CHAPTER FIVE.
AN INTRUDER--WE ARRIVE AT KEPENAU'S CAMP--ASHATEA INQUIRES KINDLY AFTERLILY AND DORA--DEER-HUNTING--THE STRANGE INDIANS--KEPENAU'SPRECAUTIONS--MIKE AMUSES THE CAMP WITH HIS FIDDLE--OUR FAREWELL--KAKAIK'S ADVICE WITH REGARD TO RAPID-SHOOTING--THE TREACHEROUS INDIAN ONSHORE--MIKE AND I PADDLE DESPERATELY--THE CANOE IS UPSET--CARRIED DOWNTHE STREAM--A NATURAL PLACE OF CONCEALMENT IN A HOLLOW TRUNK--MY TERRORON PERCEIVING THE INDIANS--FORCED BY HUNGER TO LEAVE MY CONCEALMENT, IAM TAKEN PRISONER BY FOUR INDIANS.
On arriving at the foot of the falls we found our goods safe; but justas we were about to shoulder them we heard a rustling among the bushes.Advancing cautiously towards the spot, not knowing what might be there,I caught sight of a dark hairy form. It was a brown bear, which inanother minute would in all likelihood have been examining our propertywith no delicate fingers. I hesitated to fire, for I was sure that Ishould be unable to hit any vital part; and as even a brown bear, ifwounded, will turn furiously on his pursuers, before I could havereloaded the beast might have been upon me. In another instant Bruinhad plunged in among the thick underwood, and was concealed from view;but I heard him making his way rapidly from us, doubtless consideringthat discretion was the better part of valour.
Having taken up our goods, and looked carefully round to see thatnothing was left behind, we set off towards the canoes. Kakaik by thistime had them both secured alongside the bank, so that we quicklyreloaded them and recommenced our voyage up the stream.
I asked Mike to sing one of his Irish songs: this he was never loath todo, and he soon made the banks echo with his melody. As soon as he hadceased, the Indian took up the strain with one of his native songs. Itwas melancholy in the extreme, and contrasted greatly with Mike's joyousnotes.
"Faix! if it's tears he wants to draw from our eyes, I can bate himthere," observed Mike, when Kakaik had ceased; and he began one of thosesad ditties descriptive of the death of some Irish heroine. Though theIndian could not understand the meaning, he appeared to be muchaffected, and it was some time before he began another song. From thefew words we could make out, we supposed him to be recounting themisfortunes of his people, and their departure from the hunting-groundsof their fathers.
Mike had brought his fiddle, but of course he could not play it whilepaddling.
"When we get to Kepenau's, I'll show the people what I can do, and setthem all jigging away, and laughing till they split their sides," heobserved.
The scenery amid which we passed was wild in the extreme. Not a sign ofa human being, or a habitation of any sort, was visible. Sometimes darkrocks rose up in precipitous cliffs on both sides of us, and at othertimes the trees of the forest overhung the water. We had severalportages to make, as it was easier to carry the canoes over the landthan to drag them up the rapids, but Kakaik signified that on our returnwe might shoot them without danger.
At last, in the far-off distance, we caught sight of a wreath of smokeascending from near the bank, and from the gestures of the Indian weunderstood that we were now approaching Kepenau's camp. In a short timeshouts were heard, and we saw several wigwams erected on the greenswardin a recess of the forest, surrounded by trees which sheltered themcompletely from the wind.
A canoe immediately put off and came paddling out towards us; thenturned round and accompanied us back to the bank, on which Kepenau, withAshatea and other members of his family, stood ready to receive us. Aswe shook hands he told us how glad he was to see us; and Ashatea hadmany questions to ask about Lily and Dora.
"I have been longing to come and visit them again," she said. "Now thatthe rice is ripe, I want to take them down to the lake where it grows,that we may gather our canoe full."
Kepenau said that his people would be very glad to receive the goods wehad brought, and would be ready to purchase them with their beaver-skinsand other peltries, of which they had a considerable store.
When we talked about hunting, he assured us that we need have no fear ofobtaining plenty of sport, as, with our rifles, we should be certain tokill the game much more easily than his people could do with their bowsand arrows. A hunting-party was accordingly arranged for the next day,on the shores of a lake some miles off. He had already transported acouple of canoes to it, so that, should any of the deer take to thewater, we might be able to pursue them. Ashatea was much inclined tocome with us, but her father told her that she would be acting more likean English girl if she would stay at home and attend to householdaffairs.
We started the next morning with Kepenau, Kakaik, and several otherIndians, who carried long spears as well as bows and arrows. We werealso accompanied by a pack of dogs, well-trained by the Indians forchasing the deer, though they were noisy, ill-looking curs.
We commenced our hunt at some distance from the shores of the lake, butfor an hour or more we saw no signs of deer, and Reuben and I began tofancy that we should have to return home without venison.
We had separated from Kepenau, but now we heard his voice, andimmediately afterwards the dogs gave tongue. We were looking about toascertain in what direction to bend our steps, when a fine deer startedout from among the trees on our right into the open glade. My gun beingready, I fired, and felt sure that I had wounded the deer; but theanimal still continued its course. The next instant the dogs appearedfrom the same direction, in hot chase after the deer.
We followed, joined by Kepenau and the other men. Marks of blood on thegrass showed us that the deer had been wounded. Still, it might run,should the dogs not overtake it, for several miles, and might escape usafter all. It was too valuable a prize to be lost, so we continued thepursuit.
The country now became much more open, and we saw that the deer had madeits way across the plain. On the further side there were some loftypines, towards which the animal appeared to have directed its course.
We had been running on for several minutes, when, before I coulddistinguish anything, the exclamations of the Indians showed me that thedeer was in sight; and presently I saw it standing at bay under thetrees, with the dogs yelping round it and preventing it from proceedingfurther.
When I got within gun-shot, I stopped for a moment to reload my rifle;and crying out to my friends not to get in the way, I again fired, andthe noble beast rolled over. Kakaik then dashed forward with hishunting-knife, and quickly put an end to the creature's sufferings,while the rest beat off the dogs.
The deer was soon cut up, and each man loading himself with as much ashe could carry, the venison was conveyed to the spot selected for anencampment; where two of them remained to take care of it while we wentin search of more game.
We had been for some time beating about, when once more we heard thedogs giving tongue; and after making our way through the forest, andreaching the borders of an open glade, we caught sight of a herd ofeight or ten deer scampering along at full speed, with the pack of dogsat their heels. We all of us fired, but although two or three shotstook effect none of the deer stopped. We saw them directing theircourse towards the lake; but they ran faster than we did, and did notallow us an opportunity of firing. We managed, however, to keep them inview, and saw that they did not turn either to the right hand or to theleft, so that we felt sure of overtaking them when they reached theshore of the lake.
Kakaik, who was on my left hand, made signs to me to accompany himtowards the spot where we had left one of the canoes. I also understoodhim to signify that the dogs would prevent the deer from turning back.On reaching the canoe he lifted me into it, and stepping after me,seized a paddle, and with a few strokes sent it skimming out into thelake. Rounding a point, we soon caught sight of the deer, which stoodon the shore with the dogs barking behind them. The shouts of some ofthe people who now came up increased the terror of the poor animals.First one plunged into the water, then another, and another; till thewhole herd, with the exception of two which had fallen, were strikingout in different directions, making for the opposite bank.
Kakaik pointed out one fine deer, and paddled t
owards it. I might haveshot the animal, but my Indian companion made signs to me to use a spearwhich lay at the bottom of the canoe; so, standing up, I grasped theweapon with both my hands, and drove it with all my force into thecreature's skull. In an instant its head went down, and its feetrising, it lay dead on the surface. Kakaik handed me a rope to castround its antlers, and we forthwith towed it in triumph to the shore.This done, we made chase after a second deer, which was swimming acrossthe lake towards a spot some little way off. Greatly to mysatisfaction, I succeeded in striking this animal as I had done thefirst.
In the meantime the other canoe was paddling away in chase of two moredeer, which had made towards the further end of the lake.
While we were occupied as I have described, I saw a third canoe, paddledby two strangers, darting out from behind a point in pursuit of anotherdeer. Whether the people were friends or foes, I could not tell; but assoon as Kakaik saw them he declared that they were the latter, and thatwe must be prepared for an attack should they have many companions inthe neighbourhood.
"Then let us at once tow our deer up the lake towards the camp, where wecan obtain assistance," I said.
I now observed that those who had been unable to embark in the canoewere making their way in that direction. They had probably caught sightof the strange Indians. My fear was that Kepenau and Reuben might beattacked on their return. I made signs to my companion that we wouldland the deer and then go to the assistance of our friends. As Reubenand I had our rifles, and the strange Indians were probably withoutfirearms, we might easily keep them in check or put them to flight; orshould they venture to attack us, we might sink their canoes, even if wedid not kill them with our rifle-bullets, before they got up to us.
As we reached the shore at the end of the lake, we found Mike andseveral of the Indians standing ready to receive us.
Mike was fall of fight. "Arrah! be aisy, Masther Roger," he said."Sure, if the inimy come, I will sind them to the right-about wid mefirelock, and they'll not be afther taking our venison from us in ahurry."
He and the Indians taking charge of the deer, which they immediately setabout cutting up, Kakaik and I paddled off again down the lake to theassistance of our friends. The strange Indians had succeeded incapturing one of the deer; but as we considered that it was their lawfulprize, although we had driven it into the water, we did not interferewith them.
Seeing another deer still swimming, though at considerable distance, Ifired at it, for the purpose of showing the strange Indians, in casethey should not have heard our other shots, that we had firearms, andthus probably prevent them attacking us. Whether or not my shot hadtaken effect I could not tell, as the deer continued to swim on towardsthe bank.
We now directed our course for our friends, who had killed the two deerof which they had gone in chase. I told them of the strangers we hadseen; and Kakaik, in his own language, gave a long account to Kepenau ofthe matter.
"We will let them alone, if they do not molest us," answered Kepenau,after expressing his approval of my conduct.
Having secured the bodies of the two deer to ropes,--Kepenau and Reubentowing one, and Kakaik and I the other,--we began to paddle back towardsthe end of the lake from which we had come.
As we passed the part of the shore near which I had shot the last deer,we observed several Indians, who had seized the animal as it landed, andwere now employed in cutting it up. They had evidently only one canoewith them, and were therefore afraid of coming off to attack us,whatever may have been their disposition. We might, therefore, considerourselves masters of the seas.
Kepenau was well pleased with the success of our expedition, and havingmade up his mind to live at peace with his neighbours, he was very gladto avoid a collision with the strangers, even though we might come offvictorious. "We must, however, be on the watch for them as we returnhomewards," he observed. "They may possibly greatly outnumber ourparty; and though our firearms will keep them in check, they may try toovercome us by stratagem."
The deer we had first killed were soon cut up, and all the best partsmade ready for transportation to the camp. Those we had now towed onshore were treated in the same manner; and each man being loaded with asmuch as he could possibly carry, we set off for the camp. Here we founda blazing fire ready for cooking the venison, of which our friends atean enormous quantity--with the exception of Kepenau, who was as moderateas we were.
Knowing that we had foes in the neighbourhood sentinels were posted, twoof whom kept watch all the night round the camp; but the strangers,seeing us prepared, did not make their appearance, and on the followingmorning we started, an hour before dawn, on our return. Kepenau kept inthe rear, turning round very frequently to ascertain if we werefollowed. He also gave his people directions to keep a look-out oneither hand. Once he caught sight of a warrior's plume in the distance,but although his eyes were of the sharpest he could not discover whetherhis foe approached nearer. Before evening we arrived safely at hislodges; the ample supply of food we brought affording greatsatisfaction. The chief, however, did not fail to send out scouts tobring word whether the enemy had ventured into the neighbourhood. As notraces of them could be seen, Kepenau came to the conclusion that thestrangers had gone off again to the westward, content with the game theyhad obtained. Still, he thought it prudent, in case of treachery, tokeep on the watch; and day and night two or three of the party wereconstantly scouring the country round, in search of tracks made bystrange Indians.
The time had now arrived for us to return. Mike had made himself auniversal favourite; the Indians, notwithstanding their general gravity,delighting in the merry tunes he played on his fiddle. He frequentlyset them jigging; and Reuben and I showed them how white people danced--though neither of us had any exact notions on the subject. Ashateasometimes joined us, and moved about very gracefully, performing figuresof her own invention, which I have since discovered greatly resemblethose of the minuet of Europe.
She often told me how much she longed to go back and stay with Lily.Native of the wilds as she was, she had gained a taste for civilisedlife, she told Reuben and me. We assured her that Lily and Dora wouldbe delighted to see her, and that, if her father would allow her toaccompany us, we should be glad to take her at once. This, however,Kepenau refused. He did not tell us why; only saying that he could notlet her go unless he went with her, and for the present he must notleave his people, who had to hunt and fish, so as to lay in a store ofprovisions for the winter.
I should have said that at the back of the lodges were several pieces ofcleared ground, on which Indian corn was growing and potatoes had beenplanted. This showed that Kepenau and his people were in advance of thehunting Indians, who trust only to the chase for subsistence, and arethereby frequently reduced to a state of starvation.
All the inhabitants of the camp turned out to wish us farewell, andoffered up prayers for our safety as we stepped into our canoes. Kakaikand Reuben led the way in one canoe, and Mike and I followed in theother, flourishing our paddles over our heads as a farewell salute. Weplied them diligently, and, gliding rapidly down the stream, were soonlost to sight. Having the current with us, we expected to reach homebefore nightfall, should no accident happen.
"I'm afther hoping that none of those Indians we saw the other day arelurking about, or maybe they will take a fancy to our packs of driedvenison and skins, and stop us," observed Mike.
"What put that idea into your head?" I asked.
"Sure, because they are cunning spalpeens; and as they know the way wemust take, they are likely enough to be on the watch for us," hereplied.
"We must be on the watch for them, then," I answered, laughing. "If anyof them appear, and look as if they intended to interfere with us, weshall have to show them the muzzles of our rifles; although, as I neverhave shot a man, I trust that I shall not be obliged to do so."
We paddled on for some time after this, and now and then we caught upReuben's canoe and had a talk with him. I told him what
Mike had said.
"Oh! I don't think there is much chance of that," he answered, lightly."A few rifle-bullets will soon drive the fellows into the woods, ifthey show their noses."
We were now entering a part of the stream which ran between brokencliffs; on one side rocks rose almost perpendicularly from the water,their summits shaped like the parapets of ruined castles, while on theother the trees came down to the river's brink. Kakaik reminded us thatwe were approaching a series of rapids; and he explained by signs thathe would lead the way, and advised Mike and me to keep exactly in hiscourse. He and Reuben paddled on, therefore, while we followed at alittle distance. We saw them descend one of the first rapids.Immediately below this, in a turn of the river, was another, the fall inwhich being probably about four or five feet, was not sufficient toendanger the safety of the canoes if carefully handled.
We were approaching the highest of the rapids, which, as I have said,the other canoe had just descended, when we saw an Indian dart out frombehind the trunk of a tree growing close to the water, and point hisarrow at the first canoe, aiming at Reuben. The arrow flew from thebow, but whether my friend was hit or not I could not say, as the canoe,darting down the rapid, was lost to sight.
We were too near the rapid to paddle back, for in turning round weshould have run the risk of upsetting the canoe, when it would have beencarried down sideways, and probably dashed to pieces. Our only safecourse, therefore, was to dash forward; and we hoped to pass the Indianbefore he could perceive us, or have time to fix another arrow in hisbow. Had we been in still water I might have lifted my rifle and shotthe Indian, but I dared not leave my paddle for a moment. Down therapid we dashed, then, paddling with might and main to turn the canoe soas to be ready for the next descent. The Indian had disappeared, but weheard his voice, calling, as we supposed, to his companions,--anddirectly afterwards we caught sight of him running along the bank amongthe trees; but he could not have seen us.
A short way below this was another and still more dangerous rapid.Kakaik signified that he had often shot it, but he at the same timeadvised that we should land and make a portage. To do this was now,however, out of the question, as we should be seized by the Indians onshore did we land on the side on which they were; the only practicableone along which we could make our way.
"Paddle, Mike! paddle!" I said in a low voice, fearing that I might beheard should I shout. "Our only chance is to dash down the rapid. Wecannot stop to look out for rocks ahead, and must run all risks."
Mike saw this as well as I did. "Sure, it's the only thing to be done,any way. May all the saints in the calendar help us!" he exclaimed.
I don't think, however, that Mike had much faith in the saints, althoughhe uttered the expression.
We dashed on, the water hissing and bubbling and foaming round us, andhad almost reached the bottom, when I felt the bow of the canoe strikesomething. The next instant I found myself struggling in the seethingwaters, and instinctively striking out for dear life. Looking down thestream, I caught a glance of the canoe being rapidly hurried downwards,with Mike clinging to it. The next moment, he and the canoe haddisappeared.
I had been carried down some distance, when, on more perfectlyrecovering my senses, I discovered that I was happily near the sideopposite to that on which I had seen the Indians. I scrambled up on thebank, therefore, hoping to find some place of concealment before theycould discover me. I had not gone far, however, before I recollectedthat my footprints would certainly betray me. I therefore retraced mysteps and threw myself backwards into the water; and as I looked uptowards the bank, I clearly perceived the marks I had left.
The river in this place was narrow, but though the current ran strong itwas smooth, and I felt sure that I could swim across it and hide myselfamong some thick bushes which I saw growing over the water. It was myonly hope of saving myself, and I determined to run the risk; but notime was to be lost, as the Indians might look up the stream anddiscover me. I struck out boldly, and found that I could stem thecurrent, though it certainly required all the strength I possessed. Ilooked down the stream every now and then, to ascertain whether theIndians were returning, which I thought they might do when they saw onlyone person clinging to the canoe; otherwise I kept my eye as steadily asI could on the bushes for which I was making. Of course, I might havecrossed the stream much more easily by allowing myself to be carrieddown with the current, but then I should have landed much below theplace where I hoped to find concealment. I could distinguish for sometime, even amid the roar of the waters, the voices of the Indians asthey shouted to each other; but they gradually became fainter andfainter, and this gave me encouragement, as it informed me that theywere getting further off.
Even then I thought of poor Mike. What might be his fate, should he becaptured by the Indians? His fiddle, and probably everything else inthe canoe, would be lost, and he would have no means of softening theirsavage hearts. With his fiddle in his hand, I felt that he mightsucceed in saving his life. It may seem strange that such thoughtsentered my mind at that time; but the truth is, I was less anxious aboutmyself than I was about him.
I had got more than half-way across when I began to find my strengthfailing me. It seemed that I should never reach the shore; still, Istruck out, straining every nerve. I was afraid at length that I shouldbe obliged to allow myself to be carried down by the current, and beglad to cling to the first rock or bough I could reach. My eyes weregrowing dim, and I could scarcely see the bushes on which they had solong been fixed. Still I struggled on, determined if possible tosucceed. Suddenly I felt myself caught by an eddy, and the next instantI was carried close under the bank. I was about to grasp one of thebranches, when I recollected that the sharp eyes of the Indians woulddiscover where my hand had crushed the leaves, so I resisted thetemptation, turning myself on my back for a minute to rest; then I diveddown, and came up again in the very middle of the bush.
I now without fear drew myself out of the water, and climbing up,discovered a thick trunk hollowed out by age, the larger portion ofwhich had been broken off either by a storm or lightning, the boughshaving sprung out of the remainder--forming, indeed, a natural pollard.No concealment could have been more perfect; for even an Indian's eyewould fail to penetrate through the bark. By slipping down I wasconcealed on all sides, while at the same time a slit in the trunkafforded me a "look-out" through the boughs in the direction of theriver. Here, therefore, I considered that I was safe for the present.The difficulty would be to get away; although I might remain concealedas long as I should desire, hunger would at length compel me to leave myhiding-place in search of food. I remained crouched down, listeninganxiously for any sounds which might indicate the whereabouts of theIndians. Mike, I felt sure, had he escaped drowning, would be capturedby them; but I had hopes that Reuben and his companion, by being so muchahead, might escape altogether.
The ground was excessively rough; numerous high rocky ridges, andintervening spaces filled by trees and dense underwood, abounded.
The fact that the Indians had been so long shouting to each otherconvinced me that they had not up to that time captured the first canoe.As I heard no one approaching, I should not have been afraid of leavingmy hiding-place; but then I knew that my footsteps would betray me.
I must have remained an hour or more, when I heard voices in thedistance. The sounds came nearer, and I knew that the Indians werereturning. I scarcely dared to draw breath. They passed close to thetree in which I lay concealed; but I did not venture to look out, lestthey should discover me. I was sure as they went along that they weretrying to discover my trail. I knew, too, by the voices, that there wasonly a small party. What had become of the rest?
I calculated, by the direction their voices came from, that they weremaking their way up the stream. Some distance off, the low cliffsbetween which the river forced its way were surmounted by trees, whichformed a natural bridge. I knew, therefore, that should they wish toget to the opposite side the
y might easily pass over.
Nearly another anxious hour went by, when I again heard their voicescoming across the stream; and looking through the slit, I saw threepainted savages standing together in the shallow water, narrowlyexamining the bank on both sides. Presently one of them stopped andpointed at the marks which my feet had made as I sprang up the bank. Isaw them standing consulting eagerly together, but whether theirsagacity would enable them to decide if I had gone forward across thecountry, or leaped back into the water, I could not tell. I anxiouslywatched, in order to ascertain to what decision they had come. Atlength one of them climbed up the bank and looked about; then the othersfollowed, and walked for some distance, closely scrutinising the ground.At first I hoped that they were at fault. I had noticed that the bankwas composed, a little way on, of hard stones, which could scarcely, Ithought, receive any impression from my feet.
They went on for some distance; and then I saw from their gestures thatthey were fairly puzzled. At length they came back to the bank, andgazed down at the rapidly-flowing stream. They were evidently ofopinion that I could not have swam across it. Greatly to my relief, Isaw them continuing their course down the river, examining the bank asthey went along, under the belief that I must have landed again furtherdown, or else have been swept away by the current. This greatlyrelieved my mind. I sincerely hoped that they would give me up as lost,and abandon the idea that they should have the pleasure of exhibiting meto their squaws, and torturing me.
On and on they went, until they disappeared among the trees which grewon the bank. Whether or not they would again cross the stream I couldnot tell, or if indeed they had the means of doing so. They had comefrom the right bank, so I concluded that they must know of some way orother to get back to it. Still, I was anxious to be certain that theyhad done this before I left my shelter. I had made up my mind to swimback, and to descend the stream on the left bank, following it down tillI reached home. There were by this time ripe fruits of all sorts to befound, I knew, so that I had no fear of starving.
I sat crouched dowd, feeling very much as I suppose a hare does,listening for the hunters--eager to be off, yet not daring to leave hercover. Hour after hour passed by, but I could hear no sounds except thenotes of the birds in the trees, the woodpeckers searching for insectsin the bark, and the cries of the squirrels as they skipped from branchto branch. I really wished that one of them would poke his nose into mynest, that I might have the chance of capturing him, for I was gettingvery hungry, and would have eaten him raw without compunction; but nonecame within my grasp.
At last I could bear it no longer. Food I must have, or strengthsufficient would not be left me to swim across the river. I fullybelieved that the Indians had gone to a distance, and that I mighttherefore make the attempt without being seen by them. However, I didnot intend to swim directly across, as I had done before, but to allowmyself to float down with the stream, paddling easily till I could gainthe opposite bank. I should thus be assisted rather than impeded by thecurrent.
I nerved myself up for the enterprise. I believed that it would be moreeasy to make my way out of the hole through the branches on theland-side, and then, going round them, take to the water where there wasno back eddy. I had observed, a little lower down, that the current setdirectly across to the opposite bank, and it was this which had causedme so much trouble to reach the spot where I now was.
Popping up my head, I was about to climb out of the hole, when what wasmy horror to see four Indians sitting silently smoking their pipes,directly in front of me! To escape was impossible, for I knew that theyhad perceived me by the loud grunts they uttered, and by one of themimmediately springing to his feet and rushing forward towards the tree.
Endeavouring to conceal my fears, I leaped down and advanced towardsthem, putting out my hand. Instead of taking it, the man who wasadvancing grasped me by the shoulder; while the others burst into a loudguttural laugh, as much as to say, "You thought yourself very clever,young master, but we have outwitted you."
How they came to know that I was in the tree, I could not divine;perhaps they only suspected that I was in the neighbourhood, from notfinding my dead body lower down, and had taken their seats on that spotby chance.
One of the men now addressed me, but I could not understand a word hesaid. I answered him, however, in English, interspersed with suchIndian expressions as I could recollect. He on this rose to his feet,patted me on the shoulder, and pointed to the tree; intimating, as Ifancied, that I had been very clever to conceal myself as I had done,but that he and his companions were cleverer still to discover me.
As I was famishing, for my anxiety had not taken away my appetite, Ithought it as well to let them understand that I wanted something toeat. Espying some berries growing on bushes near at hand, I pointed tothem; and the man who held me letting me go, I sprang forward andravenously devoured a number. They quenched my thirst, though they didnot much tend to appease my hunger. One of the Indians, suspecting thatthis was the case, produced some dried buffalo meat from his pouch, andoffered it to me.
I thanked him by signs, and showed how I appreciated his gift byimmediately eating it up. He and his companions, on observing howhungry I was, again laughed. One of them now pointed to the sun, whichwas getting low, and made me understand that I must accompany them. AsI knew that I had no chance of escaping, I nodded,--as much as to saythat I was ready to go if they wished it,--and tried to look as cheerfulas possible.
Their leader, the man who had first spoken to me, pointed to the westand stalked off; and two of the others seizing me by the arms, one oneach side, we followed him.