CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
I EXHAUST BRUIN'S PATIENCE--MANUFACTURE SOME FISHING-LINES, AND DESCENDFROM MY PERCH IN THE TREE--CATCH A BIG FISH TO MY GREAT JOY, WITH NOLITTLE TROUBLE, AND COOK IT--MANY A SLIP BETWEEN THE SPIT AND THE LIP--MY FISH IS ADMIRABLY DRESSED BUT DISAPPEARS, THOUGH NOT DOWN MY THROAT--I SET TO WORK AGAIN AND CATCH MORE FISH--CONTINUE MY JOURNEY; AM ALMOSTSTARVED--MY AMMUNITION EXHAUSTED--SEE SOME HORSES--FALL IN WITH SOMEINDIANS--THEY PROVE TO BE FRIENDS--ACCOMPANY ME ON MY JOURNEY, ANDCONDUCT ME TO THE CAMP OF THE RAGGETS--WE REACH CALIFORNIA, WHERE ITERMINATE THE ADVENTURES WHICH I NOW GIVE TO THE PUBLIC.
I do not mind confessing that I felt anything but happy perched up atthe top of a tree in that wild American forest, with a hungry andcunning bear growling away for his breakfast below me. I too wasbeginning to feel faint for want of food. The bear seemed to know that,and to have hopes of starving me into submission. On that point,however, I determined to disappoint him. Sooner than go down and beeaten I resolved to die up in the tree, and then he would get nothingbut my dry bones for his pains. I tried his patience I saw, for hegrowled and growled louder and more fiercely, and then began to lick hispaws, as a baby does its fingers to amuse itself when hungry. Two orthree times he began to climb up the tree; but the way in which Iflourished the pole in his face, and his recollection that he could notreach me at the end of the branch to which I retired, made him speedilyagain descend. The sun was now up and warm, and it struck me that if Icould dry some of my powder I might turn the tables on him, and eat himinstead of his eating me. I therefore cleared out a hollow in a branch,into which I poured a charge of powder, and then cleaned my rifle andpicked out the touch-hole.
I was determined not to be idle, and so, remembering my fish-hooks, Iset to work to manufacture a line. The threads were short, but Iknotted them neatly. I tried the strength of each one separately, andthose which broke I strengthened with line, which I twisted up. I thussat knotting and spinning, with as much coolness as I could command,till I had finished my line, and thought my powder was dry. I then putup my line, carefully loaded my rifle, and muttered, "Now, Master Bruin,look out for yourself." Whether he divined what I was about, or hadgrown tired of waiting for his breakfast and was going elsewhere insearch of it, I cannot say, but before I could find a satisfactory restfor my piece, so as to point it down at him, he turned round and begantrotting briskly away. I instantly fired, in the hopes of obtainingsome bear steaks for my breakfast. The rifle went off, nearly knockingme over from my bough, and the ball hit him, but not in a vital part,for on he went, growling furiously, till he was lost to sight in thedepths of the forest, and I must say that I heartily hoped I might neversee his ugly face again. I suspect that I considerably damped hisappetite for breakfast. As mine was sharper than ever, and I could notmake it off bear, I descended from my perch that I might try and catchsome fish. I quickly cut a fishing-rod, and a piece of light bark toserve as a float, and my movements being hastened by hunger, in a fewminutes, having caught some creatures on the bank to serve as bait, Iwas bending over the stream as assiduously as old Izaak Walton himself.
What was my delight in a few minutes to feel a bite! I was an expertfisherman, but so great was my agitation that I could scarcely give thenecessary jerk to hook my fish. It is very different fishing forpleasure, and fishing for the pot or spit when starving. Away went thefloat bobbing down the stream. It must be done. I jerked up my rod.How breathless I felt! The fish was hooked, of that I was sure, as alsothat he was a good-sized fellow. Down the stream swam the fish, andalong the bank I followed him. I knew that my tackle was not overstrong, and I was anxious to secure a good place for landing him.
At last I reached a flat rock. "Now I will have him," I said to myself,and I drew his nose up the stream. I got sight of him through the clearwater. He was a trout, three or four pounds weight at least. What ahearty breakfast I would make of him! I felt very nervous, because asthere was very little bend in my rod, if he gave a sudden jerk he wouldtoo probably snap the line or the hook, and be out of my sight for ever.The water was somewhat deep below me, or I should have pushed into thestream and clutched him in my arms, much in the same way as the bearwould have clutched me, if he could, and with the same object. Slowlyand cautiously I drew him nearer and nearer the shore. He came alongpretty quietly. He was pretty well exhausted with his previous swim.
Had I possessed a landing-net I could have had him ashore in a moment;but I trembled when I thought of the little pliability there was at theend of my stick to counteract any sudden jerk he might give. There hewas, scarcely six feet from me, and yet I could not reach him. I drewhim still closer, kneeling down as I did so, and then lowering my rod Imade a dart at him. He was quicker than I was, and with a whisk of histail off he darted, with the hook still in his mouth, dragging the rodafter him. I made a dash at the rod, but missed it, and away it floateddown the stream. After it I went though, watching it as it bobbed upand down, and dreading lest it should catch fast among some stones, andthe fish break away. The stream was here narrow, deep, and rapid.Lower down it was broader, and I hoped might be shallow. I ran on,therefore, and found it as I had hoped. Down came the rod towards me."Was the fish on to it, though?" I seized hold of the butt-end andlifted it up. Yes, there he was. He could scarcely escape me now.Slowly I drew him up toward me, and slipping my fingers down the line,eagerly seized him by the gills. I had him fast, and was not likely tolet him go. I carried him on shore, and throwing him on the ground,speedily began to collect sticks to make a fire. Those near at handwould not burn, so I went further away from the stream to collect somemore.
While thus engaged, I saw a lynx steal out of the forest and go in thedirection of my proposed fire. I had collected as many sticks as Icould carry, and was returning as fast as I could, when I saw the lynxgo close up to where I had left my fish. It stooped down, and thentrotted on. I rushed on, as fast as my legs could carry me, till Ireached the spot. My fish was gone. I shrieked and shouted after thelynx, whirling my stick at him, but it was to no purpose. He had founda good breakfast, and was not going to give it up in a hurry. I shoutedand shrieked, and ran and ran, till at length I knocked my foot againstthe sharp end of a broken branch which brought me crying out with painto the ground. The lynx, holding the fish in his jaws, turned a look ofderision at me, as he disappeared in the forest. Did I lie there andhowl like a wounded dog? No; I should be ashamed to acknowledge it, hadI done so. Instead of that, as soon as the pain would allow me, I gotup on my feet, hobbled back to where I had left my rod, searched forsome fresh bait, and set to work to catch another fish.
Not a minute had passed before I got a bite. I quickly hooked my fish,and hauled up one of about half a pound weight. As that would not besufficient for my breakfast, I thought it would be wise to restrain myappetite till I had caught some more, as possibly when the sun rosehigher they might not bite so readily. Not half a minute passed beforeI caught a second, and in five minutes, with very little difficulty, Ihad caught as many fish as would equal the weight of the one I had lost.This time I took care to keep them about me till I had lighted my fire,and stuck them on sticks roasting round it. I kept, too, vigilant watchlest my old enemy, Bruin, or the watchful lynx should return to rob meof my repast.
One of the fish was soon sufficiently warmed to enable me to eat it, andone after the other disappeared, giving me a satisfaction which the mosthighly seasoned feast has never been able to afford. I washed the fishdown with a copious draught of water, and then felt myself ready foranything. This part of the river was evidently well supplied with fish,so before leaving it I again took my rod in hand, and in half an hourcaught enough fish to last me for a couple of days. I had lost my hatin the river, so I now made myself a curious conical-shapedhead-covering with some rushes and long grass, and what with my barelegs, my feet swathed in bandages, and my sleeveless jacket, I must havehad a very Robinson Crusoe appearance. As there was no one to see me,this was of no co
nsequence.
I now shouldered my pole and fishing-rod, and with my rifle slung at myback, continued my course.
I kept down the stream for some way; but as I had not passed the trackswhich my friends must have left, I felt convinced that they were to thenorth of the line on which I had been travelling. I therefore crossedthe stream by a ford, at which I arrived in the afternoon, and with muchregret left its pure waters to wander into what might prove an ariddesert. I had, unfortunately, nothing in which I could carry water, sothat I had to depend on the supply which I might find in my path. Ipushed on as fast as I could. It was almost night, however, before Ireached a pool of water. It was stagnant, and so bad tasted that Icould only moisten my lips with it, after I had cooked and eaten one ofmy fish. A number of birch trees were growing near. I quickly built ashanty with their bark, and with the same material formed myself amattress and an ample covering for my body.
After my long vigil on the previous night I speedily fell asleep, buteven in my slumbers I heard the occasional serenades of bears andwolves, who seemed to be the principal inhabitants of that wild region.I awoke more than once, and was convinced that the noise was a reality,and not the fancy of my brain; but I felt that unless they had come androuted me out, as the bear had on the previous night, nothing would haveinduced me to stir. Off I went to sleep; but much to my satisfactionday returned without any of them having found me out.
I need not record the adventures of each day. I suffered so much frommy feet that my progress was of necessity slow. My fish were gone, Ihad found no other friendly stream; but I hoped to come across onebefore long. I had dried the remnant of my powder. I had enough forone full charge and a little over. I loaded my rifle, still wishing, ifpossible, to keep it for my defence. This was early one morning. I hadhad no breakfast. As the day advanced I grew very hungry. A smallanimal, like a hare or rabbit, came near me. I seized a stone at myfoot and hit the creature on the leg, and broke it. Away it wentlimping, still at a rapid pace. I made chase as fast as my sore feetwould let me. I was gaining on the creature, but was afraid that, afterall, it might get into some hole and escape me. This made me exertmyself still more, when I caught sight of a burrow ahead, for which Isuspected it was making. I sprang on, hunger giving an impetus to myfeet, and not a yard from the spot I threw myself forward and caught it,as it was about to spring into the hole.
The poor creature turned an imploring look at me; but like a savage, asI felt, I speedily squeezed the life out of it, and in another tenminutes I had it skinned and roasting away before a fire of sticks,which I had in the meantime collected. I felt, as I ate the creature,what reason I had to trust in the care of Providence, for each time,when most in want, I had been amply supplied with food, and I doubt notthat, had I possessed some botanical knowledge, I should have found astill larger store of provisions in the productions of the earth. Thecreature was rather lean, so that the best half of him only served mefor a meal, and I finished the remainder at night.
The next day I was less fortunate. Towards the evening, as I wasproceeding along an elevated ridge, I saw in the valley below me a blackspot, as if a fire had been there. I hurried down to the place; I wasnot mistaken. There were the charred embers of sticks, and round itwere scattered the half-picked bones of grouse, partridges, and ducks,as if a numerous party had camped there. I looked about, but could findnothing to indicate that they were my friends, hunger made me do what Ishould not otherwise have fancied. I collected all the bones, and witha pile of sticks, left by my predecessors on the spot, I made a fire, atwhich I speedily cooked them. As there was plenty of birch-bark about,I then built a wigwam and formed a comfortable couch within it, in whichI might pass the night.
These bones were all the food I got that day. Several deer had on theprevious day come skipping around me, fearless of the approach of man.The next day again hunger assailed me. I had been wishing that somemore deer would come, when a herd came racing by, and when they saw methey all stopped staring at me, as if to ask why I had come there.
The pangs of hunger just then made me very uncomfortable. Here was anopportunity of supplying myself with food for a week to come. A fatbuck stood in the centre; I fired. The whole herd were in full flight,but the buck was wounded, I saw by the drops of blood which marked histrack; I hurried after him. What was my delight to see him stop, thenstagger and fall! I ran on. He rose and sprang forward, but it was alast effort, and the next moment he rolled over on the ground. I couldhave shouted for joy. I had now got food in abundance, and what was ofgreat consequence to my ultimate preservation, the means of covering myfeet. I finished the poor animal with a blow of my hatchet, and thenset to work to skin him and cut him up.
I had one drawback to my satisfaction. There was no wood or water near.I therefore cut off as much of the hide as would serve me for moccasinsand leggings, loaded myself with all the flesh I could carry, and struckaway towards the west. I had been unable to follow up the tracks whichled from my last sleeping-place, and this convinced me that the camp hadbeen formed by Indians. Whether they would prove friends or foes,should I fall in with them, was a question. At all events, I feltrather an inclination to avoid than to find them out.
At length I came to a wood, through which ran a stream of pure water.Sticks were quickly collected, a fire was lit, and some of my deer wasroasting away. While it was cooking, I ran down to the stream to take adraught of water and to wash my feet, and then hurried back to enjoy myrepast. I did enjoy it; and as there were still two hours more ofdaylight, and I felt my strength increased, I hurried onward.
Scarcely had I got again into the open country than I came on somerecent tracks of horses. Could my friends be ahead? There were nowheel tracks, though. A beaten track appeared. It must lead somewhere.I had not gone half a mile when I fancied that I heard the neighing ofa horse. My heart thumped away in my breast. I listened withbreathless attention. Again a horse neighed loudly. I could not bemistaken, and hurrying on I saw across a rapid stream, which passed atthe base of the hill on which I found myself, a whole herd of thosenoble animals frisking about in a wide rich meadow spread out before me.I hurried down the hill, and by the aid of my pole, though not withoutdifficulty, hurried across the stream. One of the horses as soon as Ilanded, came trotting up to me; but seeing that I was a stranger, andrather an odd-looking one too, off he went again. I thought howsatisfactory it would be if I could catch one of them to make it carryme the rest of the journey. I remembered, however, that the animalsmust belong to some one. Perhaps, however, the owner might lend one tome. Crossing the meadow, I saw before me a wreath of smoke gracefullycurling up among the trees. It must proceed from some human habitation.Was it from the hut of a white man or from the temporary encampment ofIndians? If the latter, would they prove friends or foes? Knowing thenecessity for precaution, I hid myself behind every bush and tree, tillI got into the wood, and then I advanced with equal care, looking outahead before I left my shelter, and stooping down in Indian fashion,trailing my rifle and stick after me as I made my onward way.
I soon came to an open glade, in one corner of which appeared askin-covered wigwam, before the entrance to which sat two squaws busilyengaged in some culinary occupation. If found looking about I mightnaturally have been suspected of treacherous intentions, so slinging myrifle, and grasping my pole and fishing-rod in one hand, I advanced,holding out the other. The old woman looked up, and uttered a fewgrunts, but seemed in no way alarmed. What they took me for I do notknow. I must have seemed to them rather a strange character. I hadadvanced a few paces, when two men sprang out of the hut. This was atrying moment. Greatly to my satisfaction, they stretched out theirhands in a friendly way as I hobbled on towards them. Though they hadpainted faces, and were dressed in skins, I saw by the kind expressionon their countenances that they commiserated my condition. Blood waseven then streaming from my feet. At once they lifted me up in theirarms and carried me into the hut, where they pla
ced me on a couch ofskins, and the old woman brought water from the river which flowed closeby, and washed my feet, and bound them up with salves. The pain fromwhich I had so long been suffering quickly disappeared.
They then brought me a piece of salmon, which I thought delicious, andsome soup, which, under other circumstances, I might have thoughtsuspicious. This, with some roots which they roasted, made up a repastmore refreshing than I had eaten for a long time.
I could not speak a word of their language, nor did they understandEnglish, but I tried by signs to make them comprehend that I had partedfrom my companions, and that I wished to get to them. At last theyappeared to fancy that they comprehended me, for they nodded and smiled,and uttered the same sounds of satisfaction over and over again. Theysignified, however, by their gestures, that I must sleep in the hut thatnight, but that on the following morning, as soon as the sun rose, wewould set off on our journey.
I offered them the deer's flesh which I had slung about me, and whichthey seemed to value. Just before dark, however, they brought me inanother salmon, which I preferred to the somewhat high flavoured meat.I cannot describe how I enjoyed that night's rest. I had perfectconfidence in my hosts, and I had no longer the dread of being visitedby a wandering bear or prowling wolf. I felt like a new being when,next morning, the good-natured Indian roused me from my slumbers. Therushing sound of waters invited me to take a bath, and going down to theriver, I stretched my limbs with a pleasant swim, and then returned toenjoy a hearty breakfast on salmon, roots, and some decoction whichserved the purpose of tea. My hosts, too, had provided some newmoccasins in which to shield my feet.
It was a completely patriarchal establishment. There was an old fatherand four sons, with an old mother, and another old woman and the wivesof the younger men, and eight or ten children. The skin-covered huts ofthe younger couples were close at hand, under the trees. The old manand his eldest son now brought up three horses, they mounted me on one,and they leaped on the others. A deerskin served as a saddle, and roughthongs of leather as a bridle.
I wished all the family a hearty good-bye, resolved in future to thinkbetter of Indians than I had done, and off we set. How delightful itwas to move along over the prairie at the rate of eight or ten miles anhour, instead of creeping along with suffering feet, as I had been solong doing. I travelled on two whole days on a westerly course with myIndian friends. I could not hold much conversation with my guides,except by signs, but we soon appeared to understand each other perfectlywell.
I made out that we were approaching the camp of my old companions, andas I drew nearer my eagerness increased to be once more among them.After a time I saw wreaths of white smoke curling up from a valley belowus. They must proceed from a considerable encampment. The Indians andI rode on in silence, till I heard voices, which I judged came from thespot where I had seen the smoke ascending. Presently a boy, whom Irecognised as one of the emigrant children, ran back, shouting out,"Injins--Injins!" His cries brought out the Raggets, and a number of myfriends with rifles in their hands, ready to do battle in case ofnecessity. They saw that we were peaceably disposed; but they did notrecognise me till I was in the middle of them, and had addressed them byname.
I was cordially welcomed. In truth, most of them had given me up forlost. They showed that they placed some value on me by loading myIndian friends with presents.
I am sorry to say that I must bring my adventures in the Far West to aconclusion. We struck our tents next morning, and continued ourjourney. After a variety of adventures we reached California, and atonce proceeded to the gold-diggings. Most of the party separated andworked for themselves. The Raggets kept together, and were the onlyfamily who succeeded in securing an independence. For myself I will saynothing, but that I was thankful to find myself back in old England, ifnot a richer, I hope at all events a wiser man, than when I left itsdeservedly well-loved shores.
THE END.
Dick Onslow Among the Redskins Page 21
