The Frontier Fort

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  For many a mile the weary travellers tramped on. In vain they lookedout for Greensnake, and had too much reason to fear that he had beenentrapped by the Blackfeet, and probably murdered. The country, thoughoften fertile and beautiful, was in some places sandy and barren, andutterly destitute of water. The whole day, their flasks having beenemptied, they had not a drop to quench their burning thirst, and whenthey did at length reach a pool, the liquid in it was so bitter andstagnant that they dared scarcely to taste a drop, even after strainingit through a handkerchief. The food they had brought with them was alsorunning short, and they had been unable to shoot any game to supply itsplace. Two or three buffalo had been seen in the distance, but had madeoff before they could get within shot; and several deer had passed, butbeing to leeward, scented them, and scampered away as they approached.

  "Though we cannot find large game, we must look out for small," observedHector. "Perhaps we shall meet with some beavers, musk-rats, orbadgers; we must not be particular."

  "Not if we are starving," answered Loraine; "but I should prefer a hareor duck, or a prairie-hen."

  At length a broad stream appeared before them. They hurried forward toquench their thirst, and then sat down to consider how it was to becrossed. They could both swim, but their packs and Loraine's gun, aswell as their clothes, had to be floated across.

  There are, fortunately, neither alligators nor voracious fish in therivers of those latitudes, and so Hector proposed that they should builda raft of rushes and dried branches on which to place their clothes,their packs, and the gun, and tow it over.

  It was soon formed, though Loraine feared it was a somewhat frailstructure, even for the duty it was intended to perform.

  The passage was accomplished with difficulty, and with the loss ofLoraine's gun, which slipped off into the deepest water.

  They lamented this serious loss, but Loraine having supplied himselfwith a pointed stick, they set off, endeavouring to keep up each other'sspirits as they marched on. They had still their compass to steer by,but their direct progress was on some days very slow, as they had toturn aside to avoid extensive marshes and lakelets. Their food atlength came to an end, and, in spite of all Hector's efforts, he wasunable to trap any animals. They several times saw beavers, which gotaway from them, and the ducks and other water-fowls only appeared to flyoff with derisive quacks at their impotent attempts to knock them down,so Hector declared.

  The dogs were growing thinner and thinner, and at length Buster, who haddropped behind, did not come up to them. In vain they called him, but,unwilling to lose time by returning, they went on, hoping that the dogwould overtake them at their camp. He did not appear, however.

  "Perhaps he took it into his head that we might eat him," said Hector,looking at poor Muskey, who wagged his tail as he spoke, wondering if hewas to have anything for supper.

  "Should you mind eating Muskey?" asked Hector.

  "I should be very unwilling to kill the poor dog; but if we can find nofood to-morrow, it must be done, I fear, to save our lives," answeredLoraine.

  Although they lighted a fire, they lay down that night supperless. Atdaybreak they set off, hoping to reach a lakelet in which Hector thoughtthat he might catch some white fish. They were becoming faint, and nowater was to be seen. At length they entered a wood, close to whichthey found an abundance of choke-berries, as well as gooseberries andcurrants, which served to appease the gnawings of hunger, although thepoor dog looked as if he wished that he could have something moresubstantial; and about mid-day, they each managed, almost at the samemoment, to knock over a small bird.

  So great was their hunger that they immediately halted, and, lighting afire, cooked and ate them.

  Darkness coming on, all hope of obtaining food that night was given up.Loraine offered to kill Muskey.

  "No, no; let him live to-night, and perhaps to-morrow morning he mayassist in catching something," answered Hector.

  They lay down close to the fire, but neither could for some time sleep.Hector was very feverish, and Loraine himself began to feel ill. He sawthat his young companion was very unlikely to be able to proceed, and hedetermined to set off next morning in search of water. At last heclosed his eyes, and, to his surprise, when he awoke he found that thesun had arisen. Hector was still sleeping. The fire had gone out, andMuskey lay with his nose on his paws, watching his masters.

  "I must manage to get the dog to remain behind and guard him," hethought; "I will try to find water by myself."

  Hector awoke just as he was about to set off, and tried to get up; buthis strength failed, and he sank down again on the ground.

  "Hold out for a few hours longer, and I trust I shall obtain relief foryou," said Loraine. "Get Muskey to stay, and he will assist indefending you should any enemies appear."

  To prevent the dog from following him, Loraine fastened a strap roundits neck, and put the end into Hector's hand. The dog, making noresistance, lay down by his side. Loraine set off towards a knoll whichhe saw at a little distance, hoping from thence to be able to ascertainin what direction water was to be found. He walked as fast as hisstrength would allow. On reaching the knoll he looked anxiously roundon every side. Before long he saw what appeared to be the gleam ofwater, near a wood of willow and aspen, and tottered forward, everyinstant expecting to find the water, but it seemed to be further offthan he had supposed. At last he saw the grove of willows, and he wassure that the water would be found near it. The grove was reached, butno water could he see. "It must be close at hand," he said aloud; "itwould be useless to attempt returning until I have found it." By astrenuous effort he aroused himself, and pushed forward. His strengthwas failing: he felt as if he were in a dream. In vain he tried to movehis feet. At length he sank fainting to the ground, beneath the shadeof a tree.

  How long he had thus remained, he could not tell, when he heard a humanvoice. At first he thought it was Hector calling to him for help. Hetried to rise, but before he could regain his feet he sank back to hisformer position.

  "This is dreadful," he thought. "I must help that poor lad. Hisfriends at the fort, if we do not reach it, will be surprised by savagesand cut off. Those two young girls--what a dreadful fate will betheirs! I must try and recover myself." And once more he endeavouredto get up. Again he heard a voice; it was much nearer; and opening hiseyes, he saw a figure standing over him. It was that of Isaac Sass.

  "Right glad I am to find you!" exclaimed the old man, stooping down;"but you seem in a sad plight. What has become of your young companion?I trust no harm has befallen him."

  "Water, water!" answered Loraine, faintly. "Take water to him; he wantsit more than I do."

  "You want it bad enough, I guess," said the trapper; and, unslinging hisflask, he poured some of the refreshing liquid down Loraine's throat.It quickly revived him.

  "Take him water," he said; "he is out there." And he pointed in thedirection where he had left Hector.

  The old man shouted; and, presently, who should appear but Greensnake,mounted on a horse, accompanied by three others, which he at oncesecured to some neighbouring trees. Isaac then handed a flask of waterto the young Indian, who, receiving some directions which Loraine couldnot understand, set off at full gallop towards the spot where Hector hadbeen left.

  "Will he find him?" asked Loraine, anxiously.

  "No fear of that," said Sass. "When you have recovered we will follow.Here, take some food, if you can swallow it."

  Loraine was better able to eat than he expected.

  "I brought a couple of horses for you and your companion, besides yonderpack animal; for I guessed whereabouts I should find you, though Ithought you would have made better progress than you have done, and Idid not expect to come upon your trail for another day or two."

  Loraine having briefly explained what had happened, inquired how the oldtrapper had fallen in with Greensnake.

  "The lad was carried off by a party of Sirc
ees, who stole your horses;but, believing him to be an idiot, they failed to keep a watch over him,and he easily managed to escape on one of the fleetest of their animals,and made his way towards Fort Edmonton. I, knowing the difficulties youwould be in without horses, at once set off to find you, though I littleexpected that you would have been reduced to this sad plight. And nowdo you think you could mount, and see how it fares with your friend?"

  "I will try, at all events," said Loraine, feeling very anxious aboutHector.

  With the aid of the old trapper he got into the saddle. When once therehe felt capable of going as fast as the horse could gallop.

  They set off, the trapper leading the other horse. As they neared thespot, Loraine's mind misgave him. Had Hector survived the hardships hehad endured? He himself felt how nearly he had succumbed, and he wishedthat he had begged the old trapper to go on at once, and left the Indianwith him.

  "Cheer up, cheer up, friend," said Sass, surmising the thoughts passingthrough his mind. "Youth is tough, and hunger and thirst don't kill aman for a long time."

  At last the spot was reached. Loraine threw himself from his horse, andnearly fell to the ground in doing so, forgetting how weak he was.Greensnake was bending over Hector, supporting his head with one hand,while he was feeding him with the other; Musky, who was looking on,evidently having recognised the Indian as a friend.

  Loraine hurried forward.

  "All right," exclaimed Sass; "speak to your friend, my boy."

  "Yes, yes, thanks to this Indian," answered Hector, faintly.

  "I knew it would be so," observed old Sass, addressing Loraine. "We'llcamp here, as neither of you are fit for travelling, and while youattend to the lad, Greensnake and I will light a fire and put up a hutfor you, and then I'll see about getting some game."

  These arrangements were soon made, and old Sass set off with his gun toshoot any creature he might come across fit for the pot.

  Hector had so far recovered as to be able to sit up, and to show that hewas likely to do justice to the fare the old trapper expected to providefor the party.