CHAPTER XI--A TRYING EXPERIENCE
Meanwhile the little band continued steadily on its way. Reuben nowthought of the missing Jean less frequently. He was confident that theFrench trapper was abundantly able to protect himself, and, besides,there was less peril for a man alone than there was for a large forceof the trappers. The Indians were intensely jealous, fearful for thesafety of their possessions, and angry at the intruders for daring tocome in numbers to trap along the streams which the redmen had beentaught to believe belonged to them by inheritance.
There were occasions when the presence of the prowling Indians wasevident, for horses several times vanished from the camp and were notfound again. The traps, too, which were used by the men in theiradvance, frequently disappeared, and there was slight question in themind of the young leader that the Blackfeet, although they had notdared to make an open attack since the ambuscade, none the less weresteadily following their enemies.
At last it was decided that the division should go on toward theSacramento River, while part of the force already had been sent back toTaos to dispose of the beaver skins which had been secured and also toget more traps. All the remaining men agreed to continue on to theSacramento, and in this company was young Reuben Benton. To the lad thedays were all filled with interest the chief of which was in theexpeditions for hunting the savage grizzly, whose reputation for blindand savage courage increased as the men journeyed farther among thetowering mountains.
The Indians, however, whom they met as they proceeded on their way,proved more and more friendly. The stories, too, which the redmen toldof the marvels of the valley of the Sacramento increased the desire ofReuben and his companions to see the land which was declared to be notonly marvellously beautiful and fertile, but also to abound in beaver.
To reach this land of promise, however, it was necessary for the littlecompany to make its way across a country upon which neither grass nortrees grew, and where water was seldom found. Even the wild animalsavoided these desert plains. Not a deer was likely to be found in thecourse of the journey, and the buffaloes were far behind the mountains,which now were in the rear of the advancing trappers.
Before entering upon the final stage of the journey it was decided thatthere should be a rest of several days. Accordingly the entire partywent into camp. The horses were fed far better than had been the dailycustom and were not compelled to carry any burdens. The trappersemployed the time thus afforded in hunting. There was need of food inthe party, and to supply this need Kit Carson and a half-dozen others,among whom was Reuben, devoted much of their time to hunting foranimals that would provide meat.
On the second day, while Reuben, Kit Carson, and a man who was calledJack were about six miles from the place where the camp had beenpitched, they discovered a herd of deer. The curious animals plainlywere not familiar with the sight of men. They were discovered near aspring on the border of a grove that grew far down into the plains. Atleast a dozen of the creatures were seen by the keen-eyed leader.
"We mustn't lose any of them," said Kit Carson in a whisper, as heturned to his followers. "The best thing we can do is to spread out andcome up to them in a semicircle."
"They have seen us already," suggested Jack.
"That's true," replied Kit Carson, "but the very fact that they havenot run away will make it easier for us to get more of them, and wemust have them. Our very lives may depend upon our aim. I hope everyone will hit his target."
In accordance with the directions of the hunter, the party spread outand prepared to creep nearer the spring, advancing in a semicircle.Even when they had come within fifty yards of the water the inquisitiveanimals were still standing, gazing almost stupidly at the approachinghunters. Indeed to Reuben it almost seemed as if the timid creatureswere unable to flee. Even the fawns, with ears erect, stood gazingopen-eyed at the men.
In this manner the trappers approached, as has been said, within fiftyyards, and then at a given signal all arose and fired upon the timidanimals. Two of the deer were seen to fall. Then with a loud summons tohis followers, Kit Carson, after he had hastily reloaded his rifle,darted toward the spring from which even yet the startled deer hadwithdrawn only a few yards.
In a brief time the guns were reloaded and almost together the trappersonce more fired at the graceful creatures that were still gazing atthem. A third deer fell to the ground, but all its companions instantlyfled from the spot.
"We didn't get as many as we ought to," said Kit Carson quietly whenthe men approached the place where the fallen deer were lying. "I shallbe surprised if we do not find that some of these deer are pretty wellfilled with lead. We ought to have arranged for no two men to fire atthe same animal." The trapper's suggestion was found to be correct, forsix bullets were found in one of the bodies.
In response to the directions of the scout, the men at once took theirknives and skinned the creatures, and then, while part of them sewedthe skins into water-bags, the others prepared to smoke the meat whichhad been secured.
Haunches of venison were dried on the branches of trees above the reachof prowling wolves, and fires were kindled beneath them which it wasbelieved would last throughout the coming night. The smoke from theflames soon hid the suspended bodies, and, satisfied that their workfor the day had been completed, the hunters turned and departed for thecamp in the defiles of the mountains.
To Reuben Benton these experiences were all so novel that he had ceasedto think often of the missing Jean, and he was thoroughly enjoying hisadventures. Such a life was wholly new to the eager-hearted boy. In thevicinity of his home he often had trapped and hunted, but nothing hadoccurred like the exciting incidents of his hunting with the greatscout. Perhaps the honour of being associated with Kit Carson, whosename was already familiar in all the West, provided the greatestenjoyment of all. More and more Reuben was impressed by the quietself-control of Carson and the respect which was paid him by all themen in the company.
Reuben, who was a strong and rugged boy, had found no difficulty thusfar in keeping up with the men. Indeed, his spirit of eagerness severaltimes had led him far in advance of his companions. Kit Carson,however, occasionally had rebuked him for his foolhardiness and toldhim that his safety depended almost entirely upon his remaining in thecompany of his fellow trappers. There was slight question in his mindthat the Indians had followed them all through the defiles of themountains. Whether or not the pursuit would be maintained was aquestion which could be solved only by the events which might occurwhen once the party had entered on its way across the pathless desert.
On the day after the shooting of the three deer Reuben and Jack,together with two other trappers, were sent to obtain the carcasses,which had been left hanging from the boughs of the tree under which thefires had been kindled. For the meat to be thoroughly cured a longertime would be required, but as the horses were now rested, the men wereeager to push forward.
Just before the departure from the camp was made three Indians wereseen approaching, leading a poor old horse that was soon found to beblind as well as lame. By the use of signs the Indians finally agreedto sell the poor old creature and then departed with the money whichthey received. After they were gone the horse itself was killed androasted, and the trappers that night enjoyed a feast of toughhorse-meat and water from the mountain springs.
The following morning the entire band set forth on their long anddifficult journey across the plains. When three days had elapsed, theriders, wearied by their journey and nearly parched with thirst, werewell-nigh exhausted. The supply of water which they had brought withthem had proved to be inadequate.
All the efforts of Kit Carson were required to keep up the courage ofhis followers. The heat had been intense, and the brief rest which hadbeen given the horses and mules had not been sufficient to restoretheir full strength. Even the animals were dejected as they liftedtheir feet from the heated sands and slowly moved forward.
Not a word of complaint, however, had escaped the lips of Reuben.Fearful that the ob
jection which had been made at St. Louis against hisjoining a party of trappers would be repeated here, the boy had donehis utmost to bear the hardships that he was compelled to endure. Hislips were swollen and cracked, and the intense feeling of hunger whichhe had the preceding day had given place to a dull ache. His manner wasthoroughly dispirited as he slowly followed his companions. The mulewhich he was riding had lagged behind the other animals, until Reubenwas several yards in the rear of the little company.
It was at this time that Carson, noting the plight of his young friend,dropped behind and waited for Reuben to approach.
"Well, lad," he said, striving to speak cheerfully, "how is it?"
Reuben, almost unable to speak, shook his head as he tried to smile inresponse to the query of his friend.
"It's a pity, lad," continued the guide, "but there's no going back. Wehave got into a hard piece of work, but the only thing to do is to goahead. That is the only way out, so keep up your heart and don't givein."
Reuben nodded decidedly to show that his determination was stillunbroken, and as he did so the mule he was riding suddenly lifted hishead and, after he had sniffed the air, lowered it almost to the sand,and emitted several prolonged, heart-breaking, agonizing brays.
The stentorian blasts were quickly answered by similar sounds from theother mules in the train. Despite the efforts of the weary men tocontrol the beasts, they all immediately began to run, followedspeedily by the horses.