CHAPTER TEN.
MY SPRAINED ANKLE--MIKE'S DEVOTION--REUBEN BROUGHT TO THE CAMP--THEINDIANS BIND US TO TREES--THE DEBATE ON OUR FATE--I AM RELEASED BY SANDYMCCOLL--OLD SAMSON AGAIN--THE SECRET CAVERN--SAMSON IS VERY KIND ANDATTENTIVE TO ME--HIS CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY ACCOUNT OF THE BURNING OF THESETTLEMENT, AND THE RESCUE OF LILY AND ME WHEN CHILDREN--I RECOVER, ANDSAMSON AND I LEAVE THE CAVERN TO RECONNOITRE--THE INDIAN MASSACRE--SANDY, REUBEN, AND MIKE ARE HOTLY PURSUED--OUR FORTRESS BESIEGED--WEHOLD OUT, AND BEAT OFF OUR BESIEGERS--OUR START--THE ELK.
The Indians, instead of binding Mike, as I expected they would do,allowed him to come and sit by me under the tree; narrowly watching him,however, though they did not interfere with us.
"Faix, thin, Masther Roger, I don't think these Ridskin gintlemen can beintending to do us much harm, or they would not be afther letting us sitso quietly by ourselves," he observed.
"I am not so confident of that, Mike," I answered. "We must wait tillthe rest come up, to judge how they will treat us; at all events, Iwould advise you, when you get the chance, to mount one of their besthorses and gallop off. I am afraid that I shall be unable to make theattempt, or I would try it."
"Why, thin, Masther Roger, would you be afther belaving that I would goand desart you? Even if they were to bring me a horse, and tell me tomount and be off, it would break me heart intirely to think that I hadleft you to their tinder mercies. Whativer they do to you, they may doto me; and I'll stop and share iverything with you."
"I deeply feel your generosity, Mike," I said; "but you might have savedyourself and got back to the waggons, had you not attempted to carry meoff, and I therefore wish you to try and escape if you have theopportunity."
Mike laughed and shook his head; and when I still urged him to escape ifhe could, he put on that look of stolidity which an Irishman so wellknows how to assume, and refused to reply to any of my remarks.
While we had been talking, the Indian I had seen following usapproached, having slowly walked his horse, which had apparently beenlamed. I now caught sight of the person behind him, and with muchconcern recognised my friend Reuben. One of our captors assisted him todismount; and Reuben, with his hands bound, was dragged forward to ashort distance from us, where he was compelled to sit down on theground, the Indians intimating by signs that he must not move. Helooked very melancholy, evidently imagining that he was soon to be putto death. I tried to cheer him up by telling him that we had not beenill-treated.
"That may be," he answered; "but I know their treacherous nature.Depend upon it, when they all eat together, and talk over the number oftheir warriors who have been slain, they will wreak their vengeance uponus. Are you prepared to die, Roger? We must make up our minds forthat, and we may consider ourselves fortunate if we are not scalped andflayed first. I have often read, with very little concern, of thedreadful tortures the Redskins inflict on their prisoners, littledreaming that I should ever have to suffer the same."
"It is not wise to anticipate evil," I said. "Let us hope for the best;and perhaps means may be offered us, that we do not now think of, tomake our escape."
"I don't see where they can come from," he replied. "These fellows keeptoo sharp a look-out on us to give us a chance. Look there! here comethe whole tribe of savages, and they will soon settle our fate."
He pointed as he spoke to a large number of horsemen galloping acrossthe country from different directions, towards us. They halted outsidethe wood, and several of them appeared to be wounded; but they did notallow themselves to exhibit any sign of suffering. Having taken thesaddles and bridles from their horses, the greater number led them downtowards the water to drink; while six, who, from their more ornamentaldresses, appeared to be chiefs, advanced towards us. Their principalman, or head chief, spoke to us; but as we could not understand what hesaid, we knew that it would be useless to reply. He then pointed toMike and me, and addressed a few words to his companions. They nodded,and we were led to separate trees, to which we were bound, with ourhands secured behind us in a very unpleasant fashion.
Matters now began to look more serious than at first. Darkness wascoming on, and our captors lighted a large fire near to the spot wherewe were bound, and those among them who acted the part of cooks begandressing the evening meal. They then sat down to discuss it--anoperation which was soon concluded. We in the meantime were left boundto the trees, watching what was going on. After supper, a similar firehaving been lighted near where we were bound, the principal Indians tooktheir seats round it and began to smoke their long pipes, while, as Isuspected, they deliberated on our fate. They were some little distanceoff, but the flames from the fire cast a red glow on their figures, andenabled me to observe the expression of the countenances of those turnedtowards me, from which, with painful anxiety, I endeavoured to learn howthey were disposed towards us. Though I could hear their voices, Icould not understand a word that was said.
After talking for some time, one of them, whose back, however, wastowards me, got up and addressed his companions. He spoke at somelength, and I would have given much to know what he was saying. Hisspear he held with one hand; with the other he pointed, now to the sky,now to some unseen distant object, now he waved it in the air. Theother Indians gazed up at his countenance, as if greatly moved by hisaddress; but whether he was pleading for us or advocating our death, Icould by no means discover. In vain I listened to catch any words Imight understand.
At last he brought his address to a conclusion, and sat down; whenanother slowly rose and commenced a harangue which was equallyunintelligible to me. Still, I felt very sure that the discussion wasone on which our lives depended; and, judging from the countenances ofthe Indians, I was nearly certain that they intended to kill us.
The next speaker was even more long-winded than the first. I thoughtthat he would never bring his address to a conclusion.
A fourth man got up. His face was also turned away from me. His actionwas more vehement than that of his predecessors, and the tones of hisvoice afforded me but very little hope of mercy from his hands.
While he was speaking, another Indian, whom I had not hitherto seen,stalked into the circle, and regarding the speaker with a fixed and, asI thought, somewhat contemptuous look, sat himself down among theothers. His appearance evidently created a considerable amount ofastonishment, little as the natives are accustomed to show theirfeelings. So soon as the last had ceased speaking, he rose andaddressed the assembly. As he did so, it struck me that he bore astrong resemblance to Manilick, though he was much more gaudily dressedthan I had ever seen that young chief.
All eyes were turned towards him as he spoke, and scarcely had hecommenced when I heard a voice whisper in my ear, "Trust to me!" At thesame moment I felt that the thongs which bound me were being cut, andthe next instant I was at liberty; but, recollecting my sprained ankle,I feared that it would not avail me. To my surprise, however, when Itried to move I found that I could do so without much pain.
I slipped round the tree, when I felt my hand grasped by that of mydeliverer, who, discovering that I could move but slowly, stooped downand lifted me on his back. The darkness prevented me from seeing who hewas, but I felt convinced, from his dress and the tone of his voice,that he was a white man. He moved along cautiously under the treestowards the bank of the river.
"Can you swim?" he asked in a low voice, "Yes--like a fish," I answered.
"Then we will take to the river at once. There are horses waiting onthe opposite side, lower down. We can float with the current till wereach them," he continued.
We were not more than three or four minutes in reaching the bank, and weat once glided in so as to create no splash.
"Strike out towards the middle of the river," he whispered; "but do soas gently as possible."
I followed his directions, and found that I could swim without any painto my ankle.
"Now throw yourself on your back, and we will float down with thecurrent," he said.
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p; We could all this time hear the voice of the Indian addressing theassembly of warriors. So intent were they in listening to what he wassaying, that they had evidently not discovered my escape.
"Can nothing be done to save my companions?" I asked, thinking of thedreadful fate which might await Reuben and Mike.
"Others will look after them," he answered. "Don't speak, lest thewater should convey your voice to the shore."
After we had gone some distance he told me to turn round again and swim,so that we might make more progress.
"Now make for the shore," he said.
In a short time we gained a spot where the trees grew close down to thebank. Climbing up there, he led me through the wood. On the furtherside I found a man holding three horses.
"Glad to get you out of the clutches of the Indians, my son Reuben," hesaid.
"I am not Reuben," I answered; "but I heartily wish that he had escaped.I am Roger Penrose."
"Why, Sandy McColl, I told you to try and set Reuben at liberty; thoughI am glad to see you, Roger," said the speaker, whom I now recognised asthe old trapper, Samson Micklan.
"I should have been discovered if I had attempted to reach the twoothers, for they were much nearer the fire; and, in truth, I could notdistinguish one from the other," said Sandy.
"Well, we must see what can be done to rescue Reuben and the Irishman,"said old Samson. "Our friend Manilick promised to plead for you andMike, and, should he fail, to come and let me know; and he will, Itrust, exert his influence in favour of Reuben, when he finds that youhave got off. At all events, the Indians will not put their prisonersto death till they get back to their lodges, and we must try and setthem at liberty before then. Though they have vowed to have my hair, Ifear them not, for I have outwitted them a hundred times--and intend tooutwit them as many more, if I have the chance. But we must not delayhere, for when they find that you have got away they will suspect thatyou took to the river, and will scour the banks in search of you."
Anxious as I was to save my friends, I had no wish again to fall intothe hands of the Indians, I therefore very readily mounted one of thehorses.
"If you, Samson, will go on to the cave with this young man, I willreturn and try to help the others," said Sandy. "Maybe, while theIndians are looking for me, they may leave them unguarded, and I mayhave a chance of carrying out my object."
"That's what we'll do, then," answered old Samson. "I needn't tell youto be cautious, because I know that you will be so."
As he spoke, Samson threw himself on one of the horses, and took therein of the third. "We shall better deceive the Redskins if we takethis one with us," he observed. "They may possibly discover that it hasno rider; but it will puzzle them, at all events, if they come upon ourtrail, and they will be less likely to suspect that you are watchingthem."
"Don't fear for me," answered Sandy. "I'll keep my wits about me; andif the other two can make good use of their legs, we will overtake youbefore long, should I manage to set them free. If I am caught, why, Ishall only suffer the fate I have often thought would be my lot."
Saying this, Sandy again plunged into the wood out of which we had come;while Samson and I galloped away across the country. It was too dark todiscern objects at any distance, but my companion seemed to bethoroughly acquainted with the ground. At last I saw before me a hill,rising out of the plain. As I got nearer, I observed that the sides andsummit in many places were covered with trees; in others, it was barrenand rocky. We directed our course towards a gap in the hillside, upwhich we wound our way.
"Can you walk?" asked old Samson.
"I will try," I answered, imitating his example and dismounting--when Isoon found that I could get on better than I should have supposedpossible.
He led two of the horses, while I followed with the third; but, passingamid the trees, the animals had to lower their heads to enable them tocreep under the boughs.
On getting out of the wood, I found that we were proceeding up a steepzigzag path, along which two people could not make their way abreast.At last we reached a narrow terrace, with a few trees growing on it. Wemade our way between them till Samson entered a cavern, the mouth ofwhich would admit only a horse, or, at the utmost, a couple of personsat a time. I followed; and having gone through this narrow archway,Samson told me to stop. He then, using his flint and steel, lighted atorch, and by the flame I discovered that we were in a large vaultedchamber. On one side there were some rude stalls, and litter forhorses; on the other, a couple of rough bunks, and a table and somestools, showed that it was used as a human habitation.
"This is my home and fortress," said Samson. "I come to it occasionallywhen tired of hunting; and I always keep here a store of provisions. Atthe further end is a spring of water, so that I might hold it for anylength of time against a host of foes. I have never as yet beenattacked, for the Indians know that they could not attempt to drive meout with impunity, and think it wiser to leave me and my companionunmolested."
I asked him how he came to know that we had been captured by theIndians.
"Because I witnessed with my own eyes what happened," he answered. "Iwas on the hillside overlooking the train, but had no time to warn youof the approach of the enemy, nor could I at first help you; but I sawyou three carried off, and then made my way here to get the assistanceof Sandy, who had remained at home, as well as the three horses."
I asked him if he thought that our friends had escaped.
"I know that the Indians were beaten off," he answered; "but whether anyof the emigrants were killed or wounded, I cannot say. They continuedtheir course, and must have encamped shortly afterwards by the side ofthe river. They will there have formed a strong camp, which the Indianswill not venture to attack. Their road will lead them not far fromthis, when you can rejoin them, and I will pay them a visit."
"But I could not show my face among them without Reuben and Mike. Ishould feel as if I had deserted my friends, without attempting torescue them," I said.
"A very right spirit, my lad," answered old Samson; "but you could havedone nothing, and would only have lost your life if you had made theattempt. Sandy has a long head on his shoulders, and a brave heart; andif any man can circumvent the Redskins, he can. He has a good drop oftheir blood in his veins, with the brains of a white man, and knows alltheir ways."
These assurances somewhat relieved my mind. The exertions I had made,however, had brought on the pain in my foot; and after having eaten somefood which Samson gave me, I was thankful, by his advice, to lie down inSandy's bunk. I slept, but not soundly, for I fancied that I heard thevoices of the Indians consulting as to our fate; and then, in my dreams,I saw them approaching with their scalping-knives to take the hair offmy head. Such being the character of my dreams, I was glad to awake andfind myself in comparative safety.
Old Samson was listening at the entrance of the cave. He had, I found,the means of barricading it with stout timbers, so that no foes couldforce their way in without paying dearly for the attempt. I rose fromthe bunk, intending to join him, but he told me to lie quiet. I obeyed,and was soon asleep; and when I again awoke daylight was streamingthrough the entrance. I looked round, but Samson was not to be seen.
On attempting to get up, I found that my ankle was much swollen, andthat I could not walk. With a groan I sank back again on the bunk, andwaited anxiously for Samson, wondering what had become of him. Thehorses were still there, munching their fodder, so he was not likely tohave gone far. At last I saw him at the entrance.
"Well, lad, you may get up now, and have some breakfast," he said.
I told him that I could not walk, as I was suffering severely from myankle.
"That's a bad job," he observed; "I intended to have moved away fromthis. There are more Redskins in the neighbourhood than I like, as nogame can be got while they are here."
I asked if Sandy had appeared, and brought any tidings of Reuben andMike.
"No," he answered; "for the reason I have
given, they could not maketheir way across the country in daylight. But that is no reason whySandy should not have succeeded. He may have set them at liberty, andconcealed them and himself in some other place. There are several caveslike this in different directions, which seem to be made by nature asrefuges from the Indians. The only difficulty is to get to them withoutbeing tracked, as it is always a hard job to escape the keen eyes of theRedskins, although the horsemen of the plains are not so clever intracking a foe as those who go on the war-path on foot. That makes mehope that we shall hear of our friends, though it may be some timehence."
These remarks of old Samson again somewhat relieved my mind. I thenasked him when he thought that the emigrant-train would pass by; andwhether he could manage to let me join it on horseback, for I thoughtthat I could ride although I could not walk.
"I much doubt whether it will pass this way at all," he answered. "Itwill either turn back, or, if the leader is a man of judgment, he willconduct it by a different route, further to the south. Your uncles, MrClaxton, and their companions are brave men, but they will not wish toencounter the savage hordes who have assembled to stop their progress onthe road they intended taking."
I was very glad to hear this opinion from one who was so well able tojudge rightly, and I felt more reconciled than I otherwise should havebeen at remaining inactive; for, as to moving, unless I was placed onhorseback, I knew that was impossible. As far as I could tell, it mightbe many days before I could recover, as a sprain, I was aware, isfrequently as difficult to cure as a broken bone; still, I did not liketo keep old Samson in the cave, should he wish to go out for the purposeof ascertaining what had become of Sandy. I told him that I should notbe at all afraid of staying by myself, if he could manage to close theentrance behind him.
"I have no desire to show myself on the plain, or I should have a dozenRedskins galloping after me; and though I should not fear to meet twiceas many, provided I could take shelter behind some big trees, I wouldrather not meet them where I should be exposed to their arrows," heanswered. "We must make up our minds to be prisoners for some days tocome; and keep a constant watch, too, lest they should get upon ourtrail, and find their way up here."
"But how can you manage to keep watch alone? You will require somesleep," I observed.
"Two or three hours are quite sufficient for me; and they are not likelyto attack us for the first hour or two before and after midnight," heanswered. "If they come at all during the night, it will be soon afterdark, or just before dawn. I know their ways, and have thus beenfrequently enabled to get some necessary rest, even when I knew thatthey were on my trail."
"But you would surely be better for more than two or three hours ofsleep; and if you will drag my bunk to the door, I will keep watch whileyou rest."
To this he would not agree. "You require all the sleep that you canget," he said. "No enemy, either, is able to break in on us unawares.I have made arrangements in case of an attack, as you would have seen,had you examined the entrance. There is a thick door which can be slidacross it; and in the door several loopholes, so that Sandy and I couldhold it against any number of Indians who might manage to make their wayup the hill."
From what old Samson had said, I fully expected that the cave would beattacked; for I did not suppose that the Indians, scouring the country,would fail to observe our tracks.
The entrance was always kept closed, and we should have been in darknesshad it not been for a rude lamp, fed by bear or deer fat, which stood onthe table. The old hunter and his companion had stored up a largesupply of dried grass for the horses, so that it was not necessary toturn them out to feed. He allowed me to sleep as much as I could, andwhen I was awake he generally seemed disposed to enter intoconversation. He told me many of his adventures and escapes fromIndians, and appeared to like to have me talk to him, and to hear allabout my uncles, Aunt Hannah, and Lily.
One day I began repeating to him the history Uncle Mark had given me ofhis and Uncle Stephen's arrival in America. As I went on, I saw that hewas listening with more and more interest; and when I described how, onreaching the village where my parents had lived, they found it burnt tothe ground, and discovered Lily and me, and our murdered mothers, heexclaimed--
"Did your uncles learn the name of the little girl's mother?"
"No," I answered; "she died before she had time to utter it, and couldonly commit her infant to their charge."
"Strange!" exclaimed the old man. "I had a daughter, my only child,living in that village; and she, with her husband and babe, were, I hadevery reason to suppose, slaughtered by the savages who attacked theplace. Yet it is possible that their infant may be the very one youruncles saved; but, alas! I can never be sure of that."
"But I think that you may have very satisfactory proofs whether or notLily is your daughter's child," I answered, "for Aunt Hannah hascarefully preserved her clothing, and some ornaments which her motherwore, and which you may be able to recognise."
"That I certainly should," said old Samson, "for I had but a few daysbefore parted from my daughter to proceed eastward. On hearing of themassacre, I returned; but finding the whole village a mass of blackenedashes, and being unable to gain any tidings of the beings I loved beston earth, I had no doubt left on my mind that they had all perished.Having thus no one to care for, I took to the life I have since led--which I had before only occasionally followed, after the death of mywife and the marriage of my daughter, for the sake of the sport itafforded me."
From this time forward old Samson constantly spoke about Lily; and,persuaded by his own hopes that she was his grand-daughter, he seemed tobe fully convinced that such was the case. His anxiety to see her, andto examine the clothes and ornaments which Aunt Hannah had preserved,increased every day; but how were we to find Lily and Aunt Hannah? Hadour friends turned back; or had they pushed forward, fighting their waysuccessfully towards the fertile region to which they were bound?Neither he nor I could bring ourselves to contemplate what mightotherwise have happened--had they been overwhelmed by the hordes ofsavages, and met the fearful fate which had overtaken the smaller bandwhose remains we had discovered?
The old trapper went out every day to ascertain if the Indians had movedaway from the plain below us--should he find the country open, heintended, he said, to go in search of Sandy, and those he might haverescued--but he as often returned with the information that the Indiansstill occupied the country. I, of course, greatly hampered him, for hewould not leave me in the cavern for long together. Had he been byhimself, he could easily have started at night and made his escape.
Gradually my ankle regained strength, and Samson now made me get up andwalk about to try it. Unwilling longer to detain him, I at lastdeclared that it was quite well, making light of the pain I still feltwhen I walked, and begged to accompany him the next time he went out.He consented. "But you must not go without a weapon; and you can use itwell, I know," he observed, as he drew a rifle from under his bunk. Heproduced also a powder-horn, which I slung over my shoulder, and a bagof bullets. The great drawback to our place of concealment was, thatalthough well hidden from the sight of those in the plain, we had to gosome distance before we could obtain a view of the surrounding country.
Leaving the horses in the stable, and the entrance open, we set out.Then going some distance down the hill, we made our way through thethick wood which covered its sides, and were just emerging into the openspace, when, through the bushes, I caught sight of several horsemengalloping across the country. I made a sign to my companion to keepconcealed, and crept forward on my hands and knees. As I looked out, Idiscovered the object of the Indians. A solitary waggon had just comeinto view, and they were about to attack it.
I drew cautiously back, for though the Indian warriors were probablyintent on the business in hand, their keen eyes might have detected me.I asked Samson if we could assist the unfortunate people in the waggon.
"I fear not," he answered. "We might kill a few of the Redskin
s; butunless the travellers possess a number of rifles, and make a bold stand,we cannot help them. We will, however, be ready to take a part if wehave opportunity."
As the horsemen approached, three rifles alone opened fire upon themfrom behind the waggon. One of their number fell, but several dashedforward; while others, circling round, prepared to attack the devotedemigrants from the opposite side. The affair, which was a short one,was dreadful to witness. We should, I saw well enough, lose our livesdid we show ourselves. Indeed, before we could have got up to thewaggon, all its defenders were killed by the savages surrounding it; andwe knew too well that those inside must, according to their cruelcustom, have been put to death, whether women or children. The Indiansof the plains have no compassion either for age or sex. The dreadfulthought occurred to me that those we had seen slaughtered might be ourown friends. It was evident, however, from his calmness, that the ideaof such a thing had not crossed old Samson's mind.
After plundering the waggon of everything they considered of value, thesavages set it on fire. While it was burning, and they were stillgathered round it, a dreadful explosion took place, scatteringdestruction among them. Panic-stricken, and not knowing what might nexthappen, the survivors mounted their horses and galloped off. A keg ofpowder, which they must have overlooked, had probably exploded.
"They deserve their punishment," said the old man, "and they will notcome back again in a hurry; so we may now descend into the plain, andsee if we can learn who the unfortunate people were."
This was what I was wishing to do. We accordingly left the wood andmade our way down the hill, towards the remains of the waggon. We hadnot got far, however, when we caught sight of three horsemen gallopingacross the plain towards us. My companion scrutinised them narrowly.
"If they are friends, they have reason for their hurry; and if enemies,the sooner we get under cover the better," he observed. "We must notnow attempt to reach the waggon. Ah! I understand all about it. See!out there come a dozen or more horsemen. They must be Indians inpursuit of the first--who, if I mistake not, are our friends. Come on,Roger! they will reach the hill as soon as we do."
As he said this we retreated to the foot of the hill, and began to climbit as rapidly as we could.
"But, if these are our friends, will they find their way to the cave?"I asked.
"Yes, yes! Sandy knows it as well as I do," he answered, withoutstopping.
We were just approaching the entrance of the cave, when the war-whoopsof the Indians, and their loud cries, as they shouted to each other,reached our ears.
"They are making their way up the hill," said Samson. "Get inside, lad,and prepare to close the entrance when I tell you."
The loud rustling sound of persons making their way through thebrushwood was heard, and presently Sandy, accompanied by Reuben andMike, sprang out from among the trees, and rushed towards the mouth ofthe cavern.
"No time to be lost," sang out Sandy. "The Redskins are at our heels!"
In a moment they were all three within the cave. Old Samson was stilloutside, and I saw him lift his rifle and fire. At the same moment twoarrows flew past his head--one sticking in the woodwork, the otherentering the cavern--and just then I caught sight of the fiercecountenances of half-a-dozen red warriors who were making their waybetween the trees. Their leader, springing forward tomahawk in hand,nearly reached Samson; when, with the agility of a far younger man, hesprang through the opening, and I immediately closed the door--the sharpblade of the weapon burying itself deep in the wood.
"Now, we'll give it them!" exclaimed Samson, as he and Sandy openedthree of the concealed loopholes, through which we thrust the barrels ofour rifles and fired on our assailants. Their leader fell dead, shotthrough the heart by Samson. Two others were severely wounded, butnumbers were following them, and rushing forward with their hatchets,dealt desperate blows on the door.
"You may cut away pretty hard, my laddies, before you break that in,"observed Sandy, as he reloaded his rifle. Samson and I were doing thesame, and again we fired; but most of the Indians, knowing the time weshould take to do that, sprang aside, and only one of them was hit.
"You will find two more rifles in yonder chest," said Samson to Reubenand Mike. "Quick! load them, and we'll astonish the Redskins."
While he was speaking, the blows on the door were redoubled, and inspite of its strength it appeared every instant as if it would give way.Samson was, in the meantime, ramming down his charge, and again hisrifle sent forth its deadly contents. Instead of firing together, wenow followed each other, allowing a few seconds to elapse between eachshot, thus making our assailants afraid of approaching the door. Weguessed that they were collected on either side, where our rifles couldnot reach them.
In a couple of minutes or so Reuben and Mike had found the rifles, andloaded them.
"Now!" said Samson, "you two and Roger fire together; and then Sandy andI will take your places, and try what we can do."
We waited till the savages, losing patience, again attacked the doorwith their axes, in a way which threatened each instant to bring itdown, when we all three ran out the muzzles of our rifles and fired.Another savage was, at all events, hit; but they had been on the watch,and had actively sprung, some on one side and some on the other, so thatwe could not be certain what execution had been done. The moment,however, that our rifles were withdrawn, as many as could attack thedoor leaped forward, and began hacking away with greater fury thanbefore. Scarcely had the first strokes been given when Samson and Sandyfired into their midst, killing two of the most determined--the bulletspassing through the bodies of the first and wounding others behind them.Five rifles, however, were more than they were prepared to encounter.They must have guessed that we had increased our number, for, with criesof rage and disappointment, they deserted the door and got undershelter.
"Hurrah! we have beaten them," I cried out, and was turning to Reuben toshake hands, and to ask how he and Mike had escaped, when Samsonobserved--
"We must not be too sure that they will not make another attempt, forthey are up to all sorts of tricks, and will not give in so easily."
"What are they likely to do?" I asked.
"Try to burn us out," answered Samson. "But we must be prepared, andshow them that five well-handled rifles can cope with all the arrows andhatchets among them. We do not lack ammunition, and might stand thesiege for a month or more."
Samson's surmises were correct. Though we could not see the Indians, weheard their voices, and the sound of chopping, and presently a bundle offagots was thrown down in front of the door.
"Stand ready," said Samson, "and fire, if we can catch sight of one ofthem through the loopholes."
Another and another fagot followed, but as yet so carefully had theybeen thrown that we could not get a shot. It appeared to me that theywere dropped from above. The pile was increasing, and soon risinghigher than the loopholes, prevented us from seeing any one. Presentlywe heard the sound of crackling, and the flames rapidly caught the pile.
"Close the loopholes," said Samson. "We'll keep out the smoke as longas we can. The door is tough, too, and will stand the flames betterthan our enemies suppose."
We all stood with our rifles in our hands, ready for any emergency.
"Should the door burn through and the cavern fill with flames, we mustrush out, lads, rather than be stifled; and we may be pretty sure ofknocking over four or five Redskins, if they stop to give us thechance," said Samson, who had not for a moment lost his calm manner."It may be the smoke won't be more than we can bear. See! I amprepared for everything." He pointed to a mass of woodwork, which leantagainst the wall of the cavern. It was longer than the width of thedoor, and of a height which would enable us to fire over it. "This willserve as a barricade," he said. "When the Indians fancy that they aregoing to get in without difficulty, they will find themselves stopped ina way they little expect."
The crackling sound of the flames increased, and thin wrea
ths of smokefound their way in through the crevices between the woodwork and therock; still the stout door resisted the fire, which we began to hopemight burn itself out without igniting our defences. We could hear thevoices of the Indians outside. They were, we guessed, piling up morefagots, as the others had burned down.
Sandy put his hand to the door. "It's getting very hot," he said.
"Well, then," exclaimed old Samson, "we must get our barricade ready,should the door give way, and then crouch down behind it. The nearer weare to the ground, the less we shall suffer from the smoke."
We accordingly dragged the heavy piece of woodwork from the place whereit had been standing, to the position it was to occupy, where we laid itflat on the ground. It was at the proper moment to be lifted up, andsupported by stout pieces of timber, serving as props, on the innerside. It would thus shelter us, and prevent our enemies from entering.
The door took even longer than we had expected to burn through; but atlast, here and there, the forked flames were seen making their waythrough it, and after this its complete destruction was rapid. Down theupper part came with a crash, followed by the shouts of the Indians, anda shower of arrows--which, however, flew over our heads. No furtherattempts were made to increase the pile of fagots; our foes supposingthat their work was accomplished, and that, even were we not suffocatedby the smoke, we should speedily become their victims. We knew that theIndians were not likely to rush through the flames; we therefore waitedconcealed on either side, behind the rock, till they had somewhatsubsided.
Old Samson listened eagerly for any sounds which might indicate that theattack was about to be recommenced.
"Now, lads! up with the barricade!" he shouted out; and with one unitedeffort we lifted it from the ground, directly across the doorway.Scarcely was it securely fixed before the Indians, who had not perceivedwhat we were about, leaped over the burning embers and came rushing on.Our five rifles rang out together, and as many Redskins bit the dust.The rest found themselves stopped by the barricade; and with thecrowbars which we had used to get it in position we struck furiously attheir heads, beating them back into the hot embers, where several ofthem, stunned by our blows, were quickly suffocated, or burned to death.The remainder, believing success hopeless, fled from the spot, and madetheir way down the hill to where they had left their horses. On this wedashed out and followed them, picking off several more. We should havepursued them further, had not their numbers made it prudent for us toremain under shelter of the wood.
On reaching their steeds they mounted and galloped off. In their hasteto attack us, they had not taken the trouble to destroy the horses whichSandy, Reuben, and Mike had ridden, and which were grazing at a littledistance. Having caught them without much difficulty, we returned withthem to the cave.
"This will no longer be a secure hiding-place for us," observed Samson,"for the Indians are sure ere long to come back and attempt to revengethemselves. They will watch day after day for weeks together, till theysee some of us go out in search of game; and they will then manage toget between us and the cave, so as to cut us off. I can pretty wellguess the sort of tricks they will try to play us; and it is not alwayseasy to circumvent them."
Samson's advice was not to be despised. The Indians, however, were notlikely to come back that day, so that we might take some hours' restbefore preparing for our departure--our wish being to try and ascertainthe course followed by the emigrant-train, which we would then endeavourto overtake. This, as we had horses, we might hope to do in the courseof a week or ten days, even supposing that it had pushed forward withoutany stoppages.
With such ammunition and provisions as we could carry, we started on ourjourney just after the sun had gone down, as Samson thought it prudentto get some distance ahead during the hours of darkness, so that, shouldour enemies be on the look-out for us, we might escape unobserved.
Well-armed and well mounted as we were, we did not fear any ordinaryband, possessed only of bows and arrows, we were likely to encounterwhile on the road. Our chief danger would lie in being attacked whileencamped at night. To guard as much as possible against surprise, wechose a spot difficult of access, or one by the side of a broad stream,with a few trees which might afford us shelter, without concealing theapproach of our foes; or else we threw up a breastwork of logs andbranches, behind which we could be protected from the arrows of ourassailants. The old trapper and Sandy were adepts at makingarrangements of this kind, and were never at a loss. Of course, one ofthe party, or sometimes two, kept guard; our horses being hobbled near,as we always chose localities where there was an abundance of grass. Wecould thus, in case of alarm, immediately bring them in under suchprotection as we had formed for ourselves. They, of course, ran agreater risk of being shot than we did, but that could not be helped.
I had naturally been curious to know how Reuben and Mike had escapedfrom the Indians. Reuben told me that he had given himself up for lostwhen he heard the chiefs discussing, as he supposed, what they should dowith us. Each in succession made a long speech, becoming more vehementas they proceeded. He fully expected to be flayed alive, or roastedover a slow fire, or shot to death with arrows aimed so as to avoidvital parts. He had not recognised Manilick, and was therefore notaware that we had a friend in the council. The warriors at last ceasedspeaking, when he saw one approaching with uplifted tomahawk, which hefully expected would be buried in his brain. What was his surprise tofind, instead, the thongs which bound him severed, and to feel himselfat liberty! He stood for a moment or two irresolute, not knowing whatto do.
"Run! my friend, run!" said the Indian; "make for the river, and youwill escape."
He was not slow to obey the command, but before doing so he lookedwistfully at Mike, whose bonds were also cut, as his had been, and bythe same friendly Indian. Mike immediately started off with him, butthey had not got far when they met Sandy, who had been on the watch forthem; and all three slipping noiselessly into the stream, swam acrossit. On landing, Sandy led them on foot at a rapid pace to a rocky hillsome five or six miles away from the river. Having proceeded along it,the nature of the ground being such that even an Indian could notdiscover their trail, Sandy led them to a cave very similar to the onewe had occupied. Here, he assured them, they would run little risk ofbeing discovered. Sandy supplied them with game, and finally succeededin getting possession of three horses, which he managed to carry offfrom the Indians. He did not call it "stealing" them, observing thatthey had all doubtless been taken from white men. On these they hadfinally made their escape and joined us, though, as we had seen, hotlypursued.
I asked Reuben if he liked the sort of life we were leading.
"I shall be very thankful to find myself safe in some settlement wherethe war-whoops of the Indians are not likely to be heard," he answered."I used to like to hear about such adventures as we are going through,but I confess that I consider them very unpleasant realities."
I was very much inclined to agree with Reuben. One thing, however, wascertain--for the present we must make up our minds to go throughwhatever came in our way.
Day after day we travelled on, encamping as I have previously describedat night, or sometimes pushing forward during the hours of darkness andhalting in the day-time. By doing this we saved ourselves the labour offorming defences, as we could in a moment mount and be in readiness toencounter a foe. We had, however, greatly exhausted our stock ofprovisions, and it became necessary to look after game with which toreplenish our store. This we had hitherto avoided doing, as whenhunting we should of necessity be separated, and if discovered byenemies we might be cut off in detail. We agreed, at last, that hunt wemust; for we had all been on a very slender allowance of food, and werebeginning to feel the pangs of hunger. Our horses, too, from beingconstantly on the move, now showed signs of fatigue. We accordinglyhalted earlier than usual one day, on the side of a tree-covered knoll,from which we could obtain a good look-out over the surrounding country.Here we resolved to remain f
or a couple of days, for, having seen nosigns of Indians, we hoped to be unmolested. After putting up theframework of a lean-to, to afford us shelter at night, we ate theremainder of our provisions; and while Sandy took the horses down to astream which flowed below us, we lay down to rest, keeping our rifles byour sides.
I had been dreaming of venison, and buffalo humps, and other prairieluxuries, when I heard Reuben whisper--
"See! Roger, see! There's a magnificent deer within easy shot."
I instinctively rose to my knees, with my rifle in my hand, and levelledit at the animal. It was a fine elk, as I knew by the thick branchyhorns. At the same moment old Samson sat up. Reuben, knowing that hewas not so good a shot as I was, did not attempt to fire. I feltsomewhat nervous lest I might miss, though old Samson was not likely tolet the deer escape even if I did so. I pulled the trigger, however,and the deer, giving one bound from the earth, fell over, shot throughthe heart. The sound awoke Mike, and we all rushed down to takepossession of our prize. We very quickly cut it up, and shouldering thebetter portions, carried them to our encampment. Here we soon had afire blazing, and some rich steaks before it.
Though we had now obtained sufficient food to last us for some days, yetwe remained for the time we had determined on, in order to dry thevenison, so that we might cure it, and prevent its becoming unfit foruse. We were fortunate in killing another deer almost in sight of ourcamp; so, with renewed strength after our long rest, we again set out,hoping before long to gain tidings of our friends, whom Samson stillpersisted in believing were ahead of us. I had my doubts on thesubject, but felt that I ought to yield to his better judgment.