Jack the Young Explorer: A Boy's Experiances in the Unknown Northwest

by George Bird Grinnell

  CHAPTER XVII

  A FAT BIGHORN

  In a sheltered spot at the foot of a great morainal ridge the threeclimbers sat down and ate their lunch. The air was warm and the sunbright, but every now and then a drift of breeze came down to them whichfelt cool, for they had been working hard and their garments were dampwith perspiration. Hugh smoked his pipe, and then presently they roseand started to clamber further up the glacier. Presently they came uponthe tracks of some large animals, either sheep or goats, which hadpassed over the moraine not long before. The surface of the ground wasso hard that they could not be sure what these animals were, but lookingover the snow-covered ice before them, they could see the tracks passingup over it, and at last turning up toward the peaks behind a rocky pointwhich ran out from the mountainside. Hugh followed the tracks as far asthe snow, and when they reached its unbroken surface they could see thatthe tracks were fresh, and before long Hugh turned to Jack and said,"They're sheep. A couple of good rams, I guess."

  After they had come quite near the rocky point behind which the tracksled, Joe, who was a little to one side, suddenly stopped, and calledout: "Look at that ram." From where they stood, neither Hugh nor Jackcould see any living thing, but Jack stepped over toward Joe, and as hedid so there came into his view a splendid bighorn, outlined againstthe snow so that every detail of his form could be seen.

  The animal's head was up, and he gazed in curiosity rather than alarm atthe three strange creatures that he saw below him.

  Jack had loaded his rifle at Joe's exclamation and now asked, "How faroff is he, Hugh?"

  "About two hundred yards, I reckon," said Hugh. "Draw a coarse sight andshoot at his neck."

  The animal was standing half quartering toward them in such a positionthat his head and neck were in line with his shoulders, and a ballthrough the shoulder would pierce either heart or lungs. Jack did notraise his sights, but following Hugh's suggestion fired at the animal'sneck, just below the throat, so as to allow for any drop of the ball.For an instant the smoke hung, and when Jack could see through it, theanimal had disappeared.

  "Did anyone see where the ball struck?" asked Jack.

  "Not I," said Hugh.

  "I didn't either," said Joe, "but I thought he turned in an awkward kindof a way, as though he were hurt."

  "I have an idea I heard the ball strike," said Hugh.

  "Well," said Jack, "let's go up there anyhow. He was certainly a niceram, and I'd like to get him."

  They hurried up the slope, Hugh and Joe ahead, while Jack toiled behind.Presently they heard a cheerful shout from Hugh, "Come on, son, there'sblood on the snow, and lots of it."

  "JACK DID NOT RAISE HIS SIGHTS, BUT FOLLOWING HUGH'SSUGGESTION FIRED AT THE ANIMAL'S NECK."--_Page 230_]

  Sure enough, when Jack got up to where the slope was less steep he couldsee, even at a distance, the pure white mantle of snow splashed withgreat dark blotches.

  The trail seemed likely to be a plain one, and the men hurried alongover the snow, up the hill. Presently they could see that the ram wasstaggering, for his tracks no longer went directly ahead, but waveredfrom side to side. Then they passed on to the rocks and could not seethe trail so easily, but farther ahead came to another snow bank wherethere was a broad smear of blood, showing apparently that the animal hadfallen on its side and slipped along over the snow.

  Hugh and Joe ran round a point of dwarfed spruces, but Jack, in hiseagerness to cut off a corner, attempted to go through the little trees,and found himself in drifted snow up to his waist and his legs held bythe branches of the spruces. For a moment or two he could hear theclatter of the others running over the rocks, and a word or two of theirtalk, but by the time he had got out on to the rocks, his companionswere far ahead of him. As they saw him coming, however, they sat down towait for him.

  He followed the blood trail, and when he came up he, too, sat down.

  "Have you seen anything of him?" he asked.

  "No," said Hugh, "but he's going down hill, bleeding, as you see, andfalling down every little while. We'll find him before long."

  "All right," said Jack, "he's our meat, I guess. If he keeps on bleedinglike this he can't go very far. We can't go down there after him andthen come back here, and I want to go up and look if we can't see acrossthe range. How do you feel, Hugh, do you want to go down and get thesheep, or shall we leave him there and all go up and look over the rangeand then go back?"

  "Why," said Hugh, "I'd better go down and butcher him, and you and Joecan go up to the top of the rocks here and see what you can see on theother side. It isn't far. That low place, just above where the sheepstood when you shot, is the point to make for, and I reckon you can seeall you want to from there. Then you come back, and come down to me.We've got quite a job to get that sheep into camp to-night. The fact is,I don't believe we can do it. It's too large for the three of us tocarry down in one trip."

  Jack and Joe went back in the direction that Hugh had suggested, andkeeping well up the hill, soon found themselves close to a littlesaddle, where one of the side arms of the glacier started. It was aneasy matter to climb up here and presently they stood on the crest ofthe Continental Divide, looking over a broad valley in which nothing wasto be seen except rocks and stunted pine trees, and dimly through thethick, hazy atmosphere a distant lake and some high, snow-coveredmountain crests.

  "Do you know anything about this country, Joe?" asked Jack.

  "No," said Joe, "not much. I reckon that big lake we see over there maybe Lake McDonald, but I don't know these mountains, nor this countryclose to us."

  "Well," said Jack, "I reckon Hugh will know something about it when wetell him what we've seen. Now let us go back on the ice, and then getdown to him. It looks as if we were going to have bad weather."

  The sky had become overcast, and the wind began to moan among the peaks.It looked like a snowstorm.

  They walked down the glacier, keeping as nearly as possible on its comb,for they did not wish to slip, as Joe had done in the morning.

  After they had looked down the valley of Swift Current into the flat atthe foot of lower St. Mary's Lake and taken a last look over theglacier, they turned aside and, working out to the rocks, began to maketheir way down to Hugh.

  At a little distance the side of the mountain looked absolutelyvertical, and it did not seem possible that man, nor even sheep, couldhave passed along it, but as they went on they found no difficulty inmaking their way, and recognized one of the deceptions of these grandand mysterious hills. Joe, when they first started down, had been not alittle alarmed, and said, "I'm afraid we never will see White Bullagain. He could not have gone down such a place as this; he must havefallen and been killed."

  "Nonsense," said Jack, "of course he went down all right, and we aregoing to follow him down. You'll see it won't be bad as we go on."

  Before long they came to the blood trail of the sheep, and followingthat kept on their way until they saw Hugh standing by a fire in alittle valley below them.

  "Hurrah!" said Jack, "Hugh is cooking meat. I'm mighty glad, for I feelhungry."

  When they had worked their way down to within a few hundred yards ofhim, zigzagging this way and that over the steep ledges, Hugh saw themand waved his hand, and presently when they got down within speakingdistance, he called out, "Well, son, you killed the best piece of meatin the mountains."

  "Good," said Jack, "I hope you have put some of it on the fire."

  "That's what the fire is there for," said Hugh. "Come on down."

  The boys at length reached a point about fifty feet above Hugh, and thenhad to go off to one side to find a way down the cliff. When they hadcome near the fire, however, Hugh showed them the ram lying at the edgeof the snow bank from which he had drawn him.

  "You see," said Hugh, "when I got almost up to him, he was lying on therocks right at the top of this cliff with his head down and prettynearly dead; but when I got quite close to him he heard me walking andgot on his feet again and just walked over the
cliff and fell into thissnow bank down here. When I got to him he was dead. Nice ram, isn't he?"

  Indeed, he was a beauty; perhaps six or seven years old, with horns thatwere not very large, but perfectly symmetrical and unbroken. His coatwas thick, smooth and glossy, dark brown and with a white rump patch.Short of limb, strong of back, sturdy and stout, plump and round as abull elk in early September, he made a picture such as even thesuccessful hunter does not see every day.

  It was evident to all that the whole animal could not be taken in thatnight, and that another trip must be made to bring in the meat. The bestthat could be done would be to carry down the head, which Jack wantedto save, and a couple of light loads of the meat, and then the next daythey could return and bring in the rest. However, they sat down for alittle while and feasted on some of the delicious ribs cut from theanimal. Then, taking the head and the two shoulders, they set out forcamp. Hugh was inclined to think that by keeping along the mountain, hemight reach camp by a route considerably easier than that which they hadtaken in coming up, though, of course, it would be much longer. He alsodeclared that he thought it possible that they might be able to pick outa trail by which they could bring up a pack horse to carry down the restof the meat.

  As soon as they had finished eating they started down along themountainside, keeping on the ledges where the walking was good, anddescending by easy steps from one ledge to another. They had gone but ashort distance when they passed a ravine in which lay a long snow bankhollow beneath. Into this snow cave Hugh went to look for a drink ofwater and presently called to the boys, telling them to come in to him.

  They found themselves in a most beautiful ice grotto. The snow bank wasan old one and the rushing waters of spring had tunneled under it, whileit melted from above, so that a heavy roof of blue ice stretched acrossthe ravine from side to side. The grotto was eight or ten feet fromfloor to roof, thirty feet wide and perhaps a hundred long. A drift ofsnow which had blown in from an opening at its upper end, lay in thebottom of the ravine. The roof seemed not very thick and admitted thelight freely. It was a beautiful sky blue and reminded Jack vaguely ofsome blue grotto in Italy of which he had read and had often heard hismother talk.

  The sun was getting lower and lower as the three hurried along themountain. In most places it was easy going, and in the snow banks, whichthey were constantly crossing, fresh tracks of goats were seen, but thetravelers paid no attention to these and kept on their way as fast aspossible.

  Long before they had reached the level of the valley the sun had set,but there was light enough for them to go a little way down the streamand then cross on a log-jam which brought them to the other side of thestream. Here they mounted their horses, and in a short time werestanding by their tent.

  Presently, when the coffee-pot was bubbling and some fat sheep meatsputtering in the pan, when the horses had been looked after and theday's labor was over, it was pleasant to talk of the wonderful thingsthat they had seen since sunrise.

  The next morning the boys saddled a pack horse, and crossing the littlestream which pours out of the lake, Hugh, Jack and Joe climbed themountainside, dragging the pack animal behind them.

  After they had once got through the thick brush it was not difficult tolead the horse along the ledges, almost to the sheep's carcass. They didat last come to a place where the horse could not get up, and though bytaking half a day's time they could probably have found a way to takehim to the meat, it seemed simpler and shorter to leave him where he wasand to carry the meat to him.

  "Now," said Hugh, as they were eating their luncheon, "we've got alittle idea of this fork of the stream, what do you say to turningaround now and going back to the head of St. Mary's River, where we camefrom? I believe that by this time the snow has melted some and we willfind feed for the horses, so that we can stop there for a while, and doa little hunting and maybe climb the mountains that you've been talkingabout. What do you say?"

  "What do you say, Joe?" asked Jack.

  "Why," said Joe, "I'm ready to go 'most anywhere or do 'most anything. Ithink I like the country at the head of the lake, where the bear toredown the tent, better than I do here."

  "Well, Hugh," said Jack, "that's the way I feel. Of course, it is nicehere and interesting, and we could spend a lot of time and see a greatmany things; but it seems to me that the country at the head of St.Mary's River is bigger and more interesting than this."

  "All right," said Hugh, "let's go if you say so, and if we're going, whynot pack up and roll now. We ought to be able to get down nearly to themouth of Swift Current before dark. Maybe we can even camp in the bigflat of the St. Mary's River. If you boys want to start, round up yourhorses and I'll be making up the packs, and we'll move mighty quick."

  By the time the horses had been brought in and saddled, Hugh had hispacks made up, and it took but a few minutes to lash the loads, and soonthe train was moving off down the valley.

  As they crossed the snowslide, Jack turned aside and looked back towardthe great mountain behind them and wondered again at the mighty mass ofice that lay in its lap. It hardly seemed to him possible that he hadbeen up walking on that ice, and on those rocks that now seemed so faraway and so difficult of access.

  He had but little time, however, to think about this, and, turning hishorse, hurried on after the others, who were just entering the timber.

  They had gone but a little way, when Hugh stopped his horse, and all theothers came to a standstill. He called back to Jack, "Son, have you gota piece of string in your pocket?"

  "Yes," said Jack, fishing it out, "I have, but it's only about threefeet long."

  "Well," said Hugh, "get off your horse and come up here."

  When Jack reached Hugh's side, Hugh pointed to the ground a few feetfrom him, and there, standing close together, were three beautifulFranklin grouse, while on a little spruce tree, two or three feet abovethe others, sat a fourth bird.

  "Now, son," said Hugh, "I reckon you've heard me talk about the waythese fool hens are gentle, and how you can kill them with a rock orsometimes with a club, or can even slip a noose over the head of one, ashe sits on a branch in front of you. Do you want to try and catch one?"

  "Why, yes, Hugh," said Jack, "I'd like to do that. I don't want to killone particularly, because we've got what meat we need, but I'd like tocatch one."

  "Well," said Hugh, "you can, and if you get it in your hands quicklyenough, you can take off the string and let it go. There's a straightdead branch over there. Just make a noose of your string, and then tiethe string to the end of that branch, leaving about a foot hanging downfrom the branch, and try it."

  Jack arranged his snare, tying it to the end of a straight branch aboutsix feet long, and then advanced very slowly toward the grouse.

  They paid no attention to him until he was within three or four yards,and then one of those on the ground appeared to notice him and stretchedout its neck to look at him. Jack stood still and in a few seconds thebird seemed satisfied and resumed its huddled-up position. Then Jackwent on, very slowly, and when he had come within six or seven feet ofthe bird he held his stick before him and tried to pass the noose overthe bird's head. This was not easy to do, and two or three times thenoose struck the side of the bird's head without passing over it, yetthe grouse merely moved to one side to avoid the string. Presently, inmaking this movement, the bird itself passed its head through the noose,and Jack, lowering the point of the stick, pulled it toward him, drewthe bird off the branch, and brought it flapping furiously to his feet.He at once seized it and, loosening the noose, took it from the bird'shead. Then he smoothed the bird's feathers and in a moment or two itseemed to lose all fear.

  "Isn't it a beautiful bird, Hugh?" he said, as he held it up for Hugh'sinspection.

  "Yes," said Hugh, "they certainly are right pretty little birds. It's apity they don't know better how to take care of themselves, foreverything that runs across them can kill them."

  "Well," said Jack, "I'm glad I caught this little fello
w, but I'm mightyglad I didn't kill him, and now I'm going to turn him loose."

  He walked over to the other birds and put the grouse that he heldgently on the ground and then stood up. The grouse raised itself to itsfull height and stretched up its neck, looking at him with an air ofgreat curiosity. Then, seemingly satisfied, it lowered its head and withvery deliberate steps walked over toward its fellows, while Jackremounted his horse, and the three travelers started on.

  An hour later they were in the main valley of Swift Current and marchingat a good gait down the trail.

  Quite a long time before sunset they crossed Boulder Creek, and a littlelater came out on the wide flat below the lower lake. Over by the riverwere some white lodges and a bunch of horses feeding, and Hugh said, "Ibelieve our friends, the Kootenays, are still camped here. Let's go overand camp with them. I'd rather be right among them than at a littledistance. The dogs and children won't trouble us so much in the camp asthey would if we were close to it."

  They found in the camp all their acquaintances of a week or two before.Evidently the hunting had been good, for there were scaffolds coveredwith drying meat, and many hides pegged upon the ground.

  While the white men were making camp, some of their acquaintances cameup and spoke to them, and a little later old Back In Sight, the chief,paid them a call, and on Hugh's invitation sat down and ate with them.

  The Indians said they were soon going north and west to their owncountry. The hunting had been good, and they had killed many beaver. Nowthe fur was no longer at its best and they did not wish to trap any morethis season.

  Just before dusk something occurred that immensely interested Jack. Aman clad in a blanket and a battered felt hat walked through the campharanguing the people, who gathered in the middle of the small spacewithin the lodges. Standing in the middle of the group, this manrepeated what were evidently prayers. Then to Jack's intenseastonishment he crossed himself; rang a little bell, offered up anotherprayer and crossed himself again, while all the people followed hisexample. This went on for some little time until, finally, at the end ofone prayer, followed by the tinkle of the bell, the people dispersed.

  "Say, Hugh," said Jack, "I wish you'd ask that Indian that you can talkto what this means. It looks to me like some sort of a church service."

  "Well," said Hugh, "I wouldn't be surprised a mite. You know lots ofthese Indians, especially on the west side of the mountains and to thenorth, believe in the Catholic religion, and I wouldn't be surprised ifthese people do, or think they do. As a matter of fact, I believe theyworship the sun, but maybe they think they're Christians. Wait until Italk a little bit with this man that speaks some Chinook and Piegan."

  Hugh had quite a long talk with the Kootenay, then turned to Jack andsaid, "Now, son, that's a mighty queer thing that we've seen. This mansays that what we saw them doing was worshiping, and that this worshipwas taught their fathers by a Black Robe a good many years ago. Theirfathers taught them how to worship in this way, but they themselvesdon't know exactly what it means; all they know is that they are prayingto the Black Robe's God. This Black Robe taught their fathers to saythese prayers, to ring this bell and make these motions, touchingthemselves on four places on their bodies. They try to do this just astheir fathers taught them."

  Jack clapped his hands in astonishment. "That is certainly a mostextraordinary thing; a real case of survival. I guess if I tell peopleback East about this they will laugh at me, and say I'm crazy."

  "I reckon, son, if you tell them all the things you have seen out inthis country that if they don't call you crazy they'll at least call youa liar."

  "That is sure so, Hugh," said Jack. "I've seen people turn their headsaway and laugh when I was telling them some common enough story aboutthings out here. You see they don't understand anything about it, and sowhen they hear anything that is outside of the range of their ownexperiences they think I'm lying to them; but this holding Mass in aKootenay Indian camp beats me. It's hard to believe that I've seen it."

  "It does seem mighty queer, that's so, son," replied Hugh, "but we allknow what great fellows the Indians are for hanging on to anything thatthey ever get hold of. They are a great people for old customs, andaccept and stick to what their old people have told them. Of course, inthese days they are changing all the time. The young fellows around theagencies are becoming civilized in spite of themselves, but take theseold fellows that live out in the camps, the old buffalo hunters, andothers of that sort, and they haven't changed much, and they never willchange much either. They'll die old buffalo hunters."

  Early the next morning the little party left their Indian friends andstarted up the lake. By ten o'clock they had crossed the inlet and wereon their way along the upper lake. The packs, well put on in the morningand constantly watched, gave them no trouble and there were no delays.Not long after noon they passed their previous camp just below the Pointof Rocks, and climbing that steep ridge, kept on their way along themountainside.

  They traveled until after sunset and at last camped in a little park inthe narrow valley, and by noon the next day had reached the old camp atthe little lake where they had killed the bears.

  Here the aspect of the mountains was greatly changed. Much of the snowhad melted, the grass was well started, and the landscape looked morelike summer.