The Dog Crusoe and His Master: A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER VIII.

  _Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many wonders--Crusoe,too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches Indian dogs a lesson--AnIndian dandy--A foot-race._

  The Pawnee village, at which they soon arrived, was situated in themidst of a most interesting and picturesque scene.

  It occupied an extensive plain which sloped gently down to a creek[*],whose winding course was marked by a broken line of wood, here andthere interspersed with a fine clump of trees, between the trunks ofwhich the blue waters of a lake sparkled in the distance. Hundreds oftents or "lodges" of buffalo-skins covered the ground, and thousandsof Indians--men, women, and children--moved about the busy scene. Somewere sitting in their lodges, lazily smoking their pipes. But thesewere chiefly old and infirm veterans, for all the young men had goneto the hunt which we have just described. The women were stooping overtheir fires, busily preparing maize and meat for their husbands andbrothers; while myriads of little brown and naked children rompedabout everywhere, filling the air with their yells and screams, whichwere only equalled, if not surpassed, by the yelping dogs that seemedinnumerable.

  [Footnote *: In America small rivers or rivulets are termed "creeks."]

  Far as the eye could reach were seen scattered herds of horses. Thesewere tended by little boys who were totally destitute of clothing,and who seemed to enjoy with infinite zest the pastime ofshooting-practice with little bows and arrows. No wonder that theseIndians become expert bowmen. There were urchins there, scarce twofeet high, with round bullets of bodies and short spindle-shanks, whocould knock blackbirds off the trees at every shot, and cut the headsoff the taller flowers with perfect certainty! There was much need,too, for the utmost proficiency they could attain, for the veryexistence of the Indian tribes of the prairies depends on theirsuccess in hunting the buffalo.

  There are hundreds and thousands of North American savages who wouldundoubtedly perish, and their tribes become extinct, if the buffaloeswere to leave the prairies or die out. Yet, although animals areabsolutely essential to their existence, they pursue and slay themwith improvident recklessness, sometimes killing hundreds of themmerely for the sake of the sport, the tongues, and the marrow bones.In the bloody hunt described in the last chapter, however, theslaughter of so many was not wanton, because the village that had tobe supplied with food was large, and, just previous to the hunt, theyhad been living on somewhat reduced allowance. Even the blackbirdsshot by the brown-bodied urchins before mentioned had been thankfullyput into the pot. Thus precarious is the supply of food among theRed-men, who on one day are starving, and the next are revelling insuperabundance.

  But to return to our story. At one end of this village the creeksprang over a ledge of rock in a low cascade and opened out into abeautiful lake, the bosom of which was studded with small islands.Here were thousands of those smaller species of wild water-fowl whichwere either too brave or too foolish to be scared away by the noiseof the camp. And here, too, dozens of children were sporting on thebeach, or paddling about in their light bark canoes.

  "Isn't it strange," remarked Dick to Henri, as they passed among thetents towards the centre of the village--"isn't it strange that themInjuns should be so fond o' fightin', when they've got all they canwant--a fine country, lots o' buffalo, an', as far as I can see, happyhomes?"

  "Oui, it is remarkaibel, vraiment. Bot dey do more love war to peace.Dey loves to be excit-ed, I s'pose."

  "Humph! One would think the hunt we seed a little agone would beexcitement enough. But, I say, that must he the chiefs tent, by thelook o't."

  Dick was right. The horsemen pulled up and dismounted opposite theprincipal chief's tent, which was a larger and more elegant structurethan the others. Meanwhile an immense concourse of women, children,and dogs gathered round the strangers, and while the latter yelpedtheir dislike to white men, the former chattered continuously, as theydiscussed the appearance of the strangers and their errand, whichlatter soon became known. An end was put to this by San-it-sa-rishdesiring the hunters to enter the tent, and spreading a buffalo robefor them to sit on. Two braves carried in their packs, and then ledaway their horses.

  All this time Crusoe had kept as close as possible to his master'sside, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the midst of such a strangecrowd, the more especially that the ill-looking Indian curs gave himexpressive looks of hatred, and exhibited some desire to rush upon himin a body, so that he had to keep a sharp look-out all round him. Whentherefore Dick entered the tent, Crusoe endeavoured to do so alongwith him; but he was met by a blow on the nose from an old squaw, whoscolded him in a shrill voice and bade him begone.

  Either our hero's knowledge of the Indian language was insufficient toenable him to understand the order, or he had resolved not to obey it,for instead of retreating, he drew a deep gurgling breath, curled hisnose, and displayed a row of teeth that caused the old woman to drawback in alarm. Crusoe's was a forgiving spirit. The instant thatopposition ceased he forgot the injury, and was meekly advancing, whenDick held up his finger.

  "Go outside, pup, and wait."

  Crusoe's tail drooped; with a deep sigh he turned and left the tent.He took up a position near the entrance, however, and sat downresignedly. So meek, indeed, did the poor dog look that sixmangy-looking curs felt their dastardly hearts emboldened to make arush at him with boisterous yells.

  Crusoe did not rise. He did not even condescend to turn his headtoward them; but he looked at them out of the corner of his dark eye,wrinkled--very slightly--the skin of his nose, exhibited two beautifulfangs, and gave utterance to a soft remark, that might be describedas quiet, deep-toned gurgling. It wasn't much, but it was more thanenough for the valiant six, who paused and snarled violently.

  It was a peculiar trait of Crusoe's gentle nature that, the moment anydanger ceased, he resumed his expression of nonchalant gravity. Theexpression on this occasion was misunderstood, however; and as abouttwo dozen additional yelping dogs had joined the ranks of the enemy,they advanced in close order to the attack.

  Crusoe still sat quiet, and kept his head high; but he _looked_ atthem again, and exhibited four fangs for their inspection. Among thepack there was one Indian dog of large size--almost as large as Crusoehimself--which kept well in the rear, and apparently urged the lesserdogs on. The little dogs didn't object, for little dogs are generallythe most pugnacious. At this big dog Crusoe directed a pointed glance,but said nothing. Meanwhile a particularly small and vicious cur, witha mere rag of a tail, crept round by the back of the tent, and comingupon Crusoe in rear, snapped at his tail sharply, and then fledshrieking with terror and surprise, no doubt, at its own temerity.

  Crusoe did not bark; he seldom barked; he usually either said nothing,or gave utterance to a prolonged roar of indignation of the mostterrible character, with barks, as it were, mingled through it. Itsomewhat resembled that peculiar and well-known species of thunder,the prolonged roll of which is marked at short intervals in itscourse by cannon-like cracks. It was a continuous, but, so to speak,_knotted_ roar.

  On receiving the snap, Crusoe gave forth _the_ roar with a majesty andpower that scattered the pugnacious front rank of the enemy to thewinds. Those that still remained, half stupified, he leaped over witha huge bound, and alighted, fangs first, on the back of the bigdog. There was one hideous yell, a muffled scramble of an instant'sduration, and the big dog lay dead upon the plain!

  It was an awful thing to do, but Crusoe evidently felt that thepeculiar circumstances of the case required that an example should bemade; and to say truth, all things considered, we cannot blame him.The news must have been carried at once through the canine portion ofthe camp, for Crusoe was never interfered with again after that.

  Dick witnessed this little incident; but he observed that the Indianchief cared not a straw about it, and as his dog returned quietlyand sat down in its old place he took no notice of it either, butcontinued to listen to the explanations which Joe gave to the chief,of the desire of the Pale-faces to be f
riends with the Red-men.

  Joe's eloquence would have done little for him on this occasion hadhis hands been empty, but he followed it up by opening one of hispacks and displaying the glittering contents before the equallyglittering eyes of the chief and his squaws.

  "These," said Joe, "are the gifts that the great chief of thePale-faces sends to the great chief of the Pawnees. And he bids me saythat there are many more things in his stores which will be traded forskins with the Red-men, when they visit him; and he also says that ifthe Pawnees will not steal horses any more from the Pale-faces, theyshall receive gifts of knives, and guns, and powder, and blanketsevery year."

  "Wah!" grunted the chief; "it is good. The great chief is wise. Wewill smoke the pipe of peace."

  The things that afforded so much satisfaction to San-it-sa-rish werethe veriest trifles. Penny looking-glasses in yellow gilt tin frames,beads of various colours, needles, cheap scissors and knives,vermilion paint, and coarse scarlet cloth, etc. They were of pricelessvalue, however, in the estimation of the savages, who delighted toadorn themselves with leggings made from the cloth, beautifully workedwith beads by their own ingenious women. They were thankful, too, forknives even of the commonest description, having none but bone ones oftheir own; and they gloried in daubing their faces with intermingledstreaks of charcoal and vermilion. To gaze at their visages, whenthus treated, in the little penny looking-glasses is their summit ofdelight!

  Joe presented the chief with a portion of these coveted goods, andtied up the remainder. We may remark here that the only thing whichprevented the savages from taking possession of the whole at once,without asking permission, was the promise of the annual gifts,which they knew would not be forthcoming were any evil to befallthe deputies of the Pale-faces. Nevertheless, it cost them a severestruggle to restrain their hands on this occasion, and Joe and hiscompanions felt that they would have to play their part well in orderto fulfil their mission with safety and credit.

  "The Pale-faces may go now and talk with the braves," saidSan-it-sa-rish, after carefully examining everything that was givento him; "a council will be called soon, and we will smoke the pipe ofpeace."

  Accepting this permission to retire, the hunters immediately left thetent; and being now at liberty to do what they pleased, they amusedthemselves by wandering about the village.

  "He's a cute chap that," remarked Joe, with a sarcastic smile; "Idon't feel quite easy about gettin' away. He'll bother the life out o'us to get all the goods we've got, and, ye see, as we've other tribesto visit, we must give away as little as we can here."

  "Ha! you is right," said Henri; "dat fellow's eyes twinkle at deknives and tings like two stars."

  "Fire-flies, ye should say. Stars are too soft an' beautiful tocompare to the eyes o' yon savage," said Dick, laughing. "I wish wewere well away from them. That rascal Mahtawa is an ugly customer."

  "True, lad," returned Joe; "had _he_ bin the great chief our scalpshad bin dryin' in the smoke o' a Pawnee wigwam afore now. What now,lad?"

  Joe's question was put in consequence of a gleeful smile thatoverspread the countenance of Dick Varley, who replied by pointing toa wigwam towards which they were approaching.

  "Oh! that's only a dandy," exclaimed Joe. "There's lots o' them inevery Injun camp. They're fit for nothin' but dress, poor contemptiblecritters."

  Joe accompanied his remark with a sneer, for of all pitiable objectshe regarded an unmanly man as the most despicable. He consented,however, to sit down on a grassy bank and watch the proceedings ofthis Indian dandy, who had just seated himself in front of his wigwamfor the purpose of making his toilet.

  He began it by greasing his whole person carefully and smoothly overwith buffalo fat, until he shone like a patent leather boot; then herubbed himself almost dry, leaving the skin sleek and glossy. Havingproceeded thus far, he took up a small mirror, a few inches indiameter, which he or some other member of the tribe must haveprocured during one of their few excursions to the trading-forts ofthe Pale-faces, and examined himself, as well as he could, in solimited a space. Next, he took a little vermilion from a small parceland rubbed it over his face until it presented the somewhat demoniacappearance of a fiery red. He also drew a broad red score along thecrown of his head, which was closely shaved, with the exception of theusual tuft or scalplock on the top. This scalplock stood bristlingstraight up a few inches, and then curved over and hung down his backabout two feet. Immense care and attention was bestowed on this lock.He smoothed it, greased it, and plaited it into the form of a pigtail.Another application was here made to the glass, and the result wasevidently satisfactory, to judge from the beaming smile that played onhis features. But, not content with the general effect, he tried theeffect of expression--frowned portentously, scowled savagely, gapedhideously, and grinned horribly a ghastly smile.

  Then our dandy fitted into his ears, which were bored in severalplaces, sundry ornaments, such as rings, wampum, etc., and hungseveral strings of beads round his neck. Besides these he affixed oneor two ornaments to his arms, wrists, and ankles, and touched in a feweffects with vermilion on the shoulders and breast. After this, anda few more glances at the glass, he put on a pair of beautifulmoccasins, which, besides being richly wrought with beads, were softas chamois leather and fitted his feet like gloves. A pair of leggingsof scarlet cloth were drawn on, attached to a waist-belt, and boundbelow the knee with broad garters of variegated bead-work.

  It was some time before this Adonis was quite satisfied with himself.He retouched the paint on his shoulders several times, and modifiedthe glare of that on his wide-mouthed, high-cheek-boned visage, beforehe could tear himself away; but at last he did so, and throwinga large piece of scarlet cloth over his shoulders, he thrust hislooking-glass under his belt, and proceeded to mount his palfrey,which was held in readiness near to the tent door by one of his wives.The horse was really a fine animal, and seemed worthy of a morewarlike master. His shoulders, too, were striped with red paint, andfeathers were intertwined with his mane and tail, while the bridle wasdecorated with various jingling ornaments.

  Vaulting upon his steed, with a large fan of wild goose and turkeyfeathers in one hand, and a whip dangling at the wrist of the other,this incomparable dandy sallied forth for a promenade--that being hischief delight when there was no buffalo hunting to be done. Other menwho were not dandies sharpened their knives, smoked, feasted, andmended their spears and arrows at such seasons of leisure, or playedat athletic games. "Let's follow my buck," said Joe Blunt.

  "Oui. Come 'long," replied Henri, striding after the rider at a pacethat almost compelled his comrades to run.

  "Hold on!" cried Dick, laughing; "we don't want to keep him company. Adistant view is quite enough o' sich a chap as that."

  "Mais you forgit I cannot see far."

  "So much the better," remarked Joe; "it's my opinion we've seen enougho' him. Ah! he's goin' to look on at the games. Them's worth lookin'at."

  The games to which Joe referred were taking place on a green levelplain close to the creek, and a little above the waterfall beforereferred to. Some of the Indians were horse-racing, some jumping,and others wrestling; but the game which proved most attractive wasthrowing the javelin, in which several of the young braves wereengaged.

  This game is played by two competitors, each armed with a dart, in anarena about fifty yards long. One of the players has a hoop of sixinches in diameter. At a signal they start off on foot at full speed,and on reaching the middle of the arena the Indian with the hoop rollsit along before them, and each does his best to send a javelin throughthe hoop before the other. He who succeeds counts so many points; ifboth miss, the nearest to the hoop is allowed to count, but not somuch as if he had "ringed" it. The Indians are very fond of this game,and will play at it under a broiling sun for hours together. But agood deal of the interest attaching to it is owing to the fact thatthey make it a means of gambling. Indians are inveterate gamblers, andwill sometimes go on until they lose horses, bows, blankets, robes,and,
in short, their whole personal property. The consequences are, asmight be expected, that fierce and bloody quarrels sometimes arise inwhich life is often lost.

  "Try your hand at that," said Henri to Dick.

  "By all means," cried Dick, handing his rifle to his friend, andspringing into the ring enthusiastically.

  A general shout of applause greeted the Pale-face, who threw off' hiscoat and tightened his belt, while, a young Indian presented him witha dart.

  "Now, see that ye do us credit, lad," said Joe.

  "I'll try," answered Dick.

  In a moment they were off. The young Indian rolled away the hoop,and Dick threw his dart with such vigour that it went deep into theground, but missed the hoop by a foot at least. The young Indian'sfirst dart went through the centre.

  "Ha!" exclaimed Joe Blunt to the Indians near him, "the lad's not usedto that game; try him at a race. Bring out your best brave--he whosebound is like the hunted deer."

  We need scarcely remind the reader that Joe spoke in the Indianlanguage, and that the above is a correct rendering of the sense ofwhat he said.

  The name of Tarwicadia, or the little chief, immediately passed fromlip to lip, and in a few minutes an Indian, a little below the mediumsize, bounded into the arena with an indiarubber-like elasticity thatcaused a shade of anxiety to pass over Joe's face.

  "Ah, boy!" he whispered, "I'm afeard you'll find him a toughcustomer."

  "That's just what I want," replied Dick. "He's supple enough, but hewants muscle in the thigh. We'll make it a long heat."

  "Right, lad, ye're right."

  Joe now proceeded to arrange the conditions of the race with thechiefs around him. It was fixed that the distance to be run shouldbe a mile, so that the race would be one of two miles, out and back.Moreover, the competitors were to run without any clothes, except abelt and a small piece of cloth round the loins. This to the Indianswas nothing, for they seldom wore more in warm weather; but Dick wouldhave preferred to keep on part of his dress. The laws of the course,however, would not permit of this, so he stripped and stood forth, the_beau-ideal_ of a well-formed, agile man. He was greatly superior insize to his antagonist, and more muscular, the savage being slenderand extremely lithe and springy.

  "Ha! I will run too," shouted Henri, bouncing forward with clumsyenergy, and throwing off his coat just as they were going to start.

  The savages smiled at this unexpected burst, and made no objection,considering the thing in the light of a joke.

  The signal was given, and away they went. Oh! it would have done yougood to have seen the way in which Henri manoeuvred his limbs on thiscelebrated occasion! He went over the ground with huge elephantinebounds, runs, and jumps. He could not have been said to have one styleof running; he had a dozen styles, all of which came into play in thecourse of half as many minutes. The other two ran like the wind; yetalthough Henri _appeared_ to be going heavily over the ground, he keptup with them to the turning-point. As for Dick, it became evident inthe first few minutes that he could outstrip his antagonist with ease,and was hanging back a little all the time. He shot ahead like anarrow when they came about half-way back, and it was clear that thereal interest of the race was to lie in the competition between Henriand Tarwicadia.

  Before they were two-thirds of the way back, Dick walked in to thewinning-point, and turned to watch the others. Henri's wind was aboutgone, for he exerted himself with such violence that he wasted halfhis strength. The Indian, on the contrary, was comparatively fresh,but he was not so fleet as his antagonist, whose tremendous stridescarried him over the ground at an incredible pace. On they came neckand neck, till close on the score that marked the winning-point. Herethe value of enthusiasm came out strongly in the case of Henri. He_felt_ that he could not gain an inch on Tarwicadia to save his life,but just as he came up he observed the anxious faces of his comradesand the half-sneering countenances of the savages. His heart thumpedagainst his ribs, every muscle thrilled with a gush of conflictingfeelings, and he _hurled_ himself over the score like a cannon shot,full six inches ahead of the little chief!

  But the thing did not by any means end here. Tarwicadia pulled up theinstant he had passed. Not so our Canadian. Such a clumsy and colossalframe was not to be checked in a moment. The crowd of Indians openedup to let him pass, but unfortunately a small tent that stood in theway was not so obliging. Into it he went, head foremost, like a shell,carried away the corner post with his shoulder, and brought the wholeaffair down about his own ears and those of its inmates, among whomwere several children and two or three dogs. It required some time toextricate them all from the ruins, but when this was effected it wasfound that no serious damage had been done to life or limb.