CHAPTER XVI
Choosing a Fortress
Barely ten minutes had passed from the moment when Hank led the waydownhill, from the spot where he and his comrades had taken up theirposition and had repulsed the enemy, till the little hunter suddenlylifted an arm, bringing the party to an abrupt halt. Then he signalledto Beaver Jack, and with the lean, lanky figure of the Redskin besidehim, stood listening intently. A second later all three were lyingflat on their faces.
"You kin hear folks moving somewhars about," whispered the littlehunter in Joe's ear, "but where they aer is more'n I kin say at themoment. Yer see, the snow makes things mighty difficult, while thetree trunks break up every sound and scatter it in all directions. Butthem critters is moving near. Seems likely they ha' halted for awhile."
Tense silence fell upon the three, while each one huddled his bodydeeper into the snow, edging behind the largest tree and doing hisutmost to make himself invisible. Hank, indeed, burrowed beneath thesnow, and extracting huge handfuls of the white crystals, tossed themover his body.
"In course no half-breed and no Injun would pass us within a hundredyards and not see us," he said grimly. "But every little helps incases like this. S--s--sh! Didn't I hear someone callin'?"
"Down there." Joe pointed eagerly downhill, hardly even whispering thewords. And then, quite plainly to the ears of every one of the party,there came the note of a human voice, subdued and eager. Rising incadence for the instant, it fell immediately and then died awayaltogether. Afterwards not a sound disturbed the ghostly silence ofthe patch of forest through which they were passing; that is, not asound audible to our hero. Hank's staring eyes and the eagerexpression on the hawk-like face of the Redskin told their own story.They heard something. To them the presence of the enemy was evident.Ah! Joe buried his head still deeper, for away in the distance afigure came of a sudden into view sliding silently between the treetrunks. A second followed, muffled to the eyes; a third, a fourth,till eight in all were visible. Perhaps two hundred yards separatedthem from Joe and his comrades. Perhaps they were even closer. In anycase, their proximity was such that the little party in hiding was inthe utmost danger. One point, however, was in their favour. The enemywere facing the west, and were cutting across the line of flight whichour hero had suggested. A minute passed, then two. It began to lookas if the danger would be gone in a few moments. Then, of a sudden,that low-pitched, eager voice was heard again, and, raising his headever so slightly, Joe saw that the enemy had halted and were nowbunched together.
"Talking it over," he told himself, hearing voices. "They have an ideathat they have come far enough west, and that now they had better cutuphill again, having got well behind us. Wish they had gone on anotherhundred yards or so, then there wouldn't have been any danger."
"The critters!" he heard Hank growl. "Ef they ain't turning uphill atthis instant!"
That indeed seemed to be the intention of the enemy; for, breaking fromthe circle into which they had collected, they went off again in singlefile, one burly individual leading. As for the features of theseunfriendly strangers, what they were like and of exactly whatnationality, neither Joe nor Hank nor Beaver Jack had the smallestinkling; for the enemy one and all were thickly clad in furs, muffledto their eyes, and at that distance seemed to be merely grotesquebundles of clothing. This, however, was certain--they were adepts atthe art of snowshoeing. Not one but was accustomed to the forest, forbeyond a voice or two not another sound had come from them. Facing thehillside, they curled off in that direction and slowly moved upward.
"It aer a toss up," Hank whispered, under his breath. "Yer see, nowthat they've turned they gets a broadside view of where we're lyinginstead of a head-on view. See here, Joe, ef they spots us, jest getin behind a tree and pepper 'em; if they don't, be ready to move offthe instant we're able. Seems to me as ef I've an idea that'll botherthem badly."
The ten minutes which followed were trying, for once again the enemyhalted, gathering together to discuss the situation. It appeared as ifthey were a little uncertain of their position, and at one moment theyappeared to be on the point of proceeding in the direction which theywere taking when first Joe and his friends saw them. But at last theywent on again and slowly passed out of hearing.
"That war a near go," whispered Hank, with a sigh of relief, as he roseto an erect position. "Now fer that idea of mine. Yer see, we've gotto bother 'em badly, fer it won't be long afore they comes upon thespot where we were lying. In course there'll be a hullabaloo at once,and back they'll come after us. Ef they're sure of the line we'vetaken they'll cut clear across for their sleighs, and then there won'tbe a dog's chance for us. Joe, look lively jest now, and see as you doas you see me and Beaver Jack doing."
He faced downhill without another word, while the Redskin fell inbehind him. Indeed, the silent man seemed to have already guessed atHank's intentions, or was it that the cunning learned by all hunters isof such a class that their minds move always on parallel lines, anddifficulties are met in almost similar fashion? Whatever the reason,Beaver Jack seemed to have guessed intuitively what Hank's plan was tobe, and fell in behind him without uttering a syllable. Then came Joe,watching closely, wondering what new tricks he would see put intoexecution.
"It aer plain," began Hank, when at length he had reached the trackalong which the enemy had so recently passed, "it aer clear as daylightthat when them critters finds that we have moved, they will comedashing downhill as ef there was demons behind 'em. They'll come alongin our tracks, and ef we was to cross their own here and cut a line ofour own, why, in course there wouldn't be any need for 'em to wait tolook about for the direction. So here we plays an old Injun game thatain't so often practised in these days--now!"
He swung round, and moving a few paces beside the track which thehalf-breeds had followed, joined it at an acute angle, making it appearas if he and his comrades were going in the same direction. Then thewily little hunter stepped out of his snowshoes and, reversing his owndirection, thrust his warmly-moccasined feet into them in the reverseorder.
"Yer catch the idea?" he grinned. "Now I walks along the way theycame, but to look at the marks I'll leave you'd think I was jest goingalong with them. It aer said that a bear'll walk backward to hiswinter lair so as to deceive his enemies. That's what we're doing."
With shoes reversed, the little fellow set off at once, halting for afew seconds, once he had passed his comrades, so as to enable each inturn to step on to the track and face about. Then the three proceeded,the turning of their shoes making no great difference to theirmovement. As to the track they left, it was inextricably mixed up withthe marks made by the enemy, and seeing that their snowshoes werereversed, it appeared that they were following the same direction.
"Not as a Redskin nor a half-breed wouldn't spot the thing right off,"whispered Hank, "that is, ef it war a fresh track we was making; for itaer natural for a man to put his heel down heavily, even when carryinga snowshoe, and a practised tracker, same as these half-breeds, wouldsee that the front part of our shoes is pressed into the snow. Buthere there's the marks of eight pairs of shoes already, and ourthree'll mix up nicely with 'em. Now, boys, let's git along slick;every second'll be of importance."
It was in silence after that that they thrust their way through theforest, and seeing that the direction the enemy had taken took thelittle party downhill, their pace was extremely rapid. Perhaps half anhour later Hank again came to a halt, pointing before him.
"Here we takes our own line," he said. "I guess those critters cutdownhill amongst the trees yonder till they had got below a fold in theground which would hide them. Then they swung straight across for ourside, knowing that we couldn't see 'em. Wall, we'll do the same; we'llstrike straight out into the open and, cutting away from their track,dive down the hill into the valley. After that we'll make a bee-linefor the camp, and there make ready for the ruction that's bound tofollow. Seems to me, Joe, as ef I'd already got an id
ea of a spot thatwould give us cover."
"Stop! Listen!" suddenly exclaimed our hero, raising one hand andstanding in the position of keen attention. "I heard sounds frombehind us. I feel sure that----"
"Yer ain't got no need to tell us what it aer," said Hank curtly, inthe abrupt way he had when something specially stirred him. "Themcritters has got to the point where they hoped to spring upon us andwipe us out, and they aer fair bustin' with rage to find that we'vegiven 'em the slip. They'll be tumblin' downhill now as fast as theirlegs will bring 'em, and ef it warn't that we've put up a fine startand have left something behind to worry 'em a little, they'd be on ourheels afore we could look round. Now, Beaver Jack, guess we've a longchase afore us; you kin take the lead and strike slick for the camp.I'll go behind and keep a weather eye open for them critters."
There was perfect order and coolness amongst the little party, though aglance at any one of the faces showed that all appreciated the dangerof their position. No one, indeed, could have failed to gather thatdiscovery of their escape would bring the whole pack of half-breedschasing after them; the exchange of shots between the two parties, andthe fact that the enemy had been the first to open fire proved, ifproof were wanted, that a closer approach on their part would result inmore shots, and in the slaying of Joe and his friends, if that werepossible.
"But why? What is the attack made for?" Joe found himself saying underhis breath again and again. "We don't look to be rich, I'm sure.We're just ordinary trappers or prospectors, and from what I havegathered such people don't carry much in the way of money with them.The rich prospectors, also, don't dream of setting out into thebackwoods during the winter. They choose the spring and summer for tworeasons, I guess. One, because then they can see the land, for thereisn't any snow, and so can search for the veins of metal which attractthem; and secondly, because they haven't severe weather to face. Itbeats me hollow; one would have thought that these men had been setupon us for some other purpose than that of robbery."
It was one of those questions, in fact, which would have taken a moreworldly-wise fellow than Joe to answer; indeed, had he but known thetrue reason of this unlooked-for and undeserved attack, he would havebeen astounded. For the band then shrieking and shouting behind them,and at that moment dashing downhill on their snowshoes, had set out tosearch for our hero and his friends. They had hunted high and low forthe trace of two prospectors, for the snowshoe marks left by Joe andHank, and had fallen upon those marks prior to their joining hands withBeaver Jack. But the accession of one to the number of the littleparty made not the smallest difference. Why should it? There werenine in this gang, and only three in the other.
But Joe had other things to do than to worry his head as to reasons.After all, what did it matter who this enemy was? What differencecould knowing make to our hero and his friends? For enemies are muchthe same all the world through. Once it is demonstrated that they aimat the slaying of those they follow, all come under the same heading.All are dangerous, and it behoves those who have to defend their livesto take the utmost precautions.
Beaver Jack therefore led the flight at a speed which suited Joe, whodid not find it very hard to keep up, seeing that the way lay downhill.As for the Redskin, he might have been out for a promenade only; hisshoes slid over the now hard-frozen surface with a queer littlerustling sound, seeming to carry the user's legs rather than to requireeffort on his part. His head was sunk low down upon his breast, hishooked nose and upturned chin approximated. But nothing escaped thisman of the woods, this child of nature, whose hearing and instinctswere as developed as those of the wildest animal.
Hank made a pretty, if a rugged picture. The little man seemed almostto have his ears cocked backwards. In any case, they lay flat againsthis head, the coon-skin cap just dropping on to them. His head waserect, and even as he slid along over the snow there was little doubtthat not a sound escaped him.
"Them critters ha' jest come to the spot whar we dropped in on theirtrace," he growled. "You kin tell as they're finely bothered. Seemsto me they'll send a party forward and one along this way, and in a bitwe shall hear a hullabaloo that'll be loud enough to scare the moosethis side of the big lakes. You ain't tired, Joe?"
"Not I!" came the hearty answer. "Could go on for a while longer."
"Then you'll have need. There won't be so much between us by the timewe reach camp; then it'll be a case fer thinkin'."
As if the question of their further movements bothered him, as indeedit did, his fingers slid up beneath his cap, a habit the little fellowhad, and played with a loose lock of his thick hair; for Hank's hairwas thick. Barbers do not live round the corner in the backwoods ofCanada, and a long crop of hair is rather an advantage to a man whenthe temperature is below zero. It followed, therefore, that Hank'shead was well covered, and Joe's also. Indeed, our hero showed asomewhat ungainly growth of fluff about chin and cheeks and upper lip,which, if it made promise of budding manhood, could not be said to beexpressly elegant. But there again your backwoodsman shines. The manwho carries all his belongings with him upon his back and sets off fora winter, meaning to spend it in the open air, subsisting on what hisgun can procure for him, is not likely to be over-nervous as to hisappearance. Hair will grow, and garments will become rent, even withthe greatest care. Life also is too strenuous to make smaller thingsmatter. Suffice it to say that Joe looked a gentleman in spite of hisget-up, while already he had proved himself a jovial and booncompanion, one ready to enjoy sport if it came, to take the rough withthe smooth, and to face danger as if it were part of the day'shappenings.
"Ha! There they go, yelping like a pack o' dogs," cried Hank, a littlelater, when shouts and yelps came resounding from the forest and acrossthe snow-clad face of the hillside. "Let 'em yell! It don't do us noharm, and don't bring the critters any nearer.
"How far now to camp?" asked Joe, swinging his head round.
"Guess we're more'n halfway; in half an hour we shall do it. Supposethese fellers has been there already and has cleared all that we left."
The suggestion was disconcerting, for supposing the enemy had taken allthe worldly belongings of this little party, how could they face aprolonged journey? In the summer it would make but little difference,for a stew-pan and a kettle are not absolute necessaries. Comparedwith the needs of the Redskins, they are merely luxuries, though longacquaintance with those useful articles has made white men find them animportant portion of camping equipment. The habit of tea-drinkingthroughout the settlements and townships of the Dominion requires akettle, and Joe doubted whether even the resourceful Beaver Jack couldsupplement such an article, however many birch trees there might be,and whatever his skill in fashioning the bark.
"Never cry till you're kicked," sang out Hank cheerfully, "and whenyou're kicked jest kick back mighty hard, ef only to show as you'restill movin'. Ef they've took our kit, it's bad; ef they wipe us outclean, it's wuss. Let's put on steam a bit."
Beaver Jack seemed to understand the demand at once, for he broke intosomething resembling a jog trot, if there is such a thing when dealingwith snowshoes. In any case, his feet slid over the snow at increasedpace, and Joe found himself sweeping forward at a speed which set thefreezing air buzzing against his ears, and brought a bright flush ofcolour to his face. It soon became evident, too, that the wily Redskinhad noted every feature of the ground as he led his friends from thecamp that morning; for suddenly, as the surface ceased to shelve andbecame almost level, he changed his direction. Nor did he join thewide track which presently crossed before him; he merely grunted andpointed.
"Half-breeds come along there," he said. "Go different way ourselves."
Joe looked closely at the trace they were crossing. There were themarks of the runners of two sleighs cutting through tracks evidentlyleft by the dog teams, and on either hand, and mixed up with the formermarks, were the impressions of many snowshoes.
"But--" he began, "if this is their line, and they followed us f
rom thecamp, as seems more than likely, why not take the same line back? Theyare sure to have come the quickest way."
"You bet; they jest followed our trace, and guess we came direct," saidHank. "Only you can't see our marks, as they've trod all over 'em.But you leave this here matter to Beaver Jack. He aer a cunnin' boy,and 'way back at the end of his head he's got an idea that'll knockfits out of them 'ere critters. I've half guessed at it already;you'll see. Seems to me we shall almost fly the last half of thedistance."
"Eh?" Joe stared at the little hunter. He was quite willing to beled, and had implicit faith in his companions, but he was one of thoseinquisitive fellows who like to know the why and wherefore ofeverything. "But--fly!" he exclaimed.
"Ay--fly!" grinned Hank; "jest go along quicker nor a sleigh could takeus. Ain't that it, Jack?"
Beaver Jack could enjoy a joke with anyone, only he enjoyed it in amanner peculiarly his own, or, one might more correctly say, in amanner characteristic of his people. His eyes were twinkling as hefaced about, while his hooked nose and upturned chin seemed to haveapproached even nearer.
"It is well that the young men should know what is happening," he said."They look to their elders for instruction, and in asking thus Joeshows that he is interested. It will also tell him the need there isalways to watch the country he passes through. Listen: the land beyondfalls very steeply. Leaving the camp, we passed to the right, so as togain a track which was easy. To climb is hard; to descend is adifferent matter."
It was not all said in that fashion, for Beaver Jack's English was notof an advanced order. But a man of intelligence could understand himwith ease, and, hearing what he had to say, Joe quickly realized whatwas about to happen. Also he remembered that the ground did riseimmediately in front of their camp, and at such an angle that to climbit would have been almost impossible; but to descend would be easy.
"Easy as fallin' off a house," grunted Hank. "Jest sit down on yoursnowshoes and slide; sleighing won't be in it."
Speeding along now across a field of virgin snow through which anoccasional tree cropped, the party were not long in gaining a belt offorest trees clinging to the hillside. Passing through these, theyagain emerged on to a space which was open, and over which the whitewinter mantle was spread, without so much as a footmark to mar itsbeauty. But the field seemed to end abruptly on that edge farthestfrom the summit of the hills, and striking out for the white line wheresky and snow seemed to merge, the trio soon found themselves on theverge of a steep and smooth declivity. From it a splendid view was tobe obtained, for the rays from the declining sun lit up a gorgeouslandscape, swept with white from end to end, dotted here and there withdarker patches, showing long shadows where the hollows lay, whilepatches of trees of larger and smaller extent cropped up everywhere.There was their camp, too, nestling at the foot of a clump of pines,while at its back was one huge expanse of white, unbroken, unmarked,bearing not even a shadow.
"A lake, and a big 'un, too," observed Hank. "Ef we'd looked that waythis morning once we got on to the hill we might have seen it. But wewas in the trees most of the time, and I expect that folds in theground kept us elsewhere. Now fer a slide. Slip yer gun from yershoulder and use it as a guiding stick. Yer see, it's mighty steephere, and though, ef you rolled from top to bottom, it wouldn't do nogreat harm--for there's drifts that would catch you--still it's nicerand better to go face forward. So put the butt in on one side and alittle behind, and guide and brake with it."
That was a glorious ride down the hill. It carried Joe back to days,now so far off they seemed, when there had been a heavy fall of snow inEngland, and he, with friends in the little town, had rigged up atoboggan and had carried it to the hills. The speed then had beengreat; it was terrific here. However, there was no time for pausing;besides, the Redskin made nothing of it. This form of progress seemedto him to be much the same as any other. Without a word, with hardly alook at his comrades, he strode to the very edge, sat down on hissnowshoes, and, thrusting the butt of his gun into the snow, pushedhimself over the brink. He went whirling down before a mighty cloud ofsnowflakes kicked up by his shoes, and left behind him a track which aman standing in the valley below could have seen from a great distance.Once he swerved, and looked as if he were about to turn over; but theguiding gun held him straight, and in an extraordinary short space oftime he was waiting for them at the bottom.
"Wall," grinned Hank, "you or me? Ef there was a chance of themcritters coming along I'd say you."
"And I'd say you," laughed Joe. "I'd feel that I had to stay toprotect you."
"Gee! Ef that don't beat the hull band," gasped Hank. "Protect me,you said! As ef I war a baby. Now, see here, lad; we'll make a raceof it. You're heavier nor me, and so will have an advantage. At thesame time, I'm that light I'll slide over the snow easier. We'll seewho makes the quickest job of it."
"Agreed!" cried Joe. "Ready?"
"Ready it aer."
"Then off!"
They thrust themselves over the edge and went whirling down, hugeclouds of snow spurting to either side of their snowshoes. Nor did Joefind the task one of the easiest. He swerved, and with a dig of hisgun recovered his position. But the movement sent him twirling theopposite way. He made a desperate effort, and wrenched his body roundagain till he faced downhill; then, just as is the case with skis,something seemed to go wrong with his snowshoes. They displayed anunaccountable and all-powerful tendency to separate. No amount ofeffort would draw them together. The result was speedy disaster. Joerose a little, struggling to regain equilibrium, but a curious thinghappened. The very raising of his body proved fatal; for suddenly theshoes stuck fast, the toes entering the surface in spite of the steepslope. Thus arrested, our hero pitched forward on to his head, doubledup into a beautiful and most elegant circle, and went speeding down thehill like a ball, this time at an infinitely quicker rate. His antics,too, from that moment forward were more than funny, for he straightenedhimself out, with arms and legs widespread.
"I'll have the breath knocked clean out of my body if I don't come to astop soon," he thought. "Ah! That does it; that's better!"
However, the relief was for the moment only. The pace lessened; hebegan to think that presently he would find a resting-place from whichhe might once more put himself in position for the remainder of thedescent. But alas! he was to be disappointed. Shooting into a deepdrift, he found himself buried beneath the snow, and expected to staythere. But the force of his descent carried all before it. His bodybroke through the mass of snow, and once more he was hurtling downward,falling this way and that, sliding, rolling head first sometimes, andat others the reverse. At last, however, he was able to arrest therapid and exciting movement.
"Gee!" he cried. "That was a doer! Where's my gun? And one shoe gonealso."
It happened that the lost articles had more or less kept him company.The gun, in fact, lay within a few feet of him, while as he turnedthere was the lost snowshoe descending in a dignified manner towardshim. He snatched at it, donned it in haste, and once more prepared forthe rest of the journey.
"Better luck, I hope," he said. "Ain't Hank grinning! The littlebeggar made a clean run right to the bottom."
On this second occasion Joe was more fortunate. He sat his shoes likea practised hand, and went hurtling down to within a few feet of hiswaiting comrades.
"You've come at last," grinned Hank, as Joe picked himself up and roseto an erect position. "Warn't it fair flyin'? Seemed to me as ef youwas spreading your wings because you wasn't quite satisfied. But youain't hurt, lad?"
"Not a bit; rather enjoyed it," sang out our hero.
"And ain't too much shook up? That sorter things kicks the breathouter a body."
"As fit as ever," grinned Joe, "and ready to continue. Where's thecamp?"
"You're at the front door, as you might almost say," smiled the littlehunter. "There it aer."
There it was indeed, almost nestling at the foot of
the hill, and inany case within a few hundred yards. It took the little party but afew minutes to reach it.
"Will they have taken all or not?" asked Hank somewhat anxiously, asthey came up to the place. "Ef so, it aer a bad lookout; ef not, why,things is beginning to move in our favour."
A deep-toned exclamation came from the Redskin, while his hawk-likeface took on for one brief instant an appearance of sublime content.
"That's settled the matter," cried Hank. "You kin see as it aer allright, fer Beaver Jack stood to lose the hull of his pelts and thewinter's work, which for him would be serious. He's seen that thingsaer all right."
"No take the pelts and the sleigh as they easy able to come back whenthey killed us," said Beaver Jack, his eyes twinkling.
"And so we'll take 'em," cried Hank. "But where? That do tease memore'n a trifle. Jest about here we ain't no better off than we wasback up the hill, and men lyin' on the ridge above us could flickbullets into our camp every time. I ain't bad at some sorterconundrums, but here guess I've come to an end. Joe, boy, you are theyoungest and brightest; what do we do?"
"Pack up at once, put all our things on Beaver Jack's sleigh, and makeclear across the lake to that island," said our hero, promptly pointingacross the smooth expanse of snow to where, nestling in the centrealmost, was a prominence above which hung the heavily-weighted branchesof a group of evergreens. "That'll be a fine castle," he said. "We'venow grub with us, besides pots and pans; there'll be firewood yonder,and with that we'll be able to make ourselves comfortable. I'm formaking for that island."
Hank gave a little exclamation, and struck himself violently on thechest as if in punishment for not having thought of the same movement,while the Redskin went to his sleigh, on which his store of pelts wasstill bound, and taking up the tow rope began to move away from thecamp.
"It aer jest the very thing for us," observed Hank, with eagerness. "Iwar a thickhead too never to have thought of it. But lend a hand, Joe,and let's get the traps fixed and packed. Them critters ain't likelyto be long now in coming."
Very rapidly but carefully they packed all their goods on Beaver Jack'ssleigh, then, led by the Redskin, they stepped upon the snow-coveredsurface of the lake. And as they pushed their way across it the shoutsof the enemy came to their ear, while presently they could be seendescending the hillside.
"They've seed what we're up to, and guess as they can't reach us aforewe're at the island," said Hank. "So now they'll go back to collecttheir sleighs and dog teams. That'll give us time to breathe. We'llmake our lean-to right off, and get a kettle of water boiling. A brewof hot tea won't come amiss after all this business."
They found, in fact, that cups of boiling hot tea, sweetened with someof the store of maple sugar which they had brought with them, was mostreviving. It sent the blood surging through their bodies, and, hadtheir courage been somewhat lacking, would even have restored that.But Joe and his friends had a deal of fight left in them yet. Theyhoped still to preserve their lives, and show these half-breeds who hadso outrageously attacked them that matters were not all in their favour.
"We aer boxed in, more or less," said Hank, surveying his surroundings;"but they ain't much better off. The moment one o' the critters stepsoff on to the lake, we sees him. There'll be a moon to-night, and fora week almost, so night won't make much difference to it. Joe, I beginto think as this here island aer going to be the saving of us."
Whether or no that was to be the case had yet to be seen. It wasfairly evident that the gallant little trio had a strenuous andexciting time before them.