CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
ATTACKED BY THE RED-SKINS.
PROLONGED ABSENCE OF RED SQUIRREL--FLIGHT--THE STRANGERS PROVE TO BEFRIENDS--RETURN TO THE FORT--UNCLE DONALD OPPOSES THE DOCTRINE OFNON-RESISTANCE--THE GUARD OVER THE FORT--THE INDIANS ATTACK THE FORT.
We felt very uneasy at the strangely prolonged absence of Red Squirrel.He could have anticipated no danger, or he would have advised us whatcourse to pursue should he not return. At last, telling Alec to sitquiet, I got up, and made my way to the top of the knoll, whence I couldsee over the country to the southward, in the direction I supposed RedSquirrel had gone. I looked and looked in vain through the gloom ofnight, though I could see in the far distance the light of the fire ofwhich he had spoken.
Could he have been captured? if so, what should Alec and I do? It wouldbe impossible to rescue him--indeed, it was too probable that he hadbeen immediately put to death by the Blackfeet, and that we mightourselves, should we remain in the neighbourhood, be killed. I cametherefore to the conclusion that we must continue our search for thehunters to the eastward, keeping at the same time a watchful eye in thedirection in which we had seen the fire of our supposed enemies. I saysupposed enemies, because I still had a lingering hope that, after all,the fire might be at the hunters' camp.
Such were the thoughts which passed through my mind as I stood on thetop of the knoll. I had not been there many minutes before Irecollected how clearly I had seen Red Squirrel in the same positionagainst the sky. Instead, therefore, of remaining upright, I stoopeddown until I reached a thick bush, behind which I crouched, as well ableas before to see any objects moving in the plain below. At last Ithought that it was time to go back to Alec, and was on the point ofdescending the knoll, when I fancied that I saw some objects movingalong the ground.
I remained stock still, scarcely daring to breathe, with my eyes fixedon the spot. They were human beings--Indians I felt sure; if so, theywould soon see our fire, and we should be discovered.
While there was time I hurried down the knoll and flew to Alec. I madea sign to him to take up his rifle and buffalo-robe, with a few otherarticles, left on the ground, and led the way through the wood. Here wemight remain concealed until the savages had gone away, and then try toget back to the fort. I had no great hopes of success, still, it wasthe only thing to be done.
We had reached the spot, and it was some way from the fire, but we werestill able to see it by raising our heads over the bushes.
We had both knelt down behind the bush, with our rifles ready to raiseto our shoulders at any minute. Alec, only the moment before Ireturned, had thrown some wood on the fire, so that it was now blazingup brightly, and we could see all the objects round it. Just then threefigures appeared. Two were Indians--there could be no doubt about it;but the other we could not make out clearly. They advanced, lookingeagerly around, but as they came more into the light, instead ofsavages, with scalping knives in hand ready to kill us, great was ourjoy to discover that one was Pierre, and the others Red Squirrel andKondiarak. They looked very much astonished at not seeing us. We didnot keep them long in suspense, and Pierre then told us that they hadcome on purpose to advise that we should at once return to the fort,without waiting for daylight. They had been successful in hunting,having killed three buffalo cows, with the meat of which the sleighswere already packed, and as the track was formed, the dogs would findtheir way without the slightest difficulty.
We reached the fort without having seen the enemy, and, as may besupposed, were heartily welcomed.
Our arrival restored the spirits of my poor father and mother, who werevery anxious, not so much for themselves as for my younger brothers andsisters. They were prepared to die, if God so willed it, in the path oftheir duty. My father was still very unwilling to resort to force, andproposed going out himself to meet the enemy to try and induce them toturn back.
Uncle Donald, however, told him that as he was the object of theirvengeance they would, to a certainty, seize and torture him, and thenprobably come on and endeavour to destroy the fort. Thus no objectwould have been gained, as we should do our utmost to defend ourselves,and his life would be uselessly sacrificed.
"But I should have done my duty in attempting to soften the hearts ofthe poor savages," answered my father, meekly.
"My good nephew, it's just this, I'm not going to let ye have your scalptaken off," said Uncle Donald, bluntly. "I am commander here for thetime being, and no man, not e'en yourself, shall leave the fort withoutmy leave. If the savages come they must take the consequences."
My father did not reply, but I am very sure that, had he been left toact by himself, he would have earned out his intentions, and would mostprobably have perished. From Pierre's report we fully expected everyminute to see the Blackfeet appear. To each man under Uncle Donald'sdirections a post was assigned, which he was charged to defend with hislife. Orders were, however, given that no one was to fire until theword of command was received.
Hugh, Alec, and I were stationed together, and highly proud we were atthe confidence placed in us, as the post we had to maintain was one ofthe most important.
The day wore on, but we were still unmolested, and at last darkness camedown upon us.
The winter, it will be remembered, was not yet over. To defendourselves from the intense cold we all put on as many buffalo-robes andbear-skins as we could wear, and Hugh declared that we looked like agarrison of grizzlies.
It was cold enough during the day, but it was still colder at night;notwithstanding this, as Alec and I had had no sleep for many hours, wefound it difficult to keep awake. We, therefore, rolling ourselves upin our wraps, lay down, while Hugh stood ready to call us at a moment'snotice. There were, however, sentries enough to keep a look-out, andUncle Donald continued going round and round the fort, seeing that theywere watchful.
The dawn was approaching; it was the time the Red-skins often make theirattacks, as they expect to find their enemies buried in sleep.
When morning at last came, and no enemy had appeared, we began to hopethat no Blackfeet had as yet reached the neighbourhood.
Another day was drawing on. Except a few men who remained on guard, therest of the garrison lay down to sleep, that they might be more watchfulthe following night.
I spent a short time with my mother and sisters and Rose, and did mybest to encourage them, but I could not help feeling that possibly itmight be the last time we should be together on earth. By RedSquirrel's report, the Blackfeet were very numerous, and they are notedfor being the most savage and warlike of all the northern tribes.
The next night was almost a repetition of the former, except that Alecand I kept watch, while Hugh lay down to sleep. Uncle Donald, asbefore, went his rounds, and there seemed but little risk of our beingtaken by surprise. He had just left us, when Hugh, who had got up andwas standing near me, whispered--
"I see something moving over the snow. There! there are others. Yes,they must be Indians."
"Wait until we are certain," I answered, in the same low voice; "andthen, Alec, run round and tell Uncle Donald."
We were not left long in doubt before we all three were certain that theobjects we saw were Indians, and that they were trying to keepthemselves concealed.
Alec set off to find Uncle Donald. He had not been gone many seconds,when fearful yells rent the air. Before us up started hundreds of darkforms, and a shower of bullets and arrows came flying above our heads.