep and gloomy detile that is on our right I " she presently remarked, " I wonder how it was originally formed ? Xo imaginable length of time, not even millions of years could, 1 should think, have enabled that insignificant river to cut so deep a channel through the solid rock." " No, Miss Connie ; these canons, as they are called, always seem to me amongst the most wonderful works of the Alniightv. Thev are such sitlendid outlets for (If V i the rivers of this vast watershed that thev must surelv have been designed and formed for that very purpose." " I quite agree with y(ju there, Ethan, for althougii geologists would doul)tless, and, with truth, assert that these stupendous chasms are the results of some mighty convulsion of nature, yet if they went no further thev woidd but be statin<j half the truth. Just as if T were to say that th'* grass and flowers beneath our feet, and indeed the whole teeming life of 1 1 ,1. 1 JmI » '!■• It' ' .'« 186 THE YOI^NT; UAKCHNfES. the uniiiial jiud vof'etal)le world were iiiainlv the resuUs of the l)eiieficent inlhieiice of li^ht and heat, and were to make no alhision wliatevcr t(> the ^i^reat fount and source of light and heat, the sun." "Exactly," replied Ethan, casting; a sidi; glance of love and admiration at the girl, as he bent slightly forward over his horse's neck. l)Ut Coiniie was looking intentlv hefore her down the vallev and did not notice him. "Ah!" she exclaimed, ])resently, "there is some- thing moving far away to the right of the valley, do you not see it ? T thought at first it was onlv a bush." Ethan was all attention in a moment. " My word ! you are right," he said, with a scarcely percei)til)le start, as he shaded his eyes with one of his huge brcjwn hands. " They are not very easy to make out under the shadow of that rocky point they are just turning, but T believe there are three of them, and they are certainly coming our way. What do you say, Kobert ? " " It seems to me, miss," was the i)rompt answer, " that there are three horses but only one rider." " I guess you 've hit it oil' scpiare this time, Lazenby," answered Ethan, "I was in hopes my eyes had deceived me." "Oh, dear! what can have happened?" cried Connie in alarm. "Nothing of any importance, 1 dare say," replied RUN TO GROUND IN A CANON. 187 Ifi^'l)}', chocrfully, " Tiidian ]>ill has ])r(»l>al)ly shot a deer, and scnit one of your brothers back for a mule to paek the l)east on." It was a lame but kindly meant attempt to reassure her, and no one saw thr()U_ii;h it more ({uiekly than ( hv, th diould th ;onnie. tor wnv, men, siiouui tiiere be two riderless horses accompanying the messenger ? Connie's reflections were soon cut short, however, l)y an exelamati(jn from Koberi-, who had just pulled Ids liorse to a standstill. "It's Master IlaiTy, for a five-pound note!" he exclaimed, "and the led horse is Sidadin. as true as I 'm alive' The other horse seems to Ite loose. It's easy lo see them now they are in the open." "Yes, l)ut as there are no signs of pursuit, there can be no cause for alarm," said iligln', carefully examining the [a'iming of his rifle and loosening the pistols in his holster, n(jtwithstanding. " Xo signs of pursuit !" cried Jiobert excitedly. He had never taken his eves off the advancing hoi'ses and horseman for a moment after ascertaining who and what they were. "Xo signs of pursuit, did you sav / Then what an; those figures, ave, and mounted figures, too, swarming round tlu; bend of the valley there, for all the world like a band of thieving Cossacks." " Cossacks ?" repeated iiigl)y, liastily glancing in the direction indicated. "They're Indians, if iliat s \\h \\ • ISS THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. I, what you mean ! Turn your liorstis' heads, and h)ok smart, man; w(! sliall hav(! to take the back track if we wish to iivoid a closer ac([uaintance with tliese I" <ainti V . There was a jaunty rinii; in the y(jun,u; man's voice, whicli ill accorded with the anxious expression of his face, and Connie felt certain that the former was merely assumed for her sake, and that in reality tiiey were in a position of great danger. She bitterly reproached herself for having, by her wilfulness, endangered not only her own safety but also the lives of the two brave men who were with her. And she knew her father, who had left her f(jr a short time in order to atti*nd to his duties as connnandant, would be almost distracted when he discovered her ])erilous situation. liobert lost no time in turnini*- liis team and head- ing them back the way they had come. The waggon was heavily Liden, however, and the horses, though willing, were weakened by the hardships and priva- tions of the long march. The slope of the ground, too, was against them, and although, in ol)edience to the voice and whip of their driver, they strained every nerve to get on, tlu; pace scarcely exceeded a slow canter. They had proceeded a hundred yards after turning to the right-about when Harry dashed past them. His face was deadly pale, but his lips were tightly I 5 'U (1 ;i 1. I UTTN TO r.UOUND IN A CANON. ISO compressed and lie sat wtdl duwii in Ids saddle. The horses were covered with foam, and Chiel'lain's wide- s])read nostrils and heaviiii,' Hanks told their invn tale. It had evidently heun a ride for life. For a moment the hoy seemed ahont to draw rein. " Make haste !" he cried, " or the Indians will he ui)on yon." " All right, my hrave hoy. I'nsh <»n and send ns hel[)," shouted Kighy. Harry's only re])ly was t(j dig his heels into tlu^ mustang's ilanks and galloj) on fastci- than hcfore. In their el't'orts not t<j he left lu'hind, the chestnuts also made an extra s[)urt, and, in the excitement of the moment, liobert actually raised a cheer. Inured to danger as he was, there was something almost exhilar- ating to the ex-soldier in the rush and turmoil of that wild retreat. On this occasion, however, his (exulta- tion proved short-lived, for suddenly a hames' stra]) broke, and one of tin; horses shot forward a head and neck in front of his fellow. It was only prevented from getting (piite loose hy the hames catching against the saddle, where they fortunately stuck. At this fateful moment a terrific yell hurst u])on their ears, and looking hack, the fugitives were horrified to see that the Indians were almost close upon them. The latter were not coming on in a com[)act mass, hut in a long straggling line, according to the tleetncss of I I I : ;ij f 11)0 THE YorXf! IJ.WrilMEN. their ]»oiii(^s. Foromost wltc several well-mounted cliiefs, eusily distinunislialtlt! 1)}' their plumes of ecajjjlcs' feathers. And then, iit irregular distanees, followed the hraves, sin;4ly and in .groups, to the nundjer of at least one hundred. "The canon, make for llie canon!" cried liij^l)}': " it is our only chanc(?." Without a moment's luisitation, IJohert turned his horses' heads in ihe dire(*tion indicated. They were scarcely a cou]»le of hundriid yards from the mouth of the dee]) ,i;'or^^e already descril)ed, and, with the in- stinct of a true frontier's man, Ui.u'hy saw that it oHered iheir only chance of escape. Could they l>ut succeed in entering!,' that narrow passa.u;e, it might he possihie ior two well-armed and determined men to keep the red-skins at hay until assistance arrived. ("onnie was wellni^h over))owered with distress and fear, and would probahly have fainted had not the jolting' of the wau'^on as it passed over the uneven uround partiallv diverted her attention hv ohlio-incr her to hold on to her seat with all her might. Presently, she heard Kihan's voice close beside her. "Keep a stout heart, Miss Connie, and, with God's help, we shall yet escape. AVe are just entering the fjorije. Hold fast." There was a violent lunge and the splashing of IITN TO fJllOt'N'n IN' A CANON. 1!)I <i water JIH the fuilf-iiiaddeiu'd team |»luiiu'e«l up tlio river's bed. Tlie rocky walls of the canon rose almost j)er])en(lieiilarly on either side, and the channel narrowed j)ercei)tihly at almost every step they nd- vanced. A few Viirds further and the canvas-tiltecl wa^j^on would havi; almost sullieed to block the nar- row i)assa^'e, but each moment }>ro^'ress became more ditlicult, the exhausted horses strained and stumlded over the treacherous boulders, until, at length, the wag,i,'on was brought up with a jerk against a mass of fallen rock. The sudden strain proved too much for the already damaged harness, and one of the chestnuts broke clear of everything and bolted u[> the gorge. " Cut the other horse loose ! " cricMl Ifiifbv, " and then post yourself behind that rock and shoot straight. It 's now or never with us." " All right ! I 'm your man," answered liol)ert ])e- tween his set teeth, as he cjuiekly carried out Ethan's instructions. The latter had dismounted by this time and loosed his own horse also, and soon all three frightened animals were out of sight in the gloomy canon. The splash and clatter of their passage through the shallow water and over the rocky bed was quickly drowned in the noise of the advancing Indians, who saw, with yells of triumpli, that their intended victims were unable to proceed furthcir. S\ I y . ' i; \ ■ ' m- 102 TIIK VorXf; HA.NCIIMKN. XcvfTtliclcss, the M!(l iiiL'ii did iMil ;it, oikm! cliiiri^u down upon tliciii, tor somctliin;^' rise liad ciuinht their ca^lo vision — tho IovcHimI ritlcs of iIk; diunitlcss whitn men. To enter tlu! cafion in the fiiec! of those (h'jidly lultes would he, the Indians well knew, lo courL certain (h'iith. As yet no lilood had hecn spih, and such a ii'ckless saeriticcf ai life as tliat W(juld liav(^ l)e('n contrary lo iIkj instincts and traditions of sava,u;(3 warfaic. As fast as they arrived at llie mouth of the .uori^c, therefore, tlieir liorrid war-cries chanu'ed to liowls of i'ae<', and, seein;^' liow matters stood, the warriors wheeli'd tlieii' ]»onies to tlie ri^ht or li'ft and took cover heliind the rocks. Here tnr a hrief spaci; thii clnci's consulted to,u;eth(n' as tc their hest plan of attack. This ]trecious interval was utilised hy Mthan antl liohert in making,' the hest disjujsitions they could to meet the threatened onslan<;]it. 'I'hey knew that tho resi)ite was <>idy momentary, hut every moment in- creased their chances of succour, for, hy this time, they had no douht that a force was heinu; t;'ot together to rescue them. Tiu; Indians ap))eared to have divided, one portion of them having followed the waggon into tlie canon, while the main hody had continued up the valley. These last wen? doubtless less l)ent upon capturing Harry than upon over- taking and looting the emigrant waggons, which lU'N TO (;F{or\F> I\ A r.\S()N. \\K\ tlicy could sec licfori' llicin, mikI wliicli, out' jit'lcr aiiotlicr, as the alaiiii spicad, wen- IuimimI lo tlic rij^ht-alnna l»y thfir icniliftl nwiicrs, and dii\t'n oil as fasl as the luckless Icaiiis eould Ix; iiiadr lo draw lliL'ia. i i 1 .1 r .n ! 1 'II Fjfl^^ CHAPTEll XX. A HEROS DEATH. IliGnv estimated that about thirty of the savages had followed them and were then drawn up at the entrance of the canon. Telling his comrade to keep a sharp look-out for a moment or two.. Ethan ran a little way up the gorge to reconnoitre and if possible to find a more secure retreat than the waggon in which to place Miss Weston. A joyful exclamation soon told liobert that he had been successful, and in less than ten minutes he was back affiun. Springing to the front of tlie waggon, he called Connie to him. "^ Quick," he exclaimed, " I will take you to a safer place than this." The poor girl was trying to shelter herself as well as she could at the bottom of the waggon. Hearing ^. k A HEROS DEATH. 195 cjes had at the lit for a le f'ome secure e Miss he had he was ! culled a safer as well Hearing Tligby's voice, she rose and staggered to the front of the vehicle. " Oh, Ethan ! " she gasped, " tell me, is tliere any liope ? It is terrible to tliink of falling into the liands of those fearful savages ! " And the poor girl shuddered and burst into a Hood of tears. " Never fear, Miss Connie," said Ethan, fervently, " they shall not so niucli as lay a finger on you while there is one drop of blood left in my veins. But there is not a moment to lose," he continued ; " you are faint. Let me carry you." The next moment the young giant liad the almost fainting girl in his arms, and was hurrying with her to his newly-found place of refuge. This was a mere crevice — it could not be called a cave — in tlie base of the cliH's about forty yards up the canon. In front of this tiny grotto, and on a level with its floor, was a curious ledge or shelf of rock which projected several feet into the gorge, forming a kind of rocky })latform some four feet above the bed of the river. " There ! " exchiimed Ethan, as he deposited Connie gently on her feet on this rocky dais. " Ifun into that little cave and you will be safe from any stray arrows or other missiles." "But where will vou he i " iniiuircd Connie hesi- tatingly. " Close at hand, here," answered Bigby. " 1 think we can hold the pass best from behind the waggon. i ■ !|i' U' .; I 196 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. ViUt, hark ! I must go," and witli a look that expressed more than words, the brave fellow hastened back to rejoin Itobert at the waggon. Connie felt as though she would sink to the ground with friglit. Her knees trembled so violently that it was only witli the greatest difficulty that she managed to walk to the shelter which liigby had pointed out. After resting for a few moments, however, with her forehead supported by a natural cushion of cool, damp moss, which nearly covered one side of the cave, she somewhat revived. Two rifle shots, followed by the whoo})s and yells of the Indians, told her that the struggle had begun in good earnest. Controlling herself by a great effort, therefore, she stepped to tlie mouth of the grotto and peered cautiously out between some tufts of fern which were gr(»wing in the crevices of the rock. Her somewhat elevated position gave her a capital view of all that was going on down the gorge, and the sight might well have caused a stouter heart than hers to (piail. The Indians had left their cover and charged uj) the canon, and were at that moment engaged in a fierce struggle with her protectors. The latter were- fighting like I'aladins, but it seemed impossible that they could maintain their ground nmch longer. They had stationed themselves one on each side of the waggon, but a yard or two higher up the gorge, so A hero's death. 197 that they could take their enemies more in detail as their ranks were broken and divide • hy the obstruct- ing vehicle. Uobert was somewhat protected l)y the mass of rock already referred to, and, armed with his repeating rille, lie dealt out death to all who api)roached him. Ivigby had shoved the pole of the waggon across the wider s])a('e whicli intervened lietween it and the cli;T on his side, and he sheltered himself as well ns he could behind the vehicle : but iis soon ns the charges in his riile and pistols were exhausted, he could only use the former weapon as a club iind light the redskins liand to hand. Perceiving this, one of their chiefs, who was mounted on a fine black stallion, directed his warriors to con- centrate their efforts on the passage which jxxir Ifigby was thus struggling to bold. Thereupon the l)raves ruslied forward, with wild yells and in ovcrwliehnins>- numbers. The pole was forced aside, and Klbai: bornt^ to his knees with the sudden onset. Quick as thought, IJobert sprang to his connade's assistance), and was just in time to shoot an Indian who was on the point of runniuLr tlie vounu; Kcntuckian through witli his spear. Unluckily, however, ifobert himself was being closelv watched 1)V the cliiet' already mentioned, who, seeing his opportunity, rode (piickly up behind the white man and aimed a terrific 1)1()W at the back of his head with his battle-axe. This would doubtless have finished pc^or Lazenby's career for '' R J ' . 5 .11 i I 198 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. ever, had not the horse stumbled at that moment over one of tlie numerous boulders and marred his rider's aim. As it was, although the blade missed him, the wooden haft caught the ex-soldier on the crown of his head and felled him senseless to the ground. Ethan's heart almost died within liini as he saw his ccjmrade's fall. Wounded and bleeding, he gave way before the victorious Indians, some of whom pressed closely upon him, while others commenced lo(jting the contents of the waggon. He had emptied so many saddles, however, with the irresistible sweep of his long riHe, that the braves no longer cared to come within its deadly radius. They endeavoured to circle round him and sweep down ui»on him from several points at once, but they were impeded l)y the uneven nature of the ground, and the increasing narrowness of the gorge. Their ponies stumbled over the boulders or fell into the deep holes, and for a moment or two it seemed almost as if he might succeed in beating them off. His spirits had by this time revived, and he fought with consummate skill and courage. Connie watched the struggle from her hiding-place with breathless anxiety and the most terrible mis- givings. Suddenly she saw a plumed Indian on a coal-black horse disengage himself from tlie crusli of braves who surrounded tlie white man. While the latter's face was turned away for a moment, this Indian slipped A HEHOS DEATH. 199 behind him, and to tlie {^'irl's horror, rode up the canon in lier direction. His piercing eyes scanned every nook and cranny where a fugitive might per- chance be lying liid ; and the poor girl felt that her time had come. An expressive " Ugh ! " caused her to look u}), f<jr, in her helplessness, she had buried her fjife in her hands, and the siglit which met her eves made an involuntaiy scream escape her lips. A tall, ferocious-looking savage was staring straight at her, and, although almost transtixed with horror, she noticed his l)earing, his horse, his weapons, and par- ticularly the device which was rudely painted upon his shield. It was a Death's Head. AVarned by Connie's scream, young IJigby looked behind him and saw with dismay that the chief who liad already made himself so conspicuous by his dash and enterprise had somehow or other slipped past him, and discovered the girl's place of refuge. Without a moment's hesitation Ethan dashed thro'.igh the sur- rounding Ijraves, and bounded towards the cave. With yells of mingled rage and astonishment, the savages urge<l their ponies in pursuit ; l)ut love and anxiety lent wings to the young Kentuckian, and for the short distance which intervened, he kept ahead ot his pursuers. Springing upon the rocky ledge, he placed himself in front of his lovely charge, and pre- pared to battle for her with his life. i* M I Aii 4 ■ f n I! * 200 THE YorNCJ RAN'CHMEN. Soon the redskins swarmed in front of liini, but the led<,'e on wliicli lie stood was too liigh for tlieir liorses to lea]). Neither was it easy for them to reach him with their lanc(3S where he stood well hack in the entrance to the orotto. Enraged and balUed, the chief ordered his warriors to dismount and storm the posi- tion on foot. Love and despair nerved iiighy's arm, and once, nay twice, he dashed back the howlinir niob with incredible energy and force almost l)efore they c(juld gain a footing on the I'ock. In doing so, however, he necessai'ily came within reach of the chief's spear and received several iiglv stabs. Weak with loss of blood, Ethan fell powerless to the ground just as the savages jn-epared to renew their attack. At that critical moment, however, a peculiar warning cry came pealing up the gorge. It was the signal to retreat, given by their scouts stationed near the entrance, and, ere its echoes died away amongst tl'.e cliffs, the Indians had remounted their ponies and were in full retreat down the canon. All except the chief who had the Death's head on his shield. He lingered a moment to complete his bloody work. AVith a iiendish leer, he urged his horse close up to the rcjck and made a savage thrust at Connie as she stooped to minister to her stricken champion ; per- ceiving his cruel purpose, a cry of iiorror escaped her lips. The sound of her voice roused Ethan from his i! V « ?l lie fell back vitli a lieavv groan into Connie s arms. Ill ( . ! A HEROS DEATH. 201 semi-unconsciousness, and, startinrj up at that moment, he received tlie spear in his own breast. As he fell back with a lieavy groan into Connie's arms, the reports of riHes and tlie sound of distant cheering were to be heard, and the Indian chief dared no longer delay. Ilegardless of the many boulders and pitfalls, he urged his hcse to the utmost speed and dashed towards the entrance of the canon as though all the furies were after him. But tliis time vengeance was not to be baulked of her prey. Ere he could reach the outlet of the gorge, he was met and shot down by the mounted force which, in response to Harry's alarm, had been collected, and wliich having speedily repulsed and put to flight the main body of the Indians, Major AVeston was then leading to his daughter's rescue. Seeing the deserted waggon before him. Major Weston galloped up to it, his mind racked with the most horrible misgivings. The contents of the vehicle were tossed about in all directions, but there was no sign of his beloved daughter or liobert. Hark ! what was that ? A groan ? Yes, and there was a booted foot sticking out from that heap of slain. It was but the work of a few minutes to dismount and free the ex-soldier, for he it was, from the dead bodies of a couple of redskins which lay above him. Relieved of their weight, Robert gave a deep sigh. 'I I ' 1 ?l 202 THK YOUNO RANCHMEN. I { .1 and, opening his eyes, l(j(jkc(l jibouL liini in a confused manner, as if iryinj,' to recollect where he was and what had liappened. Just tlu!n, Major Weston's attention was called to some objiM't higher uj> the gorge, iind leaving Sanson and others to attend to liol)ei't he liastened towards it. ( )n nuiching the rocky ledge already described, what was his joy to Iind his daughter ai)j)arently uninjured. She was kneeling down in the entrance of the little cave, su])porting poor young Kighy's liead upon her knees. IJut the joyous hjok on lier father's face at seeing her, changed to one of deep concern as he saw that the poor fellow who lay stretched upon his back on the rock was evidently dying. The old soldier took in the situation at a glance. As he looked first at his daughter, given Itack to him as it were fr(jm the dead, and then at the brave men who had so nobly defended her against all odds to tlu; very death, he turned away unaljle longer U) control his emotion. Aware, however, of the necessity for prompt action if anything was to be done to restore Ethan even temporarily to consciousness, ^lajor AVeston (quickly mastered his feelings so far as to dismount and render the poor fellow all the assistance in his power. ** Oh ! surely, father, he is not dead ! " exclaimed Connie, looking up, as her parent knelt beside her and felt the young man's pulse. A IIEUOS DEATH. 203 f Her pale face and agoni.sed expression showed how <leej Mai was V Weston nswered lier distress and anxiety, and, for lier sake, struggled to compose Ids voice as he tiy- " Xo, dear, Ik; still lives. 1 will try what a drop of brandy will do for him," and taking a small flask from his pocket he poured a f(;w dro})s of the liciuor down liigby's throat. "He's a gone coon, you bet !" remarked a rough old emigrant who had just come U[», as he shook his grizzled head. " Sorra a bit of it, ye blathering focd," answered O'Flaherty, who with several others stood around the ledge. "Cannot ye see the spali)c«'n 's only fainteil !" and tlie kind-hearted Irishman winked and u'esticulated at the blunt old •ant to k h Th lie inunt old emigrant to keep liim (piiet. ine latter jit first seemed inclined to resent the son of Erin's uncomplimentary mode of address, Init, on second thoughts, he to(jk the hint and moved away, still shaking his head. llevived by the draught of brandy and a liberal ap})lication of cold water to the temples, Kigby gradu.ally recovered consciousness. "Where am I <"' he eiKpiired faintly; and then, as it all seemed to flash across his mind, he started and tried to get upon liis feet, but fell Ijack helpless ere he had raised himself to a sitting posture. " Where is Miss Connie ? " he gasped ; " is she safe ? " !l ' : if i 204 TIIK YOrS'd KANCIIMEN. " Ves, (U'ar Ktliim, thitiiks to your Ijruwrv," replied the ^'irl, stru^'<,'liu^' to control her voice, while the tears llowed down her cheeks; "hut, hush!" she eou- tinued, *' you nrv, hiidly hurt, and you must keeiM^uiet until your wounds have l)een Jittended to." Assist(;d hy her fiither, who hud sprung' forward and caught poor Iti^djy in his arms as he fell Inick- wards, Miss Weston cmce more <,'ot the latter into a comfortal)le position. It was touchinj^ to observe the look of intense relief and hai)piness which overspread the poor fellow's countenance as he listened to (.'onnie's voice, and realised that it was she who supported his throli- bing head, and whose cool soft hand lay upon his ))row. "Try to drink a little of this, it will do you j^ood," said (jonnie, as she held the tlask of brandy to his bloodless lips. "You are very kind, Miss Connie," rei)lied Iligby, when he had with difiiculty swalhnved the refreshing draught, " and I feel less faint than I did ; but," he added mournfully, " those redskins have done for me this time. I shall never again be able to strike a blow in your defence." " Oh ! don't say sc," sobbed Connie, (^uite overcome with grief. " It is true," he answered, " I feel that I am dying." m ; A HEHOS DEATIf. 9.or, " Xo, }•(»»! sIimU ii(»1 — yon must imr die I" oxdaiiiKMl (.'(Hinic vcliciMciitly. whiles the U'lirs (.'..iiic faster than "All! il<» lint, wccji, Miss Coiiiiic," n'ltlit'd the wuimclcd man, lodkini,' np al her as he spoke, with his fine I'eailess eves full of tiiu li^lit of an intense 4. IT' and nnutt(;riihle love, " for if 1 only knew for certain that ytai woiilil cohh! safely out of this, I should die ha]>py." He j)aused a moment, as thoiiLih exhausted, while Connie, uiiahh^ to s[)eak, stooped down and .L,a;ntly kissed liis pallid brow. It was a truly touching- si^ht to see that tiiu^ powerful frame, which ludd so hrave and ladde a heart, lyini;- helpless on the .ni'oiind — its life, a few miiHiles l)efor(! so strong;' and vi.n'orous, (shhin^' rapidly away, while eries and sobs broke from the sympa- thetic bystanders. Kthim IJi^by had always been a great favourite in the camt). (Jenerous to a fault, frank, brave, and unassuming — each and all, young and old, felt that in losing him they would losi^ a tried and trusted friend. I'lu^ (dder Kigl»y had come up, and, assisted by Major AVeston, he tried to staunch the l)lood which still oozed slowly from his son's wounds. At a sign from the latter, however, they desisted, especially as it was then evident he could not live many minutes, «'l I !l 1 1 > i I 1.J 206 THE ydunt; ranchmen. \>\'l At the touch (jf Miss Weston's lips the spark of life seemed to Ihcker np for fi iiionieiit. Yoniij^' liighy's face lii^hted U]) very j^crcepliltly, and liis eyes shone with a ])('('uliar histre. Tfalf raisini^ liis liead, with a last effort, lie ionized earnestly around. " ( lood-hye, fatlicr — ^ood-hye, Major — good-hye, all ! " he nmrnuired. His father ])i'essed the hand he ludd in his, hut was nnahle thronf,di dee]» emotion to say a word in reply. " Ciood-hye — good-lye — good-hye," echoed the hy- standers, with choking voices. I'iie sufferer's head had fallen back upon ]\Iiss AVest(m's knee, hut his eyes looked up intently into hers. " (Jood-hve, sweet angel," he c(jntinued, in scarcelv audible tones. " I dii', but — " his lips still moved, but no sound reached pooi Connie's ears. Over- whelmed with grief, she we})t as though her heart would break. Anxious as she naturally was, however, not to lose what she felt would be his last utterances, she again controlled herself bv a great ellbrt, and stooi)ing down, she placed her ear close to his li})S. " 1 die," she, and none but slie, lieard him whisper, " I die perfectly happy, for 1 die for thee, my (pieen." " I do not deserve such devotion as this," slu; sadlv answered ; " T have been very unkind to you. Oh ! forgive me, dear, brave Ethan !" And the repeiitant girj (ji.ice j.nore stooped dowii 'Mi. A IIEROS DEATH. 207 and pressed lier lips to tlie youn<,' man's l>row, wliicli was (Ifiiup with the dew of death. A smile of excpiisite love and satisfaction played for a moment about his li])s, then gradually overs] )read his countenance ; the l.ruvc heart ceased to l)eat, and Ethan liii^bv was no more. M- >adlv Oh ! \ i i- CHAPTER XXI. A LETTKll AND A DREAM. : I The blue waters of the (Ireat Salt Lake liad long been in sicjht, and the sun was settin<_f beliind the cloudv summits of the Cedar mountains, v lien, a few days later, the weary emigrants approiiclied the mushroom eitv of the Latter- Day Saints. 'J'his was the harbour of rcifuge, tlie half-way liouse, so to speak, for which tliey had aimed and toiled during the long march across the plains and mountains from St Louis. Salt Lake City once reached, tliey had reason to believe they had accomplished not only the longest but by far the worst stage of their journey, and they looked forward to some weeks of rest and peace within its friendly precincts. After tlie perils and privations, the anxieties and hardships which tliey had underg(me during months of travel through wild and hostile regions, these brave pioneers were in a position to appreciate a brief return to civilised life. A LETTER AND A DREAM. 209 Tlic teiTi})le afi'air in the Wahsatch had delayed the train some twenty-four hours. For the stampeded horses had to he recovered, and the hreakages and other mishaps liad to he made good. With the exception of the gaUant Ifighy, liowcver, there liad heen happily no loss of life amongst the emigrants, though several men hesides Kohert had been wounded more or less severely. The latter had not vet recovered from the effects of the blow he had received, nor was he likely to do so for some days to come. Major AVeston had placed him under Connie's cjire, not only because she wds such an ex- cellent nurse, but also witli the design of diverting her mind as nuich as i)ossible from the harrowing recollections of the Indians' attack and poor Ethan's death. The shock to the young girl had been very great, and her pale, sad looks showed the grief she was still feeling. Before resuming their march, the emi<j:rants had paid their last tribute of respect to the brave and beloved comrade, who had so nobly met his death in that gloomy canon. A large cairn of rocks and boulders from tlie river's bed had been reverently piled (jver his remains, and the following simple inscription had been deeply chiselled in the face of the adjoining cliil" by the two young AVestons : — i 1 i I V 210 THE YOUXG UAN'CHMEN. 3n Qltemonamt Ethan Rigby, 1857. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man hiy (h)\vn his life lor his friend.'' On uearinjf the citv, the eniiu:rants turned iisi'lc from the main tlioroughfare, and pitched their eani]i upon a stretch of waste ground on the Jordan lliver to the southward. Here they proposed to remain until both they them- selves and their jjided horses and cattle had recovered flesh and strength, and were once more fit to face the hardshij)S of the march. " Well, Connie, how is your patient?" asked the Major, as the family sat down to breakfast on the morning after their arrival at Salt Lake City. " Still rather light-headed and feverish," replied the girl ; " but now that we can ])rocure suitable food and other necessaries, I trust lie will soon be well again." " I do not doubt it, dear : it would take a good deal to kill a man with such a constitution as Kobert Lazenby's."' " And such a nurse as Connie," added Frank. " Kight, my lad. But now I will read you a letter 1 liave just received from Captain Trevor." " Captain Trevor, how could you get a letter from him?" en(j[uired the boys eagerly, while a deep Hush A LETTER AND A DREAM. 211 suf'fusod for 11 moment their sister's ]);ile Uuh\ '' It is months since we parted from liini, and liis route and o\irs lay in exactly opjiosite directions!" "Exactly; l)ut liave you never lieard of tlie Pony Kx])ress ?" "()h! of course, liow stupid of us!" said Fraidv, " (jiie of tiieir riders passed us on the plains wlien we were a few days out from St Louis." "To be sure! And this letter must ha\'e passed us somewhere in the Ilockies. Here are tlie contents : — "Jackson's IIotkl, Washin(;tox Avknuk. St Loris, 4(11 JuJij 1857. "Dear Major Weston, — You will probably be surprise*! to <,'ft a letter from me, if get it you do, with all the glorious uufcrtaiii- tie.s of the overland mail; but as I have some news to c(jmmuni- cate, which I think will be of intt.'rest to you and yours, I shall forward this by the Pony Express, in the hope that it may bt; in time to catch you at Salt Lake City. " Well, then, to make a long story short, my .son was stricken down with fever at Julesburgh on the Platte River, which of course obliged us to halt until he was su'liciently recovered 1<> bear the fatigue of the march. It was a hara.ssing time, for I knew it would be most daugerou.s to take him on with us across the hot low country, and especially the great Mississippi Valley, at that season of the year. It is always a trying journey, even for a strong man, and for a youth who was but just recovering from a lowering fever, it meant almost the certainty of a relapse, and perhaps a fatal one. " I knew the best thing for my son Avould be to retraci; our steps, and return to the higher and more salubrious slopes of the Rocky Mountains, until Ernest's strength was (piitt; restored, and the summer heat abated. Unfortunately, however, it was impos- i: I ; U '1 212 THE YOlINd JIANCHMEN. sible for me thus to delay my j(jurney, as I had pressing and important (fovernment business to transact in Washington. "In my dih'nima a detachment of U.S. trooi^s entered the town, ni ronfc to relieve the garrison of Fort Bridger, which is stationed in the mountains alxmt 112 miles oast of Salt Lake City. Curiously enough, tlie oUicer in command turned out to Ite an old friend of mine, and, when he heard how matters stoo(l, he kindly suggested that my son should accompany his force to the military l)ost already mentioned, and return a few weeks later with the trooj)s ordered east. "The offer, as you may sup])ose, was most gratefully acce]>ted ; a comfortalile seat and Led combined was ap])ortioned Ernest in one of the amhulance waj^ons, and the surgeon, a nice young fellow, ])romised to take professional chaVgf! of him. " The lad was in high spirits at the thought of perchance over- taking your comi)any, either on the march or at Salt Lake City, whither iie intends? going. So you must not he surprised if he turns U]) some day during your stay. " My Inisiness will detain me for scmie months in Washington, and this will give Ernest ample time to rejoin.me either there or at New York. We can'^then sail to England together, as origin- ally intended. "I must not forget tomention that, as^I find my son's talents and inclinations all tend so unmistakably to draw him towards the more active and adventurous life of a western pioneer or ranchman, I see it would be folly to continue to Ui,^e upon him such a totally different career as that of an English doctor. 1 have, therefore, told him that if, in a year's time, he is still in the same mind as now, I will send him out to California and set him up on a good stock farm, or ranche, as it is there called. Meanwhile he can spend the Avinter and spring upon some large farm in England or Scotland, and obtain much practical know- ledge of the care and management of sheep and cattle, besides learning a hundred other things which it will be useful for him to know. " I need scarcely add, that, for my i)art, I shall look forward with pleasure to this early opportunity of renewing an acquaint- ance formed under such strange and memorable circumstances. A I.KTTKK AND A DHEAM. 218 " Trustiii;^ you luive suriuounted all the «lilUcultieH and (lanrrers of the luouiitaiiis, and with kindest reniendjraiices tn Miss Westtm and your two bnivc sons, — Believe ine, dear Major Weston, yours very laithfullv, "K H. TUKVOR." 'I'iu! CMjiicurii wliicli the youiii;- jjuopk', ami cspt'cially Connie, had manifested at the news of Ernest's illness, (dianLjed to ex])ressions of tiie most livelv satisfaction as ^lajor AVeston went on to read of Ernest's return westward for the benefit of the mountain air and liis contemplated visit to Salt Lake City. And tliey were enthusiastic at the prospect of eventually liavinL? their younii friend for a neighbour in the land of their adoption. " Hurrah !" cried Frank, as his father concluded. " that is good news, and no mistake." "Oh, it's jolly!" ac{j[uiesced Harry. "1 wonder where he is now ? " "If he is in the city he must have heard of our arrival by this time, for an emigrant train of this size does not reach Salt Lake City every day," said ]Major AVeston. " In which case," he continued, " he will soon look lis u}). But I think it is scarcely likely that he can have ])receded us." " No ; for to do so he must have passed us m rot'tr, one would think," suoijested Frank. " Not necessarily," replied his father, " for, although the distance is not great, there are alternative routes from Fort Bridger to this jilace." .li f 214 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. " At any rate, he '11 turn iij) in a day or two, 1 should think," said 1 Tarry. However, day after day passed, and yet no Ernest Trevor appea.'ecl. Connie's eheeks ^^rew i)aler even tlian before, and a hopeless expression began to settle on lier face, though she still went about her numerous occupations, ministering to the wants of the sick and j)oor in the emigrant camp, and conscientiously ful- tilling all the duties that fell to her station. Major Weston had hired a small furnished cottage for a few weeks, and they were living in it in great comfort. Jt had a pretty little verandah, shaded by roses, where Connie might be seen whenever she had a spare moment, gazing wistfully along the cottonwood avenue that led out to the plain in the direction of the Wahsatch Mountains. At last Frank thought it was time something was done to divert her thoughts a little, and so he suggested that they should take a ride together, so as to obtain a nearer view of the ureat lake. With a little persuasion she consented, and early one fine evening, exactly a week after their arrival at Salt Lake City, they set off in the direction of the lake. The horses were comparatively fresh after their week's rest, and Connie's spirits rose perceptibly as (Jhieftain bore her along at a sharp canter. They had not gone more than half a mile, however, mi A LETTER AND A DREAM. 215 when the ifirl Hudtleuly drew rein, and, lo her la'other's surprise, refused to proceed further in tliat direction. " Let us ride towards the mountains," she said, instead of <roin<; to the hike: tliev h)ok s(» lovely in tl leir evenui^^ uress. Thinkiui^f this was merely some sudden caprice of Ins sister's, Frank naturally demurred, and asked her why she hiid so suddenly changed lier mind. " AVell," she said, " if you must really know, Frank," and as she si)oke something like the old colour came back for an instant into her face, " I cannot get out of my liead a liorrid dream which 1 had last night." " AVhat was it?" asked F'rank, all attention in a moment. " l will tell it you Jis \\v, ride along, if you will go the way I wish," replied Connie, " although I know you will think me very weak to pay any regard to it." " That depends!" answered Frank, making no attempt to check his horse, which had conunenccd to turn (tf its own accord, as Connie wheeled hers round. They proceeded for some distance in silence, until they had got clear of the city, and were fairly on the road, or rather track, towards the mountains. Then Connie drew her horse close beside her brother's and began her narration. " I dreamt," she said, " that you and T were out hunting as of old in lovely Warwickshire. The hounds were in full cry after a fox, and we were some ii 216 THE YOI'NCJ UANTHMEN. two tit'lds hcliiud. Sudduiilv tin; liounds liud a check, iuid \vt; i»ullL'd II]) our ponies, wlncli wure riitlicr Mown, to a walk, t(j await dcvclojuiicnts. " As wc rcat'lufd tlic end of a \\'v^\i W'uvv W(! heard a ' Halh) !' and, looking in that dirccLion, wv saw tlu; fox eonnnif towards us. Presently we lost si,Ljht of it a;^fain as it entered a narrow eoppiee. On enier^in*: I noticed that it was not a fox sifter all, but youn,^ Mr Trevor, in a l»lack velvet liuntins,' ca[) and scarlet coat. You had j^fone on to open a «;ate for nic, and \ called to you for help. The hounds were again in full cry, and coming streaming over a hank straight for the co]»])ice. I thought the sound was more like the dee}) haying of Idoodhounds than the musical chorus of foxhounds. " Ernest glanced hack every few moments over his shou^ ler, and seemed to l)e straining every nerve to reach the open door of a cottnge which stood a little more to the right of and rather behind our i)osition. And, strange to say, — althougli the incongruity of it fdl never struck nu' in my dream, — it was the very cottage in which we are staying on the outskirts of Salt Lake City." " How very curious ! liut tliat is always the way in dreams. Pray go on though ; I am interrupting you at the most critical point." " Well," continued Connie, who had been gazing intently before her while her brother was speaking, " it seemed evident that the hounds would drag down i A LKTTKI{ AND A IHtKAM. 217 tliL'ir liiinmn (quarry eic hu (.'ould rcjicli tlu' ,1,'oal. Tluiy were close on liis heels, Imt in spite of nil my entreaties 1 tlion<']it yon would not move. I nrjjied von (o ride forward and save him, lait yon only shook yonr head and sat inimovahly upon yonr horse, whieh I now recoj^'nised as Saladin. At last, jnst as the leadini,' lionnds were aliont to s[)rin^' njjon onr friend, yon stnck spurs into yonr horse, and, ^fidlopinij up, yun beat the infuriated lirntes ofl' with yonr linntin^" whip. Wherenpon I awoke with ;i sndden start to find it was all a dream." "And a very horril)le dream, too!" "Yes," n'jdied ( 'onnie, shndderin^'. " It left a most nneomfortahle impression, whieh I have not lu^en able to shiik(i oil* all day." " 1 do not wonder at it, \ 'm snre," answered her brother, sym})athetically, "such dreams seem t<» try one almost as nnieh as real ex])eriences. I>ut, after all," he eontinned cheerfully, " we have tlu; consolation of knowinj^ that they are n(jt real as soon as we are able to collect our wakin«i,' thoughts, however vivid may be the impression which for a time they make upon us." "True," replied Connie, tlujuj^ditfully ; " l)Ut don't you think they are often premonitions of danger — warnings from the spirit world to i)Ut us on our guard against impending calamity." " possibly ; who can tell i " said I'rank, And then, f^ SIS TITE YOT'Xr; R A NTH MEN. after a ])aus(', " 1 sue; now wliy you wislicd In ride In this (lircction. It is always a relief wlieii in .anxiety or tloiiht to lie doiliLi' soiuethilin", however feeMe, to }^Ta)>i»le with the dilliculty, is it not !* " " V(;s, anything is belter tliiin inaetion. and to turn ontt's liaek iij)on the lioekies seenie(l even worse t!iaii inaetion," said Connie, with u si^h. " Kxaetly," answered Frank, "hut, since we must turn our hacks upon them soon, in order to '^vX home hefore dark, I ]ad|K»se that we shall now ]adl up to a walkinu; ]>ace. Then, after .uoini,' a mile or two further, we can tniii and canter quietly honu' wards." " Xot yet," ]»lead(!d the girl, "our horses ani still fresh, and I should so like to rid(! as fai* as the summit of that ridii;e, if vou don't mind." " With all my he.art, if you really wish it," answered Frank, jL^ood-naturedly. " J>ut all the same," lu' con- tinued, thoULfhtfully, " I don't think there is any cause for alarm, even if y(-»un,^' Trevor ^'cs not turn up for another fortnight, lie had ii Ioul!' iournev hefore him when his father wrote that letter, and he would ]»rtt- hablv stav a week or two id Fort l>ridy:ei. liesides, you must not forget that he was travelling with a detachment of soldiers, and therefore would Ite in no danger from Indians — with whom, no doulit, vou eon- nect the sleuth hounds in vour dream." " Yes, yes," i-eplied ( 'onnie, " 1 (piite admit the force of what you say, but that dream has taken such a hold m A I-F.1TFH AND A Dili: AM. •21!) Upon iiic, I (nmnot shala; it nil", r.csidcs, it is just pOHsildc thiit Knicst mii^'lit have ^mwii impaticiit of waiting at Fort Urid^cr until the tmops were ready to luarcli, and sci lie vciitnrinu' <»m alone or witli (ndv a j^Miide." Frank saw that it would lie useless to arniie the question any further. lie thoreforn niadt; some little observation indicative of dissent, and ehaULjcd the subject. They reacluMJ the rid^c; in du(^ course!, and ])ulled u]) their horses to survey the scene which it eoni- nianded. I ^;^ ■ -m':^r-:(:^^ _, ._. «r;&i,o^:^ .-■ f:A^ >■;;•■' '-z:^:.:,, ,u:' '^M^' "•*v i CHAPTER XXIT. A PLUCKY EXPLOIT. Except for a slightly better view of the plain, the mountains, and the Mormon settlement, there was nothing mucli gained l)y their two miles' further ride. Eastward the ground fell away again for a short distanee, and then gradually rose until it seemed to terminate in another ridge, some three quarters of ji nule away, exaetly liki; the one on whieh ihey liad lialted. As far as tlui eve could rcaeh there was no human being in siglil, but a few small herds of eattle dotted the plain here and there at wide intervals. " AVe had better return with(jut more loss of time," said Frank, pointing with his whip at the sun, which was then very low on the horizon. He turned his horse's head homewards as he spoke, and began to retrace his steps. Connie lingered for a few moments, as though loath to turn her back on the mountain passes. " Come along," cried Frank, " we are a good seven I A PLUCKY EXPLOIT. 221 miles from home, aiul I don't think it wouUl be very safe for us to be out after durk." ** All right ! " answered the girl, as slu; reluctantly prepared to obey the admonition. She had turned Chieftain round, and was on the point of cputering after her brother, when, in obedience to some sudden impulse, she gave one more look back towards the mountains. A startled cry burst from lur lips as she saw the ligure of a man coming into sight over tlie ridge already mentioned. Owing to the darkness of the mountain background, she w(juld probal)ly not have noticed him in that brief glance had it not been for a handkerchief which lie was vigorously waving. It was evident that, whoever he was, he had seen her, plainly outlined as she and her horse must have appeared to him against the bright golden light of the sunset. Frank had quickly returned on hearing his sister's startled exclamation. He had no need to ask what was the matter. Connie sat as though spellbound, one hand restraining her horse and the other stretched out in the direction of the approaching figure. Accus- tomed to scouting, Frank's keen eyesight took in more than his sister's. " My word ! " he exclaimed, " it 's either a ruse of some robber band to detain us until they can come up, or else — " He checked himself '.s he remembered the shaky Q : n 222 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. state of (Jounie's nerves. The fact was, lie could see wliat looked very mucli like a string of mounted Indians topping the ridge in ])ursuit of the runner. Just then a Hash against the dark l)ackground hehind, as from a pistol, confirmed him in his conjecture, and, at the same time, roused (Jonnie as with an electric shock. The figure was evidently firing upon his pursuers. " Oh ! Frank," she cried, " tiiat is Ernest ! and my dream is coming true! Oh! save him!" And then, without a moment's hesitation, she herself dashed off to aid her conjectured lover in his extremity. Frank also started at the same moment, for he felt sure that tjonie poor fellow — and it might, indeed, l)e young Trevor, as his sister imagined — was hard pressed hy enemies, and in the most imminent danger of being killed. The horses seemed to know that there was some pressing need for them to exert themselves to the utmost, and they raced along at the top of their speed. Frank drew alongside of his sister, and implored her not lo be rash, but, when they got nearer, to drop behind a little, and let him advance the last few hundred yards alone. He told her that, unless she kept cool and did as he directed her, she would inevitably defeat her object, and sacrifice both their own lives and that of the man they were trying to ^av(?. Fortunately, his words had the desired effect, and she promised to obey lijs orders implicitly. It almost A PLUCKY EXPLOIT. 22'^ seemed, liowever, as if tlie pursuers would liave cnrricd out tlieir bloody intentions Ijefore Frank coidd ujet near enougli to interfere. The latter could see plainly enough l»y tliis time that the pursued was a white man, and just sueli a young follow as Ernest Trevor, too, although his hark was turned to them at that monunit, as he hud faced about to fire upon two (jf the Indians — for such they really were — who had almost ridden him down. Even at that critical moment, Frank found himself wonder- ing what had become of the brave fellow's liorsc. Then he fairly clieered as he noticed liow tirndy he stood his ground, and how, as he fired, one of tlu? Indians fell headlong from his mustang. l>ut the cheer died away on his lips, and Connie uttered an involuntary scream, as the siicond shot missed its mark and the Indian rushed upon the white man with uplifted tomahawk. (t)uick as tliought, how- ever, the latter sprang lightly aside and avoided the blow. This happily gave Frank a chance to interfere. For the last hundred yards or so lie had l)een collecting his horse, and lie had tlie noble creature well in hand. He called to his sister, whom he had already motioned to slacken s[)eed, and told her to pull up and kee}> veil beyond the reach of the Indians. Chieftain was .so fieet that he had no f(;ar for her s(» long {IS she kept on the alert and did not allow any » 224 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. of the Indians to approacli her too closely. Several more of them were coming up, but their ponies were evidently fagged and l)lown with hard riding, and their pace scarcely (exceeded a canter. The brave already referred to liad wheeled his steed round, but sc(;med indisposed to risk a second encounter; and Frank hoped to be at the wliite man's side ere the other half dozen leading Indians could reach him. It became a race Ijctween tlie vounu,' scout and the savages. If the latter arrived first, tliey would in all ]H'obal)ility overwhelm and slay their victim. liut if Ki'ank could anticipate tliem, \]w. chances would be lather in favour of the white men. The dreaded revolvers of the latter more than counter! )alanced their disparity in numbers. A few minutes sutticed to show that the Indians were not " in tlie running." The superior stride and condition of the well-l)red Saladin enabled Ids rider to reacli tlu; goal first, althougli lie had considerably the most ground to cover. As, revolver in liand, Frank galloped up, the man for whom he was idjout to hazard his life turned towards him. Their eyes met, and the recognition was mutual and instantaneous. " Frank ! " " Ernest ! " There was no time for more; the Indians were upon them. A PLUCKY EXPTOIT. 225 Frank had drawn up Ins liorsc alongside his friend, and, pistols in hand, they boldly faeed their savjiL'e foes. The latter eaine sweeping down upon the white men with fierce shouts and brandished spears and tomahawks. " Fire ! " cried Ernest. There was a double report, and two of the Indians rolled from their saddles. The others instantly swerved from their course, and passed to right or left of their dauntless adversaries. "Quick!" ejaculated Frank. "Place your foot in my stirrup and mount behind me." The words had scarcely left his lips ))efore Ernest was safely posted on Saladin's back, l)ehind his gallant friend. At first the fiery creature seemed inclined to reseat the imposition, but a few soothing words and a pat or two from his master soon made him resigned to his double burden. It was well for his riders that the horse i)roved so docile, for there was not a moment to lose. The main body of the Indians was rapidly approaching, and the survivors of the two previous encounters were thirsting for revenge. Indeed, had it not been for a plucky diversion of Connie's at this moment they would pr(>- bably have swooped down upon the young Englishmen and cut them down at the critical moment when Ernest was mounting beside his friend. Divining the intention of the savages, Connie gal- li 22f) THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. loped straiglit towards them, inakin<]j l)elievc tliat her steed had mastered her and Ijolted. Haviiif,' thus attracted their attention, she pidled a little to the left, and passed within fifty yards of wliere they were drawn up. This tempted tlie braves to abandon their intention of making another cliarge on the two pale-face.«. Instead, they determined to try to capture th(! young girl. The former had proved dangerous adversaries, whereas the latter seemed likely to fall an easy prey to them. With yells of triumph, there- fore, they urged their ponies in pursuit. Satisfaction and fear were strangely blended in ( 'onnie's breast as she realised the success of her mancpuvre. She had succeeded in drawing the atten- tion of the savages upon herself, but tlie position was not a pleasant one. One thought, however, upheld her. As she had approached tlie scene of coniiict slie had ascertained beyond a doubt that lier surmise was correct, and that the man whom she and lier brother were trying to save was really Ernest Trevor. Sus- tained and animated by this retiection, she displayed marvellous courage and skill, allowing the Indians to approach near enough to encourage them to persevere in the pursuit, and yet managing her horse with such nerve and dexterity as to foil all their attempts to capture her. Meanwhile, Fraidv and Ernest had made the best use uf this timely diversion, and were gradually A PLUCKY EXPLOIT. 007 increasing tho distjince butweon tlicniselves and th(3 main body of tlic Indians. Tho feelings of alarm and dismay witli wliich tliey had at first witnessed (Jonnie's startling action had speedily changed to those of admiration as tlusy per- ceived its purport and noted the skill and intrepidity with which it was carried out. Ernest's lieart swelled with love and admiration, not unmingled with anxiety, howet'cr, as he watelied the l)rave girl decoying the savagiis awiiy, at no little risk to herself, well mounted though slie was, in order that lie and Frank might nudvc good their esca]»e. As soon as she found that lli(3 latter were getting safely beyond reach of tlie Indians, Comiie gave Chieftain his head, and soon left lier pursuers f;ir liehind. In a very few minutes slie had joined hei" brother and Ernest, wlio, in tlieir turn, had wluM-led round to cover her retreat with tlieir fire-arms. Thev greeted her with hearty cheers and waving of ea[)S as she rode up, and she felt amply repaid for her liold exploit in the thought tliat they wei'ci saf(^ For liis partj Ernest tliought that (Vjnnie lind never before; looked so lovely. She was Ihislu'd with ihi; excite- ment and exercise, and some of lier long golden hair had come down and was ham>inL^' in wavv luxuriance over her shoulder.s. " Thank God, you are safe ! " " Vour plucky feat has saved our lives ! " n 228 THE VOUNG RANCHMEN. Such were the cxcljunations with wliich the younj^ men greeted their fair ally as she reined in her liorse beside them. The Indians had abandoned their pur- suit ; and the three young people, who had so narrowly escaped their tomahawks and scalping knives, were able to proceed more leisurely. As they rode along at a gentle canter ir Uie waning daylight, they had nnich to talk about. The few weeks that had elapsed between their first eventful meeting and parting on the eastern threshold of the Rocky Mountains, and their e(|ually strange reunion on their western slopes, had been full of incidents and experiences of the greatest consequence. More trials and adventures than fall to the share of some people in a long lifetime had been crowded into those two or three months of their young lives, and had left their mark upon them. They were no longer very young, except in years. Ernest explained the circumstances which had brought him to the sorry plight in which his friends had found him. He said he had travelled from Fort Bridger in company with the troops, who were on their way to Great Salt Lake City, until within about twenty miles of their common destination Tlien the soldiers had formed their camp, with the intention of resuming the march and entering the city on the following day. Finding, however, that he was within a three-hours' ride of his destination, and that there was sufhcient di A PLUCKY EXIM/HT. 220 dayli<i;ht to lust until he was witliin si^ht of the town, Ernest liad determined to ])ns]i on. The otlicer in eonniiJind had tried to dissuade liim, l>nt, liavinj^ Iteen detained longer than he had intended at Fort Ihidger, the young Englishman was impatient of furtlier delay. For the first mile or so after leaving the hivonae, nothing oceurred to make him regret his deeision. ( )n emerging from a narrow pass, however, he was startled to find himself within a few hundred yards of ji large troop of mounted Indians. They were evidently ex- peeting him, for, on turning his horse, with the inten- tion of regaining the pass and making good his escape, he found that he had l)een anticipated, and that his retreat was already cut olil There was nothing for it but to dash past the Indians who were waiting for him in the open, and ride for dear life. He knew that his horse was a good one, and that if he could manage to elude them and get a fair start, he would have little to fear afterwards. Fortune at first seemed to favour him, the plain was wide, and he contrived to evade their first rush and get clear away. After an hcur's hard riding, finding his pursuers were out of sight, he ventured to slacken his speed, jmd even to dismount and wnlk beside his horse for some distance, in order to rest it a little. He then dis- covered that the good creature had received rather a nasty cut from a tomahawk on one of his hind legs, I- i- 230 THE YOUNG IlANCirMEN. and Uiat blood was slowly ooziiur from the wound. It was c.vidunt that it must already have lost a considerable ([uantity of l>lood, and he fancied it seemed dull and weak in consequence, lie tried to stauncii the bleeding, but, the wound being close to a joint, he found it im])ossil»le to bind it up tightly enough without interfering with the motion of the lind). While Ernest's attention was thus occupied, he suddenly heaid the tram]) of horses hoofs behind him, ami, turning round, he perceived his persistent enemies lutt half a mile away on his trail. lie ([uickly mounted and continued his ilight, but, after going a few miles, it was evident his horse could not carry him much further; and, just before he reached the ridge, it succund)ed and sank down under him. In his despjur he was about to stand and sell hi^^ life as dearly as possible, when he caught sight of an e(|uestrian figure on the opposite ridge, standing out boldly against the glowing evening sky. " It looked like some guardian angel sent to help me," he concluded, " and I plucked up courage and ran on, waving my handkerchief in hope of attracting atten- tion." " How inexpressibly thankful I shall always be that I gave one more look back ! " exclaimed Connie, fervently. Si:: - » ^z^^**!^^^ .f^. y 'yy -^ .^ .1 V ■•. V -<i Ut CHAPTKi; XXIII. A TUYIXG TAKTINC AND KXCITINd HINT. Al'.oiT ii weuk at'U'r yoiui''- Trevor's iiriival ;il Salt Liiko City lie ruct'ived u niessMi^^o from the U.^. mili- tary post, to tin; el'lbc't that tlio homeward hound troops would he leavini^f there on the following' morn- ing. The intimatio'i had heen hourly expected for tlu' last two or three days, and yet it came with crushinn;- weight upon the young lovers — for Ernest and (,'onnie were now formally engaged. Seven or I'ight days of pleasant converse and close compjinionship had hut served to bind their hearts closer to'^ether, and even twelve hours separation would have seemed a long time to them. It was with terrible dismay, therefore, that they contemplated a severance of at least twelve months. Lover J, like more prosaic mortals, however, must bow to the inevitable. It was necessary that Ernest should keep to his arrangement to return east with 232 THE YOirNfJ UANCHMEX. t!i(i troops ; for if he let this opportunity sli]i, ho might have to wait so Ion*,' for ji siiitahle escort as to seriously endanj^er his chances of reaching Washing- ton within the time specified by his father. Fortunately, (,'onnie and Ernest had too much sj)irit and good s(Mise to give way to tluur feelings to any great extent. The dreaded blow had falliMi, the part- ing hour was fixed and close at liand, l>ut they wrestled with their misery, and strove to cheer ejich other with brave and hopeful words. Thus the morn- ing found them calm and confident, and the final leave-taking was robljcd of half its bitterness. ]\Iajor Weston alhnved his daughter to acc<jmi)any her lover in the rear of the troops as far as the mid- day lialting ground at the Ogdtjn river. She was mounted on Harry's nnistang, and Frank was in attendance on Sakulin to escort her Ijuck to Salt Lake City. Meanwhile young Weston rode 1)eside the olHcer in command of the detachment, and conversed with him on the congenial tonnes of Indian campaigns and huntimr adventures. The vows of love had been repcuitcd for the last time, the final adieus spoken, and the fluttering handkerchiefs waved until lost to view in the ever- widening distance. Then, at last, poor Connie's feel- ings got the better of her and she burst into a Hood of tears. A TRYINfJ I'AHTINO AND KXCITIN(5 lirST. 233 Frank bunt <lown, jind takiiijj; ('liioftain's hridlc in his loft Imnd, K^'iitly wlieelod tlu; horses round in th«^ direction of Salt Laki; City, at tlie same time iitlerin'^ a few words of encouray:enieut lo his sorely tiled sister. When they had retraced about a uiih; of their niornin«^'s journciy, and Coiniie had so far recovered herself as to bo a))le to respond, now and then, to her brother's (ifl'orts to divert her thou.L,dits, she was startled by an exclamation of surprise which )»roke from his lii)S : — " Look, Connie, look !" Frank hiul half turned in his saddle and was ,L(a/-inL,' l)ackward in the direction which the trooj)s had taken towards the mountains. As he spoke, he wlieeled his horse round — a movement instantly imitated by his sister, and then she saw what looked like a mass of burnished silver glejiming in the sunlight at the upju'r end of the valley where it narrowed in towards the Wahsatch Pass. " What is it V cried Connie. " It is the retlection of the sun's rays from the well- polished arms and accoutn^ments of Ernest's gallant escort," answered Frank. "So it is!" exclaimed Conni(*, briglitening uj) instantly. " How pretty it looks ! 1 am so glad you called my attention to it." "It was fortunate I happened to look round,' (!on- , 234 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. tinned her brother, " for in another minnte tliey will be out of si«4ht bevond tliat slioulder of the nioun- tain." As he spoke tliere was a last spasmodic Hash from the glittering appointments, a lingering glinniier of light over the distant hills, and the martial band liad vanished into the tleep recesses of the Wahsateh. "A happy omen surely!" said Frank cheerily, as lie once more turned his horse's head westward. " I sincerely ho])e so," replied Connie, with a sigh, as she followed his example. " And at any rate," she continued bravely, " I feel better for having had so bright a parting glim])S(^ rf them — now shall we have a gal'.op ?" " With all my heart," was the rendy response, and, at a hint from their riders, the two horses were soon coursing over the plain at a pleasant hand-gallop. " This is very delightful ! " said Connie, as she patted the neck of her musta.ng, " but 1 fear poor Gellert is not enjoying himself nmch." This remark had reference to a fine dog, a cross between a deer-hound and blood-hound, which, with lolling tongue, followed close on their horses heels. The faithful but somewhat overfed dog had been bought by Fraidv from a Mormon elder soon after the emigrants arrived at Salt Lake City, and having become attached to his young muster accompanied hhii everywhere. A TRYING PARTING AND EXCITING HUNT. 235 "Then let us slacken our pace a little, and we shall nut distress him," answered Frank. So they went on at a gentl<» canter until they ap- proached the ridge where they had rescued younj^ Trevor from the pursuing rc^lskins a few days hefore. Lest it should remind his sister of lier lover, Frank determined to make a detour, and so turned down tlie opening to a narrow valley which ran almost due south. The officer in command of the detachment had told liim this valley, a mile or two further south, widened out into a prairie, and that, by keeping the lofty sunnnits of Lone Peak and l*ilot Peak in view, it would be easy to regain the road to Salt Lake City at any time. After they had ridden more slowly a couple of miles, Connie sighed, and Frank knew the exhii^.rat- ing effects of the gallop were wearing off; he was therefore glad when her attention was diverted by some little dark mounds (jr hillocks tliey were approaching. " What are they ?" she asked. " Tf we had been east of the liockies, I should say they marked the sitc^ of a prairie-dog town," re- plied her brother. " East or west ! it nmst be one of those strantje little communities, for 1 see the wee animals bobl)ing in and out of their lioles. Shall we ride that i ' ' way f "(Certainly," with alacrity, " oidy mind your horse 2m THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. doesn't put his foot in one of the burrows, or you may have a bad fall." " Chieftain knows the prairios too well to be so foolish ! So now, my beauty, steady !" For tlie fiery little chestnut began to snort and toss his head on Hearing the edge of the town. Their presence created no little stir amongst the marmots, or prairie-dogs. One by one the droll little creatures uttered their short warning bark, and then, with a preliminary shake of the tail and a comic jerk of the hind legs, darted, head first, into their burrows. " What a large village ! " exclaimed Connie. " Yes," replied Frank, " there are many hundreds of these perforated mounds." " But where are the owls and the rattlesnakes which are generally supposed to share with the mar- mots their subterranean dwellings ? " " If you look for the owls a littie more to your right, you may see a few blinking at us meditatively; but the rattlesnakes are, T l)elieve, a myth." " I hope so, for the sake of the innocent, sprightly prairie-dogs. How conn'cal they look there, sitting bolt upright, with hanging paws, like dogs begging ! " " Yes," answered her brother, " those are the sen- tinels." They had scarcely left the marmot village behind them., when they saw a skulking cayote (pronounced ki-o-tee). This scrubby beast of prey is a kind of A TRYING PARTINCJ AND EXCITING HUNT. 237 grey wolf, whicli is generally found prowling alone on the dreary plains. With a " view-halloo !" Frank galloped forward, and (iellert, quickly taking up the wolfs scent, gave tongue in his loud, deep tones as it set off in pursuit. " Tally-ho ! away-o-o ! " sang out Frank, the inci- dent recalling to his mind old fox-hunts in lovely Warwickshire. " Tally-ho ! " echoed Connie tearing up alongside her brother. " Forrard, hoick ! " shouted Frank. The pace became very fast ; Frank said it was a burning scent. But after about a mile the grou:id became broken and covered with low, brown-leaved bushes, and Gellert had a check, having overrun the scent. The wily caycte liad doubled back amongst the bushes, and thrown his pursuers out. "Hold hard," shouted Frank, suddenly reining in his horse to avoid riding over the hound. " Ye-geote ! yoi ! wind him !" he cried, as the noble dog cast about to recover the scent. " Did you notice exactly where he threw up his head, Connie ? " inquired her brother ; " I thought it was just opposite this cluster of sage-bushes," lie con- tinued, " but I must have been mistaken." " No," answered the girl, " I was trying to follow the wolf instead of keeping my eye on the hound. I know it was very unsportsmanlike," she coniiimed, " but 238 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. then T relied so implicitly on your skill and dexterity as huntsman, that I quite ignored all the rules of the chase and gave myself up to the wild enjoyment of the galloj>." " r fear I myself was over excited." " I>ut why are you so anxious to catch or drive away the poor creature ?" " Because, in the first place, the cayote no doubt intended to make a meal of one or two of your odd little friends, the prairie-dogs, and — " " Oh ! do you think so ? What a horrid brute ! I shall feel no compunction now in helping to chase it away ; but don't let Gellert seize it, there is no necessity to kill the wolf." " Never fear ! The hound is far too fat, and out of condition for running, to catch so Heet and crafty an animal." " Poor fellow ! he ought to be allowed more regular exercise ; but then he might go ofi' in pursuit of some wild animal and get lost, or perliaps fall into the hands of a roving band of Indians who would maltreat or even kill him." " And eat him ! " interpolated Frank. " How horrible ! " exclaimed his sister. " But none the less true. I have heard that dog's tiesh is esteemed a great delicacy amongst the Indians, and forms one of their chief dishes, or rather the chief dish at their most important feasts." A TRYING PARTING AND EXCITING HUNT. 289 " Oh ! please don't say any more on that subject ! See, there goes the c.yote half a mile away." " So he does ! And at the saine easy swinujin^ trot as when we first started him, just as if it were not wortli liis while to hurry himself at all." " Tally-ho ! away-o-o I " he sliouted. " Hoick ■ Gellert! Hoick!" The hound now owned the scent ajjjain ; and away went the two eager horses with their ardent riders almost as fast as before the check. Six or seven minutes at this pace brought the pursuers within a few hundred yards of their game. Tlie hound liimself was not fifty yards behind the wolf, which still kept on at the same soft, long, delusive trot, every now and then turning his head and displaying a row of formid- able teeth. This was all the interest he appeared to take in the close proximity of the deep-mouthed honnd, w'hich was straining every rierve to come np with him. It was only when Gellert had reached within twenty paces of the ugly beast that he per- ceptibly qnickened his pace, and then oidy just as much as sufficed to keep the hound from approach- mg nearer. "Eloo! at him! Eloo! eloo!" cried Erank, excited) v. "It's no use, Erank," said Connie; "the dog is straining every nerve to overtake the wretched crea- ture, and yet you can easily see he does not gain a foot upon him." 240 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN', " AVhich is the more provoking," answered her brother, " in that the wolf does not even seem to be over-exerting himself in the least " " While i)oor Gellert is evidently much distressed. Had you not better call him off ? " " Perhaps so ; for it is just as I said, the hound is so absurdly pampered tliat he is quite out of the running. If lu; were not overfed and had plenty of exercise, tliat gaunt, v.retehed-looking creature would have spent a bad lialf liour. As it is, I firmly believe the cayote is just keeping twenty yards ahead of the dog in order to tantalize him, and that, if he wished, he could easily distance him." " I belicA'c you are right, Frank ; just notice liow the creature looks back every now and then over his shoulder, with a sort of grin, as if deriding the efforts of his panting pursuer. At the same time he does not even condescend to vary his j)ace from that smooth, swift, aggravating kind of run." " No, I am sure he is fooling us," said her brother, with a laugh. " I will call the hound ofl", and try what will be the effect of a shot from my rifle." It was not, however, without some little difficulty that Gellert was induced to give up the chase. So great was his courage that, although much distressed from his being out of condition for such work, he appeared as keen and determined as ever to run down the enemy. At last he obeyed, and lay down panting A TUYING PARTING AND EXCITING HUNT. 241 upon the sandy plain, looking quite a i)icture with his line head held erect, his ears ])ri('ked f(jr\vard, and his \ou^ red tongue hanging down from liis open mouth, <lisplaying its formidable rows of pearly teeth, while his large intelligent eyes continued wistfully gazing after the retreating wolf. Meantime Frank had reined in his liorse ; and (piickly dismounting, he unslung his repeating ritle. Then, throwing himself on one knee, he took rapid aim at the cayote. At the same moment the cunning beast, as if divining his intention, (piickened its pace, and the bullet struck the ground a few feet behind it, tearing up the sand almost under its feet. The effect was magical. Uttering a seiics of frightened and angry yelps and barks, the liulf-stai ved shabby-looking brute developed an energy which few would have suspected. Laying itself out like a greyhound in pursuit of a hare, the cayote shot off at such an extraordinary speed that in a few minutes it appeared like a mere speck upon the desert. "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Frank, "that hos made him show his paces, and no mistake ! " " You rival Prester John with that wonderful riHe," replied Connie, joining in the laugh. " Hillo !" exclaimed Frank, as he turned to remount his horse, "here's another marvel! I thought we nmst be miles away from our proper route, and there is Lone Peak straight before us. We cannot be more 242 THE YOUN(; UANCHMEN. than luiU" an hour's ride from the trail, and it will <,'o hard with us if we do not reacli home before sunset. The sly old cayote must have led us in a half circle, until my parting shot unsettled his nerves for him, and sent him off like a rocket." " How clever of the rascal ! he did not want to have far to return for his dinner," said Connie. " Let us hope," slie continued, " that you have spoilt his appetit^. for prairie-dog, for the present at least, and that: lie will obtain as substantial, if less dainty, a repast elsewhere." " Hear ! hear ! " was Frank's laughing response. As the young man had predicted, they soon came upon the waggon-road, and entered the city ere the sunset glow had faded from the tips of the Cedar Mountains to the westward. There was a surprise in store for them that night. Before retiring to rest. Major Weston announced his intention of quitting Salt Lake City within forty-eight hours. " But old Itigby told me only this morning that the train couhhi't i)Ossibly be ready to resume the march for at least ten days!" t.cclaimed Fraak, in amazement. " That may be," replied his father, calmly ; " but I have decided to enter California ])y the r^ore northerly route, and have made my arrangements accordingly. We shall part company with our fellow-travellers at A TllVING I'AKTINO AND EXCITiN(J HUNT. 2V.\ this point. They, as yo\i are aware, are mostly hound for Southern California, and intend to take the easier hut more roundahout Sevier liiver route. We shall skirt the northern end of the Great Jiasin and cross the desert by the most direct route." " But how shall we tind our way i " inquired Frank ; " Indian Bill has often told me that it is courting almost certain death to attempt to cross tlie desert without a competent guide. He says he knows every step of the way, and that one jxation of it, iust before reaching the Sierras, is strewn from en-l to end with the bleaching bones of hapless travellers and their horsc^s, mules, and oxen, not to mention the wreckage of countless waggons." *' No doubt," replied the major, c[uietly, " but Indian Bill himself has contracted to guide us safely into California." This announcement was received with great satis- faction. S I I CHAPTKK XXIV. A MCJIIT ATTACK. Two days later, a .solitary canvas-tilted waggon, drawn by a team of chestnuts, and preceded by three e(iues- trians, was being driven down the great western avenue of the Mormon metropolis. The travellers were accompanied as far as the outskirts of tlie town by a small crowd of men, women, and children, who alternately cheered and showered adieus and blessings on the occupants of the vehicle and the riders of the horses. '■ Three cheers for Major Weston ! three cheers for our old leader ! " cried an elderly man, stepping to the edge of the side walk as the crowd halted at the city limits. " Eh ! and three good ones for Aliss Connie and the young gentlemen, bless 'em ! " exclaimed a pleasant- looking woman in the roadway. " And may good luck go wid ye, and stick to ye loike a mither-in-law ! " shouted a red-haired son of Erin. A NI(;nT ATTACK. 245 il and kindly t In response to these va; (\\])ressions of ^oo<lwill fioni the j)oor emigrants, Connie dicw the canvas aside and bowed and smiled from the l)ac'k of tlu* \va,L(.i,'on. Major Weston ))ull('d np his horses, and, throwinj^ tlu; reins to Kobert— who was now almost recovered from his wounds — jumped down from his seat and addressed a few well-eh(jsen remarks to his old friends and fellow-trav(*llers. He thankexl them for so kindly leavin;^- their camp to see the last of him and his familv, .'issured the'm he felt bound to them by the ties of sympathy and resjieet created and fostered by the innumerable trials and perils through which they had i)assed in their long journey together across the wilds, and reminded them that although they were not likely to encounter enenurs in human shape during the remainder of their journey to Southern California — otherwise nothing would have induced him to resign tlie leadership and part com[)any with his old friends — yet there were dangers of another kind. They could not expect to travel three or four hundred miles throngh the Great !5asin, that notoriously barren tract of countrv, without sutlerinLj considerable privations, under any circumstances, and unless good order and discipline were maintained their trials would be multiplied and intensilied a hundredfold. He ex- horted them, therefore, to render implicit and loyal obedience to their new leader, Uigby, and his li(Mi- tenants, Old Abe and Sanson, " than whom," he said, 240 THE YOUN(J UANCHMKN. ' iin tliiL'e Ijulter or bruviT niuu coulci have heon sulecled." Major WcstoM tlicn sliook liaiids witli tliu last- niuntioiuul iiulividuiils, and also O'Flaliertv, the Irisli- iiian, and man} otliers wlio j)ressi'd round him. Indian Bill, Frank, and Harry, who wore on horscluK k, as also Kohert, camu in for a lar<^M» share of attention and handshaking-; whilst Connie was nearly dra^'^'od out of the waj^'s^on, so desirous were the poor j)eoi)le to press her hand. She had endeared herself U) the heart of all in the train by her ready .sympathy and hcl]) when any were in trouble, and by her sweet gracious manner at all times. At last, with a <.,'reat parting- eheer, the Westons were allowed to depart, and they found themselves fairly lainiehed on their arduous journey of seven hundred miles to Saerament(> — the first [)oint for which they aimed. After skirting the .southern extremitv <»f tliat wonderful sheet of water, the Great Salt Lake, into whicli flow the three large rivers, the Ogden, the IJear, and th(» Jordan, but which has no visible outlet, the travellers steered their course mainly by Pilot Peak. This lofty mountain, which toweis on high as though to guide the anxious wayfarer across the arid desert, forms an excellent landmark for many mil(?s around. On the evening of the third dav, after leaving Salt Lake (.'ity, the Westons encamped for the night on the > *i i:' A NICJHT ATIACK. •247 odije of tlu' (Icscit. They hud j^ot safidy tlin)H<,'h the Cedar Mountains, and a small stream of limpid water and a fair hite of «j;rass atVorded exeellent facilities for recruiting' the stren^'th of their horses hufore plunjjjiny; further into the wilderness. The hf)rses were hohhled and turned out to ;^raze alonj^' the hanks of the streandet, the supper was cooked and eaten, the hlankets were spread, and all had retired to rest by the time the stars apjieared above. The JMajor and his sons occupied the small tent which had been boufj;ht at St Louis. Connie, of course, slept in the waj^i^on, and Itobert and Indian JUll reclined snugly beneath it. The faithful hound Gellert, stretched himself across the entrance of the tent at his young master's feet. Being out of the track of the hostile Indians, no watch had been set. A death-like stillness — tlie stillness of the desert — reigned around, and, tired with their day's journey, the whole party was soon soundly asleep. It wanted but an hour of midnight when ji low growl from (lellert penetrated the watchful I'ur of Indian Bill. In an instant the old hunter was wide awake pud listening intently. At iirst he could hvnv nothing but the deep breathing of his companions. Thinking that it might perhaps be the vicinity of a tnountain-li(jn or a prowling cayote wliicli had dis- turbed the hound, he was about to comi)Ose himself to 248 sle THE YOUNG llANCHMEN. when til •1 was repeated somewhat fiercely. "Quiet, (Jellert; lie down ..if," came in sleepy accents from the tent. " Master Frank," whispered the hunter, wlio had now crawled from under the waggon, with tlie inten- tion of investigating matters, " I think there 's a cayote or some other vnrmint about ; but I '11 jest 'ave a look round." " All right, Bill," was the quiet response, " if you think it 's worth the trouble." " It don't do to take tew much for granted, yonker, in tliis God-forsaken country," muttered the old man, as lie stepped away from the tent with his ritle over his shoulder. When he had gone about fifteen or twenty paces, so as to be clear of distracting noises, Indian Bill lialted, and after looking about him for a few seconds, laid himself pi one upon the earth. Then placing one ear upon the ground he listened intently. The next minute he was upon his feet and hastening back to the tent. " What is it ? " cried Major Weston and his sons almost simultaneously, for by this time all three had been thorough ' aroused by the continual growling of the dog. " It 's a mounted party of some kind, you bet ! '* replied the hunter, significantly. " May be they iire A NIGHT ATTACK. 249 only a troop of cavalry from Camp Floyd, and may- be they are gentry of another sort." " What do you mean ? " in(|uired the ]\Iajor, anxiously. " Wall, 1 mean a band of desperadoes in quest of plunder. Captain ; so we had best be ready for what- ever conies." " You arc right," answered ^lajcr Weston. " Stand to your arms all of you. Under the waggon, boys, and be ready to tight if called upon." In a few moments the otUcer had made all tlie needful preparations. Connie had been roused up and stowed snugly away in ilie bottom of the waggon, with a mattress and several bufi'alo-robes piled over her for further protection , lloljert and the two boys had taken their places under the waggon, with their rules at the ready, and the Major had stationed himself inside the vehicle. Meanwiiile, Indian Bill once more advanced some twenty paces in the direction whence the sound of hoofs had reached him. It was a fine starli'dit night, and the keen eyes of the old hunter soon detected the dim outline of a small body of horsemen approaching from the eastward. " Xlmph ! " he soliloquised, "looks sort of quare. What do they want on our trail at this time of night, blame em I " So saying the old hunter drove tirndy into tlie i 250 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. ground the prongs of a hay-fork which he had brought witli him from tlie waggon. He then quickly divested himself of his long overcoat, and suspended it by the collar o^'o^ the upright handle of the fork. This he surmounted with his coon skin cap. " Thear ! that 's good enough for 'em to shoot at Ijy this light ! " He chuckled to himself as h3 stepped a few paces to the left rear of the scarecrow-looking object, and lay down in the shadow of a small cluster of sage bushes. The whole proceeding had barely consumed a couple of minutes, yet even that slight lapse of time had brought the intruders within hailing distance. " Who goes theer ? " shouted Indian l^ill. " Friends," replied the leading horseman. " Then keep a friendl} distance, and don't crowd around and disturb our camp at this time o' night, blame ye," continued the old hunter, waxing wroth as he perceived that his words were unheeded, and that the horsemen continued to advance. " If ve come ten yards nearer, I '11 fire upon ye." The band were now within fifty paces of him, and their only answer was a volley of pistol shots and a loud shout as they charged down upon the camp at full gallop. Indian Bill's ritle spoke out, and the robber-leader fell wounded from his horse. The rest dashed on, firing their revolvers without cessation into the waggon I A NIGHT ATTACK. 251 I and tent as they advanced. lUit tliey met witli such a reception as they had little expected. At the word " Fire " from Major Weston, a sheet of flame burst from the rear of the wa^i^^on, and the repeating rifles poured forth a withering fusillade. The midnight marauders were completely taken aback. They had expected to surprise the travellers in their sleep, Init they were themselves surprised and panic-stricken by the deadly rifle-tire. Instead of charging home, they wheeled their horses to one side, and disappeared as rapidly as they had come. The darkness favoured their escape, and wiien the defenders afterwards sallied forth the only traces tliey could find of their assailants were Ji couple of dead horses. The wounded leader had disappeared. As soon as the excitement had somewhat abated, two discoveries were made. One was that the camp Are was still smouldering — it had doubtless by its glow guided the marauders to the sj)ot — and the other that Major Weston was wounded. A bullet liad penetrated the oflicer's felt liat and grazed his scalp, causing a painful but not dangerous wound. It bled freely, however, and at flrst caused no little consterna- tion, especially to Connie. The latter had endured an agony of fright during the short but sharp encounter, but was otherwise none the worse, having been securely ensconced in the bottom of the waggon. 252 THK YOUNG RANCHMEN. Owino- to tliuir coinpiimtively slieltered positions, the rest of tlio defuiulers had escaped scatheless, Indian Bill's stratagem had proved a complete success, and had doubtless saved that worthy's life, for the impro- vised dununy was Umnd riddled with bullet holes. From beginning to end the whole affair had oidy occupied three or four minutes. The murderous on- slaught of the ruffianly band had come aiul gone like a whirlwind, and, thanks to the vigilant liound and the prompt action of Indian Bill and Major Weston, tlie desperadoes had suffered far more than their intended victims. Tlie morning light revealed irrefutable evidence that two or three at least of tlie miscreants had been l)adlv " scotched," as liobert expressed it. The latter, with the instincts of an old campaigner, took the high peaked Mexican saddles and elaborate bridles from the slain horses and stowed them away behind the waggon as trophies of the tight, with the remark, " May-be they will come in useful on the Californy f>> arm. Daylight brought one other revelation — a revelation of a poculi.arly vexatious nature to the individual concerned. Harry had retired to rest towards morn- ing with tlie proud consciousness of having manfully aided in the defence of the camp, and of having fought shoulder to shoulder with Frank and the veteran Ilobert. What was his dismay then on proceeding to A Nir.HT ATTACK. 2r,a clean his rifle after breakfast to find that it hail never been discharoed. It was exactly as he had left it after wiping a* d oiling it the previous evening. The bitter truth at once H.ished upon him that, in the confusion and excitement of the moment, he liad for- gotten to reload the weapon. Without perceiving it in the din and turmoil of the fight, he had been merely pulling at the trigger and snapping the lock. He ke}>t his secret, but everyone wonilered why he always turned so red in the face wlien praised for his conduct in the night attack. I Q CIIAITi:U XXV. THK KNI) UF TIIK JOUKNKY, The next day was a very liot and sultry one, and the travellers determined to proceed a very short stage only that morning, and make the great plunge into the desert in tlie cool of the evening. Accordingly, tlie Westons diverged slightly to the northward, where, at the foot of a mountain spur, Indian liill showed them a small pool of water sur- rounded by a fringe of coarse grass and other herbage. Here they camped from about noon until near sunset, wlien they started upon a lifty mile march across the dreaded " alkali "' desert. If they had entered it a little further soutli, their doing so would have caused them to liave nearly twenty miles more of the hideous waste. AVithout a eomi)etent antl trustworthy guide, like Indian liill, Major Weston would not have ven- tured to attempt the journey at all, and much less by night. Yet with a capable guide the latter was by I THE END OK THE JOURNEY. 255 I far the least fatiguing time both for horse and man. Xoiie but those who have experienced it can eom- prehend the misery and suli'ering wliich are insej)arable from crossing a desert, and espt'oially an '* alkali " desert, in the heat of a summer's day. Without a friendly cloud to intervene, the blazing sunshine pours down for hours upon the hapless travellers. The tine ash-like dust set in motion l)y tl e liorses lioofs and waggon wheels floats in the air and settles u|)on tlu; clothes, hair, and faces of the travellers. It finds its way into the throats, eyes, and nostrils, of man and beast, intensifying a hundredfold the; discomfort. And this continues for mile after mile and hour after hour, until it seems no longer possible for tlesli and lilood to endure the sweltering heat and agonising thirst. The situation is rendered more weird and lonesome, too, by the intense stillness, which, instead of being relieved, is oidy made more palpable by tlie occasional crack of a whip or the hoarse voice of ii driver as he <3ndeavours to rouse his team to fresh exertions. l»efore (quitting the jxtol, all the horses were allowed to drink as much water as they could, and a (;ouj)le of small barrels were filled with the precious tluid and stored away in the waggon. Acting under the advice of Indian Uill, Harry was •accommodated in the waggon, and Robert mounted upon the mustang. The newly ac(iuired Mexican 256 TIfK VOrNTJ llAXrnMEN. saddles were made to rei^nce those ordinarily worn by Chieftain and Saladin. The lassoos or lariats which were coiled ahout the horns of the ponnnels were also utilised. The noose-ends of these handy ropes were made fast to the ring-bolts on either side of Jie wag<fon. The )tl'er ends were givn a few turns round thi ,'.athih'-hurns, and so, by riding a few yards apart an I i i ^alvaiice of the team, liol»ert and Frank caused tlieir horses lo render considerable help to the two chestnuts in drawing the vehicle through the deep sand. At first the mustang was inclined to resent wiiat it evidently looked upon as an unwarrantable imposition; but, with a little patience and coaxing, it soon became reconciled to the unwonted task, and did its share of pulling. In this manner good progress was made, and by mid- night nearly half the journey had been accomplished. A halt was now called, for rest and refreshments. The water-barrels were brought out and tlie thirsty horses refreshed with nearlv two gallons a head, after which they received a good feed of crushed oats and barley. Supper was then served, and all were glad of the cold meat and cold tea which Connie set before them. At the end of two hours the march was resumed in the same manner as before, Major Weston driving and Indian Bill riding a little in advance and leading the way. THK K\I) OK THK JOrRNKY. 257 '3 At leii«,'th, jiboiit niiio o'clock in the nioniin<;, tlio task war. aecoiiii'l'slicil, and the further verj^'e of tlie desei i was reached. The ])Oor Iiorses seemed as tlioui^h tiivy would iievfji he aide to (|ueiich their thirst; they plunged their noses into tin; first stream they came to, and <,'ulped the water down, Harry declared, in bucketfuls. As the pasturage was fairly good, nearly two days were spent here in order to recruit ^he horses after their exhausting struggle across the desert Connie and her father, who still occasionally v^h tiio ctfects of the wound he had receivtid upon iii'^ lead, were glad to rest, hut the young men })as.sf 1 much of their lime in shooting. Except that at a point called Kocky Canon a slight encounter with Indians took ])lace, there was little to relieve; the monotony of the journey across the Humboldt Mountains. The aborigines of this region were the most despicable-looking creatures imaginable, and a whole war-party of them tied at the sight of the well-armed white men. Indian Bill said they were known by the name of (loshoots, and seemed to hold them in great contempt, saying they could only tight from ambush. Another stretch of forty miles of sandy desert had to be crossed before the fcot of the Sierras was reached. This was eftected in much the same way as the former desert-journey. After weeks of hard travelling, how- I 25S Tui: vorN(; uanchmen. (iVfi, the horses were out of condition: thoir distress l>eforo tlu^y readied Carson Lake was ])itia])le to )mi- liold, and more than onee Major Weston was on tlie i»uint of altandoninir the wa^<j;on in the desert. Thev were more than sixteen lioiirs in doini,' the forty miles. For the last ten even (Joimie had to ^^et out and walk to li,i,djten the load. - The worst of their journey, liowever, was now ae- comi>lished, and the wearv travellers arrived at Saeni- mento al)out a foitnij^dit later without fu- ther mishap. Here thev were able to rest in a comfortahle hotel, whilst Major Weston made many incjuiries idiout the ))riee of land and the lu^st districts f(»r stock-raisinj^'. Then the Major and his party proceeded to sail down Mie Sacramento and alon;^' the coast to Monterey, where Connie was left in the care of her hrotlua's, while her father and Kolxirt — on whose aj^ricultural ku(tvvled;j,c. Major Westdu could rely — went across the Buenaven- tura Itiver and up one of its smaller trihutaries to the Foot Hills, about forty miles inland from the Bay of Monterey, to inspect a ]\Ie.\ican Grant or Hancho which was otl'ered him for about two dollars an {icre. The estate of lUiena Vista, as it was named, was nearly four thousand acres of rich, well-wjitered land, com- prising prairie, valley, and hill pasturage, and dotted, here and there, with groves of oaks free from underwood, and near the centre of the vallev lav a beautiful sheet of sparkling water. 1 it THK END OK THE JoUKNEV 251) Tho imiirie, winch was covorc'd with m hixuriant j^Towtli of luitive <,'russeH tiiul wiM oats, was a nearly lovel talUchmd, with only just a ^'entlu slope towards the south-west from the j>artially woculed hills to ihf north and eastward. At its western extremity then' ■ was a sudden di)> of ahout one hundred and fifty feet to the valley helow. Hen?, on tlie ed«;e of the tahlr- land, and in close proximity to the deej) i;orue which the river IkmI cut for itself throuu;h the sandstone rock ere it broke into the valley, stood an old ruin. The thick stone walls of what had evidently once l>e<'n a substantial n.^Idenee were half-hidden in a tangle of luxuriant i^rape vines and lovely clematis, whilst all around grew line old olive, lemon, citron, ])each, and orange tn^es, manv of them laden with fruit. Clusters of fine grapes, both black and white, dangled from tla^ ruined walls and overhung the I'ocks on either side of the gorge. This deep channel, with its almost ])er- pendieular walls of red sandstone, only extended about a couple of hundred yards back from tlu^ valley. Then it terminated in a ])eautiful cascade, where the water fell from the tableland above into its self-hewn basin at the upper extremity of the chasm. It vais a beautiful spot, but the whole estate was larger than the Major had intended to ])«).ssess ; how- ever, he determined to purchase it, for he had little doubt that, considering the relations between Ernest Trevor and his daughter, when the young man joined 200 THK YOUXc; UAN<;HMKX. thorn ill the following' y^'Jir, he woul^l l»o ^lad to havi! H i»art of it. Tlieii their two liiniis would ha sido by side, and thoir houses couhl he laiilt near eaeh other. He therefore }>aid XloOO for the whoh' hlock, and then at once eiij^'a^ed a biiihler and contraetor to restore tlw, least dila])idated j'ortions of the old residence, so as to make il into a coniforlal)le litth^ dwelling of about tivc rooms. Then the Westons took a small house in Monterey until P>uena Vista should be ready for them to inhabit. Major Weston and llobert spent most nf their time at th(^ ranche suiu'rintending the Californians employed on the house, and ploughing about ten acres of the land, which they sowed witii wheat, oats, and barley — all sowing has to be done in the autumn in California, for it is seldom any rain falls between May and November. Frank ])ut his knowledge of eari)entry to good practical use by assisting in making doors, windows, t^c. for the house, and he and Harry took it in turns to stay with their sister at Monterey. f' 1 I] (iiAiTEH XX vr. TIIK FATK OK TIIK KMKilJANT THAIX. 1 At lonji^th llie time ariiviMl tor ihe Westons to remove! into their new home at Hueiui Vista. Tlie (Uy season was just commenein^', and the nuelei of future herds of cattle and tlocks of sheep liad aheady been purchased and diiven Lo the ranclie. The heavy furniture — what little they roijuired — had been hauled there, and Connie and her small l)elon<^in<^'s alone remained to bt; transported in the covered waggon, which had sheltered her on incomparably longer journeys. The last (hiy of their stay at Monterey was Sunday, the .'30th of Ajail, and in the evening the Westons sat long in the verandah, having a last chat in the fine scent-laden air before retiring for the niuht. I»ve-and- bye the conversation turned upon Indian Jiill, who had taken leave of them the day after their arrival at Sacramento in order to rejoin his friends {md relations of the emigrant train. IJy travelling quickly up the I 262 THK YOUNfi UANCHMEX. San .loiuiuin Valley lie had hojx*d to be in time to meet them at the Tejon Pass. " 1 wish we could have induced the old man to remain with us," said Major Weston. " He told me that he knew all about the management of sheep and cattle, having once acted in th(^ capacity of head stock- man upon a Mexican ranche." " He would have been invalual)le to us," said Connie, " but as he luul a sister who was married to one of the enngrants, it was only natural he should wish to settle near her." '• Xo doubt," replied the Major, abstractedly, for he fancied he heard a step on the sanded walk which led up to the verandah from the other side of the house ; "but I think there is llobert," he went on, 'coming to receive his final instructions for to-morrow, so good-night, young people, we shall have to be stirring in good time in the morning." As Connie and her brothers rose to retire, a figure a])pe;ired in fnmt of the verandah. ll was not liobert — it was Indian Bill. He looked pale and haggard, and scarcely returned the joyous welcome they all gave him. " We were just talking about you," said Major Weston, *• and wishing you were with us. I have bought a ranche iu the neighbourhood, and should be very glad of your help. I trust you have changed your ndnd, and have come back to stay." THE FATE OF THE EMKJUANT TKAIN 26^1 ^ . " I hev, Captain," replied tlie old hunter, liiconically, as he sank wearilv into tlie chair vvhith Frank liad offered him. " You are tired and fainl with your journey, " said Connie, kindly. " I will see about some supper for you," and she hurried into the h(»use. Meanwhile the Major poured out u i,dass of wine from a hottle whieli stood on a small table beside him, and gave it to tlie hunter. It seemed to revive him, and risinj,' from his seat, he drew tlie oHieer aside, as though to communictUe something of im}jortanee. "What is it/' asked tin* Major. " Vou seem agitated ! Has anything happened to your — nay, our friends of the emigrant train t " "You bet!" almost soblu'd the old man, as he gripped the Major's arm eonvulsively. "What ? how?" exclaimed the other, now thoroughly alarmed. " Pray explain yourself." Indian Jiill, who was usuallv .so cool and emotionless, trembled violently, and appeared unable to articulate the words which lie wished to speak. It was evident that some terrible calamity must have happened to have so completely unnerved him. " Calm yourself a moment, my good fellow," con- tinued Major Weston, kindly. "Did you not meet your sister and the rest of the emigiaiits at the Tejon Pass ? " "No, Captain," replied the old hunter, tremulously. 2t)4 THE YOT^Nr, TIANCHMEN. He paused a iiioinent, and then continued with great ditticulty, " We '11 never meet au^ain down hiar. The hul lot on 'em 's bin rlmii n-i/ml out ! " " Slaughtered ! impossible I" cried the Major. " Not the whole train, surely ! ' •' Yaas, the hul train, 'ceptin*^ only a U'w little children." Major Weston was almost dumbfounded at the terrible news. He could hardly believe that all those poor inottensive emigrants, with whom he had journeyed so many hundreds of miles, had thus at last miserably perished. Takini,^ the old hunter by the arm, he led him to a little arl)our in a secluded part of the garden, and there dn;w from him all the particulars he had been al)le to learn of the terrible catastroplui. It seemed that the train had reached a point at the upper end of the Sevier Valley, some three Innidred miles' south of Salt Lake City, known as Mountain Meadows, wlien it was attacked by Indians or by whit(» men disguised as Indians. l>ut the emigrants threw up earthworks and fought so vigorously that they kept their enemies at bay for several days. At the end of the fifth day an armed party of Mormons, so it was said, arrived and professed to intercede with the Indians. After which the emigrants were persuaded, in order to appease the savages and secure their own lives and the lives of their families, to surrender all iheir goods and chattels and to vacate their camp : the THE FATE OF THE EMIGRANT TUAIN 265 '1, Mormons promising to guide tliem l>ack to one of their settlements. " The poor emigrants accordingly marched out of their intrenehments, hut they had not proceeded more than a mile or two when they were surrounded and slaughtered." " Yty whom ? " inquired Major Weston, almost fiercely, for he could scarcely restrain his indignation at the horrible butcherv. " God knows, sir," replied the old hunter, solemnly. " I don't, but 1 hev my suspicions." Major Weston looked at liis companion inquiringly, but the latter onlv shook his head and nmttered some- t. thinj^ about " treachery " and " a day of yenueance." And then Connie's voice was heard callinu to them that Indian Bill's supper was ready. A little later news of the terrii>le Mf)untain Meadows Massacre, committed by a large party of Mormons feigning to be Indians, and under the leadershij) of eTohn L). Lee caused a thrill of horror throughout the ciyilised world. And Major Weston and his children, whilst thankful for their own escape, mourned long for the poor emi- grants thus cruelly betrayed and murdered. "■^^fSl*** yjyjy' 'y ^^^> CHAPTEIJ XXYIl. BOUND TO TllK STAKE. TiiKiiE is one piinituliir re<,aon of the liocky Mountains wliicli was t'orniei'ly mucli celebrated as a f»reat hunting- ground and fighting arena. It is a series of valleys, big and little, which lie embosomed in the mazy bends and ramitications of the Tark Mountains — the source of many a 'uighty river — the debateable ground of manv a hostile tribe. These fertile valleys or parks, as they are called, used to abound in game of all kinds, from the huge buffalo to tlie industrious little beaver. They are well watered and sheltered, and, but for the wild forays and bloody c(jmbats so often enacted there, would be veritable earthly paradises. It was in one of these valleys, lying in the most direct route to California, that such an encounter had taken place, some twelve months after Ernest Trevor hfic^ bidden adieu to the Westons at Salt Lake (Jity,and aboiTt the time of his expected return to ( "alifornia. 1 BOUND TO rm: stakk. 2(57 Three horseiueu journeying- wesLwjird had l)een sur- )»risfNl and overwhehned by a larj^e l»and of Sioux Indians. Two of the travellers hiul heen slnin on the spot, and the tl)ird — a younj^ Kn^dislnnan — liad l)een knocked ofi' liis liorse and taken i)risoner. The morrow's sun had risen U])on a scene of j^qeat excitement in the Sioux Camp. The liated Paleface was to be burned at the stake. Many of the Indians were already busily eni;aj,'ed in gatlierini^' (hy grass and hacking' off branches from tlie trees nf a nei<^di- bouring copse, with their tomaliawks, for that purj)Ose, whilst others pihid tlie combustibles around tlie stake to which their prisoner was bound. The latter, thoui^ii tall and aUiletic-lookiniJ-, was but a youth. His head was bare, and his dark hair, e\ce})t where matted together b/ the blood from a wound, fell in curly neglisjjence over a his.di broad f >rehead. lb; lookt^l faint and pale, but there was a fearless light in his fine dark *3yes and a firm, almost defiant expression, about his handsome mouth, wliii clearly revealed a daring and resolute spirit. "I wonder how long they Wh. take to put me out of my nnsery,"' he said to hims 'f. " Oli ! tliat I had been killed outright like mv iMior guides, and then I should have been spared this iiourof torture! Sundy the fiends have collected enough firevv(»od now to l)urn me to a cinder! I only ho])e iliey will pile it all on at once, and not roast me l»y inclies. Oli ! darling 268 THE YOUNG llANCHMKN. Connif, il seems hard that I should never see your sweet fuce af^uin. And it is dreadful t(» think that for months, even ]»erhai)s for years, you should l>e tortured by uneertainty as to my fate i " And he wondered if it were only for this bitter end that she had been tlie means of saving iiim from destruetion, and thoui^ht it would have been better for him if he had perished by the sharp hatchets and knives of the I>annaeks than by the slow tires of the Sioux. And then he longed to be able at least to open her loeket, and look once more upon her likeness before he died. But, alas ! he was bound fast and could not touch it. Just then, his reflections were cut short l>v the appearance of the chief, who advanced as though to lire the piled-up reeds and ))ranches. He held a lighted pine-knot in one hand, and with the otiier he marshalled his warriors into a circle around the i)ile. He was a fine, intelligent-looking Indian of conunand- ing appearance, and his dress betokened a degree of refinement seldom found in one of his race. He wore a richly-embroidered buckskin shirt, confined at the waist by a brightly-beaded girdle. His lower limbs wen; encased in long leggings fringed with scal])-locks, and his feet in moccasins ornamented with porcupine quills, while on his head he wore a tuft of eagle's feathers. Young Trevor — for we have seen that it was he who was bound to the stake — fancied that he had seen. TIu' chief tore opon tlio front of liis Niotiin's shirt, wlivii some lliiiiu iiircstotl hi< Jitlciitioii. * t i BOUND TO THE STAKK. 2()9 iHts noble-lookii)g savuj^e before, but ouUl not recall the occfision, and had no time to think, for at that moment the chief came still nearer, and, lowerinj^ liis torch, appeared about to plunge it into the com- bustibles. Ernest thought his time had come, and breathed a prtiyer for help. But suddenly the Indian seemed to change his mind, and, throwing the tordi aside, sprang upon the faggots. " Dog of a Paleface, " he cried, " you have entered the hunting grounds of the Sioux and slain three of their braves. You shall die by tire, but first of all Teconsa will wet his knife in the blood of his enemv.' So saying, the (;hief tore <jpen the front of his victim's shirt in order to administer a stal), when sometliing arrested his attention. It was the locket and chain which Connie; liad given to her lover, and wliich he still always wore suspended from his neck. In a moment the cliief had torn the glittering ornament away. So roughly was this done, however, that the catch of the locket was released, and the features of ih(! fair-haired girl were disclosed to the astonished Indian. For a moment or two the chief seemed spelll)ound. " Ugh '" he exclainuHl at length, " it is tlie golden- haired daughter of the great Paleface cliief — -tlie wliite maiden who saved Teconsa's life." This speech made young Trevors heart leap within I 270 TIIK YoUNr; |{AN< MMKN. Inm, for it rocallrd |o his incinniv facts of the j,'roate«t inip(ntim(!() at such a juncture This rcniarkaltlc Indian was cvidcntlv nunc otiicr tluin Teconsa, thu (h'cadcd chief «>f tlic Sioux, and tlic V(;ry man from whom h(! had rescued Connie some fifteen months a^o when slie was hein^" carrie<l nfl* into the mountains. J*)Ut what was now even of l^roater consec^uence to liini was th(; fact that this san Indian had subse([uently Iteen saved from death hy (Jonnie's intervention, wlien ahout to l>e shot i»v th«^ more violent of the emiL,'rants, into whose liands lie had falltMi. For Connie liad told her lover the whole story durini;- the hai»i>y ^^'^'*'l^ ^^^ l^f^<i s}>ent v.ith !ier at Salt Lake ( 'ity. Most Jinxiouslv did Krnest scan the countenance of the cliief whilst the lattei* looked earnestly at ihi' portrait in his hand. The miniature appeared to have some wonderful fascination for the untutored savai^e, and it seemed as thouuh he would never tire of <>"azin«'' upon the features of the fair Knulisli Liirl who had thrown herself between him and the muzzles of the white men's rifles. At last he looked up, and Krnest was relieved to see that the fierce, vindictive expression of his face had given place to one which was comi)aratively mild. " Viih I the I'ahifaces are u'real nuMlii-inc nuMi," exclaimed the chief, as he looked incpiiringly at his prisoner; " they can fasten the images of their friends '♦ i bOUNI) TO TIIK STAKK. 271 t«) I Upon jilass. r.iil liuw did my wliite luotlu'r <»l>lain the iina,i,'<* of llic ^ioldcu-liinn'd nmitk'n t Is she Ins sistiT { " " Xo," ivi>lii'd Krnusl, " I ml slio is a very dear iricnd, and she ^'avt* iia^ that }M»rlrait laTsclt." TIm' Indian shiuu,L;i'd his shoulders. " My younj^ Itinlher is lullovviui; his love across the UMtuntains from the land of the risiuLi; sun heyond the great salt waters. Is it not so \ " " Jt is," replied young Trevor, " l»ut until I had crossefl the great waters onet; I had n(!ver seen 1)) ler. " My l»rother s])eaks in riddles," saitl the ehiei, with a gesture of imj)atience. " I will exjdain if you will releast; me from this unpleasant situation," said Krnesl. " These thongs cut into my llesh." The ehi(!f instantly severed the honds with his scalping knife. •' My white lirother is free," he said. " The gold.n- haired maiden saved my life; how, then, could I shiy one who is dear lo her T' " Thanks," was all Krnest <oul(l say at the moment, as he almost fell upon the faggots that surroundi^d him, for his limhs were still' and ciam])ed by reason of the tightnt'ss of the curd and the lengtii of time that he had been bound. The chief stretched out his hand, however, and I 'iu &. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 7 ^ /. :<, ' c^ & ^ ^ 1.0 [Si- i == .5. 112 imr I.I 12.5 12.2 ;r 1^ III 2.0 - 6" 1.8 11.25 11.4 IIIIII.6 V] <^ /a /, o>^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 5? ...w ^ \\ 6^ 272 THE YOUNG RANX^HMP:N. caught liim, and supported him to a seat on tlie edfje of the pile. " There," said Ernest, " now T shall be able to f,dve you the history of that locket, which," he added mentally, " seems to be turnini^- out a veritable talis- man." " Let my younj^ l>rother speak. Teconsa's ears are open." " Some fifteen moons have come and gone," l)egan Ernest, " since I bad the good fortune to rescue the young lady whose portrait you hold, from the hands of a Sioux chief, who was carrvini? her off into the mountains." He paused a moment, and kept his eye steadily fixed upon the Indian, who perceptibly started, whilst his look became black as night as he gazed upon the young Paleface with Hashing eyes. " liah ! " he exclaimed, " then you are the young white chief whose horse was fleeter than the wind, and who followed me into the mountains. You were like the couguar when it pursues a wounded deer, I could not shake you off." Ernest bowed his acknowledgments of these flatter- ing observations, and met the chief's gaze without shrinking. " When I parted from Miss Weston," he continued, " she gave me that little miniature in acknowledgment of the service I had the t?ood fortune to render her. 1! BOUND TO THE STAKE. 273 I prize it very highly, and have ever since worn it on le my heart. Once again I saw her after that" — he paused, feeling how impossible it was to explain their new and tenderer relations to this savage, who yet, from love to her, was giving him his freedom. Then he went on — " As soon as I could I returned to America ; and, as you have rightly guessed, 1 was on my way to join her in California when, without a moment's warning, your braves dashed out from yonder thicket and cut me and my guides down without mercy." " My white brother has already been avenged," interrupted the chief moodily ; " his com])anions have not reached the happy hunting grounds alone ; they were accompanied by three of Teconsa's bravest warriors." " That fact does not afford me much consolation," replied Ernest, despondently, " for how shall I find my way across these trackless wilds now that my faithful guides are slain ? " The chief rose to his feet, and extending his hand to Ernest, exclaimed warndy — " Let not my young brother be troubled. Teconsa himself shall guide the young Paleface chief across the mountains, for the sake of the white maiden who had pity on her enemy. Teconsa had tried to stwd her from her friends, but the Master of Life had given her a large heart, and she made herself a shield to the poor red man. Ugh J 274 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. the <^'ol( Ion -haired maid was very lovely, and iier voice like ri]>])ling water." While the chief was speaking, lie had uncoiled a tress of fair hair from a rough l)racelet of heaten silver which encircled his wrist. "See!" he exclaimed, " Teconsa hegged this lock, and swore that he would never forget the fair wlnte intiiden who saved his life. He and his wjirriors will carry the young chief of the Longknives safely to his love l)eyond the snow UKJuntains. Is my white brother satisfied i " Krnest's reply was a warm grip of the Indian's ]»rof- fered hand, and a look which meant more than words. i V i<^r^C ^■m^^^^y^^^ KL :^ (;}[AITK1J XXVIII. COXCLrsiOX TECONSA I'AVS HIS DKIH'. It was llie oiid of October, Jii id tin; loiii;" Calil'orniaii siiiiinit'i' or rather tlu; <lrv season, was coinino- to an end. Thoiii'li still ''enerallv tine and warm, the (hivs were not so briglil or the skies so eloudk'ss as tliey liad liitherto been, and a tew showers had idready fallen. l]uena Vista had ]»rove(l well adapted for sheep — the most i)roHtable stock which can be reared in Cali- fornia — and Major AVeston, havin<,^ decided to increase his flock, had ,u,one off with Indian lUU on a sheep- buying expedition to a distant farm. Harry had been left in charge of the cattle, and Frank and liobert were busily engaged in putting u)) a stout fence to enclose a neat little frame-house which had l)een erected at the other side of the gorge as a sort of overflow residence for the v<Mins'' men and Iiobert as Soon as Ernest Trevor — who was now daily expected — should arrive. 276 THE YOUNG RANCHMEN. A letter from Captain Trevor had been received some weeks before, vvliicli told tliem that his wife liad died the previous winter, and that Ernest had already sailed for America, and he and his two young daughters intended to follow him as soon as he had arranged his business afl'airs. He also thankfully closed with Major Weston's offer of one-half of the Buena \'ista estate at little over cost price, and said that he considered him- self very fortunate to obtain so conveniently situated a runche for his son. Meanwhile he trusted that Krnest would make himself useful, and become tho- roughly versed in the business he had chosen. Since this letter had been received, Connie had mounted to the Hat roof of the house a dozen times ji day in the hope of seeing the approach of her lover. But, as day after day and week after week passed by without his appearing, she grew despondent, and the roses faded from her cheeks. As she stood that October evening on the roof of the house, leaning against a parapet and gazing at the extensive view of hill and plain stretched out before her, there was an abstracted, almost hopeless expres- sion on her beautiful face, and a painfully wistful look in her lar<>e blue eves. It was not that young Trevor was so very much behind the expected time, but the knowledge she had of the dangers of the route he had to travel — dangers multiplied and exaggerated a hundredfold in her vivid ', CONCLUSION — TECONSA PAYS HIS DKHT. 277 imaffiimtioii — whicl: caused her increasing jinxiety with every day's delay. The scene was enlivened by the sheep, cattle, and horses which, singly or in groups, dotted the plain, and the flocks of wild fowl which hovered about the lake or disported themselves on its glassy surface : while the silence was broken by the tapping of the )>usy workmen's hammers as they worked at the fence, and the murnmriug of the now scanty stream as it ihojkpcd over the fall into its rocky l)asin. Connie was looking dreamily at the snow-clad summits of the distant Sierras, when a mingled sound of shouting and bellowing in the distance caught lier ear, and then she noticed a great commotion amongst the cattle Harry was herding near the further (ex- tremity of tlie prairie. The boy was "rounding them up" on his fleet mustang, and a[)parently trying to head them towards home. What could be the matter ? wondered Connie, as she watched the strange proceedings. It still wanted more than an hour to sunset, and it was the usujd custom to let the cattle return leisurelv towards the house, grazing as they came ; now, however, they were being rounded into a compact body and urged along at a gallop. Connie began to feel alarmed. Her eyes searched the surroundin^- country for some clue Lo the mystery, but for a long time they searched in vain, until at I 278 Tni: YorN(j hanchmkx. length sh(! s}i\v wlijit ;ii»)»(3iivt'(l lo he a faint ^Icam of li.^hL oil ilu; liills at tlio wcsU'iii extremity of th(3 ])rairie. I'i(,'.s(*ntly the glimmer developed into a Ioiil;- sparkling' line of li^ht advaneiiiL'' towards tlu; ]»lain. At lliis si^t^lit a HiKtd of tumultuous feelings swept throuj^h the fill's Itreast. The llashin.n' was the tlash- iu,L,f of st(>el, and tin; last time she had seen anythin*^ like it was when Ernest Tievor had l»idden her a Iou^l; ^ood-hye, and was disappearing^ witli his eseort into the Passes of the Wahsateh. Might not this same llashint;- of steel herald her lover's return ;* it was not likely that he would eome alone. He W(>uld either he travelling in company with some caravan, or, as was more likely, have; hired the services of a l)arty of hunters or tra])pers for the jouHK^y across the mountains. These would of course be W(dl armed, and hencci no douht the glitter of steel. For a moment Connie indidged in an ecstacy of joy at the thought that at last Ernest was really come. Then doubts l)egan to creep into her mind as she noted the size of the ap])roaching cavalcade, and saw the frantic haste with which ilarrv continued tcj ur<>e his unruly mob of cattle towards the home paddock. Was it possible that the glittering line st» rai)idly approach- ing was a troop of maiauders lient on ]tlundering the lanche ? She grew pale at the thought, and hastened to give roNTLrsiOX — TKCONSA I'AVS HIS DKIVI. •27!) 1 th(; .siLjniil to Frank iiiid Itoln'it to return to tlu; lionsc. Tlicn she went down to her father's room for the larnc tield-i^dass, and niountini^ once more to the root', took a searehinu' look at the advaneint"' partv. Tlio liead of the line had entered a wooded dini'le before she could adjust her ^lass. She i^ot the foeus rin'ht, however, hefon; a (|UJirter of the cavalcade had disap]>eared, and then nearly dropju'd the udass in terror. Thev were Indians. Xo wonder Ifarrv had made such haste to drive his herd into the well-fenced yard. He had douhtless s])ied the redskins with his telescojie while still a Ioiil;' wav off, and hence tlu; huiried stamitede. "What's the matter, Connie?" shouted Frank at this moment from the front of the house; " Harrv is driving the cattle home like mad, and liohert lias <^one ro o[)en the yard u'ate for them. 1 can't imaj^ine what all the fuss is ahout, or whv vou siunalled to us." " Come up here and you will soon see," replied Connie excitedly. " The Indians are coming down ujion us from the mountains ! " "Indians! Impossible!" replied her brother, fis he disap})eared into the house. " They are nothing else ! " cried Connie, .'is he re- appeared on the roof beside her. " Take the glass and be convinced. I saw them quite distinctly in 280 THE YOUNG UANCIIMKN. their paint and fcathuis ; and l(jok how tlieir lance- tlasli in tl) mliifl i-ht : points nasn ni tne sui Frank looked steadily through I he glass for a moment or t\v<>, and then an (ixelamalion of surprise i'scaped his lips, and a peeuliar smil<! jdayed for an instant aljout the eorners of his mouth. " You are rii^dit," he said at last, "there is a lari^e party of Indians apya'oaehini;, but not necessarily with hostile intent. I never heard of an Indian raid on this side of the Coast I{an,i»-e. lUit we may as well take i)re- cautions," he continued ; " i^o down and prepare a <4()od sui)per for tliem in ease they should prove friends, while Robert and I see to the defences." Connie was surprised at the cool way in which her brother seemed to take the matter; but slu; descended to the kitchen, and, aided by her " help," set about l)reparing gallons of cotlee and huge dishes of buck- wheat cakes. Robert came in and helped to spread out the feast on the verandah floor, picnic fashion, but was very reticent about the Indians. Frank looked in now and then, and in answer to his sister's cpiestions, said the savages were in great forces but as yet had made no hostile demonstration. Xevertheless, Harry and he had raised the <Uaw-bridge across the moat — the old moat encircling the house, which had been repaired and deepened — and barred the gates. They had also run out and loaded the two swivel-guns on the top of the house. /^ \ ; CONCLUSION — TECONSA PAYS HIS DKHT. 2H! /"VV \ 1 which CM)iniiiaiHl<Mi the whole of the jipi»rouc'hos. "lint," he added iiiysterioiisly, " you need not be alarmed." Tresently Harry rushed in, sayini,^ that the Indians were close at hand, and that their diief had demanded to see " the <,folden-haired maiden." " Why!" exclaimed Connie, "that is what the hxlian chief Teconsa used to call me ! Where is ihc^ chief /" " in the courtyard," replied Ifarry, disa|)})ea^in<,^ Connie followed him outside, and immediately found herself in the presence <>f the redoul)tal)le Sioux chief and a score of his warriors. Teconsa advanced with outstrtitched hands and beaming countenance to lueet the fair English girl, but just as she was about to greet him her eyes fell on the sunburnt face of a line tall young Englishman who stood a little way behind him, and, with a ( ry of joy, she threw herself into Ernest Trevor's jirms. Teconsa surveyed the haj)|)y j)air with satisfaction, then he stepped up to them, and laying his hands upon theirs, said impressively, ' Teconsa's heart is very glad; he has paid back the debt he owed his fair young sister." " And paid it nobly," said ^la jor Weston, who having returned at this interesting juncture had approached almost unobserved. It was a joyous party that sat round the Major's hospitable board that eventful evening, and though the swivel-guns were tired, it was only a feu dc jov: in honour of Ernest's safe arrival. 2.S2 THK YOl'N(J KANCIIMKN. KinliU'cii iiiontlis later, aiiDtlxT liajipv i4;i<)Uj> nss('iiil>l<'(l louiid ilic tcstiil Ihiju(1 ill l'.u<Mi;i N'ist.i This tiiiu! the nccasiou WMH (Ik^ wedding' hnyikfast ot" ('(Hiiiic 1111(1 l']ni«',st, and ('a])laiii TniVdr and his daimlitcrs wt'ie also prcsL'iit. A suhstantial Mock had liccii addiMl to tiic t'laiiic- huiisc! across the .uor^v, which was now to he the hoiiit? of tlie newly married )»air. All the laml on that side of the river had heen htrined into a sej)arate lanche for I\IaJor AVeston's son-in-law. ('a[>tain Trevor had huilt hiniselt' a pretty little residence on the shores of the lake, and he and his dan^hters, I\Iary and Fthel, spent ninch of their time in lishiiiL,' and sailint; iii»on it — a pastime in which Krank and Harry Weston were often pleased to join when their day's work was over. Gold had heen discov(!red in (California a few years ]>revionsly to tlur Westons' arrival there, jind funnini; or ranchinj^' was now in the liey-day of its prospiaity, owini>" to the inthix of population and the demand for m(n\t, corn, and fruit this occasioned. Conse(|ucntly our younu' ranchmen made ranchinji' a success, and were eventually numhered amonust some of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of the State. Ed'mbiirsh : Printed I'V N\'. ;n; U- C!iam1icts, I.imitci. This ( 'nmiic S Wl'Il'