The Frontier Fort

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FOUR.

  We must now return to the two travellers and their strange guide.Although Loraine had slept but little the previous night, he could notclose his eyes. He enjoyed the excitement of the life he was leading,but he did not hide from himself its dangers, and he felt theresponsibility of having induced young Hector to accompany him. He wasalso anxious to arrive at the fort, for he had become much interested inits inmates. Although it was supposed that the Blackfeet had gone tothe westward, he thought it possible that some of them might haveremained behind, and followed up the trail of his party. He had,however, great confidence in the watchfulness of Greensnake, and hehoped also that the dogs would give due notice should any enemiesapproach.

  "If we pass over this night in safety, I think that we shall get throughthe rest of our journey without difficulty," he said to himself. "Wehave accomplished well-nigh fifty miles to-day, and, as our horses willhave a good feed to-night, we may ride another fifty to-morrow, and bykeeping that up, we shall, as far as I can calculate, reach Fort Duncanin four or five days."

  He was about to drop off to sleep, when he was again aroused by acontinuous howl in the distance. After listening for some time, he wasconvinced that it was produced by wolves. He fancied from the soundthat there must have been hundreds of them. It grew nearer and nearer.The animals were coming that way. They might attack him and Hector, or,at all events, the horses, and either kill them or put them to flight.

  He looked at the fire. By their guide's advice he had allowed it toburn low, so that no flames casting their light around should betray theposition of the camp to prowling Indians. Still it was better, hethought, to run even that risk than to allow the savage brutes to getinto the camp. He, therefore, having thrown some more sticks on thefire, which quickly blazed up, awoke Hector, who naturally inquired whatwas the matter.

  "Do you not hear the howling of wolves?" asked Loraine. "Get your rifleready."

  "But Greensnake advised us not to fire, lest we should discover our campto the Indians," said Hector; "and I don't fancy that at this time ofthe year wolves would be daring enough to attack us."

  "They may, however, attack the horses," answered Loraine. "I will goand warn him, so that he may collect them."

  "He is on the alert, depend upon that," said Hector; "and well knowswhat to do."

  "It is wise to be on the safe side," answered Loraine, getting up."Stay by our saddles and provisions, and I will try to find him." Heset off towards where he supposed the horses were feeding.

  As soon as he had got beyond the range of the light thrown from thefire, the darkness became so great that he could with difficulty avoidrunning against the trunks of the trees. He stretched out his gunbefore him to try and feel the way. Two or three times he saved himselfby this precaution. At last he thought that he must have reached thespot where Greensnake ought to be found; but though he called out tohim, no answer came. He shouted louder and louder, still there was noreply, nor could he distinguish the forms of any of the horses againstthe sky. He could hear, however, the sound of the yelping and barkingof the wolves, apparently much nearer than before. Still he went on,forgetting that he ran the risk of losing sight of the fire. At length,turning round to look for it, intending to go back to the camp, what washis dismay on being unable to discover the slightest glimmering of lightin any direction! He had proceeded further than he had supposed, andregretted his folly, for he was well aware how easily he might losehimself. The sky overhead was obscured, so that the stars afforded himno guide. He thought that he had turned completely round, but of thishe could not be quite certain, and he feared that by going on he mightonly get further and further from the fire. He shouted out--

  "Hector, Hector, don't move; but only shout in return, that I may knowwhere to find you."

  Instead of Hector's voice, the barking and yelping of the wolves alonereached his ear. Probably his shouts had been drowned by the fearfuldin they had been making. They served, however, partly to guide him;but they seemed so near that he expected every moment to be assailed bythem; and in the darkness it would be a difficult matter to defendhimself. Still, being a man of courage and determination, he resolvedto face the danger; and keeping as direct a course as the impediments inhis way would allow, he directed his steps towards the spot whence itappeared to him the sounds proceeded. He, of course, could move butslowly. He had gone, as he supposed, far enough to reach the camp, or,at all events, to be in sight of the fire, when he heard a shot, whichcame, it seemed to him, from a point rather more to the left than thattowards which he was making his way. He had no doubt that it had beenfired by Hector, and he immediately turned, hoping soon to catch sightof the fire. He was unwilling to discharge his own gun, not knowing atwhat moment he might require it to defend himself from the wolves. He,therefore, only shouted as before. He listened, and fancied that abovethe yelping chorus he could distinguish Hector's voice. Presently, tohis infinite relief, he caught sight of the gleam of the fire, moredistant, however, than he had supposed it could possibly be. He madetowards it as fast as he could venture to move; notwithstanding hiscaution, he first ran against a tree, and soon afterwards stumbled at afallen log.

  He could now clearly distinguish the spot where the fire was burning, bythe lurid light which it cast on the neighbouring trees; and, with moreconfidence than before, he was hurrying on, when he saw to his right anumber of glowing eyeballs, and the yelping of the wolves sounded closerthan ever.

  Waiting until a pair of the glowing balls were only a few feet off, hefired. They disappeared. A fearful yell from the whole pack followed.He could see a number of dark forms surrounding him. There was no timeto reload, so, clubbing his rifle, he swept it round and round on everyside. He felt it striking every now and then on the heads of thecreatures which were thus providentially kept at bay. The fire becamemore distinct; but the wolves continued to leap and snarl and yelp assavagely as at first; and, notwithstanding the blows he was dealingabout, one of the brutes seized him by the coat, and another, still moredaring, flew at his throat, and though it failed to bite him, caught himby the collar, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he savedhimself from being dragged down. He was afraid that Hector, hearing thesound of the wolves, and not seeing him, might fire; he, therefore,shouted at the top of his voice, to show his whereabouts. Presently, hesaw his young friend holding a couple of flaming brands in his hands,come rushing towards him, accompanied by the two dogs, who, springingforward with furious barks, attacked his savage assailants. Theassistance came only just in time, for the wolves had nearly succeededin pulling him to the ground. The dogs at once sprang upon the brutehanging to his collar, which let go its hold to defend itself, when ablow on its head from Loraine's rifle prevented it from offering furtherresistance. The dogs then flew at the other wolf, which also let go;while Hector, dashing the burning brands in the faces of the rest of thepack, put them to flight, enabling him and Loraine to get back almostbreathless to the camp. The brave dogs were following the wolves, andwould probably soon have been torn to pieces had they not promptly beencalled back.

  "What can have become of Greensnake?" exclaimed Hector, as soon as theyhad time and breath to speak. "I hope that he has not played us false,and gone off with the horses."

  "I have no fear of that," answered Loraine. "The old hunter would nothave sent him with us unless he had perfect confidence in his honesty.Perhaps he heard the wolves coming long before we did, and took them tosome place of security."

  "He was more likely to have driven them into the camp, where we couldhave assisted in protecting them," observed Hector. "I am afraid thathe has been surprised by a band of Blackfeet, or Sircees, who arenotorious horse-stealers, and that they have carried off him as well asthe animals. If so, we shall be left in a pretty plight."

  "We have our guns and dogs, and a fair stock of ammunition, to obtainfood, and our compass to guide us; and if we find that we have lost ourhorses, we must push forward on fo
ot," answered Loraine. "But I amgrievously annoyed at the prospect of being unable to reach the fort assoon as we expected; however, we must try to make our way on foot, andalthough we may be longer about it than we had hoped, we may stillarrive in time to be of service. It is useless, however, talking overthe matter at present. The best thing you can do is to lie down, andget some sleep while I keep watch."

  "No, no," said Hector. "I have had my share already; but pray do youlie down, and I will watch."

  At length Loraine consented to do this, expecting to be able to arousehimself in a short time; while Hector, taking his rifle in hand, beganto walk up and down, anxiously looking out for Greensnake. The wolves,however, still snarling and yelping a short distance off, would, it atlength occurred to him, prevent the guide from making his appearancetill the morning. Having now time for thought, he recollected thewarning Greensnake had given; and he reflected that possibly at anymoment, should a party of Blackfeet have been in the neighbourhood, andheard the reports of their rifles, guided by the light of their fire,they might come suddenly upon them. He kept, therefore, a vigilantwatch with his ears rather than his eyes, listening for any sound whichmight indicate their approach, and trusting also to the dogs, which wereon the alert, and accompanied him whenever he moved a few feet from thecamp. When he returned they went back again, and lay down near thefire, with their noses on their paws, and ears erect, showing that theywere wide awake.

  At length Loraine awoke, and insisted on Hector's lying down, who,before he did so, mentioned the ideas which had occurred to him.

  "Never mind now what you think, but go to sleep," said Loraine. "I'llkeep a bright look-out; depend upon that."

  Soon after this the wolves, attracted possibly by a passing stag or someother game, greatly to his relief, scampered off, their cries becomingless and less distinct as they got to a distance.

  The night seemed interminably long, but the morning came at length.Loraine aroused Hector, and having made up the fire, intending to comeback for breakfast, he charged the dogs to watch over the baggage, andthen set out in search of Greensnake and the horses. Loraineendeavoured to trace the course he had taken during the night, but thetrail was so indistinct that he could not be certain in what directionhe had gone. As he and Hector advanced, they looked round for thehorses, but they were not near the spot to which Greensnake had takenthem on the previous evening, nor were they anywhere to be seen. Theycame, however, upon what Hector believed were their tracks; but as theywere scattered about over a wide space of ground, he could not bepositive as to what course they had taken. Loraine still argued thatthe guide would return, and that it would be prudent to go back to campand wait for his appearance. This they accordingly did, shooting ontheir way a couple of ducks, which served them for breakfast, theremains being given to the dogs. After some time Loraine went to thetop of the highest point near at hand--a small knoll or hillock--that hemight take a look-out for the missing horses, but he soon came backwithout having seen them.

  "I think we should wait a little longer," he observed. "The youngIndian may have thought it prudent to go to a considerable distance onaccount of the wolves. He may have slept until the morning, or may havestopped to catch and cook some food."

  "I will have another look round," said Hector. "A few ducks won't comeamiss, if I can kill them on the way, either to us or our dogs, beforewe finally make a start;" and, calling the two dogs, he set off, theywillingly accompanying him.

  While Hector was away from the camp Loraine thoughtfully employedhimself in examining their baggage, and in selecting such articles offood and clothing as they could carry on their backs, and in doing themup in two packs, making the heaviest for himself. He was thus engagedwhen he heard a couple of shots, but concluding that Hector had fired atsome ducks, as he proposed, went on with his occupation. As he lookedat their saddle-bags and valises, he regretted having to leave them, butwithout horses he saw no possibility of carrying them. Noon wasapproaching, Hector had not returned, and he became seriously anxious;so, taking his gun, he set out to look for him. "If he returns while Iam away, he will, I hope, guess why I have gone, and will remain quietlyhere for my return," he said to himself. As he walked along he searchedon every side, but Hector was nowhere to be seen. The dreadful thoughtoccurred that his young friend might have met with some accident, orthat, should Indians have carried off Greensnake, they might haveentrapped him also. His own position was trying in the extreme; butbeing a man of courage, he nerved himself up to encounter whatever mighthappen. As he was casting his eyes around, he caught sight of a small,dark object on the ground. He hastened on. It was a powder-flask. It,however, was certainly not Hector's. He had no doubt that it belongedto Greensnake. A short distance beyond he came on a ramrod. The groundwas covered with a rich grass, and there were signs of horses having fedon it, so that no doubt remained on his mind that it was here Greensnakehad been during the night, and on further examination he discoveredtraces of the animals' feet moving to the eastward, but he was unable toascertain whether Hector had passed that way. Had he done so, he wouldprobably have followed up the trail of the horses. Loraine, therefore,hurried on in the same direction. He marked as carefully as he couldthe course he was taking, examining his compass to guide himself.Several times he thought that it would be better to retrace his steps,lest Hector should have returned during his absence to the camp. He wasat length on the point of doing so when he saw before him a wood. Atthe same instant, he fancied that he heard the bark of a dog. Hehurried forward, feeling sure that it was that either of Muskey orBuster, and he hoped that, if so, Hector was not far off, and hadescaped being captured by Indians. In a short time he again heard thedogs bark, and as he approached the wood a voice, which he knew wasHector's, shouted out--

  "Take care, there's a big she-grizzly, with a couple of cubs, in thatthicket. I wounded her, and she's very savage."

  "Where are you?" asked Loraine.

  "Here, up a tree," cried Hector. "Whenever I attempt to descend, sherushes out, and I have dropped my gun, so that I have no chance ofkilling her."

  "Come down then, and find your gun, and I will stand by to shoot thebear if she appears."

  "She got hold of my gun and broke it to pieces, so that you must notdepend upon my help," cried Hector. "You'll do better to get up here,and kill her when she shows herself."

  "I'll take post behind the tree, and when she sees you descending,perhaps she will come out from the cover," answered Loraine. The dogsmeantime were barking furiously outside the thicket.

  No sooner did Hector begin to descend than the bear, which hadapparently had her eyes fixed on him, came waddling out from her placeof concealment, growling savagely. The two dogs wisely scampered offout of her reach, and Hector sprang up again. Loraine then stepped outfrom behind the trunk, when the bear rose on her hind quarters, growlingand showing her fangs. The opportunity was as favourable as he coulddesire. He took a steady aim, and over she rolled. At this, Hectorgave a shout of satisfaction, while the dogs came back, though afraid toapproach, as she was still struggling violently. Loraine then reloaded,and advancing, sent another shot crashing through her brain. The twocubs had come out, and looked as if inclined to give battle, but thedogs kept them at bay, giving time to Loraine to load again, when hefired and killed one of them, and the next was settled in the same way.

  Hector, who had come down from his perch, expressed his regret at havingcaused his friend so much anxiety. He had been following up the trackof the horses, when he caught sight of the bear, which he unwisely firedat and wounded. She at first had gone off with her cubs, but just as hehad reached the wood, she had turned and rushed at him. He had againfired, but having no time to reload, in attempting to escape up the treehad dropped his gun, when the bear, seizing it, had gnawed and twistedit in such a manner as to render it perfectly useless. Had not the dogsheld her in check, he acknowledged that he should have been caught.

  "Had we our horses, we m
ight supply ourselves with bears' fleshsufficient to last for the whole of our journey; as it is, we can onlytake as much as we can conveniently carry," observed Loraine. Theyspeedily, if not very scientifically, cut off a portion of the meat,which they did up with strips of the cubs' hides into two packages, thedogs meantime enjoying a magnificent feast off the remains. They thenretired to the camp, still as much in the dark as ever as to what hadbecome of Greensnake and the horses.

  "I don't know what I shall do without my gun," said Hector, as theywalked along. "If we meet with enemies, I shall be unable to help youto fight; nor can I kill any game."

  Loraine did his best to comfort him. "We must keep out of the way ofenemies, and my gun will enable me to obtain as much food as we shallrequire, while you can assist me with your advice, as you know moreabout the country than I do," he observed.

  When Loraine pointed to the articles they must abandon, Hector suggestedthat they should be placed _en cache_ by hanging them up to the bough ofa tree, deep in the wood, so as to be concealed from passers-by.

  They might thus some day have an opportunity of sending for them.

  "There, you see how at once you can help me," remarked Loraine. "I havebeen sadly puzzled to know what to do with them."

  Having taken a substantial meal of bears' flesh, they carefully put outtheir fire, and obliterated as far as they could the traces of theirencampment. They then strapped on their packs, and Hector supplyinghimself with a pointed stick, in the place of his damaged rifle, theyset off, followed by the dogs, in the direction, as they supposed, ofFort Duncan.