CHAPTER XIX.
_Adventures with the Peigans_--_Crusoe does good service as adiscoverer_--_The savages outwitted_--_The rescue_.
A run of twenty miles brought the travellers to a rugged defile inthe mountains, from which they had a view of a beautiful valley ofconsiderable extent. During the last two days a steady thaw had beenrapidly melting away the snow, so that it appeared only here andthere in the landscape in dazzling patches. At the distance of abouthalf-a-mile from where they halted to breathe the horses beforecommencing the descent into this vale, several thin wreaths of smokewere seen rising above the trees.
"Is that your camp?" inquired Cameron, riding up to the Indianrunners, who stood in a group in front, looking as fresh after theirtwenty miles' run as though they had only had a short walk.
To this they answered in the affirmative, adding that there were abouttwo hundred Peigans there.
It might have been thought that thirty men would have hesitated toventure to attack so large a number as two hundred; but it had alwaysbeen found in the experience of Indian life that a few resolute whitemen well armed were more than a match for ten times their number ofIndians. And this arose not so much from the superior strength oragility of the Whites over their red foes, as from that bull-dogcourage and utter recklessness of their lives in combat--qualitieswhich the crafty savage can neither imitate nor understand. Theinformation was received with perfect indifference by most of thetrappers, and with contemptuous laughter by some; for a large numberof Cameron's men were wild, evil-disposed fellows, who would have asgladly taken the life of an Indian as that of a buffalo.
Just as the word was given to resume the march, Dick Varley rode up toCameron and said in a somewhat anxious tone,--
"D'ye obsarve, sir, that one o' the Redskins has gone off ahead o' hiscomrades?"
"I see that, Master Dick; and it was a mistake of mine not to havestopped him, but he was gone too far before I observed it, and Ithought it better to appear unconcerned. We must push on, though, andgive him as short time as possible to talk with his comrades in thecamp."
The trappers pressed forward accordingly at a gallop, and were soon infront of the clump of trees amongst which the Peigans were encamped.Their approach had evidently spread great alarm among them, for therewas a good deal of bustle and running to and fro; but by the time thetrappers had dismounted and advanced in a body on foot, the savageshad resumed their usual quiet dignity of appearance, and were seatedcalmly round their fires with their bows and arrows beside them. Therewere no tents, no women or children, and the general aspect of the menshowed Cameron conclusively that his surmise about their being a warparty was correct.
A council was immediately called. The trappers ranged themselves onone side of the council fire and the Indians on the other. Meanwhile,our friend Crusoe had been displaying considerable irritabilityagainst the Indians, and he would certainly have attacked the wholetwo hundred single-handed if he had not been ordered by his master tolie still; but never in his life before had Crusoe obeyed with such abad grace. He bristled and whined in a low tremulous tone, and lookedimploringly at Dick as if for permission to fly at them.
"The Pale-face traders are glad to meet with the Peigans," beganCameron, who determined to make no allusion to his knowledge that theywere a war party, "for they wish to be friends with all the childrenof the woods and prairies. They wish to trade with them--to exchangeblankets, and guns, and beads, and other goods which the Peigansrequire, for furs of animals which the Pale-faces require."
"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the Indians, which expression might be translated,"Hear! hear!"
"But," continued Cameron, "we wish to have no war. We wish to see thehatchet buried, and to see all the red men and the white men smokingthe pipe of peace, and hunting like brothers."
The "Ho--ho--ing" at this was very emphatic.
"Now," resumed the trader, "the Peigans have got two prisoners--twoPale-faces--in their camp, and as we cannot be on good terms while ourbrothers are detained, we have come to ask for them, and to _presentsome gifts_ to the Peigans."
To this there was no "Ho" at all, but a prolonged silence, which wasat length interrupted by a tall chief stepping forward to address thetrappers.
"What the Pale-face chief has said is good," began the Indian. "Hiswords are wise, and his heart is not double. The Red-men are willingto smoke the pipe of peace, and to hunt with all men as brothers, butthey cannot do it while many of their scalps are hanging in the lodgesof their enemies and fringing the robes of the warriors. The Peigansmust have vengeance; then they will make peace."
After a short pause he continued,--
"The chief is wrong when he says there are Pale-faces in the Peigancamp. The Peigans are not at war with the Pale-faces; neither havethey seen any on their march. The camp is open. Let the Pale-faceslook round and see that what we say is true."
The chief waved his hand towards his warriors as he concluded, as ifto say, "Search amongst them. There are no Pale-faces there."
Cameron now spoke to Dick in a low tone. "They speak confidently," hesaid, "and I fear greatly that your poor comrades have either beenkilled or conveyed away from the camp and hidden among the mountains,in which case, even though they should not be far off, it would benext to impossible to find them, especially when such a band ofrascals is near, compelling us to keep together. But I'll try what alittle tempting them with goods will do. At any rate, we shan't givein without a scuffle."
It now, for the first time, flashed across Dick Varley that there wassomething more than he imagined in Crusoe's restless anxiety, whichhad not in the least abated, and the idea of making use of him nowoccurred to his mind.
"I've a notion that I'll settle this matter in a shorter time than youthink," he said hurriedly, "if you'll agree to try what _threatening_will do."
The trader looked grave and undecided. "I never resort to that exceptas a last hope," he answered; "but I've a good deal of confidence inyour prudence. What would you advise?"
Dick and the trader whispered a few minutes together, while some ofthe men, in order to show the Indians how perfectly unconcerned theywere, and how ready for _anything_, took out their pipes and beganto smoke. Both parties were seated on the ground, and during thisinterval the Indians also held eager discussion.
At length Cameron stood up, and said to his men in a quiet tone, "Beready, lads, for instant action. When I give the word 'Up,' spring toyour feet and cock your guns; but _don't fire a shot till you get theword_." He then stepped forward and said,--
"The Peigan warriors are double-tongued; they know that they have hidthe Pale-face prisoners. We do not wish to quarrel, but if they arenot delivered up at once the Pale-faces and the Peigans will not befriends."
Upon this the Indian chief again stood forward and said, "The Peigansare _not_ double-tongued. They have not seen Pale-faces till to-day.They can say no more."
Without moving hand or foot, Cameron then said in a firm tone, "Thefirst Peigan that moves shall die! Up, lads, and ready!"
In the twinkling of an eye the trappers sprang to their feet, andcocking their rifles stood perfectly motionless, scowling at thesavages, who were completely taken by surprise at the unusualsuddenness and informality of such a declaration of war. Not a manmoved, for, unlike white men, they seldom risk their lives in openfight; and as they looked at the formidable row of muzzles that waitedbut a word to send instant death into their midst, they felt thatdiscretion was at that time the better part of valour.
"Now," said Cameron, while Dick Varley and Crusoe stepped up besidehim, "my young warrior will search for the Pale-face prisoners. Ifthey are found, we will take them and go away. If they are not found,we will ask the Peigans to forgive us, and will give them gifts. Butin the meantime, if a Peigan moves from the spot where he sits, orlifts a bow, my young men shall fire, and the Peigans know that therifle of the Pale-face always kills."
Without waiting for an answer, Dick immediately said, "Seek 'em out,pup," and Crusoe bound
ed away.
For a few minutes he sprang hither and thither through the camp, quiteregardless of the Indians, and snuffed the air several times, whiningin an excited tone, as if to relieve his feelings. Then he put hisnose to the ground and ran straight forward into the woods.
Dick immediately bounded after him like a deer, while the trapperskept silent guard over the savages.
For some time Crusoe ran straight forward. Then he came to a spotwhere there was a good deal of drifted snow on the ground. Herehe seemed to lose the trail for a little, and ran about in alldirections, whining in a most piteous tone.
"Seek 'em out, pup," repeated Dick encouragingly, while his own breastheaved with excitement and expectation.
In a few seconds the dog resumed its onward course, and led theway into a wild, dark spot, which was so overshadowed by trees andprecipitous cliffs that the light of the sun scarce found entrance.There were many huge masses of rock scattered over the ground, whichhad fallen from the cliffs. Behind one of these lay a mound of driedleaves, towards which Crusoe darted and commenced scraping violently.
Trembling with dread that he should find this to be the grave of hismurdered companions, Dick rushed forward and hastily cleared away theleaves. The first handful thrown off revealed part of the figure of aman. Dick's heart beat audibly as he cleared the leaves from the face,and he uttered a suppressed cry on beholding the well-known featuresof Joe Blunt. But they were not those of a dead man. Joe's eyes methis with a scowl of anger, which instantly gave place to one ofintense surprise.
"Joe Blunt!" exclaimed Dick in a voice of intense amazement, whileCrusoe snuffed round the heap of leaves and whined with excitement.But Joe did not move, neither did he speak a word in reply--for thevery good reason that his mouth was tightly bound with a band ofleather, his hands and feet were tied, and his whole body was securedin a rigid, immovable position by being bound to a pole of about hisown length.
In a moment Dick's knife was out, bands and cords were severed, andJoe Blunt was free.
"Thank God!" exclaimed Joe with a deep, earnest sigh, the instant hislips were loosened, "and thanks to _you_, lad!" he added, endeavouringto rise; but his limbs had become so benumbed in consequence of thecords by which they had been compressed that for some time he couldnot move.
"I'll rub ye, Joe; I'll soon rub ye into a right state," said Dick,going down on his knees.
"No, no, lad, look sharp and dig up Henri. He's just beside me here."
Dick immediately rose, and pushing aside the heap of leaves, foundHenri securely bound in the same fashion. But he could scarce refrainfrom laughing at the expression of that worthy's face. Hearing thevoices of Joe and Dick Varley in conversation, though unable to seetheir persons, he was filled with such unbounded amazement that hiseyes, when uncovered, were found to be at their largest possiblestretch, and as for the eyebrows they were gone, utterly lost amongthe roots of his voluminous hair.
"Henri, friend, I knew I should find ye," said Dick, cutting thethongs that bound him. "Get up if ye can; we haven't much timeto lose, an' mayhap we'll have to fight afore we're done wi' theRedskins. Can ye rise?"
Henri could do nothing but lie on his back and gasp, "Eh! possible!mon frere! Oh, non, non, _not_ possible. Oui! my broder Deek!"
Here he attempted to rise, but being unable fell back again, and thewhole thing came so suddenly, and made so deep an impression on hisimpulsive mind, that he incontinently burst into tears; then he burstinto a long laugh. Suddenly he paused, and scrambling up to a sittingposture, looked earnestly into Dick's face through his tearful eyes.
"Oh, non, non!" he exclaimed, stretching himself out at full lengthagain, and closing his eyes; "it are too goot to be true. I am dream.I vill wait till I am wake."
Dick roused him out of this, resolute sleep, however, somewhatroughly. Meanwhile Joe had rubbed and kicked himself into a state ofanimation, exclaiming that he felt as if he wos walkin' on a thousandneedles and pins, and in a few minutes they were ready to accompanytheir overjoyed deliverer back to the Peigan camp. Crusoe testifiedhis delight in various elephantine gambols round the persons of hisold friends, who were not slow to acknowledge his services.
"They haven't treated us overly well," remarked Joe Blunt, as theystrode through the underwood.
"Non, de rascale, vraiment, de am villains. Oui! How de have talk,too, 'bout--oh-o-oo-ooo-wah!--roastin' us alive, an' puttin' our scalpin de vigvam for de poo-poose to play wid!"
"Well, niver mind, Henri, we'll be quits wi' them now," said Joe, asthey came in sight of the two bands, who remained in precisely thesame position in which they had been left, except that one or two ofthe more reckless of the trappers had lit their pipes and taken tosmoking, without, however, laying down their rifles or taking theireyes off the savages.
A loud cheer greeted the arrival of the prisoners, and looks ofconsiderable discomfort began to be evinced by the Indians.
"Glad to see you, friends," said Cameron, as they came up.
"Ve is 'appy ov de same," replied Henri, swaggering up in thejoviality of his heart, and seizing the trader's hand in his ownenormous fist. "Shall ve go to vork an' slay dem all at vonce, or vonat a time?"
"We'll consider that afterwards, my lad. Meantime go you to the rearand get a weapon of some sort."
"Oui. Ah! c'est charmant," he cried, going with an immense flounderinto the midst of the amused trappers, and slapping those next tohim on the back. "Give me veapon, do, mes amis--gun, pistol,anyting--cannon, if you have von."
Meanwhile Cameron and Joe spoke together for a few moments.
"You had goods with you, and horses, I believe, when you werecaptured," said the former.
"Ay, that we had. Yonder stand the horses, under the pine-tree, alongwi' the rest o' the Redskin troop; an' a hard time they've had o't,as their bones may tell without speakin'. As for the goods," hecontinued, glancing round the camp, "I don't know where--ah! yes,there they be in the old pack. I see all safe."
Cameron now addressed the Indians.
"The Peigans," he said, "have not done well. Their hearts have notbeen true to the Pale-faces. Even now I could take your scalps whereyou sit, but white men do not like war, they do not like revenge. ThePeigans may go free."
Considering the fewness of their numbers, this was bold language touse towards the Indians; but the boldest is generally the best policyon such occasions. Moreover, Cameron felt that, being armed withrifles, while the Indians had only bows and arrows, the trappers had agreat advantage over them.
The Indian who had spoken before now rose and said he was sorry thereshould be any cause of difference between them, and added he was sorryfor a great many more things besides, but he did not say he was sorryfor having told a lie.
"But, before you go, you must deliver up the horses and goodsbelonging to these men," said Cameron, pointing to Joe and Henri.
This was agreed to. The horses were led out, the two little packscontaining Joe's goods were strapped upon them, and then the trappersturned to depart. The Indians did not move until they had mounted;then they rose and advanced in a body to the edge of the wood, to seethe Pale-faces go away. Meanwhile Joe spoke a few words to Cameron,and the men were ordered to halt, while the former dismounted and ledhis horse towards the band of savages.
"Peigans," he said, "you know the object for which I came into thiscountry was to make peace between you and the Pale-faces. I have oftentold you so when you would not listen, and when you told me that I hada double heart and told lies. You were wrong when you said this; but Ido not wonder, for you live among nations who do not fear God, andwho think it right to lie. I now repeat to you what I said before.It would be good for the Red-men if they would make peace with thePale-faces, and if they would make peace with each other. I will nowconvince you that I am in earnest, and have all along been speakingthe truth."
Hereupon Joe Blunt opened his bundle of goods, and presented fullyone-half of the gaudy and brilliant contents to the astonishedIndians, who seemed quite ta
ken aback by such generous treatment.The result of this was that the two parties separated with mutualexpressions of esteem and good-will. The Indians then returned to theforest, and the white men galloped back to their camp among the hills.
The Dog Crusoe and His Master: A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies Page 20
