BANCROFT LIBRARY THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/adventuresofdickOOkingrich '• In an instant the tall warrior's weapon was in his hand and was descending on Latv.n's head, when a shot from behind a hut struck him."— P- S 08 - THE ADVENTURES DICK ONSLOW Jlmtfttg tlu fUb Inbiait*, WILLIAM H. G. V KINGSTON, ^ »+" l **' AUTHOR OF "THE CRUISE OF THE FROLIC," " MILICENT COURTENAY," " RONALD MORTON," " ERNEST BRACEBRIDGE," "TALES OF THE SEA," " NORMAN VALLERY," " MARY LIDDIARD," ETC. GALL & INGLIS. 25 PATERNOSTER SQUARE. \% CSb irtburglt : 20 BERNARD TERRACE. )! V5^ .1 B*acioft Library CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. I START FOR CALIFORNIA, BUT COME TO GRIEF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY, . 9 II. OBED AND I CAMP TOGETHER, . . .19 III. OBED GOES OFF WITH A RED-SKIN AND LEAVES ME ALONE, 32 IV. I AM TAKEN PRISONER BY THE RED-SKINS, BUT MANAGE TO ESCAPE, . . . .50 V. I FALL IN WITH SOME FRIENDLY INDIANS, AND AM OFFERED A WIFE, ... 69 VI. WE ARE ATTACKED BY THE INDIANS, BUT OBED AND HIS FRIENDS COME TO THE RESCUE, 88 VII. WE RESCUE SAM SHORT, THE TRAPPER, AND HE GIVES US AN ACCOUNT OF HIS ADVENTURES, 104 VIII. SAM CONTINUES THE STORY OF HIS ADVEN- TURES, 127 IX. OBED GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEY WITH THE INDIAN, ..... 145 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. SAM SHORT DISCOVERS NOGGIN, . XI. OUR ADVENTURE WITH A GRIZZLY BEAR, XII. WE RETURN TO CAMP, HAVING HAD ENOUGH OF BEAR HUNTING, .... XIII. THE RED-SKINS ATTEMPT TO SURPRISE US, XIV. WE CONTINUE OUR MARCH, BUT OBED AND SHORT DISAPPEAR UNDER THE ICE, . XV. I FIND MYSELF BURIED ALIVE, . XVI. I MEET MY FRIENDS AGAIN, XVII. WE BEGIN TO DESCEND THE ROCKY MOUN TAINS, XVIII. I LOSE MYSELF, . XIX. I TRY TO FIND MY FRIENDS, XX. I AM "TREED" BY A BEAR, XXI. WE REACH CALIFORNIA, 161 172 185 197 213 230 242 257 271 283 296 305 DICK ONSLOW. CHAPTER I. My friends the Raggets — Our proposed migration — Journey commenced — Attack of the Indians — A shot through my leg — Horrible anticipations — Hide in a bush — Climb a tree — My thoughts in my concealment — Listen in expectation of an attack — Starving in the midst of plenty — Some 0De ap- proaches — I prepare to fire. N few countries can more exciting adven- tures be met with than in Mexico, and the southern and western portions of North America; in consequence of the constantly disturbed state of the country, the savage disposi- tion of the Red Indians, and the numbers of wild animals, buffaioas. bears, wolves, panthers, jaguars, not to speak of alligators, rattlesnakes, and a few other creatures of like gentle nature. My old school-fellow, Dick Onslow, has just come back from those regions ; and among numerous incidents by 9 10 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST, flood and field sufficient to make a timid man's hair stand on end for the rest of his days, he recounted to me the following :-r- After spending some time among those ill-condi- tioned cut-throat fellows, the Mexicans, I returned to the States. Having run over all the settled parts, of which I got a tolerable bird's-eye view, I took it into my head that I should like to see something of real backwoodsman's life. Soon getting beyond railways, I pushed right through the State of Missouri till I took up my abode on the very out- skirts of civilization, in a log-house, with a rough honest settler, Laban Kagget by name. He had a wife and several daughters and small children, and five tall sons, Simri, Joab, Othni, Elihu, and Obed, besides two sisters of his wife's and a brother of his own, Edom Ragget by name. I never met a finer set of people, both men and women. It was a pleasure to see the lads walk up to a forest, and a wonder to watch how the tall trees went down like corn stalks before the blows of their gleaming axes. They had no idea I was a gentleman by birth. They thought I was the son of a blacksmith, and they liked me the better for it. Some months passed away ; I had learned to use my axe as well as any of them, and a fine large clearing had been made, when the newspapers, of which we occasionally had one, told us all about the wonderful gold-diggings in California. At last we talked of little else as we sat round the big fire in the stone chimney during the evenings of winter. ft) OUR PROPOSED MIGRATION. 11 Neighbours dropped in and talked over the matter also. There was no doubt money was to be made, and quickly too, by men with strong arms and iron constitutions. We all agreed that if any men were fit for the work, we were. I was the weakest of the party, do ye see. (Dick stands five feet ten in his shoes, and is as broad-shouldered as a drayman.) Just then, an oldish man with only two stout sons and a small family drove into the forest with a light waggon and a strong team of horses, to look about him, as he said, for a location. He came to our house, and Laban and he had a long talk. "Well, stranger," said Laban, "I guess you couldn't do better than take my farm, and give me your team and 300 dollars ; I've a mind to go further westward." The offer was too good to be refused. The bargain was struck, and in two days, several other settlers having got rid of their farms, a large party of us were on our way to cross the Kocky Mountains for California. The women, children, and stuff were in Laban's two waggons. Other settlers had their waggons also. The older men rode ; I, with the younger, walked, with our rifles at our backs, and our axes and knives in our belts. I had, besides, a trusty revolver, which had often stood me in good stead. We were not over-delicate when we started, and we soon got accustomed to the hard life we had to lead, till camping-out became a real pleasure rather 12 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. than an inconvenience. We had skin tents for the older men, and plenty of provisions, and as we kept along the banks of the rivers, we had abundance of grass and water for the horses. At last we had to leave the forks of the Missouri river, and to follow a track across the desolate Nebraska country, over which the wild Pawnees, Dacotahs, Omahas, and many other tribes of red men rove in considerable numbers. We little feared them, however, and thought much more of the herds of wild buffaloes we expected soon to have the pleasure both of shooting and eating. We had encamped one night close to a wood near Little Bear Creek, which runs into the Nebraska river. The following morning broke with wet and foggy weather. It would have been pleasant to have remained in camp, but the season was advancing, and it was necessary to push on. All the other families had packed up and were on the move; Laban's, for a wonder, was the last. The women and children were already seated in the lighter wag- gon, and Obed Kagget and I were lifting the last load into the other, and looking round to see that nothing was left behind, when our ears were saluted with the wildest and most unearthly shrieks and shouts, and a shower of arrows came whistling about our ears. "Shove on! shove on! "we shouted to Simri and Joab, who were at the horses' heads; "never mind the tent." They lashed the horses with their whips. The animals plunged forward with terror and pain, for all of them were more or CARAVAN ATTACKED BY INDIANS. 13 less wounded. We were sweeping round close to the edge of the wood, and for a moment lost sight of the rest of the party. Then, in another instant, I saw them again surrounded by Indian warriors, with plumes of feathers, uplifted hatchets, and red paint, looking very terrible. The women were standing up in the waggon with axes in their hands, defending themselves bravely. A savage had seized one of the children and was dragging it off, when Mrs. Ragget struck with all her might at the red- skin's arm, and cut it clean through ; the savage drew back howling with pain and rage. Old Laban in the meantime, with his brother and two others, kept in front, firing away as fast as they could load while they ran on : for they saw if once the red- skins could get hold of the horses' heads, they would be completely in their power. All this time several of the things were tumbling out of the waggon, but we could not stop to pick them up. Why the rest of the party, who were ahead, did not come back to our assistance, I could not tell. I thought that they also were probably attacked. We four ran on for some way, keeping the Indians at a respectful distance, for they are cowardly rascals — notwithstanding all the praise bestowed on them — if. courageously opposed. I was loading my rifle, and then taking aim at four mounted Indians who appeared on the right with rifles in their hands. They fired, but missed me, as I meantime was dodging them behind the waggon. During this, I did not see where Obed was. I hit one of them, 1 4 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. and either Simri or Joab, who fired at the same time, hit another. The other two wheeled round, and with some companions, hovered about us at some little distance. Just then, not hearing Obed's voice, I looked round. He was nowhere to be seen. I was shouting to his brothers to stop and go back with me to look for him, when half-a-dozen more Indians, joining the others, galloped up at the same moment to attack the headmost waggon. Simri and Joab, lashing their horses, rushed on to the assistance of their family. The savages fired. I was springing on when I felt myself brought to the ground, grasping my rifle, which was loaded. A shot had gone right through both my legs. I tried with desperate struggles to get up, but could not lift myself from the ground. All the horror of my condition crowded into my mind. To be killed and scalped was the best fate I could expect. Just as I was about to give way to despair, I thought I would make an attempt to save my life. From my com- panions I could expect no help, for even if they succeeded in preserving their own lives they would scarcely be in a condition to come back and rescue me. Poor Obed I felt pretty sure must have been killed. A small stream with some bushes growing on its banks was near at hand. I dragged myself towards it, and found a pretty close place of con- cealment behind one of the bushes. Thence I could look out. The waggons were still driving along furiously across the prairie with the Indians hover- ing about them on either side, evidently waiting for SHOT IN THE LEG. 15 a favourable moment to renew the attack. Thus the whole party, friends and foes, vanished from my sight in the fog. To stay where I was would only lead to my certain destruction, for when the Indians returned, as I knew they would, to carry off my scalp, the trail to my hiding-place would at once be discovered. I felt, too, that if I allowed my wounds to grow stiff, I might not be able to move at all. Suffering intense agony, therefore, I dragged myself down into the stream. It was barely deep enough to allow me to swim had I had strength for the purpose, and crawl I thought I could not. So I threw myself on my back, and holding my rifle, my powder-flask, and revolver above my breast, floated down till I reached the wood we had just passed. The branches of the trees hung over the stream. I seized one which I judged would bear my weight, and lifting myself up by immense exertion, of which, had it not been for the cooling effects of the water, I should not have been capable, I crawled along the bough. I had carefully avoided as much as possible disturbing the leaves, lest the red-skins should discover my retreat. I worked my way up, holding my rifle in my teeth, to the fork of the branch, and then up to where several of the higher boughs branched off and formed a nest where I could remain without fear of falling off. I was completely concealed by the thickness of the leaves from being seen by any one passing below, and I trusted, from the precautions I had taken, that the Indians would not discover my trail Still, such 16 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. cunning rogues are they, that it is almost impossible to deceive them. My great hope was that they might not find out that I had fallen, and so would not come to look for me. As I lay in my nest, I listened attentively, and thought that I could still hear distant shots, as if my friends had at all events not given in. Still it might only have been fancy. My wounds, when I had time to think about them, were very painful. I bound them up as well as I could — the water had washed away the blood and tended to stop inflammation. The sun rose high in the heavens. Not a sound was heard except the wild cry of the eagle or kite, blending with the song of the thrush and the mocking-bird, interrupted every now and then by the impudent observation of a stray parrot and the ominous rattle of a huge snake as it wound its way among the leaves. Every moment I expected to hear the grunts and cries of the red-skins, as with tomahawk in hand they came eagerly searching about for me. I durst not move to look around. They might come talking carelessly, or they might steal about in dead silence, if they suspected that I was still alive. I thus passed the day. I did sometimes think that I should have been wiser had I remained within the bounds of civilization, instead of wander- ing about the world without any adequate motive. The reflection, too, that the end of my days was approaching, came suddenly upon me with painful force. How had I spent those days? I asked myself. What good had I done in the world ? How had I THOUGHTS IN MY CONCEALMENT. 17 employed the talents committed to me ? I remem- bered a great many things I had been told as a child by my mother, and which had never occurred to me since. The more I thought, the more painful, the more full of regrets grew my thoughts. I am bound to tell you all this. I am not ashamed of my feelings. I believe those thoughts did me a great deal of good. I blessed my mother for all she had taught me, and I prayed as I had never prayed before. After this I felt much comforted and better prepared for death than I had been till then. The day passed slowly away. Darkness came on. I grew very hungry and faint, for I had no food in my pocket, and had taken nothing since the morning. Had I not been wounded, that would have been a trifle, I had often gone a whole day without eating, with, perhaps, a lap of water every now and then from a cool stream. I could not sleep a wink during the whole night. At times I hoped that if my friends were victorious they might return to learn what had become of poor Obed and me. In vain was the hope. The night wore on, the dawn returned. I tried to stretch my legs ; I found that I could not move them. The hours of the next day passed slowly by; I thought I heard the cries and shrieks of the red- skins in the distance, they seemed to draw nearer and nearer — they were entering the wood — yes, I was certain of it — they got close up to my tree — as I looked down, I saw their hideous, malicious faces gazing up at me, eager for my destruction. Then suddenly I became aware that they were only 18 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. creatures of my imagination, conjured up through weakness and hunger. All was again silent. "If this state of things continues, I shall certainly drop from my hold," I thought. Then suddenly I re- membered that I had some tobacco in my pocket. Edom Eagget had handed it to me to cut up for him. I put a piece in my mouth, and chewed away at it. I felt much better. The evening came, my apprehensions about the Indians decreased. Still I knew that if I once got down the tree, I might not be able to ascend it again, and might become a prey to wild beasts or rattlesnakes, as I felt that I could not stand for a moment, much less walk a yard. Having fastened my rifle to a branch, I secured one of my arms round another, that I might not drop off, and at last fell into a deep sleep. Next morning I awoke, feeling much better, though very hungry. As I lay without moving, I observed a racoon playing about a branch close to me. "Although there may be a hundred red-skins in the neigh- bourhood, I must have that fellow for my breakfast," I said to myself. I released my rifle and fired. Down fell the racoon at the foot of the tree. " He is of no use to me unless I can get hold of him, and even could I pick him up, I must eat him raw, as I have no means of lighting a fire where I am," said I to myself. While this thought passed rapidly through my mind, I heard a sound at some distance. It was, I felt sure, that of a human voice. I quickly reloaded my rifle, and, with my finger on the trigger, sat in readiness for whatever might occur. CHAPTEK IL A friend in need — How two people may live while one will starve — Obed goes in search of adventures, and I awake to find a rattlesnake close to my nose — I am saved — Obed returns, but followed by a gentleman whose room would be more pleasant than his company — Obed cannot fire, and I can- not run, but I save him by sitting still — We anticipate the pleasure of dining on bear's flesh — Obed fetches and carries like a dog, and we fare sumptuously — I take to crutches — We collect stores and make a tent — A Ked-Skin visitor. KEPT, as I was saying, my finger on the trigger, and my eye along the barrel of my rifle, fully expecting to see a Pawnee's red visage appear through the bushes. I knew that the dead racoon would betray me ; so I resolved to fight it out to the last, and to sell my life dearly. I heard footsteps approaching — slowly and watch- fully I thought: I peered down out of my leafy cover; the branches of the surrounding shrubs were pushed aside, and there, instead of the feathers and red face of an Indian, I saw the honest countenance of young Obed Kagget, looking cautiously about him on every side. 20 DICK ONSLOW IX THE FAR WEST. " Obed ! Obed ! I am here," I sung out ; " come and help me, lad." He sprang on when he heard my voice. " What, Dick ! is that you ? Well, I am glad you have escaped, that I am," he exclaimed, looking up into the tree. " So am I to see you," I cried ; " but help me down, lad, for I cannot help myself, I fear." " That is more than I can do," said he. " Look ; the red-skins have shot me through both arms, and I can no more use them than I can fly." I now observed that he looked very pale and weak, and that both his arms hung down uselessly by his side. One thing also I saw, that as he could not manage to get up to me, I must contrive to descend the tree to meet him. Tearing, therefore, a neckkerchief up into strips, I lowered my gun and pistols down by it, and then prepared to descend myself. I made it secure, as close to the trunk as I could, and grasping the short boughs which grew out from the trunk, I threw my chief weight upon them, while I steadied myself with the line I had made ; keeping my useless legs stretched out, lest I should fall on them, I gradually lowered myself to the foot of the tree. We could not shake hands, but we greeted each other most warmly. Obed complained bitterly of thirst, for he had not moved out of the first shelter into which he had crawled, and did not know how near the stream was. I accordingly put my hat into his mouth, and told him to stoop down where the stream was DRESS OBED'S WOUNDS. 21 deepest, and to ladle up some water. This he did, and then kneeling down I held the hat to his mouth, while he drank. I took a draught myself, and never have I enjoyed so much the choicest beverage in my father's house as I did that cool draught. I now pointed to the racoon, and asked him if he was hungry. "Very," was his answer; "I could eat that brute raw." * No need of that," said I ; "just collect materials, and we will quickly have a fire." Obed understood me, and with his feet soon kicked together a pile of sticks and leaves sufficient to make a good fire. I had a flint and steel, and we speedily had the racoon spitted and roasting on some forked sticks before it in proper woodman's style. The food revived us both, and restored our spirits. We neither of us were inclined to despondency; still we could not help thinking, with sad feelings, of what might have befallen our friends, and what might too probably be our own fate. As Obed could not help himself, he had to sit down close to me while I fed him ; and when we had done, he assisted me to remove myself away from the fire. I then dressed his wounds as well as I could, bathing them freely in cold water. Some sinews were cut through, I sus- pected, which prevented him from moving his arras, but no bones were broken; and, in consequence of his fine constitution and temperate habits, I trusted that he would recover the use of them. I was in a worse condition, for both my legs were so much 22 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. hurt that I could not hope to walk on them for many weeks to come. However, my upper limbs were in good case; and we agreed that, with a pair of strong arms and stout legs between us, we might both get on very well. Obed had left his gun in the thicket into which he had dragged it when he fell It was discharged, and so he went for it, bringing it to me in his teeth, that I might clean and reload it. As he could not use it, he left it by my side; and we had now our two rifles, and his and my revolver pistols; so that I felt, with my back to a tree, cripple as I was, I might prove a formid- able adversary either to man or beast. While Obed and I sat near the fire, talking over our prospects, we remembered that a number of things had dropped from the waggons ; so he volunteered to set out in order to discover whether they had been carried off by the Indians. " Farewell, Dick," said he, as he rose to go. " If I don't come back you'll know those varmint red- skins have got my scalp; but though I can't use t my arms, they'll find I can use my legs before they catch me." With many misgivings I saw him make his way out of the thicket. When he was gone I lay back with my head on my arm, thinking over many of the events of my past life, and contrasting them with my present condition, till at length my eyes closed, and I forgot all recent events in sleep. I believe that I slept very soundly without stirring my legs or arms. At last my eyes slowly opened, and hor- IN DANGER FROM A RATTLESNAKE. 23 rible indeed was the spectacle which met them. The embers of the fire were before me, and close to it, as if to enjoy its warmth, lay coiled up a huge rattlesnake not two yards from me. In an instant of time I felt that its deadly fangs might be fixed in my throat. What use to me now were my fire- arms ? I dared not move my hand to reach my revolver. I knew that I must not wink even an eyelid, or the deadly spring might be made. The snake was, I daresay, nearly six feet long. It had a body almost as thick as my leg — of a yellowish brown colour, with some dark-brown spots reaching from one end to the other; and oh! that head, as it slowly raised it with its vicious eyes to have a look at me. It was of large size, flat, and covered with scales. I gazed at the rattlesnake, and the rattle- snake gazed at me. What he thought of me I do not know; I thought him a most hideous monster, and wished him anywhere but where he was. It seemed an age that I thus lay, not daring even to draw a breath. I felt at last that I must give up the contest. I prayed for mercy. The oppression on my chest became almost insupportable. Still I dared not move. The deadly reptile stretched out its head — slowly it began to uncoil itself — the dread sound of its rattle struck my ear. I felt that now I must muster all my nerve and resolution, or be lost; the huge reptile stretched itself out and slowly crawled on — oh, horror! — it passed directly over my wounded legs! Not a muscle quivered. I dared not look up to ascertain whether it was gone. A 24 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. minute must have elapsed — it seemed to me a much longer time; and then, and not till then, a shout reached my ear. It was the voice of Obed. Probably the snake had heard it, and it was that, I have no doubt, which made him move away under the belief that I was a dead person, who at all events could do him no harm. My first impulse was to look round to discover what had become of the snake. He was nowhere to be seen! My next was to turn my eyes in the direction whence the shouting proceeded. There I saw Obed rushing along as fast as his legs could carry him among the trees. " Be ready with your rifle, Dick," he shouted out at the top of his voice; "not a moment to lose, man." I fully expected to see half-a-dozen red-skins following close at his heels, and resolved to defend him to the last, and to sell my own life dearly, although I had to fight on my stumps, when the boughs of the trees were torn away behind him, and a huge bear appeared, grinning horribly, in a great rage, and evidently prepared to do mischief to some- body or something. Had Obed been able to use his arms, he was the last person to have placed an- other in danger for the sake of trying to save himself. Now, however, he had no choice but to run behind me and the fire. Bruin trotted on, growling angrily. He was one of those long-headed, small-eyed fellows, with pointed nose, clumsy body, and smooth, glossy, black hair, which have a fancy for pork and ham, and will put their paws into a corn bin if they find FIGHT WITH A BEAR. 25 it open. When he got near, as he reared up on his hind paws ready for a fight, and came on towards me, I grasped my rifle and aimed at his head. If I missed him, I should scarcely have had time, I feared, to seize Obed's rifle before lie would have been upon me. I knew that his body was so encased with fat that it would be difficult to wound him vitally through that. I fired: the bullet hit him in the head, but still he came on, gnashing his teeth. I lifted my second rifle. I could not well have missed him had I been standing up or kneeling, but sitting, as I was, it was difficult to take a steady aim. He was about ten paces off: again I fired. I felt sure that I had not missed, but with a terrific growl he bounded on towards me. I had barely time to grasp a revolver when he was close up to me. Already I felt his hot breath in my face ; his huge claws had hold of my limbs; he was trying to clasp me round the body: his muzzle, with its sharp teeth, touched on my shoulder. Poor Obed, who was standing be- hind me, unable to render me assistance, literally shrieked with fear, not for himself, but for me. In another moment I felt that I must be torn to pieces. I mustered all my nerve. It was much wanted. I waited a moment till I could aim steadily at his head. I fired. He gave me a terrific hug. It was his death grapple. As it was, itvery nearly squeezed the breath out of my body. Then he rolled over and lay motionless. I did not roll after him, but lest he should only be shamming 'coon, I dragged myself as far off as I could to reload my weapons. 26 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAK WEST. * No fear, Dick, he's dead/' cried Obed, joyfully. "Well, you're a friend at a pinch, as I always thought you." It would not have been in his way to express his thanks by more than this, still I knew by his looks that he was grateful to me. In reality I had only fought in self-defence, so I do not know that he had anything to thank me for. " Old Bruin will afford us many a good dinner, at all events, I hope," said I. " And do you know, Obed, you and the bear saved my life just now between you." And then I told him how his shouts had, I believed, scared away the rattlesnake. " So you see, old fellow, we are quits." Obed having ascertained by a hearty kick that Bruin was really dead, I attached my rope to his waist and then to the bear, and by its means we dragged the carcase a little way from our camping ground. He then came back and helped me along that I might cut some steaks for our supper. We' cooked them in the same way we had done the racoon. While the operation was going forward he gave me an account of his adventures. He had found a number of things which had fallen from the waggon, and, wonderful to relate, they were untouched. There was the skin tent which we had not put into the waggon, and a cask of flour and one of beef, and, what we thought of still more value, a bag of bullets and some small shot, and a keg of powder, besides another rifle and an axe ; while farther on, he said that there were several other smaller articles along I MAKE MYSELF A PAIR OF CRUTCHES. 27 the road the waggon had gone. It was close to the cask of flour he had encountered Bruin, who had undoubtedly been attracted to the spot with the hope of appropriating it. One prize Obed brought in his mouth; it was a tin saucepan, and very valuable we found it. Our difficulty was now to collect all these things. Obed offered to try and drag them together to one spot, if he could but manage to hook himself on to them. That day we could do nothing ; s3 that after he had collected a large supply of fire-wood, we placed our backs to a tree and commended ourselves to the care of that great God who had so mercifully preserved our lives. We agreed that one should watch while the other slept, and most faithfully did we keep our pledge to each other. Several days passed without any great variation in our mode of proceeding. We cut the bear up into thin slices, and dried them in the sun. Obed also went round about the wood and drove in the wild turkeys, racoons, squirrels, and other small game, which I shot. We were thus supplied with meat. There were also plenty of herbs, the nature of which both he and I knew, and which, though not of delicate flavour, were wholesome, and helped to keep us in health. The weather also was very fine, and thus several days passed away. At last I bethought me that if I could make a pair of crutches, I might, with Obed's help, get over the ground. Two young saplings, towards which I dragged myself, were soon cut down, and in a couple of days I was once more upright. I could only at 28 DICK ONSLOW IN THE PAR WEST. first move very slowly, and with great dread of falling ; but by constant practice, in the course of a week I thought I might venture out of the wood. bed's arms were also gaining strength, and one of them he could already use a little, and was thus enabled to help me. I slung the rifles over his back, and, sticking the revolvers in my belt, off we set together. We moved slowly, but still we went ahead. At last we reached the tent. It struck us at once that it would be well to pitch it where it lay on our old camping ground. Wherever we might be Indians would find us out, so that it would make no difference whether we were in or out of the wood, and we might see either emigrants to Cali- fornia moving west, or the post to one of the forts, and thus obtain assistance. Obed and I soon got up the tent. I sat down, and he made his shoulders serve as a prop while I stuck in the pole, and thus in a few minutes we had a comfortable roof over our heads. While we were at work, it struck me that if I could make a sort of sleigh, it would facilitate the operation of bringing in our goods. I set to work immediately, and in the course of two days, manu- factured a machine which answered our purpose. The season was advancing, the nights were getting cold, and there was no time to be lost in collecting the articles which we might require to preserve our lives through the winter, should no one, before it set. in, pass that way to rescue us. Accordingly, we once more proceeded on our expedition. Sometimes MAKE A TENT. 29 I walked on my crutches, and at others Obed dragged me along on the sleigh. Certainly we were a notable example of the advantage of two people working in concert. Alone we must have perished; together, though injured so severely, we were able to live and comfort each other. We never had even the slightest dispute; and though surrounded by difficulties and dangers, and anxious about our friends, we were far from unhappy. I have often thought that if people who are living in the midst of all sorts of luxuries and advantages would but follow the example of Obed Kagget and me, they would be very much the happier. Our first care was to get the kegs of powder and shot, for our stock was almost exhausted ; and with those, and a bundle of blankets, we returned to our tent. To make a long story short, in the course of a week we had collected every thing to be seen ; and had settled ourselves very comfortably in our new home. We also surrounded our tent with stacks of fire -wood, which would serve as a barricade should we be attacked, at any time, by the red- skins. The exertion we went through, however, had fatigued us excessively, and opened our wounds afresh ; so that for some days we were unable to quit the precincts of our tent. We had made our- selves beds by placing sticks close together on the ground, and covering them with leaves, over which we spread our blankets ; and we agreed, as we lay stretched out on them, that we were much better off 30 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. than many poor fellows who had not beds to lie on. I crawled out occasionally to light the fire, and to cook our food, while Obed had to go to the river to get water. To prevent the necessity of doing this so frequently, after we were both a little rested, we emptied our beef cask, and carried it down on the sleigh to the river, that we might fill it with water. This being done, we found that we had over- cal- culated our strength, and had once more to take to our beds. Several days more passed away during which we scarcely moved. Obed, too, had become very silent. I saw that something was passing in his mind. After a time I asked him what it was. "Why, Dick," said he, "I'm thinking that though we seem to have a good supply of food, it won't last two hungry fellows all the winter, even if we were to put ourselves on half allowance. Now my arms will soon be well, and if I could make my way to one of the forts, I might bring you assist- ance. I'll take a supply of powder and shot, and keep my eyes open to look out for the red-skins. What do you say to it ?" I told him that I did not like the idea of his running so great a risk for my sake. " Oh, don't fear for me," he replied ; " it's right that it should be done, I'm certain of that, so I'll do it." I said nothing more. I knew when Obed thus expressed himself, he was in earnest. Several more days rolled slowly by. We slept a good deal in the A RED-SKIN VISITOR. 31 daytime; perhaps under our circumstances it was the best thing we could do. One afternoon I had been asleep some time, and Obed was snoring away on the other side of the tent, when I opened my eyes, and then I saw, glaring at me through the doorway of the tent, the hideous countenance of a red-skin warrior, horribly covered with paint and decked with coloured feathers. While with his left hand he lifted up the curtain, in his right he grasped his tomahawk, which quivered with his eagerness to take possession of our scalps. CHAPTER IIL The Red-Skin proves to be a friend — He and Obed leave me alone in my glory — I fortify myself for the winter — Visited by wolves — A terrific storm— The wolves my nightly visitors — I kill some and eat them, but find them o'er teuch — An object moving in the distance — Red-skins and enemies — I prepare for their reception — I kill one of them — A fearful struggle — I endeavour to obliterate the signs of this visit — My terrible solitude — More wolves and more Indians — I prepare a banquet for them — The suspicions of my guests aroused — The unpleasant termination to our feast. BED and I were not easily taken by surprise. Our hands instinctively clutched our rifles, and in a moment the breast of the Indian was covered by their muzzles. The eye of the red- skin did not quail — not a limb trembled. He gazed on us calmly, and his hand continued to hold aside the skin which formed the door of our tent, while he spoke a few words in a low quiet voice. I did not understand them, but Obed did. "Don't fire, Dick," said Obed; " he is a Delaware, a friend to the white men. Come in, friend Dela- ware, take your seat by our fire, and tell us what 32 THE RED-SKIN PROVES A FRIEND. 33 has brought you here," continued Obed, addressing the Indian. The Delaware, letting drop the skin door, came in, and, stirring up the embers of our almost ex- tinguished fire, sat himself down on a log of wood placed before it. He spoke a jargon which he thought was English, and which both Obed and I understood, but which I cannot now repeat, any more than I could convey an idea of the deep guttural tones of his voice. They seemed to come from the very depths of his inside. " I travel alone," said the red-skin. " I have a long journey to perform, to carry a letter I have undertaken to deliver at Fort Grattan. I was beginning to despair of accomplishing it, for my powder has been destroyed, and thus food was diffi- cult to obtain. "When I first saw the smoke of your fire, I thought it might come from the wigwams of some Pawnees, and my heart bounded when I saw from its appearance that your tent must belong to white men." From this hint given, Obed at once placed a supply of food before the Indian, who did ample justice to it. We then lighted our pipes, and all three sat smoking over the fire. The Delaware urgently advised us not to attempt to spend the approaching winter in that place, but to accompany him to the fort. I saw the soundness of his counsel, but assured him that I could not attempt to walk half-a-dozen miles, much less could I hope to make so long a journey. "Then it is better that one should come and 34 DICE" ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. bring back succour to the other than that both should perish," urged the Delaware. To this I agreed, and told Obed he must go. He had been ready to go alone when the risk was greater ; but now he did not like to leave me. I met all his arguments, and telling him that if he wished to save my life, as well as his own, he must go, I ultimately made him consent to accompany the Indian. Before starting, they took every means to increase my comforts. They filled the water-casks, collected a quantity of herbs, and a supply of fire- wood, and shot as much game as I could consume while it was fresh. The Delaware lay down to sleep that night in our tent. I was convinced from his manner and mode of speaking that he was honest. I never saw a man sleep more soundly — not a limb stirred the whole night through; he looked more like a dead person, or a lay figure, than a being with life. Suddenly, as the morning light broke through the tent, he sprang up, and, shaking himself, in a moment was all energy and activity. " Ugh ! I have not slept so soundly for many a night, and may not sleep so soundly for many a night more," he exclaimed, in his peculiar dialect. We lighted our fire, boiled our kettle, and then all three sat down to a hearty breakfast. It was the last I should probably take in company for many a weary day ; still I resolved not to be down-hearted, and especially to preserve a serene and contented coun- tenance. The Delaware replenished his powder flask, and I AM LEFT ALONE. 35 taking a small supply of provisions, he and Obed bade me farewell I could only wring the latter's hand ; I don't think we exchanged a word at part- ing. I watched them as their figures grew less and less, and finally disappeared in the distance, and then indeed I felt very lonely. Perhaps there was not a human being within a hundred miles of me except the two who had just gone away ; or should there be, he was very likely to prove an enemy. The idea of being thus alone in a wilderness was grand, but it was somewhat appalling and trying to the nerves. How long would Obed be absent? I thought to myself. Three weeks or a month at shortest. Could I manage to preserve existence for that length of time ? I was still weak and ill, and could scarcely crawl about, so I spent the greater portion of my time on my couch. I placed my fire- arms close at hand around me, so that I might seize them in a moment. My fire-place was a hole in the middle of the tent, almost within reach of my skin- covered couch ; there were no linen sheets to catch fire ; my tub of water was near it, and my stock of provisions hung overhead. The sky I saw when I looked out had for some days been giving indications of a snow-storm. It came at last, and winter set in. The drifting snow quickly found its way through the minutest hole in the tent skins. To prevent this, I beat it down firmly all round the edge, stopping every crevice, and I raised a pile of logs before the door. " I don't think I should mind a fight with a dozen red-skins," I thought to myself ; c 36 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. " but those wolves — I don't like them." The wolves I dreaded (and not without reason) found me out at last. The wind was roaring and whistling among the leafless trees, the snow was beating against my tent, and the night was as dark as Erebus, when a low distant howl saluted my ears — heard even above the tempest. It continued increasing, till it broke into a wild chorus of hideous shrieks. I had no dread of ghostly visitors. I would rather have faced a whole array of the most monstrous hobgoblins, than have felt that I was surrounded, as I knew I was, by a herd of those brutes — the wolves. Till almost morning they continued their ugly concert ; but they have a natural fear of man, and it is only when pressed by hunger that they will attack him. The ground, however, was now com- pletely covered with snow, and I knew that they would find but little food. As I could not venture out, most of the day passed away in a half-un- conscious dreamy state ; part of it I slept. The next night I was awoke soon after dark by the wolfish chorus; it was much nearer than before. The sounds formed themselves into words to my disordered senses. "We'll eat you up; we'll eat you up ere long," they appeared to say. A third night came. The pack seemed increased in numbers, as if they had been collecting from every quarter. I fancied that I could hear their feet crackling on the crisp snow as they scampered round and round the tent. That night they brought their circle closer and closer, till I fully expected that they VISITED BY WOLVES. 37 would commence their attack. Still they held off, and with the morning light took their departure. I watched the next night setting in with a nervous dread. As soon as darkness spread over the snow- covered face of the country, on the horrid pack came, scampering up from all quarters. Nearer and nearer approached the cries and howls. They commenced as before, scampering round the tent, and every time it seemed narrowing the circle. I knew that they must be closer to me. I stirred up my fire with a long stick I kept by me for that purpose, and I felt sure I saw the impression of their noses as, having smelt me out, they pressed them against the sides of the tent in their endeavours to find an entrance. I looked for the biggest bump, and took aim with my revolver. There was a loud snarl and cry, and then a shrieking and howling as the horrid pack scampered off into the distance. I had to get up and patch the hole made by my bullet, but I did not look out to see what had become of the wolf I had hit. I heard the animals howling away the livelong night in the distance. They did not, how- ever, venture back again that night. I had now been ten days alone, as I knew by a small bag I kept, into which I every day, when I awoke, put a bean. I should completely have lost all count of time without some such contrivance. The cold was becoming very bitter ; still my health was improving, and I felt myself stronger than I had been since I was wounded. The perfect rest had tended to cure me. I thought that I would get 38 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAE WEST. up and walk about, to recover more completely the use of my limbs. It was necessary to replenish my stock of water before the stream was completely frozen over, as snow-water is not considered whole- some for a continuance. I had plenty of clothes and skins, and I required them, for a piercing wind blew across the wild prairie, which, unless thus protected, I could not have faced. The exercise did me good. I now went out every day, constantly returning to feed my fire and to warm myself. I replenished my stock of water, and got a further supply of wood, that I might not run short of that necessary article. I was most concerned about my provisions, which were diminishing sadly. I there- fore always took my rifle out with me, in the hopes of getting a shot at a stray buffalo or deer going south, but all had gone ; none passed near me. The woods, too, were now deserted ; not a bird was to be seen; even the snakes and the 'coons had hid them- selves in their winter habitations. A dead silence reigned over the whole country during the day. I wish it had equally reigned during the night. Day- light and the smoke of my fire kept the wolves away, but night after night they came back and howled as before. I used at last to sleep some hours every day, and sit up all night with my pistols by my side, ready to shoot them. Now and then the grinning jaws of one of them would force its way in at the entrance of the tent. I seldom passed a night without killing one or two of these intruders. I every morning cut off what I thought would prove RED-SKINS IN THE DISTANCE. 39 the tenderest portion, and dragged the rest of the carcase away. I would not, however, advise anybody to feed upon wolfs flesh if they can get anything better. More tough and nauseous morsels I never attempted to swallow; but it was necessary to economise the rest of my provisions. I one day went out as usual to exercise^fcay limbs and look for a chance shot. There was a fine clear sky overhead, not a breath of air was stirring, and my blood was soon in circulation. I felt more up to anything than I had done for a long time. I reached the only elevation in the neighbourhood, near the bank of the creek, when, turning my glance round on every side, I saw in the far distance towards the north-west, two specks on the surface of the dazzling expanse of white spread out before me. I watched — the specks were moving, they might be deer, or they might be wolves, but from the way they progressed I had little doubt they were men. They came from a quarter I did not like, inhabited by Dacotahs and Pawnees — treacherous, thievish rascals, who will take the scalp of an old woman if they can catch her asleep, and make as much boast of it as if they had killed a warrior in open fight. Still it was necessary to be on my guard against them. I waited till I ascertained without doubt that they were human beings, and then hastened back to my tent, made up my fire so that the smoke might be seen coming out at the top, put a buffalo robe inside my bed to personate myself, and loaded myself with all my fire-arms. I then carefully 40 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. closed the entrance of the tent, and stepped back over the marks I had previously made, till I reached the bank of the stream, where I found ample shelter behind a clump of thick bushes. I there lay between two heaps of snow with my rifle ready, perfectly concealed, but having a clear view of my tent and the country beyond. If the strangers should prove to be friends, as the precautions had given me but little trouble it was wiser to take them, but if enemies they were very necessary. When they were still a long way off, I made out that the strangers were red-skins. Their costume showed me that they belonged to the tribes I have mentioned, and I had no doubt that they had come with hostile intent. They stopped, and I saw by their gestures that they were forming their plan of proceeding. One was an oldish man, the other was a tall active lad ; either would give me considerable difficulty to manage if it came to a hand-to-hand struggle. They were armed only with bows and arrows and spears. They pointed to the smoke, and the elder signified that I was asleep within, or cooking my dinner. He then fixed an arrow in his bow, and by his gestures I suspected that he was saying he would shoot me through the tent covering before I had time to seize my fire-arms or see my enemies. " I'm much obliged to you for your good intentions, but I will try and frustrate them, my friends," said I to myself. The elder of the two red-skins now ap- proached the tent with his bow drawn, ready to send an arrow into the inmate should he appear at the I KILL A RED -SKIN. 41 entrance; the other searched carefully round the tent and examined the traces of my feet in the snow. He seemed apparently satisfied that the owner had gone to the stream and returned and was within. The two now got still nearer to the tent, with their bows drawn ; so cautiously did they tread that not a sound could be heard. They stopped, and eagerly shot several arrows through the covering, one after the other as rapidly as they could fix them to the strings of their bows. * And so you think that you have killed your prey," said I to myself, but at the same time a sickening sensation came over my heart. I had never shot at a human being with the inten- tion of taking away life; I must do so now or become the victim myself. The savages listened. Of course no sound from within reached their ears. The elder stooped forward to draw aside the curtain to look in while the other stood ready with his spear to transfix the person who they might expect would attempt to spring out if he had not been killed. Now I thought I must fire. I took aim at the older Indian. In doing so the barrel of my rifle touched a twig. The younger savage in a moment detected the sound ; he turned round full on me. His quick eye caught sight of my rifle as I instantly brought it to bear on him. He uttered an exclamation of astonishment. It was his last. I fired, and he fell with his face forward. His companion sprang up and was about to rush towards me, but I pulled the trigger of my second barrel and he too fell writhing in agony on the snow. I rushed up to my tent, 42 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. The younger savage was quite dead: the elder glared at me fiercely. Though badly wounded, still he might live. I leaned over him and made signs that I would take him into my tent and try and heal him. A gleam of satisfaction came over his coun- tenance — I thought it was from gratitude at my mercy. I was preparing to drag him into the tent, and to place him on my own couch. I felt that I was doing what was right. I should gain a com- panion in my solitude, perhaps make a friend, who would enable me to escape from my perilous position. His eye followed me as I moved about making the necessary preparations. He beckoned me to come and lift him up. I was putting my arm behind him when his right hand drew a long knife with a flash from his belt, and before I could spring back he had struck twice with all his force at my breast, wounding me severely. It was not his fault that he did not pierce me to the heart So firm a grasp did his other hand retain of my collar that I could not escape him. I had my own hunting-knife beneath my buffalo robe, my fingers clutched it, and, as catching his right arm I pressed it to the ground, I struck two or three blows with all my might at his throat and chest, I felt his fingers relaxing ; his arm fell back — he too' was dead. I would rather not dwell on that awful moment. The horrors of my solitude were increased ten-fold. Still I was obliged to rouse myself to action. I knew not how many of the tribe to which the dead men belonged might be in the neighbourhood. A NIGHT OF HORRORS. 43 That evening, however, I could do nothing. Night was coming on, and the blood which trickled down my breast reminded me that I must attend to my own wounds. If my former nights had been full of horrors, this was far more dreadfuL The wolves howled louder than ever, and came round me in greater numbers, and though I was continually firing my pistols out into the darkness, I could scarcely keep them at bay. I will not dwell on that dreadful time. The morning did come at last, and the first thing I did was to drag the bodies of the savages down to the river, and to force them through the hole in the ice whence I had been accustomed to draw water. The current quickly carried them down into far off regions. Then I made a fire over the spot where their blood had been spilt, and happily during the day a heavy fall of snow coming on obliterated all the remaining traces of their fatal visit to my tent. Still for many a day I could not drive the picture of their hideous countenances out of my head, as they lay stark and stiff on the ground, killed by my hand — yet never was homicide more justifiable. I had, as I believed, got rid of all the traces of the savages outside the tent. When I found the arrows sticking inside it in my bed, it did not occur to me that it would be equally necessary to get rid of them. The whim seized me of keeping them as a memorial of my escape. Instead, however, of concealing them under the bed, I arranged them in the form of a star on the tent covering just above my head, and every 44 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. time I looked at them I felt grateful that they were not sticking in my body. I have a dislike to dwell on the horrible sensations which came over me during those long winter nights and scarcely less dreary days. Had I possessed any books they would have served me as companions, and helped me to pass the time ; but I had none. My own thoughts and feelings were my only associates, and they often were far from pleasant ones. I had a great temptation also, which, had I given way to it, would have made matters worse. Among the articles which had fallen from the waggon, and which Obed and I afterwards picked up, was a small cask of brandy. We were both of us very abstemious, or we should not have been the strong hearty fellows we were. The cask, therefore, had not even been broached. The tempter, however, now came suggesting to me that I might soon forget all my miseries if I would but occasionally take a taste of the fire-water. I resisted him, however. I knew that if I once began I might go on, and not know when to stop. I was sure that I was better and stronger without liquor of any sort, so I let the cask remain as it was in a corner of the tent. I had a pipe and a small quantity of tobacco, which I mixed with sumach leaves and willow bark to make it go further. Smoking this was my greatest animal pleasure. My usual dinner, eked out with fried wolfs flesh, indeed required a smoke to make it digest properly. After this adventure with the Indians I found my nerves much shaken. I stayed I KILL SOME GAME. 45 in bed for a couple of days, but whenever I dropped asleep I found myself acting the whole scene over and over again. At night I had, as usual, to sit up, wrapped in my buffalo robes, with my feet at the fire, and my pistols in my hands, keeping the wolves at bay. Oh, how I wished they would cease their horrid serenade. The old year passed away, and the new year began, but there was no change in my condition. I was growing seriously alarmed about Obed. He ought to have been back by this time, I thought. I was afraid some accident might have befallen him, for I was very certain that he would not have deserted me. By degrees I re- covered my composure, and took my exercise with my rifle in my hand as usuaL My tent also, by being almost covered up with snow, had become a very warm and comparatively comfortable habita- tion, as I could always keep up a good fire within it. When I returned from my walks I had a cup of warm tea ready, which tended to keep up the circulation which the exercise had established. Thus I soon got into very good health again. My chief occupation when out was looking for game. What was my delight one morning to see a flight of prairie-hens sitting on some boughs not far from my tent. I stopped like a pointer. I knew that the slightest movement might scare them away ; and lifting my rifle to my shoulder, I selected a fine cock. I fired, and over he tumbled. I ran forward, and securing him to my belt, I marked where the others settled, and followed them up. 46 DICK ONSLOW IN THE PAR WEST. Thus I went on. I had killed three, I think, which would prove a most satisfactory addition to my larder. When I looked about me I found that I had got a long way from my tent. I walked briskly back. When I got to the top of the bank near the river, what was my dismay on looking northward, to see several persons approaching my tent ! They could not have failed to have discovered me. I watched them with intense interest. They were red-skins — Dacotahs probably; I could not possibly avoid encountering them. I felt that my only prospect of safety was to put a bold face on the matter, and go and meet them frankly. Hurrying to my tent, I loaded myself with all my fire-arms, resolving to sell my life dearly, and then walked forward towards them. I counted the strangers. There were ten of them, all painted and dressed for war; and a very ferocious set they looked. They seemed very much astonished and puzzled at seeing me. In an instant they all had their arrows fixed in their bows, and, forming a line, they thus advanced slowly and cautiously, keeping an eye on the tent, and evidently expecting to see a number of people emerge from it. Their demon- strations were so hostile that I now began to repent that I had not made an attempt to defend myself; at the same time I felt that a contest with ten cunning savages would have been a very hopeless one. Flight, too, over the snow, with little know- ledge of the country, was not to be thought of. As the savages advanced I retreated, resolving to make MORE INDIANS. 47 a stand at my tent door. At the same time I tried to show by signs that I could, if I liked, kill two or three of them, but that I was ready for peace if they were. At last I lowered my rifle from my shoulder, and they unstrung their bows and advanced with outstretched hands towards me. Knowing their treacherous character, however, of course I could not depend on them. I bethought me that the best way to win their friendship was to offer them food, as is practised in civilized com- munities with some success ; so I showed them the birds I had just killed, and intimated that I was going to dress them for their entertainment. I produced several other dainties, and my dried wolf's flesh. I also brought out some of my mixed tobacco, though it was with intense reluctance 1 parted with it. They expressed their satisfaction by several loud grunts, and then squatted round in a circle outside the door of my tent. I made up my fire, and soon had the prairie-hens and several pieces of meat roasting on sticks before it, and a savoury stew cooking in my pot. I trusted that I might be able to replenish my scanty stock of pro- visions, but I knew that, had I not given them with a good grace, my guests would probably have taken them by force. I had begun to serve the banquet, at which the red-skins were smacking their lips, and they were casting approving and kindly glances at me, when I remembered my cask of brandy. I knew that this would completely cement our friend- ship, but I intended to give them only a little at a 48 DICK ONSLOW IN THE PAR WEST. time to run no risk of intoxicating them. I retired, therefore, to the back of the tent for the purpose of drawing off a little in a bottle. While I was thus employed, one of them put his head into the tent to see what I was about. As he did so, his eye fell on the star of arrows over the head of my couch. A loud exclamation made me turn round. I saw where his glance was directed. My folly and want of forethought in a moment flashed across my mind. All was lost, I perceived. The savages sprang up and seizing me, pointed to the arrows. I had nothing to say. Perhaps the expression of my countenance betrayed me. Several held me tight while the others spoke. Though I did not under- stand a word of their language, I could not fail to comprehend the tenor of their speeches. Their action, the intonation of their voices, their angry glances showed it. "Our friends came here, and this man killed them. We came to look for them, and by the same arts with which he destroyed them he has endeavoured to destroy us. There are the proofs of his guilt. How else did he become possessed of those arrows?" Such, I have no doubt, is a very concise abridgment of their harangues. They continued speaking for an hour or more, till they worked each other up into a perfect fury. Their eyes gleamed at me with malignant hatred. They foamed at the mouth ; they gnashed their teeth at me. I thought they would have torn me limb from limb ; but they were reserving me for a far I AM CONDEMNED TO DEATH. 49 more refined system of torture. Having condemned me to death, they lashed my hands behind me, and my feet together, and placed me in a sitting position on my bed, there to await my doom, while they all crouched down round the fire, where, stern and grim, they finished the repast I had prepared for them in horrible silence. CHAPTER IV. The Indians propose to kill me — T am bound ready for the torture — My guests find the fire-water, and I find the advan- tage of having abstained from it — A fearful conference — A tomahawk sent at my head — The spirits take effect — I work my limbs free— Shall I kill my enemies? — I fly — A run for life — My terrible journey — I sink exhausted — A friendly Indian — A kind reception — I have cause to rejoice that I did not redden my hands with blood. HE Indians sat round the fire, devouring with dreadful composure the remainder of my scanty stock of provisions. I could not withdraw my eyes from them. I felt as if I was in a horrid dream, and yet I was too certain of the reality of what had occurred to doubt it. " Even were they to spare my life, I must starve," I thought to myself, " so it matters little what they do to me. They ate up all their own food and all mine, till nothing remained. The Red man, although he can go a long time without food, is a complete glutton when he gets a quantity, and is utterly regardless of what may be his future exigencies. When they 50 THE INDIANS FIND MY BRANDY CASK. 5 1 had eaten up all the food exposed to view, they began to hunt about the tent for more. I watched them anxiously, for I was afraid that they would get hold of the gunpowder, and still more did I dread their finding the brandy. The chief, a villainous-looking old warrior, was the most active in the search. He went round and round the tent, poking his fingers into every package, and sniffing up with his nose, till at last his keen scent enabled him to discover the existence of the spirit cask, which I had already broached. With a grunt of satisfaction, in which the whole party joined, he dragged it forward and made signs to his followers that all should share in the much-prized fire-water. I trembled at what would be the consequences. " They would have treated me badly enough while they were sober, but with all their evil passions inflamed by liquor, they will be perfect demons," I thought to myself. " How wrong I was not to have let the dangerous spirit run out long ago." How brightly their eyes glared, how eagerly they pressed forward to get a share of the coveted fire- water, which the old chief was serving out. I observed that he took care to help himself more largely than he did anybody else. Scarcely had they drunk off what was first distributed to them than they put forward their leathern drinking-cups to ask for more. The old chief having helped himself, gave some to his followers. Then their eyes began to glitter, the calm sedate bearing of the Indian was thrown off, they talker! rapidly and 1> 52 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. vehemently, and laughed loudly, and their fingers began to play with the handles of their tomahawks and scalping-knives in a way that made my blood run cold. The red-skins, when they take a captive for whom for any reason they have an especial hatred, generally wait two or three days, that they may have the satisfaction of tormenting him before they commence actually to torture him to death. As I watched them, however, I felt that any moment they might spring up and begin to torture me. It is difficult to describe the horrible ingenuity they exhibit in tormenting their victims. Talk of the virtues of the savage — I do not believe in them. He may have some good qualities, but he is generally the cruel remorseless monster sin has made him. Civilization has its vices, — I know that full well, — and bad enough they are, but they are mild com- pared to those of the true unadulterated savage, who prides himself on his art in making his victims writhe under his tortures, and kills merely that he may boast of the number of those he has slaughtered, and may exhibit their scalps as trophies of his victories. It is a convincing proof to me that the same spirit of evil, influenced by the most intense hatred to the human race, is going continually about to incite men to crime. The Dyak of Borneo, the Fijian of the Pacific, and the red savage of North America, are much alike; and identically the same change is wrought in all when the light of truth is brought among them, and the Christian's THE SPIRITS TAKE EFFECT. 53 faith sheds its softening influence over their hearts. Many such ideas as those I have alluded to passed through my mind as I sat, unable to move, watching the proceedings of the savages, and I felt with a pang of intense remorse how utterly I had neglected doing anything towards sending the gospel of salvation in which I believed and thought I trusted, to them or any other of the heathen nations of the world. The red-skins went on talking fast and furious- ly; then they put out their hands, and called on the old chief to serve them out further draughts of their loved fire-water. He dared not deny them. He helped himself, and his eyes began to roll round and round with a frightful glare, and every now and then they turned upon me, and I thought my last moment had come ; but one of his companions, in a tone which had lost all respect for him, called off his attention for a moment, and I had a reprieve. It was but. for a few minutes. I became once more the subject of conversation. Again the cups were filled and quaffed. I sat as motionless as a statue. A sign of fear, or even of consciousness, would only tend to enrage my captors. The countenance of the old chief grew more terrific. He grasped his deadly tomahawk, and, drawing it from his belt, lifted his arm to hurl it at my head. I expected that instant to feel the horrible crash as the sharp weapon entered my skull. I, notwithstanding, fixed my eye steadily on him. He bent back his arm ; the tomahawk flew across the tent, but the 54 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. spirits he had swallowed had unnerved his limbs and confused his sight, and, unconscious apparently of what he had done, he rolled over on his side. His companions were too far gone to take notice of his state. They rather seemed to rejoice at it, that now they could help themselves to as much liquor as was to be got. As the savages went on drinking, and I saw the condition to which they were reduc- ing themselves, hope once more revived in ray breast. I might work my way out of the leather thongs which bound me, and get clear of my captors ; but then where was I to go ? I was again tolerably strong, and I could run some miles, but in what direction should I bend my steps? I could scrape together a little food from that left by the Indians ; but had I any chance of reaching any fort or settlement in the depth of winter ? I should, too probably, be frozen to death, or be devoured by wolves, or be scalped by hostile Indians. The prospect was not cheering. Still all risks were far preferable to being tormented to death by my present captors. I was beginning to indulge in a prospect of escaping, remote though it might be, when two more of the Indians all of a sudden took it into their heads to hurl their hatchets at me. It was the last effort of expiring intelligence, and they both fell back overpowered by liquor. In a very short time, one by one, the rest of their companions yielded to its influences, and the whole band of Indians lay perfectly drunk and helpless at my feet. I MAKE MY ESCAPE. 55 No time was to be lost; how long they might continue in that state I could not telL At all events it was important to get a long start of them. I found that I might in time gnaw away the thongs which bound my wrists. I set to work ; they were very tough, but by perseverance I got through one, and then the other, and my hands were free. Still I had a tough thong round my neck, secured to one of the posts of the bed, and another round my ancles fastened to another below me. If I attempted to stoop down, I tightened the thong round my neck, nor could I draw my feet up to meet my hands. The savages had taken my own knife from me. I struggled, and pulled, and tugged, to get my feet clear till I almost cut through my ancles to the bone. At last I thought of the tomahawks the savages had thrown at me. I leaned back and felt about behind me. To my great joy my fingers clutched the handle of one, the blade of which was sticking deep into the frame of the bed. I dragged it out, and very soon cut through the thong round my neck. To clear my feet was a work of less trouble : I was free. I can scarcely describe my sensations as I stood among my now helpless enemies. My first thought was to make prepara- tions for my flight. I collected all the food of every description and packed it away in a bag, which I fastened round my waist. I took my rifle and filled my powder-flask, with a further supply in a leathern case which had been Obed's, and all the percussion- caps, and as much shot as I could carry. I took 56 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. the precaution also of collecting all the bows and arrows, and other weapons, of the Indians, and of piling them upon the fire, where they were quickly consumed. Then I threw over my shoulder my buffalo-skin coat, and stood prepared for flight. " Whither shall I fly ? How can I escape from my swift-heeled enemies with all this weight of things to carry ? Need I fly ?" A dreadful thought came into my head. " They intended to kill me. There they lie utterly helpless. A few well-directed blows from one of their own tomahawks which they hurled at my head, and not one of them can harm me more. I may dispose of them as I disposed of their two brethren who tried to kill me. I have a right to do so. Surely I have a right to destroy them." If I did not say, I thought all these things. Whence did the suggestion come ? " Oh may I be guided to do what is right," I mentally ejaculated. I gazed at the helpless beings scattered around. " They are human. * Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them who trespass against us/ What does that mean?" I asked myself. " Oh, no, I dare not injure them. Never mind what the rough backwoodsman would say to my conduct. I am sure it is braver to refrain than to kill. Certainly, as a Christian, I cannot kill them — I dare not. To Eis guidance and protection who formed the world and all living creatures, I commit myself." With these words, not daring to look behind me, I rushed from the tent. 1 took a westerly course, for I thought that 1 A TERRIBLE JOURNEY. 57 should more likely fall in with Obed in that direc- tion, should he have reached a fort in safety, and succeeded in obtaining help to come and rescue me. On I went as fast as I could move, but my limbs were stiff, and the weight I carried was considerable. I tried to turn my thoughts from the savages, but I could not help calculating how long they might continue in their state of stupor. There was still some brandy left in the cask ; when they recovered their senses, rather than pursue me they might be tempted to drink again. It was a question which was the strongest passion, whether the love of drink or the desire for revenge would prevail. On I went, the snow was now tolerably hard, so I made pretty good progress, yet the red-skins would go twice as fast when once they began to pursue me. I went a mile before I stopped. Then on reaching an elevation, whence I could have a clear view over the white glittering plain, I looked back at the spot where I had spent so many days and nights of pain and suffering, and where also I owned that I had been most mercifully preserved from so many dangers. The tent stood where it had been for many months, the smoke was curling out of the top into the calm sky, and all around looked so un- changed that I could scarcely persuade myself that in the interior was collected a band of malignant foes, who would rejoice in my destruction. I looked but a few seconds, and then away I went on my course. I walked on, sometimes breaking into a run where the snow was harder and would allow it, 58 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. till sunset, and then the stars came out brightly in the firmament of heaven, and I was able to steer my course with greater certainty even than in the daytime. I could not think very much ; but I did feel thankful that I had not yielded to the tempta- tion of drinking the spirits myself, when I had felt low and almost hopeless. Had I done so, I should have destroyed the very means presented for my deliverance. I got over the plain with tolerable ease, for the sun had at times melted the snow, which when it froze again had become hard and rough. As I ran on, however, I was trying to devise some plan by which the Indians might be turned off my track. To obliterate it, however, was hopeless, unless a heavy fall of snow should come on, and even then the cunning rascals, by scraping away the snow at intervals, were very likely to find me out. It was nearly midnight, I calculated, when I felt that I must stop to rest and take some food. I sat down on what I took to be a mound of earth covered with snow. I ate a handful of rice and a little biscuit, and chewed a piece of wolfs flesh, and felt somewhat revived. I should have liked to have gone to sleep, but I dared not, even for a moment. It would have been, had I given way to the feeling, the sleep of death. I scarcely know why, but as I sat on the heap I struck the butt- end of my rifle into the snow; it gave way. I found there was something beneath it. With eager haste, for I remembered that every moment was precious, I threw off the snow. The body of a man lay DISCOVER JOAB KILLED. 59 beneath. A dreadful sensation came over me. It must be that of Obed, slaughtered, perhaps, on his way to succour me ; the idea almost overcame me ; I resisted, however, the feeling of despair, and roused myself up. I threw off more of the snow ; I could see, by the faint light of the moon, that little more than a skeleton remained; the dress, however, was there ; it was that of a backwoods- man. With horrible eagerness, yet with loathing, I examined the tattered clothes. I felt sure that they were those Obed had worn. In my search my hand struck against something ; I took it up, it was an old silver watch; such a one Obed had not got, but often had I seen it in the hands of his brother Joab. Poor Joab, then, had been killed on the first attack of the red-skins. What had become of the rest of the party? I dreaded lest I should find their remains as I had that of Joab. Taking the watch I secured it about me to restore to his family should I ever meet them. I hunted about for his rifle; it was nowhere to be found. It had been carried off, I concluded, by the Indians. With a heavy heart I ran on, after my brief rest, expecting every instant to come on more of the remains of my old friends, but I saw no indications of them, and there was no time to carry on the search. I went on after this for some time without halting even for a moment. I had now been several hours on foot. Had I enjoyed my usual strength, such as I pos- sessed before being wounded, I should have made light of the fatigue. I was, however, again obliged 60 DICK ONSLOW IN THE PAR WEST. to sit down. I reckoned on having a long start of the red-skins. I hoped to retain my strength so as to redouble my speed when I thought they would be pressing after me. I had deprived them of their arms, and they had no food ; so that, could I contrive to keep beyond their reach for two or three days, they must be delayed to obtain it, if they attempted to follow me. Unless also their lodges were in the neighbourhood, and they could go and get arms, I possessed another very great advantage over them. Of course if pursued I would not hesitate for a moment about shooting them down. These ideas occurred to me as I ran on, and I began to feel that my case was not so hopeless as I at first considered it. My great dread was of the wolves. As yet I had not heard any of those cries which make night hideous in the desert regions ; but I knew that if a pack once scented me out and gave chase, I should have little chance of escaping them, unless I could find a tree, up which I might climb out of their way. I ran on all night, keeping nearly due west, and daylight found me pursuing my way with unflagg- ing speed. At last I struck what I took to be a branch of the Nebraska river. A wood was not far off on the other side. "I'll try if a white man cannot manage to deceive the acuteness even of a red-skin," I thought to myself. The wind had blown the snow completely off the ice on the river. I crossed the river and made towards the wood. I stirred up the snow in a way which I knew would A CEY OF WOLVES HEAED. 61 puzzle the Indians, and then treading backwards on my footmarks, I once more reached the river. Then away I went up the stream over the smooth ice as hard as I could run. Now and then I tumbled down, but I quickly picked myself up again, and was off as fast as ever. When a man believes that a body of red-skins or a pack of wolves are at his heels, he is likely to run pretty fast. I sat down once for breakfast for five minutes, and once at noon for dinner off raw rice and wolves' ribs, and away I went again. At last I found that the river was making so many bends that it would be necessary to land, which I did on the north shore. Night came on, but I did not relax my speed ; the stars came out and guided me as before. I was beginning, however, to feel much distressed. I bore up as well as I could, but I fancied that I could not continue my course much beyond the morning, even if I could go through the night. I came to some bushes growing above the snow ; they would afford me shelter from the wind, and I might, I thought, venture to rest for half-an-hour or so. I should have wished to light a fire, but I dared not, lesc the smoke might betray me. I sat down and began searching in my bag for some food, when a distant and faint cry struck my ear. I listened ; again I heard it. I knew too well what it was. The cry of a pack of wolves. Could they have gained scent of me and be following in my track? The bare thought of such a thing made me start up, and again set forth at full speed. For what I knew to 62 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. the contrary, I had both wolves and Indians follow- ing me. The wolves were gaining on me, that was certain. I could distinguish the yelps and barks through the still midnight. They might yet be some way off. I tried to pierce through the gloom ahead in the hopes of seeing some clump of trees rising out of the snowy plain in which I might take shelter. On I ran. It at all events would not do to stay where I was. The sound of those horrid yelps, if anything had been required to make me exert myself, would have added fleetness to my feet. I longed for day; I thought they would be less likely to attack me. For a whole hour I ran on, I believe. It seemed more like three or four with those dreadful sounds ringing in my ears. I thought they were coming nearer and nearer. At last I saw some object rising up before me in the darkness. It might be a distant hill, or it might be the outline of the wished-for wood. "But if I succeed in reaching it and climbing a tree, will not the delay enable the Indians to overtake me?" I thought. "I will keep outside the wood till the near approach of the brutes compels me to climb a tree to get out of their way." I kept to this resolu- tion. It proved to be a wood that I had seen. I skirted it as I continued my course. All the time I kept listening with a feeling of horror to the hideous chorus of the wolves. Suddenly I was conscious that the sounds were growing fainter. In another twenty minutes I was certain of it. They were in pursuit of some wild beast or other, I SINK EXHAUSTED. G3 perhaps of some unfortunate Indian traversing the prairie. How thankful I felt when the sounds altogether ceased. This circumstance gave me fresh courage. I pursued my course steadily onward. I stopped even five minutes to rest and take a little food. The sun rose, still I was going on, but I began to feel that nature would not hold out much longer. I felt a dizziness in my eyes, and my knees began to tremble, and I drew my breath with diffi- culty. I was again in a vast plain. The sun was behind me; I followed my own shadow. Some- times I could distinguish nothing before me, then the giddiness went away. Suddenly, as I looked up, I saw before me eight or ten figures moving in a line across my path. Could they be the Pawnees who had lost my track, and were thus making a circuit in the expectation of coming on it ? If they were, I would defend myself to the last. I felt for my rifle, and tried to get it ready to fire, but I had miscalculated my strength. The agitation was too much for me; I stumbled blindly forward a few paces, and then sank down helplessly in the snow. I tried to rise — to move — I could not, so I gave myself up for lost, and prepared for death. I was not afraid, I was not unhappy; indeed, I had no very acute feelings whatever, and very soon lost all consciousness. I was aroused by a human voice. " Why, stranger, where have you dropped from ! You seem to be in a sad plight?" I looked up to discover whence the voice came, 64 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. and there, instead of a white face, as 1 expected, 1 saw a tall Indian, as he seemed by his dress, though perhaps he was rather fairer than his people usually are, bending over me. I could not reply, but, with a sort of hysterical laugh, I made signs that I had come from the eastward, and that some one was in pursuit of me. " Well, never mind talking now ; we must first set you on your feet again," he said in a kind voice. "My companions will be here presently. You want food and rest, and then you can tell us what has happened." " Food, food," I whispered. " Yes, poor fellow, you shall have it," he answered, in a tone of commiseration, taking from his wallet some pemmican, which I ate with a keen relish. The food revived me, and I felt much better by the time my new friend's companions came up. They stood round me while I continued eating, with looks of pity and wonder on their expressive countenances. I saw by their dress and appearance that they were Ottoes, a tribe dwelling to the south of the Nebraska, and always friendly to the whites. My friend was the only one who could speak English, which he did perfectly. He saw me examining his countenance. " I am half an Englishman," he ^observed. " I am called John Pipestick. My father came from Kent, in the old country, I have often heard him say : the garden of England he called it. A poor place for buffaloes and wild turkeys, I should think, FALLS IN WITH FKIENDLY INDIANS. 65 so it would not suit me. He sometimes talked of going to have a look at the hop fields and a taste of its ale, but he was killed by the Pawnees, who carried off his scalp. I've not left him unavenged, though. My mother was a red-skin, and belonged to this tribe, and I have no wish to quit them. But come, friend, you have done eating, and a man who can eat is not in a very bad way. Lean on us, and we will take you to our tents. They are not more than three miles off." Supported in the arms of the kind Ottoes, I walked along with tolerable ease. They were very fine fellows. One was fully six feet six inches in height, and proportionably strong limbed. The rest were not much his inferiors. John Pipestick was shorter, but very strong. As I walked along I found my tongue loosed, and I gave a succinct account of what had occurred. John interpreted. The Indians pricked up their ears, and had an animated discussion among themselves. We reached at length what is called a cedar swamp in the States. Tfie cedar trees form a dense tangled thicket, per- fectly impervious to the wind, and in winter, when the moist ground is frozen hard below, such a locality is perfectly healthy. Woe betide the un- fortunate wretch who has to take up his quarters within one in the summer time, when mosquitoes and rattlesnakes abound. He will wish himself well out of it before the morning. Drawing aside a few boughs, the Ottoes led the way by a narrow path towards the centre of the thicket, and we soon found 66 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. ourselves in an open space, in which were pitched a couple of tents. Several women and three or four men came out to greet us, and warmly shook my hands. I felt truly, as John Pipestick had called me, a brother among them. They placed me in a tent before a fire, and gave me warm food, and chafed my limbs, and then covered me up with a buffalo robe. I quickly fell asleep, and never have I slept so soundly in my life, or with a sense of more perfect security. At last I awoke; I had not stirred for fourteen hours. It was night, but the Indians were sitting up round the fire cleaning their arms. They seemed highly pleased when I awoke. " We have been waiting for you to start on an ex- pedition," exclaimed John Pipestick " How do you feel ? Are you able, think you, to walk ?" I got up and stretched my limbs. They felt a little stiff, and pained me slightly, but I thought, I said, that exercise would take that off. "No fear then," said John; "take some food. Our people are anxious to start. I'll tell you all about it as we go along." I lost no time in putting on my moccasins and in getting ready for a start, after I had partaken of some pemmican and a warm broth, of which a wild turkey formed the chief in- gredient. I found a party of ten Indians besides Pipestick, all armed with rifles, besides hatchets and knives, and some had likewise bows and quivers of arrows at their backs. In their buffalo-skin coats they looked very like a troop of bears. The re- mainder of the party were preparing to follow with RETURN TO THE TENT. 67 a light waggon, in which they carried their tents and provisions, and four shaggy little ponies to drag it. I saw that we were taking an easterly course. I asked where we were going. " To your tent," was the answer. "But the Pawnees will have gone," I remarked. " No fear of that while any liquor remains," he observed. I knew that I might as well have spoken to the winds as have attempted to dissuade my wild friends from attacking their enemies. Still I tried to explain my view of the case. John seemed much struck by what I said. He observed that he had never seen it in that light before. He had been taught to do good to your friends, but to injure your enemies to the utmost of your power. He had no notion that such was not the Christians creed. His father was a Christian ; so was he — not that he knew much about religion. That was all very well for people who lived in towns. I tried to show him that all men had souls, that one Saviour died for all ; that all would have to stand before the judgment-seat of God; and that therefore religious faith and religious practice were essential for all. Such was one of the many subjects of our conversa- tion which beguiled our way. My long solitude had made me reflect and remember many things I had before forgotten, and my late merciful escape had not been without its effects in turning my heart to my Maker. I wish that 1 could say that, like the compass, it has ever since kept true to the pole. I did not feel, however, that I was making very 00 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. deep impression on my auditors. We pushed on, not as fast as I had come, but still at a very rapid rate ; and if I at all showed signs of flagging, two of the huge Indians would lift me up by the shoulders and help me along, scarcely allowing my feet to touch the ground. We camped in a wood for a short time, making an arbour with fir branches to keep off the cold, and then on we went. My heart beat quick as, soon after daylight, we ap- proached the height whence we could look down, I knew, on my tent. We reached the spot — the one where I had been standing when I saw the Pawnees coming to destroy me. I looked eagerly for the tent. It was no longer there, nor was there a sign of living beings near. Two scouts went down to examine all the places of concealment near. After a time they signed to us to approach. We hurried down. There lay the remains of the tent, almost burnt to pieces, and among a confused mass of cinders and various articles which the tent had contained, lay scattered about the blackened and mangled remains of my late captors. " Verily let not man attempt to avenge himself," I repeated. " Here is a proof of those solemn words, ' Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay/" CHAPTER V. I have cause to rejoice that I did not avenge myself — My great medicine work — I rise in the estimation of my new friends — An Indian encampment — Am offered a wife, but compelled to decline the honour — John Pipestick — Surrounded by enemies — A fierce attack — We fight with desperation, and resolve to die like brave men. HE disappointment of my Ottoe friends was very considerable when they found all their enemies killed, and not even a scalp remaining to carry off as a trophy ; besides which, a large portion of the property contained in the tent had been destroyed. There was still enough, how- ever, to be looked upon as a valuable prize by the red -skins, and I accordingly begged them to appropriate it. This they without any show of reluctance did, and immediately set to work to hollow out a large hole under the snow where they might bury it. How thankful I felt that my hand had refrained from slaughtering those poor wretches when they lay in my power. As I considered the subject, I had no doubt of the cause of the catas- 70 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. trophe. After the savages had consumed the cask of spirits they had fallen on the barrel of gunpowder, probably hoping that it might contain more of their favourite fire-water. They were very likely smoking at the time, and perhaps all bending round the cask in their eagerness to get some of its contents. A spark from one of their pipes must in an instant have finished their business. I cannot say that I indulged in any sentimental grief at what had occurred. It was vexatious to lose so many things which might have been of use, but the most serious loss was that of the gunpowder. Fortunately, how- ever, I had a good supply, which would last for some time. I never was addicted to burning gun- powder uselessly. The warriors proposed to await the arrival of the rest of the party where we were, but I entreated them to return to meet their friends. I pointed out to them that perhaps other bands of Pawnees might be moving about — probably, as I found was the case, suffering from hunger; and that first their wives and those with them, and then we ourselves, might be overpowered. John Pipe- stick translated what I said, and finally they were persuaded to follow my advice. They laughed very much when I proposed to bury the remains of the dead men, and replied that it would be just as well to let the wolves perform that office, which in the course of another night they certainly would do. They found quite enough labour, indeed, in con- cealing the remains of my property. After they had dug the hole they deposited all the articles MY GREAT MEDICINE WORK. 71 within, and then built up a pile of logs over it, which even an inquisitive bear would have had some difficulty in pulling to pieces. My chief anxiety was now about Obed. I got the Ottoes to describe to me exactly the position of their village, about a hundred miles to the south-east of where we then were. Then I took one of the sticks which had served me for a crutch, and making a split in one end, I stuck the other deep into the ground. On a leaf which I tore from my pocket-book I wrote a brief account of what had occurred and where I was going, and putting it into the cleft of the stick, bound the whole securely up. The Ottoes looked on with intense wonder at my proceedings, till John told them I was performing a great medicine work, which satisfied them. Having thus done my best to enable Obed to join me, I set off with my friends to return to their camp. I paused again for an instant when I reached the summit of the hill to take what I hoped might be a farewell look at the place which had been the scene of so much suffering to me, and lately that of so dreadful a catastrophe. A small black patch on the dazzling white plain alone was perceptible to mark the spot. I turned from the contemplation of the melancholy scene, and hastened after my friends. I found them moving very leisurely along. I urged John to per- suade them to go faster. I could not cast from my mind the notion that more parties of Pawnees, Dacotahs, or other hostile tribes might be about, driven out by hunger to forage in the neighbourhood, 72 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. and were very likely to attack them. I had there- fore what I might have called a presentiment that my friends were in danger. I am not generally influenced much by such sensations. Certainly I was more liable to be so at the present moment than at any other. I do not deny the existence of such an influence, but still I cannot help thinking that it is caused by our reason, which tells us that such a thing is likely to happen. Sometimes it does happen, but often probably we find that we are mistaken. My red friends had an idea that the stick I had placed in the ground had something to do with the matter, and that I was positively in- formed of what was about to occur, so hurried on faster than I found agreeable. My feet had become very sore from my previous exercise, and whenever we came to soft places they sunk into the snow, the thick cake of ice above cutting my ancles almost to the bone. Sometimes I felt that I must stop, but I was anxious to help my new friends, and I knew that it would never do even to appear to flag on such an occasion. I had won their good opinion by the powers of endurance I had hitherto exhibited. They especially admired me for killing the two Pawnees, and for escaping from their comrades ; though they could not understand why I had not. destroyed the whole gang when I had the power of doing so, and of adorning my belt with their scalps. I saw, therefore, that it would be very disadvantageous to me to run any risk of being lowered in their estimation. John Pipestick and I PROVE A FIRST-RATE SHGT. 73 one of the Indians remained with me, while the others went on faster ahead ; but exerting myself to the utmost, we pushed on to overtake them. Besides the idea which I had originated that their friends might be attacked, hunger induced them to move at a rapid rate ; for they had brought but a scanty supply of provisions with them, and they had no means of cooking the rice found in the tent. We were passing a wood when I stopped my companions, for my eye had fallen on several prairie fowls sitting on the boughs of one of the outer trees a little way off. "We should have no chance of hitting at this distance," said John Pipestick. " Stay then, I will try what my rifle can do," I answered ; and creeping carefully up till I got them within easy range, I settled in my mind which bird I should fire at with my first, and which with my second barrel. I let fly, down tumbled a bird, and the next barrel was even more fortunate than the first, for two birds were brought to the ground. Both my companions warmly expressed their delight. I had established my fame as a first-rate shot, and had moreover provided the whole party with a meal. Knowing how welcome we should be, my companions helping me along, we pushed on, and at length overtook our friends, preparing to camp for half-an-hour or so in the thicket, that they might be the better able afterwards to pursue their course. I need not say that the game I brought was thank- fully welcomed, and very quickly cooked and con- 74 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. sumed. I found that the Indians were growing anxious at not by this time meeting with the rest of their party, and they were about, while resting, to hold a consultation as to what course to pursue. We were soon again in motion, night or day made no difference to us. On we pushed. It was about noon when, on reaching a height, we saw a thin light smoke curling up into the pure intense blue sky, from the bottom of a pine-clad ravine below us. All appeared to rest in perfect peace and quietness, and I began to be ashamed of my nervous anxieties. I was greatly afraid that I should lose my influence with my friends, and as my predictions, or rather warnings, had not been verified, I should in future be looked on as a false prophet. * There are our friends, most probably," said John Pipestick; "but we don't proceed as carelessly as you people from the east are apt to do. We shall send out scouts and approach cautiously, lest our enemies devise some means to destroy us. Such a thing has been done before now. Those left in an encampment while the rest have been out hunting have been attacked and slaughtered, while their enemies have taken possession of their tents, and dressed and painted themselves like those they have killed. There they have remained till the hunting party have unsuspiciously returned, perhaps a few at a time, and thus all in detail have fallen victims. It was a clever trick, but we should deserve to die if we allowed it to be repeated on us/' While John was speaking, three of our party, making a wide AN INDIAN ENCAMPMENT. 75 circuit, crept cautiously forward towards the edge of the ravine, so that they might look down and see what was going on below. We meantime lay down behind some bushes so as to be completely concealed, the chief only keeping watch, that he might direct us to act according to circumstances. I could not help admiring their caution, though it was very tire- some to wait in the cold instead of being within their warm tents. At last the chief gave the sign for us to proceed. I started up, prepared to meet the enemy I expected. We advanced towards the edge of the ravine and began to descend, when we caught sight of the tents pitched at the bottom of it, the smoke issuing forth from the apertures in their summits. I inquired of John Pipestick if all was right " Yes, all right," he answered; " no enemies have come; they may perhaps though; but we shall not remain here many hours." The scene was veiy different from any I had, for many weeks, set eyes on. By the side of what I knew was a stream were three tents. Each was formed of some eighteen or twenty long slender rods, the butt-end stuck in the ground, in a circle, and the tops bent over to meet each other, forming the framework of the habitation. Over this was stretched a covering of buffalo skins, very neatly sewed together with thin strips of leather, and se- cured so firmly at the foot with pegs, that it was as tight as a drum, and capable of throwing off any amount of rain, or the snow melting from the heat 76 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. within. The hides, being tanned white, had a very neat and tent-like look. I cannot say much for the cleanliness inside, but I have been compelled in my wanderings to put up in dirtier places, and that is all I can say in their favour. These habitations are much more substantial than the wigwams of the Canadian Indians, which are formed in a conical shape by uniting at the top a dozen straight poles stuck in a circle in the ground, and by covering them thickly with birch bark. In both cases a hole is left at the top to serve as a chimney. Inside the tents of my present friends the ground was spread with mats all round the edges, except in the centre, where a bare spot was left for the fireplace. Many of the tribes differ in the way of forming their cooking-place, and often the only means of ascertain- ing whether friends or foes have encamped on the spot, is by an examination of the place where they have lit their fires. The cots for the babies, and the pots and pans, and bows and arrows, and fishing spears, and buffalo tongues, and bears' hams, with numberless other articles, are hung up to the tent rods, and often garnish them rather oddly. As we approached the tents, men, women, and children hurried out to meet us, and welcomed us warmly, all eager to hear our adventures. But Indians are not addicted to rattling out news, as is our habit in the old country, so they had to wait till various ceremonies were first gone through. The old chief invited me into his tent, an honour John advised me not to refuse, and then having sat I DINE OFF " BOW- WOW- WOW." 77 down before his fire, and taken off my outer coat and my torn moccasins, his women-kind hooked out of a huge pot hanging from the centre over the fire, a lump of bear's flesh, and several other dainties, the exact nature of which I could not at first learn. Curiosity prompted me to inquire, by holding up a piece of the meat between my thumb and fingers, when a respectable old dame, whom I took to be his spouse, replied by a " bow-wow-wow," by which I guessed rightly that it was a bit of a young puppy. A few days afterwards a deep " bow-wow-wow " showed me that I was dining off an older animal of the same species. I cannot say that I had any re- pugnance to the meat, for after living on wolves' flesh for so long it was to me a delicate luxury. I objected rather to the quantity than the quality of the food placed before me, for the old chief— Waggum-winne-beg was his name, at least it sounded like that — wishing to do me unusual honour, gave me a double allowance each time he stuck his stick into the pot. I expressed my gratitude as well as I could, and pointed first to my chest and then to my throat, to show him that I thought the food must have got thus high; but he only laughed, and kept on helping me as before. At last I stuck a piece in my mouth, and pretended that I could not get it down further; but he was too good an anatomist to be so taken in, and offered to get a ramrod to help me down with it. " Now, old fellow," said I, get- ting savage, "it may be a very good joke to you; but more I will not eat, and that's enough." Luckily 78 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. John Pipestick coming in, explained that though Englishmen eat as much as any red-skins, they were in the habit of taking several moderate meals during every day throughout the year, and that the Indian fashion of one day gormandising, and for many days starving would not suit them. I was not sorry to find that my friends were almost as much tired as I was, and that they would remain another whole day to rest. During the day, however, I received a piece of information from John Pipe- stick, which somewhat discomposed me. I found that the old chief, my host Waggum-winne-beg, proposed bestowing on me one of his daughters to become my wife. Now, although I had no dislike to the notion of matrimony, I had a decided prefer- ence for a wife of my own colour and style of education. Miss Waggum-winne-beg was a very charming young lady, I had no doubt, and could dress a puppy-dog to perfection, and could manufac- ture moccasins unsurpassed by those of any other young damsel in the tribe, and embroider with coloured grass, or make mats of great beauty; indeed, I cannot enumerate all her accomplishments and attractions. Still she had not won my heart; and indeed, a wife, whether white, or red, or black, would have been very inconvenient while I was leading my present wandering style of life. I gave this as the best reason I could think of for not accepting my host's generous offer; but he laughed at my scruples, and replied that I should find a wife very useful, as she could work for me, and carry my AM OFFERED A WIFE, BUT DECLINE. 79 gun and baggage of every description; that she would also cook my food and make moccasins and tent covering, and weave fringe for my leggings and other garments, and manufacture the mats and various requisite utensils. Indeed it would be difficult to find, in any part of the world, so accomplished a young lady, or one more industrious and obedient; that I might always beat her as much as I liked, if I found her either idle or disobedient. I begged Pipestick to explain that, however good the customs of the red-skins were — a point I did not wish then to dispute — those of the English differed from them ; that there were a few idle, lazy, good-for-nothing fellows in England, among the chiefs, who looked out for wives with fortunes, and among the lower classes, who made their wives work for them, but it was the pride and endeavour of all true braves to secure the means of supporting their wives, either through inheriting a fortune from their ancestors, or by the exertion of their own strength and talents, and that this latter way was considered the most honourable. This was the method I pro- posed to follow, and before I could accept the peerless daughter of the chief, I must procure the means of supporting her. Pipestick did not exactly understand the reasons I gave for declining the chief's offer, but he explained them as well as he could. I was rather posed when the chief remarked that, though he ap- proved of them highly, he would waive all such arrangements in my case, and that he would supply his daughter with ample goods and chattels for our 80 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. use. To this I could only reply that I was highly flattered by his preference, but that it was against my medicine to avail myself of his offer; that I was an Ottoe at heart; that I loved the Ottoes, and would fight for the Ottoes, and that the time might come when I should be an Ottoe indeed ; but that, at present, my medicine did not show me how that was to be accomplished. The name of the young lady, the subject of this long conversation, was, I found, the " Firefly ;" and certainly, as I watched her light figure, decked with red feathers and garments with red trimmings, I thought she was very appropriately so called; at the same time, I did not for one moment indulge the base idea of accepting the chiefs offer. My earnest desire was to find my way back, as soon as possible, to the society of civilized men. I was heartily glad, then, when, once more, our tents were struck, and we continued our journey. As we travelled with women, children, and a waggon, our progress was very much slower than when we had gone alone. Often it was hard work getting the waggon through the snow. Generally the poor women had to drag it; and I rather scandalised the red warriors by putting my shoulder very frequently to the wheel and by pushing on behind. Pipestick said that it was considered very derogatory to the dignity of a warrior. I said that I thought it might be dis- agreeable to the inclinations of an idle rascal ; but that chiefs in my country never let their wives do any hard work at all, and that I could not bear to JOHN PIPESTICK. 81 stalk on ahead with only my rifle at my back, while the poor creatures were toiling away in that fashion. I suppose Pipestick translated my remarks correctly, for the chiefs tossed their heads and afterwards had a very long talk about the matter. I saw that they began to look on me as a sad republican, and to suspect that I purposed introducing mutiny into their camp. At last we reached the spot where I had spent so many weeks of suffering and anxiety. Scarcely a particle of the remains of the Indians were to be seen, but a few scattered bones and torn bits of garments. The things hidden by the Ottoes were untouched, so they dug them up, and I having added a few words to the paper in my medicine stick, as I called it, we proceeded on our way. We encamped four or five miles off that night, and the next day made good very nearly fifteen miles. The tents were pitched on the lee side of a wood, where there was but little snow, and the air was com- paratively warm. All hands, that is to say the women and children, were soon employed in gather- ing sticks for our fires, and in digging up hickory nuts. It was the chief occupation of the men in the evening, as they sat round the fire, to crack and chew these nuts : the taste indeed was pleasant. The camp was not left altogether without some fortifi- cation. The waggon was placed in front, and some logs of half-rotten timber were dragged out, and served to fill up the space left open in the little nook in which the tents were ensconced. John 82 UiCK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. Pipestick had a tent of his own, but he came to the old chiefs tent, where I had been asked to take up my abode, to act as interpreter. We sat up till a late hour, cracking nuts and telling very long-winded stories, which, as Pipestick occasionally interpreted them for my benefit, took up a double portion of time, and were not especially interesting. I was not sorry, at last, to find myself comfortably covered up by a pile of buffalo skins, with the prospect of a sound sleep till daylight. How long I had slept I do not know, when I was awoke by the barking of one of the dogs, then by another and another, till the whole tribe were in full yelp, in every key, from full bass to double treble. The old chief sprung off his couch, so did I, and as we rushed out of the tent, we found all the warriors standing on the alert, and with their rifles in their hands, peering out into the darkness. Two or three advanced cautiously into the wood, the dogs following at their heels yelping furiously, till they were summoned back by those in the camp. I tried to discover the cause of the alarm, but could discover nothing over the white plain spread out before us. If there were enemies, they were in the wood ; but to see them was im- possible. We waited for the return of the scouts. There was a complete silence : the howl of the wolves had ceased; not a night bird disturbed the quiet of the night. Suddenly a piercing, terror-inspiring, unearthly shriek was heard ringing through the quiet wood. Directly afterwards the feet of one of the scouts, as we supposed, were heard rushing through SUKKOUNDED BY ENEMIES. 83 the wood. It was one of our companions. The whirl of a dozen tomahawks flying after him showed how closely he was pursued, as he broke into the encampment, crying out, " The enemy are upon us, the enemy are upon us !" What made the suspense more trying was, that not a foe could be seen. We had no doubt that they were in strong force, and that the two other scouts had been surprised and slaughtered by them. Probably the wood swarmed with them, yet I did not see a sign of fear among any of my friends. Old Waggum-winne-beg was in his element, and he was ably seconded by John Pipestick. To send any more scouts into the wood would have been perfect madness ; so, each man sheltering himself as best he could behind trees and bushes, and logs of fallen timbers, we waited in silence for the attack. Some time passed away. "I wonder if it is a false alarm," thought I. a Still if it is so, what has become of the scouts ? " I whispered to Pipestick that I thought it might be a mistake. "Not at all," was the answer; "wait a bit. If you ever shot well, shoot well now, if you care for your scalp." The advice had scarcely been given, when there arose a sound close to us, more hideous and terrific than I ever before heard in my life. The red- skin's war-whoop was heard above all. I turned my head for an instant to the east. The first faint streaks of dawn were appearing in the sky. Through the pale light thus afforded I could see a number 84 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. of dark forms flitting about among the trees, while they kept up a continued discharge of arrows and darts. Now and then a musket-ball came whizzing by us; but it was very evident that the greater number of our assailants were armed only with bows and arrows ; at the same time there could be no doubt that they very far outnumbered us. This would prove of serious consequence should they come to close quarters. Red-skins, however, are not fond of close quarters, unless they can take an enemy by surprise, which our dogs and scouts had prevented them doing in our case. I do not think it is fair to call them cowards. Their notions are altogether different from ours, and they consider stratagem and deceit as the chief art of warfare. They have no notion of risking their own lives, if they can by any other way destroy their enemies, and they consider white men as committing the height of folly when they stand up and exchange shots with similar weapons in a duel. I don't know that they are far wrong. Our assailants having tried to shake our nerves by their shrieks and showers of arrows, appeared to retire, and again the whole wood was wrapped in perfect silence. It was but of short continuation. Once more those unearthly shrieks and cries broke forth, and this time they were echoed by our people, who kept their muskets ready, and the moment an enemy appeared flitting from one tree to another, did not fail to fire — with what effect I had not time to observe. I felt that I was bound, on every account, to take an active part in A FIERCE ATTACK. 85 the fight, and kneeling down behind a log of timber, I loaded and fired as rapidly as I could, whenever my eye caught sight of the dusky form of an Indian warrior. I did not often miss, but I suspected that I inflicted more wounds on the limbs that on the bodies of our enemies. "Who are they, think you?" I asked of Pipestick, who was at my side. "Dacotahs or Pawnees," he answered. "They have had scouts on our trail for some time probably. When they discovered that their friends were destroyed, they thought that we had done the deed, and have come in force resolved to be revenged." It appeared to me that we might as well have tried to shoot down all the trees in the wood, as to destroy our enemies. They swarmed round us like hornets, seemingly resolved, as John observed, to cut us off to a man. I turned my eye to the right, a band was just emerging on that side from the wood, and the same minute I saw another coming out on the left, in a long line, evidently for the purpose of surrounding us. I picked off two or three fellows as they flew over the snow, but so rapid and eccentric were their movements, that it was no easy matter to get a fair shot at them, especially as all the time we were assailed with showers of arrows. Some were sent from too great a dis- tance to do us much harm ; but at the same time they not a little distracted us. Others again had more deadly effect. Some of our people were struck down ; two were killed outright, the arrows passing 8b DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. right through their bodies ; while several were more or less injured. I happily had hitherto escaped unhurt, and so had Pipestick ; but the old chief was wounded in the arm, and one of the poor little children was killed, in spite of the protection its mother attempted to afford it. This made me feel more bitter than anything else, and yet such an incident is but a too common consequence of warfare. The old chief proved himself well worthy of the dignity bestowed on him. By word and gesture he animated his people to fight bravely, and to resist to the last; and every time they raised one of their war-whoops, he led the chorus, which these returned with no less vehemence. Still, as I considered the matter, I began to apprehend that we were com- pletely in the power of our vindictive enemies. While we were inside our entrenchments, they knew that it was more prudent not to come to a hand- to-hand encounter; but if we attempted to move onward, we should be instantly surrounded and cut down. The Dacotahs had enough men to keep watch and watch, and to tire us out. Had we been a party of men alone, we might have cut our way through them ; but, of course, with the women and children that was impossible. As long as the powder lasted we might keep them at bay; and thus all we could do was to hold out bravely, and to hope that some turn might occur in our favour. The cold grey dawn was just breaking, when with shrieks and whoops louder, more terrific than ever, HAND-TO-HAND CONFLICT. 87 numbers of the savages rushed out of the wood, closely pressing round us. To count how many there were was impossible, for they flew here and there, and sprang about in a most wonderful way, and then on they came in a body towards us. Several of our people were knocked over, and as I saw the hideous fellows flourishing their tomahawks and scalping knives, I began to feel a most painful sensation round the top of my head. The old chief stood boldly at his post, picking off his enemies as they drew near, while John Pipestick did no dis- honour to his father's land or the men of Kent. I did my best to reduce the number of our foes, but it was of little avail, and in another instant we were engaged, with overwhelming numbers, in a desperate hand-to-hand conflict. I looked round; not a ray of hope appeared, and thus like brave men we resolved to make our foes pay a heavy price for our Uvea CHAPTEK VL Our powder expended — I believe that my last moment has arrived — Unexpected succour — A dangerous predicament — Obed's gallantry — Our enemies take to flight — We recom- mence our journey — Generosity of the old chief — Offers me two wives instead of one — Obed's narrative — How we escaped from the bear — A fresh alarm — The approach of a stranger. HE infuriated Dacotahs thronged thickly around us, uttering the most horrible yells and shrieks, those in the distance plying us incessantly with their arrows and darts, while those in the front ranks kept whirling their toma- hawks above our heads, watching for an opportunity to send them crashing down upon our skulls. Not a shot was heard ; our rifles were useless ; all our powder was expended. We fought as men driven to desperation generally will fight ; for none of us had, I am sure, the faintest hope of escaping with our lives ; for my part, I fully believed that the next moment would be my last. Old Waggum-winne-beg had received a desperate wound on his shoulder, and had been beaten to the ground; the gallant UNEXPECTED SUCCOUR. 89 Pipestick had been brought on his knee, and 1 found myself without support on either side just as a gigantic chief with uplifted battle-axe made a desperate rush at me. I raised the butt-end of my rifle, which had hitherto done me such good service, to parry the blow, but I felt conscious that it would not avail me. I was in the power of my vindictive enemy. I saw the keen-edged weapon glittering in the first beams of the rising sun, as the glorious luminary of day appeared above the snow-covered plain ; I felt as if in another instant it would come crushing through my brain, when the sharp crack of a distant rifle sounded in my ear, and I saw my enemy leap up in the air and fall dead at my side, his axe miss- ing my head and just grazing my arm. I eagerly looked forth in the direction whence the shot had come, to discover, if I could, by whom I had been preserved. I could as yet see no one, but I observed that our assailants were influenced by some disturb- ing cause, and were gathering together in the north- west, as if to prepare for resisting some expected attack. Still those near us seemed resolved to gratify their vindictive feelings by destroying us if they could before our unknown friends could come to our aid. I had little doubt that the party who had appeared so opportunely to relieve us must, by some means or other, have been collected by Obed ; and I prayed heartily that it might be of sufficient strength at once to put our enemies to flight. I had little time, however, to think about the matter. ,The Indians pressed us harder than ever, and 90 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. scarcely a man of us remained unwounded, while many of the poor women were hurt. The rest of the women fought with as much fierceness and desperation as the men. Yet I felt that in spite of all the heroism which had been exhibited, and in spite of the aid which was so close at hand, our lives would be sacrificed. Again the Dacotahs gathered thick around us; I could not restrain myself; I shouted loudly for help, though I scarcely expected it to be sent ; my shout was replied to by a hearty cheer, and nearly a dozen white men, followed by three times as many Indians, broke through , the masses of our enemies with sword and battle-axe and club, and beat them down or drove them back, shrieking and howling with rage and fear. One figure I recognised, more active than the rest, making his way towards me. It was that of Obed. " Hurra, old feller, hurra ! I am glad you're safe, that I am," he shouted, as he sprang over the barri- cade, and grasped my hand. " But we must drive these varmint away, or shoot them i wn, every mother's son of them, or they'll be gaining heart and coming back on us. Come on, lads ; come on — hurra, hurra !" Uttering these shouts, he again leaped out of our encampment, and, beckoning on his followers, they were all once more in pursuit of the flying enemy. Just as he went, Obed handed me a powder-flask and a bag of bullets. u You'll want them, boy, I guess ; and I have plenty," said he, as he flew off. obed's gallantry. 91 T was about to join him, when I found my limbs refuse to perform their office. The moans also of old Waggum-winne-beg, John Pipestick, as well as of others of my companions, made me feel that I must stay where I was, both for the sake of attend- ing to them and of guarding them should any of the Dacotahs who might be prowling about in the wood take the opportunity, while our friends were at a distance, to rush in and scalp them, and be off again before pursuit could be made. I have on many occasions found the importance of not despis- ing an enemy. I urged Pipestick to keep a look- out while I was attending to the hurts of the old chief, and helping some of the poor women who were the most severely injured. I had been thus employed for some time, occasionally looking out to see how it fared with Obed and his party in their pursuit of the enemy. Wherever they went, the Dacotahs scattered before them, but rallied again directly afterwards in the distance, and seemed as ready as ever to renew the attack. When I looked up the next time, they were once more flying as chaff before the wind. I at once saw that their purpose was to weary out their pursuers, and then to unite and to make a desperate attack on them altogether. I hoped that my friends would be too wary to be led into the snare laid for them. I had been for some time stooping down to try and bind up the lacerated wounds of a poor fellow who had been cruelly cut about by the Indians' tomahawks, when a shout from Pipestick made me lift my head, 92 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. and I saw a dozen or more Dacotahs come scampering like demons out of the wood with the evident intention of making an attack on us. I sprang to my feet, and helped Pipestick to get up. We both of us had our rifles loaded, as had several of the Indians, from the ammunition furnished me by Obed. The cunning rogues did not know this, and thought that they were going to catch us unprepared. We presented our rifles. They laughed derisively, as much as to say, " Oh, they will do us no harm, we know that." Never were they more mistaken in their lives, and it was the last mistake they ever made. We let them come on without shrinking. "John," said I, "let me take the fellow on my right hand side ; do you take the next, and tell our Indian friends to follow my lead. We'll astonish those red-skins, I guess/' Pipestick did as I advised. We let the Indians approach within a hundred yards of us. On they came, making a desperate rush at us, and uttering their fearful war-whoops confident of victory. " Now, my boys, give it them," I shouted ; " and take care that every shot tells." Pipestick repeated my words. We all fired at the same moment, and six of the Indians were knocked over. So eager were the rest that they did not discover that their companions had fallen. They were still very formidable antagonists. We had not time to load our rifles before they were upon us. Pipestick, in consequence of his wounds, was scarcely able to offer any effectual resistance, but the Indians OUR ENEMIES TAKE TO FLIGHT. 93 fought bravely, and all the women who were unhurt came to our assistance. I certainly was very far from despising their assistance. They enabled me and Pipestick to fall a little back to load our rifles and those of our companions, and, taking a steady aim, we soon turned the fortunes of the day. Three more Indians were knocked over, and the rest turned tail, and ran off as fast as their long legs would carry them, to avoid the shots which we sent whizzing away in their rear. My great anxiety was now to get Obed to come back into the camp, fearing lest he and his party might be led by the manoeuvres of the enemy to too great a distance from it, and that the Indians might get in between us and our friends, so I resolved to go myself. There was no time for consideration : loading my rifle and seizing the tomahawk of one of the dead Indians, I sprang out and ran faster than I thought I could possibly have moved. Just as I had got half way from the camp towards them, another party of Indians darted out of the wood and setting up their war-whoops ran out with terrible fleetness towards me. I ran faster I believe than I had ever before done, shouting out to Obed to come and rescue me. He at that time, unfortunately, was repelling a strong body of Indians, who seemed to press him very hard. I saw that I must depend on myself — I halted, and, kneeling down, took a steady aim at the headmost of my pursuers. He was, I thought, aware that his fate was sealed when he saw me pointing my rifle at him. He threw up his arms 94 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. even before I had fired, and then over he fell, shot through the breast. I ran on as hard as I could pelt. There is no disgrace running from an over- powering enemy. Again and again I shouted at the top of my voice to Obed. The Dacotahs pushed on. I loaded as I ran. I thought if I could bring down another of them I might stop the progress of the rest. With no little difficulty I got my rifle-ball rammed down. I turned suddenly and rather surprised my pursuers by lifting my weapon to my shoulder and letting fly at the leading red-skin. He, as had his companion, tumbled over, but his death only the more exasperated the rest, and they sprang forward more intent than ever to take my life. There was no time to load again. The fellows were gaining most uncomfortably on me. I began to feel very much as a person does in a dream, when he cannot get away from monsters in chase of him. " Obed, Obed, fire — do fire," I shouted. At length Obed heard me, and a dozen of his followers faced about and hurried to meet my enemies. The latter, seeing that their chance of cutting me off was gone, turned tail and endeavoured to escape into the wood. I entreated my new friends not to pursue them, and they saw the wisdom of my advice. We accordingly went back to join the rest of the party, who had come to my relief. What was my surprise and pleasure to see three of my old friends, Obed's brothers, among them. Just then the remnant of the Dacotahs once more took to flight, and allowed my friends leisure to address me. They WE RECOMMENCE OUR JOURNEY. 95 hurried up and heartily shook me by the hand, tell- ing how glad they were to find that I was alive, while I assured them that I was equally rejoiced to find that they had escaped. We had no time, how- ever, for talking, I urged them at once to assemble in the camp, so as to enable my friends to proceed on their journey, till they could stop at a more secure resting-place. We got back to the camp just in time to scare away another party of Dacotahs, who like vultures had been hovering about ready to pounce down on their prey. Indeed we had enough to do to keep our scattered enemies at bay. We found old Waggum-winne-beg considerably re- covered, and John Pipestick not much the worse for his wounds : indeed, it is extraordinary what knock- ing about a red-skin will take without suffering materially, provided he keeps clear of the fire-water. Some of the white men, when they found that I wished to proceed further east, till I had seen my friends in safety, grumbled very much, and said that they had come to help me, but had no notion of going through so much fatigue and danger for a set of varmint Indians. I told them in reply that I was very much obliged to them for all they had gone through on my account, but that I was bound by every law of God, and by every rule of right, to help those who had helped me; and that, come what might, I could not and would not desert them. The Raggets supported me, more especially Obed. " Dick is right, boys," he exclaimed. " I would do the same as he proposes, and he would not be 96 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. acting like himself if he did otherwise ; the Ottoes have always been friends to the white man, and I've resolved to stick by Dick till we see them free from danger from these rascally Dacotahs." These remarks soon won over by far the larger portion of the white men to our side, the Indians at once recognising their duty to assist their friends. The red-skins who had accompanied Obed were, I found, Kioways, a large tribe inhabiting the country bordering on the Kocky Mountains. I asked Obed how he had induced them to accompany him. " Oh, it is a long story. I'll tell you about that and many other things when we have more time," he replied. All hands now set to work to strike the tents and pack the waggons ; it was soon done, and the wounded people stowed away in them on the top of their goods. Some of the men rather objected to have the poor wounded women placed in the waggons alongside of them, and seemed to think that, as long as the unfortunate wretches had life in them they might just as well get out and walk. Such are the chivalric notions of the Indian warriors we read so much about in novels, and our young ladies are taught to fancy such fine fellows. They have, not- withstanding, some few good qualities, but those belonging to the ancient code ©f chivalry are not among them. We had not yet done with fighting, and we had not proceeded a mile before we caught sight of the Dacotahs hovering about us to the northward, watch- ing for an opportunity to pounce down upon us. GENEROSITY OF THE OLD CHIEF. 97 Although a good many of their warriors had been made to bite the dust, they still so far outnumbered our united parties that they might have some hopes, if they could take us by surprise, to cut us up alto- gether. This, of course, we took care that they should not do. Our attention, however, was so much occupied that Obed had no time to give me an account of his adventures. Our great wish was that the Indians would come on again once more and allow us to give them a lesson which we hoped might teach them to keep at a respectful distance from us. We pushed on as fast as beasts and men could move, and just before nightfall we reached a hillock with several rocks jutting out of it, which was considered a remarkably secure spot for camp- ing. It was well fortified by nature, but the cun- ning backwoodsmen were not content to trust to it in that condition, but at once set to work to enable it to resist any attack which might possibly be made on it during the night Our old chief, to show his gratitude to his preservers, ordered an ample supply of provisions to be served out, and as soon as fires could be lighted and the food cooked we ' all sat down to our repast. We at first were too hungry to talk, but I gleaned from one or two remarks made by my friends that their family had escaped from the Indians, and were encamped for the winter at some distance to the eastward. There was plenty of dry underwood about, so we had made a blazing fire, round which we were seated. We had all lighted our pipes, and i 98 DICK ONSLOW IN THE PAR WEST. Obed was about to begin his narrative, when an Ottoe Indian came and said a few words to John Pipestick, who was sitting with us. " Our chief, Waggum-winne-beg, is anxious to see you," said he to me. " He feels very ill, and as he believes you to be a mighty medicine man, he thinks that you can certainly cure him." I knew that there was no use in denying my power, so I at once got up to go and see the old man, accompanied by John as interpreter. He was lying down on a mat, with his head resting on a block of wood which served him as a pillow. He sat up as I entered, and with unusual warmth ex- pressed his pleasure at seeing me. I merely give the substance of what he said, for he addressed a long speeeh to me, which he believed would have a powerful effect on my feelings. "Stranger," he began, "you have met with friends, and undoubtedly you contemplate leaving the tents of the red-skins to accompany them whither they are going. Think well before you leave us. You shall be to us a son and a brother ; we will adopt you ; we will clothe you ; we will paint you ; you shall become like one of us in all things. I told you that I would give you one of my daughters. That was when I loved you a little. Now I love you much I will give you two. One does not surpass the other. Both are superior to any of their sex in my tribe, and I may venture to say in the world. I told you of Firefly's accomplishments; her sister Glowworm is equal to her. You^shall have a large I AM OFFERED TWO WIVES. 99 tent where they can dwell together in harmony, for among their other perfections their tongues are never addicted to wrangle. Take them, then, my friend i be my son, and be happy." This pathetic appeal did not influence me as forcibly as Waggum-winne-beg had hoped it might do. I did my best not to hurt his feelings, but I declined his offer. When he heard my decision he burst into tears. " If it must be so," he said, at last, commanding himself, " so it must be." Having thus delivered himself, he, like a well-bred gentleman, did not further press the delicate subject. After a further conversation on other subjects, I begged that he would excuse me as I wished to go back to my white friends who were waiting for me round their camp fire, and having once more care- fully dressed the old man's wounds, I took my departure. I made Obed and his brother laugh heartily when I narrated to them the flattering offer I had received, and one or two of their companions, backwoodsmen of the roughest sort, seemed rather inclined to offer themselves in my stead, as candi- dates for the honour of possessing the brown ladies' hands. "Now, Obed," said I, "I should like to hear all about your proceedings; but before you begin, I must ask you if you have placed sentries round the camp, and sent out scouts to discover if our foes are lurking near?" He had, T found, placed a couple of sentries, one 100 DICK ONSLOW IN THE PAR WEST. on each side of the camp, but had not thought it necessary to send out any scouts. I urged him to do so, and he selected three of the most intelligent of the Indians, and directed them to feel their way out on every side of the camp, and to ascertain whether any enemies were lurking near. These arrangements being made I once more took my seat by the camp fire. I have always spoken Of Obed as leader of the party. So in truth he was — his elder brothers having joined him after he had formed the expedition, and put themselves under his orders, " Now, Obed, my dear fellow, do begin to tell me how it is you came to my rescue so exactly at the nick of time," said I, lighting my pipe over the fire, and leaning back against a stone which served in- stead of an arm-chair. I ought to have remarked that a screen had been put up, composed of birch bark, to serve as a shelter against the wind, so that we were far warmer than might have been expected in that wintry night. Our encampment had a very picturesque appearance. The white men were col- lected round one fire; the Indians who had come with Obed had three or four among them, while the tents of Waggum-winne-beg and his followers were in the centre, with a fire burning in the middle of each of them. The greater number of the Indians had thrown themselves down to rest, wrapped up in their fur mantles, under the shelter of the rercks and their birch-bark screens, with small fires at their feet. I could see in the distance the tall figures of those appointed to do duty as sentries walking up obed's narrative. 101 and down on their posts, while a few were still sitting up, bending over their fires, as they smoked their pipes and talked over the events of the day. "Well, Dick, since you wish it, I'll begin," said Obed. "You remember the worthy Delaware who came to our tent and persuaded me to accompany him. He proved himself a trusty guide and com- panion. The rest and food he got with us restored his strength, and we set off at good speed. We were fortunate in killing several turkeys and prairie-hens, so that we were able to husband our dried pemmi- can, at the same time that we fed sumptuously. Very often I thought about you when we were making good way, and I wished that you were with us. We were anxious, of course, to push on before the cold weather set in, for we knew then that we should have difficulties enough to contend with. We had to be on our guard also against enemies of all sorts — red-skin Dacotahs and Pawnees, grizzly bears, rattlesnakes, and wolves ; still my companion, from his long experience of their habits, was well able to take precautions against them. I, all the time, was anxiously looking out for traces of my family, but we had from the first got out of their track, and we met no one from whom we could make any inquiries. We always rose with the sun, and travelled on all day as long as our strength held oat ; but from weariness, or from the fear of not finding fit camping-ground, we sometimes had to stop an hour or two before sunset. We had done so on one occasion near a stream, whose steep banks 102 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. sloped away down below us. While I lighted a fire, put up a wigwam, and prepared food, work to which the Delaware had an especial dislike, as it is always performed by women among the Indians, he, taking his rifle, went out along the bank of the stream to try and kill a wild turkey or two to supply the place of one I was about to cook. He was making his way onward, pushing aside the boughs with the barrel of his weapon, when up started, not five yards from him, an old grey she-bear, accom- panied by three or four half -grown cubs. He started back to be able to make use of his rifle, but before he could bring it to his shoulder, the old bear sprang upon him, and with a blow of her paw knocked his rifle out his hand. Had that blow struck his back he would instantly have been killed, and I should have been left alone in the desert. I saw my friend's danger but could do nothing to help him, for if I fired I was as likely to injure him as the bear. As the brute was again about to strike, he drew his long knife, for fortunately his right arm was free, and began stabbing away at her neck. Notwith- standing this, the fierce monster did not relax her gripe, while her claws went deeper and deeper into his flesh, and the horrid cubs, coming to their dam's assistance, began to assail his legs. I was hurrying on to the assistance of my companion, resolved to lose my own life rather than not do my utmost to save his, when the bank gave way, and bear and Indian both rolled away into the stream together." Obed had got thus far in his narrative, — I have A FRESH ALARM. 103 omitted some of the particulars he told me, — when the sharp crack of a rifle made us all start up, and seizing our weapons, we hurried to that part of the camp whence it proceeded. Looking out into the darkness, we could see the figure of a man running at full speed towards us, across the white sheet of snow with which we were surrounded. "We had no doubt it was one of the scouts we had sent out ; for who else was likely at that time to be coming to us ? " If it is not one of our scouts, it may be some white trapper who has been caught by the Dacotahs, and has made his escape from them," observed John Pipestick, who had joined us. "They frequently come thus far west, and those varmints are certain to have been on the look-out for them." While we were waiting the arrival of the stranger, a piercing shriek broke the silence of night. CHAPTER V1L The Dacotahs are again upon us — We hurry to the rescue — We preserve the life of the stranger — Sam Short, the trapper — His adventures — Escape from the red-skins — Desperate combat in the canoe — Sam's search for his companion — Discovers one in the hands of the Indians — They discover Sam, and he flies — Finds Blount, and together they go in search of Noggin — Again get sight of Noggin, but he is fastened to a stake — Noggin shows that in spite of his name he is a hero. HOSE vermin the Dacotahs are upon us again, and have taken the scalp of one of our scouts/' cried Obed when he heard that piercing shriek. My experience of the previous night taught me too well also what it meant. Surrounded as we were by the rocks and thick shrubs on the top of the mound, we were probably not perceptible from the ground below. Presently, as the stranger approached us, we saw emerging from the darkness a dozen or more figures following one after the other slowly and stealthily, evidently fancying that they were not perceived. We had no doubt that they were a party of our late opponents the Dacotahs, but what was their purpose 104 ATTACK AND RESCUE. 105 it was difficult to say ; they must have known that we had heard the death-shriek of the murdered man, and they could not but have supposed that we should be on the watch for them. Perhaps this only precipitated a previously formed plan. The stranger approached us rapidly, we could hear aimed at him more than one shaft as it flew hissing through the air. Several axes also were thrown in savage fury, as the Indians saw that their hoped-for victim was about to escape them. The stranger came rushing on, he had good need of speed. " Obed, my boy," said I " let us sally out and protect that poor fellow. If we do not, the red- skins will be up to him before he reaches this hill!" Obed was not a man it was necessary to ask twice to do a thing of the sort, nor were his brothers or their followers. The order was sent rapidly round to assemble together ; not a word was uttered above a whisper — the sentries were left standing at their posts as if unconscious of what was going on in the plain below. But a few seconds were expended in preparation. "Now, my boys, down upon them!" exclaimed Obed, and at the word we sprang over our entrench- ments as quick as lightning ; we were up to the stranger, who for a moment was somewhat startled at our sudden appearance, but soon, comprehending the state of affairs, took shelter behind us while we sprang on to meet the Indians. We halted within ten yards of them, and poured in a volley from our 1 06 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAR WEST. rifles which brought nearly one-half of them to the ground. The remainder hesitated an instant, then hearing our loud shouts and huzzas, and seeing us come on with our axes gleaming in our hands, they turned tail and scampered off as fast as they could go. To pursue them would have been dangerous with so large a number of their tribe in the neighbourhood, and it was very probable that they had an ambush near at hand ready to cut us off. The sound of our fire-arms brought up two of our scouts, who joined us as we were returning to our camp, but the third did not make his appearance, and we had too much reason to fear that he had fallen a victim to the Dacotahs. By the time we got back to camp we found Wagguin-winne-beg and all his people, both men and women, turned out and ready to resist any attack which might be made on us. We waited under arms for some time, and then finding that the enemy did not seem inclined to approach, we posted sentries all round, with directions to keep a strict look out, and to give notice directly they perceived any suspicious movement below, and then we once more sat down round our fire. Our number was increased by the stranger of whom we had not till then had time to take any notice beyond observing that he was a white man, and that he was dressed in the usual rough costume of a trapper. We now perceived, as he sat close up to the fire with the palms of his hands spread out before it, that he looked famished and weary. SAM SHORT, THE TRAPPER. 107 "Friend, thou art hungry," said Obed, placing before him some dried deers' flesh and biscuit, and filling him up a cup of spirits and water. " Eat that while we cook a more savoury mess." " Thank you," said the stranger, " you have dis- covered my chief want." He showed that he spoke the truth by setting to work silently and heartily on the food like a man who had fasted long, and was in no way fastidious as to the nature of his provender, so that it was fit to support life. I have often felt ashamed of my civilized and refined friends as well as of myself, when I have watched the abstemious habits of those inhabitants of the backwoods. However varied, or however delicate, or highly flavoured the food placed before them, I have seen them over and over again sit down and help them- selves to the nearest dish, eat as much as they required, and generally a very moderate quantity, and then perhaps, after taking a glass of cold water, get up and leave the table. We waited till the stranger had somewhat recovered his strength before asking him any questions. At last he stopped eating, gave his hunting-knife a turn or two over his legging, replaced it in its sheath, and looking up said : " Well friends, you've saved my life ; I've to thank you for that, not that I know that it is worth much; and now I guess you'd like to know where I come from, and what I've been about." We all told him that we should particularly like to hear something about him. 108 DICK ONSLOW IN THE FAE WEST. " Then I'll tell," he replied. " My name is Sam Short; I'm a free trapper; I've hunted this country, man and boy, for pretty well fifty years, and that's a good slice in a man's life. It was at the end of last fall that I and two companions started westward to trap beavers and shoot bears, or any other game which came in our way. We'd left our horses and taken to a canoe to paddle up the Kansas river. Both my companions, Tom Noggin and Silas Blount, were staunch fellows. It doesn't do to have a man in our way of life one can't depend on. We had passed several beaver dams, which we settled to visit on our return, and as long as the season would allow to push higher up the stream. There's no pleasanter life than that we led. We landed when we felt inclined to stretch our legs and take a shot at a deer or a bear. We killed more deer than we could eat, so we only kept the tenderest parts ; but the skins were of no little value. One evening we landed at an open spot, with plenty of thick trees though growing round, intending to camp there. We had lighted a small fire, and we took care that the wood was dry, so that it should send up no smoke to show our whereabouts to any lurking red- skins, Silas and Noggin took their guns, and said 'they would go and have a loofc for a deer, or a bear, or a turkey, while I sat over the fire and cooked the venison. I cut some right good steaks, and had dressed them to a turn, and was thinking that it was time my companions were back, when I heard Blount's voice singing out merrily as he came SAM short's adventures. 109 through the wood towards me. We had no fear of red-skins, for we had met with no traces of them as we came up the river, and the first thing we had done that day on landing was to look about for them in every direction. Blount sat himself down by my side and showed me a fat turkey he had just killed, when we heard a shot at some distance from us. We waited some time, thinking Noggin would be coming back ; but, as he did not make his appear- ance, I asked Blount to climb a tree and see if he could make him out anywhere. Curiously enough, he slung his rifle on his back, he had already his shot belt and powder horn about him, and up a high tree, a little way off, he went. Scarcely had he got to the top, when I heard him cry out, * Fly, man, fly; the red-skins are on us!' I did not want a second warning. Seizing my rifle, I sprang to the river side, and as I did so, a band of Indians burst through the woods brandishing their toma- hawks, and uttering their hideous war-cries. I threw myself into the canoe, and with a kick of my foot shoved it off from the bank towards the middle of the stream. I looked for the paddles ; there was only one in the canoe ; I seized it, and began to paddle away down the stream with all my might. The Indians followed