THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER, BY R. M. BALLANTYNE. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

THE BACKWOODS SETTLEMENT--CRUSOE'S PARENTAGE AND EARLY HISTORY--THEAGONISING PAINS AND SORROWS OF HIS PUPPYHOOD, AND OTHER INTERESTINGMATTERS. 

The dog Crusoe was once a pup. Now do not, courteous reader, toss yourhead contemptuously, and exclaim, "Of course he was; I could have told_you_ that. " You know very well that you have often seen a man abovesix feet high, broad and powerful as a lion, with a bronzed shaggyvisage and the stern glance of an eagle, of whom you have said, orthought, or heard others say, "It is scarcely possible to believe thatsuch a man was once a squalling baby. " If you had seen our hero in allthe strength and majesty of full-grown doghood, you would haveexperienced a vague sort of surprise had we told you--as we now repeat--that the dog Crusoe was once a pup--a soft, round, sprawling, squeakingpup, as fat as a tallow candle, and as blind as a bat. 

But we draw particular attention to the fact of Crusoe's having oncebeen a pup, because in connection with the days of his puppyhood therehangs a tale. This peculiar dog may thus be said to have had twotails--one in connection with his body, the other with his career. Thistale, though short, is very harrowing, and, as it is intimatelyconnected with Crusoe's subsequent history, we will relate it here. Butbefore doing so we must beg our reader to accompany us beyond thecivilised portions of the United States of America--beyond the frontiersettlements of the "far west, " into those wild prairies which arewatered by the great Missouri river--the Father of Waters--and hisnumerous tributaries. 

Here dwell the Pawnees, the Sioux, the Delawares, the Crows, theBlackfeet, and many other tribes of Red Indians, who are graduallyretreating step by step towards the Rocky Mountains as the advancingwhite man cuts down their trees and ploughs up their prairies. Here, too, dwell the wild horse and the wild ass, the deer, the buffalo, andthe badger; all, men and brutes alike, wild as the power of untamed andungovernable passion can make them, and free as the wind that sweepsover their mighty plains. 

There is a romantic and exquisitely beautiful spot on the banks of oneof the tributaries above referred to--a long stretch of mingled woodlandand meadow, with a magnificent lake lying like a gem in its greenbosom--which goes by the name of the Mustang Valley. This remote vale, even at the present day, is but thinly peopled by white men, and isstill a frontier settlement round which the wolf and the bear prowlcuriously, and from which the startled deer bounds terrified away. Atthe period of which we write the valley had just been taken possessionof by several families of squatters, who, tired of the turmoil and thesquabbles of the then frontier settlements, had pushed boldly into thefar west to seek a new home for themselves, where they could have "elbowroom, " regardless alike of the dangers they might encounter in unknownlands and of the Red-skins who dwelt there. 

The squatters were well armed with axes, rifles, and ammunition. Mostof the women were used to dangers and alarms, and placed implicitreliance in the power of their fathers, husbands, and brothers toprotect them--and well they might, for a bolder set of stalwart men thanthese backwoodsmen never trod the wilderness. Each had been trained tothe use of the rifle and the axe from infancy, and many of them hadspent so much of their lives in the woods, that they were more than amatch for the Indian in his own peculiar pursuits of hunting and war. When the squatters first issued from the woods bordering the valley, animmense herd of wild horses or mustangs were browsing on the plain. These no sooner beheld the cavalcade of white men, than, uttering a wildneigh, they tossed their flowing manes in the breeze and dashed awaylike a whirlwind. This incident procured the valley its name. 

The newcomers gave one satisfied glance at their future home, and thenset to work to erect log huts forthwith. Soon the axe was heard ringingthrough the forests, and tree after tree fell to the ground, while theoccasional sharp ring of a rifle told that the hunters were cateringsuccessfully for the camp. In course of time the Mustang Valley beganto assume the aspect of a thriving settlement, with cottages and wavingfields clustered together in the midst of it. 

Of course the savages soon found it out, and paid it occasional visits. These dark-skinned tenants of the woods brought furs of wild animalswith them, which they exchanged with the white men for knives, andbeads, and baubles and trinkets of brass and tin. But they hated the"Pale-faces" with bitter hatred, because their encroachments had at thistime materially curtailed the extent of their hunting grounds, andnothing but the numbers and known courage of the squatters preventedthese savages from butchering and scalping them all. 

The leader of this band of pioneers was a Major Hope, a gentleman whoselove for nature in its wildest aspects determined him to exchangebarrack life for a life in the woods. The major was a first-rate shot, a bold, fearless man, and an enthusiastic naturalist. He was past theprime of life, and, being a bachelor, was unencumbered with a family. His first act on reaching the site of the new settlement was to commencethe erection of a block-house, to which the people might retire in caseof a general attack by the Indians. 

In this block-house Major Hope took up his abode as the guardian of thesettlement, --and here the dog Crusoe was born; here he sprawled in theearly morn of life; here he leaped, and yelped, and wagged his shaggytail in the excessive glee of puppyhood, and from the wooden portals ofthis block-house he bounded forth to the chase in all the fire, andstrength, and majesty of full-grown doghood. 

Crusoe's father and mother were magnificent Newfoundlanders. There wasno doubt as to their being of the genuine breed, for Major Hope hadreceived them as a parting gift from a brother officer, who had broughtthem both from Newfoundland itself. The father's name was Crusoe; themother's name was Fan. Why the father had been so called no one couldtell. The man from whom Major Hope's friend had obtained the pair was apoor, illiterate fisherman, who had never heard of the celebrated"Robinson" in all his life. All he knew was that Fan had been namedafter his own wife. As for Crusoe, he had got him from a friend, whohad got him from another friend, whose cousin had received him as amarriage gift from a friend of _his_; and that each had said to theother that the dog's name was "Crusoe, " without reasons being asked orgiven on either side. On arriving at New York the major's friend, as wehave said, made him a present of the dogs. Not being much of a dogfancier, he soon tired of old Crusoe, and gave him away to a gentleman, who took him down to Florida, and that was the end of him. He was neverheard of more. 

When Crusoe, junior, was born, he was born, of course, without a name. That was given to him afterwards in honour of his father. He was alsoborn in company with a brother and two sisters, all of whom drownedthemselves accidentally, in the first month of their existence, byfalling into the river which flowed past the block-house, --a calamitywhich occurred, doubtless, in consequence of their having gone outwithout their mother's leave. Little Crusoe was with his brother andsisters at the time, and fell in along with them, but was saved fromsharing their fate by his mother, who, seeing what had happened, dashedwith an agonised howl into the water, and, seizing him in her mouth, brought him ashore in a half-drowned condition. She afterwards broughtthe others ashore one by one, but the poor little things were dead. 

And now we come to the harrowing part of our tale, for the properunderstanding of which the foregoing dissertation was needful. 

One beautiful afternoon, in that charming season of the American yearcalled the Indian summer, there came a family of Sioux Indians to theMustang Valley, and pitched their tent close to the block-house. Ayoung hunter stood leaning against the gate-post of the palisades, watching the movements of the Indians, who, having just finished a long"palaver" or "talk" with Major Hope, were now in the act of preparingsupper. A fire had been kindled on the green sward in front of thetent, and above it stood a tripod, from which depended a large tincamp-kettle. Over this hung an ill-favoured Indian woman, or squaw, who, besides attending to the contents of the pot, bestowed sundry cuffsand kicks upon her little child, which sat near to her playing withseveral Indian curs that gambolled round the fire. The master of thefamily and his two sons reclined on buffalo robes, smoking their stonepipes or calumets in silence. There was nothing peculiar in theirappearance. Their faces were neither dignified nor coarse inexpression, but wore an aspect of stupid apathy, which formed a strikingcontrast to the countenance of the young hunter, who seemed an amusedspectator of their proceedings. 

The youth referred to was very unlike, in many respects, to what we areaccustomed to suppose a backwoods hunter should be. He did not possessthat quiet gravity and staid demeanour which often characterise thesemen. True, he was tall and strongly made, but no one would have calledhim stalwart, and his frame indicated grace and agility rather thanstrength. But the point about him which rendered him different from hiscompanions was his bounding, irrepressible flow of spirits, strangelycoupled with an intense love of solitary wandering in the woods. Noneseemed so well fitted for social enjoyment as he; none laughed soheartily, or expressed such glee in his mischief-loving eye; yet fordays together he went off alone into the forest, and wandered where hisfancy led him, as grave and silent as an Indian warrior. 

After all, there was nothing mysterious in this. The boy followedimplicitly the dictates of nature within him. He was amiable, straightforward, sanguine, and intensely _earnest_. When he laughed helet it out, as sailors have it, "with a will. " When there was goodcause to be grave, no power on earth could make him smile. We havecalled him boy, but in truth he was about that uncertain period of lifewhen a youth is said to be neither a man nor a boy. His face wasgood-looking (_every_ earnest, candid face is) and masculine; his hairwas reddish-brown, and his eye bright blue. He was costumed in thedeerskin cap, leggings, moccasins, and leathern shirt common to thewestern hunter. 

"You seem tickled wi' the Injuns, Dick Varley, " said a man who at thatmoment issued from the block-house. 

"That's just what I am, Joe Blunt, " replied the youth, turning with abroad grin to his companion. 

"Have a care, lad; do not laugh at 'em too much. They soon takeoffence; an' them Red-skins never forgive. "

"But I'm only laughing at the baby, " returned the youth, pointing to thechild, which, with a mixture of boldness and timidity, was playing witha pup, wrinkling up its fat visage into a smile when its playmate rushedaway in sport, and opening wide its jet-black eyes in grave anxiety asthe pup returned at full gallop. 

"It 'ud make an owl laugh, " continued young Varley, "to see such a queerpictur' o' itself. "

He paused suddenly, and a dark frown covered his face as he saw theIndian woman stoop quickly down, catch the pup by its hind-leg with onehand, seize a heavy piece of wood with the other, and strike it severalviolent blows on the throat. Without taking the trouble to kill thepoor animal outright, the savage then held its still writhing body overthe fire in order to singe off the hair before putting it into the potto be cooked. 

The cruel act drew young Varley's attention more closely to the pup, andit flashed across his mind that this could be no other than youngCrusoe, which neither he nor his companion had before seen, althoughthey had often heard others speak of and describe it. 

Had the little creature been one of the unfortunate Indian curs, the twohunters would probably have turned from the sickening sight withdisgust, feeling that, however much they might dislike such cruelty, itwould be of no use attempting to interfere with Indian usages. But theinstant the idea that it was Crusoe occurred to Varley he uttered a yellof anger, and sprang towards the woman with a bound that caused thethree Indians to leap to their feet and grasp their tomahawks. 

Blunt did not move from the gate, but threw forward his rifle with acareless motion, but an expressive glance, that caused the Indians toresume their seats and pipes with an emphatic "Wah!" of disgust athaving been startled out of their propriety by a trifle, while DickVarley snatched poor Crusoe from his dangerous and painful position, scowled angrily in the woman's face, and, turning on his heel, walked upto the house, holding the pup tenderly in his arms. 

Joe Blunt gazed after his friend with a grave, solemn expression ofcountenance till he disappeared; then he looked at the ground and shookhis head. 

Joe was one of the regular out-and-out backwoods hunters, both inappearance and in fact--broad, tall, massive, lion-like, --gifted withthe hunting, stalking, running, and trail--following powers of thesavage, and with a superabundance of the shooting and fighting powers, the daring and dash of the Anglo-Saxon. He was grave, too seldomsmiled, and rarely laughed. His expression almost at all times was acompound of seriousness and good-humour. With the rifle he was a good, steady shot; but by no means a "crack" one. _His_ ball never failed to_hit_, but it often failed to kill. 

After meditating a few seconds, Joe Blunt again shook his head, andmuttered to himself; "The boy's bold enough, but he's too reckless for ahunter. There was no need for that yell, now--none at all. "

Having uttered this sagacious remark, he threw his rifle into the hollowof his left arm, turned round, and strode off with a long, slow steptowards his own cottage. 

Blunt was an American by birth, but of Irish extraction, and to anattentive ear there was a faint echo of the _brogue_ in his tone, whichseemed to have been handed down to him as a threadbare and almostworn-out heirloom. 

Poor Crusoe was singed almost naked. His wretched tail seemed littlebetter than a piece of wire filed off to a point, and he vented hismisery in piteous squeaks as the sympathetic Varley confided himtenderly to the care of his mother. How Fan managed to cure him no onecan tell, but cure him she did, for, in the course of a few weeks, Crusoe was as well, and sleek, and fat as ever. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

A SHOOTING MATCH AND ITS CONSEQUENCES--NEW FRIENDS INTRODUCED TO THEREADER--CRUSOE AND HIS MOTHER CHANGE MASTERS. 

Shortly after the incident narrated in the last chapter, the squattersof the Mustang Valley lost their leader. Major Hope suddenly announcedhis intention of quitting the settlement, and returning to the civilisedworld. Private matters, he said, required his presence there--matterswhich he did not choose to speak of but which would prevent hisreturning again to reside among them. Go he must, and, being a man ofdetermination, go he did; but before going he distributed all his goodsand chattels among the settlers. He even gave away his rifle, and Fan, and Crusoe. These last, however, he resolved should go together; and asthey were well worth having, he announced that he would give them to thebest shot in the valley. He stipulated that the winner should escorthim to the nearest settlement eastward, after which he might return withthe rifle on his shoulder. 

Accordingly, a long level piece of ground on the river's bank, with aperpendicular cliff at the end of it, was selected as the shootingground, and, on the appointed day, at the appointed hour, thecompetitors began to assemble. 

"Well, lad, first as usual, " exclaimed Joe Blunt, as he reached theground and found Dick Varley there before him. 

"I've bin here more than an hour lookin' for a new kind o' flower thatJack Morgan told me he'd seen. And I've found it too. Look here; didyou ever see one like it before?"

Blunt leaned his rifle against a tree, and carefully examined theflower. 

"Why, yes, I've seed a-many o' them up about the Rocky Mountains, butnever one here-away. It seems to have gone lost itself. The last Iseed, if I remimber rightly, wos near the head-waters o' the YellowstoneRiver, it wos--jest where I shot a grizzly bar. "

"Was that the bar that gave you the wipe on the cheek?" asked Varley, forgetting the flower in his interest about the bear. 

"It was. I put six balls in that bar's carcase, and stuck my knife intoits heart ten times afore it gave out; an' it nearly ripped the shirtoff my back afore I was done with it. "

"I would give my rifle to get a chance at a grizzly!" exclaimed Varley, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. 

"Whoever got it wouldn't have much to brag of, " remarked a burly youngbackwoodsman, as he joined them. 

His remark was true, for poor Dick's weapon was but a sorry affair. Itmissed fire, and it hung fire, and even when it did fire it remained amatter of doubt in its owner's mind whether the slight deviations fromthe direct line made by his bullets were the result of _his_ or _its_bad shooting. 

Further comment upon it was checked by the arrival of a dozen or morehunters on the scene of action. They were a sturdy set of bronzed, bold, fearless men, and one felt, on looking at them, that they wouldprove more than a match for several hundreds of Indians in open fight. A few minutes after, the major himself came on the ground with the prizerifle on his shoulder, and Fan and Crusoe at his heels--the lattertumbling, scrambling, and yelping after its mother, fat and clumsy, andhappy as possible, having evidently quite forgotten that it had beennearly roasted alive only a few weeks before. 

Immediately all eyes were on the rifle, and its merits were discussedwith animation. 

And well did it deserve discussion, for such a piece had never beforebeen seen on the western frontier. It was shorter in the barrel andlarger in the bore than the weapons chiefly in vogue at that time, and, besides being of beautiful workmanship, was silver-mounted. But thegrand peculiarity about it, and that which afterwards rendered it themystery of mysteries to the savages, was, that it had two sets oflocks--one percussion, the other flint--so that, when caps failed, bytaking off the one set of locks and affixing the others, it wasconverted into a flint-rifle. The major, however, took care never torun short of caps, so that the flint locks were merely held as a reservein case of need. 

"Now, lads, " cried Major Hope, stepping up to the point whence they wereto shoot, "remember the terms. He who first drives the nail obtains therifle, Fan, and her pup, and accompanies me to the nearest settlements. Each man shoots with his own gun, and draws lots for the chance. "

"Agreed, " cried the men. 

"Well, then, wipe your guns and draw lots. Henri will fix the nail. Here it is. "

The individual who stepped, or rather plunged forward to receive thenail was a rare and remarkable specimen of mankind. Like his comrades, he was half a farmer and half a hunter. Like them, too, he was clad indeerskin, and was tall and strong--nay, more, he was gigantic. But, unlike them, he was clumsy, awkward, loose-jointed, and a bad shot. Nevertheless Henri was an immense favourite in the settlement, for hisgood-humour knew no bounds. No one ever saw him frown. Even whenfighting with the savages, as he was sometimes compelled to do inself-defence, he went at them with a sort of jovial rage that was almostlaughable. Inconsiderate recklessness was one of his chiefcharacteristics, so that his comrades were rather afraid of him on thewar-trail or in the hunt, where caution, and frequently _soundless_motion, were essential to success or safety. But when Henri had acomrade at his side to check him he was safe enough, being humble-mindedand obedient. Men used to say he must have been born under a luckystar, for, notwithstanding his natural inaptitude for all sorts ofbackwoods life, he managed to scramble through everything with safety, often with success, and sometimes with credit. 

To see Henri stalk a deer was worth a long day's journey. Joe Bluntused to say he was "all jints together, from the top of his head to thesole of his moccasin. " He threw his immense form into the mostinconceivable contortions, and slowly wound his way, sometimes on handsand knees, sometimes flat, through bush and brake, as if there was not abone in his body, and without the slightest noise. This sort of workwas so much against his plunging nature, that he took long to learn it, but when, through hard practice and the loss of many a fine deer, hecame at length to break himself in to it, he gradually progressed toperfection, and ultimately became the best stalker in the valley. This, and this alone, enabled him to procure game, for, being short-sighted, he could hit nothing beyond fifty yards, except a buffalo or a barndoor. 

Yet that same lithe body, which seemed as though totally unhinged, couldno more be bent, when the muscles were strung, than an iron post. Noone wrestled with Henri unless he wished to have his back broken. Fewcould equal and none could beat him at running or leaping except DickVarley. When Henri ran a race even Joe Blunt laughed outright, for armsand legs went like independent flails. When he leaped, he hurledhimself into space with a degree of violence that seemed to insure asomersault--yet he always came down with a crash on his feet. Plungingwas Henri's forte. He generally lounged about the settlement, whenunoccupied, with his hands behind his back, apparently in a reverie, andwhen called on to act, he seemed to fancy he must have lost time, andcould only make up for it by _plunging_. This habit got him into manyawkward scrapes, but his herculean power as often got him out of them. He was a French-Canadian, and a particularly bad speaker of the Englishlanguage. 

We offer no apology for this elaborate introduction of Henri, for he wasas good-hearted a fellow as ever lived, and deserves special notice. 

But to return. The sort of rifle practice called "driving the nail, " bywhich this match was to be decided, was, and we believe still is, commonamong the hunters of the far west. It consisted in this, --an ordinarylarge-headed nail was driven a short way into a plank or a tree, and thehunters, standing at a distance of fifty yards or so, fired at it untilthey succeeded in driving it home. On the present occasion the majorresolved to test their shooting by making the distance seventy yards. 

Some of the older men shook their heads. 

"It's too far, " said one; "ye might as well try to snuff the nose o' amosquito. "

"Jim Scraggs is the only man as'll hit that, " said another. 

The man referred to was a long, lank, lantern-jawed fellow with across-grained expression of countenance. He used the long, heavy, Kentucky rifle, which, from the ball being little larger than a pea, wascalled a pea-rifle. Jim was no favourite, and had been named Scraggs byhis companions on account of his appearance. 

In a few minutes the lots were drawn, and the shooting began. Eachhunter wiped out the barrel of his piece with his ramrod as he steppedforward; then, placing a ball in the palm of his left hand, he drew thestopper of his powder-horn with his teeth, and poured out as much powderas sufficed to cover the bullet. This was the regular _measure_ amongthem. Little time was lost in firing, for these men did not "hang" ontheir aim. The point of the rifle was slowly raised to the object, and, the instant the sight covered it, the ball sped to its mark. In a fewminutes the nail was encircled by bullet-holes, scarcely two of whichwere more than an inch distant from the mark, and one--fired by JoeBlunt--entered the tree close beside it. 

"Ah, Joe!" said the major, "I thought you would have carried off theprize. "

"So did not I, sir, " returned Blunt, with a shake of his head. "Had ita-bin a half-dollar at a hundred yards, I'd ha' done better, but I never_could_ hit the nail. It's too small to _see_. "

"That's cos ye've got no eyes, " remarked Jim Scraggs, with a sneer, ashe stepped forward. 

All tongues were now hushed, for the expected champion was about tofire. The sharp crack of the rifle was followed by a shout, for Jim hadhit the nail-head on the edge, and part of the bullet stuck to it. 

"That wins if there's no better, " said the major, scarce able to concealhis disappointment. "Who comes next?"

To this question Henri answered by stepping up to the line, straddlinghis legs, and executing preliminary movements with his rifle, thatseemed to indicate an intention on his part to throw the weapon bodilyat the mark. He was received with a shout of mingled laughter andapplause. After gazing steadily at the mark for a few seconds, a broadgrin overspread his countenance, and, looking round at his companions, he said--"Ha! mes boys, I cannot behold de nail at all!"

"Can ye `behold' the _tree_?" shouted a voice, when the laugh thatfollowed this announcement had somewhat abated. 

"Oh! oui, " replied Henri quite coolly; "I can see _him_, an' a gootsmall bit of de forest beyond. "

"Fire at it, then. If ye hit the tree ye desarve the rifle--leastwiseye ought to get the pup. "

Henri grinned again, and fired instantly, without taking aim. 

The shot was followed by an exclamation of surprise, for the bullet wasfound close beside the nail!

"It's more be good luck than good shootin', " remarked Jim Scraggs. 

"Possiblement, " answered Henri modestly, as he retreated to the rear andwiped out his rifle; "mais I have kill most of my deer by dat same gootluck. "

"Bravo! Henri, " said Major Hope as he passed; "you _deserve_ to win, anyhow. Who's next?"

"Dick Varley, " cried several voices; "where's Varley? Come on, youngster, an' take yer shot. "

The youth came forward with evident reluctance. "It's of no manner o'use, " he whispered to Joe Blunt as he passed, "I can't depend on my oldgun. "

"Never give in, " whispered Blunt encouragingly. Poor Varley's want ofconfidence in his rifle was merited, for, on pulling the trigger, thefaithless lock missed fire. 

"Lend him another gun, " cried several voices. "'Gainst rules laid downby Major Hope, " said Scraggs. 

"Well, so it is; try again. "

Varley did try again, and so successfully, too, that the ball hit thenail on the head, leaving a portion of the lead sticking to its edge. 

Of course this was greeted with a cheer, and a loud dispute began as towhich was the better shot of the two. 

"There are others to shoot yet, " cried the major. "Make way. Lookout. "

The men fell back, and the few hunters who had not yet fired took theirshots, but without coming nearer the mark. 

It was now agreed that Jim Scraggs and Dick Varley, being the two bestshots, should try over again; and it was also agreed that Dick shouldhave the use of Blunt's rifle. Lots were again drawn for the firstshot, and it fell to Dick, who immediately stepped out, aimed somewhathastily, and fired. 

"Hit again!" shouted those who had run forward to examine the mark. "_Half_ the bullet cut off by the nail-head!"

Some of the more enthusiastic of Dick's friends cheered lustily, but themost of the hunters were grave and silent, for they knew Jim's powers, and felt that he would certainly do his best. Jim now stepped up to theline, and, looking earnestly at the mark, threw forward his rifle. 

At that moment our friend Crusoe--tired of tormenting his mother--waddled stupidly and innocently into the midst of the crowd of men, and, in so doing, received Henri's heel and the full weight of hiselephantine body on its fore-paw. The horrible and electric yell thatinstantly issued from his agonised throat could only be compared, as JoeBlunt expressed it, "to the last dyin' screech o' a bustin' steambiler!" We cannot say that the effect was startling, for thesebackwoodsmen had been born and bred in the midst of alarms, and were soused to them that a "bustin' steam biler" itself, unless it had blownthem fairly off their legs, would not have startled them. But theeffect, such as it was, was sufficient to disconcert the aim of JimScraggs, who fired at the same instant, and missed the nail by ahair's-breadth. 

Turning round in towering wrath, Scraggs aimed a kick at the poor pup, which, had it taken effect, would certainly have terminated the innocentexistence of that remarkable dog on the spot, but quick as lightningHenri interposed the butt of his rifle, and Jim's shin met it with aviolence that caused him to howl with rage and pain. 

"Oh! pardon me, broder, " cried Henri, shrinking back, with the drollestexpression of mingled pity and glee. 

Jim's discretion, on this occasion, was superior to his valour; heturned away with a coarse expression of anger and left the ground. 

Meanwhile the major handed the silver rifle to young Varley. "Itcouldn't have fallen into better hands, " he said. "You'll do it credit, lad, I know that full well, and let me assure you it will never play youfalse. Only keep it clean, don't overcharge it, aim true, and it willnever miss the mark. "

While the hunters crowded round Dick to congratulate him and examine thepiece, he stood with a mingled feeling of bashfulness and delight at hisunexpected good fortune. Recovering himself suddenly he seized his oldrifle, and, dropping quietly to the outskirts of the crowd, while themen were still busy handling and discussing the merits of the prize, went up, unobserved, to a boy of about thirteen years of age, andtouched him on the shoulder. 

"Here, Marston, you know I often said ye should have the old rifle whenI was rich enough to get a new one. Take it _now_, lad. It's come toye sooner than either o' us expected. "

"Dick, " said the boy, grasping his friend's hand warmly, "yer true asheart of oak. It's good of 'ee, that's a fact. "

"Not a bit, boy; it costs me nothin' to give away an old gun that I'veno use for, an's worth little, but it makes me right glad to have thechance to do it. "

Marston had longed for a rifle ever since he could walk, but hisprospects of obtaining one were very poor indeed at that time, and it isa question whether he did not at that moment experience as much joy inhandling the old piece as his friend felt in shouldering the prize. 

A difficulty now occurred which had not before been thought of. Thiswas no less than the absolute refusal of Dick Varley's canine propertyto follow him. Fan had no idea of changing masters without her consentbeing asked, or her inclination being consulted. 

"You'll have to tie her up for a while, I fear, " said the major. 

"No fear, " answered the youth. "Dog natur's like human natur'!"

Saying this he seized Crusoe by the neck, stuffed him comfortably intothe bosom of his hunting shirt, and walked rapidly away with the prizerifle on his shoulder. 

Fan had not bargained for this. She stood irresolute, gazing now to theright and now to the left, as the major retired in one direction andDick with Crusoe in another. Suddenly Crusoe, who, although comfortablein body, was ill at ease in spirit, gave utterance to a melancholy howl. The mother's love instantly prevailed. For one moment she pricked upher ears at the sound, and then, lowering them, trotted quietly afterher new master, and followed him to his cottage on the margin of thelake. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

SPECULATIVE REMARKS WITH WHICH THE READER MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE--AN OLDWOMAN--HOPES AND WISHES COMMINGLED WITH HARD FACTS--THE DOG CRUSOE'SEDUCATION BEGUN. 

It is pleasant to look upon a serene, quiet, humble face. On such aface did Richard Varley look every night when he entered his mother'scottage. Mrs Varley was a widow, and she had followed the fortunes ofher brother, Daniel Hood, ever since the death of her husband. Love forher only brother induced her to forsake the peaceful village ofMaryland, and enter upon the wild life of a backwoods settlement. Dick's mother was thin, and old, and wrinkled, but her face was stampedwith a species of beauty which _never_ fades--the beauty of a lovinglook. Ah! the brow of snow and the peach-bloom cheek may snare theheart of man for a time, but the _loving look_ alone can forge thatadamantine chain that time, age, eternity, shall never break. 

Mistake us not, reader, and bear with us if we attempt to analyse thislook which characterised Mrs Varley. A rare diamond is worth stoppingto glance at, even when one is in a hurry! The brightest jewel in thehuman heart is worth a thought or two! By a _loving look_, we do notmean a look of love bestowed on a beloved object. That is commonenough, and thankful should we be that it is so common in a world that'sover-full of hatred. Still less do we mean that smile and look ofintense affection with which some people--good people too--greet friendsand foe alike, and by which effort to work out their _beau ideal_ of theexpression of Christian love, they do signally damage their cause, bysaddening the serious and repelling the gay. Much less do we mean that_perpetual_ smile of good-will which argues more of personal comfort andself-love than anything else. No, the loving look we speak of is asoften grave as gay. Its character depends very much on the face throughwhich it beams. And it cannot be counterfeited. Its _ring_ defiesimitation. Like the clouded sun of April, it can pierce through tearsof sorrow; like the noontide sun of summer, it can blaze in warm smiles;like the northern lights of winter, it can gleam in depths of woe--butit is always the same, modified, doubtless, and rendered more or lesspatent to others, according to the natural amiability of him or her whobestows it. No one can put it on. Still less can any one put it off. Its range is universal; it embraces all mankind, though, _of course_, itis intensified on a few favoured objects; its seat is in the depths of arenewed heart, and its foundation lies in love to God. 

Young Varley's mother lived in a cottage which was of the smallestpossible dimensions consistent with comfort. It was made of logs, as, indeed, were all the other cottages in the valley. The door was in thecentre, and a passage from it to the back of the dwelling divided itinto two rooms. One of these was subdivided by a thin partition, theinner room being Mrs Varley's bedroom, the outer Dick's. Daniel Hood'sdormitory was a corner of the kitchen, which apartment served also as aparlour. 

The rooms were lighted by two windows, one on each side of the door, which gave to the house the appearance of having a nose and two eyes. Houses of this kind have literally got a sort of _expression_ on--if wemay use the word--their countenances. _Square_ windows give theappearance of easy-going placidity; _longish_ ones, that of surprise. Mrs Varley's was a surprised cottage, and this was in keeping with thescene in which it stood, for the clear lake in front, studded withislands, and the distant hills beyond, composed a scene so surprisinglybeautiful that it never failed to call forth an expression of astonishedadmiration from every new visitor to the Mustang Valley. 

"My boy, " exclaimed Mrs Varley, as her son entered the cottage with abound, "why so hurried to-day? Deary me! where got you the grand gun?"

"Won it, mother!"

"Won it, my son?"

"Ay, won it, mother. Druve the nail _almost_, and would ha' druve it_altogether_ had I bin more used to Joe Blunt's rifle. "

Mrs Varley's heart beat high, and her face flushed with pride as shegazed at her son, who laid the rifle on the table for her inspection, while he rattled off an animated and somewhat disjointed account of thematch. 

"Deary me! now that was good; that was cliver. But what's that scrapingat the door?"

"Oh! that's Fan; I forgot her. Here! here! Fan! Come in, good dog, "he cried rising and opening the door. 

Fan entered and stopped short, evidently uncomfortable. 

"My boy, what do ye with the major's dog?"

"Won her too, mother!"

"Won her, my son?"

"Ay, won her, and the pup too; see, here it is!" and he plucked Crusoefrom his bosom. 

Crusoe, having found his position to be one of great comfort, had falleninto a profound slumber, and on being thus unceremoniously awakened, hegave forth a yelp of discontent that brought Fan in a state of franticsympathy to his side. 

"There you are, Fan, take it to a corner and make yourself at home. Ay, that's right, mother, give her somethin' to eat; she's hungry, I know bythe look o' her eye. "

"Deary me, Dick, " said Mrs Varley, who now proceeded to spread theyouth's mid-day meal before him, "did ye drive the nail three times?"

"No, only once, and that not parfetly. Brought 'em all down at oneshot--rifle, Fan, an' pup!"

"Well, well, now that was cliver; but--" Here the old woman paused andlooked grave. 

"But what, mother?"

"You'll be wantin' to go off to the mountains now, I fear me, boy. "

"Wantin' _now_!" exclaimed the youth earnestly; "I'm _always_ wantin'. I've bin wantin' ever since I could walk; but I won't go till you letme, mother, that I won't!" And he struck the table with his fist soforcibly that the platters rung again. 

"You're a good boy, Dick; but you're too young yit to ventur' among theRed-skins. "

"An' yit, if I don't ventur' young, I'd better not ventur' at all. Youknow, mother dear, I don't want to leave you; but I was born to be ahunter, and everybody in them parts is a hunter, and I can't hunt in thekitchen you know, mother!"

At this point the conversation was interrupted by a sound that causedyoung Varley to spring up and seize his rifle, and Fan to show her teethand growl. 

"Hist! mother; that's like horses' hoofs, " he whispered, opening thedoor and gazing intently in the direction whence the sound came. 

Louder and louder it came, until an opening in the forest showed theadvancing cavalcade to be a party of white men. In another moment theywere in full view--a band of about thirty horsemen, clad in the leatherncostume, and armed with the long rifle of the far west. Some woreportions of the gaudy Indian dress which gave to them a brilliant, dashing look. They came on straight for the block-house, and salutedthe Varleys with a jovial cheer as they swept past at full speed. Dickreturned the cheer with compound interest, and calling out, "They'retrappers, mother, I'll be back in an hour, " bounded off like a deerthrough the woods, taking a short cut in order to reach the block-housebefore them. He succeeded, for, just as he arrived at the house, thecavalcade wheeled round the bend in the river, dashed up the slope, andcame to a sudden halt on the green. Vaulting from their foaming steedsthey tied them to the stockades of the little fortress, which theyentered in a body. 

Hot haste was in every motion of these men. They were trappers, theysaid, on their way to the Rocky Mountains to hunt and trade furs. Butone of their number had been treacherously murdered and scalped by aPawnee chief, and they resolved to revenge his death by an attack on oneof the Pawnee villages. They would teach these "red reptiles" torespect white men, they would, come of it what might; and they hadturned aside here to procure an additional supply of powder and lead. 

In vain did the major endeavour to dissuade these reckless men fromtheir purpose. They scoffed at the idea of returning good for evil, andinsisted on being supplied. The log hut was a store as well as a placeof defence, and as they offered to pay for it there was no refusingtheir request--at least so the major thought. The ammunition wastherefore given to them, and in half an hour they were away again atfull gallop over the plains on their mission of vengeance. "Vengeanceis Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. " But these men knew not what Godsaid, because they never read His Word, and did not own His sway. 

Young Varley's enthusiasm was considerably damped when he learned theerrand on which the trappers were bent. From that time forward he gaveup all desire to visit the mountains in company with such men, but hestill retained an intense longing to roam at large among their rockyfastnesses, and gallop out upon the wide prairies. 

Meanwhile he dutifully tended his mother's cattle and sheep, andcontented himself with an occasional deer-hunt in the neighbouringforests. He devoted himself also to the training of his dog Crusoe--anoperation which at first cost him many a deep sigh. 

Every one has heard of the sagacity and almost reasoning capabilities ofthe Newfoundland dog. Indeed, some have even gone the length of sayingthat what is called instinct in these animals is neither more nor lessthan reason. And, in truth, many of the noble, heroic, and sagaciousdeeds that have actually been performed by Newfoundland dogs incline usalmost to believe that, like man, they are gifted with reasoning powers. 

But every one does not know the trouble and patience that is required inorder to get a juvenile dog to understand what its master means when heis endeavouring to instruct it. 

Crusoe's first lesson was an interesting, but not a very successful one. We may remark here that Dick Varley had presented Fan to his mother tobe her watch-dog, resolving to devote all his powers to the training ofthe pup. We may also remark, in reference to Crusoe's appearance (andwe did not remark it sooner, chiefly because up to this period in hiseventful history he was little better than a ball of fat and hair), thathis coat was mingled jet-black and pure white, and remarkably glossy, curly, and thick. 

A week after the shooting match Crusoe's education began. Having fedhim for that period with his own hand, in order to gain his affection, Dick took him out one sunny forenoon to the margin of the lake to givehim his first lesson. 

And here again we must pause to remark that, although a dog's heart isgenerally gained in the first instance through his mouth, yet, after itis thoroughly gained, his affection is noble and disinterested. He canscarcely be driven from his master's side by blows, and even when thusharshly repelled is always ready, on the shortest notice and with theslightest encouragement, to make it up again. 

Well, Dick Varley began by calling out, "Crusoe! Crusoe! come here, pup. "

Of course Crusoe knew his name by this time, for it had been so oftenused as a prelude to his meals, that he naturally expected a feedwhenever he heard it. This portal to his brain had already been openfor some days; but all the other doors were fast locked, and it requireda great deal of careful picking to open them. 

"Now, Crusoe, come here. "

Crusoe bounded clumsily to his master's side, cocked his ears, andwagged his tail--so far his education was perfect. We say he bounded_clumsily_, for it must be remembered that he was still a very youngpup, with soft, flabby muscles. 

"Now, I'm goin' to begin yer edication, pup; think o' that. "

Whether Crusoe thought of that or not we cannot say, but he looked up inhis master's face as he spoke, cocked his ears very high, and turned hishead slowly to one side, until it could not turn any further in thatdirection; then he turned it as much to the other side, whereat hismaster burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, and Crusoeimmediately began barking vociferously. 

"Come, come, " said Dick, suddenly checking his mirth, "we mustn't play, pup, we must work. "

Drawing a leathern mitten from his belt, the youth held it to Crusoe'snose, and then threw it a yard away, at the same time exclaiming in aloud, distinct tone, "_Fetch it_. "

Crusoe entered at once into the spirit of this part of his training; hedashed gleefully at the mitten, and proceeded to worry it with intensegratification. As for "_Fetch it_, " he neither understood the words norcared a straw about them. 

Dick Varley rose immediately, and rescuing the mitten, resumed his seaton a rock. 

"Come here, Crusoe, " he repeated. 

"Oh! certainly, by all means, " said Crusoe--no! he didn't exactly _say_it, but really he _looked_ these words so evidently, that we think itright to let them stand as they are written. If he could have finishedthe sentence he would certainly have said, "Go on with that game overagain, old boy; it's quite to my taste--the jolliest thing in life, Iassure you!" At least, if we may not positively assert that he wouldhave said that, no one else can absolutely affirm that he wouldn't. 

Well, Dick Varley did do it over again, and Crusoe worried the mittenover again--utterly regardless of "_Fetch it_. "

Then they did it again, and again, and again, but without the slightestapparent advancement in the path of canine knowledge, --and then theywent home. 

During all this trying operation Dick Varley never once betrayed theslightest feeling of irritability or impatience. He did not expectsuccess at first; he was not, therefore, disappointed at failure. 

Next day he had him out again--and the next--and the next--and the nextagain, with the like unfavourable result. In short, it seemed at lastas if Crusoe's mind had been deeply imbued with the idea that he hadbeen born expressly for the purpose of worrying that mitten, and hemeant to fulfil his destiny to the letter. 

Young Varley had taken several small pieces of meat in his pocket eachday, with the intention of rewarding Crusoe when he should at length beprevailed on to fetch the mitten, but as Crusoe was not aware of thetreat that awaited him, of course the mitten never was "fetched. "

At last Dick Varley saw that this system would never do, so he changedhis tactics, and the next morning gave Crusoe no breakfast, but took himout at the usual hour to go through his lesson. This new course ofconduct seemed to perplex Crusoe not a little, for on his way down tothe beach he paused frequently and looked back at the cottage, and thenexpressively up at his master's face. But the master was inexorable; hewent on and Crusoe followed, for _true_ love had now taken possession ofthe pup's young heart, and he preferred his master's company to food. 

Varley now began by letting the learner smell a piece of meat which heeagerly sought to devour, but was prevented, to his immense disgust. Then the mitten was thrown as heretofore, and Crusoe made a few stepstowards it, but being in no mood for play he turned back. 

"_Fetch it_, " said the teacher. 

"I won't, " replied the learner mutely, by means of that expressivesign--_not doing it_. 

Hereupon Dick Varley rose, took up the mitten, and put it into the pup'smouth. Then, retiring a couple of yards, he held out the piece of meatand said, "_Fetch it_. "

Crusoe instantly spat out the glove and bounded towards the meat--oncemore to be disappointed. 

This was done a second time, and Crusoe came forward _with the mitten inhis mouth_. It seemed as if it had been done accidentally, for hedropped it before coming quite up. If so it was a fortunate accident, for it served as the tiny fulcrum on which to place the point of thatmighty lever which was destined ere long to raise him to the pinnacle ofcanine erudition. Dick Varley immediately lavished upon him thetenderest caresses and gave him a lump of meat. But he quickly tried itagain lest he should lose the lesson. The dog evidently felt that if hedid not fetch that mitten he should have no meat or caresses. In order, however, to make sure that there was no mistake, Dick laid the mittendown beside the pup, instead of putting it into his mouth, and, retiringa few paces, cried, "_Fetch it_. "

Crusoe looked uncertain for a moment, then he _picked up_ the mitten andlaid it at his master's feet. The lesson was learned at last! DickVarley tumbled all the meat out of his pocket on the ground, and, whileCrusoe made a hearty breakfast, he sat down on a rock and whistled withglee at having fairly picked the lock, and opened _another_ door intoone of the many chambers of his dog's intellect!

CHAPTER FOUR. 

OUR HERO ENLARGED UPON--GRUMPS. 

Two years passed away--the Mustang Valley settlement advancedprosperously, despite one or two attacks made upon it by the savages, who were, however, firmly repelled; Dick Varley had now become a man, and his pup Crusoe had become a full-grown dog. The "silver rifle, " asDick's weapon had come to be named, was well-known among the hunters andthe Red-skins of the border-lands, and in Dick's hands its bullets wereas deadly as its owner's eye was quick and true. 

Crusoe's education, too, had been completed. Faithfully and patientlyhad his young master trained his mind, until he fitted him to be a meetcompanion in the hunt. To "carry" and "fetch" were now but triflingportions of the dog's accomplishments. He could dive a fathom deep inthe lake and bring up any article that might have been dropped or thrownin. His swimming powers were marvellous, and so powerful were hismuscles, that he seemed to spurn the water while passing through it, with his broad chest high out of the curling wave, at a speed thatneither man nor beast could keep up with for a moment. His intellectnow was sharp and quick as a needle; he never required a second bidding. When Dick went out hunting he used frequently to drop a mitten or apowder-horn unknown to the dog, and, after walking miles away from it, would stop short and look down into the mild, gentle face of hiscompanion. 

"Crusoe, " he said, in the same quiet tones with which he would haveaddressed a human friend, "I've dropped my mitten, go fetch it, pup. "Dick continued to call it "pup" from habit. 

One glance of intelligence passed from Crusoe's eye, and in a moment hewas away at full gallop; nor did he rest until the lost article waslying at his master's feet. Dick was loath to try how far back on histrack Crusoe would run if desired. He had often gone back five and sixmiles at a stretch; but his powers did not stop here. He could carryarticles back to the spot from which they had been taken and leave themthere. He could head the game that his master was pursuing and turn itback; and he would guard any object he was desired to "watch" withunflinching constancy. But it would occupy too much space and time toenumerate all Crusoe's qualities and powers. His biography will unfoldthem. 

In personal appearance he was majestic, having grown to an immense sizeeven for a Newfoundland. Had his visage been at all wolfish incharacter, his aspect would have been terrible. But he possessed in aneminent degree that mild, humble expression of face peculiar to hisrace. When roused or excited, and especially when bounding through theforest with the chase in view, he was absolutely magnificent. At othertimes his gait was slow, and he seemed to prefer a _quiet_ walk withDick Varley to anything else under the sun. But when Dick was inclinedto be boisterous Crusoe's tail and ears rose at a moment's notice, andhe was ready for _anything_. Moreover, he obeyed commands instantly andimplicitly. In this respect he put to shame most of the _boys_ of thesettlement, who were by no means famed for their habits of promptobedience. 

Crusoe's eye was constantly watching the face of his master. When Dicksaid "Go" he went, when he said "Come" he came. If he had been in themidst of an excited bound at the throat of a stag, and Dick had calledout, "Down, Crusoe, " he would have sunk to the earth like a stone. Nodoubt it took many months of training to bring the dog to this state ofperfection; but Dick accomplished it by patience, perseverance, and_love_. 

Besides all this, Crusoe could speak! He spoke by means of the dog'sdumb alphabet in a way that defies description. He conversed, so tospeak, with his extremities--his head and his tail. But his eyes, hissoft brown eyes, were the chief medium of communication. If ever thelanguage of the eyes was carried to perfection, it was exhibited in theperson of Crusoe. But, indeed, it would be difficult to say which partof his expressive face expressed most. The cocked ears of expectation;the drooped ears of sorrow; the bright, full eye of joy; the half-closedeye of contentment; and the frowning eye of indignation accompanied witha slight, a very slight, pucker of the nose and a gleam of dazzlingivory--ha! no enemy ever saw this last piece of canine language withouta full appreciation of what it meant. Then as to the tail--themodulations of meaning in the varied wag of that expressive member! Oh!it's useless to attempt description. Mortal man cannot conceive of thedelicate shades of sentiment expressible by a dog's tail, unless he hasstudied the subject--the wag, the waggle, the cock, the droop, theslope, the wriggle! Away with description--it is impotent and valuelesshere!

As we have said, Crusoe was meek and mild. He had been bitten, on thesly, by half the ill-natured curs in the settlement, and had only shownhis teeth in return. He had no enmities--though several enemies--and hehad a thousand friends, particularly among the ranks of the weak and thepersecuted, whom he always protected and avenged when opportunityoffered. A single instance of this kind will serve to show hischaracter. 

One day Dick and Crusoe were sitting on a rock beside the lake--the sameidentical rock near which, when a pup, the latter had received his firstlesson. They were conversing as usual, for Dick had elicited such afund of intelligence from the dog's mind, and had injected such wealthof wisdom into it, that he felt convinced it understood every word hesaid. 

"This is capital weather, Crusoe; ain't it pup?"

Crusoe made a motion with his head which was quite as significant as anod. 

"Ha! my pup, I wish that you and I might go and have a slap at thegrizzly bars and a look at the Rocky Mountains. Wouldn't it be nuts, pup?"

Crusoe looked dubious. 

"What, you don't agree with me! Now, tell me, pup, wouldn't ye like togrip a bar?"

Still Crusoe looked dubious, but made a gentle motion with his tail, asthough he would have said, "I've seen neither Rocky Mountains norgrizzly bars, and know nothin' about 'em, but I'm open to conviction. "

"You're a brave pup, " rejoined Dick, stroking the dog's huge headaffectionately. "I wouldn't give you for ten times your weight ingolden dollars--if there be sich things. "

Crusoe made no reply whatever to this. He regarded it as a truismunworthy of notice; he evidently felt that a comparison between love anddollars was preposterous. 

At this point in the conversation a little dog with a lame leg hobbledto the edge of the rocks in front of the spot where Dick was seated, andlooked down into the water, which was deep there. Whether it did so forthe purpose of admiring its very plain visage in the liquid mirror, orfinding out what was going on among the fish, we cannot say, as it nevertold us; but at that moment a big, clumsy, savage-looking dog rushed outfrom the neighbouring thicket and began to worry it. 

"Punish him, Crusoe, " said Dick quickly. 

Crusoe made one bound that a lion might have been proud of, and seizingthe aggressor by the back, lifted him off his legs and held him, howling, in the air--at the same time casting a look towards his masterfor further instructions. 

"Pitch him in, " said Dick, making a sign with his hand. 

Crusoe turned and quietly dropped the dog into the lake. Havingregarded his struggles there for a few moments with grave severity ofcountenance, he walked slowly back and sat down beside his master. 

The little dog made good its retreat as fast as three legs would carryit, and the surly dog, having swam ashore, retired sulkily, with histail very much between his legs. 

Little wonder, then, that Crusoe was beloved by great and small amongthe well-disposed of the canine tribes of the Mustang Valley. 

But Crusoe was not a mere machine. When not actively engaged in DickVarley's service, he busied himself with private little matters of hisown. He undertook modest little excursions into the woods or along themargin of the lake, sometimes alone, but more frequently with a littlefriend whose whole heart and being seemed to be swallowed up inadmiration of his big companion. Whether Crusoe botanised or geologisedon these excursions we will not venture to say. Assuredly he seemed asthough he did both, for he poked his nose into every bush and tuft ofmoss, and turned over the stones, and dug holes in the ground--and, inshort, if he did not understand these sciences, he behaved very much asif he did. Certainly he knew as much about them as many of the humanspecies do. 

In these walks he never took the slightest notice of Grumps (that wasthe little dog's name), but Grumps made up for this by taking excessivenotice of _him_. When Crusoe stopped, Grumps stopped and sat down tolook at him. When Crusoe trotted on, Grumps trotted on too. WhenCrusoe examined a bush Grumps sat down to watch him, and when he dug ahole Grumps looked into it to see what was there. Grumps never helpedhim; his sole delight was in looking on. They didn't converse much, these two dogs. To be in each other's company seemed to be happinessenough--at least Grumps thought so. 

There was one point at which Grumps stopped short, however, and ceasedto follow his friend; and that was when he rushed headlong into the lakeand disported himself for an hour at a time in its cool waters. Crusoewas, both by nature and training, a splendid water-dog. Grumps, on thecontrary, held water in abhorrence, so he sat on the shores of the lakedisconsolate when his friend was bathing, and waited till he came out. The only time when Grumps was thoroughly nonplussed, was when DickVarley's whistle sounded faintly in the far distance. Then Crusoe wouldprick up his ears, and stretch out at full gallop, clearing ditch, andfence, and brake with his strong elastic bound, and leaving Grumps topatter after him as fast as his four-inch legs would carry him. PoorGrumps usually arrived at the village, to find both dog and master gone, and would betake himself to his own dwelling, there to lie down andsleep, and dream, perchance, of rambles and gambols with his giganticfriend. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

A MISSION OF PEACE--UNEXPECTED JOYS--DICK AND CRUSOE SET OFF FOR THELAND OF THE RED-SKINS, AND MEET WITH ADVENTURES BY THE WAY AS A MATTEROF COURSE--NIGHT IN THE WILD WOODS. 

One day the inhabitants of Mustang Valley were thrown into considerableexcitement by the arrival of an officer of the United States army and asmall escort of cavalry. They went direct to the block-house, which, since Major Hope's departure, had become the residence of Joe Blunt--that worthy having, by general consent, been deemed the fittest man inthe settlement to fill the major's place. 

Soon it began to be noised abroad that the strangers had been sent byGovernment to endeavour to bring about, if possible, a more friendlystate of feeling between the whites and the Indians, by means ofpresents, and promises, and fair speeches. 

The party remained all night in the block-house, and ere long it wasreported that Joe Blunt had been requested, and had consented, to be theleader and chief of a party of three men who should visit theneighbouring tribes of Indians, to the west and north of the valley, asGovernment agents. Joe's knowledge of two or three different Indiandialects, and his well-known sagacity, rendered him a most fittingmessenger on such an errand. It was also whispered that Joe was to havethe choosing of his comrades in this mission, and many were the opinionsexpressed and guesses made as to who would be chosen. 

That same evening Dick Varley was sitting in his mother's kitchencleaning his rifle; his mother was preparing supper and talking quietlyabout the obstinacy of a particular hen that had taken to laying hereggs in places where they could not be found; Fan was coiled up in acorner sound asleep, and Crusoe was sitting at one side of the firelooking on at things in general. 

"I wonder, " remarked Mrs Varley, as she spread the table with a purewhite napkin; "I wonder what the sodgers are doin' wi' Joe Blunt. "

As often happens when an individual is mentioned, the worthy referred toopened the door at that moment and stepped into the room. 

"Good-e'en t'ye, dame, " said the stout hunter, doffing his cap, andresting his rifle in a corner, while Dick rose and placed a chair forhim. 

"The same to you, Master Blunt, " answered the widow; "you've jist comedin good time for a cut o' venison. "

"Thanks, mistress, I s'pose we're beholden to the silver rifle forthat. "

"To the hand that aimed it, rather, " suggested the widow. 

"Nay, then, say raither to the dog that turned it, " said Dick Varley. "But for Crusoe that buck would ha' bin couched in the woods thisnight. "

"Oh! if it comes to that, " retorted Joe, "I'd lay it to the door o' Fan, for if she'd niver bin born nother would Crusoe. But it's good an'tender meat, whativer ways ye got it. Howsiver, I've other things totalk about jist now. Them sodgers that are eatin' buffalo tongues up atthe block-house as if they'd niver ate meat before, and didn't hope toeat agin for a twelve-month--"

"Ay, what o' them?" interrupted Mrs Varley; "I've bin wonderin' whatwas their errand. "

"Of coorse ye wos, Dame Varley; and I've comed here a' purpis to tellye. They want me to go to the Red-skins to make peace between them andus; and they've brought a lot o' goods to make them presents withal, --beads, an' knives, an' lookin'-glasses, an vermilion paint, an'sich-like, jist as much as'll be a light load for one horse--for, yesee, nothin' can be done wi' the Red-skins without gifts. "

"'Tis a blessed mission, " said the widow, "I wish it may succeed. D'yethink ye'll go?"

"Go? ay, that will I. "

"I only wish they'd made the offer to me, " said Dick with a sigh. 

"An' so they do make the offer, lad. They've gin me leave to choose thetwo men I'm to take with me, and I've comed straight to ask _you_. Ayor no, for we must up an' away by break o' day to-morrow. "

Mrs Varley started. "So soon?" she said, with a look of anxiety. 

"Ay; the Pawnees are at the Yellow Creek jist at this time, but I'veheer'd they're 'bout to break up camp an' away west; so we'll need touse haste. "

"May I go, mother?" asked Dick, with a look of anxiety. 

There was evidently a conflict in the widow's breast, but it quicklyceased. 

"Yes, my boy, " she said in her own low, quiet voice, "an' God go withye. I knew the time must come soon, an' I thank Him that your firstvisit to the Red-skins will be on an errand o' peace. `Blessed are thepeacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. '"

Dick grasped his mother's hand and pressed it to his cheek in silence. At the same moment Crusoe, seeing that the deeper feelings of his masterwere touched, and deeming it his duty to sympathise, rose up and thrusthis nose against him. 

"Ah! pup, " cried the young man hastily, "you must go too. Of courseCrusoe goes, Joe Blunt?"

"Hum! I don't know that. There's no dependin' on a dog to keep histongue quiet in times o' danger. "

"Believe me, " exclaimed Dick, flashing with enthusiasm, "Crusoe's moretrustworthy than I am myself. If ye can trust the master yer safe totrust the pup. "

"Well, lad, ye may be right. We'll take him. "

"Thanks, Joe. And who else goes with us?"

"I've bin castin' that in my mind for some time, an' I've fixed to takeHenri. He's not the safest man in the valley, but he's the truest, that's a fact. And now, younker, get yer horse an' rifle ready, andcome to the block-house at daybreak to-morrow. Good luck to ye, mistress, till we meet agin. "

Joe Blunt rose, and taking up his rifle, --without which he scarcely evermoved a foot from his own door, --left the cottage with rapid strides. 

"My son, " said Mrs Varley, kissing Dick's cheek as he resumed his seat, "put this in the little pocket I made for it in your hunting shirt. "

She handed him a small pocket Bible. 

"Dear mother, " he said, as he placed the book carefully within thebreast of his coat, "the Red-skin that takes that from me must take myscalp first. But don't fear for me. You've often said the Lord wouldprotect me. So He will, mother, for sure it's an errand o' peace!"

"Ay, that's it, that's it, " murmured the widow in a half-soliloquy. 

Dick Varley spent that night in converse with his mother, and nextmorning at daybreak he was at the place of meeting mounted on his sturdylittle horse, with the "silver rifle" on his shoulder, and Crusoe by hisside. 

"That's right, lad, that's right. Nothin' like keepin' yer time, " saidJoe, as he led out a pack-horse from the gate of the block-house, whilehis own charger was held ready saddled by a man named Daniel Brand, whohad been appointed to the charge of the block-house in his absence. 

"Where's Henri?--oh! here he comes, " exclaimed Dick, as the hunterreferred to came thundering up the slope at a charge, on a horse thatresembled its rider in size, and not a little in clumsiness ofappearance. 

"Ah! mes boy. Him is a goot one to go, " cried Henri, remarking Dick'ssmile as he pulled up. "No hoss on de plain can beat dis one, surement. "

"Now then, Henri, lend a hand to fix this pack, we've no time topalaver. "

By this time they were joined by several of the soldiers and a fewhunters who had come to see them start. 

"Remember, Joe, " cried one, "if you don't come back in three monthswe'll all come out in a band to seek you. "

"If we don't come back in less than that time, what's left o' us won'tbe worth seekin' for, " said Joe, tightening the girth of his saddle. 

"Put a bit in yer own mouth, Henri, " cried another, as the Canadianarranged his steed's bridle; "ye'll need it more than yer horse when yegit 'mong the red reptiles. "

"Vraiment, if mon mout' needs one bit yours will need one padlock. "

"Now, lads, mount!" cried Joe Blunt as he vaulted into the saddle. 

Dick Varley sprang lightly on his horse, and Henri made a rush at hissteed and hurled his huge frame across its back with a violence that_ought_ to have brought it to the ground; but the tall, raw-boned, broad-chested roan was accustomed to the eccentricities of its master, and stood the shock bravely. Being appointed to lead the pack-horse, Henri seized its halter; then the three cavaliers shook their reins, and, waving their hands to their comrades, they sprang into the woods atfull gallop, and laid their course for the "far west. "

For some time they galloped side by side in silence, each occupied withhis own thoughts, Crusoe keeping close beside his master's horse. Thetwo elder hunters evidently ruminated on the object of their mission andthe prospects of success, for their countenances were grave and theireyes cast on the ground. Dick Varley, too, thought upon the Red-men, but his musings were deeply tinged with the bright hues of a _first_adventure. The mountains, the plains, the Indians, the bears, thebuffaloes, and a thousand other objects, danced wildly before his mind'seye, and his blood careered through his veins and flushed his foreheadas he thought of what he should see and do, and felt the elastic vigourof youth respond in sympathy to the light spring of his active littlesteed. He was a lover of nature, too, and his flashing eyes glancedobservantly from side to side as they swept along, --sometimes throughglades of forest trees; sometimes through belts of more open ground andshrubbery; anon by the margin of a stream, or along the shores of alittle lake, and often over short stretches of flowering prairie-land, --while the firm, elastic turf sent up a muffled sound from the tramp oftheir mettlesome chargers. It was a scene of wild, luxuriant beauty, that might almost (one could fancy) have drawn involuntary homage to itsbountiful Creator from the lips even of an infidel. 

After a time Joe Blunt reined up, and they proceeded at an easy amblingpace. Joe and his friend Henri were so used to these beautiful scenesthat they had long ceased to be _enthusiastically_ affected by them, though they never ceased to delight in them. 

"I hope, " said Joe, "that them sodgers 'll go their ways soon. I've nonotion o' them chaps when they're left at a place wi' nothin' to do butwhittle sticks. "

"Why, Joe!" exclaimed Dick Varley in a tone of surprise, "I thought youwere admirin' the beautiful face o' nature all this time, and yer onlythinkin' about the sodgers. Now, that's strange!"

"Not so strange after all, lad, " answered Joe. "When a man's used to athing he gits to admire an' enjoy it without speakin' much about it. But it _is_ true, boy, that mankind gits in coorse o' time to thinklittle o' the blissins he's used to. "

"Oui, c'est _vrai_!" murmured Henri emphatically. 

"Well, Joe Blunt, it may be so; but I'm thankful _I'm_ not used to thissort o' thing yet, " exclaimed Varley. "Let's have another gallop--soho! come along, Crusoe!" shouted the youth, as he shook his reins, andflew over a long stretch of prairie on which at that moment theyentered. 

Joe smiled as he followed his enthusiastic companion, but after a shortrun he pulled up. 

"Hold on, youngster, " he cried, "ye must larn to do as yer bid, lad;it's trouble enough to be among wild Injuns and wild buffaloes, as Ihope soon to be, without havin' wild comrades to look after. "

Dick laughed and reined in his panting horse. "I'll be as obedient asCrusoe, " he said, "and no one can beat him. "

"Besides, " continued Joe, "the horses won't travel far if we begin byrunnin' all the wind out o' them. "

"Wah!" exclaimed Henri, as the led horse became restive; "I think wemust give to him de pack-hoss for to lead, eh!"

"Not a bad notion, Henri. We'll make that the penalty of runnin' offagain; so look out, Master Dick. "

"I'm down, " replied Dick with a modest air, "obedient as a baby, andwon't run off again--till--the next time. By the way, Joe, how manydays' provisions did ye bring?"

"Two. That's 'nough to carry us to the Great Prairie, which is threeweeks distant from this; our own good rifles must make up thedifference, and keep us when we git there. "

"And s'pose we neither find deer nor buffalo, " suggested Dick. 

"I s'pose we'll have to starve. "

"Dat is cumfer'able to tink upon, " remarked Henri. 

"More comfortable to think o' than to undergo, " said Dick, "but I s'posethere's little chance o' that. "

"Well, not much, " replied Joe Blunt, patting his horse's neck; "but d'yesee, lad, ye niver can count for sartin on anythin'. The deer andbuffalo ought to be thick in them plains at this time--and when thebuffalo _are_ thick they covers the plains till ye can hardly see theend o' them; but, ye see, sometimes the rascally Red-skins takes it intotheir heads to burn the prairies, and sometimes ye find the place thatshould ha' bin black wi' buffalo, black as a coal wi' fire for miles an'miles on end. At other times the Red-skins go huntin' in 'ticlarplaces, and sweeps them clean o' every hoof that don't git away. Sometimes, too, the animals seems to take a scunner at a place and keepsout o' the way. But one way or another men gin'rally manage to scramblethrough. "

"Look yonder, Joe, " exclaimed Dick, pointing to the summit of a distantridge, where a small black object was seen moving against the sky, "that's a deer, ain't it?"

Joe shaded his eyes with his hand and gazed earnestly at the object inquestion. "Yer right, boy; and by good luck we've got the wind of him. Cut in an' take your chance now. There's a long strip o' wood as'll letye git close to him. "

Before the sentence was well finished, Dick and Crusoe were off at fullgallop. For a few hundred yards they coursed along the bottom of ahollow; then turning to the right they entered the strip of wood, and ina few minutes gained the edge of it. Here Dick dismounted. 

"You can't help me here, Crusoe. Stay where you are, pup, and hold myhorse. "

Crusoe seized the end of the line, which was fastened to the horse'snose, in his mouth, and lay down on a hillock of moss, submissivelyplacing his chin on his fore-paws, and watching his master as he steppednoiselessly through the wood. In a few minutes Dick emerged from amongthe trees, and, creeping from bush to bush, succeeded in getting towithin six hundred yards of the deer, which was a beautiful littleantelope. Beyond the bush behind which he now crouched all was bareopen ground, without a shrub or hillock large enough to conceal thehunter. There was a slight undulation in the ground, however, whichenabled him to advance about fifty yards further, by means of lying downquite flat and working himself forward like a serpent. Further thanthis he could not move without being seen by the antelope, which browsedon the ridge before him in fancied security. The distance was too greateven for a long shot, but Dick knew of a weak point in this littlecreature's nature which enabled him to accomplish his purpose--a weakpoint which it shares in common with animals of a higher order, --namely, curiosity. 

The little antelope of the North American prairies is intensely curiousabout everything that it does not quite understand, and will not restsatisfied until it has endeavoured to clear up the mystery. Availinghimself of this propensity, Dick did what both Indians and hunters areaccustomed to do on these occasions, --he put a piece of rag on the endof his ramrod, and, keeping his person concealed and perfectly still, waved this miniature flag in the air. The antelope noticed it at once, and, pricking up its ears, began to advance, timidly and slowly, step bystep, to see what remarkable phenomenon it could be. In a few secondsthe flag was lowered, a sharp crack followed, and the antelope fell deadupon the plain. 

"Ha, boy! that's a good supper, anyhow, " cried Joe, as he galloped upand dismounted. 

"Goot! dat is better nor dried meat, " added Henri. "Give him to me; Iwill put him on my hoss, vich is strongar dan yourn. But ver is yourhoss?"

"He'll be here in a minute, " replied Dick, putting his fingers to hismouth and giving forth a shrill whistle. 

The instant Crusoe heard the sound he made a savage and apparentlyuncalled-for dash at the horse's heels. This wild act, so contrary tothe dog's gentle nature, was a mere piece of acting. He knew that thehorse would not advance without getting a fright, so he gave him one inthis way which sent him off at a gallop. Crusoe followed close at hisheels, so as to bring the line alongside of the nag's body, and therebyprevent its getting entangled; but despite his best efforts the horsegot on one side of a tree and he on the other, so he wisely let go hishold of the line, and waited till more open ground enabled him to catchit again. Then he hung heavily back, gradually checked the horse'sspeed, and finally trotted him up to his master's side. 

"'Tis a cliver cur, good sooth, " exclaimed Joe Blunt in surprise. 

"Ah, Joe! you haven't seen much of Crusoe yet. He's as good as a manany day. I've done little else but train him for two years gone by, andhe can do most anything but shoot--he can't handle the rifle nohow. "

"Ha! then, I tink perhaps hims could if he wos try, " said Henri, plunging on to his horse with a laugh, and arranging the carcase of theantelope across the pommel of his saddle. 

Thus they hunted and galloped, and trotted and ambled on through woodand plain all day, until the sun began to descend below the tree-tops ofthe bluffs on the west--then Joe Blunt looked about him for a place onwhich to camp, and finally fixed on a spot under the shadow of a noblebirch by the margin of a little stream. The carpet of grass on itsbanks was soft like green velvet, and the rippling waters of the brookwere clear as crystal--very different from the muddy Missouri into whichit flowed. 

While Dick Varley felled and cut up firewood, Henri unpacked the horsesand turned them loose to graze, and Joe kindled the fire and preparedvenison steaks and hot tea for supper. 

In excursions of this kind it is customary to "hobble" the horses; thatis, to tie their fore-legs together, so that they cannot run either fastor far, but are free enough to amble about with a clumsy sort of hop insearch of food. This is deemed a sufficient check on their tendency toroam, although some of the knowing horses sometimes learn to hop so fastwith their hobbles as to give their owners much trouble to recapturethem. But when out in the prairies where Indians are known or supposedto be in the neighbourhood, the horses are picketed by means of a pin orstake attached to the ends of their long laryats, as well as hobbled--for Indians deem it no disgrace to steal or tell lies, though they thinkit disgraceful to be found out in doing either. And so expert are thesedark-skinned natives of the western prairies, that they will creep intothe midst of an enemy's camp, cut the laryats and hobbles of severalhorses, spring suddenly on their backs, and gallop away. 

They not only steal from white men, but tribes that are at enmity stealfrom each other, and the boldness with which they do this is mostremarkable. When Indians are travelling in a country where enemies areprowling, they guard their camps at night with jealous care. The horsesin particular are both hobbled and picketed, and sentries are posted allround the camp. Yet, in spite of these precautions, hostile Indiansmanage to elude the sentries, and creep into the camp. When a thiefthus succeeds in effecting an entrance, his chief danger is past. Herises boldly to his feet, and, wrapping his blanket or buffalo roberound him, he walks up and down as if he were a member of the tribe. Atthe same time he dexterously cuts the laryats of such horses as heobserves are not hobbled. He dare not stoop to cut the hobbles, as theaction would be observed, and suspicion would be instantly aroused. Hethen leaps on the best horse he can find, and uttering a terrificwar-whoop darts away into the plains, driving the loosened horses beforehim. 

No such dark thieves were supposed to be near the camp under thebirch-tree, however, so Joe, and Dick, and Henri ate their supper incomfort, and let their horses browse at will on the rich pasturage. 

A bright ruddy fire was soon kindled, which created, as it were, alittle ball of light in the midst of surrounding darkness for thespecial use of our hardy hunters. Within this magic circle all waswarm, comfortable, and cheery. Outside all was dark, and cold, anddreary by contrast. 

When the substantial part of supper was disposed of, tea and pipes wereintroduced, and conversation began to flow. Then the three saddles wereplaced in a row; each hunter wrapped himself in his blanket, and, pillowing his head on his saddle, stretched his feet towards the fireand went to sleep, with his loaded rifle by his side and hishunting-knife handy in his belt. Crusoe mounted guard by stretchinghimself out _couchant_ at Dick Varley's side. The faithful dog sleptlightly and never moved all night, but had any one observed him closelyhe would have seen that every fitful flame that burst from the sinkingfire, every unusual puff of wind, and every motion of the horses thatfed or rested hard by, had the effect of revealing a speck of glitteringwhite in Crusoe's watchful eye. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

THE GREAT PRAIRIES OF THE "FAR WEST"--A REMARKABLE COLONY DISCOVERED, AND A MISERABLE NIGHT ENDURED. 

Of all the hours of the night or day the hour that succeeds the dawn isthe purest, the most joyous and the best. At least so think we; and sothink hundreds and thousands of the human family; and so thought DickVarley, as he sprung suddenly into a sitting posture next morning, andthrew his arms with an exulting feeling of delight round the neck ofCrusoe, who instantly sat up to greet him. 

This was an unusual piece of enthusiasm on the part of Dick, but the dogreceived it with marked satisfaction, rubbed his big hairy cheek againstthat of his young master, and arose from his sedentary position in orderto afford free scope for the use of his tail. 

"Ho! Joe Blunt! Henri! Up, boys, up! The sun will have the start o'us. I'll catch the nags. "

So saying Dick bounded away into the woods with Crusoe gambollingjoyously at his heels. Dick soon caught his own horse and Crusoe caughtJoe's. Then the former mounted and quickly brought in the other two. 

Returning to the camp he found everything packed and ready to strap onthe back of the pack-horse. 

"That's the way to do it, lad, " cried Joe. "Here Henri, look alive andgit yer beast ready. I do believe yer goin' to take another snooze!"

Henri was indeed, at that moment, indulging in a gigantic stretch and acavernous yawn, but he finished both hastily, and rushed at his poorhorse as if he intended to slay it on the spot. He only threw thesaddle on its back, however, and then threw himself on the saddle. 

"Now then, all ready?"

"Ay, --oui, yis!"

And away they went at full stretch again on their journey. 

Thus day after day they travelled, and night after night they laid themdown to sleep under the trees of the forest, until at length theyreached the edge of the Great Prairie. 

It was a great, a memorable day in the life of Dick Varley, that onwhich he first beheld the prairie, --the vast boundless prairie. He hadheard of it, talked of it, dreamed about it, but he had never, --no, hehad never realised it. 'Tis always thus. Our conceptions of thingsthat we have not seen are almost invariably wrong. Dick's eyesglittered, and his heart swelled, and his cheeks flushed, and his breathcame thick and quick. 

"There it is, " he gasped, as the great rolling plain broke suddenly onhis enraptured gaze; "that's it--oh!--"

Dick uttered a yell that would have done credit to the fiercest chief ofthe Pawnees, and, being unable to utter another word, he swung his capin the air and sprang like an arrow from a bow over the mighty ocean ofgrass. The sun had just risen to send a flood of golden glory over thescene; the horses were fresh, so the elder hunters, gladdened by thebeauty of all around them, and inspired by the irresistible enthusiasmof their young companion, gave the reins to the horses and flew afterhim. It was a glorious gallop, that first headlong dash over theboundless prairie of the "far west!"

The prairies have often been compared, most justly, to the ocean. Thereis the same wide circle of space bounded on all sides by the horizon;there is the same swell, or undulation, or succession of long lowunbroken waves that marks the ocean when it is calm; they are canopiedby the same pure sky, and swept by the same untrammelled breezes. Thereare islands, too--clumps of trees and willow-bushes, --which rise out ofthis grassy ocean to break and relieve its uniformity; and these vary insize and numbers as do the isles of ocean--being numerous in someplaces, while in others they are so scarce that the traveller does notmeet one in a long day's journey. Thousands of beautiful flowers deckedthe green sward, and numbers of little birds hopped about among them. 

"Now, lads, " said Joe Blunt, reining up, "our troubles begin to-day. "

"Our troubles! our joys, you mean!" exclaimed Dick Varley. 

"P'raps I don't mean nothin' o' the sort, " retorted Joe. "Man wos neverintended to swaller his joys without a strong mixtur' o' troubles. Is'pose he couldn't stand 'em pure. Ye see we've got to the prairienow--"

"One blind hoss might see dat!" interrupted Henri. 

"An' we may or may not diskiver buffalo. An' water's scarce, too, sowe'll need to look out for it pretty sharp, I guess, else we'll lose ourhorses, in which case we may as well give out at once. Besides, there'srattlesnakes about in sandy places--we'll ha' to look out for them; an'there's badger holes--we'll need to look sharp for them lest the horsesput their feet in 'em; an' there's Injuns, who'll look out pretty sharpfor _us_ if they once get wind that we're in them parts. "

"Oui, yis, mes boys, and there's rain, and tunder, and lightin', " addedHenri, pointing to a dark cloud which was seen rising on the horizonahead of them. 

"It'll be rain, " remarked Joe, "but there's no thunder in the air jistnow; we'll make for yonder clump o' bushes and lay by till it's past. "

Turning a little to the right of the course they had been following, thehunters galloped along one of the hollows between the prairie wavesbefore mentioned, in the direction of a clump of willows. Beforereaching it however, they passed over a bleak and barren plain wherethere was neither flower nor bird. Here they were suddenly arrested bya most extraordinary sight--at least it was so to Dick Varley, who hadnever seen the like before. This was a colony of what Joe called"prairie-dogs. " On first beholding them Crusoe uttered a sort of halfgrowl, half bark of surprise, cocked his tail and ears, and instantlyprepared to charge, but he glanced up at his master first forpermission. Observing that his finger and his look commanded "silence"he dropped his tail at once and stepped to the rear. He did not, however, cease to regard the prairie-dogs with intense curiosity. 

These remarkable little creatures have been egregiously misnamed by thehunters of the west, for they bear not the slightest resemblance todogs, either in formation or habits. They are, in fact, the marmot, andin size are little larger than squirrels, which animals they resemble insome degree. They burrow under the light soil and throw it up in moundslike moles. 

Thousands of them were running about among their dwellings when Dickfirst beheld them, but the moment they caught sight of the horsemenrising over the ridge, they set up a tremendous hubbub of consternation;each little beast instantly mounted guard on the top of his house andprepared, as it were, to "receive cavalry. "

The most ludicrous thing about them was, that although the most timidand cowardly creatures in the world, they seemed the most impertinentthings that ever lived! Knowing that their holes afforded them aperfectly safe retreat they sat close beside them, and as the huntersslowly approached, they elevated their heads, wagged their little tails, showed their teeth, and chattered at them like monkeys. The nearer theycame the more angry and furious did the prairie-dogs become, until DickVarley almost fell off his horse with suppressed laughter. They let thehunters come close up, waxing louder and louder in their wrath; but theinstant a hand was raised to throw a stone or point a gun, a thousandlittle heads dived into a thousand holes, and a thousand little tailswriggled for an instant in the air--then, a dead silence reigned overthe deserted scene. 

"Bien, them's have dive into de bo'-els of de eart', " said Henri with abroad grin. 

Presently a thousand noses appeared, and nervously disappeared like thewink of an eye. Then they appeared again, and a thousand pairs of eyesfollowed. Instantly, like Jack in the box, they were all on the top oftheir hillocks again, chattering and wagging their little tails asvigorously as ever. You could not say that you _saw_ them jump out oftheir holes. Suddenly, as if by magic, they _were_ out; then Dicktossed up his arms, and, suddenly, as if by magic, they were gone!

Their number was incredible, and their cities were full of riotousactivity. What their occupations were the hunters could not ascertain, but it was perfectly evident that they visited a great deal and gossipedtremendously, for they ran about from house to house, and sat chattingin groups; but it was also observed that they never went far from theirown houses. Each seemed to have a circle of acquaintance in theimmediate neighbourhood of his own residence, to which in case of suddendanger he always fled. 

But another thing about these prairie-dogs (perhaps, considering theirsize, we should call them prairie-doggies), another thing about them, wesay, was that each doggie lived with an owl, or, more correctly, an owllived with each doggie! This is such an extraordinary _fact_, that wecould scarce hope that men would believe us, were our statement notsupported by dozens of trustworthy travellers who have visited andwritten about these regions. The whole plain was covered with theseowls. Each hole seemed to be the residence of an owl and a doggie, andthese incongruous couples lived together apparently in perfect harmony. 

We have not been able to ascertain from travellers _why_ the owls havegone to live with these doggies, so we beg humbly to offer our ownprivate opinion to the reader. We assume, then, that owls find itabsolutely needful to have holes. Probably prairie-owls cannot digholes for themselves. Having discovered, however, a race of littlecreatures that could, they very likely determined to take forciblepossession of the holes made by them. Finding, no doubt, that, whenthey did so, the doggies were too timid to object, and discovering, moreover, that they were sweet, innocent little creatures, the owlsresolved to take them into partnership, and so the thing was settled--that's how it came about, no doubt of it!

There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes also; but wecannot certify our reader of the truth of this, --still it is well to beacquainted with a report that is current among the men of the backwoods. If it be true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family is the mostmiscellaneous and remarkable on the face of--or, as Henri said, in thebo'-els--of the earth. 

Dick and his friends were so deeply absorbed in watching these curiouslittle creatures that they did not observe the rapid spread of the blackclouds over the sky. _A_ few heavy drops of rain now warned them toseek shelter, so wheeling round they dashed off at speed for the clumpof willows, which they gained just as the rain began to descend intorrents. 

"Now, lads, do it slick. Off packs and saddles, " cried Joe Blunt, jumping from his horse. "I'll make a hut for ye, right off. "

"A hut, Joe! what sort o' hut can ye make here?" inquired Dick. 

"Ye'll see, boy, in a minute. "

"Ach! lend me hand here, Dick; de bockle am tight as de hosse's ownskin. Ah! dere all right. "

"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed Dick, as Crusoe advanced with somethingin his mouth. "I declare, it's a bird of some sort. "

"A prairie-hen, " remarked Joe, as Crusoe laid the bird at Dick's feet;"capital for supper. "

"Ah! dat chien is superb! goot dog. Come here, I vill clap you. "

But Crusoe refused to be caressed. Meanwhile, Joe and Dick formed asort of beehive-looking hut by bending down the stems of a tall bush andthrusting their points into the ground. Over this they threw thelargest buffalo robe, and placed another on the ground below it, onwhich they laid their packs of goods. These they further securedagainst wet by placing several robes over them and a skin of parchment. Then they sat down on this pile to rest and consider what should be donenext. 

"'Tis a bad look out, " said Joe, shaking his head. 

"I fear it is, " replied Dick in a melancholy tone. 

Henri said nothing, but he sighed deeply on looking up at the sky, whichwas now of a uniform watery grey, while black clouds drove athwart it. The rain was pouring in torrents, and the wind began to sweep it inbroad sheets over the plains, and under their slight covering, so thatin a short time they were wet to the skin. The horses stood meeklybeside them, with their tails and heads equally pendulous, and Crusoesat before his master, looking at him with an expression that seemed tosay, "Couldn't you put a stop to this if you were to try?"

"This'll never do. I'll try to git up a fire, " said Dick, jumping up indesperation. 

"Ye may save yerself the trouble, " remarked Joe, drily--at least asdrily as was possible in the circumstances. 

However, Dick did try, but he failed signally. Everything was soakedand saturated. There were no large trees; most of the bushes weregreen, and the dead ones were soaked. The coverings were slobbery; theskins they sat on were slobbery; the earth itself was slobbery; so Dickthrew his blanket (which was also slobbery) round his shoulders, and satdown beside his companions to grin and bear it. As for Joe and Henri, they were old hands, and accustomed to such circumstances. From thefirst they had resigned themselves to their fate, and wrapping their wetblankets round them sat down, side by side, wisely to endure the evilsthat they could not cure. 

There is an old rhyme, by whom composed we know not--and it matterslittle--which runs thus--

 "For every evil under the sun There is a remedy--or there's none. If there is--try and find it; If there isn't--never mind it!"

There is deep wisdom here in small compass. The principle involveddeserves to be heartily recommended. Dick never heard of the lines, buthe knew the principle well; so he began to "never mind it, " by sittingdown beside his companions and whistling vociferously. As the windrendered this a difficult feat he took to singing instead. After thathe said, "Let's eat a bite, Joe, and then go to bed. "

"Be all means, " said Joe, who produced a mass of dried deer's meat froma wallet. 

"It's cold grub, " said Dick, "and tough. "

But the hunters' teeth were sharp and strong, so they ate a heartysupper and washed it down with a drink of rain water collected from apool on the top of their hut. They now tried to sleep, for the nightwas advancing, and it was so dark that they could scarce see their handswhen held up before their faces. They sat back to back, and thus, inthe form of a tripod, began to snooze. Joe's and Henri's seasonedframes would have remained stiff as posts till morning; but Dick's bodywas young and pliant, so he hadn't been asleep a few seconds when hefell forward into the mud and effectually awakened the others. Joe gavea grunt, and Henri exclaimed, "Hah!" but Dick was too sleepy andmiserable to say anything. Crusoe, however, rose up to show hissympathy, and laid his wet head on his master's knee as he resumed hisplace. This catastrophe happened three times in the space of an hour, and by the third time they were all wakened up so thoroughly that theygave up the attempt to sleep, and amused each other by recounting theirhunting experiences and telling stories. So engrossed did they becomethat day broke sooner than they had expected--and just in proportion asthe grey light of dawn rose higher into the eastern sky did the spiritsof these weary men rise within their soaking bodies. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

THE "WALLERING" PECULIARITIES OF BUFFALO BULLS--THE FIRST BUFFALO HUNTAND ITS CONSEQUENCES--CRUSOE COMES TO THE RESCUE--PAWNEES DISCOVERED--AMONSTER BUFFALO HUNT--JOE ACTS THE PART OF AMBASSADOR. 

Fortunately the day that succeeded the dreary night described in thelast chapter was warm and magnificent. The sun rose in a blaze ofsplendour and filled the atmosphere with steam from the moist earth. 

The unfortunates in the wet camp were not slow to avail themselves ofhis cheering rays. They hung up everything on the bushes to dry, and bydint of extreme patience and cutting out the comparatively dry hearts ofseveral pieces of wood, they lighted a fire and boiled some rain water, which was soon converted into soup. This, and the exercise necessaryfor the performance of these several duties, warmed and partially driedthem, so that when they once more mounted their steeds and rode awaythey were in a state of comparative comfort and in excellent spirits. The only annoyance was the clouds of mosquitoes and large flies thatassailed men and horses whenever they checked their speed. 

"I tell ye wot it is, " said Joe Blunt, one fine morning about a weekafter they had begun to cross the prairie, "it's my 'pinion that we'llcome on buffaloes soon. Them tracks are fresh, an' yonder's one o'their wallers that's bin used not long agone. "

"I'll go have a look at it, " cried Dick, trotting away as he spoke. 

Everything in these vast prairies was new to Dick Varley, and he waskept in a constant state of excitement during the first week or two ofhis journey. It is true he was quite familiar with the names and habitsof all the animals that dwelt there, for many a time and oft had helistened to the "yarns" of the hunters and trappers of the MustangValley, when they returned laden with rich furs from their periodicalhunting expeditions. But this knowledge of his only served to whet hiscuriosity and his desire to _see_ the denizens of the prairies with hisown eyes, and now that his wish was accomplished, it greatly increasedthe pleasures of his journey. 

Dick had just reached the "wallow" referred to by Joe Blunt, and hadreined up his steed to observe it leisurely, when a faint hissing soundreached his ear. Looking quickly back he observed his two companionscrouching on the necks of their horses, and slowly descending into ahollow of the prairie in front of them, as if they wished to bring therising ground between them and some object in advance. Dick instantlyfollowed their example and was soon at their heels. 

"Ye needn't look at the waller, " whispered Joe, "for a' t'other side o'the ridge there's a bull _wallerin'_. "

"Ye don't mean it!" exclaimed Dick, as they all dismounted and picketedtheir horses to the plain. 

"Oui, " said Henri, tumbling off his horse, while a broad grin overspreadhis good-natured countenance; "it is one fact! One buffalo bull bewollerin' like a enormerous hog. Also, dere be t'ousands o' buffaloesfarder on. "

"Can ye trust yer dog keepin' back?" inquired Joe, with a dubious glanceat Crusoe. 

"Trust him! Ay, I wish I was as sure o' myself. "

"Look to your primin', then, an' we'll have tongues and marrow-bones forsupper to-night, I'se warrant. Hist! down on yer knees, and go softly. We might ha' run them down on horseback, but its bad to wind yer beastson a trip like this, if ye can help it; an' it's about as easy to stalkthem. Leastways, we'll try. Lift yer head slowly, Dick, an' don't showmore nor the half o't above the ridge. "

Dick elevated his head as directed, and the scene that met his view wasindeed well calculated to send an electric shock to the heart of anardent sportsman. The vast plain beyond was absolutely blackened withcountless herds of buffaloes, which were browsing on the rich grass. They were still so far distant that their bellowing, and the tramplingof their myriad hoofs, only reached the hunters like a faint murmur onthe breeze. In the immediate foreground, however, there was a group ofabout half a dozen buffalo cows feeding quietly, and in the midst ofthem an enormous old bull was enjoying himself in his wallow. Theanimals, towards which our hunters now crept with murderous intent, arethe fiercest and the most ponderous of the ruminating inhabitants of thewestern wilderness. The name of buffalo, however, is not correct. Theanimal is the _bison_, and bears no resemblance whatever to the buffaloproper; but as the hunters of the far west--and, indeed, travellersgenerally, have adopted the misnomer, we bow to the authority of customand adopt it too. 

Buffaloes roam in countless thousands all over the North Americanprairies, from the Hudson's Bay territories, north of Canada, to theshores of the Gulf of Mexico. 

The advance of white men to the west has driven them to the prairiesbetween the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, and has somewhatdiminished their numbers; but even thus diminished, they are stillinnumerable in the more distant plains. Their colour is dark brown, butit varies a good deal with the seasons. The hair or fur, from its greatlength in winter and spring and exposure to the weather, turns quitelight; but when the winter coat is shed off the new growth is abeautiful dark brown, almost approaching to jet-black. In form thebuffalo somewhat resembles the ox, but its head and shoulders are muchlarger, and are covered with a profusion of long shaggy hair, which addsgreatly to the fierce aspect of the animal. It has a large hump on theshoulder, and its fore-quarters are much larger, in proportion, than thehindquarters. The horns are short and thick; the hoofs are cloven, andthe tail is short, with a tuft of hair at the extremity. 

It is scarcely possible to conceive a wilder or more ferocious andterrible monster than a buffalo bull. He often grows to the enormousweight of two thousand pounds. His lion-like mane falls in shaggyconfusion quite over his head and shoulders, down to the ground. Whenhe is wounded he becomes imbued with the spirit of a tiger; he stamps, bellows, roars, and foams forth his rage with glaring eyes and steamingnostrils; and charges furiously at man and horse with utterrecklessness. Fortunately, however, he is not naturally pugnacious, andcan be easily thrown into a sudden panic. Moreover, the peculiarposition of his eye renders this creature not so terrible as he wouldotherwise be to the hunter. Owing to the stiff structure of the neck, and the sunken, downward-looking eyeball, the buffalo cannot, without aneffort, see beyond the direct line of vision presented to the habitualcarriage of his head. When, therefore, he is wounded, and charges, hedoes so in a straight line, so that his pursuer can leap easily out ofhis way. The pace of the buffalo is clumsy, and _apparently_ slow, yet, when chased, he dashes away over the plains in blind blundering terror, at a rate that leaves all but good horses far behind. He cannot keepthe pace up, however, and is usually soon overtaken. Were the buffalocapable of the same alert and agile motions of head and eye peculiar tothe deer or wild horse, in addition to his "bovine rage, " he would bethe most formidable brute on earth. There is no object, perhaps, soterrible as the headlong advance of a herd of these animals whenthoroughly aroused by terror. They care not for their necks. Alldanger in front is forgotten, or not seen, in the terror of that fromwhich they fly. No thundering cataract is more tremendouslyirresistible than the black bellowing torrent which sometimes poursthrough the narrow defiles of the Rocky Mountains, or sweeps like aroaring flood over the trembling plains. 

The wallowing, to which we have referred, is a luxury usually indulgedin during the hot months of summer, when the buffaloes are tormented byflies, and heat, and drought. At this season they seek the low groundsin the prairies where there is a little stagnant water lying amongst thegrass, and the ground underneath, being saturated, is soft. The leaderof the herd, a shaggy old bull, usually takes upon himself to preparethe wallow. 

It was a rugged monster of the largest size that did so on the presentoccasion, to the intense delight of Dick Varley, who begged Joe to liestill and watch the operation before trying to shoot one of the buffalocows. Joe consented with a nod, and the four spectators--for Crusoe wasas much taken up with the proceedings as any of them--crouched in thegrass, and looked on. 

Coming up to the swampy spot the old bull gave a grunt of satisfaction, and, going down on one knee, plunged his short thick horns into the mud, tore it up, and cast it aside. Having repeated this several times heplunged his head in, and brought it forth saturated with dirty water, and bedaubed with lumps of mud, through which his fierce eyes gazed, with a ludicrous expression of astonishment, straight in the directionof the hunters, as if he meant to say, "I've done it that time, and nomistake!" The other buffaloes seemed to think so too, for they came upand looked, on with an expression that seemed to say, "Well done, oldfellow; try that again!"

The old fellow did try it again, and again, and again, plunging, andramming, and tearing up the earth, until he formed an excavation largeenough to contain his huge body. In this bath he laid himselfcomfortably down, and began to roll and wallow about until he mixed up atrough full of thin soft mud, which completely covered him. When hecame out of the hole there was scarcely an atom of his former selfvisible!

The coat of mud thus put on by bulls is usually permitted by them todry, and is not finally got rid of until long after, when oft-repeatedrollings on the grass and washings by rain at length clear it away. 

When the old bull vacated this delectable bath, another bull, scarcely, if at all, less ferocious-looking, stepped forward to take his turn, buthe was interrupted by a volley from the hunters, which scattered theanimals right and left, and sent the mighty herds in the distance flyingover the prairie in wild terror. The very turmoil of their own madflight added to their panic, and the continuous thunder of their hoofswas heard until the last of them disappeared on the horizon. The familyparty which had been fired at, however, did not escape so well. Joe'srifle wounded a fat young cow, and Dick Varley brought it down. Henrihad done his best, but, as the animals were too far distant for hislimited vision, he missed the cow he fired at and hit the young bullwhose bath had been interrupted. The others scattered and fled. 

"Well done, Dick, " exclaimed Joe Blunt, as they all ran up to the cowthat had fallen. "Your first shot at the buffalo was a good 'un. Comenow an I'll show ye how to cut it up an' carry off the titbits. "

"Ah! mon dear ole bull, " exclaimed Henri, gazing after the animal whichhe had wounded, and which was now limping slowly away. "You is notworth goin' after. Varewell, --adieu. "

"He'll be tough enough, I warrant, " said Joe, "an' we've more meat herenor we can lift. "

"But wouldn't it be as well to put the poor brute out o' pain?"suggested Dick. 

"Oh, he'll die soon enough, " replied Joe, tucking up his sleeves anddrawing his long hunting-knife. 

Dick, however, was not satisfied with this way of looking at it. Sayingthat he would be back in a few minutes he re-loaded his rifle, andcalling Crusoe to his side, walked quickly after the wounded bull, whichwas now hid from view in a hollow of the plain. 

In a few minutes he came in sight of it, and ran forward with his riflein readiness. 

"Down, Crusoe, " he whispered; "wait for me here. "

Crusoe crouched in the grass instantly, and Dick advanced. As he cameon, the bull observed him, and turned round bellowing with rage and painto receive him. The aspect of the brute on a near view was so terrible, that Dick involuntarily stopped too, and gazed with a mingled feeling ofwonder and awe, while it bristled with passion, and blood-streaked foamdropped from its open jaws, and its eyes glared furiously. Seeing thatDick did not advance, the bull charged him with a terrific roar; but theyouth had firm nerves, and although the rush of such a savage creatureat full speed was calculated to try the courage of any man, especiallyone who had never seen a buffalo bull before, Dick did not lose presenceof mind. He remembered the many stories he had listened to of this verything that was now happening, so, crushing down his excitement as wellas he could, he cocked his rifle and awaited the charge. He knew thatit was of no use to fire at the head of the advancing foe, as thethickness of the skull, together with the matted hair on the forehead, rendered it impervious to a bullet. 

When the bull was within a yard of him he leaped lightly to one side andit passed. Just as it did so, Dick aimed at its heart and fired, buthis knowledge of the creature's anatomy was not yet correct. The ballentered the shoulder too high, and the bull, checking himself as well ashe could in his headlong rush, turned round and made at Dick again. 

The failure coupled with the excitement proved too much for Dick; hecould not resist discharging his second barrel at the brute's head as itcame on. He might as well have fired at a brick wall; it shook itsshaggy front, and with a hideous bellow thundered forward. Again Dicksprang to one side, but in doing so a tuft of grass or a stone caughthis foot, and he fell heavily to the ground. 

Up to this point Crusoe's admirable training had nailed him to the spotwhere he had been left, although the twitching of every fibre in hisbody and a low continuous whine showed how gladly he would have hailedpermission to join in the combat; but the instant he saw his master downand the buffalo turning to charge again, he sprang forward with a roarthat would have done credit to his bovine enemy, and seized him by thenose. So vigorous was the rush that he well-nigh pulled the bull downon its side. One toss of its head, however, sent Crusoe high into theair, but it accomplished this feat at the expense of its nose, which wastorn and lacerated by the dog's teeth. 

Scarcely had Crusoe touched the ground, which he did with a soundingthump, than he sprang up and flew at his adversary again. This time, however, he adopted the plan of barking furiously and biting by rapidyet terrible snaps as he found opportunity, thus keeping the bullentirely engrossed, and affording Dick an opportunity of re-loading hisrifle, which he was not slow to do. Dick then stepped close up, and, while the two combatants were roaring in each other's face; he shot thebuffalo through the heart. It fell to the earth with a deep groan. 

Crusoe's rage instantly vanished on beholding this, and he seemed to befilled with tumultuous joy at his master's escape, for he gambolledround him, and whined and fawned upon him in a manner that could not bemisunderstood. 

"Good dog; thank'ee, my pup, " said Dick, patting Crusoe's head as hestooped to brush the dust from his leggings; "I don't know what wouldha' become o' me but for your help, Crusoe. "

Crusoe turned his head a little to one side, wagged his tail, and lookedat Dick with an expression that said quite plainly, "I'd die for you, Iwould--not once, or twice, but ten times, fifty times if need be--andthat not merely to save your life, but even to please you. "

There is no doubt whatever that Crusoe felt something of this sort. Thelove of a Newfoundland dog to its master is beyond calculation orexpression. He who once gains such love carries the dog's life in hishand. But let him who reads note well, and remember, that there is onlyone coin that can purchase such love, and that is _kindness_; the coin, too, must be genuine. Kindness merely _expressed_ will not do, it mustbe _felt_. 

"Hallo! boy, ye've bin i' the wars!" exclaimed Joe, raising himself fromhis task as Dick and Crusoe returned. 

"You look more like it than I do, " retorted Dick, laughing. 

This was true, for cutting up a buffalo carcase with no other instrumentthan a large knife is no easy matter. Yet western hunters and Indianscan do it without cleaver or saw, in a way that would surprise acivilised butcher not a little. Joe was covered with blood up to theelbows. His hair, happening to have a knack of getting into his eyes, had been so often brushed off with bloody hands, that his whole visagewas speckled with gore, and his dress was by no means immaculate. 

While Dick related his adventure, or _mis-adventure_ with the bull, Joeand Henri completed the cutting out of the most delicate portions of thebuffalo, namely, the hump on its shoulder--which is a choice piece, muchfiner than the best beef--and the tongue, and a few other parts. Thetongues of buffaloes are superior to those of domestic cattle. When allwas ready the meat was slung across the back of the pack-horse, and theparty, remounting their horses, continued their journey, having firstcleansed themselves as well as they could in the rather dirty waters ofan old wallow. 

"See, " said Henri, turning to Dick and pointing to a circular spot ofgreen as they rode along, "that is one old _dry_ waller. "

"Ay, " remarked Joe, "after the waller dries, it becomes a ring o'greener grass than the rest o' the plain, as ye see. 'Tis said thefirst hunters used to wonder greatly at these myster'ous circles, andthey invented all sorts o' stories to account for 'em. Some said theywos fairy-rings, but at last they comed to know they wos nothin' morenor less than places where buffaloes wos used to waller in. It's oftenseemed to me that if we knowed the _raisons_ o' things we wouldn't be somuch puzzled wi' them as we are. "

The truth of this last remark was so self-evident and incontrovertiblethat it elicited no reply, and the three friends rode on for aconsiderable time in silence. 

It was now past noon, and they were thinking of calling a halt for ashort rest to the horses and a pipe to themselves, when Joe was heard togive vent to one of those peculiar hisses that always accompanied eithera surprise or a caution. In the present case it indicated both. 

"What now, Joe?"

"Injuns!" ejaculated Joe. 

"Eh! fat you say? ou is de?"

Crusoe at this moment uttered a low growl. Ever since the day he hadbeen partially roasted he had maintained a rooted antipathy to Red-men. Joe immediately dismounted, and placing his ear to the ground listenedintently. It is a curious fact that by placing the ear close to theground sounds can be heard distinctly which could not be heard at all ifthe listener were to maintain an erect position. 

"They're arter the buffalo, " said Joe, rising, "an' I think it's likelythey're a band o' Pawnees. Listen an' ye'll hear their shouts quiteplain. "

Dick and Henri immediately lay down and placed their ears to the ground. 

"Now, me hear noting, " said Henri, jumping up, "but me ear is like meeyes; ver' short-sighted. "

"I do hear something, " said Dick as he got up, "but the beating o' myown heart makes row enough to spoil my hearin'. "

Joe Blunt smiled. "Ah! lad, yer young an' yer blood's too hot yet, butbide a bit; you'll cool down soon. I wos like you once. Now, lads, what think ye we should do?"

"You know best, Joe. "

"Oui, nodoubtedly. "

"Then wot I advise is that we gallop to the broken sand hillocks ye seeyonder, get behind them an' take a peep at the Red-skins. If they arePawnees we'll go up to them at once; if not, we'll hold a council o' waron the spot. "

Having arranged this they mounted and hastened towards the hillocks inquestion, which they reached after ten minutes' gallop, at full stretch. The sandy mounds afforded them concealment, and enabled them to watchthe proceedings of the savages in the plain below. The scene was themost curious and exciting that can be conceived. The centre of theplain before them was crowded with hundreds of buffaloes, which weredashing about in the most frantic state of alarm. To whatever pointthey galloped they were met by yelling savages on horseback, who couldnot have been fewer in numbers than a thousand--all being armed withlance, bow, and quiver, and mounted on active little horses. TheIndians had completely surrounded the herd of buffaloes, and were nowadvancing steadily towards them, gradually narrowing the circle, and, whenever the terrified animals endeavoured to break through the line, they rushed to that particular spot in a body, and scared them backagain into the centre. 

Thus they advanced until they closed in on their prey, and formed anunbroken circle round them, whilst the poor brutes kept eddying andsurging to and fro in a confused mass, hooking and climbing upon eachother, and bellowing furiously. Suddenly the horsemen made a rush, andthe work of destruction began. The tremendous turmoil raised a cloud ofdust that obscured the field in some places, and hid it from ourhunters' view. Some of the Indians galloped round and round the circle, sending their arrows whizzing up to the feathers in the sides of thefattest cows. Others dashed fearlessly into the midst of the blackheaving mass, and, with their long lances, pierced dozens of them to theheart. In many instances the buffaloes, infuriated by wounds, turnedfiercely on their assailants and gored the horses to death, in whichcases the men had to trust to their nimble legs for safety. Sometimes ahorse got jammed in the centre of the swaying mass, and could neitheradvance nor retreat. Then the savage rider leaped upon the buffaloes'backs, and springing from one to another, like an acrobat, gained theouter edge of the circle, not failing, however, in his strange flight, to pierce with his lance several of the fattest of his stepping-stonesas he sped along. 

A few of the herd succeeded in escaping from the blood and dust of thisdesperate battle, and made off over the plains, but they were quicklyovertaken, and the lance or arrow brought them down on the green turf. Many of the dismounted riders were chased by bulls, but they steppedlightly to one side, and, as the animals passed, drove their arrows deepinto their sides. Thus the tumultuous war went on, amid thunderingtread, and yell, and bellow, till the green plain was transformed into asea of blood and mire, and every buffalo of the herd was laid low. 

It is not to be supposed that such reckless warfare is invariably wagedwithout damage to the savages. Many were the wounds and bruisesreceived that day, and not a few bones were broken, but happily no liveswere lost. 

"Now, lads, now's our time. A bold and fearless look's the best at alltimes. Don't look as if ye doubted their friendship; and mind, woteverye do, don't use yer arms. Follow me. "

Saying this, Joe Blunt leaped on his horse, and, bounding over the ridgeat full speed, galloped headlong across the plain. 

The savages observed the strangers instantly, and a loud yell announcedthe fact as they assembled from all parts of the field brandishing theirbows and spears. Joe's quick eye soon distinguished their chief, towards whom he galloped, still at full speed, till within a yard or twoof his horse's head; then he reined up suddenly. So rapidly did Joe andhis comrades approach, and so instantaneously did they pull up, thattheir steeds were thrown almost on their haunches. 

The Indian chief did not move a muscle. He was a tall powerful savage, almost naked, and mounted on a coal-black charger, which he sat with theease of a man accustomed to ride from infancy. He was, indeed, asplendid-looking savage, but his face wore a dark frown, for, althoughhe and his band had visited the settlements and trafficked with thefur-traders on the Missouri, he did not love the "Pale-faces, " whom heregarded as intruders on the hunting grounds of his fathers, and thepeace that existed between them at that time was of a very fragilecharacter. Indeed, it was deemed by the traders impossible to travelthrough the Indian country at that period except in strong force, and itwas the very boldness of the present attempt that secured to our huntersanything like a civil reception. 

Joe, who could speak the Pawnee tongue fluently, began by explaining theobject of his visit, and spoke of the presents which he had brought forthe great chief; but it was evident that his words made littleimpression. As he discoursed to them the savages crowded round thelittle party, and began to handle and examine their dresses and weaponswith a degree of rudeness that caused Joe considerable anxiety. 

"Mahtawa believes that the heart of the Pale-face is true, " said thesavage, when Joe paused, "but he does not choose to make peace. ThePale-faces are grasping. They never rest. They turn their eyes to thegreat mountains, and say, `There we will stop. ' But even there theywill not stop. They are never satisfied, Mahtawa knows them well. "

This speech sank like a death-knell into the hearts of the hunters, forthey knew that if the savages refused to make peace, they would scalpthem all and appropriate their goods. To make things worse, adark-visaged Indian suddenly caught hold of Henri's rifle, and, ere hewas aware, plucked it from his hand. The blood rushed to the gigantichunter's forehead, and he was on the point of springing at the man, whenJoe said in a deep, quiet voice--

"Be still, Henri. You will but hasten death. "

At this moment there was a movement in the outskirts of the circle ofhorsemen, and another chief rode into the midst of them. He wasevidently higher in rank than Mahtawa, for he spoke authoritatively tothe crowd, and stepped in before him. The hunters drew little comfortfrom the appearance of his face, however, for it scowled upon them. Hewas not so powerful a man as Mahtawa, but he was more gracefully formed, and had a more noble and commanding countenance. 

"Have the Pale-faces no wigwams on the great river that they should cometo spy out the lands of the Pawnee?" he demanded. 

"We have not come to spy your country, " answered Joe, raising himselfproudly as he spoke, and taking off his cap. "We have come with amessage from the great chief of the Pale-faces, who lives in the villagefar beyond the great river where the sun rises. He says, why should thePale-face and the Red-man fight? They are brothers. The same Manitou[the Indian name for God] watches over both. The Pale-faces have morebeads, and guns, and blankets, and knives, and vermilion than theyrequire; they wish to give some of these things for the skins and furswhich the Red-man does not know what to do with. The great chief of thePale-faces has sent me to say, `Why should we fight? let us smoke thepipe of peace!'"

At the mention of beads and blankets the face of the wily chiefbrightened for a moment. Then he said, sternly--

"The heart of the Pale-face is not true. He has come here to trade forhimself. San-it-sa-rish has eyes that can see--they are not shut. Arenot these your goods?" The chief pointed to the pack-horse as he spoke. 

"Trappers do not take their goods into the heart of an enemy's camp, "returned Joe; "San-it-sa-rish is wise and will understand this. Theseare gifts to the chief of the Pawnees. There are more awaiting him whenthe pipe of peace is smoked. I have said, --What message shall we takeback to the great chief of the Pale-faces?"

San-it-sa-rish was evidently mollified. 

"The hunting field is not the council tent, " he said. "The Pale-faceswill go with us to our village. "

Of course Joe was only too glad to agree to this proposal, but he nowdeemed it politic to display a little firmness. 

"We cannot go till our rifle is restored. It will not do to go back andtell the great chief of the Pale-faces that the Pawnees are thieves. "

The chief frowned angrily. 

"The Pawnees are true--they are not thieves. They choose to _look_ atthe rifle of the Pale-face. It shall be returned. "

The rifle was instantly restored, and then our hunters rode off with theIndians towards their camp. On the way they met hundreds of women andchildren going to the scene of the great hunt, for it was their specialduty to cut up the meat and carry it into camp. The men, consideringthat they had done quite enough in killing it, returned to smoke and eataway the fatigues of the chase. 

As they rode along Dick Varley observed that some of the "braves, " asIndian warriors are styled, were eating pieces of the bloody livers ofthe buffaloes in a raw state, at which he expressed not a littledisgust. 

"Ah! boy, you're green yet, " remarked Joe Blunt in an undertone. "Mayhap ye'll be thankful to do that same yerself some day. "

"Well, I'll not refuse to try when it is needful, " said Dick with alaugh; "meanwhile I'm content to see the Red-skins do it, Joe Blunt. "

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

DICK AND HIS FRIENDS VISIT THE INDIANS AND SEE MANY WONDERS--CRUSOE, TOO, EXPERIENCES A FEW SURPRISES AND TEACHES INDIAN DOGS A LESSON--ANINDIAN DANDY--A FOOT-RACE. 

The Pawnee village, at which they soon arrived, was situated in themidst of a most interesting and picturesque scene. 

It occupied an extensive plain which sloped gently down to a creek, [InAmerica small rivers or riverlets are termed "creeks"] whose windingcourse was marked by a broken line of wood, here and there interspersedwith a fine clump of trees, between the trunks of which the blue watersof the lake sparkled in the distance. Hundreds of tents or "lodges" ofbuffalo skins covered the ground, and thousand of Indians--men, women, and children--moved about the busy scene. Some were sitting in theirlodges, lazily smoking their pipes. But these were chiefly old andinfirm veterans, for all the young men had gone to the hunt which wehave just described. The women were stooping over their fires, busilypreparing maize and meat for their husbands and brothers, while myriadsof little brown and naked children romped about everywhere, filling theair with their yells and screams, which were only equalled, if notsurpassed, by the yelping dogs that seemed innumerable. 

Far as the eye could reach were seen scattered herds of horses. Thesewere tended by little boys who were totally destitute of clothing, andwho seemed to enjoy with infinite zest the pastime of shooting-practicewith little bows and arrows. No wonder that these Indians become expertbowmen. There were urchins there, scarce two feet high, with roundbullets of bodies and short spindle-shanks, who could knock blackbirdsoff the trees at every shot, and cut the heads of the taller flowerswith perfect certainty! There was much need, too, for the utmostproficiency they could attain, for the very existence of the Indiantribes of the prairies depends on their success in hunting the buffalo. 

There are hundreds and thousands of North American savages who wouldundoubtedly perish and their tribes become extinct if the buffaloes wereto leave the prairies or die out. Yet, although animals are absolutelyessential to their existence, they pursue and slay them with improvidentrecklessness, sometimes killing hundreds of them merely for the sake ofthe sport, the tongues, and the marrow-bones. In the bloody huntdescribed in the last chapter, however, the slaughter of so many was notwanton, because the village that had to be supplied with food was large, and, just previous to the hunt, they had been living on somewhat reducedallowance. Even the blackbirds, shot by the brown-bodied urchins beforementioned, had been thankfully put into the pot. Thus precarious is thesupply of food among the Red-men, who on one day are starving, and thenext are revelling in superabundance. 

But to return to our story. At one end of this village the creek sprangover a ledge of rock in a low cascade and opened out into a beautifullake, the bosom of which was studded with small islands. Here werethousands of those smaller species of wild water-fowl which were eithertoo brave or too foolish to be scared away by the noise of the camp. And here, too, dozens of children were sporting on the beach or paddlingabout in their light bark canoes. 

"Isn't it strange, " remarked Dick to Henri, as they passed among thetents towards the centre of the village, "isn't it strange that themInjuns should be so fond o' fightin' when they've got all they canwant--a fine country, lots o' buffalo, an' as far as I can see, happyhomes?"

"Oui, it is remarkaibel, vraiment. But dey do more love war to peace. Dey loves to be excited, I s'pose. "

"Humph! One would think the hunt we seed a little agone would beexcitement enough. But, I say, that must be the chief's tent, by thelook o't. "

Dick was right; the horsemen pulled up and dismounted opposite theprincipal chief's tent, which was a larger and more elegant structurethan the others. Meanwhile an immense concourse of women, children, anddogs gathered round the strangers, and, while the latter yelped theirdislike to white men, the former chattered continuously, as theydiscussed the appearance of the strangers and their errand, which lattersoon became known. An end was put to this by San-it-sa-rish desiringthe hunters to enter the tent, and spreading a buffalo robe for them tosit on. Two braves carried in their packs and then led away theirhorses. 

All this time Crusoe had kept as close as possible to his master's side, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the midst of such a strange crowd, the more especially that the ill-looking Indian curs gave him expressivelooks of hatred, and exhibited some desire to rush upon him in a body, so that he had to keep a sharp look out all round him. When, therefore, Dick entered the tent Crusoe endeavoured to do so along with him, but hewas met by a blow on the nose from an old squaw, who scolded him in ashrill voice and bade him begone. 

Either our hero's knowledge of the Indian language was insufficient toenable him to understand the order, or he had resolved not to obey it, for instead of retreating he drew a deep gurgling breath, curled hisnose, and displayed a row of teeth that caused the old woman to drawback in alarm. Crusoe's was a forgiving spirit. The instant thatopposition ceased he forgot the injury, and was meekly advancing whenDick held up his finger. 

"Go outside, pup, and wait. "

Crusoe's tail drooped; with a deep sigh he turned and left the tent. Hetook up a position near the entrance, however, and sat down resignedly. So meek, indeed, did the poor dog look, that six mangy-looking curs felttheir dastardly hearts emboldened to make a rush at him with boisterousyells. 

Crusoe did not rise. He did not even condescend to turn his head towardthem, but he looked at them out of the corner of his dark eye, wrinkled--very slightly--the skin of his nose, exhibited two beautifulfangs, and gave utterance to a soft remark, that might be described asquiet, deep-toned gargling. It wasn't much, but it was more than enoughfor the valiant six, who paused and snarled violently. 

It was a peculiar trait of Crusoe's gentle nature, that, the moment anydanger ceased, he resumed his expression of nonchalant gravity. Theexpression on this occasion was misunderstood, however, and, as abouttwo dozen additional yelping dogs had joined the ranks of the enemy, they advanced in close order to the attack. 

Crusoe still sat quiet and kept his head high, but he _looked_ at themagain and exhibited four fangs for their inspection. Among the packthere was one Indian dog of large size--almost as large as Crusoehimself--which kept well in the rear, and apparently urged the lesserdogs on. The little dogs didn't object, for little dogs are generallythe most pugnacious. At this big dog Crusoe directed a pointed glance, but said nothing. Meanwhile a particularly small and vicious cur, witha mere rag of a tail, crept round by the back of the tent, and, comingupon Crusoe in the rear, snapped at his tail sharply, and then fledshrieking with terror and surprise, no doubt, at its own temerity. 

Crusoe did not bark; he seldom barked; he usually either said nothing, or gave utterance to a prolonged roar of indignation of the mostterrible character with barks, as it were, mingled through it. Itsomewhat resembled that peculiar and well-known species of thunder, theprolonged roll of which is marked at short intervals in its course bycannon-like cracks. It was a continuous, but, so to speak, _knotted_roar. 

On receiving the snap, Crusoe gave forth _the_ roar with a majesty andpower that scattered the pugnacious front rank of the enemy to thewinds. Those that still remained, half stupefied, he leaped over with ahuge bound and alighted, fangs first, on the back of the big dog. Therewas one hideous yell, a muffled scramble of an instant's duration, andthe big dog lay dead upon the plain!

It was an awful thing to do; but Crusoe evidently felt that the peculiarcircumstances of the case required that an example should be made--andto say truth, all things considered, we cannot blame him. The news musthave been carried at once through the canine portion of the camp, forCrusoe was never interfered with again after that. 

Dick witnessed this little incident; but he observed that the Indianchief cared not a straw about it, and as his dog returned quietly andsat down in its old place, he took no notice of it either, but continuedto listen to the explanations which Joe gave to the chief, of the desireof the Pale-faces to be friends with the Red-men. 

Joe's eloquence would have done little for him on this occasion had hishands been empty; but he followed it up by opening one of his packs, anddisplaying the glittering contents before the equally glittering eyes ofthe chief and his squaws. 

"These, " said Joe, "are the gifts that the great chief of the Pale-facessends to the great chief of the Pawnees, and he bids me say that thereare many more things in his stores which will be traded for skins withthe Red-men, when they visit him; and he also says that if the Pawneeswill not steal horses any more from the Pale-faces they shall receivegifts of knives, and guns, and powder and blankets every year. "

"_Wah_!" grunted the chief; "it is good. The great chief is wise. Wewill smoke the pipe of peace. "

The things that afforded so much satisfaction to San-it-sa-rish were theveriest trifles. Penny looking-glasses in yellow gilt tin frames, beadsof various colours, needles, cheap scissors, and knives, vermilionpaint, and coarse scarlet cloth, etcetera. They were of pricelessvalue, however, in the estimation of the savages, who delighted to adornthemselves with leggings made from the cloth, beautifully worked withbeads by their own ingenious women. They were thankful, too, for kniveseven of the commonest description, having none but bone ones of theirown; and they gloried in daubing their faces with intermingled streaksof charcoal and vermilion. To gaze at their visages, when thus treated, in the little penny looking-glasses is their summit of delight!

Joe presented the chief with a portion of these coveted goods and tiedup the remainder. We may remark here, that the only thing whichprevented the savages from taking possession of the whole at once, without asking permission, was the promise of the annual gifts, whichthey knew would not be forthcoming were any evil to befall the deputiesof the Pale-faces. Nevertheless, it cost them a severe struggle torestrain their hands on this occasion, and Joe and his companions feltthat they would have to play their part well in order to fulfil theirmission with safety and credit. 

"The Pale-faces may go now and talk with the braves, " saidSan-it-sa-rish, after carefully examining everything that was given tohim; "a council will be called soon, and we will smoke the pipe ofpeace. "

Accepting this permission to retire, the hunters immediately left thetent, and being now at liberty to do what they pleased, they amusedthemselves by wandering about the village. 

"He's a cute chap that, " remarked Joe, with a sarcastic smile; "I don'tfeel quite easy about gettin' away. He'll bother the life out o' us toget all the goods we've got, and, ye see, as we've other tribes tovisit, we must give away as little as we can here. "

"Ha! you is right, " said Henri; "dat fellow's eyes twinkle at de knivesand tings like two stars. "

"Fire-flies, ye should say. Stars are too soft an' beautiful to compareto the eyes o' yon savage, " said Dick, laughing. "I wish we were wellaway from them. That rascal Mahtawa is an ugly customer. "

"True, lad, " returned Joe; "had _he_ bin the great chief our scalps hadbin dryin' in the smoke o' a Pawnee wigwam afore now. What now, lad?"

Joe's question was put in consequence of a gleeful smile that overspreadthe countenance of Dick Varley, who replied by pointing to a wigwamtowards which they were approaching. 

"Oh! that's only a dandy, " exclaimed Joe. "There's lots o' them inevery Injun camp. They're fit for nothin' but dress, poor contemptiblecritters. "

Joe accompanied his remark with a sneer, for of all pitiable objects, heregarded an unmanly man as the most despicable. He consented, however, to sit down on a grassy bank and watch the proceedings of this Indiandandy, who had just seated himself in front of his wigwam for thepurpose of making his toilet. 

He began it by greasing his whole person carefully and smoothly overwith buffalo-fat, until he shone like a patent leather boot; then herubbed himself almost dry, leaving the skin sleek and glossy. Havingproceeded thus far he took up a small mirror, a few inches in diameter, which he or some other member of the tribe must have procured during oneof their few excursions to the trading forts of the Pale-faces, andexamined himself, as well as he could, in so limited a space. Next, hetook a little vermilion from a small parcel and rubbed it over his faceuntil it presented the somewhat demoniac appearance of a fiery red. Healso drew a broad red score along the crown of his head, which wasclosely shaved, with the exception of the usual tuft or scalp-lock onthe top. This scalp-lock stood bristling straight up a few inches, andthen curved over and hung down his back about two feet. Immense careand attention was bestowed on this lock. He smoothed it, greased it, and plaited it into the form of a pigtail. Another application was heremade to the glass, and the result was evidently satisfactory, to judgefrom the beaming smile that played on his features. But, not contentwith the general effect, he tried the effect of expression--frownedportentously, scowled savagely, gaped hideously, and grinned horribly aghastly smile. 

Then our dandy fitted into his ears, which were bored in several places, sundry ornaments, such as rings, wampum, etcetera, and hung severalstrings of beads round his neck. Besides these he affixed one or twoornaments to his arms, wrists, and ankles, and touched in a few effectswith vermilion on the shoulders and breast. After this, and a few moreglances at the glass, he put on a pair of beautiful moccasins, which, besides being richly wrought with beads, were soft as chamois leather, and fitted his feet like gloves; a pair of leggings of scarlet clothwere drawn on, attached to a waist-belt, and bound below the knee withbroad garters of variegated bead-work. 

It was some time before this Adonis was quite satisfied with himself. He re-touched the paint on his shoulders several times, and modified theglare of that on his wide-mouthed, high-cheek-boned visage before hecould tear himself away; but at last he did so, and, throwing a largepiece of scarlet cloth over his shoulders, he thrust his looking-glassunder his belt, and proceeded to mount his palfrey, which was held inreadiness near to the tent door by one of his wives. The horse wasreally a fine animal, and seemed worthy of a more warlike master. Hisshoulders, too, were striped with red paint, and feathers wereintertwined with his mane and tail, while the bridle was decorated withvarious jingling ornaments. 

Vaulting upon his steed, with a large fan of wild goose and turkeyfeathers in one hand, and a whip dangling at the wrist of the other, this incomparable dandy sallied forth for a promenade--that being hischief delight when there was no buffalo hunting to be done. Other menwho were not dandies sharpened their knives, smoked, feasted, and mendedtheir spears and arrows at such seasons of leisure, or played atathletic games. 

"Let's follow my buck, " said Joe Blunt. 

"Oui. Come 'long, " replied Henri, striding after the rider at a pacethat almost compelled his comrades to run. 

"Hold on!" cried Dick, laughing; "we don't want to keep him company. Adistant view is quite enough o' sich a chap as that. "

"Mais, you forgit, I cannot see far. "

"So much the better, " remarked Joe; "it's my opinion we've seen enougho' him. Ah! he's goin' to look on at the games. Them's worth lookin'at. "

The games to which Joe referred were taking place on a green level plainclose to the creek, and a little above the waterfall before referred to. Some of the Indians were horse-racing, some jumping, and otherswrestling; but the game which proved most attractive was throwing thejavelin, in which several of the young braves were engaged. 

This game is played by two competitors, each armed with a dart, in anarena about fifty yards long. One of the players has a hoop of sixinches in diameter. At a signal they start off on foot at full speed, and on reaching the middle of the arena the Indian with the hoop rollsit along before them, and each does his best to send a javelin throughthe hoop before the other. He who succeeds counts so many points--ifboth miss, the nearest to the hoop is allowed to count, but not so muchas if he had "ringed" it. The Indians are very fond of this game, andwill play at it under a broiling sun for hours together. But a gooddeal of the interest attaching to it is owing to the fact that they makeit a means of gambling. Indians are inveterate gamblers, and willsometimes go on until they lose horses, bows, blankets, robes, and, inshort, their whole personal property. The consequences are, as might beexpected, that fierce and bloody quarrels sometimes arise in which lifeis often lost. 

"Try your hand at that, " said Henri to Dick. 

"By all means, " cried Dick, handing his rifle to his friend, andspringing into the ring enthusiastically. 

A general shout of applause greeted the Pale-face, who threw off hiscoat and tightened his belt, while a young Indian presented him with adart. 

"Now, see that ye do us credit, lad, " said Joe. 

"I'll try, " answered Dick. 

In a moment they were off. The young Indian rolled away the hoop, andDick threw his dart with such vigour that it went deep into the ground, but missed the hoop by a foot at least. The young Indian's first dartwent through the centre. 

"Ha!" exclaimed Joe Blunt to the Indians near him, "the lad's not usedto that game, try him at a race. Bring out your best brave--he whosebound is like the hunted deer. "

We need scarcely remind the reader that Joe spoke in the Indianlanguage, and that the above is a correct rendering of the sense of whathe said. 

The name of Tarwicadia, or the little chief, immediately passed from lipto lip, and in a few minutes an Indian, a little below the medium size, bounded into the arena with an indiarubber-like elasticity that caused ashade of anxiety to pass over Joe's face. 

"Ah, boy!" he whispered, "I'm afeared you'll find him a tough customer. "

"That's just what I want, " replied Dick. "He's supple enough, but hewants muscle in the thigh. We'll make it a long heat. "

"Right, lad, yer right. "

Joe now proceeded to arrange the conditions of the race with the chiefsaround him. It was fixed that the distance to be run should be a mile, so that the race would be one of two miles, out and back. Moreover, thecompetitors were to run without any clothes, except a belt and a smallpiece of cloth round the loins. This to the Indians was nothing, forthey seldom wore more in warm weather, but Dick would have preferred tokeep on part of his dress. The laws of the course, however, would notpermit of this, so he stripped and stood forth, the beau-ideal of awell-formed, agile man. He was greatly superior in size to hisantagonist, and more muscular, the savage being slender and extremelylithe and springy. 

"Hah! I will run too, " shouted Henri, bouncing forward with clumsyenergy, and throwing off his coat just as they were going to start. 

The savages smiled at this unexpected burst and made no objection, considering the thing in the light of a joke. 

The signal was given, and away they went. Oh! it would have done yougood to have seen the way in which Henri manoeuvred his limbs on thiscelebrated occasion! He went over the ground with huge elephantinebounds, runs, and jumps. He could not have been said to have one styleof running; he had a dozen styles, all of which came into play in thecourse of half as many minutes. The other two ran like the wind; yet, although Henri _appeared_ to be going heavily over the ground, he keptup with them to the turning point. As for Dick, it became evident inthe first few minutes that he could outstrip his antagonist with ease, and was hanging back a little all the time. He shot ahead like an arrowwhen they came about half-way back, and it was clear that the realinterest of the race was to lie in the competition between Henri andTarwicadia. 

Before they were two-thirds of the way back, Dick walked in to thewinning point, and turned to watch the others. Henri's wind was aboutgone, for he exerted himself with such violence that he wasted half hisstrength. The Indian, on the contrary, was comparatively fresh, but hewas not so fleet as his antagonist, whose tremendous strides carried himover the ground at an incredible pace. On they came neck and neck, tillclose on the score that marked the winning point. Here the value ofenthusiasm came out strongly in the case of Henri. He _felt_ that hecould not gain an inch on Tarwicadia to save his life; but, just as hecame up, he observed the anxious faces of his comrades and thehalf-sneering countenances of the savages. His heart thumped againsthis ribs, every muscle thrilled with a gush of conflicting feelings, andhe _hurled_ himself over the score like a cannon shot, full six inchesahead of the little chief!

But the thing did not by any means end here. Tarwicadia pulled up theinstant he had passed. Not so our Canadian. Such a clumsy and colossalframe was not to be checked in a moment. The crowd of Indians opened upto let him pass, but unfortunately a small tent that stood in the waywas not so obliging. Into it he went, head-foremost, like a shell, carried away the corner-post with his shoulder, and brought the wholeaffair down about his own ears, and those of its inmates, among whomwere several children and two or three dogs. It required some time toextricate them all from the ruins, but when this was effected, it wasfound that no serious damage had been done to life or limb!

CHAPTER NINE. 

CRUSOE ACTS A CONSPICUOUS AND HUMANE PART--A FRIEND GAINED--A GREATFEAST. 

When the foot-race was concluded, the three hunters hung about, lookingon at the various games for some time, and then strolled towards thelake. 

"Ye may be thankful yer neck's whole, " said Joe, grinning, as Henrirubbed his shoulder with a rueful look. "An' we'll have to send thatInjun and his family a knife and some beads to make up for the frightthey got. "

"Hah! an' fat is to be give to me for my broke shoulder?"

"Credit, man, credit, " said Dick Varley, laughing. 

"Credit! fat is dat?"

"Honour and glory, lad, and the praises of them savages. "

"Ha! de praise? more probeebale de ill-vill of de rascale. I seed demscowl at me not ver' pritty. "

"That's true, Henri, but sich as it is it's all ye'll git. "

"I vish, " remarked Henri after a pause--"I vish I could git de vampumbelt de leetle chief had on. It vas superb. Fat place do vampums comefrom?"

"They're shells--"

"Oui, " interrupted Henri. "I know _fat_ de is. Dey is shells, and deInjuns tink dem goot monish; mais, I ask you _fat place_ de come from. "

"They are thought to be gathered on the shores o' the Pacific, " saidJoe; "the Injuns on the west o' the Rocky Mountains picks them up andexchanges them wi' the fellows here-away for horses and skins--so I'mtold. "

At this moment there was a wild cry of terror heard a short distanceahead of them. Rushing forward they observed an Indian woman flyingfrantically down the river's bank towards the waterfall, a hundred yardsabove which an object was seen struggling in the water. 

"'Tis her child, " cried Joe, as the mother's frantic cry reached hisear. "It'll be over the fall in a minute! Run, Dick, you're quickest. "

They had all started forward at speed, but Dick and Crusoe were farahead, and abreast of the spot in a few seconds. 

"Save it, pup, " cried Dick, pointing to the child, which had been caughtin an eddy, and was for a few moments hovering on the edge of the streamthat rushed impetuously towards the fall. 

The noble Newfoundland did not require to be told what to do. It seemsa natural instinct in this sagacious species of dog to save man or beastthat chances to be struggling in the water, and many are the authenticstories related of Newfoundland dogs saving life in cases of shipwreck. Indeed, they are regularly trained to the work in some countries, andnobly, fearlessly, disinterestedly, do they discharge their trust, oftenin the midst of appalling dangers. Crusoe sprang from the bank withsuch impetus that his broad chest ploughed up the water like the bow ofa boat, and the energetic workings of his muscles were indicated by theforce of each successive propulsion as he shot ahead. 

In a few seconds he reached the child and caught it by the hair. Thenhe turned to swim back, but the stream had got hold of him. Bravely hestruggled, and lifted the child breast-high out of the water in hispowerful efforts to stem the current. In vain. Each moment he wascarried inch by inch down until he was on the brink of the fall, which, though not high, was a large body of water and fell with a heavy roar. He raised himself high out of the stream with the vigour of his laststruggle, and then fell back into the abyss. 

By this time the poor mother was in a canoe as close to the fall as shecould with safety approach, and the little bark danced like acockle-shell on the turmoil of waters as she stood with uplifted paddleand staring eyeballs awaiting the rising of the child. 

Crusoe came up almost instantly, but _alone_, for the dash over the fallhad wrenched the child from his teeth. He raised himself high up andlooked anxiously round for a moment. Then he caught sight of a littlehand raised above the boiling flood. In one moment he had the childagain by the hair, and, just as the prow of the Indian woman's canoetouched the shore, he brought the child to land. 

Springing towards him, the mother snatched her child from the flood andgazed at its death-like face with eyeballs starting from their sockets;then she laid her cheek on its cold breast and stood like a statue ofdespair. There was one slight pulsation of the heart and a gentlemotion of the hand! The child still lived. Opening up her blanket shelaid her little one against her naked, warm bosom, drew the coveringclose around it, and, sitting down on the bank, wept aloud for joy. 

"Come, --come 'way quick, " cried Henri, hurrying off to hide the emotionwhich he could not crush down. 

"Ay, she don't need our help now, " said Joe, following his comrade. 

As for Crusoe, he walked along by his master's side with his usualquiet, serene look of good-will towards all mankind. Doubtless afeeling of gladness at having saved a human life filled his shaggybreast, for he wagged his tail gently, after each shake of his drippingsides, but his meek eyes were downcast, save when raised to receive thewelcome and unusually fervent caress. Crusoe did not know that thosethree men loved him as though he had been a brother. 

On their way back to the village the hunters were met by a little boy, who said that a council was to be held immediately, and their presencewas requested. 

The council was held in the tent of the principal chief, towards whichall the other chiefs and many of the noted braves hurried. Like allIndian councils, it was preceded by smoking the "medicine pipe, " and wasfollowed by speeches from several of the best orators. The substance ofthe discourse differed little from what has been already related inreference to the treaty between the Pale-faces, and upon the whole itwas satisfactory. But Joe Blunt could not fail to notice that Mahtawamaintained sullen silence during the whole course of the meeting. 

He observed, also, that there was a considerable change in the tone ofthe meeting when he informed them that he was bound on a similar errandof peace to several of the other tribes, especially to one or two tribeswhich were the Pawnees' bitter enemies at that time. These graspingsavages having quite made up their minds that they were to obtain theentire contents of the two bales of goods, were much mortified onhearing that part was to go to other Indian tribes. Some of them evenhinted that this would not be allowed, and Joe feared at one time thatthings were going to take an unfavourable turn. The hair of his scalp, as he afterwards said, "began to lift a little and feel oneasy. " ButSan-it-sa-rish stood honestly to his word; said that it would be wellthat the Pale-faces and the Pawnees should be brothers, and hoped thatthey would not forget the promise of annual presents from the hand ofthe great chief who lived in the big village near the rising sun. 

Having settled this matter amicably, Joe distributed among the Indiansthe proportion of his goods designed for them, and then they alladjourned to another tent where a great feast was prepared for them. 

"Are ye hungry?" inquired Joe of Dick as they walked along. 

"Ay, that am I. I feel as if I could eat a buffalo alive. Why, it's my'pinion we've tasted nothin' since daybreak this mornin'. "

"Well, I've often told ye that them Red-skins think it a disgrace togive in eatin' till all that's set before them at a feast is bolted. We'll ha' to stretch oursel's, we will. "

"I'se got a plenty room, " remarked Henri. 

"Ye have, but ye'll wish ye had more in a little. "

"Bien, I not care!"

In a quarter of an hour all the guests invited to this great _medicine_feast were assembled. No women were admitted. They never are at Indianfeasts. 

We may remark in passing, that the word "medicine, " as used among theNorth American Indians, has a very much wider signification than it haswith us. It is an almost inexplicable word. When asked, they cannotgive a full or satisfactory explanation of it themselves. In thegeneral, we may say that whatever is mysterious is "medicine. " Juggleryand conjuring, of a noisy, mysterious, and, we must add, rather sillynature, is "medicine, " and the juggler is a "medicine-man. " Thesemedicine-men undertake cures, but they are regular charlatans, and knownothing whatever of the diseases they pretend to cure, or theirremedies. They carry bags containing sundry relics; these are "medicinebags. " Every brave has his own private medicine bag. Everything thatis incomprehensible, or supposed to be supernatural, religious, ormedical, is "medicine. " This feast, being an unusual one, in honour ofstrangers, and in connection with a peculiar and unexpected event, was"medicine. " Even Crusoe, since his gallant conduct in saving the Indianchild, was "medicine"; and Dick Varley's double-barrelled rifle, whichhad been an object of wonder ever since his arrival at the village, wastremendous "medicine!"

Of course the Indians were arrayed in their best; several wore necklacesof the claws of the grizzly bear, of which they are extremely proud; anda gaudily picturesque group they were. The chief, however, hadundergone a transformation that well-nigh upset the gravity of ourhunters, and rendered Dick's efforts to look solemn quite abortive. San-it-sa-rish had once been to the trading forts of the Pale-faces, andwhile there had received the customary gift of a blue surtout with brassbuttons, and an ordinary hat, such as gentlemen wear at home. As thecoat was a good deal too small for him, a terrible length of dark, bonywrist appeared below the cuffs. The waist was too high, and it was withgreat difficulty that he managed to button the garment across his broadchest. Being ignorant of the nature of a hat, the worthy savage hadallowed the paper and string with which it had been originally covered, to remain on, supposing them to be part and parcel of the hat; and this, together with the high collar of the coat, which gave him a crushed-upappearance, the long black naked legs, and the painted visage, gave tohim a _tout ensemble_ which we can compare to nothing, as there wasnothing in nature comparable to it. 

Those guests who assembled first passed their time in smoking themedicine pipe until the others should arrive; for so long as a singleinvited guest is absent the feast cannot begin. Dignified silence wasmaintained while the pipe thus circulated from hand to hand. When thelast guest arrived they began. 

The men were seated in two rows, face to face. Feasts of this kindusually consist of but one species of food, and on the present occasionit was an enormous cauldron full of maize which had to be devoured. About fifty sat down to eat a quantity of what may be termed thickporridge, that would have been ample allowance for a hundred ordinarymen. Before commencing, San-it-sa-rish desired an aged medicine-man tomake an oration, which he did fluently and poetically. Its subject wasthe praise of the giver of the feast. At the end of each period therewas a general "Hou! hou!" of assent--equivalent to the hear! hear! ofcivilised men. 

Other orators then followed, all of whom spoke with great ease andfluency, and some in the most impassioned strains, working themselvesand their audience up to the highest pitch of excitement, now shoutingwith frenzied violence till their eyes glared from their sockets, andthe veins of their foreheads swelled almost to bursting as they spoke ofwar and chase--anon breaking into soft modulated and pleasing tones, while they dilated upon the pleasures of peace and hospitality. 

After these had finished, a number of wooden bowls full of maizeporridge were put down between the guests--one bowl to each couplefacing each other. But before commencing, a portion was laid aside anddedicated to their gods, with various mysterious ceremonies; for here, as in other places where the gospel is not known, the poor savagesfancied that they could propitiate God with sacrifices. They had neverheard of the "sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart. " Thisoffering being made, the feast began in earnest. Not only was it a rulein this feast that every mouthful should be swallowed by each guest, however unwilling and unable he should be to do so, but he who coulddispose of it with greatest speed was deemed the greatest man--at leaston that occasion--while the last to conclude his supper was looked uponwith some degree of contempt!

It seems strange that such a custom should ever have arisen, and one isnot a little puzzled in endeavouring to guess at the origin of it. There is one fact that occurs to us as the probable cause. The Indianis, as we have before hinted, frequently reduced to a state bordering onstarvation, and in a day after he may be burdened with superabundance offood. He oftentimes, therefore, eats as much as he can stuff into hisbody when he is blessed with plenty, so as to be the better able towithstand the attacks of hunger that may possibly be in store for him. The amount that an Indian will thus eat at a single meal is incredible. He seems to have the power of distending himself for the reception of aquantity that would kill a civilised man. Children, in particular, become like tightly inflated little balloons after a feast, and as theywear no clothing, the extraordinary rotundity is very obvious, not tosay ridiculous. We conclude, therefore, that unusual powers ofgormandising, being useful, come at last to be cultivated aspraiseworthy. 

By good fortune Dick and Joe Blunt happened to have such enormousgluttons as _vis-a-vis_, that the portions of their respective bowlswhich they could not devour were gobbled up for them. By good capacityand digestion, with no small amount of effort, Henri managed to disposeof his own share; but he was last of being done, and fell in thesavages' esteem greatly. The way in which that sticky compost of boiledmaize went down was absolutely amazing. The man opposite Dick, inparticular, was a human boa-constrictor. He well-nigh suffocated Dickwith suppressed laughter. He was a great raw-boned savage, with athroat of indiarubber, and went quickly and quietly on swallowing massafter mass, with the solemn gravity of an owl. It mattered not a strawto him that Dick took comparatively small mouthfuls, and nearly chokedon them too for want of liquid to wash them down. Had Dick eaten noneat all he would have uncomplainingly disposed of the whole. Jack theGiant-Killer's feats were nothing to his, and when at last the bowl wasempty, he stopped short like a machine from which the steam had beensuddenly cut off, and laid down his buffalo horn spoon _without_ a sigh. 

Dick sighed, though, with relief and gratitude when his bowl was empty. 

"I hope I may never have to do it again, " said Joe that night as theywended their way back to the chief's tent after supper. "I wouldn't befit for anything for a week arter it. "

Dick could only laugh, for any allusion to the feast instantly broughtback that owl-like gourmand to whom he was so deeply indebted. 

Henri groaned. "Oh! mes boy, I am speechless! I am ready for bust!Oui, --hah! I veesh it vas to-morrow. "

Many a time that night did Henri "veesh it vas to-morrow, " as he layhelpless on his back, looking up through the roof of the chief's tent atthe stars, and listening enviously to the plethoric snoring of JoeBlunt. 

He was entertained, however, during those waking hours with a serenadesuch as few civilised ears ever listen to. This was nothing else than avocal concert performed by all the dogs of the village, and as theyamounted to nearly two thousand, the orchestra was a pretty full one. 

These wretches howled as if they had all gone mad. Yet there was"method in their madness, " for they congregated in a crowd beforebeginning, and sat down on their haunches. Then one, which seemed to bethe conductor, raised his snout to the sky, and uttered a long, low, melancholy wail. The others took it up by twos and threes, until thewhole pack had their noses pointing to the stars, and their throatsdistended to the uttermost, while a prolonged yell filled the air. Thenit sank gradually, one or two (bad performers probably) making a yelpingattempt to get it up again at the wrong time. Again the conductorraised his nose, and out it came--full swing. There was no vociferousbarking. It was simple wolfish howling increased in fervour to anelectric yell, with slight barks running continuously through it like anobbligato accompaniment. 

When Crusoe first heard the unwonted sound he sprang to his feet, bristled up like a hyena, showed all his teeth, and bounded out of thetent blazing with indignation and astonishment. When he found out whatit was he returned quite sleek, and with a look of profound contempt onhis countenance as he resumed his place by his master's side and went tosleep. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

PERPLEXITIES--OUR HUNTERS PLAN THEIR ESCAPE--UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION--THE TABLES TURNED--CRUSOE MOUNTS GUARD--THE ESCAPE. 

Dick Varley sat before the fire ruminating. We do not mean to assertthat Dick had been previously eating grass. By no means. For severaldays past he had been mentally subsisting on the remarkable things thathe heard and saw in the Pawnee village, and wondering how he was to getaway without being scalped; he was now chewing the cud of thisintellectual fare. We therefore repeat emphatically--in case any readershould have presumed to contradict us--that Dick Varley sat before thefire _ruminating_!

Joe Blunt likewise sat by the fire along with him, ruminating too, andsmoking besides. Henri also sat there smoking, and looking a little theworse of his late supper. 

"I don't like the look o' things, " said Joe, blowing a whiff of smokeslowly from his lips, and watching it as it ascended into the still air. "That blackguard Mahtawa is determined not to let us off till he gitsall our goods, an' if he gits them, he may as well take our scalps too, for we would come poor speed in the prairies without guns, horses, orgoods. "

Dick looked at his friend with an expression of concern. "What's to bedone?" said he. 

"Ve must escape, " answered Henri; but his tone was not a hopeful one, for he knew the danger of their position better than Dick. 

"Ay, we must escape; at least we must try, " said Joe; "but I'll make onemore effort to smooth over San-it-sa-rish, an' git him to snub thatvillain Mahtawa. "

Just as he spoke the villain in question entered the tent with a bold, haughty air, and sat down before the fire in sullen silence. For someminutes no one spoke, and Henri, who happened at the time to beexamining the locks of Dick's rifle, continued to inspect them with anappearance of careless indifference that he was far from feeling. 

Now, this rifle of Dick's had become a source of unceasing wonder to theIndians, --wonder which was greatly increased by the fact that no onecould discharge it but himself. Dick had, during his short stay at thePawnee village, amused himself and the savages by exhibiting hismarvellous powers with the "silver rifle. " Since it had been won by himat the memorable match in the Mustang Valley, it had scarce ever beenout of his hand, so that he had become decidedly the best shot in thesettlement, could "bark" squirrels (that is, hit the bark of the branchon which a squirrel happened to be standing, and so kill it by theconcussion alone), and could "drive the nail" every shot. The silverrifle, as we have said, became "great medicine" to the Red-men, whenthey saw it kill at a distance which the few wretched guns they hadobtained from the fur-traders could not even send a spent ball to. Thedouble shot, too, filled them with wonder and admiration; but that whichthey regarded with an almost supernatural feeling of curiosity was thepercussion cap, which in Dick's hands always exploded, but in theirs wasutterly useless!

This result was simply owing to the fact, that Dick after firing handedthe rifle to the Indians without renewing the cap. So that when theyloaded and attempted to fire, of course it merely snapped. When hewished again to fire, he adroitly exchanged the old cap for a new one. He was immensely tickled by the solemn looks of the Indians at this mostincomprehensible of all "medicines, " and kept them for some days inignorance of the true cause, intending to reveal it before he left. Butcircumstances now arose which banished all trifling thoughts from hismind. 

Mahtawa raised his head suddenly, and said, pointing to the silverrifle, "Mahtawa wishes to have the two-shotted medicine gun. He willgive his best horse in exchange. "

"Mahtawa is liberal, " answered Joe, "but the pale-faced youth cannotpart with it. He has far to travel, and must shoot buffaloes by theway. "

"The pale-faced youth shall have a bow and arrows to shoot the buffalo, "rejoined the Indian. 

"He cannot use the bow and arrow, " answered Joe; "he has not beentrained like the Red-man. "

Mahtawa was silent for a few seconds, and his dark brows frowned moreheavily than ever over his eyes. 

"The Pale-faces are too bold, " he exclaimed, working himself into apassion; "they are in the power of Mahtawa. If they will not give thegun he will take it. "

He sprang suddenly to his feet as he spoke, and snatched the rifle fromHenri's hand. 

Henri, being ignorant of the language, had not been able to understandthe foregoing conversation, although he saw well enough that it was notan agreeable one but no sooner did he find himself thus rudely andunexpectedly deprived of the rifle, than he jumped up, wrenched it in atwinkling from the Indian's grasp, and hurled him violently out of thetent. 

In a moment Mahtawa drew his knife, uttered a savage yell, and sprang onthe reckless hunter, who, however, caught his wrist, and held it as ifin a vice. The yell brought a dozen warriors instantly to the spot, andbefore Dick had time to recover from his astonishment, Henri wassurrounded and pinioned despite his herculean struggles. 

Before Dick could move, Joe Blunt grasped his arm, and whisperedquickly, "Don't rise! You can't help him! They daren't kill him tillSan-it-sa-rish agrees. "

Though much surprised, Dick obeyed, but it required all his efforts, both of voice and hand, to control Crusoe, whose mind was much toohonest and straightforward to understand such subtle pieces ofdiplomacy, and who strove to rush to the rescue of his ill-used friend. 

When the tumult had partly subsided, Joe Blunt rose and said--"Have thePawnee braves turned traitors that they draw the knife against those whohave smoked with them the pipe of peace and eaten their maize? ThePale-faces are three; the Pawnees are thousands. If evil has been done, let it be laid before the chief. Mahtawa wishes to have the medicinegun. Although we said No, we could not part with it, he tried to takeit by force. Are we to go back to the great chief of the Pale-faces, and say that the Pawnees are thieves? Are the Pale-faces henceforth totell their children when they steal, `That is bad; that is like thePawnee?' No! this must not be. The rifle shall be restored, and wewill forget this disagreement. Is it not so?"

There was an evident disposition on the part of many of the Indians, with whom Mahtawa was no favourite, to applaud this speech; but the wilychief sprang forward, and, with flashing eye, sought to turn the tables. 

"The Pale-face speaks with soft words, but his heart is false. Is henot going to make peace with the enemies of the Pawnee? Is he not goingto take goods to them, and make them gifts and promises? The Pale-facesare spies. They come to see the weakness of the Pawnee camp, but theyhave found that it is strong. Shall we suffer the false-hearts toescape? Shall they live? No! we will hang their scalps in our wigwams, for they have _struck a chief_ and we will keep all their goods for oursquaws--wah!"

This allusion to keeping all the goods had more effect on the minds ofthe vacillating savages than the chiefs eloquence. But a new turn wasgiven to their thoughts by Joe Blunt remarking in a quiet, almostcontemptuous tone--

"Mahtawa is not the _great_ chief. "

"True, true, " they cried, and immediately hurried to the tent ofSan-it-sa-rish. 

Once again this chief stood between the hunters and the savages, whowanted but a signal to fall on them. There was a long palaver, whichended in Henri being set at liberty, and the rifle being restored. 

That evening, as the three friends sat beside their fire eating theirsupper of boiled maize and buffalo meat, they laughed and talked ascarelessly as ever; but the gaiety was assumed, for they were at thetime planning their escape from a tribe which, they foresaw, would notlong refrain from carrying out their wishes, and robbing, perhapsmurdering them. 

"Ye see, " said Joe with a perplexed air, while he drew a piece of livecharcoal from the fire with his fingers and lighted his pipe, --"ye see, there's more difficulties in the way o' gettin' off than ye think--"

"Oh! nivare mind de difficulties, " interrupted Henri, whose wrath at thetreatment he had received had not yet cooled down. "Ve must jump on debest horses ve can git hold, shake our fist at de red reptiles, and goaway fast as ve can. De best hoss _must_ vin de race. "

Joe shook his head. "A hundred arrows would be in our backs before wegot twenty yards from the camp. Besides, we can't tell which are thebest horses. Our own are the best in my 'pinion, but how are we to git'em?"

"I know who has charge o' them, " said Dick; "I saw them grazing near thetent o' that poor squaw whose baby was saved by Crusoe. Either herhusband looks after them or some neighbours. "

"That's well, " said Joe. "That's one o' my difficulties gone. "

"What are the others?"

"Well, d'ye see, they're troublesome. We can't git the horses out o'camp without bein' seen, for the red rascals would see what we were atin a jiffy. Then, if we do git 'em out, we can't go off without ourbales, an' we needn't think to take 'em from under the nose o' the chiefand his squaws without bein' axed questions. To go off without themwould niver do at all. "

"Joe, " said Dick, earnestly, "I've hit on a plan. "

"Have ye, Dick? what is't?"

"Come and I'll let ye see, " answered Dick, rising hastily and quittingthe tent, followed by his comrades and his faithful dog. 

It may be as well to remark here, that no restraint whatever had yetbeen put on the movements of our hunters as long as they kept to theirlegs, for it was well-known that any attempt by men on foot to escapefrom mounted Indians on the plains would be hopeless. Moreover, thesavages thought that as long as there was a prospect of their beingallowed to depart peaceably with their goods, they would not be so madas to fly from the camp, and, by so doing, risk their lives and declarewar with their entertainers. They had, therefore, been permitted towander unchecked, as yet, far beyond the outskirts of the camp, andamuse themselves in paddling about the lake in the small Indian canoesand shooting wild-fowl. 

Dick now led the way through the labyrinths of tents in the direction ofthe lake, and they talked and laughed loudly, and whistled to Crusoe asthey went, in order to prevent their purpose being suspected. For thepurpose of further disarming suspicion they went without their rifles. Dick explained his plan by the way, and it was at once warmly approvedof by his comrades. 

On reaching the lake they launched a small canoe, into which Crusoe wasordered to jump; then, embarking, they paddled swiftly to the oppositeshore, singing a canoe song as they dipped their paddles in the moonlitwaters of the lake. Arrived at the other side, they hauled the canoe upand hurried through the thin belt of wood and willows that intervenedbetween the lake and the prairie. Here they paused. 

"Is that the bluff, Joe?"

"No, Dick, that's too near. T'other one'll be best. Far away to theright. It's a little one, and there's others near it. The sharp eyeso' the Red-skins won't be so likely to be prowlin' there. "

"Come on, then; but we'll have to take down by the lake first. "

In a few minutes the hunters were threading their way through theoutskirts of the wood at a rapid trot, in the opposite direction fromthe bluff, or wooded knoll, which they wished to reach. This they didlest prying eyes should have followed them. In a quarter of an hourthey turned at right angles to their track, and struck straight out intothe prairie, and after a long run they edged round and came in upon thebluff from behind. It was merely a collection of stunted butthick-growing willows. 

Forcing their way into the centre of this they began to examine it. 

"It'll do, " said Joe. 

"De very ting, " remarked Henri. 

"Come here, Crusoe. "

Crusoe bounded to his master's side, and looked up in his face. 

"Look at this place, pup; smell it well. "

Crusoe instantly set off all round among the willows, in and out, snuffing everywhere, and whining with excitement. 

"Come here, good pup; that will do. Now, lads, we'll go back. " Sosaying, Dick and his friends left the bluff and retraced their steps tothe camp. Before they had gone far, however, Joe halted, and said--

"D'ye know, Dick, I doubt if the pup's so cliver as ye think. What ifhe don't quite onderstand ye?"

Dick replied by taking off his cap and throwing it down, at the sametime exclaiming, "Take it yonder, pup, " and pointing with his handtowards the bluff. The dog seized the cap, and went off with it at fullspeed towards the willows, where it left it, and came galloping back forthe expected reward--not now, as in days of old, a bit of meat, but agentle stroke of its head and a hearty clap on its shaggy side. 

"Good pup, go now an' _fetch it_. "

Away he went with a bound, and, in a few seconds, came back anddeposited the cap at his master's feet. 

"Will that do?" asked Dick, triumphantly. 

"Ay, lad, it will. The pup's worth its weight in goold. "

"Oui, I have said, and I say it agen, de dog is _human_, so him is. Ifnot--fat am he?"

Without pausing to reply to this perplexing question, Dick steppedforward again, and in half an hour or so they were back in the camp. 

"Now for _your_ part of the work, Joe; yonder's the squaw that owns thehalf-drowned baby. Everything depends on her. "

Dick pointed to the Indian woman as he spoke. She was sitting besideher tent, and playing at her knee was the identical youngster that hadbeen saved by Crusoe. 

"I'll manage it, " said Joe, and walked towards her, while Dick and Henrireturned to the chiefs tent. 

"Does the Pawnee woman thank the Great Spirit that her child is saved?"began Joe as he came up. 

"She does, " answered the woman, looking up at the hunter. "And herheart is warm to the Pale-faces. "

After a short silence Joe continued--

"The Pawnee chiefs do not love the Pale-faces. Some of them hate them. "

"The Dark Flower knows it, " answered the woman; "she is sorry. Shewould help the Pale-faces if she could. "

This was uttered in a low tone, and with a meaning glance of the eye. 

Joe hesitated again--could he trust her? Yes; the feelings that filledher breast and prompted her words were not those of the Indian justnow--they were those of a _mother_, whose gratitude was too full forutterance. 

"Will the Dark Flower, " said Joe, catching the name she had givenherself, "help the Pale-face if he opens his heart to her? Will sherisk the anger of her nation?"

"She will, " replied the woman; "she will do what she can. "

Joe and his dark friend now dropped their high-sounding style of speech, and spoke for some minutes rapidly in an undertone. It was finallyarranged that on a given day, at a certain hour, the woman should takethe four horses down the shores of the lake to its lower end, as if shewere going for firewood, there cross the creek at the ford, and drivethem to the willow-bluff, and guard them till the hunters should arrive. 

Having settled this, Joe returned to the tent and informed his comradesof his success. 

During the next three days Joe kept the Indians in good-humour by givingthem one or two trinkets, and speaking in glowing terms of the riches ofthe white men, and the readiness with which they would part with them tothe savages if they would only make peace. 

Meanwhile, during the dark hours of each night, Dick managed to abstractsmall quantities of goods from their pack, in room of which he stuffedin pieces of leather to keep up the size and appearance. The goods thustaken out he concealed about his person, and went off with a carelessswagger to the outskirts of the village, with Crusoe at his heels. Arrived there, he tied the goods in a small piece of deerskin, and gavethe bundle to the dog, with the injunction, "Take it yonder, pup. "

Crusoe took it up at once, darted off at full speed with the bundle inhis mouth, down the shore of the lake towards the ford of the river, andwas soon lost to view. In this way, little by little, the goods wereconveyed by the faithful dog to the willow-bluff and left there, whilethe stuffed pack still remained in safekeeping in the chief's tent. 

Joe did not at first like the idea of thus sneaking off from the camp;and more than once made strong efforts to induce San-it-sa-rish to lethim go, but even that chief's countenance was not so favourable as ithad been. It was clear that he could not make up his mind to let slipso good a chance of obtaining guns, powder, and shot, horses and goods, without any trouble; so Joe made up his mind to give them the slip atonce. 

A dark night was chosen for the attempt, and the Indian woman went offwith the horses to the place where firewood for the camp was usuallycut. Unfortunately the suspicion of that wily savage Mahtawa had beenawakened, and he stuck close to the hunters all day--not knowing whatwas going on, but feeling convinced that something was brewing which heresolved to watch, without mentioning his suspicions to any one. 

"I think that villain's away at last, " whispered Joe to his comrades;"it's time to go, lads, the moon won't be up for an hour. Come along. "

"Have ye got the big powder-horn, Joe?"

"Ay, ay, all right. "

"Stop! stop! my knife, my couteau. Ah! here it be. Now, boy. "

The three set off as usual, strolling carelessly to the outskirts of thecamp; then they quickened their pace, and, gaining the lake, pushed offin a small canoe. 

At the same moment Mahtawa stepped from the bushes, leaped into anothercanoe and followed them. 

"Hah! he must die, " muttered Henri. 

"Not at all, " said Joe, "we'll manage him without that. "

The chief landed and strode boldly up to them, for he knew well thatwhatever their purpose might be, they would not venture to use theirrifles within sound of the camp at that hour of the night; as for theirknives, he could trust to his own active limbs and the woods to escapeand give the alarm if need be. 

"The Pale-faces hunt very late, " he said with a malicious grin. "Dothey love the dark better than the sunshine?"

"Not so, " replied Joe, coolly, "but we love to walk by the light of themoon. It will be up in less than an hour, and we mean to take a longramble to-night. "

"The Pawnee chief loves to walk by the moon too, he will go with thePale-faces. "

"Good, " ejaculated Joe. "Come along, then. "

The party immediately set forward, although the savage was a littletaken by surprise at the indifferent way in which Joe received hisproposal to accompany them. He walked on to the edge of the prairie, however, and then stopped. 

"The Pale-faces must go alone, " said he; "Mahtawa will return to histent. "

Joe replied to this intimation by seizing him suddenly by the throat andchoking back the yell that would otherwise have brought the Pawneewarriors rushing to the scene of action in hundreds. Mahtawa's hand wason the handle of his scalping-knife in a moment, but before he coulddraw it, his arms were glued to his sides by the bear-like embrace ofHenri, while Dick tied a handkerchief quickly yet firmly round hismouth. The whole thing was accomplished in two minutes. After takinghis knife and tomahawk away, they loosened their gripe and escorted himswiftly over the prairie. 

Mahtawa was perfectly submissive after the first convulsive struggle wasover. He knew that the men who walked on each side of him grasping hisarms were more than his match singly, so he wisely made no resistance. 

Hurrying him to a clump of small trees on the plain which was so fardistant from the village that a yell could not be heard, they removedthe bandage from Mahtawa's mouth. 

"_Must_ he be kill?" inquired Henri, in a tone of commiseration. 

"Not at all" answered Joe, "we'll tie him to a tree and leave himthere. "

"Then he vill be starve to deat'. Oh! dat is more horrobell!"

"He must take his chance o' that. I've no doubt his friends'll find himin a day or two, an' he's game to last for a week or more. But you'llhave to run to the willow-bluff, Dick, and bring a bit of line to tiehim. We can't spare it well; but there's no help. "

"But there _is_ help, " retorted Dick. "Just order the villain to climbinto that tree. "

"Why so, lad?"

"Don't ask questions, but do what I bid ye. "

The hunter smiled for a moment as he turned to the Indian, and orderedhim to climb up a small tree near to which he stood. Mahtawa lookedsurprised, but there was no alternative. Joe's authoritative tonebrooked no delay, so he sprang into the tree like a monkey. 

"Crusoe, " said Dick, "_watch him_!"

The dog sat quietly down at the foot of the tree, and fixed his eyes onthe savage with a glare that spoke unutterable things. At the same timehe displayed his full compliment of teeth, and uttered a sound likedistant thunder. 

Joe almost laughed, and Henri did laugh outright. 

"Come along, he's safe now, " cried Dick, hurrying away in the directionof the willow-bluff, which they soon reached, and found that thefaithful squaw had tied their steeds to the bushes, and, moreover, hadbundled up their goods into a pack, and strapped it on the back of thepack-horse; but she had not remained with them. 

"Bless yer dark face, " ejaculated Joe as he sprang into the saddle androde out of the clump of bushes. He was followed immediately by theothers, and in three minutes they were flying over the plain at fullspeed. 

On gaining the last far-off ridge, that afforded a distant view of thewoods skirting the Pawnee camp, they drew up, and Dick, putting hisfingers to his mouth, drew a long, shrill whistle. 

It reached the willow-bluff like a faint echo. At the same moment themoon arose and more clearly revealed Crusoe's catalyptic glare at theIndian chief, who, being utterly unarmed, was at the dog's mercy. Theinstant the whistle fell on his ear, however, he dropped his eyes, covered his teeth, and, leaping through the bushes, flew over the plainslike an arrow. At the same instant Mahtawa, descending from his tree, ran as fast as he could towards the village, uttering the terriblewar-whoop when near enough to be heard. No sound sends such a thrillthrough an Indian camp. Every warrior flew to arms, and vaulted on hissteed. So quickly was the alarm given that in less than ten minutes athousand hoofs were thundering on the plain, and faintly reached theears of the fugitives. 

Joe smiled. "It'll puzzle them to come up wi' nags like ours. They'rein prime condition too, lots o' wind in 'em. If we only keep out o'badger holes we may laugh at the red varmints. "

Joe's opinion of Indian horses was correct. In a very few minutes thesound of hoofs died away, but the fugitives did not draw bridle duringthe remainder of that night, for they knew not how long the pursuitmight be continued. By pond, and brook, and bluff they passed, down inthe grassy bottoms and over the prairie waves, --nor checked theirheadlong course till the sun blazed over the level sweep of the easternplain as if it arose out of the mighty ocean. 

Then they sprang from the saddle and hastily set about the preparationof their morning meal. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

EVENING MEDITATIONS AND MORNING REFLECTIONS--BUFFALOES, BADGERS, ANTELOPES, AND ACCIDENTS--AN OLD BULL AND THE WOLVES--"MAD-TAILS"--HENRIFLOORED, ETCETERA. 

There is nothing that prepares one so well for the enjoyment of rest, both mental and physical, as a long-protracted period of excitement andanxiety, followed up by bodily fatigue. Excitement alone banishes rest;but, united with severe physical exertion, it prepares for it. Atleast, courteous reader, this is our experience, and certainly this wasthe experience of our three hunters as they lay on their backs beneaththe branches of a willow bush, and gazed serenely up at the twinklingstars, two days after their escape from the Indian village. 

They spoke little; they were too tired for that; also, they were toocomfortable. Their respective suppers of fresh antelope steak, shotthat day, had just been disposed of; their feet were directed towardsthe small fire on which the said steaks had been cooked, and which stillthrew a warm, ruddy glow over the encampment. Their blankets werewrapped comfortably round them, and tucked in as only hunters andmothers know _how_ to tuck them in. Their respective pipes deliveredforth, at stated intervals, three richly yellow puffs of smoke, as if athree-gun battery were playing upon the sky from that particular spot ofearth. The horses were picketted and hobbled in a rich grassy bottomclose by, from which the quiet munch of their equine jaws soundedpleasantly, for it told of healthy appetites, and promised speed on themorrow. The fear of being overtaken during the night was now past, andthe faithful Crusoe, by virtue of sight, hearing, and smell, guaranteedthem against sudden attack during the hours of slumber. A perfume ofwild flowers mingled with the loved odours of the "weed, " and the tinkleof a tiny rivulet fell sweetly on their ears. In short, the"Pale-faces" were supremely happy, and disposed to be thankful for theirrecent deliverance and their present comforts. 

"I wonder what the stars are, " said Dick, languidly taking the pipe outof his mouth. 

"Bits o' fire, " suggested Joe. 

"I tink dey are vorlds, " muttered Henri, "an' have peepels in dem. Ihave hear men say dat. "

A long silence followed, during which, no doubt, the star-gazers wereworking out various theories in their own minds. 

"Wonder, " said Dick again, "how far off they be. "

"A mile or two, maybe, " said Joe. 

Henri was about to laugh sarcastically at this; but, on furtherconsideration, he thought it would be more comfortable not to, so he laystill. In another minute he said--"Joe Blunt, you is ver' igrant. Don't you know dat de books say de stars be hondreds, tousands, --oh!milleryons of mile away to here, and dat de is more bigger dan disvorld?"

Joe snored lightly, and his pipe fell out of his mouth at this point, sothe conversation dropped. Presently Dick asked, in a low tone, "I say, Henri, are ye asleep?"

"Oui, " replied Henri, faintly. "Don't speak, or you vill vaken me. "

"Ah! Crusoe, you're not asleep, are you, pup?" No need to ask thatquestion. The instantaneous wag of that speaking fail, and the glanceof that wakeful eye, as the dog lifted his head and laid his chin onDick's arm, showed that he had been listening to every word that wasspoken. We cannot say whether he understood it, but beyond all doubt heheard it. Crusoe never presumed to think of going to sleep until hismaster was as sound as a top; then he ventured to indulge in that lightspecies of slumber which is familiarly known as "sleeping with one eyeopen. " But, comparatively, as well as figuratively speaking, Crusoeslept usually with one eye and a-half open, and the other half was neververy tightly shut. 

Gradually Dick's pipe fell out of his mouth, an event which the dog, with an exercise of instinct almost, if not quite, amounting to reason, regarded as a signal for him to go off. The campfire went slowly out, the stars twinkled down at their reflections in the brook, and a deepbreathing of wearied men was the only sound that rose in harmony withthe purling stream. 

Before the sun rose next morning, and while many of the brighter starswere still struggling for existence with the approaching day, Joe was upand buckling on the saddle-bags, while he shouted to his unwillingcompanions to rise. 

"If it depended on you, " he said, "the Pawnees wouldn't be long aforethey got our scalps. Jump, ye dogs, an' lend a hand, will ye!"

A snore from Dick and a deep sigh from Henri was the answer to thispathetic appeal. It so happened, however, that Henri's pipe, in fallingfrom his lips, had emptied the ashes just under his nose, so that thesigh referred to drew a quantity thereof into his throat, and almostchoked him. Nothing could have been a more effective awakener. He wasup in a moment coughing vociferously. Most men have a tendency to ventill-humour on some one, and they generally do it on one whom they deemto be worse than themselves. Henri, therefore, instead of growling atJoe for rousing him, scolded Dick for not rising. 

"Ha, mauvais dog! bad chien, vill you dare to look to me?"

Crusoe did look with amiable placidity, as though to say, "Howl away, old boy, I won't budge till Dick does. "

With a mighty effort Giant Sleep was thrown off at last, and the hunterswere once more on their journey, cantering lightly over the soft turf. 

"Ho! let's have a run, " cried Dick, unable to repress the feelingsaroused by the exhilarating morning air. 

"Have a care, boy, " cried Joe, as they stretched out at full gallop. "Keep off the ridge; it's riddled wi' badger--Hah! I thought so. "

At that moment Dick's horse put its foot into a badger hole, and turnedcompletely over, sending its rider through the air in a curve that anEast Indian acrobat would have envied. For a few seconds Dick lay flaton his back; then he jumped up and laughed, while his comrades hurriedup anxiously to his assistance. 

"No bones broke?" inquired Joe. 

Dick gave a hysterical gasp. "I--I think not. "

"Let's have a look. No, nothin' to speak o', be good luck. Ye shouldniver go slap through a badger country like that, boy; always keep i'the bottoms, where the grass is short. Now then, up ye go. That's it!"

Dick remounted, though not with quite so elastic a spring as usual, andthey pushed forward at a more reasonable pace. 

Accidents of this kind are of common occurrence in the prairies. Somehorses, however, are so well trained that they look sharp out for theseholes, which are generally found to be most numerous on the high and drygrounds. But in spite of all the caution both of man and horse, manyugly falls take place, and sometimes bones are broken. 

They had not gone far after this accident, when an antelope leaped froma clump of willows and made for a belt of woodland that lay along themargin of a stream not half a mile off. 

"Hurrah!" cried Dick, forgetting his recent fall. "Come along, Crusoe. "And away they went again full tilt, for the horse had not been injuredby its somersault. 

The antelope which Dick was thus wildly pursuing was of the same speciesas the one he had shot some time before, namely, the prong-hornedantelope. These graceful creatures have long, slender limbs, delicatelyformed heads, and large, beautiful eyes. The horns are black, andrather short; they have no branches like the antlers of the red-deer, but have a single projection on each horn, near the head, and theextreme points of the horns curve suddenly inwards, forming the hook orprong from which the name of the animal is derived. Their colour isdark yellowish brown. They are so fleet that not one horse in a hundredcan overtake them, and their sight and sense of smell are so acute, thatit would be next to impossible to kill them, were it not for theinordinate curiosity which we have before referred to. The Indiansmanage to attract these simple little creatures by merely lying down ontheir backs and kicking their heels in the air, or by waving any whiteobject on the point of an arrow, while the hunter keeps concealed bylying flat in the grass. By these means a herd of antelopes may beinduced to wheel round and round an object in timid, but intense, surprise, gradually approaching until they come near enough to enablethe hunter to make sure of his mark. Thus the animals, which of allothers _ought_ to be the most difficult to slay, are, in consequence oftheir insatiable curiosity, more easily shot than any other deer of theplains. 

May we not gently suggest to the reader for his or her considerationthat there are human antelopes, so to speak, whose case bears a strikingresemblance to the prong-horn of the North American prairie?

Dick's horse was no match for the antelope; neither was Crusoe, so theypulled up shortly and returned to their companions to be laughed at. 

"It's no manner o' use to wind yer horse, lad, after sich game. They'renot much worth, an', if I mistake not, we'll be among the buffalo soon. There's fresh tracks everywhere, and the herds are scattered now. Yesee, when they keep together in bands o' thousands ye don't so oftenfall in wi' them. But when they scatters about in twos, an' threes, ansixes, ye may shoot them every day as much as ye please. "

Several groups of buffalo had already been seen on the horizon; but as ared-deer had been shot in a belt of woodland the day before, they didnot pursue them. The red-deer is very much larger than the prong-hornedantelope, and is highly esteemed both for its flesh and its skin, whichlatter becomes almost like chamois leather when dressed. Notwithstanding this supply of food, the hunters could not resist thetemptation to give chase to a herd of about nine buffaloes that suddenlycame into view as they overtopped an undulation in the plain. 

"It's no use, " cried Dick, "I _must_ go at them!"

Joe himself caught fire from the spirit of his young friend, so callingto Henri to come on and let the pack-horse remain to feed, he dashedaway in pursuit. The buffaloes gave one stare of surprise, and thenfled as fast as possible. At first it seemed as if such huge, unwieldycarcases could not run very fast; but in a few minutes they managed toget up a pace that put the horses to their mettle. Indeed, at first itseemed as if the hunters did not gain an inch, but by degrees theyclosed with them, for buffaloes are not long-winded. 

On nearing the herd, the three men diverged from each other and selectedtheir animals. Henri, being short-sighted, naturally singled out thelargest; and the largest--also naturally, --was a tough old bull. Joebrought down a fat young cow at the first shot, and Dick was equallyfortunate. But he well-nigh shot Crusoe, who, just as he was about tofire, rushed in unexpectedly and sprang at the animal's throat, forwhich piece of recklessness he was ordered back to watch the pack-horse. 

Meanwhile, Henri, by dint of yelling, throwing his arms wildly about, and digging his heels into the sides of his long-legged horse, succeededin coming close up with the bull, which once or twice turned his clumsybody half round and glared furiously at its pursuer with its small blackeyes. Suddenly it stuck out its tail, stopped short, and turned fullround. Henri stopped short also. Now, the sticking out of a buffalo'stail has a peculiar significance which it is well to point out. Itserves, in a sense, the same purpose to the hunter that the compass doesto the mariner; it points out where to go and what to do. Whengalloping away in ordinary flight the buffalo carries his tail likeordinary cattle, which indicates that you may push on. When wounded, helashes it from side to side, or carries it over his back, up in the air;this indicates "Look out! haul off a bit!" But when he carries it stiffand horizontal, with a _slight curve_ in the middle of it, it saysplainly, "Keep back, or kill me as quick as you can, " for that is whatIndians call the _mad-lazy_, and is a sign that mischief is brewing. 

Henri's bull displayed the mad-tail just before turning, but he didn'tobserve it, and, accordingly, waited for the bull to move and show hisshoulder for a favourable shot. But instead of doing this he put hishead down, and, foaming with rage, went at him full tilt. The big horsenever stirred; it seemed to be petrified. Henri had just time to fireat the monster's neck, and the next moment was sprawling on his back, with the horse rolling over four or five yards beyond him. It was amost effective tableau. Henri rubbing his shins and grinning with pain, the horse gazing in affright as he rose trembling from the plain, andthe buffalo bull looking on half stunned, and, evidently, very muchsurprised at the result of his charge. 

Fortunately, before he could repeat the experiment, Dick galloped up andput a ball through his heart. 

Joe and his comrades felt a little ashamed of their exploit on thisoccasion, for there was no need to have killed three animals; they couldnot have carried with them more than a small portion of one, and theyupbraided themselves several times during the operation of cutting outthe tongues and other choice portions of the two victims. As for thebull, he was almost totally useless, so they left him as a gift to thewolves. 

Now that they had come among the buffalo, wolves were often seensneaking about and licking their hungry jaws; but although theyapproached pretty near to the camp at nights, they did not give thehunters any concern. Even Crusoe became accustomed to them at last, andceased to notice them. These creatures are very dangerous sometimes, however, and when hard pressed by hunger will even attack man. The dayafter this hunt the travellers came upon a wounded old buffalo which hadevidently escaped from the Indians (for a couple of arrows were stickingin its side), only to fall a prey to his deadly enemies, the whitewolves. These savage brutes hang on the skirts of the herds ofbuffaloes to attack and devour any one that may chance, from old age, orfrom being wounded, to linger behind the rest. The buffalo is tough andfierce, however, and fights so desperately that although surrounded byfifty or a hundred wolves, he keeps up the unequal combat for severaldays before he finally succumbs. 

The old bull that our travellers discovered had evidently been longengaged with his ferocious adversaries, for his limbs and flesh weretorn in shreds in many places, and blood was streaming from his sides. Yet he had fought so gallantly that he had tossed and stamped to deathdozens of the enemy. There could not have been fewer than fifty wolvesround him; and they had just concluded another of many futile attacks, when the hunters came up, for they were ranged in a circle round theirhuge adversary--some lying down, some sitting on their haunches to rest, and others sneaking about, lolling out their red tongues, and lickingtheir chops as if impatient to renew the combat. The poor buffalo wasnearly spent, and it was clear that a few hours more would see him tornto shreds and his bones picked clean. 

"Ugh! de brutes, " ejaculated Henri. 

"They don't seem to mind us a bit, " remarked Dick, as they rode up towithin pistol shot. 

"It'll be merciful to give the old fellow a shot, " said Joe. "Themvarmits are sure to finish him at last. "

Joe raised his rifle as he spoke, and fired. The old bull gave his lastgroan and fell, while the wolves, alarmed by the shot, fled in alldirections; but they did not run far. They knew well that some portion, at least, of the carcase would fall to their share, so they sat down atvarious distances all round, to wait as patiently as they might for thehunters to retire. Dick left the scene with a feeling of regret thatthe villanous wolves should have their feast so much sooner than theyexpected. 

Yet after all, why should we call these wolves villanous? They didnothing wrong--nothing contrary to the laws of their peculiar nature. Nay, if we come to reason upon it, they rank higher in this matter thanman, for while the wolf does no violence to the laws of its instincts, man often deliberately silences the voice of conscience, and violatesthe laws of his own nature. But we will not insist on the term, goodreader, if you object strongly to it. We are willing to admit that thewolves are _not_ villanous, but, _assuredly_, they are unlovable. 

In the course of the afternoon the three horsemen reached a small creek, the banks of which were lined with a few stunted shrubs and trees. Having eaten nothing since the night before, they dismounted here to"feed, " as Joe expressed it. 

"Cur'ous thing, " remarked Joe, as he struck a light by means of flint, steel, and tinder-box, --"curious thing that we're made to need sich alot o' grub. If we could only get on like the sarpints, now, wot canbreakfast on a rabbit, and then wait a month or two for dinner! Ain'tit cur'ous?"

Dick admitted that it was, and stooped to blow the fire into a blaze. 

Here Henri uttered a cry of consternation, and stood speechless, withhis mouth open. 

"What's the matter? what is't?" cried Dick and Joe, seizing their riflesinstinctively. 

"De--grub--him--be--forgat!"

There was a look of blank horror, and then a burst of laughter from DickVarley. "Well, well, " cried he, "we've got lots o' tea an' sugar, an'some flour; we can git on wi' that till we shoot another buffalo, ora-ha!"

Dick observed a wild turkey stalking among the willows as he spoke. Itwas fully a hundred yards off, and only its head was seen above theleaves. This was a matter of little moment, however, for by aiming alittle lower he knew that he must hit the body; but Dick had driven thenail too often to aim at its body; he aimed at the bird's eye and cutits head off. 

"Fetch it, Crusoe. "

In three minutes it was at Dick's feet, and it is not too much to saythat in five minutes more it was in the pot. 

As this unexpected supply made up for the loss of the meat which Henrihad forgotten at their last halting-place, their equanimity wasrestored, and while the meal was in preparation Dick shouldered hisrifle and went into the bush to try for another turkey. He did not getone, however, but he shot a couple of prairie-hens, which are excellenteating. Moreover, he found a large quantity of wild grapes and plums. These were unfortunately not nearly ripe, but Dick resolved to try hishand at a new dish, so he stuffed the breast of his coat full of them. 

After the pot was emptied Dick washed it out, and put a little cleanwater in it. Then he poured some flour in, and stirred it well. Whilethis was heating, he squeezed the sour grapes and plums into what Joecalled a "mush, " mixed it with a spoonful of sugar, and emptied it intothe pot. He also skimmed a quantity of the fat from the remains of theturkey soup, and added that to the mess, which he stirred with earnestdiligence till it boiled down into a sort of thick porridge. 

"D'ye think it'll be good?" asked Joe gravely; "I've me doubts of it. "

"We'll see. Hold the tin dish, Henri. "

"Take care of de fingers. Ha! it looks magnifique--superb!"

The first spoonful produced an expression on Henri's face that needednot to be interpreted. It was as sour as vinegar. 

"Ye'll ha' to eat it yerself, Dick, lad, " cried Joe, throwing down hisspoon, and spitting out the unsavoury mess. 

"Nonsense, " cried Dick, bolting two or three mouthfuls, and trying tolook as if he liked it. "Try again; it's not so bad as you think. "

"Ho--o--o--o--o!" cried Henri, after the second mouthful. "'Tisvinaigre. All de sugare in de pack would not make more sweeter one biteof it. "

Dick was obliged to confess the dish a failure, so it was thrown outafter having been offered to Crusoe, who gave it one sniff and turnedaway in silence. Then they mounted and resumed their journey. 

At this place mosquitoes and horse-flies troubled our hunters and theirsteeds a good deal. The latter--especially were very annoying to thepoor horses. They bit them so much that the blood at last cametrickling down their sides. They were troubled also, once or twice, bycockchafers and locusts, which annoyed them, not indeed by biting, butby flying blindly against their faces, and often narrowly missed hittingthem in the eyes. Once particularly they were so bad, that Henri in hiswrath opened his lips to pronounce a malediction on the whole race, whena cockchafer flew straight into his mouth, and, to use his own forcibleexpression, "nearly knocked him off de hoss. " But these were minorevils, and scarcely cost the hunters a thought. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

WANDERINGS ON THE PRAIRIE--A WAR-PARTY--CHASED BY INDIANS--A BOLD LEAPFOR LIFE. 

For many days the three hunters wandered over the trackless prairie insearch of a village of the Sioux Indians, but failed to find one, forthe Indians were in the habit of shifting their ground, and followingthe buffalo. Several times they saw small isolated bands of Indians, but these they carefully avoided, fearing they might turn out to bewar-parties, and if they fell into their hands the white men could notexpect civil treatment, whatever nation the Indians might belong to. 

During the greater portion of this time they met with numerous herds ofbuffalo and deer, and were well supplied with food, but they had to cookit during the day, being afraid to light a fire at night while Indianswere prowling about. 

One night they halted near the bed of a stream which was almost dry. They had travelled a day and a night without water, and both men andhorses were almost choking, so that when they saw the trees on thehorizon which indicated the presence of a stream, they pushed forwardwith almost frantic haste. 

"Hope it's not dry, " said Joe anxiously as they galloped up to it. "No, there's water, lads, " and they dashed forward to a pool that had not yetbeen dried up. They drank long and eagerly before they noticed that thepool was strongly impregnated with salt. Many streams in those parts ofthe prairies are quite salt, but fortunately this one was not utterlyundrinkable, though it was very unpalatable. 

"We'll make it better, lads, " said Joe, digging a deep hole in the sandwith his hands, a little below the pool. In a short time the waterfiltered through, and though not rendered fresh, it was, nevertheless, much improved. 

"We may light a fire to-night, d'ye think?" inquired Dick; "we've notseed Injuns for some days. "

"Pr'aps 'twould be better not, " said Joe, "but I daresay we're safeenough. "

A fire was therefore lighted in as sheltered a spot as could be found, and the three friends bivouacked as usual. Towards dawn they werearoused by an angry growl from Crusoe. 

"It's a wolf likely, " said Dick, but all three seized and cocked theirrifles nevertheless. 

Again Crusoe growled more angrily than before, and springing out of thecamp snuffed the breeze anxiously. 

"Up, lads; catch the nags! There's something in the wind, for the dogniver did that afore. "

In a few seconds the horses were saddled and the packs secured. 

"Call in the dog, " whispered Joe Blunt; "if he barks they'll find outour whereabouts. "

"Here, Crusoe, come--"

It was too late; the dog barked loudly and savagely at the moment, and atroop of Indians came coursing over the plain. On hearing the unwontedsound they wheeled directly and made for the camp. 

"It's a war-party; fly, lads; nothin' 'll save our scalps now but ourhorses' heels, " cried Joe. 

In a moment they vaulted into the saddle, and urged their steeds forwardat the utmost speed. The savages observed them, and with an exultingyell dashed after them. Feeling that there was now no need ofconcealment, the three horsemen struck off into the open prairie, intending to depend entirely on the speed and stamina of their horses. As we have before remarked, they were good ones, but the Indians soonproved that they were equally well if not better mounted. 

"It'll be a hard run, " said Joe in a low, muttering tone, and lookingfurtively over his shoulder. "The varmints are mounted on wild horses, leastways they were wild not long agone. Them chaps can throw the lassoand trip a mustang as well as a Mexican. Mind the badger holes, Dick. Hold in a bit, Henri, yer nag don't need drivin'--a foot in a hole justnow would cost us our scalps. Keep down by the creek, lads. "

"Hah! how dey yell, " said Henri in a savage tone, looking back, andshaking his rifle at them--an act that caused them to yell more fiercelythan ever. "Dis old pack-hoss give me moche trobel. "

The pace was now tremendous. Pursuers and pursued rose and sank on theprairie billows as they swept along, till they came to what is termed a"dividing ridge, " which is a cross wave, as it were, which cuts theothers in two, thus forming a continuous level. Here they advanced moreeasily, but the advantage was equally shared with their pursuers, whocontinued the headlong pursuit with occasional yells, which served toshow the fugitives that they at least did not gain ground. 

A little to the right of the direction in which they were flying a blueline was seen on the horizon. This indicated the existence of trees toJoe's practised eyes; and feeling that if the horses broke down theycould better make a last manful stand in the wood than on the plain heurged his steed towards it. The savages noticed the movement at once, and uttered a yell of exultation, for they regarded it as an evidencethat the fugitives doubted the strength of their horses. 

"Ye haven't got us yet, " muttered Joe, with a sardonic grin. "If theyget near us, Dick, keep yer eyes open, an' look out for yer neck, elsethey'll drop a noose over it; they will, afore ye know they're near, an'haul ye off like a sack. "

Dick nodded in reply, but did not speak, for at that moment his eye wasfixed on a small creek ahead which they must necessarily leap or dashacross. It was lined with clumps of scattered shrubbery, and he glancedrapidly for the most suitable place to pass. Joe and Henri did thesame, and having diverged a little to the different points chosen, theydashed through the shrubbery, and were hid from each other's view. Onapproaching the edge of the stream, Dick found to his consternation thatthe bank was twenty feet high opposite him, and too wide for any horseto clear. Wheeling aside without checking speed, at the risk ofthrowing his steed, he rode along the margin of the stream for a fewhundred yards until he found a ford--at least such a spot as might becleared by a bold leap. The temporary check, however, had enabled anIndian to gain so close upon his heels, that his exulting yell soundedclose in his ear. 

With a vigorous bound his gallant little horse went over. Crusoe couldnot take it, but he rushed down the one bank and up the other, so thathe only lost a few yards. These few yards, however, were sufficient tobring the Indian close upon him as he cleared the stream at full gallop. The savage whirled his lasso swiftly round for a second, and in anothermoment Crusoe uttered a tremendous roar as he was tripped up violentlyon the plain. 

Dick heard the cry of his faithful dog, and turned quickly round, justin time to see him spring at the horse's throat, and bring both steedand rider down upon him. Dick's heart leaped to his throat. Had athousand savages been rushing on him, he would have flown to the rescueof his favourite; but an unexpected obstacle came in the way. His fierylittle steed, excited by the headlong race and the howls of the Indians, had taken the bit in his teeth and was now unmanageable. He tore at thereins like a maniac, and in the height of his frenzy even raised thebutt of his rifle with the intent to strike the poor horse to the earth, but his better nature prevailed. He checked the uplifted hand, and witha groan dropped the reins, and sank almost helplessly forward on thesaddle, for several of the Indians had left the main body and werepursuing him alone, so that there would have been now no chance of hisreaching the place where Crusoe fell, even if he could have turned hishorse. 

Spiritless, and utterly indifferent to what his fate might be, DickVarley rode along with his head drooping, and keeping his seat almostmechanically, while the mettlesome little steed flew on over wave andhollow. Gradually he awakened from this state of despair to a sense ofdanger. Glancing round he observed that the Indians were now far behindhim, though still pursuing. He also observed that his companions weregalloping miles away on the horizon to the left, and that he hadfoolishly allowed the savages to get between him and them. The onlychance that remained for him was to outride his pursuers, and circleround towards his comrades, and this he hoped to accomplish, for hislittle horse had now proved itself to be superior to those of theIndians, and there was good running in him still. 

Urging him forward, therefore, he soon left the savages still furtherbehind, and feeling confident that they could not now overtake him, hereined up and dismounted. The pursuers quickly drew near, but shortthough it was, the rest did his horse good. Vaulting into the saddle, he again stretched out, and now skirted along the margin of a wood whichseemed to mark the position of a river of considerable size. 

At this moment his horse put his foot into a badger hole, and both ofthem came heavily to the ground. In an instant Dick rose, picked up hisgun, and leaped unhurt into the saddle. But on urging his poor horseforward, he found that its shoulder was badly sprained. There was noroom for mercy, however, --life and death were in the balance, --so heplied the lash vigorously, and the noble steed warmed into somethinglike a run, when again it stumbled, and fell with a crash on the ground, while the blood burst from its mouth and nostrils. Dick could hear theshout of triumph uttered by his pursuers. 

"My poor, poor horse!" he exclaimed, in a tone of the deepestcommiseration, while he stooped and stroked its foam-studded neck. 

The dying steed raised his head for a moment, it almost seemed as if toacknowledge the tones of affection, then it sank down with a gurglinggroan. 

Dick sprang up, for the Indians were now upon him, and bounded like anantelope into the thickest of the shrubbery, which was nowhere thickenough, however, to prevent the Indians following. Still, itsufficiently retarded them to render the chase a more equal one thancould have been expected. In a few minutes Dick gained a strip of openground beyond, and found himself on the bank of a broad river, whoseevidently deep waters rushed impetuously along their unobstructedchannel. The bank at the spot where he reached it was a sheer precipiceof between thirty and forty feet high. Glancing up and down the riverhe retreated a few paces, turned round and shook his clenched fist atthe savages, accompanying the action with a shout of defiance, and thenrunning to the edge of the bank, sprang far out into the boiling floodand sank. 

The Indians pulled up on reaching the spot. There was no possibility ofgalloping down the wood-encumbered banks after the fugitive, but quickas thought each Red-man leaped to the ground, and fitting an arrow tohis bow, awaited Dick's re-appearance with eager gaze. 

Young though he was, and unskilled in such wild warfare, Dick knew wellenough what sort of reception he would meet with on coming to thesurface, so he kept under water as long as he could, and struck out asvigorously as the care of his rifle would permit. At last he rose for afew seconds, and immediately half a dozen arrows whizzed through theair; but most of them fell short; only one passed close to his cheek, and went with a "whip" into the river. He immediately sank again, andthe next time he rose to breathe he was far beyond the reach of hisIndian enemies. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

ESCAPE FROM INDIANS--A DISCOVERY--ALONE IN THE DESERT. 

Dick Varley had spent so much of his boyhood in sporting about among thewaters of the rivers and lakes near which he had been reared, andespecially during the last two years had spent so much of his leisuretime in rolling and diving with his dog Crusoe in the lake of theMustang Valley, that he had become almost as expert in the water as asouth-sea islander; so that when he found himself whirling down therapid river, as already described, he was more impressed with a feelingof gratitude to God for his escape from the Indians, than anxiety aboutgetting ashore. 

He was not altogether blind, or indifferent, to the danger into which hemight be hurled if the channel of the river should be found lower downto be broken with rocks, or should a waterfall unexpectedly appear. After floating down a sufficient distance to render pursuit out of thequestion, he struck in to the bank opposite to that from which he hadplunged, and, clambering up to the green sward above, stripped off thegreater part of his clothing and hung it on the branches of a bush todry. Then he sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to consider whatcourse he had best pursue in his present circumstances. 

These circumstances were by no means calculated to inspire him with hopeor comfort. He was in the midst of an unknown wilderness, hundreds ofmiles from any white man's settlement; surrounded by savages; withoutfood or blanket; his companions gone, he knew not whither; perhaps takenand killed by the Indians; his horse dead, and his dog, the most trustyand loving of all his friends, lost to him, probably, for ever! A moreveteran heart might have quailed in the midst of such accumulated evils, but Dick Varley possessed a strong, young, and buoyant constitution, which, united with a hopefulness of disposition that almost nothingcould overcome, enabled him very quickly to cast aside the gloomy viewof his case and turn to its brighter aspects. 

He still grasped his good rifle, that was some comfort, and as his eyefell upon it, he turned with anxiety to examine into the condition ofhis powder-horn and the few things that he had been fortunate enough tocarry away with him about his person. 

The horn in which western hunters carry their powder is usually that ofan ox. It is closed up at the large end with a piece of hard woodfitted tightly into it, and the small end is closed with a wooden peg orstopper. It is, therefore, completely water-tight, and may be for hoursimmersed without the powder getting wet unless the stopper should chanceto be knocked out. Dick found, to his great satisfaction, that thestopper was fast, and the powder perfectly dry. Moreover, he had bygood fortune filled it full two days before from the package thatcontained the general stock of ammunition, so that there were only twoor three charges out of it. His percussion caps, however, werecompletely destroyed, and even though they had not been, it would havemattered little, for he did not possess more than half a dozen. Butthis was not so great a misfortune as at first it might seem, for he hadthe spare flint locks and the little screw-driver necessary for fixingand unfixing them stowed away in his shot pouch. 

To examine his supply of bullets was his next care, and slowly hecounted them out, one by one, to the number of thirty. This was apretty fair supply, and with careful economy would last him many days. Having relieved his mind on these all-important points, he carefullyexamined every pouch and corner of his dress to ascertain the exactamount and value of his wealth. 

Besides the leather-leggings, moccasins, deerskin hunting shirt, cap, and belt which composed his costume, he had a short heavy hunting-knife, a piece of tinder, a little tin pannikin, which he had been in the habitof carrying at his belt, and a large cake of maple sugar. This last isa species of sugar which is procured by the Indians from the maple-tree. Several cakes of it had been carried off from the Pawnee village, andDick usually carried one in the breast of his coat. Besides thesethings, he found that the little Bible, for which his mother had made asmall inside breast pocket, was safe. Dick's heart smote him when hetook it out and undid the clasp, for he had not looked at it until thatday. It was firmly bound with a brass clasp, so that although thebinding and edges of the leaves were soaked, the inside was quite dry. On opening the book to see if it had been damaged, a small paper fellout. Picking it up quickly, he unfolded it, and read, in his mother'shandwriting, "_Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will deliverthee, and thou shalt glorify me. My son, give me thine heart_. "

Dick's eyes filled with tears while the sound, as it were, of hismother's voice thus reached him unexpectedly in that lonely wilderness. Like too many whose hearts are young and gay, Dick had regardedreligion, if not as a gloomy, at least as not a cheerful thing. But hefelt the comfort of these words at that moment, and he resolvedseriously to peruse his mother's parting gift in time to come. 

The sun was hot, and a warm breeze gently shook the leaves, so thatDick's garments were soon dry. A few minutes served to change the locksof his rifle, draw the wet charges, dry out the barrels, and re-load. Then, throwing it across his shoulder, he entered the wood, and walkedlightly away. And well he might, poor fellow, for at that moment hefelt light enough in person if not in heart. His worldly goods were notsuch as to oppress him, but the little note had turned his thoughtstowards home, and he felt comforted. 

Traversing the belt of woodland that marked the course of the river, Dick soon emerged on the wide prairie beyond, and here he paused in someuncertainty as to how he should proceed. 

He was too good a backwoodsman, albeit so young, to feel perplexed as tothe points of the compass. He knew pretty well what hour it was, sothat the sun showed him the general bearings of the country, and he knewthat when night came he could correct his course by the pole star. Dick's knowledge of astronomy was limited; he knew only one star byname, but that one was an inestimable treasure of knowledge. Hisperplexity was owing to his uncertainty as to the direction in which hiscompanions and their pursuers had gone, for he had made up his mind tofollow their trail if possible, and render all the succour his singlearm might afford. To desert them, and make for the settlement, he held, would be a faithless and cowardly act. 

While they were together Joe Blunt had often talked to him about theroute he meant to pursue to the Rocky Mountains, so that, if they hadescaped the Indians, he thought there might be some chance of findingthem at last. But, to set against this, there was the probability thatthey had been taken and carried away in a totally different direction, or they might have taken to the river, as he had done, and gone furtherdown without his observing them. Then, again, if they had escaped, theywould be sure to return and search the country round for him, so that ifhe left the spot he might miss them. 

"Oh, for my dear pup Crusoe!" he exclaimed aloud in this dilemma; butthe faithful ear was shut now, and the deep silence that followed hiscry was so oppressive that the young hunter sprang forward at a run overthe plain, as if to fly from solitude. He soon became so absorbed, however, in his efforts to find the trail of his companions, that heforgot all other considerations, and ran straight forward for hourstogether, with his eyes eagerly fixed on the ground. At last he felt sohungry, having tasted no food since supper-time the previous evening, that he halted for the purpose of eating a morsel of maple sugar. Aline of bushes in the distance indicated water, so he sped on again, andwas soon seated beneath a willow, drinking water from the cool stream. No game was to be found here; but there were several kinds of berries, among which wild grapes and plums grew in abundance. With these andsome sugar he made a meal, though not a good one, for the berries werequite green, and intensely sour. 

All that day Dick Varley followed up the trail of his companions, whichhe discovered at a ford in the river. They had crossed, therefore, insafety, though still pursued, so he ran on at a regular trot, and with alittle more hope than he had felt during the day. Towards night, however, Dick's heart sank again, for he came upon innumerable buffalotracks, among which those of the horses soon became mingled up, so thathe lost them altogether. Hoping to find them again more easily by broaddaylight, he went to the nearest clump of willows he could find, andencamped for the night. 

Remembering the use formerly made of the tall willows, he set to work toconstruct a covering to protect him from the dew. As he had no blanketor buffalo-skin, he used leaves and grass instead, and found it a bettershelter than he had expected, especially when the fire was lighted, anda pannikin of hot sugar and water smoked at his feet; but as no game wasto be found, he was again compelled to sup off unripe berries. Beforelying down to rest he remembered his resolution, and, pulling out thelittle Bible, read a portion of it by the fitful blaze of the fire, andfelt great comfort in its blessed words. It seemed to him like a friendwith whom he could converse in the midst of his loneliness. 

The plunge into the river having broken Dick's pipe and destroyed histobacco, he now felt the want of that luxury very severely, and, neverhaving wanted it before, he was greatly surprised to find how much hehad become enslaved to the habit. It cost him more than an hour's restthat night, the craving for his wonted pipe. 

The sagacious reader will doubtless not fail here to ask himself thequestion, whether it is wise in man to create in himself an unnaturaland totally unnecessary appetite, which may, and often does, entailhours--ay, sometimes months--of exceeding discomfort; but we would notfor a moment presume to suggest such a question to him. We have adistinct objection to the ordinary method of what is called "drawing amoral. " It is much better to leave wise men to do this for themselves. 

Next morning Dick rose with the sun, and started without breakfast, preferring to take his chance of finding a bird or animal of some kindbefore long, to feeding again on sour berries. He was disappointed, however, in finding the tracks of his companions. The ground here washard and sandy, so that little or no impression of a distinct kind wasmade on it; and, as buffaloes had traversed it in all directions, he wassoon utterly bewildered. He thought it possible that, by running outfor several miles in a straight line, and then taking a wide circuitround, he might find the tracks emerging from the confusion made by thebuffaloes. But he was again disappointed, for the buffalo tracks stillcontinued, and the ground became less capable of showing a footprint. 

Soon Dick began to feel so ill and weak from eating such poor fare, thathe gave up all hope of discovering the tracks, and was compelled to pushforward at his utmost speed in order to reach a less barren district, where he might procure fresh meat; but the further he advanced the worseand more sandy did the district become. For several days he pushed onover this arid waste without seeing bird or beast, and, to add to hismisery, he failed at last to find water. For a day and a night hewandered about in a burning fever, and his throat so parched that he wasalmost suffocated. Towards the close of the second day he saw a slightline of bushes away down in a hollow on his right. With eager steps hestaggered towards them, and, on drawing near, beheld--blessed sight!--astream of water glancing in the beams of the setting sun. 

Dick tried to shout for joy, but his parched throat refused to giveutterance to the voice. It mattered not; exerting all his remainingstrength he rushed down the bank, dropped his rifle, and plungedhead-foremost into the stream. 

The first mouthful sent a thrill of horror to his heart; it was salt asbrine. 

The poor youth's cup of bitterness was now full to overflowing. Crawling out of the stream, he sank down on the bank in a species oflethargic torpor, from which he awakened next morning in a raging fever. Delirium soon rendered him insensible to his sufferings. The sun roselike a ball of fire, and shone down with scorching power on the aridplain. What mattered it to Dick? He was far away in the shady grovesof the Mustang Valley, chasing the deer at times, but more frequentlycooling his limbs and sporting with Crusoe in the bright blue lake. Nowhe was in his mother's cottage, telling her how he had thought of herwhen far away on the prairie, and what a bright, sweet word it was shehad whispered in his ear, --so unexpectedly, too. Anon he was scouringover the plains on horseback, with the savages at his heels; and at suchtimes Dick would spring with almost supernatural strength from theground, and run madly over the burning plain; but, as if by a species offascination, he always returned to the salt river, and sank exhausted byits side, or plunged helplessly into its waters. 

These sudden immersions usually restored him for a short time to reason, and he would crawl up the bank and gnaw a morsel of the maple sugar; buthe could not eat much, for it was in a tough, compact cake, which hisjaws had not power to break. All that day and the next night he lay onthe banks of the salt stream, or rushed wildly over the plain. It wasabout noon of the second day after his attack that he crept slowly outof the water, into which he had plunged a few seconds before. His mindwas restored, but he felt an indescribable sensation of weakness, thatseemed to him to be the approach of death. Creeping towards the placewhere his rifle lay, he fell exhausted beside it, and laid his cheek onthe Bible, which had fallen out of his pocket there. 

While his eyes were closed in a dreamy sort of half-waking slumber, hefelt the rough, hairy coat of an animal brush against his forehead. Theidea of being torn to pieces by wolves flashed instantly across hismind, and with a shriek of terror he sprang up, --to be almostoverwhelmed by the caresses of his faithful dog. 

Yes, there he was, bounding round his master, barking and whining, andgiving vent to every possible expression of canine joy. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

CRUSOE'S RETURN AND HIS PRIVATE ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS--DICK AT AVERY LOW EBB--CRUSOE SAVES HIM. 

The means by which Crusoe managed to escape from his two-legged captors, and rejoin his master, requires separate and special notice. 

In the struggle with the fallen horse and Indian, which Dick had seenbegun but not concluded, he was almost crushed to death; and the instantthe Indian gained his feet, he sent an arrow at his head with savageviolence. Crusoe, however, had been so well used to dodging theblunt-headed arrows that were wont to be shot at him by the boys of theMustang Valley, that he was quite prepared, and eluded the shaft by anactive bound. Moreover, he uttered one of his own peculiar roars, flewat the Indian's throat, and dragged him down. At the same moment theother Indians came up, and one of them turned aside to the rescue. Thisman happened to have an old gun, of the cheap sort at that timeexchanged for peltries by the fur-traders. With the butt of this hestruck Crusoe a blow on the head that sent him sprawling on the grass. 

The rest of the savages, as we have seen, continued in pursuit of Dickuntil he leaped into the river; then they returned, took the saddle andbridle off his dead horse, and rejoined their comrades. Here they helda court-martial on Crusoe, who was now bound, foot and muzzle, withcords. Some were for killing him; others, who admired his nobleappearance, immense size, and courage, thought it would be well to carryhim to their village and keep him. There was a pretty violent disputeon the subject; but at length it was agreed that they should spare hislife in the mean time, and perhaps have a dog-dance round him when theygot to their wigwams. 

This dance, of which Crusoe was to be the chief, though passiveperformer, is peculiar to some of the tribes east of the RockyMountains, and consists in killing a dog and cutting out its liver, which is afterwards sliced into shreds or strings and hung on a poleabout the height of a man's head. A band of warriors then come anddance wildly round this pole, and each one in succession goes up to theraw liver and bites a piece off it, without, however, putting his handsnear it. Such is the dog-dance, and to such was poor Crusoe destined byhis fierce captors, especially by the one whose throat still bore veryevident marks of his teeth. 

But Crusoe was much too clever a dog to be disposed of in so disgustinga manner. He had privately resolved in his own mind that he wouldescape, but the hopelessness of his ever carrying that resolution intoeffect would have been apparent to any one who could have seen the wayin which his muzzle was secured, and his four paws were tied together ina bunch, as he hung suspended across the saddle of one of the savages!

This particular party of Indians who had followed Dick Varley determinednot to wait for the return of their comrades who were in pursuit of theother two hunters, but to go straight home, so for several days theygalloped away over the prairie. At nights, when they encamped, Crusoewas thrown on the ground like a piece of old lumber, and left to liethere with a mere scrap of food till morning, when he was again thrownacross the horse of his captor and carried on. When the village wasreached, he was thrown again on the ground, and would certainly havebeen torn to pieces in five minutes by the Indian curs which camehowling round him, had not an old woman come to the rescue and driventhem away. With the help of her grandson--a little naked creature, justable to walk, or rather to stagger--she dragged him to her tent, and, undoing the line that fastened his mouth, offered him a bone. 

Although lying in a position that was unfavourable for eating purposes, Crusoe opened his jaws and took it. An awful crash was followed by twocrunches--and it was gone; and Crusoe looked up in the old squaw's facewith a look that said plainly, "Another of the same, please, and asquick as possible. " The old woman gave him another and then a lump ofmeat, which latter went down with a gulp--but he coughed after it! andit was well he didn't choke. After this the squaw left him, and Crusoespent the remainder of that night gnawing the cords that bound him. Sodiligent was he that he was free before morning and walked deliberatelyout of the tent. Then he shook himself, and with a yell that one mighthave fancied was intended for defiance, he bounded joyfully away, andwas soon out of sight. 

To a dog with a good appetite which had been on short allowance forseveral days, the mouthful given to him by the old squaw was a merenothing. All that day he kept bounding over the plain from bluff tobluff in search of something to eat, but found nothing until dusk, whenhe pounced suddenly and most unexpectedly on a prairie-hen fast asleep. In one moment its life was gone. In less than a minute its body wasgone too--feathers and bones and all--down Crusoe's ravenous throat. 

On the identical spot Crusoe lay down and slept like a top for fourhours. At the end of that time he jumped up, bolted a scrap of skinthat somehow had been overlooked at supper, and flew straight over theprairie to the spot where he had had the scuffle with the Indian. Hecame to the edge of the river, took precisely the same leap that hismaster had done before him, and came out on the other side a good dealhigher up than Dick had done, for the dog had no savages to dodge, andwas, as we have said before, a powerful swimmer. 

It cost him a good deal of running about to find the trail, and it wasnearly dark before he resumed his journey; then, putting his keen noseto the ground, he ran step by step over Dick's track, and at last foundhim, as we have shown, on the banks of the Salt Creek. 

It is quite impossible to describe the intense joy which filled Dick'sheart on again beholding his favourite. Only those who have lost andfound such an one can know it. Dick seized him round the neck andhugged him as well as he could, poor fellow, in his feeble arms; then hewept, then he laughed, and then he fainted. 

This was a consummation that took Crusoe quite aback! Never having seenhis master in such a state before he seemed to think at first that hewas playing some trick, for he bounded round him, and barked, and waggedhis tail. But as Dick lay quite still and motionless, he went forwardwith a look of alarm; snuffed him once or twice and whined piteously;then he raised his nose in the air and uttered a long melancholy wail. 

The cry seemed to revive Dick, for he moved, and with some difficultysat up, to the dog's evident relief. There is no doubt whatever thatCrusoe learned an erroneous lesson that day, and was firmly convincedthenceforth that the best cure for a fainting-fit is a melancholy yell. So easy is it for the wisest of dogs as well as men to fall into grosserror!

"Crusoe, " said Dick, in a feeble voice, "dear good pup, come here. " Hecrawled, as he spoke, down to the water's edge where there was a levelpatch of dry sand. 

"Dig, " said Dick, pointing to the sand. 

Crusoe looked at him in surprise, as well he might, for he had neverheard the word "dig" in all his life before. 

Dick pondered a minute; then a thought struck him. He turned up alittle of the sand with his fingers, and, pointing to the hole cried, "_Seek him out, pup_!"

Ha! Crusoe understood _that_. Many and many a time had he unhousedrabbits, and squirrels, and other creatures at that word of command, so, without a moment's delay, he commenced to dig down into the sand, everynow, and then stopping for a moment and shoving in his nose, andsnuffing interrogatively, as if he fully expected to find a buffalo atthe bottom of it. Then he would resume again, one paw after another sofast that you could scarce see them going "hand over hand" as sailorswould have called it--while the sand flew out between his hind-legs in acontinuous shower. When the sand accumulated so much behind him as toimpede his motions he scraped it out of his way, and set to work againwith tenfold earnestness. After a good while he paused and looked up atDick with an "it--won't--do, --I--fear, --there's--nothing--here"expression on his face. 

"Seek him out, pup!" repeated Dick. 

"Oh! very good, " mutely answered the dog, and went at it again, toothand nail, harder than ever. 

In the course of a quarter of an hour there was a deep yawning hole inthe sand, into which Dick peered with intense anxiety. The bottomappeared slightly _damp_. Hope now reanimated Dick Varley, and byvarious devices he succeeded in getting the dog to scrape away a sort oftunnel from the hole, into which he might roll himself and put down hislips to drink when the water should rise high enough. Impatiently andanxiously he lay watching the moisture slowly accumulate in the bottomof the hole, drop by drop, and while he gazed he fell into a troubled, restless slumber, and dreamed that Crusoe's return was a dream, and thathe was alone again perishing for want of water. 

When he awakened the hole was half full of clear water, and Crusoe waslapping it greedily. 

"Back, pup!" he shouted, as he crept down to the hole and put histrembling lips to the water. It was brackish, but drinkable, and asDick drank deeply of it he esteemed it at that moment better thannectar. Here he lay for half an hour alternately drinking and gazing insurprise at his own emaciated visage as reflected in the pool. 

The same afternoon Crusoe, in a private hunting excursion of his own, discovered and caught a prairie-hen, which he quietly proceeded todevour on the spot, when Dick, who saw what had occurred, whistled tohim. 

Obedience was engrained in every fibre of Crusoe's mental and corporealbeing. He did not merely answer at once to the call--he _sprang_ to it, leaving the prairie-hen untasted. 

"Fetch it, pup, " cried Dick eagerly as the dog came up. 

In a few moments the hen was at his feet. Dick's circumstances couldnot brook the delay of cookery; he gashed the bird with his knife anddrank the blood, and then gave the flesh to the dog, while he crept tothe pool again for another draught. Ah! think not, reader, thatalthough we have treated this subject in a slight vein of pleasantry, because it ended well, that therefore our tale is pure fiction. Notonly are Indians glad to satisfy the urgent cravings of hunger with rawflesh, but many civilised men and delicately nurtured, have done thesame--ay, and doubtless, will do the same again, as long as enterprisingand fearless men shall go forth to dare the dangers of flood and fieldin the wild places of our wonderful world!

Crusoe had finished his share of the feast before Dick returned from thepool. Then master and dog lay down together side by side and fell intoa long, deep, peaceful slumber. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS RETURN--INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY--A BUFFALO SHOT--AWILD HORSE "CREASED"--DICK'S BATTLE WITH A MUSTANG. 

Dick Varley's fears and troubles, in the meantime, were ended. On theday following he awoke refreshed and happy--so happy and light at heart, as he felt the glow of returning health coursing through his veins, thathe fancied he must have dreamed it all. In fact, he was so certain thathis muscles were strong that he endeavoured to leap up, but waspowerfully convinced of his true condition by the miserable stagger thatresulted from the effort. 

However, he knew he was recovering, so he rose, and thanking God for hisrecovery and for the new hope that was raised in his heart, he went downto the pool and drank deeply of its water. Then he returned, and, sitting down beside his dog, opened the Bible and read long--and, forthe first time, _earnestly_--the story of Christ's love for sinful man. He at last fell asleep over the book, and when he awakened felt so muchrefreshed in body and mind that he determined to attempt to pursue hisjourney. 

He had not proceeded far when he came upon a colony of prairie-dogs. Upon this occasion he was little inclined to take a humorous view of thevagaries of these curious little creatures, but he shot one, and, asbefore, ate part of it raw. These creatures are so active that they aredifficult to shoot, and even when killed generally fall into their holesand disappear. Crusoe, however, soon unearthed the dead animal on thisoccasion. That night the travellers came to a stream of fresh water, and Dick killed a turkey, so that he determined to spend a couple ofdays there to recruit. At the end of that time he again set out, butwas able only to advance five miles when he broke down. In fact, itbecame evident to him that he must have a longer period of absoluterepose ere he could hope to continue his journey, but to do so withoutfood was impossible. Fortunately there was plenty of water, as hiscourse lay along the margin of a small stream, and, as the arid piece ofprairie was now behind him, he hoped to fall in with birds, or perhapsdeer, soon. 

While he was plodding heavily and wearily along, pondering these things, he came to the brow of a wave from which he beheld a most magnificentview of green grassy plains, decked with flowers, and rolling out to thehorizon, with a stream meandering through it, and clumps of treesscattered everywhere far and wide. It was a glorious sight; but themost glorious object in it to Dick, at that time, was a fat buffalowhich stood grazing not a hundred yards off. The wind was blowingtowards him, so that the animal did not scent him, and, as he came upvery slowly, and it was turned away, it did not see him. 

Crusoe would have sprung forward in an instant, but his master's fingerimposed silence and caution. Trembling with eagerness Dick sank flatdown in the grass, cocked both barrels of his piece, and, resting it onhis left hand with his left elbow on the ground, he waited until theanimal should present its side. In a few seconds it moved; Dick's eyeglanced along the barrel, but it trembled--his wonted steadiness of aimwas gone. He fired, and the buffalo sprang off in terror. With a groanof despair he fired again, --almost recklessly, --and the buffalo fell!It rose once or twice and stumbled forward a few paces, then it fellagain. Meanwhile Dick re-loaded with trembling hand, and advanced togive it another shot, but it was not needful, the buffalo was alreadydead. 

"Now, Crusoe, " said Dick, sitting down on the buffalo's shoulder andpatting his favourite on the head, "we're all right at last. You and Ishall have a jolly time o't, pup, from this time for'ard. "

Dick paused for breath, and Crusoe wagged his tail and looked as if tosay--pshaw! "_as if_!"

We tell ye what it is, reader, it's of no use at all to go on writing"as if, " when we tell you what Crusoe said. If there is any language ineyes whatever, --if there is language in a tail; in a cocked ear; in amobile eyebrow; in the point of a canine nose;--if there is language inany terrestrial thing at all, apart from that which flows from thetongue--then Crusoe _spoke_! Do we not speak at this moment to _you_?and if so, then tell me, wherein lies the difference between a written_letter_ and a given _sign_?

Yes, Crusoe spoke. He said to Dick as plain as dog could say it, slowlyand emphatically, "That's my opinion precisely, Dick. You're thedearest, most beloved, jolliest fellow that ever walked on two legs, youare; and whatever's your opinion is mine, no matter _how_ absurd it maybe. "

Dick evidently understood him perfectly, for he laughed as he looked athim and patted him on the head, and called him a "funny dog. " Then hecontinued his discourse--"Yes, pup, we'll make our camp here for a longbit, old dog, in this beautiful plain. We'll make a willow wigwam tosleep in, you and me, jist in yon clump o' trees, not a stone's throw toour right, where we'll have a run o' pure water beside us, and be nearour buffalo at the same time. For, ye see, we'll need to watch him lestthe wolves take a notion to eat him--that'll be _your_ duty, pup. ThenI'll skin him when I get strong enough, which'll be in a day or two Ihope, and we'll put one half of the skin below us and t'other half aboveus i' the camp, an' sleep, an' eat, an' take it easy for a week or two--won't we, pup?"

"Hoora-a-a-y!" shouted Crusoe, with a jovial wag of his tail, that nohuman arm with hat, or cap, or kerchief ever equalled. 

Poor Dick Varley! He smiled to think how earnestly he had been talkingto the dog, but he did not cease to do it, for, although he entered intodiscourses, the drift of which Crusoe's limited education did not permithim to follow, he found comfort in hearing the sound of his own voice, and in knowing that it fell pleasantly on another ear in that lonelywilderness. 

Our hero now set about his preparations as vigorously as he could. Hecut out the buffalo's tongue--a matter of great difficulty to one in hisweak state--and carried it to a pleasant spot near to the stream wherethe turf was level and green, and decked with wild flowers. Here heresolved to make his camp. 

His first care was to select a bush whose branches were long enough toform a canopy over his head when bent, and the ends thrust into theground. The completing of this exhausted him greatly, but after a resthe resumed his labours. The next thing was to light a fire--a comfortwhich he had not enjoyed for many weary days. Not that he required itfor warmth, for the weather was extremely warm, but he required it tocook with, and the mere _sight_ of a blaze in a dark place is a mostheart-cheering thing as every one knows. 

When the fire was lighted he filled his pannikin at the brook and put iton to boil, and, cutting several slices of buffalo tongue, he thrustshort stakes through them and set them up before the fire to roast. Bythis time the water was boiling, so he took it off with difficulty, nearly burning his fingers and singeing the tail of his coat in sodoing. Into the pannikin he put a lump of maple sugar and stirred itabout with a stick, and tasted it. It seemed to him even better thantea or coffee. It was absolutely delicious!

Really one has no notion what he can do if he makes believe _very hard_. The human mind is a nicely balanced and extremely complex machine, andwhen thrown a little off the balance can be made to believe almostanything, as we see in the case of some poor monomaniacs, who havefancied that they were made of all sorts of things--glass and porcelain, and suchlike. No wonder then that poor Dick Varley, after so muchsuffering and hardship, came to regard that pannikin of hot syrup as themost delicious beverage he ever drank. 

During all these operations Crusoe sat on his haunches beside him andlooked. And you haven't--no, you haven't--got the most distant notionof the way in which that dog manoeuvred with his head and face! Heopened his eyes wide, and cocked his ears, and turned his head first alittle to one side, then a little to the other. After that he turned ita _good deal_ to one side and then a good deal more to the other. Thenhe brought it straight and raised one eyebrow a little, and then theother a little, and then both together very much. Then, when Dickpaused to rest and did nothing, Crusoe looked mild for a moment, andyawned vociferously. Presently Dick moved--up went the ears again andCrusoe came--in military parlance--"to the position of attention!" Atlast supper was ready and they began. 

Dick had purposely kept the dog's supper back from him, in order thatthey might eat it in company. And between every bite and sup that Dicktook, he gave a bite--but not a sup--to Crusoe. Thus lovingly they atetogether; and, when Dick lay that night under the willow brancheslooking up through them at the stars, with his feet to the fire, andCrusoe close along his side, he thought it the best and sweetest supperhe ever ate, and the happiest evening he ever spent--so wonderfully docircumstances modify our notions of felicity!

Two weeks after this "Richard was himself again. " The muscles werespringy, and the blood coursed fast and free, as was its wont. Only aslight, and, perhaps, salutary feeling of weakness remained, to remindhim that young muscles might again become more helpless than those of anaged man or a child. 

Dick had left his encampment a week ago, and was now advancing by rapidstages towards the Rocky Mountains, closely following the trail of hislost comrades, which he had no difficulty in finding and keeping, nowthat Crusoe was with him. The skin of the buffalo that he had killedwas now strapped to his shoulders, and the skin of another animal thathe had shot a few days after was cut up into a long line and slung in acoil round his neck. Crusoe was also laden. He had a little bundle ofmeat slung on each side of him. 

For some time past numerous herds of mustangs or wild horses, hadcrossed their path, and Dick was now on the look out for a chance to_crease_ one of those magnificent creatures. 

On one occasion a band of mustangs galloped close up to him before theywere aware of his presence, and stopped short with a wild snort ofsurprise on beholding him; then, wheeling round, they dashed away atfull gallop, their long tails and manes flying wildly in the air, andtheir hoofs thundering on the plain. Dick did not attempt to crease oneupon this occasion, fearing that his recent illness might have renderedhis hand too unsteady for so extremely delicate an operation. 

In order to crease a wild horse the hunter requires to be a perfectshot, and it is not every man of the west who carries a rifle that cando it successfully. Creasing consists in sending a bullet through thegristle of the mustang's neck, just above the bone, so as to stun theanimal. If the ball enters a hair's-breadth too low, the horse fallsdead instantly. If it hits the exact spot the horse falls asinstantaneously, and dead to all appearance; but, in reality, he is onlystunned, and if left for a few minutes will rise and gallop away nearlyas well as ever. When hunters crease a horse successfully they put arope, or halter, round his under jaw, and hobbles round his feet, sothat when he rises he is secured, and, after considerable trouble, reduced to obedience. 

The mustangs which roam in wild freedom on the prairies of the far west, are descended from the noble Spanish steeds that were brought over bythe wealthy cavaliers who accompanied Fernando Cortez, the conqueror ofMexico, in his expedition to the new world in 1518. These bold, and, wemay add, lawless cavaliers, were mounted on the finest horses that couldbe procured from Barbary and the deserts of the Old World. The poorIndians of the New World were struck with amazement and terror at theseawful beings, for, never having seen horses before, they believed thathorse and rider were one animal. During the wars that followed many ofthe Spaniards were killed and their steeds bounded into the wilds of thenew country to enjoy a life of unrestrained freedom. These were theforefathers of the present race of magnificent creatures which are foundin immense droves all over the western wilderness, from the Gulf ofMexico to the confines of the snowy regions of the far north. 

At first the Indians beheld these horses with awe and terror, butgradually they became accustomed to them, and finally succeeded incapturing great numbers and reducing them to a state of servitude. Not, however, to the service of the cultivated field, but to the service ofthe chase and war. The savages soon acquired the method of capturingwild horses by means of the lasso--as the noose at that end of a longline of raw hide is termed--which they adroitly threw over the heads ofthe animals and secured them, having previously run them down. At thepresent day many of the savage tribes of the west almost live uponhorseback, and without these useful creatures they could scarcelysubsist, as they are almost indispensable in the chase of the buffalo. 

Mustangs are regularly taken by the Indians to the settlements of thewhite men for trade, but very poor specimens are these of the breed ofwild horses. This arises from two causes. First, the Indian cannotovertake the finest of a drove of wild mustangs, because his own steedis inferior to the best among the wild ones, besides being weighted witha rider, so that only the weak and inferior animals are captured. And, secondly, when the Indian does succeed in lassoing a first-rate horse hekeeps it for his own use. Thus, those who have not visited the far-offprairies and seen the mustang in all the glory of untrammelled freedom, can form no adequate idea of its beauty, fleetness, and strength. 

The horse, however, was not the only creature imported by Cortez. Therewere priests in his army who rode upon asses, and, although we cannotimagine that the "fathers" charged with the cavaliers and were unhorsed, or, rather, un-assed in battle, yet, somehow, the asses got rid of theirriders and joined the Spanish chargers in their joyous bound into a newlife of freedom. Hence wild asses also are found in the westernprairies. But think not, reader, of those poor miserable wretches wesee at home, which seem little better than rough door-mats sewed up andstuffed; with head, tail, and legs attached, and just enough of lifeinfused to make them move! No, the wild ass of the prairie is a large, powerful, swift creature. He has the same long ears, it is true, andthe same hideous, exasperating bray, and the same tendency to flourishhis heels; but, for all that he is a very fine animal, and often wages_successful_ warfare with the wild horse!

But to return. The next drove of mustangs that Dick and Crusoe saw werefeeding quietly and unsuspectingly in a rich green hollow in the plain. Dick's heart leaped up as his eyes suddenly fell on them, for he hadalmost discovered himself before he was aware of their presence. 

"Down, pup!" he whispered, as he sank and disappeared among the grasswhich was just long enough to cover him when lying quite flat. 

Crusoe crouched immediately, and his master made his observations of thedrove, and the dispositions of the ground that might favour hisapproach, for they were not within rifle range. Having done so he creptslowly back until the undulation of the prairie hid him from view; thenhe sprang to his feet, and ran a considerable distance along the bottomuntil he gained the extreme end of a belt of low bushes, which wouldeffectually conceal him while he approached to within a hundred yards orless of the troop. 

Here he made his arrangements. Throwing down his buffalo robe, he tookthe coil of line and cut off a piece of about three yards in length. Onthis he made a running noose. The longer line he also prepared with arunning noose. These he threw in a coil over his arm. 

He also made a pair of hobbles and placed them in the breast of hiscoat, and then, taking up his rifle, advanced cautiously through thebushes--Crusoe following close behind him. In a few minutes he wasgazing in admiration at the mustangs which were now within easy shot, and utterly ignorant of the presence of man, for Dick had taken care toapproach in such a way that the wind did not carry the scent of him intheir direction. 

And well might he admire them. The wild horse of these regions is notvery large, but it is exceedingly powerful, with prominent eye, sharpnose, distended nostril, small feet, and a delicate leg. Theirbeautiful manes hung at great length down their arched necks, and theirthick tails swept the ground. One magnificent fellow in particularattracted Dick's attention. It was of a rich dark brown colour, withblack mane and tail, and seemed to be the leader of the drove. 

Although not the nearest to him, he resolved to crease this horse. Itis said that creasing generally destroys or damages the spirit of thehorse, so Dick determined to try whether his powers of close shootingwould not serve him on this occasion. Going down on one knee he aimedat the creature's neck, just a hair-breadth above the spot where he hadbeen told that hunters usually hit them, and fired. The effect upon thegroup was absolutely tremendous. With wild cries and snorting terrorthey tossed their proud heads in the air, uncertain for one moment inwhich direction to fly; then there was a rush as if a hurricane sweptover the place, and they were gone. 

But the brown horse was down. Dick did not wait until the others hadfled. He dropped his rifle, and with the speed of a deer, sprangtowards the fallen horse, and affixed the hobbles to his legs. His aimhad been true. Although scarcely half a minute elapsed between the shotand the fixing of the hobbles the animal recovered, and with a franticexertion rose on his haunches, just as Dick had fastened the noose ofthe short line in his under jaw. But this was not enough. If the horsehad gained his feet before the longer line was placed round his neck, hewould have escaped. As the mustang made the second violent plunge thatplaced it on its legs, Dick flung the noose hastily; it caught on oneear, and would have fallen off, had not the horse suddenly shaken itshead, and unwittingly sealed its own fate by bringing the noose roundits neck. 

And now the struggle began. Dick knew well enough, from hearsay, themethod of "breaking down" a wild horse. He knew that the Indians chokethem with the noose round the neck until they fall down exhausted andcovered with foam, when they creep up, fix the hobbles and the line inthe lower jaw, and then loosen the lasso to let the horse breathe, andresume its plungings till it is almost subdued, when they gradually drawnear and breathe into its nostrils. But the violence and strength ofthis animal rendered this an apparently hopeless task. We have alreadyseen that the hobbles and noose in the lower jaw had been fixed, so thatDick had nothing now to do but to choke his captive, and tire him out, while Crusoe remained a quiet, though excited spectator of the scene. 

But there seemed to be no possibility of choking this horse. Either themuscles of his neck were too strong, or there was something wrong withthe noose which prevented it from acting, for the furious creaturedashed and bounded backwards and sidewise in its terror for nearly anhour, dragging Dick after it, till he was almost exhausted, and yet, atthe end of that time, although flecked with foam and panting withterror, it seemed as strong as ever. Dick held both lines, for theshort one attached to its lower jaw gave him great power over it. Atlast he thought of seeking assistance from his dog. 

"Crusoe, " he cried, "lay hold, pup. "

The dog seized the long line in his teeth, and pulled with all hismight. At the some moment Dick let go the short line and threw all hisweight upon the long one. The noose tightened suddenly under thisstrain, and the mustang, with a gasp, fell choking to the ground. 

Dick had often heard of the manner in which the Mexicans "break" theirhorses, so he determined to abandon the method which had already almostworn him out, and adopt the other, as far as the means in his powerrendered it possible. Instead, therefore, of loosening the lasso andre-commencing the struggle, he tore a branch from a neighbouring bush, cut the hobbles, strode with his legs across the fallen steed, seizedthe end of the short line or bridle, and then, ordering Crusoe to quithis hold, he loosened the noose which compressed the horse's neck, andhad already well-nigh terminated its existence. 

One or two deep sobs restored it, and in a moment it leaped to its feetwith Dick firmly on its back! To say that the animal leaped and kickedin its frantic efforts to throw this intolerable burden would be a tamemanner of expressing what took place. Words cannot adequately describethe scene. It reared, plunged, shrieked, vaulted into the air, stoodstraight up on its hind-legs, and then almost as straight upon its foreones, but its rider held on like a burr. Then the mustang raced wildlyforwards a few paces, then as wildly back, and then stood still andtrembled violently. But this was only a brief lull in the storm, soDick saw that the time was now come to assert the superiority of hisrace. 

"Stay back, Crusoe, and watch my rifle, pup, " he cried, and, raising hisheavy switch he brought it down with a sharp cut across the horse'sflank, at the same time loosening the rein which hitherto he had heldtight. 

The wild horse uttered a passionate cry, and sprang forward like thebolt from a cross-bow. 

And now commenced a race, which, if not as prolonged, was at least asfurious as that of the far-famed Mazeppa. Dick was a splendid rider, however, --at least as far as "sticking on" goes. He might not have comeup to the precise pitch desiderated by a riding-master in regard tocarriage, etcetera, but he rode that wild horse of the prairie with asmuch ease as he had formerly ridden his own good steed, whose bones hadbeen picked by the wolves not long ago. 

The pace was tremendous, for the youth's weight was nothing to thatmuscular frame which bounded with cat-like agility from wave to wave ofthe undulating plain in ungovernable terror. In a few minutes the clumpof willows where Crusoe and his rifle lay were out of sight behind, butit mattered not, for Dick had looked up at the sky and noted theposition of the sun at the moment of starting. Away they went on thewings of the wind, mile after mile over the ocean-like waste--curvingslightly aside now and then to avoid the bluffs that occasionallyappeared on the scene for a few minutes and then swept out of sightbehind them. Then they came to a little rivulet; it was a mere brook ofa few feet wide, and two or three yards, perhaps, from bank to bank. Over this they flew, so easily that the spring was scarcely felt, andcontinued the headlong course. And now a more barren country was aroundthem. Sandy ridges and scrubby grass appeared everywhere, remindingDick of the place where he had been so ill. Rocks, too were scatteredabout, and at one place the horse dashed with clattering hoofs between acouple of rocky sand-hills which, for a few seconds, hid the prairiefrom view. Here the mustang suddenly shied with such violence that hisrider was nearly thrown, while a rattlesnake darted from the path. Soonthey emerged from this pass, and again the plains became green andverdant. Presently a distant line of trees showed that they wereapproaching water, and in a few minutes they were close on it. For thefirst time Dick felt alarm; he sought to check his steed, but no forcehe could exert had the smallest influence on it. 

Trees and bushes flew past in bewildering confusion; the river wasbefore him; what width, he could not tell, but he was reckless now, likehis charger, which he struck with the willow rod with all his force asthey came up. One tremendous bound, and they were across, but Dick hadto lie flat on the mustang's back as it crashed through the bushes toavoid being scraped off by the trees. Again they were on the openplain, and the wild horse began to show signs of exhaustion. 

Now was its rider's opportunity to assert his dominion. He plied thewillow rod and urged the panting horse on, until it was white with foamand laboured a little in its gait. Then Dick gently drew the halter, and it broke into a trot; still tighter--and it walked--and in anotherminute stood still, trembling in every limb. Dick now quietly rubbedits neck, and spoke to it in soothing tones, then he wheeled it gentlyround and urged it forward. It was quite subdued and docile. In alittle time they came to the river and forded it, after which they wentthrough the belt of woodland at a walk. By the time they reached theopen prairie, the mustang was recovered sufficiently to feel its spiritreturning, so Dick gave it a gentle touch with the switch, and away theywent on their return journey. 

But it amazed Dick not a little to find how long that journey was. Verydifferent was the pace, too, from the previous mad gallop, and oftenwould the poor horse have stopped had Dick allowed him. But this mightnot be. The shades of night were approaching, and the camp lay a longway ahead. 

At last it was reached, and Crusoe came out with great demonstrations ofjoy, but was sent back lest he should alarm the horse. Then Dick jumpedoff his back, stroked his head, put his cheek close to his mouth, andwhispered softly to him, after which he fastened him to a tree andrubbed him down slightly with a bunch of grass. Having done this, heleft him to graze as far as his tether would permit, and, after suppingwith Crusoe, lay down to rest, not a little elated with his success inthis first attempt at "creasing" and "breaking" a mustang. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

DICK BECOMES A HORSE TAMER--RESUMES HIS JOURNEY--CHARLIE'S DOINGS--MISFORTUNES WHICH LEAD TO, BUT DO NOT TERMINATE IN, THE ROCKYMOUNTAINS--A GRIZZLY BEAR. 

There is a proverb--or a saying--or at least somebody or book has toldus, that some Irishman once said--"Be aisy, or, if ye can't be aisy, beas aisy as ye can. "

Now, we count that good advice, and strongly recommend it to all andsundry. Had we been at the side of Dick Varley on the night after histaming of the wild horse, we would have strongly urged that advice uponhim. Whether he would have listened to it or not is quite anotherquestion--we rather think not. Reader, if you wish to know why, go anddo what he did, and if you feel no curious sensations about the regionof the loins after it, we will tell you why Dick Varley wouldn't havelistened to that advice. Can a man feel as if his joints were wrenchedout of their sockets, and listen to advice--be that advice good or bad?Can he feel as though these joints were trying to re-set andre-dislocate themselves perpetually--and listen to advice? Can he feelas if he were sitting down on red-hot iron, when he's not sitting downat all--and listen to advice? Can he--but no! why pursue the subject?Poor Dick spent that night in misery, and the greater part of thefollowing day in sleep, to make up for it. 

When he got up to breakfast in the afternoon, he felt much better, butshaky. 

"Now, pup, " he said, stretching himself, "we'll go and see our horse. _Ours_, pup; yours and mine: didn't you help to catch him, eh! pup?"

Crusoe acknowledged the fact with a wag, and a playful"bow-wow-wow-oo-ow!" and followed his master to the place where thehorse had been picketted. It was standing there quite quiet, butlooking a little timid. 

Dick went boldly up to it, and patted its head and stroked its nose, fornothing is so likely to alarm either a tame or a wild horse as anyappearance of timidity or hesitation on the part of those who approachthem. 

After treating it thus for a short time, he stroked down its neck, andthen its shoulders--the horse eyeing him all the time nervously. Gradually he stroked its back and limbs gently, and walked quietly roundand round it once or twice, sometimes approaching and sometimes goingaway, but never either hesitating or doing anything abruptly. Thisdone, he went down to the stream and filled his cap with water andcarried it to the horse, which snuffed suspiciously and backed a little, so he laid the cap down, and went up and patted him again. Presently hetook up the cap and carried it to his nose; the poor creature was almostchoking with thirst, so that, the moment he understood what was in thecap, he buried his lips in it and sucked it up. 

This was a great point gained, he had accepted a benefit at the hands ofhis new master; he had become a debtor to man, and no doubt he felt theobligation. Dick filled the cap, and the horse emptied it again, andagain, and again, until its burning thirst was slaked. Then Dick wentup to his shoulder, patted him, undid the line that fastened him, andvaulted lightly on his back!

We say _lightly_, for it was so, but it wasn't _easily_, as Dick couldhave told you! However, he was determined not to forego the training ofhis steed on account of what _he_ would have called a "little bit pain. "

At this unexpected act the horse plunged and reared a good deal, andseemed inclined to go through the performance of the day before overagain, but Dick patted and stroked him into quiescence, and having doneso, urged him into a gallop over the plains, causing the dog to gambolround in order that he might get accustomed to him. This tried hisnerves a good deal, and no wonder, for if he took Crusoe for a wolf, which no doubt he did, he must have thought him a very giant of thepack. 

By degrees they broke into a furious gallop, and after breathing himwell, Dick returned and tied him to the tree. Then he rubbed him downagain, and gave him another drink. This time the horse smelt his newmaster all over, and Dick felt that he had conquered him by kindness. No doubt the tremendous run of the day before could scarcely be calledkindness, but without this subduing run he never could have brought theoffices of kindness to bear on so wild a steed. 

During all these operations Crusoe sat looking on with demure sagacity--drinking in wisdom and taking notes. We know not whether any notes madeby the canine race have ever been given to the world, but certain are wethat, if the notes and observations made by Crusoe on that journey werepublished, they would--to say the least--surprise us!

Next day Dick gave the wild horse his second lesson, and his name. Hecalled him "Charlie, " after a much loved companion in the MustangValley. And long and heartily did Dick Varley laugh as he told thehorse his future designation in the presence of Crusoe, for it struckhim as somewhat ludicrous that a mustang, which, two days ago, pawed theearth in all the pride of independent freedom, should suddenly come downso low as to carry a hunter on his back and be named Charlie!

The next piece of instruction began by Crusoe being led up underCharlie's nose, and while Dick patted the dog with his right hand hepatted the horse with his left. It backed a good deal at first andsnorted, but Crusoe walked slowly and quietly in front of him severaltimes, each time coming nearer, until he again stood under his nose, then the horse smelt him nervously, and gave a sigh of relief when hefound that Crusoe paid no attention to him whatever. Dick then orderedthe dog to lie down at Charlie's feet, and went to the camp to fetch hisrifle, and buffalo robe, and pack of meat. These and all the otherthings belonging to him were presented for inspection, one by one, tothe horse, who arched his neck, and put forward his ears, and eyed themat first, but smelt them all over, and seemed to feel more easy in hismind. 

Next, the buffalo robe was rubbed over his nose, then over his eyes andhead, then down his neck and shoulder, and lastly was placed on hisback. Then it was taken off and _flung_ on; after that it was strappedon, and the various little items of the camp were attached to it. Thisdone, Dick took up his rifle and let him smell it; then he put his handon Charlie's shoulder, vaulted on to his back, and rode away. 

Charlie's education was completed; and now our hero's journey beganagain in earnest, and with some prospect of its speedy termination. 

In this course of training through which Dick put his wild horse, he hadbeen at much greater pains and had taken far longer time than is usuallythe case among the Indians, who will catch, and "break, " and ride a wildhorse into camp in less than _three hours_. But Dick wanted to do thething well, which the Indians are not careful to do; besides, it must beborne in remembrance that this was his first attempt, and that his horsewas one of the best and most high spirited, while those caught by theIndians, as we have said, are generally the poorest of a drove. 

Dick now followed the trail of his lost companions at a rapid pace, yetnot so rapidly as he might have done; being averse to exhausting hisgood dog and his new companion. Each night he encamped under the shadeof a tree or a bush when he could find one, or in the open prairie whenthere were none, and, picketting his horse to a short stake or pin whichhe carried with him for the purpose, lit his fire, had supper, and laydown to rest. In a few days Charlie became so tame and so accustomed tohis master's voice that he seemed quite reconciled to his new life. There can be no doubt whatever that he had a great dislike to solitude, for on one occasion, when Dick and Crusoe went off a mile or so from thecamp where Charlie was tied, and disappeared from his view, he was heardto neigh so loudly that Dick ran back thinking the wolves must haveattacked him. He was all right, however, and exhibited evident tokensof satisfaction when they returned. 

On another occasion his fear of being left alone was more clearlydemonstrated. 

Dick had been unable to find wood or water that day, so he was obligedto encamp upon the open plain. The want of water was not seriouslyfelt, however, for he had prepared a bladder in which he always carriedenough to give him one pannikin of hot syrup, and leave a mouthful forCrusoe and Charlie. Dried buffalo dung formed a substitute for fuel. Spreading his buffalo robe, he lit his fire, put on his pannikin toboil, and stuck up a piece of meat to roast, to the great delight ofCrusoe, who sat looking on with much interest. 

Suddenly Charlie, who was picketted a few hundred yards off in a grassyspot, broke his halter close by the head-piece, and with a snort ofdelight bounded away, prancing and kicking up his heels!

Dick heaved a deep sigh, for he felt sure that his horse was gone. However, in a little Charlie stopped, and raised his nose high in theair, as if to look for his old equine companions. But they were gone;no answering neigh replied to his; and he felt, probably for the firsttime, that he was really alone in the world. Having no power of smell, whereby he might have traced them out as the dog would have done, helooked in a bewildered and excited state all round the horizon. Thenhis eye fell on Dick and Crusoe sitting by their little fire. Charlielooked hard at them, and then again at the horizon; and then, coming tothe conclusion, no doubt, that the matter was quite beyond hiscomprehension, he quietly took to feeding. 

Dick availed himself of the chance, and tried to catch him; but he spentan hour with Crusoe in the vain attempt, and at last they gave it up indisgust and returned to the fire, where they finished their supper andwent to bed. 

Next morning they saw Charlie feeding close at hand; so they tookbreakfast, and tried to catch him again. But it was of no use; he wasevidently coquetting with them, and dodged about and defied their utmostefforts, for there was only a few inches of line hanging to his head. At last it occurred to Dick that he would try the experiment offorsaking him. So he packed up his things, rolled up the buffalo robe, threw it and the rifle on his shoulder, and walked deliberately away. 

"Come along, Crusoe!" he cried, after walking a few paces. 

But Crusoe stood by the fire with his head up, and an expression on hisface that said, "Hello, man! what's wrong? You've forgot Charlie! Holdon! Are you mad?"

"Come here, Crusoe!" cried his master in a decided tone. 

Crusoe obeyed at once. Whatever mistake there might be, there wasevidently none in that command; so he lowered his head and tail humbly, and trotted on with his master; but he perpetually turned his head as hewent, first on this side and then on that, to look and wonder atCharlie. 

When they were far away on the plain, Charlie suddenly became aware thatsomething was wrong. He trotted to the brow of a slope with his headand tail very high up indeed, and looked after them; then he looked atthe fire and neighed; then he trotted quickly up to it, and, seeing thateverything was gone, he began to neigh violently, and at last startedoff at full speed, and overtook his friends, passing within a few feetof them, and wheeling round a few yards off, stood trembling like anaspen leaf. 

Dick called him by his name and advanced, while Charlie met himhalf-way, and allowed himself to be saddled, bridled, and mountedforthwith. 

After this Dick had no further trouble with his wild horse. 

At his next camping-place, which was in the midst of a cluster of bushesclose beside a creek, Dick came unexpectedly upon a little wooden cross, which marked the head of a grave. There was no inscription on it, butthe Christian symbol told that it was the grave of a white man. It isimpossible to describe the rush of mingled feelings that filled the soulof the young hunter as he leaned on the muzzle of his rifle and lookedat this solitary resting-place of one who, doubtless like himself, hadbeen a roving hunter. Had he been young or old when he fell?--had he amother in the distant settlement, who watched, and longed, and waitedfor the son that was never more to gladden her eyes?--had he beenmurdered, or had he died there and been buried by his sorrowingcomrades? These and a thousand questions passed rapidly through hismind as he gazed at the little cross. 

Suddenly he started. "Could it be the grave of Joe or Henri?" For aninstant the idea sent a chill to his heart; but it passed quickly, for asecond glance showed that the grave was old, and that the wooden crosshad stood over it for years. 

Dick turned away with a saddened heart; and that night, as he pored overthe pages of his Bible, his mind was filled with many thoughts abouteternity and the world to come. He, too, must come to the grave oneday, and quit the beautiful prairies and his loved rifle. It was a sadthought; but while he meditated he thought upon his mother. "Afterall, " he murmured, "there must be happiness _without_ the rifle, andyouth, and health, and the prairie! My mother's happy, yet she don'tshoot, or ride like wildfire over the plains. " Then that word which hadbeen sent so sweetly to him through her hand came again to his mind, "Myson, give me thine heart;" and as he read God's book, he met with theword, "Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desire ofthine heart. "

"The _desire of thine heart_. " Dick repeated this, and pondered it tillhe fell asleep. 

A misfortune soon after this befell Dick Varley, which well-nigh causedhim to give way to despair. For some time past he had been approachingthe eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains--those ragged, jagged, mightyhills, which run through the whole continent from north to south in acontinuous chain, and form, as it were, the backbone of America. Onemorning, as he threw the buffalo robe off his shoulders and sat up, hewas horrified to find the whole earth covered with a mantle of snow. Wesay he was horrified, for this rendered it absolutely impossible anyfurther to trace his companions either by scent or sight. 

For some time he sat musing bitterly on his sad fate, while his dog cameand laid his head sympathisingly on his arm. 

"Ah! pup, " he said, "I know ye'd help me if ye could! But it's all upnow; there's no chance of findin' them--none. "

To this Crusoe replied by a low whine. He knew full well that somethingdistressed his master, but he hadn't yet ascertained what it was. Assomething had to be done, Dick put the buffalo robe on his steed, and, mounting, said, as he was in the habit of doing each morning, "Lead on, pup. "

Crusoe put his nose to the ground and ran forward a few paces, then hereturned and ran about snuffing and scraping up the snow. At last helooked up, and uttered a long melancholy howl. 

"Ah! I knowed it, " said Dick, pushing forward. "Come on, pup, you'llhave to _follow_ now. Any way we must go on. "

The snow that had fallen was not deep enough to offer the slightestobstruction to their advance. It was, indeed, only one of thoseoccasional showers common to that part of the country in the lateautumn, which season had now crept upon Dick almost before he was awareof it, and he fully expected that it would melt away in a few days. Inthis hope he kept steadily advancing, until he found himself in themidst of those rocky fastnesses which divide the waters that flow intothe Atlantic from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean. Still theslight crust of snow lay on the ground, and he had no means of knowingwhether he was going in the right direction or not. 

Game was abundant, and there was no lack of wood now, so that his nightbivouac was not so cold or dreary as might have been expected. 

Travelling, however, had become difficult, and even dangerous, owing tothe rugged nature of the ground over which he proceeded. The sceneryhad completely changed in its character. Dick no longer coursed overthe free, open plains, but he passed through beautiful valleys filledwith luxuriant trees, and hemmed in by stupendous mountains, whoserugged sides rose upward until the snow-clad peaks pierced the clouds. 

There was something awful in these dark solitudes, quite overwhelming toa youth of Dick's temperament; his heart began to sink lower and lowerevery day, and the utter impossibility of making up his mind what to dobecame at length agonising. To have turned and gone back the hundredsof miles over which he had travelled would have caused him some anxietyunder any circumstances, but to do so while Joe and Henri were eitherwandering about there or in the power of the savages, was, he felt, outof the question. Yet, in which way should he go? Whatever course hetook might lead him further and further away from them. 

In this dilemma he came to the determination of remaining where he was, at least until the snow should leave the ground. 

He felt great relief even when this hopeless course was decided upon, and set about making himself an encampment with some degree ofcheerfulness. When he had completed this task, he took his rifle, andleaving Charlie picketted in the centre of a dell, where the long, richgrass rose high above the snow, went off to hunt. 

On turning a rocky point his heart suddenly bounded into his throat, forthere, not thirty yards distant, stood a huge grizzly bear!

Yes, there he was at last, the monster to meet which the young hunterhad so often longed, --the terrible size and fierceness of which he hadheard so often spoken about by the old hunters. There it stood at last;but little did Dick Varley think that the first time he should meet withhis foe should be when alone in the dark recesses of the RockyMountains, and with none to succour him in the event of the battle goingagainst him. Yes! there was one. The faithful Crusoe stood by hisside, with his hair bristling, all his formidable teeth exposed, and hiseyes glaring in their sockets. Alas! for poor Crusoe, had he gone intothat combat alone. One stroke of that monster's paw would have hurledhim dead upon the ground. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

DICK'S FIRST FIGHT WITH A GRIZZLY--ADVENTURE WITH A DEER--A SURPRISE. 

There is no animal in all the land so terrible and dangerous as thegrizzly bear. Not only is he the largest of the species in America, buthe is the fiercest, the strongest, and the most tenacious of life, factswhich are so well understood that few of the western hunters like tomeet him single-handed, unless they happen to be first-rate shots; andthe Indians deem the encounter so dangerous, that to wear a collarcomposed of the claws of a grizzly bear of his own killing, is countedone of the highest honours to which a young warrior can attain. 

The grizzly bear resembles the brown bear of Europe, but it is larger, and the hair is long, the points being of a paler shade. About the headthere is a considerable mixture of grey hair, giving it the "grizzly"appearance, from which it derives its name. The claws are dirty white, arched, and very long, and so strong that when the animal strikes withits paw they cut like a chisel. These claws are not embedded in thepaw, as is the case with the cat, but always project far beyond thehair, thus giving to the foot a very ungainly appearance; they are notsufficiently curved to enable the grizzly bear to climb trees, like theblack and brown bears, and this inability on their part is often theonly hope of the pursued hunter, who, if he succeeds in ascending atree, is safe, for the time at least, from the bear's assaults; but"Caleb" is a patient creature, and will often wait at the foot of thetree for many hours for his victim. 

The average length of his body is about nine feet, but he sometimesattains to a still larger growth. Caleb is more carnivorous in hishabits than other bears; but, like them, he does not object to indulgeoccasionally in vegetable diet, being partial to the bird-cherry, thechoke-berry, and various shrubs. He has a sweet tooth, too, and revelsin honey--when he can get it. 

The instant the grizzly bear beheld Dick Varley standing in his path, herose on his hind-legs, and made a loud hissing noise, like a manbreathing quick, but much harsher. To this Crusoe replied by a deepgrowl, and showing the utmost extent of his teeth, gums and all; andDick cocked both barrels of his rifle. 

To say that Dick Varley felt no fear would be simply to make him outthat sort of hero which does not exist in nature, namely a _perfect_hero. He _did_ feel a sensation as if his bowels had suddenly meltedinto water! Let not our reader think the worse of Dick for this. Thereis not a man living who, having met with a huge grizzly bear for thefirst time in his life, in a wild, solitary place, all alone, has notexperienced some such sensation. There was no cowardice in thisfeeling. Fear is not cowardice. Acting in a wrong and contemptiblemanner because of our fear, is cowardice. 

It is said that Wellington or Napoleon, we forget which, once stoodwatching the muster of the men who were to form the forlorn hope instorming a citadel. There were many brave, strong, stalwart men there, in the prime of life, and flushed with the blood of high health andcourage. There were also there a few stern-browed men of riper years, who stood perfectly silent, with lips compressed, and as pale as death. "Yonder veterans, " said the general, pointing to these soldiers, "aremen whose courage I can depend on; they _know_ what they are going to, the others _don't_!" Yes, these young soldiers _very probably_ werebrave; the others _certainly_ were. 

Dick Varley stood for a few seconds as if thunderstruck, while the bearstood hissing at him. Then the liquefaction of his interior ceased, andhe felt a glow of fire gush through his veins. Now, Dick knew wellenough that to fly from a grizzly bear was the sure and certain way ofbeing torn to pieces, as when taken thus by surprise they almostinvariably follow a retreating enemy. He also knew that if he stoodwhere he was, perfectly still, the bear would, get uncomfortable underhis stare, and would retreat from him. But he neither intended to runaway himself nor to allow the bear to do so; he intended to kill it, sohe raised his rifle quickly, "drew a bead, " as the hunters express it, on the bear's heart, and fired. 

It immediately dropped on its fore-legs and rushed at him. 

"Back, Crusoe, out of the way, pup, " shouted Dick, as his favourite wasabout to spring forward. 

The dog retired, and Dick leaped behind a tree. As the bear passed hegave it the contents of the second barrel behind the shoulder, whichbrought it down, but in another moment it rose and again rushed at him. Dick had no time to load, neither had he time to spring up the thicktree beside which he stood, and the rocky nature of the ground out ofwhich it grew rendered it impossible to dodge round it. His onlyresource was flight; but where was he to fly to? If he ran along theopen track, the bear would overtake him in a few seconds; on the rightwas a sheer precipice, a hundred feet high; on the left was animpenetrable thicket. In despair he thought for an instant of clubbinghis rifle and meeting the monster in close conflict; but the utterhopelessness of such an effort was too apparent to be entertained for amoment. He glanced up at the overhanging cliffs. There were one or tworents and projections close above him. In the twinkling of an eye hesprang up and grasped a ledge of about an inch broad, ten or twelve feetup, to which he clung while he glanced upward. Another projection waswithin reach, --he gained it, and in a few seconds he stood upon a ledgeabout twenty feet up the cliff, where he had just room to plant his feetfirmly. 

Without waiting to look behind he seized his powder-horn and loaded onebarrel of his rifle; and well was it for him that his early training hadfitted him to do this with rapidity, for the bear dashed up theprecipice after him at once. The first time it missed its hold, andfell back with a savage growl, but, on the second attempt, it sunk itslong claws into the fissures between the rocks, and ascended steadilytill within a foot of the place where Dick stood. 

At this moment Crusoe's obedience gave way before a sense of Dick'sdanger. Uttering one of his lion-like roars, he rushed up the precipicewith such violence that, although naturally unable to climb, he reachedand seized the bear's flank, despite his master's stern order to "keepback, " and in a moment the two rolled down the face of the rocktogether, just as Dick completed loading. 

Knowing that one stroke of the bear's paw would be certain death to hispoor dog, Dick leaped from his perch, and, with one bound reached theground at the same moment with the struggling animals, and close besidethem, and, before they had ceased rolling, he placed the muzzle of hisrifle into the bear's ear, and blew out its brains. 

Crusoe, strange to say, escaped with only one scratch on the side. Itwas a deep one, but not dangerous, and gave him but little pain at thetime, although it caused him many a smart for some weeks after. 

Thus happily ended Dick's first encounter with a grizzly bear; andalthough, in the course of his wild life he shot many specimens of"Caleb, " he used to say that "he an' pup were never so near goin' underas on the day he dropped _that_ bar!"

Having refreshed himself with a long draught from a neighbouringrivulet, and washed Crusoe's wound, Dick skinned the bear on the spot. 

"We chawed him up that time, didn't we, pup?" said Dick, with a smile ofsatisfaction, as he surveyed his prize. 

Crusoe looked up and assented to this. 

"Gave us a hard tussle, though; very nigh sent us both under, didn't he, pup!"

Crusoe agreed entirely, and, as if the remark reminded him of honourablescars, he licked his wound. 

"Ah, pup!" cried Dick, sympathetically, "does it hurt ye, eh, poor dog?"

Hurt him! such a question! No, he should think not; better ask if thatleap from the precipice hurt yourself. 

So Crusoe might have said, but he didn't; he took no notice of theremark whatever. 

"We'll cut him up now, pup, " continued Dick. "The skin 'll make asplendid bed for you an me o' nights, and a saddle for Charlie. "

Dick cut out all the claws of the bear by the roots, and spent theremainder of that night in cleaning them and stringing them on a stripof leather to form a necklace. Independently of the value of theseenormous claws (the largest as long as a man's middle finger) as anevidence of prowess, they formed a remarkably graceful collar, whichDick wore round his neck ever after with as much pride as if he had beena Pawnee warrior. 

When it was finished he held it out at arm's length, and said, "Crusoe, my pup, ain't ye proud of it? I'll tell ye what it is, pup, the nexttime you an' I floor Caleb, I'll put the claws round _your_ neck, an'make ye wear 'em ever arter, so I will. "

The dog did not seem quite to appreciate this piece of prospective goodfortune. Vanity had no place in his honest breast, and, sooth to say, it had not a large place in that of his master either, as we may wellgrant when we consider that this first display of it was on the occasionof his hunter's soul having at last realised its brightest day-dream. 

Dick's dangers and triumphs seemed to accumulate on him rather thicklyat this place, for on the very next day he had a narrow escape of beingkilled by a deer. The way of it was this. 

Having run short of meat, and not being particularly fond of grizzlybear steak, he shouldered his rifle and sallied forth in quest of game, accompanied by Crusoe, whose frequent glances towards his wounded sideshowed that, whatever may have been the case the day before, it "hurt"him now. 

They had not gone far when they came on the track of a deer in the snow, and followed it up till they spied a magnificent buck about threehundred yards off, standing in a level patch of ground which waseverywhere surrounded either by rocks or thicket. It was a long shot;but as the nature of the ground rendered it impossible for Dick to getnearer without being seen, he fired, and wounded the buck so badly thathe came up with it in a few minutes. The snow had drifted in the placewhere it stood bolt upright, ready for a spring, so Dick went round alittle way, Crusoe following, till he was in a proper position to fireagain. Just as he pulled the trigger, Crusoe gave a howl behind him, and disturbed his aim, so that he feared he had missed; but the deerfell, and he hurried towards it. On coming up, however, the buck sprangto its legs, rushed at him with its hair bristling, knocked him down inthe snow, and deliberately commenced stamping him to death. 

Dick was stunned for a moment, and lay quite still, so the deer left offpommelling him, and stood looking at him. But the instant he moved itplunged at him again and gave him another pounding, until he was contentto lie still. This was done several times, and Dick felt his strengthgoing fast. He was surprised that Crusoe did not come to his rescue, and once he cleared his mouth and whistled to him; but as the deer gavehim another pounding for this, he didn't attempt it again. He now forthe first time bethought him of his knife, and quietly drew it from hisbelt; but the deer observed the motion, and was on him again in amoment. Dick, however, sprang up on his left elbow, and, making severaldesperate thrusts upward, succeeded in stabbing the animal to the heart. 

Rising and shaking the snow from his garments, he whistled loudly toCrusoe, and, on listening, heard him whining piteously. He hurried tothe place whence the sound came, and found that the poor dog had falleninto a deep pit or crevice in the rocks, which had been concealed fromview by a crust of snow, and he was now making frantic but unavailingefforts to leap out. 

Dick soon freed him from his prison by means of his belt, which he letdown for the dog to grasp, and then returned to camp with as muchdeer-meat as he could carry. Dear meat it certainly was to him, for ithad nearly cost him his life, and left him all black and blue for weeksafter. Happily no bones were broken, so the incident only confined hima day to his encampment. 

Soon after this the snow fell thicker than ever, and it became evidentthat an unusually early winter was about to set in among the mountains. This was a terrible calamity, for, if the regular snow of winter set in, it would be impossible for him either to advance or retreat. 

While he was sitting on his bear-skin by the campfire one day, thinkinganxiously what he should do, and feeling that he must either make theattempt to escape, or perish miserably in that secluded spot, a strange, unwonted sound struck upon his ear, and caused both him and Crusoe tospring violently to their feet and listen. Could he be dreaming? itseemed like the sound of human voices. For a moment he stood with hiseyes rivetted on the ground, his lips apart and his nostrils distended, as he listened with the utmost intensity. Then he darted out andbounded round the edge of a rock which concealed an extensive but narrowvalley from his view, and there, to his amazement, he beheld a band ofabout a hundred human beings advancing on horseback slowly through thesnow!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

A SURPRISE AND A PIECE OF GOOD NEWS--THE FUR-TRADERS--CRUSOE PROVED, ANDTHE PEIGANS PURSUED. 

Dick's first and most natural impulse, on beholding this band, was tomount his horse and fly, for his mind naturally enough recurred to theformer rough treatment he had experienced at the hands of Indians. Onsecond thoughts, however, he considered it wiser to throw himself uponthe hospitality of the strangers; "for, " thought he, "they can but killme, an' if I remain here I'm like to die at any rate. "

So Dick mounted his wild horse, grasped his rifle in his right hand, and, followed by Crusoe, galloped full tilt down the valley to meetthem. 

He had heard enough of the customs of savage tribes, and had also oflate experienced enough, to convince him that when a man found himselfin the midst of an overwhelming force, his best policy was to assume anair of confident courage. He therefore approached them at his utmostspeed. 

The effect upon the advancing band was electrical; and little wonder, for the young hunter's appearance was very striking. His horse, fromhaving rested a good deal of late, was full of spirit; its neck wasarched, its nostrils expanded, and its mane and tail, never having beenchecked in their growth, flew wildly around him in voluminous curls. Dick's own hair, not having been clipped for many months, appearedscarcely less wild as they thundered down the rocky pass at whatappeared a break-neck gallop. Add to this the grandeur of the scene outof which they sprang, and the gigantic dog that bounded by his side, andyou will not be surprised to hear that the Indian warriors clusteredtogether, and prepared to receive this bold horseman as if he, in hisown proper person, were a complete squadron of cavalry. It is probable, also, that they fully expected the tribe of which Dick was the chief tobe at his heels. 

As he drew near the excitement among the strangers seemed very great, and, from the peculiarity of the various cries that reached him, he knewthat there were women and children in the band--a fact which, in such aplace and at such a season, was so unnatural, that it surprised him verymuch. He noted also that, though the men in front were Indians, theirdresses were those of trappers and hunters, and he almost leaped out ofhis saddle when he observed that "_Pale-faces_" were among them. But hehad barely time to note these facts when he was up with the band. According to Indian custom, he did not check his speed till he waswithin four or five yards of the advance-guard, who stood in a linebefore him, quite still, and with their rifles lying loosely in theirleft palms; then he reined his steed almost on _its_ haunches. 

One of the Indians advanced and spoke a few words in a language whichwas quite unintelligible to Dick, who replied, in the little Pawnee hecould muster, that he didn't understand him. 

"Why, you must be a trapper!" exclaimed a thick-set, middle-aged man, riding out from the group. "Can you speak English?"

"Ay, that can I, " cried Dick, joyfully, riding up and shaking thestranger heartily by the hand; "an' right glad am I to fall in wi' awhite-skin an' a civil tongue in his head. "

"Good sooth, sir, " replied the stranger, with a quiet smile on his kind, weather-beaten face, "I can return you the compliment, for when I sawyou come thundering down the corrie with that wonderful horse and noless wonderful dog of yours, I thought you were the wild man o' themountain himself, and had an ambush ready to back you. But, young man, do you mean to say that you live here in the mountain all alone afterthis fashion?"

"No, that I don't. I've comed here in my travels; but, truly, thisbean't my home. But, sir (for I see you are what the fur-traders call abourgeois), how comes it that such a band as this rides i' themountains! D'ye mean to say that _they_ live here?" Dick looked roundin surprise, as he spoke, upon the crowd of mounted men and women, withchildren and pack-horses, that now surrounded him. 

"'Tis a fair question, lad. I am a principal among the fur-traderswhose chief trading-post lies near the Pacific Ocean, on the west sideof these mountains, and I have come with these trappers and theirfamilies, as you see, to hunt the beaver and other animals for a seasonin the mountains. We've never been here before; but that's a matter oflittle moment, for it's not the first time I've been on what may becalled a discovery-trading expedition. We are somewhat entangled, however, just now, among these wild passes, and, if you can guide us outof our difficulties to the east side of the mountains, I'll thank youheartily and pay you well. But first tell me who and what you are, ifit's a fair question. "

"My name is Dick Varley, and my home's in the Mustang Valley, near theMissouri river. As to _what_ I am--I'm nothin' yet, but I hope todesarve the name o' a hunter some day. I can guide you to the east sideo' the mountains, for I've comed from there; but more than that I can'tdo, for I'm a stranger to the country here, like yourself. But you'reon the east side o' the mountains already, if I mistake not; only thesemountains are so rugged and jumbled up, that it's not easy tellin' whereye are. And what, " continued Dick, "may be the name o' the bourgeoiswho speaks to me?"

"My name is Cameron--Walter Cameron--a well-known name among theScottish hills, although it sounds a little strange here. And now, young man, will you join my party as guide, and afterwards remain astrapper? It will pay you better, I think, than roving about alone. "

Dick shook his head and looked grave. "I'll guide you, " said he, "asfar as my knowledge 'll help me; but after that I must return to lookfor two comrades whom I have lost. They have been driven into themountains by a band of Injuns. God grant they may not have binscalped. "

The trader's face looked troubled, and he spoke with one of his Indiansfor a few minutes in earnest, hurried tones. 

"What were they like, young man?"

Dick described them. 

"The same, " continued the trader; "they've been seen, lad, not more thantwo days ago, by this Indian here, when he was out hunting alone somemiles away from our camp. He came suddenly on a band of Indians, whohad two prisoners with them, such as you describe. They were stout, said you?"

"Yes, both of them, " cried Dick, listening with intense eagerness. 

"Ay. They were tied to their horses, an' from what I know of thesefellows I'm sure they're doomed. But I'll help you, my friend, as wellas I can. They can't be far from this. I treated my Indian's storyabout them as a mere fabrication, for he's the most notorious liar in mycompany; but he seems to have spoken truth for once. "

"Thanks, thanks, good sir, " cried Dick. "Had we not best turn back andfollow them at once?"

"Nay, friend, not quite so fast, " replied Cameron, pointing to hispeople. "These must be provided for first, but I shall be ready beforethe sun goes down. And now, as I presume you don't bivouac in the snow, will you kindly conduct us to your encampment, if it be not far hence?"

Although burning with impatience to fly to the rescue of his friends, Dick felt constrained to comply with so reasonable a request, so he ledthe way to his camping-place, where the band of fur-traders immediatelybegan to pitch their tents, cut down wood, kindle fires, fill theirkettles with water, cook their food, and, in fact, make themselvescomfortable. The wild spot which, an hour before, had been so still, and grand, and gloomy, was now, as if by magic, transformed into abustling village, with bright fires blazing among the rocks and bushes, and merry voices of men, women, and children ringing in the air. Itseemed almost incredible, and no wonder Dick, in his bewilderment, haddifficulty in believing it was not all a dream. 

In days long gone by the fur-trade in that country was carried on in avery different way from the manner in which it is now conducted. Thesewild regions, indeed, are still as lonesome and untenanted (save by wildbeasts and wandering tribes of Indians), as they were then; but theIndians of the present day have become accustomed to the "pale-faced"trader, whose little wooden forts or trading-posts are dotted here andthere, at wide intervals, all over the land. But in the days of whichwe write it was not so. The fur-traders at that time went forth inarmed bands into the heart of the Indians' country, and he who wentforth did so "with his life in his hand. " As in the case of the soldierwho went out to battle, there was great probability that he might neverreturn. 

The band of which Walter Cameron was the chief had, many months before, started from one of the distant posts of Oregon on a hunting expeditioninto the then totally unknown lands of the Snake Indians. It consistedof about sixty men, thirty women, and as many children of variousages, --about a hundred and twenty souls in all. Many of the boys werecapable of using the gun and setting a beaver-trap. The men were a mostmotley set. There were Canadians, half-breeds, Iroquois, and Scotchmen. Most of the women had Indian blood in their veins, and a few were pureIndians. 

The equipment of this strange band consisted of upwards of two hundredbeaver-traps--which are similar to our rat-traps, with this difference, that they have two springs and no teeth--seventy guns, a few articlesfor trade with the Indians, and a large supply of powder and ball; thewhole--men, women, children, goods, and chattels--being carried on thebacks of nearly four hundred horses. Many of these horses, at starting, were not laden, being designed for the transport of furs that were to betaken in the course of the season. 

For food this adventurous party depended entirely on their guns, andduring the march hunters were kept constantly out ahead. As a matter ofcourse their living was precarious. Sometimes their kettles wereoverflowing; at others they scarce refrained from eating their horses. But, during the months they had already spent in the wilderness, goodliving had been the rule, starvation the exception. They had alreadycollected a large quantity of beaver-skins, which at that time wereamong the most valuable in the market, although they are now scarcelysaleable!

Having shot two wild horses, seven elks, six small deer, and fourbig-horned sheep, the day before they met Dick Varley, the camp-kettleswere full, and the people consequently happy. 

"Now, Master Dick Varley, " said Cameron, touching the young hunter onthe shoulder as he stood ready equipped by one of the campfires; "I'm atyour service. The people won't need any more looking after to-night. I'll divide my men--thirty shall go after this rascally band of Peigans, for such I believe they are, and thirty shall remain to guard the camp. Are you ready?"

"Ready! ay, this hour past. "

"Mount then, lad; the men have already been told off and are musteringdown yonder where the deer gave you such a licking. "

Dick needed no second bidding. He vaulted on Charlie's back and alongwith their commander joined the men, who were thirty as fine, hardy, reckless-looking fellows as one could desire for a forlorn hope. Theywere chatting and laughing while they examined their guns and saddlegirths. Their horses were sorry-looking animals compared with themagnificent creature that Dick bestrode, but they were hardy, nevertheless, and well fitted for their peculiar work. 

"My! wot a blazer, " exclaimed a trapper as Dick rode up. 

"Where you git him?" inquired a half-breed. 

"I caught him, " answered Dick. 

"Baw!" cried the first speaker. 

Dick took no notice of this last remark. 

"No, did ye though?" he asked again. 

"I did, " answered Dick, quietly; "I creased him in the prairie--you cansee the mark on his neck if you look. "

The men began to feel that the young hunter was perhaps a little beyondthem at their own trade, and regarded him with increased respect. 

"Look sharp now, lads, " said Cameron, impatiently, to several dilatorymembers of the band. "Night will be on us ere long. "

"Who sold ye the bear-claw collar?" inquired another man of Dick. 

"I didn't buy it. I killed the bear and made it. "

"Did ye, though, all be yer lone?"

"Ay, that wasn't much, was it?"

"You've begun well, yonker, " said a tall middle-aged hunter, whosegeneral appearance was not unlike that of Joe Blunt. "Jest keep clearo' the Injuns an' the grog bottle an' ye've a glor'ous life before ye. "

At this point the conversation was interrupted by the order being givento move on, which was obeyed in silence, and the cavalcade, descendingthe valley, entered one of the gorges in the mountains. 

For the first half mile Cameron rode a little ahead of his men, then heturned to speak to one of them and for the first time observed Crusoetrotting close beside his master's horse. 

"Ah! Master Dick, " he exclaimed with a troubled expression, "that won'tdo. It would never do to take a dog on an expedition like this. "

"Why not?" asked Dick, "the pup's quiet and peaceable. "

"I doubt it not, but he will betray our presence to the Indians, whichmight be inconvenient. "

"I've travelled more than a thousand miles through prairie and forest, among game an' among Injuns, an' the pup never betrayed me yet, " saidDick, with suppressed vehemence; "he has saved my life more than oncethough. "

"You seem to have perfect confidence in your dog, but as this is aserious matter you must not expect me to share in it without proof ofhis trustworthiness. "

"The pup may be useful to us; how would you have it proved?" inquiredDick. 

"Any way you like. "

"You forgot your belt at starting, I think I heered ye say. "

"Yes, I did, " replied the trader, smiling. 

Dick immediately took hold of Cameron's coat, and bade Crusoe smell it, which the dog did very carefully. Then he showed him his own belt andsaid: "Go back to the camp and fetch it, pup. "

Crusoe was off in a moment, and in less than twenty minutes returnedwith Cameron's belt in his mouth. 

"Well, I'll trust him, " said Cameron, patting Crusoe's head. "Forward, lads!" and away they went at a brisk trot along the bottom of abeautiful valley on each side of which the mountains towered in darkmasses. Soon the moon rose and afforded light sufficient to enable themto travel all night in the track of the Indian hunter who said he hadseen the Peigans, and who was constituted guide to the party. Hourafter hour the horsemen pressed on without check, now galloping over alevel plain, now bounding by the banks of a rivulet, or bending theirheads to escape the boughs of overhanging trees, and anon toiling slowlyup among the rocks of some narrow defile. At last the moon set, and theorder was given to halt in a little plain where there was wood andwater. 

The horses were picketted, a fire kindled, a mouthful of dried meathastily eaten, the watch was set, and then each man scraped away thesnow, spread some branches on the ground, and, wrapping himself in hisblanket, went to sleep with his feet presented towards the fire. 

Two hours were allowed for rest; then they were awakened, and in a fewminutes were off again by the grey light of dawn. In this way theytravelled two nights and a day. At the end of that time they camesuddenly on a small party of nine Indians who were seated on the groundwith their snow-shoes and blankets by their sides. They had evidentlybeen taken by surprise, but they made no attempt to escape, knowing thatit was useless. Each sat still with his bow and arrows between his legson the ground ready for instant use. 

As soon as Cameron spoke, however, in their own language they feltrelieved and began to talk. 

"Where do you come from, and what are you doing here?" asked the trader. 

"We have come to trade with the white men, " one of them replied, "and tohunt. We have come from the Missouri. Our country is far away. "

"Do Peigans hunt with _war-arrows_?" asked Cameron, pointing to theirweapons. 

This question seemed to perplex them, for they saw that theirinterrogator knew the difference between a war and a hunting arrow--theformer being barbed in order to render its extraction from the wounddifficult, while the head of the latter is round and can be drawn out ofgame that has been killed, and used again. 

"And do Peigans, " continued Cameron, "come from a far country to tradewith the white men _with nothing_?"

Again the Indians were silent, for they had not an article of tradeabout them. 

Cameron now felt convinced that this party of Peigans, into whose handsJoe Blunt and Henri had fallen, were nothing else than a war-party, andthat the men now before him were a scouting-party sent out from them, probably to spy out his own camp, on the trail of which they had fallen, so he said to them--

"The Peigans are not wise men, they tell lies to the traders. I willtell you that you are a war-party, and that you are only a few warriorssent out to spy the traders' camp. You have also two _Pale-face_prisoners in your camp. You cannot deceive me. It is useless to try. Now, conduct me to your camp. My object is not war; it is peace. Iwill speak with your chiefs about trading with the white men, and wewill smoke the pipe of peace. Are my words good?"

Despite their proverbial control of muscle, these Indians could notconceal their astonishment at hearing so much of their affairs thus laidbare, so they said that the Pale-face chief was wise, that he must be agreat medicine-man, and that what he said was all true except about thewhite men. They had never seen any Pale-faces, and knew nothingwhatever about those he spoke of. 

This was a terrible piece of news to poor Dick, and at first his heartfairly sank within him, but by degrees he came to be more hopeful. Heconcluded that if these men told lies in regard to one thing they woulddo it in regard to another, and perhaps they might have some strongreason for denying any knowledge of Joe and Henri. 

The Indians now packed up the buffalo robes on which they had slept, andthe mouthful of provisions they had taken with them. 

"I don't believe a word of what they say about your friends, " saidCameron to Dick in a low tone while the Indians were thus engaged. "Depend upon it they hope to hide them till they can send to thesettlements and get a ransom, or till they get an opportunity oftorturing them to death before their women and children when they getback to their own village. But we'll baulk them, my friend, do notfear. "

The Indians were soon ready to start, for they were lumbered withmarvellously little camp equipage. In less than half an hour aftertheir discovery they were running like deer ahead of the cavalcade inthe direction of the Peigan camp. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

ADVENTURES WITH THE PEIGANS--CRUSOE DOES GOOD SERVICE AS A DISCOVERER--THE SAVAGES OUTWITTED--THE RESCUE. 

A run of twenty miles brought the travellers to a rugged defile in themountains, from which they had a view of a beautiful valley ofconsiderable extent. During the last two days a steady thaw had beenrapidly melting away the snow, so that it appeared only here and therein the landscape in dazzling patches. At the distance of about half amile from where they halted to breathe the horses before commencing thedescent into this vale, several thin wreaths of smoke were seen risingabove the trees. 

"Is that your camp?" inquired Cameron, riding up to the Indian runnerswho stood in a group in front, looking as fresh after their twentymiles' run as though they had only had a short walk. 

To this they answered in the affirmative, adding that there were abouttwo hundred Peigans there. 

It might have been thought that thirty men would have hesitated toventure to attack so large a number as two hundred; but it had alwaysbeen found in the experience of Indian life, that a few resolute whitemen well armed were more than a match for ten times their number ofIndians. And this arose not so much from the superior strength oragility of the whites over their red foes, as from that bull-dog courageand utter recklessness of their lives in combat, --qualities which thecrafty savage can neither imitate nor understand. The information wasreceived with perfect indifference by most of the trappers, and withcontemptuous laughter by some, for a large number of Cameron's men werewild, evil-disposed fellows, who would have as gladly taken the life ofan Indian as a buffalo. 

Just as the word was given to resume the march, Dick Varley rode up toCameron, and said in a somewhat anxious tone--"D'ye obsarve, sir, thatone o' the Red-skins has gone off ahead o' his comrades?"

"I see that, Master Dick, and it was a mistake of mine not to havestopped him, but he was gone too far before I observed it, and I thoughtit better to appear unconcerned. We must push on, though, and give himas short time as possible to talk with his comrades in the camp. "

The trappers pressed forward accordingly at a gallop, and were soon infront of the clump of trees amongst which the Peigans were encamped. Their approach had evidently spread great alarm among them, for therewas a good deal of bustle and running to and fro, but by the time thetrappers had dismounted and advanced in a body on foot, the savages hadresumed their usual quiet dignity of appearance, and were seated calmlyround their fires with their bows and arrows beside them. There were notents, no women or children, and the general aspect of the men showedCameron conclusively that his surmise about their being a war-party wascorrect. 

A council was immediately called; the trappers ranged themselves on oneside of the council-fire and the Indians on the other. Meanwhile, ourfriend Crusoe had been displaying considerable irritability against theIndians, and he would certainly have attacked the whole two hundredsingle-handed if he had not been ordered by his master to lie still, butnever in his life before had Crusoe obeyed with such a bad grace. Hebristled and whined in a low tremulous tone, and looked imploringly atDick as if for permission to fly at them. 

"The Pale-faced traders are glad to meet with the Peigans, " beganCameron, who determined to make no allusion to his knowledge that theywere a war-party, "for they wish to be friends with all the children ofthe woods and prairies. They wish to trade with them; to exchangeblankets, and guns, and beads, and other goods which the Peigansrequire, for furs of animals which the Pale-faces require. "

"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the Indians; which expression might be translated, "Hear, hear. "

"But, " continued Cameron, "we wish to have no war. We wish to see thehatchet buried, and to see all the Red-men and the white men smoking thepipe of peace, and hunting like brothers. "

The "Ho-ho-ing" at this was very emphatic. 

"Now, " resumed the trader, "the Peigans have got two prisoners--twoPale-faces--in their camp, and, as we cannot be on good terms while ourbrothers are detained, we have come to ask for them, and to _presentsome gifts_ to the Peigans. "

To this there was no "Ho" at all, but a prolonged silence, which was atlength interrupted by a tall chief stepping forward to address thetrappers. 

"What the Pale-face chief has said is good, " began the Indian. "Hiswords are wise, and his heart is not double. The Red-men are willing tosmoke the pipe of peace, and to hunt with all men as brothers, but theycannot do it while many of their scalps are hanging in the lodges oftheir enemies and fringing the robes of the warriors. The Peigans musthave vengeance; then they will make peace. "

After a short pause he continued--"The chief is wrong when he says thereare Pale-faces in the Peigan camp. The Peigans are not at war with thePale-faces; neither have they seen any on their march. The camp isopen. Let the Pale-faces look round and see that what we say is true. "

The chief waved his hand towards his warriors as he concluded, as if tosay, "Search amongst them. There are no Pale-faces there. "

Cameron now spoke to Dick in a low tone. "They speak confidently, " hesaid, "and I fear greatly that your poor comrades have either beenkilled or conveyed away from the camp and hidden among the mountains, inwhich case, even though they should not be far off, it would be next toimpossible to find them, especially when such a band o' rascals is near, compelling us to keep together. But I'll try what a little temptingthem with goods will do. At any rate we shan't give in without ascuffle. "

It now, for the first time, flashed across Dick Varley that there wassomething more than he imagined in Crusoe's restless anxiety, which hadnot in the least abated, and the idea of making use of him now occurredto his mind. 

"I've a notion that I'll settle this matter in a shorter time than youthink, " he said hurriedly, "if you'll agree to try what _threatening_will do. "

The trader looked grave and undecided. "I never resort to that exceptas a last hope, " he answered, "but I've a good deal of confidence inyour prudence, what would you advise?"

Dick and the trader whispered a few minutes together, while some of themen, in order to show the Indians how perfectly unconcerned they were, and how ready for _anything_, took out their pipes and began to smoke. Both parties were seated on the ground, and during this interval theIndians also held eager discussion. 

At length Cameron stood up, and said to his men in a quiet tone, "Beready, lads, for instant action; when I give the word `Up, ' spring toyour feet and cock your guns, but _don't fire a shot till you get theword_. " He then stepped forward and said--

"The Peigan warriors are double-tongued; they know that they have hidthe Pale-face prisoners. We do not wish to quarrel, but if they are notdelivered up at once, the Pale-faces and the Peigans will not befriends. "

Upon this the Indian chief again stood forward and said, "The Peigansare _not_ double-tongued. They have not seen Pale-faces till to-day. They can say no more. "

Without moving hand or foot, Cameron then said in a firm tone, "Thefirst Peigan that moves shall die! Up, lads, and ready!"

In the twinkling of an eye the trappers sprang to their feet, andcocking their rifles stood perfectly motionless, scowling at thesavages, who were completely taken by surprise at the unusual suddennessand informality of such a declaration of war. Not a man moved, for, unlike white men, they seldom risk their lives in open fight; and asthey looked at the formidable row of muzzles that waited but a word tosend instant death into their midst, they felt that discretion was atthat time the better part of valour. 

"Now, " said Cameron, while Dick Varley and Crusoe stepped up beside him, "my young warrior will search for the Pale-face prisoners. If they arefound, we will take them and go away. If they are not found, we willask the Peigans to forgive us, and will give them gifts. But in themeantime, if a Peigan moves from the spot where he sits, or lifts a bow, my young men shall fire, and the Peigans know that the rifle of thePale-face always kills. "

Without waiting for an answer, Dick immediately said, "Seek 'em out, pup, " and Crusoe bounded away. 

For a few minutes he sprang hither and thither through the camp, quiteregardless of the Indians, and snuffed the air several times, whining inan excited tone, as if to relieve his feelings. Then he put his nose tothe ground and ran straight forward into the woods. Dick immediatelybounded after him like a deer, while the trappers kept silent guard overthe savages. 

For some time Crusoe ran straight forward. Then he came to a spot wherethere was a good deal of drifted snow on the ground. Here he seemed tolose the trail for a little, and ran about in all directions, whining ina most piteous tone. 

"Seek 'em out, pup, " repeated Dick encouragingly, while his own breastheaved with excitement and expectation. 

In a few seconds the dog resumed its onward course, and led the way intoa wild, dark spot, which was so overshadowed by trees and precipitouscliffs that the light of the sun scarce found entrance. There were manyhuge masses of rock scattered over the ground, which had fallen from thecliffs. Behind one of these lay a mound of dried leaves, towards whichCrusoe darted and commenced scraping violently. 

Trembling with dread that he should find this to be the grave of hismurdered companions, Dick rushed forward and hastily cleared away theleaves. The first handful thrown off revealed part of the figure of aman. Dick's heart beat audibly as he cleared the leaves from the face, and he uttered a suppressed cry on beholding the well-known features ofJoe Blunt! But they were not those of a dead man. Joe's eyes met hiswith a scowl of anger, which instantly gave place to one of intensesurprise. 

"Joe Blunt!" exclaimed Dick in a voice of intense amazement, whileCrusoe sniffed round the heap of leaves, and whined with excitement. But Joe did not move, neither did he speak a word in reply--for the verygood reasons that his mouth was tightly bound with a band of leather, his hands and feet were tied, and his whole body was secured in a rigid, immovable position by being bound to a pole of about his own length. 

In a moment Dick's knife was out, bands and cords were severed, and JoeBlunt was free. 

"Thank God, " exclaimed Joe with a deep, earnest sigh, the instant hislips were loosened, "and thanks to _you_, lad, " he added, endeavouringto rise, but his limbs had become so benumbed in consequence of thecords by which they had been compressed that for some time he could notmove. 

"I'll rub ye, Joe--I'll soon rub ye into a right state, " said Dick, going down on his knees. 

"No, no, lad, look sharp and dig up Henri. He's just beside me here. "

Dick immediately rose, and, pushing aside the heap of leaves, foundHenri securely bound in the same fashion. But he could scarce refrainfrom laughing at the expression of that worthy's face. Hearing thevoices of Joe and Dick Varley in conversation, though unable to seetheir persons, he was filled with such unbounded amazement that hiseyes, when uncovered, were found to be at their largest possiblestretch, and as for the eyebrows, they were gone, utterly lost among theroots of his voluminous hair. 

"Henri, friend, I knew I should find ye, " said Dick, cutting the thongsthat bound him. "Get up if ye can, we haven't much time to lose, an'mayhap we'll have to fight afore we're done wi' the Red-skins. Can yerise?"

Henri could do nothing but lie on his back and gasp, "Eh! possible! monfrere! Oh, non, non, _not_ possible. Oui! my broder Deek!"

Here he attempted to rise, but, being unable, fell back again, and thewhole thing came so suddenly, and made so deep an impression on hisimpulsive mind, that he incontinently burst into tears; then he burstinto a long laugh. Suddenly he paused, and, scrambling up to a sittingposture, looked earnestly into Dick's face through his tearful eyes. 

"Oh, non, non!" he exclaimed, stretching himself out at full lengthagain, and closing his eyes; "it are too goot to be true. I am dream. I vill wait till I am wake. "

Dick roused him out of this resolute sleep, however, somewhat roughly. Meanwhile Joe had rubbed and kicked himself into a state of animation, exclaiming that he felt as if he wos walkin' on a thousand needles andpins, and in a few minutes they were ready to accompany their overjoyeddeliverer back to the Peigan camp. Crusoe testified his delight invarious elephantine gambols round the persons of his old friends, whowere not slow to acknowledge his services. 

"They haven't treated us overly well, " remarked Joe Blunt, as theystrode through the underwood. 

"Non, de rascale, vraiment, de am villains. Oui! How de have talk, too, 'bout--oh-o-oo-ooo-wah!--roastin' us alive, an' puttin' our scalpin de vigvam for de poopoose to play wid!"

"Well, niver mind, Henri, we'll be quits wi' them now, " said Joe, asthey came in sight of the two bands, who remained in precisely the sameposition in which they had been left, except that one or two of the morereckless of the trappers had lit their pipes and taken to smoking, without, however, laying down their rifles or taking their eyes off thesavages. 

A loud cheer greeted the arrival of the prisoners, and looks ofconsiderable discomfort began to be evinced by the Indians. 

"Glad to see you, friends, " said Cameron, as they came up. 

"Ve is 'appy ov de same, " replied Henri, swaggering up in the jovialityof his heart, and seizing the trader's hand in his own enormous fist. "Shall ve go to york an' slay dem all at vonce, or von at a time?"

"We'll consider that afterwards, my lad. Meantime go you to the rear, and get a weapon of some sort. "

"Oui. Ah! c'est charmant, " he cried, going with an immense flounderinto the midst of the amused trappers, and slapping those next to him onthe back. "Give me veapon, do, mes ami--gun, pistol, anyting--cannon, if you have von. "

Meanwhile Cameron and Joe spoke together for a few moments. 

"You had goods with you, and horses, I believe, when you were captured, "said the former. 

"Ay, that we had. Yonder stand the horses under the pine-tree, alongwi' the rest o' the Red-skin troop, an a hard time they've had o't, astheir bones may tell without speakin'. As for the goods, " he continued, glancing round the camp, "I don't know where--ah! yes, there they be inthe old pack. I see all safe. "

Cameron now addressed the Indians. 

"The Peigans, " he said, "have not done well. Their hearts have not beentrue to the Pale-faces. Even now I could take your scalps where yousit; but white men do not like war, they do not like revenge. ThePeigans may go free. "

Considering the fewness of their numbers, this was bold language to usetowards the Indians; but the boldest is generally the best policy onsuch occasions. Moreover, Cameron felt that, being armed with rifles, while the Indians had only bows and arrows, the trappers had a greatadvantage over them. 

The Indian who had spoken before now rose and said he was sorry thereshould be any cause of difference between them, and added he was sorryfor a great many more things besides, but he did not say he was sorryfor having told a lie. 

"But, before you go, you must deliver up the horses and goods belongingto these men, " said Cameron pointing to Joe and Henri. 

This was agreed to. The horses were led out, the two little packscontaining Joe's goods were strapped upon them, and then the trappersturned to depart. The Indians did not move until they had mounted; thenthey rose and advanced in a body to the edge of the wood, to see thePale-faces go away. Meanwhile Joe spoke a few words to Cameron, and themen were ordered to halt, while the former dismounted and led his horsetowards the band of savages. 

"Peigans, " he said, "you know the object for which I came into thiscountry was to make peace between you and the Pale-faces. I have oftentold you so when you would not listen, and when you told me that I had adouble heart, and told lies. You were wrong when you said this; but Ido not wonder, for you live among nations who do not fear God, and whothink it right to lie. I now repeat to you what I said before. Itwould be good for the Red-men if they would make peace with thePale-faces, and if they would make peace with each other. I will nowconvince you that I am in earnest, and have all along been speaking thetruth. "

Hereupon Joe Blunt opened his bundle of goods, and presented fullyone-half of the gaudy and brilliant contents to the astonished Indians, who seemed quite taken aback by such generous treatment. The result ofthis was that the two parties separated with mutual expressions ofesteem and good will. The Indians then returned to the forest, and thewhite men galloped back to their camp among the hills. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

NEW PLANS--OUR TRAVELLERS JOIN THE FUR-TRADERS, AND SEE MANY STRANGETHINGS--A CURIOUS FIGHT--A NARROW ESCAPE, AND A PRISONER TAKEN. 

Not long after the events related in the last chapter, our four friends, Dick, and Joe, and Henri, and Crusoe, agreed to become for a timemembers of Walter Cameron's band of trappers. Joe joined because one ofthe objects which the traders had in view was similar to his ownmission, namely, the promoting of peace among the various Indian tribesof the mountains and plains to the west. Joe, therefore, thought it agood opportunity of travelling with a band of men who could secure him afavourable hearing from the Indian tribes they might chance to meet within the course of their wanderings. Besides, as the traders carriedabout a large supply of goods with them, he could easily replenish hisown nearly exhausted pack by hunting wild animals and exchanging theirskins for such articles as he might require. 

Dick joined because it afforded him an opportunity of seeing the wild, majestic scenery of the Rocky Mountains, and shooting the big-hornedsheep which abounded there, and the grizzly "bars, " as Joe named them, or "Caleb, " as they were more frequently styled by Henri and the othermen. 

Henri joined because it was agreeable to the inclination of his ownrollicking, blundering, floundering, crashing disposition, and becausehe would have joined anything that had been joined by the other two. 

Crusoe's reason for joining was single, simple, easy to be expressed, easy to be understood, and commendable. _He_ joined--because Dick did. 

The very day after the party left the encampment where Dick had shot thegrizzly bear and the deer, he had the satisfaction of bringing down asplendid specimen of the big-horned sheep. It came suddenly out from agorge of the mountain, and stood upon the giddy edge of a tremendousprecipice, at a distance of about two hundred and fifty yards. 

"_You_ could not hit that, " said a trapper to Henri, who was rather fondof jeering him about his short-sightedness. 

"Non!" cried Henri, who didn't see the animal in the least; "say youdat? ve shall see;" and he let fly with a promptitude that amazed hiscomrades, and with a result that drew from them peals of laughter. 

"Why, you have missed the mountain!"

"Oh, non! dat am eempossoble. "

It was true, nevertheless, for his ball had been arrested in its flightby the stem of a tree not twenty yards before him. 

While the shot was yet ringing, and before the laugh above referred tohad pealed forth, Dick Varley fired, and the animal, springing wildlyinto the air, fell down the precipice, and was almost dashed to piecesat their feet. 

This Rocky Mountain or big-horned sheep was a particularly large andfine one, but, being a patriarch of the flock, was not well suited forfood. It was considerably larger in size than the domestic sheep, andmight be described as somewhat resembling a deer in the body and a ramin the head. Its horns were the chief point of interest to Dick; and, truly, they were astounding! Their enormous size was out of allproportion to the animal's body, and they curved backwards anddownwards, and then curled up again in a sharp point. These creaturesfrequent the inaccessible heights of the Rocky Mountains, and aredifficult to approach. They have a great fondness for salt, and payregular visits to the numerous caverns of these mountains, which areencrusted with a saline substance. 

Walter Cameron now changed his intention of proceeding to the eastward, as he found the country not so full of beaver at that particular spot ashe had anticipated. He therefore turned towards the west, penetratedinto the interior of the mountains, and took a considerable sweepthrough the lovely valleys on their western slopes. 

The expedition which this enterprising fur-trader was conducting was oneof the first that ever penetrated these wild regions in search of furs. The ground over which they travelled was quite new to them, and havingno guide they just moved about at haphazard, encamping on the margin ofevery stream or river on which signs of the presence of beaver werediscovered, and setting their traps. 

Beaver-skins at this time were worth 25 shillings a piece in the marketsof civilised lands, and in the Snake country, through which our friendswere travelling, thousands of them were to be had from the Indians fortrinkets and baubles that were scarce worth a farthing. A beaver-skincould be procured from the Indians for a brass finger ring or a pennylooking-glass. Horses were also so numerous that one could be procuredfor an axe or a knife. 

Let not the reader, however, hastily conclude that the traders cheatedthe Indians in this traffic, though the profits were so enormous. Thering or the axe was indeed a trifle to the trader, but the beaver-skinand the horse were equally trifles to the savage, who could procure asmany of them as he chose with very little trouble, while the ring andthe axe were in his estimation of priceless value. Besides, be itremembered, to carry that ring and that axe to the far distant haunts ofthe Red-man cost the trader weeks and months of constant toil, trouble, anxiety, and, alas! too frequently cost him his life! The state oftrade is considerably modified in these regions at the present day. Itis not more _justly_ conducted, for, in respect of the value of goodsgiven for furs, it was justly conducted _then_, but time andcircumstances have tended more to equalise the relative values ofarticles of trade. 

The snow which had prematurely fallen had passed away, and the trappersnow found themselves wandering about in a country so beautiful and aseason so delightful, that it would have seemed to them a perfectparadise, but for the savage tribes who hovered about them, and keptthem ever on the _qui vive_. 

They soon passed from the immediate embrace of stupendous heights anddark gorges to a land of sloping ridges, which divided the country intoa hundred luxuriant vales, composed part of woodland and part ofprairie. Through these numerous rivers and streams flowed deviously, beautifying the landscape and enriching the land. There were also manylakes of all sizes, and these swarmed with fish, while in some of themwere found the much-sought-after and highly esteemed beaver. Saltsprings and hot springs of various temperatures abounded here, and manyof the latter were so hot that meat could be boiled in them. Saltexisted in all directions in abundance, and of good quality. Asulphurous spring was also discovered, bubbling out from the base of aperpendicular rock three hundred feet high, the waters of which weredark-blue, and tasted like gunpowder. In short, the land presentedevery variety of feature calculated to charm the imagination and delightthe eye. 

It was a mysterious land, too, for broad rivers burst in many placesfrom the earth, flowed on a short space, and then disappeared as if bymagic into the earth from which they rose. Natural bridges spanned thetorrents in many places, and some of these were so correctly formed thatit was difficult to believe they had not been built by the hand of man. They often appeared opportunely to our trappers, and saved them thetrouble and danger of fording rivers. Frequently the whole band wouldstop in silent wonder and awe as they listened to the rushing of watersunder their feet, as if another world of streams, and rapids, andcataracts were flowing below the crust of earth on which they stood. Some considerable streams were likewise observed to gush from the facesof precipices, some twenty or thirty feet from their summits, while onthe top no water was to be seen. 

Wild berries of all kinds were found in abundance, and wild vegetables, besides many nutritious roots. Among other fish splendid salmon werefound in the lakes and rivers; and animal life swarmed on hill and dale. Woods and valleys, plains, and ravines, teemed with it. On every plainthe red-deer grazed in herds by the banks of lake and stream; whereverthere were clusters of poplar and elder-trees and saplings, the beaverwas seen nibbling industriously with his sharp teeth, and committing asmuch havoc in the forests as if they had been armed with the woodman'saxe; otters sported in the eddies; racoons sat in the tree-tops; themarten, the black fox, and the wolf, prowled in the woods in quest ofprey; mountain sheep and goats browsed on the rocky ridges, and badgerspeeped from their holes. 

Here, too, the wild horse sprang snorting and dishevelled from hismountain retreats--with flourishing mane and tail, spanking step, andquestioning gaze, --and thundered away over the plains and valleys, whilethe rocks echoed back his shrill neigh. The huge, heavy, ungainly elk, or moose-deer, _trotted_ away from the travellers with speed equal tothat of the mustang. Elks seldom gallop; their best speed is attainedat the trot. Bears, too, black, and brown, and grizzly, roamed abouteverywhere. 

So numerous were all these creatures, that on one occasion the huntersof the party brought in six wild horses, three bears, four elks, andthirty red-deer; having shot them all a short distance ahead of the mainbody, and almost without diverging from the line of march. And this wasa matter of every-day occurrence--as it had need to be, considering thenumber of mouths that had to be filled. 

The feathered tribes were not less numerous. Chief among these wereeagles and vultures of uncommon size, the wild goose, wild duck, and themajestic swan. 

In the midst of such profusion the trappers spent a happy time of it, when not molested by the savages, but they frequently lost a horse ortwo in consequence of the expertness of these thievish fellows. Theyoften wandered, however, for days at a time without seeing an Indian, and at such times they enjoyed to the full the luxuries with which abountiful God had blessed these romantic regions. 

Dick Varley was almost wild with delight. It was his first excursioninto the remote wilderness; he was young, healthy, strong, and romantic;and it is a question whether his or his dog's heart, or that of thenoble wild horse he bestrode, bounded most with joy at the glorioussights, and sounds, and influences by which they were surrounded. Itwould have been perfection had it not been for the frequent annoyanceand alarms caused by the Indians. 

Alas! alas! that we who write and read about those wondrous scenesshould have to condemn our own species as the most degraded of all theworks of the Creator there! Yet so it is. Man, exercising his reasonand conscience in the path of love and duty which his Creator pointsout, is God's noblest work; but man, left to the freedom of his ownfallen will, sinks morally lower than the beasts that perish. Well mayevery Christian wish and pray that the name and the gospel of theblessed Jesus may be sent speedily to the dark places of the earth; foryou may read of, and talk about, but you _cannot conceive_ the fiendishwickedness and cruelty which causes tearless eyes to glare, and maddenedhearts to burst, in the lands of the heathen. 

While we are on this subject let us add (and our young readers will cometo know it if they are spared to see many years) that _civilisation_alone will never improve the heart. Let history speak and it will tellyou that deeds of darkest hue have been perpetrated in so-calledcivilised, though pagan lands. Civilisation is like the polish thatbeautifies inferior furniture, which water will wash off if it be but_hot enough_. Christianity resembles dye, which permeates every fibreof the fabric, and which nothing can eradicate. 

The success of the trappers in procuring beaver here was great. In allsorts of creeks and rivers they were found. One day they came to one ofthe curious rivers before mentioned, which burst suddenly out of aplain, flowed on for several miles, and then disappeared into the earthas suddenly as it had risen. Even in this strange place beaver wereseen, so the traps were set, and a hundred and fifty were caught at thefirst lift. 

The manner in which the party proceeded was as follows: They marched ina mass in groups or in a long line, according to the nature of theground over which they travelled. The hunters of the party went forwarda mile or two in advance, and scattered through the woods. After themcame the advance-guard, being the bravest and most stalwart of the menmounted on their best steeds, and with rifle in hand; immediately behindfollowed the women and children, also mounted, and the pack-horses withthe goods and camp equipage. Another band of trappers formed therear-guard to this imposing cavalcade. There was no strict regimentalorder kept, but the people soon came to adopt the arrangements that weremost convenient for all parties, and at length fell naturally into theirplaces in the line of march. 

Joe Blunt usually was the foremost and always the most successful of thehunters. He was therefore seldom seen on the march except at the hourof starting, and at night when he came back leading his horse, whichalways groaned under its heavy load of meat, Henri, being a hearty, jovial soul and fond of society, usually kept with the main body. Asfor Dick, he was everywhere at once, at least as much so as it ispossible for human nature to be! His horse never wearied; it seemed todelight in going at full speed; no other horse in the troop could comenear Charlie, and Dick indulged him by appearing now at the front, nowat the rear, anon in the centre, and frequently _nowhere_!--having goneoff with Crusoe, like a flash of lightning, after a buffalo or a deer. Dick soon proved himself to be the best hunter of the party, and it wasnot long before he fulfilled his promise to Crusoe, and decorated hisneck with a collar of grizzly bear claws. 

Well, when the trappers came to a river where there were signs ofbeaver, they called a halt, and proceeded to select a safe andconvenient spot, near wood and water, for the camp. Here the propertyof the band was securely piled in such a manner as to form a breastworkor slight fortification, and here Walter Cameron establishedhead-quarters. This was always the post of danger, being exposed tosudden attack by prowling savages, who often dogged the footsteps of theparty in their journeyings to see what they could steal. But Cameronwas an old hand, and they found it difficult to escape his vigilant eye. 

From this point all the trappers were sent forth in small parties everymorning in various directions, some on foot and some on horseback, according to the distances they had to go; but they never went furtherthan twenty miles, as they had to return to camp every evening. 

Each trapper had ten steel traps allowed him. These he set every night, and visited every morning, sometimes oftener, when practicable, selecting a spot in the stream where many trees had been cut down bybeavers for the purpose of damming up the water. In some places as manyas fifty tree stumps were seen in one spot, within the compass of halfan acre, all cut through at about eighteen inches from the root. We mayremark, in passing, that the beaver is very much like a giganticwater-rat, with this marked difference, that its tail is very broad andflat like a paddle. The said tail is a greatly esteemed article offood, as, indeed, is the whole body at certain seasons of the year. Thebeaver's fore-legs are very small and short, and it uses its paws ashands to convey food to its mouth, sitting the while in an erectposition on its hind-legs and tail. Its fur is a dense coat of agreyish-coloured down, concealed by long coarse hair, which lies smooth, and is of a bright chestnut colour. Its teeth and jaws are of enormouspower; with them it can cut through the branch of a tree as thick as awalking-stick at one snap; and, as we have said, it gnaws through thicktrees themselves. 

As soon as a tree falls, the beavers set to work industriously to lopoff the branches, which, as well as the smaller trunks, they cut intolengths, according to their weight and thickness. These are thendragged by main force to the water side, launched, and floated to theirdestination. Beavers build their houses, or "lodges, " under the banksof rivers and lakes, and always select those of such depth of water thatthere is no danger of their being frozen to the bottom; when such cannotbe found, and they are compelled to build in small rivulets ofinsufficient depth, these clever little creatures dam up the watersuntil they are deep enough. The banks thrown up by them across rivuletsfor this purpose are of great strength, and would do credit to humanengineers. Their "lodges" are built of sticks, mud, and stones, whichform a compact mass; this freezes solid in winter, and defies theassaults of that house-breaker, the wolverine, an animal which is thebeaver's implacable foe. From this "lodge, " which is capable often ofholding four old and six or eight young ones, a communication ismaintained with the water below the ice, so that, should the wolverinesucceed in breaking up the lodge, he finds the family "not at home, "they having made good their retreat by the back-door. When man acts thepart of house-breaker, however, he cunningly shuts the back-door_first_, by driving stakes through the ice, and thus stopping thepassage. Then he enters, and, we almost regret to say, finds the familyat home. We regret it, because the beaver is a gentle, peaceable, affectionate, hairy little creature, towards which one feels anirresistible tenderness! But, to return from this long digression. 

Our trappers having selected their several localities, set their trapsin the water, so that when the beavers roamed about at night, they puttheir feet into them, and were caught and drowned; for, although theycan swim and dive admirably, they cannot live altogether under water. 

Thus the different parties proceeded, and in the mornings the camp was abusy scene indeed, for then the whole were engaged in skinning theanimals. The beavers thus taken were always skinned, stretched, dried, folded up with the hair in the inside, laid by, and the flesh used forfood. 

But oftentimes the trappers had to go forth with the gun in one hand andtheir traps in the other, while they kept a sharp look out on the bushesto guard against surprise. Despite their utmost efforts a horse wasoccasionally stolen before their very eyes, and sometimes even anunfortunate trapper was murdered, and all his traps carried off. 

An event of this kind occurred soon after the party had gained thewestern slopes of the mountains. Three Iroquois Indians, who belongedto the band of trappers, were sent to a stream about ten miles off. Having reached their destination, they all entered the water to settheir traps, foolishly neglecting the usual precaution of one remainingon the bank to protect the others. They had scarcely commencedoperations, when three arrows were discharged into their backs, and aparty of Snake Indians rushed upon and slew them, carrying away theirtraps, and horses, and scalps. This was not known for several days, when, becoming anxious about their prolonged absence, Cameron sent out aparty which found their mangled bodies affording a loathsome banquet tothe wolves and vultures. 

After this sad event the trappers were more careful to go in largerparties, and keep watch. 

As long as beaver were taken in abundance the camp remained stationary, but whenever the beaver began to grow scarce, the camp was raised, andthe party moved on to another valley. 

One day Dick Varley came galloping into camp with the news that therewere several bears in a valley not far distant, which he was anxious notto disturb until a number of the trappers were collected together to goout and surround them. 

On receiving the information Walter Cameron shook his head. 

"We have other things to do, young man, " said he, "than go a-huntingafter bears. I'm just about making up my mind to send off a party tosearch out the valley on the other side of the Blue Mountains yonder, and bring back word if there are beaver there, for if not, I mean tostrike away direct south. Now, if you've a mind to go with them, you'rewelcome. I'll warrant you'll find enough in the way of bear-hunting tosatisfy you; perhaps a little Indian hunting to boot, for if theBanattees get hold of your horses, you'll have a long hunt before youfind them again. Will you go?"

"Ay, right gladly, " replied Dick. "When do we start?"

"This afternoon. "

Dick went off at once to his own part of the camp to replenish hispowder-horn and bullet pouch, and wipe out his rifle. 

That evening the party, under command of a Canadian named Pierre, setout for the Blue Hills. They numbered twenty men, and expected to beabsent three days, for they merely went to reconnoitre, not to trap. Neither Joe nor Henri were of this party, both having been out huntingwhen it was organised. But Crusoe and Charlie were, of course!

Pierre, although a brave and trusty man, was of a sour, angrydisposition, and not a favourite with Dick, but the latter resolved toenjoy himself and disregard his sulky comrade. Being so well mounted, he not unfrequently shot far ahead of his companions, despite theirwarnings that he ran great risk by so doing. On one of these occasionshe and Crusoe witnessed a very singular fight, which is worthy ofrecord. 

Dick had felt a little wilder in spirit that morning than usual, and oncoming to a pretty open plain he gave the rein to Charlie, and with an"_Adieu mes comerades_, " he was out of sight in a few minutes. He rodeon several miles in advance without checking speed, and then came to awood where rapid motion was inconvenient, so he pulled up, and, dismounting, tied Charlie to a tree, while he sauntered on a short wayon foot. 

On coming to the edge of a small plain he observed two large birdsengaged in mortal conflict. Crusoe observed them too, and would soonhave put an end to the fight had Dick not checked him. Creeping asclose to the belligerents as possible, he found that one was a wildturkey-cock, the other a white-headed eagle! These two stood with theirheads down and all their feathers bristling for a moment, then theydashed at each other, and struck fiercely with their spurs as ourdomestic cocks do, but neither fell, and the fight was continued forabout five minutes without apparent advantage on either side. 

Dick now observed that, from the uncertainty of its motions, theturkey-cock was blind, a discovery which caused a throb of compunctionto enter his breast for standing and looking on, so he ran forward. Theeagle saw him instantly, and tried to fly away, but was unable fromexhaustion. 

"At him, Crusoe, " cried Dick, whose sympathies all lay with the otherbird. 

Crusoe went forward at a bound, and was met by a peck between the eyesthat would have turned most dogs, but Crusoe only winked, and the nextmoment the eagle's career was ended. 

Dick found that the turkey-cock was quite blind, the eagle having thrustout both its eyes, so, in mercy, he put an end to its sufferings. 

The fight had evidently been a long and severe one for the grass allround the spot, for about twenty yards, was beaten to the ground, andcovered with the blood and feathers of the fierce combatants. 

Meditating on the fight which he had just witnessed, Dick returnedtowards the spot where he had left Charlie, when he suddenly missedCrusoe from his side. 

"Hallo, Crusoe! here, pup, where are you?" he cried. 

The only answer to this was a sharp whizzing sound, and an arrow, passing close to his ear, quivered in a tree beyond. Almost at the samemoment Crusoe's angry roar was followed by a shriek from some one infear or agony. Cocking his rifle, the young hunter sprang through thebushes towards his horse, and was just in time to save a Banattee Indianfrom being strangled by the dog. It had evidently scented out thisfellow, and pinned him just as he was in the act of springing on theback of Charlie, for the halter was cut, and the savage lay on theground close beside him. 

Dick called off the dog, and motioned to the Indian to rise, which hedid so nimbly that it was quite evident he had sustained no injurybeyond the laceration of his neck by Crusoe's teeth, and the surprise. 

He was a tall strong Indian, for the tribe to which he belonged, so Dickproceeded to secure him at once. Pointing to his rifle and to theIndian's breast, to show what he might expect if he attempted to escape, Dick ordered Crusoe to keep him steady in that position. 

The dog planted himself in front of the savage, who began to tremble forhis scalp, and gazed up in his face with a look which, to say the leastof it, was the reverse of amiable, while Dick went towards his horse forthe purpose of procuring a piece of cord to tie him with. The Indiannaturally turned his head to see what was going to be done, but apeculiar _gurgle_ in Crusoe's throat made him turn it round again verysmartly, and he did not venture, thereafter, to move a muscle. 

In a few seconds Dick returned with a piece of leather and tied hishands behind his back. While this was being done the Indian glancedseveral times at his bow, which lay a few feet away, where it had fallenwhen the dog caught him, but Crusoe seemed to understand him, for hefavoured him with such an additional display of teeth, and such a low--apparently distant, almost, we might say, subterranean--_rumble_, thathe resigned himself to his fate. 

His hands secured, a long line was attached to his neck with a runningnoose, so that if he ventured to run away the attempt would effect itsown cure by producing strangulation. The other end of this line wasgiven to Crusoe, who at the word of command marched him off, while Dickmounted Charlie and brought up the rear. 

Great was the laughter and merriment when this apparition met the eyesof the trappers; but when they heard that he had attempted to shoot Dicktheir ire was raised, and a court-martial was held on the spot. 

"Hang the reptile!" cried one. 

"Burn him!" shouted another. 

"No, no, " said a third; "don't imitate them villains; don't be cruel. Let's shoot him. "

"Shoot 'im, " cried Pierre; "Oui, dat is de ting; it too goot pour lui, mais, it shall be dooed. "

"Don't ye think, lads, it would be better to let the poor wretch off?"said Dick Varley; "he'd p'raps give a good account o' us to his people. "

There was a universal shout of contempt at this mild proposal. Unfortunately, few of the men sent on this exploring expedition wereimbued with the peacemaking spirit of their chief; and most of themseemed glad to have a chance of venting their hatred of the poor Indianson this unhappy wretch, who although calm, looked sharply from onespeaker to another, to gather hope, if possible, from the tones of theirvoices. 

Dick was resolved at the risk of a quarrel with Pierre to save the poorman's life, and had made up his mind to insist on having him conductedto the camp to be tried by Cameron, when one of the men suggested thatthey should take the savage to the top of a hill about three milesfurther on, and there hang him up on a tree as a warning to all histribe. 

"Agreed, agreed, " cried the men; "come on. "

Dick, too, seemed to agree to this proposal, and hastily ordered Crusoeto run on ahead with the savage, an order which the dog obeyed sovigorously that before the men had done laughing at him, he was a coupleof hundred yards ahead of them. 

"Take care that he don't get off!" cried Dick, springing on Charlie andstretching out at a gallop. 

In a moment he was beside the Indian. Scraping together the little ofthe Indian language he knew, he stooped down, and, cutting the thongsthat bound him, said--"Go, white men love the Indians. "

The man cast on his deliverer one glance of surprise, and the nextmoment bounded aside into the bushes and was gone. 

A loud shout from the party behind showed that this act had beenobserved, and Crusoe stood with the end of the line in his mouth, and anexpression on his face that said, "You're absolutely incomprehensible, Dick! It's all right, I _know_; but to my feeble capacity it _seems_wrong. "

"Fat for, you do dat?" shouted Pierre in a rage, as he came up with amenacing look. 

Dick confronted him. "The prisoner was mine. I had a right to do withhim as it liked me. "

"True, true, " cried several of the men who had begun to repent of theirresolution, and were glad the savage was off. "The lad's right. Getalong, Pierre. "

"You had no right, you vas wrong. Oui, et I have goot vill to give youone knock on de nose. "

Dick looked Pierre in the face, as he said this, in a manner that cowedhim. 

"It is time, " he said quietly, pointing to the sun, "to go on. Yourbourgeois expects that time won't be wasted. "

Pierre muttered something in an angry tone, and, wheeling round hishorse, dashed forward at full gallop followed by the rest of the men. 

The trappers encamped that night on the edge of a wide grassy plain, which offered such tempting food for the horses that Pierre resolved toforego his usual cautious plan of picketting them close to the camp, andset them loose on the plain, merely hobbling them to prevent theirstraying far. 

Dick remonstrated, but in vain. An insolent answer was all he got forhis pains. He determined, however, to keep Charlie close beside him allnight, and also made up his mind to keep a sharp look out on the otherhorses. 

At supper he again remonstrated. 

"No fraid, " said Pierre, whose pipe was beginning to improve his temper. "The red reptiles no dare to come in open plain when de moon so clear. "

"Dun know that, " said a taciturn trapper, who seldom ventured a remarkof any kind; "them varmints 'ud steal the two eyes out o' you' head whenthey set their hearts on't. "

"Dat ar' umposs'ble, for de have no hearts, " said a half-breed; "deyhave von hole vere de heart vas be. "

This was received with a shout of laughter, in the midst of which anappalling yell was heard, and, as if by magic, four Indians were seen onthe backs of four of the best horses, yelling like fiends, and drivingall the other horses furiously before them over the plain. 

How they got there was a complete mystery, but the men did not wait toconsider that point. Catching up their guns they sprang after them withthe fury of madmen, and were quickly scattered far and wide. Dickordered Crusoe to follow and help the men, and turned to spring on theback of Charlie, but at that moment he observed an Indian's head andshoulders rise above the grass, not fifty yards in advance from him, sowithout hesitation he darted forward, intending to pounce upon him. 

Well would it have been for Dick Varley had he at that time possessed alittle more experience of the wiles and stratagems of the Banattees. The Snake nation is subdivided into several tribes, of which thoseinhabiting the Rocky Mountains, called the Banattees, are the mostperfidious. Indeed, they are confessedly the banditti of the hills, andrespect neither friend nor foe, but rob all who come in their way. 

Dick reached the spot where the Indian had disappeared in less than aminute, but no savage was to be seen! Thinking he had crept ahead heran on a few yards further, and darted about hither and thither, whilehis eye glanced from side to side. Suddenly a shout in the campattracted his attention, and looking back he beheld the savage onCharlie's back turning to fly. Next moment he was off and away farbeyond the hope of recovery. Dick had left his rifle in the camp, otherwise the savage would have gone but a short way--as it was, Dickreturned, and sitting down on a mound of grass, stared straight beforehim with a feeling akin to despair. Even Crusoe could not have helpedhim had he been there, for nothing on four legs, or on two, could keeppace with Charlie. 

The Banattee achieved this feat by adopting a stratagem which invariablydeceives those who are ignorant of their habits and tactics. Whensuddenly pursued the Banattee sinks into the grass, and, serpentlike, creeps along with wonderful rapidity, not _from_ but _towards_ hisenemy, taking care, however, to avoid him, so that when the pursuerreaches the spot where the pursued is supposed to be hiding, he hearshim shout a yell of defiance far away in the rear. 

It was thus that the Banattee eluded Dick and gained the camp almost assoon as the other reached the spot where he had disappeared. 

One by one the trappers came back weary, raging, and despairing. In ashort time they all assembled, and soon began to reproach each other. Ere long one or two had a fight, which resulted in several bloody nosesand black eyes, thus adding to the misery which, one would think, hadbeen bad enough without such additions. At last they finished theirsuppers and their pipes, and then lay down to sleep under the trees tillmorning, when they arose in a particularly silent and sulky mood, rolledup their blankets, strapped their things on their shoulders, and beganto trudge slowly back to the camp on foot. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

WOLVES ATTACK THE HORSES, AND CAMERON CIRCUMVENTS THE WOLVES--ABEAR-HUNT, IN WHICH HENRI SHINES CONSPICUOUS--JOE AND THE"NATTER-LIST"--AN ALARM--A SURPRISE AND A CAPTURE. 

We must now return to the camp where Walter Cameron still guarded thegoods, and the men pursued their trapping avocations. 

Here seven of the horses had been killed in one night by wolves whilegrazing in a plain close to the camp, and on the night following a horsethat had strayed was also torn to pieces and devoured. The prompt anddaring manner in which this had been done convinced the trader thatwhite wolves had unfortunately scented them out, and he set severaltraps in the hope of capturing them. 

White wolves are quite distinct from the ordinary wolves that prowlthrough woods and plains in large packs. They are much larger, weighingsometimes as much as a hundred and thirty pounds; but they arecomparatively scarce, and move about alone, or in small bands of threeor four. Their strength is enormous, and they are so fierce that theydo not hesitate, upon occasions, to attack man himself. Their method ofkilling horses is very deliberate. Two wolves generally undertake thecold-blooded murder. They approach their victim with the most innocentlooking and frolicsome gambols, lying down and rolling about, andfrisking pleasantly until the horse becomes a little accustomed to them. Then one approaches right in front, the other in rear, still friskingplayfully, until they think themselves near enough, when they make asimultaneous rush. The wolf which approaches in rear is the trueassailant; the rush of the other is a mere feint; then both fasten onthe poor horse's haunches and never let go till the sinews are cut andhe is rolling on his side. 

The horse makes comparatively little struggle in this deadly assault. He seems paralysed and soon falls to rise no more. 

Cameron set his traps towards evening in a circle with a bait in thecentre and then retired to rest. Next morning he called Joe Blunt andthe two went off together. 

"It is strange that these rascally white wolves should be so bold whenthe smaller kinds are so cowardly, " remarked Cameron, as they walkedalong. 

"So 'tis, " replied Joe, "but I've seed them other chaps bold enough tooin the prairie when they were in large packs and starvin'. "

"I believe the small wolves follow the big fellows and help them to eatwhat they kill, though they generally sit round and look on at thekilling. "

"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, cocking his gun, "there he is, an' no mistake. "

There he was, undoubtedly. A wolf of the largest size with one of hisfeet in the trap. He was a terrible-looking object, for, besides hisimmense size and naturally ferocious aspect, his white hair bristled onend and was all covered with streaks and spots of blood from his bloodyjaws. In his efforts to escape he had bitten the trap until he hadbroken his teeth and lacerated his gums, so that his appearance washideous in the extreme. And when the two men came up he struggled withall his might to fly at them. 

Cameron and Joe stood looking at him in a sort of wondering admiration. 

"We'd better put a ball in him, " suggested Joe after a time. "Mayhapthe chain won't stand sich tugs long. "

"True, Joe; if it breaks we might get an ugly nip before we killed him. "

So saying Cameron fired into the wolf's head and killed it. It wasfound, on examination, that four wolves had been in the traps, but therest had escaped. Two of them, however, had gnawed off their paws andleft them lying in the traps. 

After this the big wolves did not trouble them again. The sameafternoon, a bear-hunt was undertaken, which well-nigh cost one of theIroquois his life. It happened thus:--

While Cameron and Joe were away after the white wolves, Henri camefloundering into camp tossing his arms like a maniac, and shouting that"seven bars wos be down in de bush close bye!" It chanced that this wasan idle day with most of the men, so they all leaped on their horses, and taking guns and knives sallied forth to give battle to the bears. 

Arrived at the scene of action they found the seven bears busily engagedin digging up roots, so the men separated in order to surround them, andthen closed in. The place was partly open and partly covered with thickbushes into which a horseman could not penetrate. The moment the bearsgot wind of what was going forward they made off as fast as possible, and then commenced a scene of firing, galloping, and yelling, thatdefies description! Four out of the seven were shot before they gainedthe bushes; the other three were wounded, but made good their retreat. As their places of shelter, however, were like islands in the plain, they had no chance of escaping. 

The horsemen now dismounted and dashed recklessly into the bushes, wherethey soon discovered and killed two of the bears; the third was notfound for some time. At last an Iroquois came upon it so suddenly thathe had not time to point his gun before the bear sprang upon him andstruck him to the earth, where it held him down. 

Instantly the place was surrounded by eager men, but the bushes were sothick and the fallen trees among which the bear stood were so numerous, that they could not use their guns without running the risk of shootingtheir companion. Most of them drew their knives and seemed about torush on the bear with these, but the monster's aspect, as it glaredround, was so terrible that they held back for a moment in hesitation. 

At this moment Henri, who had been at some distance engaged in thekilling of one of the other bears, came rushing forward after his ownpeculiar manner. 

"Ah! fat is eet--hay? de bar no go under yit?"

Just then his eye fell on the wounded Iroquois with the bear above him, and he uttered a yell so intense in tone that the bear himself seemed tofeel that something decisive was about to be done at last. Henri didnot pause, but with a flying dash he sprang like a spread eagle, armsand legs extended, right into the bear's bosom. At the same moment hesent his long hunting-knife down into its heart. But Bruin isproverbially hard to kill, and although mortally wounded, he hadstrength enough to open his jaws and close them on Henri's neck. 

There was a cry of horror, and at the same moment a volley was fired atthe bear's head, for the trappers felt that it was better to riskshooting their comrades than see them killed before their eyes. Fortunately the bullets took effect, and tumbled him over at oncewithout doing damage to either of the men, although several of the ballsjust grazed Henri's temple and carried off his cap. 

Although uninjured by the shot, the poor Iroquois had not escapedscatheless from the paw of the bear. His scalp was torn almost off, andhung down over his eyes, while blood streamed down his face. He wasconveyed by his comrades to the camp, where he lay two days in a stateof insensibility, at the end of which time he revived and recovereddaily. Afterwards when the camp moved he had to be carried, but in thecourse of two months he was as well as ever, and quite as fond ofbear-hunting!

Among other trophies of this hunt there were two deer, and a buffalo, which last had probably strayed from the herd. Four or five Iroquoiswere round this animal whetting their knives for the purpose of cuttingit up when Henri passed, so he turned aside to watch them perform theoperation, quite regardless of the fact that his neck and face werecovered with blood which flowed from one or two small punctures made bythe bear. 

The Indians began by taking off the skin, which certainly did not occupythem more than five minutes. Then they cut up the meat and made a packof it, and cut out the tongue, which is somewhat troublesome, as thatmember requires to be cut out from under the jaw of the animal, and notthrough the natural opening of the mouth. One of the fore-legs was cutoff at the knee joint, and this was used as a hammer with which to breakthe skull for the purpose of taking out the brains, these being used inthe process of dressing and softening the animal's skin. An axe wouldhave been of advantage to break the skull, but in the hurry of rushingto the attack the Indians had forgotten their axes, so they adopted thecommon fashion of using the buffalo's hoof as a hammer, the shank beingthe handle. The whole operation of flaying, cutting up, and packing themeat, did not occupy more than twenty minutes. Before leaving theground these expert butchers treated themselves to a little of themarrow and warm liver in a raw state!

Cameron and Joe walked up to the group while they were indulging in thislittle feast. 

"Well, I've often seen that eaten, but I never could do it myself, "remarked the former. 

"No!" cried Joe in surprise; "now that's oncommon cur'us. I've _lived_on raw liver an' marrow-bones for two or three days at a time, when wewos chased by the Camanchee Injuns and didn't dare to make a fire, an'it's ra'al good it is. Won't ye try it _now_?"

Cameron shook his head. 

"No, thankee; I'll not refuse when I can't help it, but until then I'llremain in happy ignorance of how good it is. "

"Well, it _is_ strange how some folk can't abide anything in the meatway they han't bin used to. D'ye know I've actually knowd men from thecities as wouldn't eat a bit o' horseflesh for love or money. Would yebelieve it?"

"I can well believe that, Joe, for I have met with such persons myself;in fact, they are rather numerous. What are you chuckling at, Joe?"

"Chucklin'? if ye mean be that `larfin' in to myself' it's because I'mthinkin' o' a chap as once comed out to the prairies. "

"Let us walk back to the camp, Joe, and you can tell me about him as wego along. "

"I think, " continued Joe, "he comed from Washington, but I never couldmake out right whether he wos a government man or not. Anyhow, he wos apheelosopher--a natter-list I think he call his-self. "

"A naturalist, " suggested Cameron. 

"Ay, that wos more like it. Well, he wos about six feet two in hismoccasins, an' as thin as a ramrod, an' as blind as a bat--leastways hehad weak eyes an wore green spectacles. He had on a grey shootin' coatand trousers and vest and cap, with rid whiskers an' a long nose as ridat the point as the whiskers wos. 

"Well, this gentleman engaged me an' another hunter to go a trip withhim into the prairies, so off we sot one fine day on three hosses withour blankets at our backs--we wos to depend on the rifle for victuals. At first I thought the Natter-list one o' the cruellest beggars as iverwent on two long legs, for he used to go about everywhere pokin' pinsthrough all the beetles, and flies, an' creepin' things he could soteyes on, an' stuck them in a box; but he told me he comed here a-purposeto git as many o' them as he could; so says I, `If that's it, I'll fillyer box in no time. '

"`Will ye?' says he, quite pleased like. 

"`I will, ' says I, an' galloped off to a place as was filled wi' allsorts o' crawlin' things. So I sets to work, and whenever I seed athing crawlin' I sot my fut on it and crushed it, and soon filled mybreast pocket. I coched a lot o' butterflies too, an' stuffed them intomy shot pouch, and went back in an hour or two an' showed him the lot. He put on his green spectacles and looked at them as if he'd seen arattlesnake. 

"`My good man, ' says he, `you've crushed them all to pieces!'

"`They'll taste as good for all that, ' says I, for somehow I'd taken'tin me head that he'd heard o' the way the Injuns make soup o' thegrasshoppers, an was wantin' to try his hand at a new dish!

"He laughed when I said this, an' told me he wos collectin' them to takehome to be _looked_ at. But that's not wot I wos goin' to tell ye abouthim, " continued Joe; "I wos goin' to tell ye how we made him eathorseflesh. He carried a revolver, too, this Natter-list did, to loadwi' shot as small as dust a-most, and shoot little birds with. I'veseed him miss birds only three feet away with it. An' one day he drewit all of a suddent and let fly at a big bum-bee that wos passin', yellin' out that it wos the finest wot he had iver seed. He missed thebee, of coorse, cause it was a flyin' shot, he said, but he sent thewhole charge right into Martin's back--Martin was my comrade's name. Bygood luck Martin had on a thick leather coat, so the shot niver got thelength o' his skin. 

"One day I noticed that the Natter-list had stuffed small corks into themuzzles of all the six barrels of his revolver. I wondered what theywos for, but he wos al'ays doin' sich queer _things_ that I soon forgotit. `May be, ' thought I, jist before it went out o' my mind, --`may behe thinks that 'll stop the pistol from goin' off by accident, ' for yemust know he'd let it off three times the first day by accident, andwell-nigh blowed off his leg the last time, only the shot lodged in theback o' a big toad he'd jist stuffed into his breeches' pocket. Well, soon after, we shot a buffalo bull, so when it fell, off he jumps fromhis horse an runs up to it. So did I, for I wasn't sure the beast wasdead, an' I had jist got up when it rose an' rushed at the Natter-list. 

"`Out o' the way, ' I yelled, for my rifle was empty; but he didn't move, so I rushed forward an' drew the pistol out o' his belt and let fly inthe bull's ribs jist as it ran the poor man down. Martin came up thatmoment an' put a ball through its heart, and then we went to pick up theNatter-list. He came to in a little, an' the first thing he said was, `Where's my revolver?' When I gave it to him he looked at it, an' saidwith a solemcholy shake o' the head, `There's a whole barrel-full lost!'It turned out that he had taken to usin' the barrels for bottles tohold things in, but he forgot to draw the charges, so sure enough I hadfired a charge o' bum-bees, an' beetles, an' small shot into thebuffalo!

"But that's not what I wos goin' to tell ye yet. We comed to a part o'the plains where we wos well-nigh starved for want o' game, an' theNatter-list got so thin that ye could a-most see through him, so Ioffered to kill my horse, an' cut it up for meat; but you niver saw sicha face he made. `I'd rather die first, ' says he, `than eat it;' so wedidn't kill it. But that very day Martin got a shot at a wild horse andkilled it. The Natter-list was down in the bed o' a creek at the timegropin' for creepers, an' he didn't see it. 

"`He'll niver eat it, ' says Martin. 

"`That's true, ' says I. 

"`Let's tell him it's a buffalo, ' says he. 

"`That would be tellin' a lie, ' says I. 

"So we stood lookin' at each other, not knowin' what to do. 

"`I'll tell ye what, ' cries Martin, `we'll cut it up, and take the meatinto camp and cook it without _sayin' a word_. '

"`Done, ' says I, `that's it;' for ye must know the poor creature wos nojudge o' meat. He couldn't tell one kind from another, an' he niveraxed questions. In fact he niver a-most spoke to us all the trip. Well, we cut up the horse and carried the flesh and marrow-bones intocamp, takin' care to leave the hoofs and skin behind, and sot to workand roasted steaks and marrow-bones. 

"When the Natter-list came back ye should ha' seen the joyful face heput on when he smelt the grub, for he was all but starved out, poorcritter. 

"`What have we got here?' cried he, rubbin' his hands and sittin' down. 

"`Steaks an' marrow-bones, ' says Martin. 

"`Capital!' says he. `I'm _so_ hungry. '

"So he fell to work like a wolf. I niver seed a man pitch into anythinglike as that Natter-list did into that horseflesh. 

"`These are first-rate marrow-bones, ' says he, squintin' with one eyedown the shin bone o' the hind-leg to see if it was quite empty. 

"`Yes, sir, they is, ' answered Martin, as grave as a judge. 

"`Take another, sir, ' says I. 

"`No, thankee, ' says he with a sigh, for he didn't like to leave off. 

"Well, we lived for a week on horseflesh, an' first-rate livin' it wos;then we fell in with buffalo, an' niver ran short again till we got tothe settlements, when he paid us our money an' shook hands, sayin' we'dhad a nice trip an' he wished us well. Jist as we wos partin' I said, says I, `D'ye know what it wos we lived on for a week arter we woswell-nigh starved in the prairies?'

"`What, ' says he, `when we got yon capital marrow-bones?'

"`The same, ' says I; `yon was _horseflesh_, ' says I, `an' I think ye'llsur'ly niver say again that it isn't first-rate livin'. '

"`Yer jokin', ' says he, turnin' pale. 

"`It's true, sir, as true as yer standin' there. '

"Well, would ye believe it; he turned--that Natter-list did--as sick asa dog on the spot wot he wos standin' on, an' didn't taste meat againfor three days!"

Shortly after the conclusion of Joe's story they reached the camp, andhere they found the women and children flying about in a state ofterror, and the few men who had been left in charge arming themselves inthe greatest haste. 

"Hallo! something wrong here, " cried Cameron hastening forward followedby Joe. "What has happened, eh?"

"Injuns comin', monsieur, look dere, " answered a trapper, pointing downthe valley. 

"Arm and mount at once, and come to the front of the camp, " criedCameron in a tone of voice that silenced every other, and turnedconfusion into order. 

The cause of all this outcry was a cloud of dust seen far down thevalley, which was raised by a band of mounted Indians who approached thecamp at full speed. Their numbers could not be made out, but they werea sufficiently formidable band to cause much anxiety to Cameron, whosemen, at the time, were scattered to the various trapping grounds, andonly ten chanced to be within call of the camp. However, with these tenhe determined to show a bold front to the savages, whether they came asfriends or foes. He therefore ordered the women and children within thecitadel formed of the goods and packs of furs piled upon each other, which point of retreat was to be defended to the last extremity. Thengalloping to the front he collected his men and swept down the valley atfull speed. In a few minutes they were near enough to observe that theenemy only numbered four Indians, who were driving a band of about ahundred horses before them, and so busy were they in keeping the trooptogether that Cameron and his men were close upon them before they wereobserved. 

It was too late to escape. Joe Blunt and Henri had already swept roundand cut off their retreat. In this extremity the Indians slipped fromthe backs of their steeds and darted into the bushes, where they weresafe from pursuit, at least on horseback, while the trappers got behindthe horses and drove them towards the camp. 

At this moment one of the horses sprang ahead of the others and made forthe mountain, with its mane and tail flying wildly in the breeze. 

"Marrow-bones and buttons!" shouted one of the men, "there goes DickVarley's horse. "

"So it am!" cried Henri, and dashed off in pursuit, followed by Joe andtwo others. 

"Why, these are our own horses, " said Cameron in surprise, as they drovethem into a corner of the hills from which they could not escape. 

This was true, but it was only half the truth, for, besides their ownhorses, they had secured upwards of seventy Indian steeds, a mostacceptable addition to their stud, which, owing to casualties andwolves, had been diminishing too much of late. The fact was, that theIndians who had captured the horses belonging to Pierre and his partywere a small band of robbers who had travelled, as was afterwardslearned, a considerable distance from the south, stealing horses fromvarious tribes as they went along. As we have seen, in an evil hourthey fell in with Pierre's party and carried off their steeds, whichthey drove to a pass leading from one valley to the other. Here theyunited them with the main band of their ill-gotten gains, and while thegreater number of the robbers descended further into the plains insearch of more booty, four of them were sent into the mountains with thehorses already procured. These four, utterly ignorant of the presenceof white men in the valley, drove their charge, as we have seen, almostinto the camp. 

Cameron immediately organised a party to go out in search of Pierre andhis companions, about whose fate he became intensely anxious, and in thecourse of half an hour as many men as he could spare with safety weredespatched in the direction of the Blue Mountains. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

CHARLIE'S ADVENTURES WITH SAVAGES AND BEARS--TRAPPING LIFE. 

It is one thing to chase a horse; it is another thing to catch it. Little consideration and less sagacity is required to convince us of thetruth of that fact. 

The reader may perhaps venture to think this rather a trifling fact. Weare not so sure of that. In this world of fancies, to have _any_ factincontestably proved and established is a comfort, and whatever is asource of comfort to mankind is worthy of notice. Surely our readerwon't deny that! Perhaps he will, so we can only console ourself withthe remark that there are people in this world who would deny_anything_--who would deny that there was a nose on their face if yousaid there was!

Well, to return to the point, which was the chase of a horse in theabstract; from which we will rapidly diverge to the chase of DickVarley's horse in particular. This noble charger, having been ridden bysavages until all his old fire, and blood, and metal were worked up to ared heat, no sooner discovered that he was pursued than he gave a snortof defiance, which he accompanied with a frantic shake of his mane, anda fling of contempt in addition to a magnificent wave of his tail; thenhe thundered up the valley at a pace which would speedily have left JoeBlunt and Henri out of sight behind if--ay! that's the word, _if_! whata word that _if_ is! what a world of if's we live in! There never wasanything that wouldn't have been something else _if_ something hadn'tintervened to prevent it! Yes, we repeat, Charlie would have left histwo friends miles and miles behind in what is called "no time, " _if_ hehad not run straight into a gorge which was surrounded by inaccessibleprecipices, and out of which there was no exit except by the entrance, which was immediately barred by Henri, while Joe advanced to catch therunaway. 

For two hours at least did Joe Blunt essay to catch Charlie, and duringthat space of time he utterly failed. The horse seemed to have made uphis mind for what is vulgarly termed "a lark. "

"It won't do, Henri, " said Joe, advancing towards his companion, andwiping his forehead with the cuff of his leathern coat. "I can't catchhim. The wind's a-most blowed out o' me body. "

"Dat am vexatiable, " replied Henri, in a tone of commiseration. "S'poseI wos make try?"

"In that case I s'pose ye would fail. But go ahead an' do what ye can. I'll hold yer horse. "

So Henri began by a rush and a flourish of legs and arms that nearlyfrightened the horse out his wits. For half an hour he went through allthe complications of running and twisting of which he was capable, without success, when Joe Blunt suddenly uttered a stentorian yell thatrooted him to the spot on which he stood. 

To account for this, we must explain that in the heights of the RockyMountains vast accumulations of snow take place among the crevices andgorges during winter. Such of these masses as form on steep slopes areloosened by occasional thaws, and are precipitated in the form ofavalanches into the valleys below, carrying trees and stones along withthem in their thundering descent. In the gloomy gorge where Dick'shorse had taken refuge, the precipices were so steep that manyavalanches had occurred, as was evident from the mounds of heaped snowthat lay at the foot of most of them. Neither stones nor trees werecarried down here, however, for the cliffs were nearly perpendicular, and the snow slipping over their edges had fallen on the grass below. Such an avalanche was now about to take place, and it was this thatcaused Joe to utter his cry of alarm and warning. 

Henri and the horse were directly under the cliff over which it wasabout to be hurled, the latter close to the wall of rock, the other atsome distance away from it. 

Joe cried again, "Back, Henri! back _vite_!" when the mass _flowed over_and fell with a roar like prolonged thunder. Henri sprang back in timeto save his life, though he was knocked down and almost stunned, butpoor Charlie was completely buried under the avalanche, which nowpresented the appearance of a _hill_ of snow. 

The instant Henri recovered sufficiently, Joe and he mounted theirhorses and galloped back to the camp as fast as possible. 

Meanwhile, another spectator stepped forward upon the scene they hadleft, and surveyed the snow hill with a critical eye. This was no lessthan a grizzly bear which had, unobserved, been a spectator, and whichimmediately proceeded to dig into the mound with the purpose, no doubt, of disentombing the carcase of the horse for purposes of his own. 

While he was thus actively engaged, the two hunters reached the campwhere they found that Pierre and his party had just arrived. The mensent out in search of them had scarcely advanced a mile when they foundthem trudging back to the camp in a very disconsolate manner. But alltheir sorrows were put to flight on hearing of the curious way in whichthe horses had been returned to them with interest. 

Scarcely had Dick Varley, however, congratulated himself on the recoveryof his gallant steed, when he was thrown into despair by the suddenarrival of Joe with the tidings of the catastrophe we have just related. 

Of course there was a general rush to the rescue. Only a few men wereordered to remain to guard the camp, while the remainder mounted theirhorses and galloped towards the gorge where Charlie had been entombed. On arriving, they found that Bruin had worked with such laudable zealthat nothing but the tip of his tail was seen sticking out of the holewhich he had dug. The hunters could not refrain from laughing as theysprang to the ground, and standing in a semicircle in front of the hole, prepared to fire. But Crusoe resolved to have the honour of leading theassault. He seized fast hold of Bruin's flank, and caused his teeth tomeet therein. Caleb backed out at once and turned round, but before hecould recover from his surprise a dozen bullets pierced his heart andbrain. 

"Now, lads, " cried Cameron, setting to work with a large wooden shovel, "work like niggers. If there's any life left in the horse it'll soon besmothered out unless we set him free. "

The men needed no urging, however. They worked as if their livesdepended on their exertions. Dick Varley, in particular, laboured likea young Hercules, and Henri hurled masses of snow about in a mostsurprising manner. Crusoe, too, entered heartily into the spirit of thework, and, scraping with his forepaws, sent such a continuous shower ofsnow behind him that he was speedily lost to view in a hole of his ownexcavating. In the course of half an hour a cavern was dug in the moundalmost close up to the cliff, and the men were beginning to look aboutfor the crushed body of Dick's steed, when an exclamation from Henriattracted their attention. 

"Ha! mes ami, here am be one hole. "

The truth of this could not be doubted, for the eccentric trapper hadthrust his shovel through the wall of snow into what appeared to be acavern beyond, and immediately followed up his remark by thrusting inhis head and shoulders. He drew them out in a few seconds, with a lookof intense amazement. 

"Voila! Joe Blunt. Look in dere, and you shall see fat you willbehold. "

"Why, it's the horse, I do b'lieve!" cried Joe. "Go ahead, lads. "

So saying, he resumed his shovelling vigorously, and in a few minutesthe hole was opened up sufficiently to enable a man to enter. Dicksprang in, and there stood Charlie close beside the cliff, looking assedate and unconcerned as if all that had been going on had no referenceto him whatever. 

The cause of his safety was simple enough. The precipice beside whichhe stood when the avalanche occurred overhung its base at that pointconsiderably, so that when the snow descended, a clear space of severalfeet wide was left all along its base. Here Charlie had remained inperfect comfort until his friends dug him out. 

Congratulating themselves not a little on having saved the charger andbagged a grizzly bear, the trappers remounted, and returned to the camp. 

For some time after this nothing worthy of particular note occurred. The trapping operations went on prosperously and without interruptionfrom the Indians, who seemed to have left the locality altogether. During this period, Dick, and Crusoe, and Charlie had many excursionstogether, and the silver rifle full many a time sent death to the heartof bear, and elk, and buffalo, while, indirectly, it sent joy to theheart of man, woman, and child in camp, in the shape of juicy steaks andmarrow-bones. Joe and Henri devoted themselves almost exclusively totrapping beaver, in which pursuit they were so successful that theyspeedily became wealthy men, according to backwood notions of wealth. With the beaver that they caught, they purchased from Cameron's storepowder and shot enough for a long hunting expedition and a couple ofspare horses to carry their packs. They also purchased a largeassortment of such goods and trinkets as would prove acceptable toIndians, and supplied themselves with new blankets, and a few pairs ofstrong moccasins, of which they stood much in need. 

Thus they went on from day to day, until symptoms of the approach ofwinter warned them that it was time to return to the Mustang Valley. About this time an event occurred which totally changed the aspect ofaffairs in these remote valleys of the Rocky Mountains, and precipitatedthe departure of our four friends, Dick, Joe, Henri, and Crusoe. Thiswas the sudden arrival of a whole tribe of Indians. As their advent wassomewhat remarkable, we shall devote to it the commencement of a newchapter. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

SAVAGE SPORTS--LIVING CATARACTS--AN ALARM--INDIANS AND THEIR DOINGS--THESTAMPEDO--CHARLIE AGAIN. 

One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near therocky gorge, where his horse had received temporary burial a week or twobefore. Crusoe was with him, of course. Dick had tied Charlie to atree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top ofwhich he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices thathemmed it in. 

Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on theopposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, sothat their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky. Dick was gazing in dreamy silence at the jutting rocks and dark caverns, and speculating on the probable number of bears that dwelt there, when aslight degree of restlessness on the part of Crusoe attracted him. 

"What is't, pup?" said he, laying his hand on the dog's broad back. 

Crusoe looked the answer, "I don't know, Dick, but it's _something_, youmay depend upon it, else I would not have disturbed you. "

Dick lifted his rifle from the ground, and laid it in the hollow of hisleft arm. 

"There must be something in the wind, " remarked Dick. 

As wind is known to be composed of two distinct gases, Crusoe feltperfectly safe in replying "Yes, " with his tail. Immediately after headded, "Hallo! did you hear that?"--with his ears. 

Dick did hear it, and sprang hastily to his feet, as a sound like, yetunlike, distant thunder came faintly down upon the breeze. In a fewseconds the sound increased to a roar in which was mingled the wildcries of men. Neither Dick nor Crusoe moved, for the sounds came frombehind the heights in front of them, and they felt that the only way tosolve the question, "What can the sounds be?" was to wait till thesounds should solve it themselves. 

Suddenly the muffled sounds gave place to the distinct bellowing ofcattle, the clatter of innumerable hoofs, and the yells of savage men, while at the same moment the edges of the opposite cliffs became alivewith Indians and buffaloes rushing about in frantic haste--the formeralmost mad with savage excitement, the latter with blind rage andterror. 

On reaching the edge of the dizzy precipice, the buffaloes turnedabruptly and tossed their ponderous heads as they coursed along theedge. Yet a few of them, unable to check their headlong course, fellover, and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Such falls, Dickobserved, were hailed with shouts of delight by the Indians, whose soleobject evidently was to enjoy the sport of driving the terrified animalsover the precipice. The wily savages had chosen their ground well forthis purpose. 

The cliff immediately opposite to Dick Varley was a huge projection fromthe precipice that hemmed in the gorge, or species of cape or promontoryseveral hundred yards wide at the base, and narrowing abruptly to apoint. The sides of this wedge-shaped projection were quiteperpendicular; indeed, in some places the top overhung the base, andthey were at least three hundred feet high. Broken and jagged rocks, ofthat peculiarly chaotic character which probably suggested the name tothis part of the great American chain, projected from, and werescattered all round, the cliffs. Over these the Indians, whose numbersincreased every moment, strove to drive the luckless herd of buffaloesthat had chanced to fall in their way. The task was easy. Theunsuspecting animals, of which there were hundreds, rushed in a densemass upon the cape referred to. On they came with irresistibleimpetuosity, bellowing furiously, while their hoofs thundered on theturf with the muffled continuous roar of a distant, but mightycataract--the Indians, meanwhile, urging them on by hideous yell andfrantic gesture. 

The advance-guard came bounding madly to the edge of the precipice. Here they stopped short, and gazed affrighted at the gulf below. It wasbut for a moment. The irresistible momentum of the flying mass behindpushed them over. Down they came, absolutely a living cataract, uponthe rocks below. Some struck on the projecting rocks in the descent, and their bodies were dashed almost in pieces, while their blood spurtedout in showers. Others leaped from rock to rock with awful bounds, until, losing their foot-hold, they fell headlong, while othersdescended sheer down into the sweltering mass that lay shattered at thebase of the cliffs. 

Dick Varley and his dog remained rooted to the rock, as they gazed atthe sickening sight, as if petrified. Scarce fifty of that noble herdof buffaloes escaped the awful leap, but they escaped only to fallbefore the arrows of their ruthless pursuers. Dick had often heard ofthis tendency of the Indians, where buffaloes were very numerous, todrive them over precipices in mere wanton sport and cruelty, but he hadnever seen it until now, and the sight filled his soul with horror. Itwas not until the din and tumult of the perishing herd and the shrillyells of the Indians had almost died away that he turned to quit thespot. But the instant he did so another shout was raised. The savageshad observed him, and were seen galloping along the cliffs towards thehead of the gorge, with the obvious intention of gaining the other sideand capturing him. Dick sprang on Charlie's back, and the next instantwas flying down the valley towards the camp. 

He did not, however, fear being overtaken, for the gorge could not becrossed, and the way round the head of it was long and rugged; but hewas anxious to alarm the camp as quickly as possible, so that they mighthave time to call in the more distant trappers and make preparations fordefence. 

"Where away now, youngster, " inquired Cameron, emerging from his tent asDick, taking the brook that flowed in front at a flying leap, camecrashing through the bushes into the midst of the fur-packs at fullspeed. 

"Injuns!" ejaculated Dick, reining up, and vaulting out of the saddle. "Hundreds of 'em. Fiends incarnate every one!"

"Are they near?"

"Yes; an hour 'll bring them down on us. Are Joe and Henri far fromcamp to-day?"

"At Ten-mile Creek, " replied Cameron with an expression of bitterness, as he caught up his gun and shouted to several men, who hurried up onseeing our hero's burst into camp. 

"Ten-mile Creek!" muttered Dick. "I'll bring 'em in, though, " hecontinued, glancing at several of the camp horses that grazed close athand. 

In another moment he was on Charlie's back, the line of one of the besthorses was in his hand, and almost before Cameron knew what he was abouthe was flying down the valley like the wind. Charlie often stretchedout at full speed to please his young master, but seldom had he beenurged forward as he was upon this occasion. The led horse being lightand wild, kept well up, and, in a marvellously short space of time, theywere at Ten-mile Creek. 

"Hallo, Dick, wot's to do?" inquired Joe Blunt, who was up to his kneesin the water, setting a trap at the moment his friend galloped up. 

"Injuns! Where's Henri?" demanded Dick. 

"At the head o' the dam there. "

Dick was off in a moment, and almost instantly returned with Henrigalloping beside him. 

No word was spoken. In time of action these men did not waste words. During Dick's momentary absence, Joe Blunt had caught up his rifle andexamined the priming, so that when Dick pulled up beside him, he merelylaid his hand on the saddle, saying, "All right!" as he vaulted onCharlie's back behind his young companion. In another moment they wereaway at full speed. The mustang seemed to feel that unwonted exertionswere required of him. Double weighted though he was, he kept well upwith the other horse, and in less than two hours after Dick's leavingthe camp the three hunters came in sight of it. 

Meanwhile Cameron had collected nearly all his forces, and put his campin a state of defence before the Indians arrived, which they didsuddenly, and, as usual, at full gallop, to the amount of at least twohundred. They did not at first seem disposed to hold friendlyintercourse with the trappers, but assembled in a semicircle round thecamp in a menacing attitude, while one of their chiefs stepped forwardto hold a palaver. For some time the conversation on both sides waspolite enough, but by degrees the Indian chief assumed an imperioustone, and demanded gifts from the trappers, taking care to enforce hisrequest by hinting that thousands of his countrymen were not fardistant. Cameron stoutly refused, and the palaver threatened to come toan abrupt and unpleasant termination just at the time that Dick and hisfriends appeared on the scene of action. 

The brook was cleared at a bound; the three hunters leaped from theirsteeds and sprang to the front with a degree of energy that had avisible effect on the savages, and Cameron, seizing the moment, proposedthat the two parties should smoke a pipe and hold a council. TheIndians agreed, and in a few minutes they were engaged in animated andfriendly intercourse. The speeches were long, and the compliments paidon either side were inflated, and, we fear, undeserved; but the resultof the interview was, that Cameron made the Indians a present of tobaccoand a few trinkets, and sent them back to their friends to tell themthat he was willing to trade with them. 

Next day the whole tribe arrived in the valley, and pitched theirdeerskin tents on the plain opposite to the camp of the white men. Their numbers far exceeded Cameron's expectation, and it was with someanxiety that he proceeded to strengthen his fortifications as much ascircumstances and the nature of the ground would admit. 

The Indian camp, which numbered upwards of a thousand souls, wasarranged with great regularity, and was divided into three distinctsections, each section being composed of a separate tribe. The GreatSnake Nation at that time embraced three tribes or divisions--namely, the Shirry-dikas, or dog-eaters; the War-are-ree-kas, or fish-eaters;and the Banattees, or robbers. These were the most numerous andpowerful Indians on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. TheShirry-dikas dwelt in the plains, and hunted the buffaloes; dressedwell; were cleanly; rich in horses; bold, independent, and goodwarriors. The War-are-ree-kas lived chiefly by fishing, and were foundon the banks of the rivers and lakes throughout the country. They weremore corpulent, slovenly, and indolent than the Shirry-dikas, and morepeaceful. The Banattees, as we have before mentioned, were the robbersof the mountains. They were a wild and contemptible race, and at enmitywith every one. In summer they went about nearly naked. In winter theyclothed themselves in the skins of rabbits and wolves. Being excellentmimics, they could imitate the howling of wolves, the neighing ofhorses, and the cries of birds, by which means they could approachtravellers, rob them, and then fly to their rocky fastnesses in themountains, where pursuit was vain. 

Such were the men who now assembled in front of the camp of thefur-traders, and Cameron soon found that the news of his presence in thecountry had spread far and wide among the natives, bringing them to theneighbourhood of his camp in immense crowds, so that, during the nextfew days, their numbers increased to thousands. 

Several long palavers quickly ensued between the red men and the white, and the two great chiefs who seemed to hold despotic rule over theassembled tribes were extremely favourable to the idea of universalpeace which was propounded to them. In several set speeches of greatlength and very considerable power, these natural orators explainedtheir willingness to enter into amicable relations with all thesurrounding nations as well as with the white men. 

"But, " said Pee-eye-em, the chief of the Shirry-dikas, a man above sixfeet high, and of immense muscular strength, --"but my tribe cannotanswer for the Banattees, who are robbers, and cannot be punished, because they dwell in scattered families among the mountains. TheBanattees are bad; they cannot be trusted. "

None of the Banattees were present at the council when this was said;and if they had been it would have mattered little, for they wereneither fierce nor courageous, although bold enough in their own hauntsto murder and rob the unwary. 

The second chief did not quite agree with Pee-eye-em; he said that itwas impossible for them to make peace with their natural enemies, thePeigans and the Blackfeet on the east side of the mountains. It wasvery desirable, he admitted, but neither of these tribes would consentto it, he felt sure. 

Upon this Joe blunt rose and said, "The great chief of theWar-are-ree-kas is wise, and knows that enemies cannot be reconciledunless deputies are sent to make proposals of peace. "

"The Pale-face does not know the Blackfeet, " answered the chief. "Whowill go into the lands of the Blackfeet? My young men have been sentonce and again, and their scalps are now fringes to the leggings oftheir enemies. The War-are-ree-kas do not cross the mountains but forthe purpose of making war. "

"The chief speaks truth, " returned Joe, "yet there are three men roundthe council-fire who will go to the Blackfeet and the Peigans withmessages of peace from the Snakes if they wish it. "

Joe pointed to himself, Henri, and Dick as he spoke, and added, "Wethree do not belong to the camp of the fur-traders; we only lodge withthem for a time. The Great Chief of the white men has sent us to makepeace with the Red-men, and to tell them that he desires to trade withthem--to exchange hatchets, and guns, and blankets for furs. "

This declaration interested the two chiefs greatly, and after a gooddeal of discussion they agreed to take advantage of Joe Blunt's offer, and appoint him as a deputy to the court of their enemies. Havingarranged these matters to their satisfaction, Cameron bestowed a redflag and a blue surtout with brass buttons on each of the chiefs, and avariety of smaller articles on the other members of the council, andsent them away in a particularly amiable frame of mind. 

Pee-eye-em burst the blue surtout at the shoulders and elbows in puttingit on, as it was much too small for his gigantic frame, but, neverhaving seen such an article of apparel before, he either regarded thisas the natural and proper consequence of putting it on, or was totallyindifferent to it, for he merely looked at the rents with a smile ofsatisfaction, while his squaw surreptitiously cut off the two backbuttons and thrust them into her bosom. 

By the time the council closed the night was far advanced, and a brightmoon was shedding a flood of soft light over the picturesque and busyscene. 

"I'll go to the Injun camp, " said Joe to Walter Cameron, as the chiefsrose to depart. "The season's far enough advanced already; it's time tobe off; and if I'm to speak for the Red-skins in the Blackfeet Council, I'd need to know what to say. "

"Please yourself, Master Blunt, " answered Cameron. "I like your companyand that of your friends, and if it suited you I would be glad to takeyou along with us to the coast of the Pacific; but your mission amongthe Indians is a good one, and I'll help it on all I can. I suppose youwill go also?" he added, turning to Dick Varley, who was still seatedbeside the council-fire caressing Crusoe. 

"Wherever Joe goes, I go, " answered Dick. 

Crusoe's tail, ears and eyes demonstrated high approval of the sentimentinvolved in this speech. 

"And your friend Henri?"

"He goes too, " answered Joe. "It's as well that the Red-skins shouldsee the three o' us before we start for the east side o' the mountains. Ho! Henri, come here, lad. "

Henri obeyed, and in a few seconds the three friends crossed the brookto the Indian camp, and were guided to the principal lodge byPee-eye-em. Here a great council was held, and the proposed attempt atnegotiations for peace with their ancient enemies fully discussed. While they were thus engaged, and just as Pee-eye-em had, in the energyof an enthusiastic peroration burst the blue surtout _almost_ up to thecollar, a distant rushing sound was heard, which caused every man tospring to his feet, run out of the tent, and seize his weapons. 

"What can it be, Joe?" whispered Dick, as they stood at the tent doorleaning on their rifles, and listening intently. 

"Dunno, " answered Joe shortly. 

Most of the numerous fires of the camp had gone out, but the bright moonrevealed the dusky forms of thousands of Indians, whom the unwontedsound had startled, moving rapidly about. 

The mystery was soon explained. The Indian camp was pitched on an openplain of several miles in extent, which took a sudden bend half a miledistant, where a spur of the mountains shut out the further end of thevalley from view. From beyond this point the dull rumbling soundproceeded. Suddenly there was a roar as if a mighty cataract had beenlet loose upon the scene. At the same moment a countless herd of wildhorses came thundering round the base of the mountain and swept over theplain straight towards the Indian camp. 

"A stampedo!" cried Joe, springing to the assistance of Pee-eye-em, whose favourite horses were picketted near the tent. 

On they came like a living torrent, and the thunder of a thousand hoofswas soon mingled with the howling of hundreds of dogs in the camp, andthe yelling of Indians, as they vainly endeavoured to restrain therising excitement of their steeds. Henri and Dick stood rooted to theground, gazing in silent wonder at the fierce and uncontrollable gallopof the thousands of panic-stricken horses that bore down upon the campwith the tumultuous violence of a mighty cataract. 

As the maddened troop drew nigh, the camp horses began to snort andtremble violently, and when the rush of the wild steeds was almost uponthem, they became ungovernable with terror, broke their halters andhobbles, and dashed wildly about. To add to the confusion at thatmoment, a cloud passed over the moon and threw the whole scene into deepobscurity. Blind with terror, which was probably increased by the dinof their own mad flight, the galloping troop came on, and, with a soundlike the continuous roar of thunder that for an instant drowned the yellof dog and man, they burst upon the camp, trampling over packs andskins, and dried meat, etcetera, in their headlong speed, andoverturning several of the smaller tents. In another moment they sweptout upon the plain beyond, and were soon lost in the darkness of thenight, while the yelping of dogs, as they vainly pursued them, mingledand gradually died away with the distant thunder of their retreat. 

This was a "_stampedo_, " one of the most extraordinary scenes that canbe witnessed in the western wilderness. 

"Lend a hand, Henri, " shouted Joe, who was struggling with a powerfulhorse. "Wot's comed over yer brains, man? This brute 'll git off if yedon't look sharp. "

Dick and Henri both answered to the summons, and they succeeded inthrowing the struggling animal on its side and holding it down until itsexcitement was somewhat abated. Pee-eye-em had also been successful insecuring his favourite hunter, but nearly every other horse belonging tothe camp had broken loose and joined the whirlwind gallop, but theygradually dropped out, and, before morning, the most of them weresecured by their owners. As there were at least two thousand horses andan equal number of dogs in the part of the Indian camp which had beenthus over-run by the wild mustangs, the turmoil, as may be imagined, wasprodigious! Yet, strange to say, no accident of a serious natureoccurred beyond the loss of several chargers. 

In the midst of this exciting scene there was one heart there which beatwith a nervous vehemence that well-nigh burst it. This was the heart ofDick Varley's horse, Charlie. Well-known to him was that distantrumbling sound that floated on the night air into the fur-trader's campwhere he was picketted close to Cameron's tent. Many a time had heheard the approach of such a wild troop, and often, in days not longgone by, had his shrill neigh rung out as he joined and led thepanic-stricken band. He was first to hear the sound, and by his restiveactions, to draw the attention of the fur-traders to it. As aprecautionary measure they all sprang up and stood by their horses tosoothe them, but as a brook with a belt of bushes and quarter of a mileof plain intervened between their camp and the mustangs as they flewpast, they had little or no trouble in restraining them. Not so, however, with Charlie. At the very moment that his master wascongratulating himself on the supposed security of his position, hewrenched the halter from the hand of him who held it, burst through thebarrier of felled trees that had been thrown round the camp, cleared thebrook at a bound, and, with a wild hilarious neigh, resumed his oldplace in the ranks of the free-born mustangs of the prairie. 

Little did Dick think, when the flood of horses swept past him, that hisown good steed was there, rejoicing in his recovered liberty. ButCrusoe knew it. Ay, the wind had borne down the information to hisacute nose before the living storm burst upon the camp, and when Charlierushed past with the long tough halter trailing at his heels, Crusoesprang to his side, seized the end of the halter with his teeth, andgalloped off along with him. 

It was a long gallop and a tough one, but Crusoe held on, for it was asettled principle in his mind _never_ to give in. At first the checkupon Charlie's speed was imperceptible, but by degrees the weight of thegigantic dog began to tell, and, after a time, they fell a little to therear; then, by good fortune, the troop passed through a mass ofunderwood, and the line, getting entangled, brought their mad careerforcibly to a close; the mustangs passed on, and the two friends wereleft to keep each other company in the dark. 

How long they would have remained thus is uncertain, for neither of themhad sagacity enough to undo a complicated entanglement; fortunately, however, in his energetic tugs at the line, Crusoe's sharp teethpartially severed it, and a sudden start on the part of Charlie causedit to part. Before he could escape, Crusoe again seized the end of itand led him slowly but steadily back to the Indian camp, never haltingor turning aside until he had placed the line in Dick Varley's hand. 

"Hallo, pup! where have ye bin. How did ye bring him here?" exclaimedDick, as he gazed in amazement at his foam-covered horse. 

Crusoe wagged his tail, as if to say, "Be thankful that you've got him, Dick, my boy, and don't ask questions that you know I can't answer. "

"He must ha' broke loose and jined the stampedo, " remarked Joe, comingout of the chief's tent at the moment; "but tie him up, Dick, and comein, for we want to settle about startin' to-morrow or nixt day. "

Having fastened Charlie to a stake, and ordered Crusoe to watch him, Dick re-entered the tent where the council had re-assembled, and wherePee-eye-em--having, in the recent struggle, split the blue surtoutcompletely up to the collar, so that his backbone was visible throughoutthe greater part of its length--was holding forth in eloquent strains onthe subject of peace in general and peace with the Blackfeet, theancient enemies of the Shirry-dikas, in particular. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

PLANS AND PROSPECTS--DICK BECOMES HOME-SICK, AND HENRI METAPHYSICAL--THEINDIANS ATTACK THE CAMP--A BLOW-UP. 

On the following day the Indians gave themselves up to unlimitedfeasting, in consequence of the arrival of a large body of hunters withan immense supply of buffalo meat. It was a regular day of rejoicing. Upwards of six hundred buffaloes had been killed, and as the supply ofmeat before their arrival had been ample, the camp was now overflowingwith plenty. Feasts were given by the chiefs, and the medicine-men wentabout the camp uttering loud cries, which were meant to expressgratitude to the Great Spirit for the bountiful supply of food. Theyalso carried a portion of meat to the aged and infirm who were unable tohunt for themselves, and had no young men in their family circle to huntfor them. 

This arrival of the hunters was a fortunate circumstance, as it put theIndians in great good-humour, and inclined them to hold friendlyintercourse with the trappers, who for some time continued to drive abrisk trade in furs. Having no market for the disposal of their furs, the Indians of course had more than they knew what to do with, and weretherefore glad to exchange those of the most beautiful and valuable kindfor a mere trifle, so that the trappers laid aside their traps for atime and devoted themselves to traffic. 

Meanwhile Joe Blunt and his friends made preparations for their returnjourney. 

"Ye see, " remarked Joe to Henri and Dick, as they sat beside the fire inPee-eye-em's lodge, and feasted on a potful of grasshopper soup, whichthe great chiefs squaw had just placed before them, --"ye see, mycalc'lations is as follows. Wot with trappin' beavers and huntin', wethree ha' made enough to sot us up, an it likes us, in the MustangValley--"

"Ha!" interrupted Dick, remitting for a few seconds the use of his teethin order to exercise his tongue, --"ha! Joe, but it don't like _me_!What, give up a hunter's life and become a farmer? I should think not!"

"Bon!" ejaculated Henri, but whether the remark had reference to thegrasshopper soup or the sentiment, we cannot tell. 

"Well, " continued Joe, commencing to devour a large buffalo steak with ahunter's appetite, "ye'll please yourselves, lads, as to that; but, as Iwos sayin', we've got a powerful lot o' furs, an' a big pack o' odds andends for the Injuns we chance to meet with by the way, an' powder andlead to last us a twelve-month, besides five good horses to carry us an'our packs over the plains; so if it's agreeable to you, I mean to make abee-line for the Mustang Valley. We're pretty sure to meet withBlackfeet on the way, and if we do we'll try to make peace between theman' the Snakes. I 'xpect it'll be pretty well on for six weeks afore wegit to home, so we'll start to-morrow. "

"Dat is fat vill do ver' vell, " said Henri; "vill you please donnez meone petit morsel of steak. "

"I'm ready for anything, Joe, " cried Dick, "you are leader. Just pointthe way, and I'll answer for two o' us followin' ye--eh! won't we, Crusoe?"

"We will, " remarked the dog quietly. 

"How comes it, " inquired Dick, "that these Indians don't care for ourtobacco?"

"They like their own better, I s'pose, " answered Joe; "most all thewestern Injuns do. They make it o' the dried leaves o' the shumack andthe inner bark o' the red-willow, chopped very small an' mixed together. They call this stuff _Kinnekinnik_, but they like to mix about a fourtho' our tobacco with it, so Pee-eye-em tells me, an' he's a good judge;the amount that red-skinned mortal smokes _is_ oncommon. "

"What are they doin' yonder?" inquired Dick, pointing to a group of menwho had been feasting for some time past in front of a tent within sightof our trio. 

"Goin' to sing, I think, " replied Joe. 

As he spoke, six young warriors were seen to work their bodies about ina very remarkable way, and give utterance to still more remarkablesounds, which gradually increased until the singers burst out into thatterrific yell, or war-whoop, for which American savages have long beenfamous. Its effect would save been appalling to unaccustomed ears. Then they allowed their voices to die away in soft, plaintive tones, while their action corresponded thereto. Suddenly the furious style wasrevived, and the men wrought themselves into a condition little short ofmadness, while their yells rung wildly through the camp. This was toomuch for ordinary canine nature to withstand, so all the dogs in theneighbourhood joined in the horrible chorus. 

Crusoe had long since learned to treat the eccentricities of Indians andtheir curs with dignified contempt. He paid no attention to thisserenade, but lay sleeping by the fire until Dick and his companionsrose to take leave of their host, and return to the camp of thefur-traders. The remainder of that night was spent in makingpreparations for setting forth on the morrow, and when, at grey dawn, Dick and Crusoe lay down to snatch a few hours' repose, the yells andhowling in the Snake camp were going on as vigorously as ever. 

The sun had arisen, and his beams were just tipping the summits of theRocky Mountains, causing the snowy peaks to glitter like flame, and thedeep ravines and gorges to look sombre and mysterious by contrast, whenDick, and Joe, and Henri mounted their gallant steeds, and, with Crusoegambolling before, and the two pack-horses trotting by their side, turned their faces eastward, and bade adieu to the Indian camp. 

Crusoe was in great spirits. He was perfectly well aware that he andhis companions were on their way home, and testified his satisfaction bybursts of scampering over the hills and valleys. Doubtless he thoughtof Dick Varley's cottage, and of Dick's mild, kind-hearted mother. Undoubtedly, too, he thought of his own mother, Fan, and felt a glow offilial affection as he did so. Of this we feel quite certain. He wouldhave been unworthy the title of hero if he hadn't. Perchance he thoughtof Grumps, but of this we are not quite so sure. We rather think, uponthe whole, that he did. 

Dick, too, let his thoughts run away in the direction of _home_. Sweetword! Those who have never left it cannot, by any effort ofimagination, realise the full import of the word "home. " Dick was abold hunter, but he was young, and this was his first long expedition. Oftentimes, when sleeping under the trees and gazing dreamily up throughthe branches at the stars, had he thought of home, until his longingheart began to yearn to return. He repelled such tender feelings, however, when they became too strong, deeming them unmanly, and soughtto turn his mind to the excitements of the chase, but latterly hisefforts were in vain. He became thoroughly home-sick, and, whileadmitting the fact to himself, he endeavoured to conceal it from hiscomrades. He thought that he was successful in this attempt. Poor DickVarley! as yet he was sadly ignorant of human nature. Henri knew it, and Joe Blunt knew it. Even Crusoe knew that something was wrong withhis master, although he could not exactly make out what it was. ButCrusoe made memoranda in the note-book of his memory. He jotted downthe peculiar phases of his master's new disease with the care and minuteexactness of a physician; and, we doubt not, ultimately added theknowledge of the symptoms of homesickness to his already well-filledstores of erudition. 

It was not till they had set out on their homeward journey that DickVarley's spirits revived, and it was not till they reached the beautifulprairies on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and galloped overthe green sward towards the Mustang Valley, that Dick ventured to tellJoe Blunt what his feelings had been. 

"D'ye know, Joe, " he said confidentially, reining up his gallant steedafter a sharp gallop, "d'ye know I've bin feelin' awful low for sometime past. "

"I know it, lad, " answered Joe, with a quiet smile, in which there was adash of something that implied he knew more than he chose to express. 

Dick felt surprised, but he continued, "I wonder what it could have bin. I never felt so before. "

"'Twas homesickness, boy, " returned Joe. 

"How d'ye know that?"

"The same way as how I know most things, by experience an' obsarvation. I've bin home-sick myself once--but it was long, long agone. "

Dick felt much relieved at this candid confession by such a bronzedveteran, and, the chords of sympathy having been struck, he opened uphis heart at once, to the evident delight of Henri, who, among othercurious partialities, was extremely fond of listening to and taking partin conversations that bordered on the metaphysical, and were hard to beunderstood. Most conversations that were not connected with eating andhunting were of this nature to Henri. 

"Hom'-sik, " he cried, "veech mean bein' sik of hom'! hah! dat is fat Iam always be, ven I goes hout on de expedition. Oui, vraiment. "

"I always packs up, " continued Joe, paying no attention to Henri'sremark, --"I always packs up an' sots off for home when I gits home-sick;it's the best cure, an' when hunters are young like you, Dick, it's theonly cure. I've know'd fellers a'most die o' homesickness, an' I'm toldthey _do_ go under altogether sometimes. "

"Go onder!" exclaimed Henri; "oui, I vas all but die myself ven I fusttry to git away from hom'. If I have not git away, I not be hereto-day. "

Henri's idea of homesickness was so totally opposed to theirs, that hiscomrades only laughed, and refrained from attempting to set him right. 

"The fust time I was took bad with it wos in a country somethin' likethat, " said Joe, pointing to the wide stretch of undulating prairie, dotted with clusters of trees and wandering streamlets, that lay beforethem; "I had bin out about two months, an wos makin' a good thing of it, for game wos plenty, when I began to think somehow more than usual o'home. My mother wos alive then. "

Joe's voice sank to a deep, solemn tone as he said this, and for a fewminutes he rode on in silence. 

"Well, it grew worse and worse, I dreamed o' home all night, an' thoughtof it all day, till I began to shoot bad, an' my comrades wos gittin'tired o' me; so says I to them one night, says I, `I give out, lads, I'll make tracks for the settlement to-morrow. ' They tried to laugh meout of it at first, but it was no go, so I packed up, bid them good-day, an' sot off alone on a trip o' five hundred miles. The very first mileo' the way back I began to mend, and before two days I wos all rightagain. "

Joe was interrupted at this point by the sudden appearance of a solitaryhorseman on the brow of an eminence not half a mile distant. The threefriends instantly drove their pack-horses behind a clump of trees, butnot in time to escape the vigilant eye of the Red-man, who uttered aloud shout, which brought up a band of his comrades at full gallop. 

"Remember, Henri, " cried Joe Blunt, "our errand is one of _peace_. "

The caution was needed, for in the confusion of the moment Henri wasmaking preparation to sell his life as dearly as possible. Beforeanother word could be uttered, they were surrounded by a troop of abouttwenty yelling Blackfeet Indians. They were, fortunately, not awar-party, and, still more fortunately, they were peaceably disposed, and listened to the preliminary address of Joe Blunt with exemplarypatience; after which the two parties encamped on the spot, thecouncil-fire was lighted, and every preparation made for a long palaver. 

We will not trouble the reader with the details of what was said on thisoccasion. The party of Indians was a small one, and no chief of anyimportance was attached to it. Suffice it to say that the pacificovertures made by Joe were well received, the trifling gifts madethereafter were still better received, and they separated with mutualexpressions of good will. 

Several other bands which were afterwards met with were equallyfriendly, and only one war-party was seen. Joe's quick eye observed itin time to enable them to retire unseen behind the shelter of sometrees, where they remained until the Indian warriors were out of sight. 

The next party they met with, however, were more difficult to manage, and, unfortunately, blood was shed on both sides before our travellersescaped. 

It was at the close of a beautiful day that a war-party of Blackfeetwere seen riding along a ridge on the horizon. It chanced that theprairie at this place was almost destitute of trees or shrubs largeenough to conceal the horses. By dashing down the grassy wave into thehollow between the two undulations, and dismounting, Joe hoped to eludethe savages, so he gave the word, --but at the same moment a shout fromthe Indians told that they were discovered. 

"Look sharp, lads, throw down the packs on the highest point of theridge, " cried Joe, undoing the lashings, seizing one of the bales ofgoods, and hurrying to the top of the undulation with it; "we must keepthem at arm's length, boys--be alive. War-parties are not to betrusted. "

Dick and Henri seconded Joe's efforts so ably, that in the course of twominutes the horses were unloaded, the packs piled in the form of a wallin front of a broken piece of ground, the horses picketted close besidethem, and our three travellers peeping over the edge, with their riflescocked, while the savages--about thirty in number--came sweeping downtowards them. 

"I'll try to git them to palaver, " said Joe Blunt, "but keep yer eye on'em, Dick, an' if they behave ill, shoot the _horse_ o' the leadin'chief. I'll throw up my left hand as a signal. Mind, lad, don't hithuman flesh till my second signal is given, and see that Henri don'tdraw till I git back to ye. "

So saying, Joe sprang lightly over the slight parapet of their littlefortress, and ran swiftly out, unarmed, towards the Indians. In a fewseconds he was close up with them, and in another moment was surrounded. At first the savages brandished their spears and rode round thesolitary man, yelling like fiends, as if they wished to intimidate him;but as Joe stood like a statue, with his arms crossed, and a graveexpression of contempt on his countenance, they quickly desisted, and, drawing near, asked him where he came from, and what he was doing there. 

Joe's story was soon told; but instead of replying, they began to shoutvociferously, and evidently meant mischief. 

"If the Blackfeet are afraid to speak to the Pale-face, he will go backto his braves, " said Joe, passing suddenly between two of the warriorsand taking a few steps towards the camp. 

Instantly every bow was bent, and it seemed as if our bold hunter wereabout to be pierced by a hundred arrows, when he turned round andcried:--

"The Blackfeet must not advance a single step. The first that moves his_horse_ shall die. The second that moves _himself_ shall die. "

To this the Blackfoot chief replied scornfully, "The Pale-face talkswith a big mouth. We do not believe his words. The Snakes are liars, we will make no peace with them. "

While he was yet speaking, Joe threw up his hand; there was a loudreport, and the noble horse of the savage chief lay struggling in deathagony on the ground. 

The use of the rifle, as we have before hinted, was little known at thisperiod among the Indians of the far west, and many had never heard thedreaded report before, although all were aware, from hearsay, of itsfatal power. The fall of the chief's horse, therefore, quite paralysedthem for a few moments, and they had not recovered from their surprisewhen a second report was heard, a bullet whistled past, and a secondhorse fell. At the same moment there was a loud explosion in the campof the Pale-faces, a white cloud enveloped it, and from the midst ofthis a loud shriek was heard, as Dick, Henri, and Crusoe bounded overthe packs with frantic gestures. 

At this the gaping savages wheeled their steeds round, the dismountedhorsemen sprang on behind two of their comrades, and the whole banddashed away over the plains as if they were chased by evil spirits. 

Meanwhile Joe hastened towards his comrades in a state of great anxiety, for he knew at once that one of the powder-horns must have beenaccidentally blown up. 

"No damage done, boys, I hope?" he cried on coming up. 

"Damage!" cried Henri, holding his hands tight over his face. "Oh! oui, great damage--moche damage, me two eyes be blowed out of dere holes. "

"Not quite so bad as that, I hope, " said Dick, who was very slightlysinged, and forgot his own hurts in anxiety about his comrade. "Let mesee?"

"My eye!" exclaimed Joe Blunt, while a broad grin overspread hiscountenance, "ye've not improved yer looks, Henri. "

This was true. The worthy hunter's hair was singed to such an extentthat his entire countenance presented the appearance of a universalfrizzle. Fortunately the skin, although much blackened, was quiteuninjured, a fact which, when he ascertained it beyond a doubt, affordedso much satisfaction to Henri, that he capered about shouting withdelight, as if some piece of good fortune had befallen him. 

The accident had happened in consequence of Henri having omitted toreplace the stopper of his powder-horn, and when, in his anxiety forJoe, he fired at random amongst the Indians, despite Dick's entreatiesto wait, a spark communicated with the powder-horn and blew him up. Dick and Crusoe were only a little singed, but the former was notdisposed to quarrel with an accident which had sent their enemies sopromptly to the right-about. 

This band followed them for some nights, in the hope of being able tosteal their horses while they slept; but they were not brave enough toventure a second time within range of the death-dealing rifle. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

DANGERS OF THE PRAIRIE--OUR TRAVELLERS ATTACKED BY INDIANS, ANDDELIVERED IN A REMARKABLE MANNER. 

There are periods in the life of almost all men when misfortunes seem tocrowd upon them in rapid succession, when they escape from one dangeronly to encounter another, and when, to use a well-known expression, they succeed in leaping out of the frying-pan at the expense of plunginginto the fire. 

So was it with our three friends upon this occasion. They were scarcelyrid of the Blackfeet, who found them too watchful to be caught napping, when, about daybreak one morning they encountered a roving band ofCamanchee Indians, who wore such a warlike aspect that Joe deemed itprudent to avoid them if possible. 

"They don't see us yit, I guess, " said Joe, as he and his companionsdrove the horses into a hollow between the grassy waves of the prairie, "any if we only can escape their sharp eyes till we're in yonder clumpo' willows, we're safe enough. "

"But why don't you ride up to them, Joe, " inquired Dick, "and make peacebetween them and the Pale-faces, as you ha' done with other bands?"

"Because it's o' no use to risk our scalps for the chance o' makin'peace wi' a rovin' war-party. Keep yer head down, Henri! If they gitonly a sight o' the top o' yer cap, they'll be down on us like a breezeo' _wind_. "

"Hah! let dem come!" said Henri. 

"They'll come without askin' yer leave, " remarked Joe drily. 

Notwithstanding his defiant expression, Henri had sufficient prudence toinduce him to bend his head and shoulders, and in a few minutes theyreached the shelter of the willows unseen by the savages. At least sothought Henri, Joe was not quite sure about it, and Dick hoped for thebest. 

In the course of half an hour the last of the Camanchees was seen tohover for a second on the horizon, like a speck of black against thesky, and then to disappear. 

Immediately the three hunters bolted on their steeds and resumed theirjourney; but before that evening closed they had sad evidence of thesavage nature of the band from which they had escaped. On passing thebrow of a slight eminence, Dick, who rode first, observed that Crusoestopped and snuffed the breeze in an anxious, inquiring manner. 

"What is't, pup?" said Dick, drawing up, for he knew that his faithfuldog never gave a false alarm. 

Crusoe replied by a short, uncertain bark, and then bounding forward, disappeared behind a little wooded knoll. In another moment a long, dismal howl floated over the plains. There was a mystery about thedog's conduct which, coupled with his melancholy cry, struck thetravellers with a superstitious feeling of dread, as they sat looking ateach other in surprise. 

"Come, let's clear it up, " cried Joe Blunt, shaking the reins of hissteed, and galloping forward. A few strides brought them to the otherside of the knoll where, scattered upon the torn and bloody turf, theydiscovered the scalped and mangled remains of about twenty or thirtyhuman beings. Their skulls had been cleft by the tomahawk, and theirbreasts pierced by the scalping-knife; and from the position in whichmany of them lay, it was evident that they had been slain while asleep. 

Joe's brow flushed, and his lips became tightly compressed, as hemuttered between his set teeth, "Their skins are white. "

A short examination sufficed to show that the men who had thus beenbarbarously murdered while they slept had been a band of trappers, orhunters; but what their errand had been, or whence they came, they couldnot discover. 

Everything of value had been carried off, and all the scalps had beentaken. Most of the bodies, although much mutilated, lay in a posturethat led our hunters to believe they had been killed while asleep; butone or two were cut almost to pieces, and from the blood-bespattered andtrampled sward around, it seemed as if they had struggled long andfiercely for life. Whether or not any of the savages had been slain, itwas impossible to tell, for if such had been the case, their comrades, doubtless, had carried away their bodies. That they had beenslaughtered by the party of Camanchees who had been seen at daybreak, was quite clear to Joe; but his burning desire to revenge the death ofthe white men had to be stifled, as his party was so small. 

Long afterwards it was discovered that this was a band of trappers who, like those mentioned at the beginning of this volume, had set out toavenge the death of a comrade; but God, who has retained the right ofvengeance in His own hand, saw fit to frustrate their purpose, by givingthem into the hands of the savages whom they had set forth to slay. 

As it was impossible to bury so many bodies, the travellers resumedtheir journey, and left them to bleach there in the wilderness; but theyrode the whole of that day almost without uttering a word. Meanwhilethe Camanchees, who had observed the trio, and had ridden away at firstfor the purpose of deceiving them into the belief that they had passedunobserved, doubled on their track, and took a long sweep in order tokeep out of sight until they could approach under the shelter of a beltof woodland towards which the travellers now approached. 

The Indians adopted this course instead of the easier method of simplypursuing so weak a party, because the plains at this part were borderedby a long stretch of forest into which the hunters could have plunged, and rendered pursuit more difficult, if not almost useless. The detourthus taken was so extensive that the shades of evening were beginning todescend before they could put their plan into execution. The forest layabout a mile to the right of our hunters, like some dark mainland, ofwhich the prairie was the sea, and the scattered clumps of wood theislands. 

"There's no lack o' game here, " said Dick Varley, pointing to a herd ofbuffaloes which rose at their approach, and fled away towards the wood. 

"I think we'll ha' thunder soon, " remarked Joe. "I never feel itonnatteral hot like this without looking out for a plump. "

"Hah! den ve better look hout for one goot tree to get b'low, " suggestedHenri. "Voila!" he added, pointing with his finger towards the plain;"dere am a lot of wild hosses. "

A troop of about thirty wild horses appeared, as he spoke, on the browof a ridge, and advanced slowly towards them. 

"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, reining up; "hold on, lads. Wild horses! myrifle to a pop-gun there's wilder men on t'other side o' them. "

"What mean you, Joe?" inquired Dick, riding close up. 

"D'ye see the little lumps on the shoulder o' each horse?" said Joe. "Them's Injun's _feet_; an' if we don't want to lose our scalps we'dbetter make for the forest. "

Joe proved himself to be in earnest by wheeling round and makingstraight for the thick woods as fast as his horse could run. The othersfollowed, driving the pack-horses before them. 

The effect of this sudden movement on the so-called "wild horses" wasvery remarkable, and to one unacquainted with the habits of theCamanchee Indians, must have appeared almost supernatural. In thetwinkling of an eye every steed had a rider on its back, and before thehunters had taken five strides in the direction of the forest, the wholeband were in hot pursuit, yelling like furies. 

The manner in which these Indians accomplish this feat is very singular, and implies great activity and strength of muscle on the part of thesavages. 

The Camanchees are low in stature, and usually are rather corpulent. Intheir movements on foot they are heavy and ungraceful, and they are, onthe whole, a slovenly and unattractive race of men. But the instantthey mount their horses they seem to be entirely changed, and surprisethe spectator with the ease and elegance of their movements. Theirgreat and distinctive peculiarity as horsemen is the power they haveacquired of throwing themselves suddenly on either side of their horse'sbody, and clinging on in such a way that no part of them is visible fromthe other side save the foot by which they cling. In this manner theyapproach their enemies at full gallop, and without rising again to thesaddle, discharge their arrows at them over their horses' backs, or evenunder their necks. 

This apparently magical feat is accomplished by means of a halter ofhorsehair, which is passed round under the neck of the horse, and bothends braided into the mane, on the withers, thus forming a loop whichhangs under the neck and against the breast. This being caught by thehand, makes a sling, into which the elbow falls, taking the weight ofthe body on the middle of the upper arm. Into this loop the rider dropssuddenly and fearlessly, leaving his heel to hang over the horse's back, to steady him, and also to restore him to his seat when desired. 

By this stratagem the Indians had approached on the present occasionalmost within rifle range before they were discovered, and it requiredthe utmost speed of the hunters' horses to enable them to avoid beingovertaken. One of the Indians, who was better mounted than his fellows, gained on the fugitives so much that he came within arrow range, butreserved his shaft until they were close on the margin of the wood, when, being almost alongside of Henri, he fitted an arrow to his bow. Henri's eye was upon him, however; letting go the line of the pack-horsewhich he was leading, he threw forward his rifle, but at the same momentthe savage disappeared behind his horse, and an arrow whizzed past thehunter's ear. 

Henri fired at the horse, which dropped instantly, hurling theastonished Camanchee upon the ground, where he lay for some timeinsensible. In a few seconds pursued and pursuers entered the wood, where both had to advance with caution, in order to avoid being sweptoff by the overhanging branches of the trees. 

Meanwhile the sultry heat of which Joe had formerly spoken increasedconsiderably, and a rumbling noise, as if of distant thunder, was heard;but the flying hunters paid no attention to it, for the led horses gavethem so much trouble, and retarded their flight so much, that theIndians were gradually and visibly gaining on them. 

"We'll ha' to let the packs go, " said Joe, somewhat bitterly, as helooked over his shoulder. "Our scalps 'll pay for't if we don't. "

Henri uttered a peculiar and significant _hiss_ between his teeth, as hesaid, "P'raps ve better stop and fight!"

Dick said nothing, being resolved to do exactly what Joe Blunt bid him;and Crusoe, for reasons best known to himself, also said nothing, butbounded along beside his master's horse, casting an occasional glanceupwards to catch any signal that might be given. 

They had passed over a considerable space of ground, and were forcingtheir way, at the imminent hazard of their necks, through adensely-clothed part of the wood, when the sound above referred toincreased, attracting the attention of both parties. In a few secondsthe air was filled with a steady and continuous rumbling sound, like thenoise of a distant cataract. Pursuers and fugitives drew reininstinctively, and came to a dead stand, while the rumbling increased toa roar, and evidently approached them rapidly, though as yet nothing tocause it could be seen, except that there was a dense, dark cloudoverspreading the sky to the southward. The air was oppressively stilland hot. 

"What can't be?" inquired Dick, looking at Joe, who was gazing with anexpression of wonder, not unmixed with concern, at the southern sky. 

"Dunno, boy. I've bin more in the woods than in the clearin' in my day, but I niver heerd the likes o' that. "

"It am like t'ondre, " said Henri; "mais it nevair do stop. "

This was true. The sound was similar to continuous, uninterruptedthunder. On it came with a magnificent roar that shook the very earth, and revealed itself at last in the shape of a mighty whirlwind. In amoment the distant woods bent before it, and fell like grass before thescythe. It was a whirling hurricane, accompanied by a deluge of rainsuch as none of the party had ever before witnessed. Steadily, fiercely, irresistibly, it bore down upon them, while the crash offalling, snapping, and uprooting trees mingled with the dire artilleryof that sweeping storm like the musketry on a battle-field. 

"Follow me, lads!" shouted Joe, turning his horse and dashing at fullspeed towards a rocky eminence that offered shelter. But shelter wasnot needed. The storm was clearly defined. Its limits were asdistinctly marked by its Creator as if it had been a living intelligencesent forth to put a belt of desolation round the world; and, althoughthe edge of devastation was not five hundred yards from the rock behindwhich the hunters were stationed, only a few drops of ice-cold rain fellupon them. 

It passed directly between the Camanchee Indians and their intendedvictims, placing between them a barrier which it would have taken daysto cut through. The storm blew for an hour, then it travelled onward inits might, and was lost in distance. Whence it came and whither it wentnone could tell; but, far as the eye could see on either hand, an avenuea quarter of a mile wide was cut through the forest. It had levelledeverything with the dust; the very grass was beaten flat, the trees weretorn, shivered, snapped across, and crushed; and the earth itself inmany places was ploughed up and furrowed with deep scars. The chaos wasindescribable, and it is probable that centuries will not quiteobliterate the work of that single hour. 

While it lasted, Joe and his comrades remained speechless andawe-stricken. When it passed, no Indians were to be seen. So ourhunters remounted their steeds, and, with feelings of gratitude to Godfor having delivered them alike from savage foes and from thedestructive power of the whirlwind, resumed their journey towards theMustang Valley. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

ANXIOUS FEARS FOLLOWED BY A JOYFUL SURPRISE--SAFE HOME AT LAST, ANDHAPPY HEARTS. 

One fine afternoon, a few weeks after the storm of which we have givenan account in the last chapter, old Mrs Varley was seated beside herown chimney corner in the little cottage by the lake, gazing at theglowing logs with the earnest expression of one whose thoughts were faraway. Her kind face was paler than usual, and her hands rested idly onher knee, grasping the knitting wires to which was attached ahalf-finished stocking. 

On a stool near to her sat young Marston, the lad to whom, on the day ofthe shooting match, Dick Varley had given his old rifle. The boy had ananxious look about him, as he lifted his eyes from time to time to thewidow's face. 

"Did ye say, my boy, that they were _all_ killed?" inquired Mrs Varley, awaking from her reverie with a deep sigh. 

"Every one, " replied Marston. "Jim Scraggs, who brought the news, saidthey wos all lyin' dead with their scalps off. They wos a party o'white men. "

Mrs Varley sighed again, and her face assumed an expression of anxiouspain as she thought of her son Dick being exposed to a similar fate. Mrs Varley was not given to nervous fears; but as she listened to theboy's recital of the slaughter of a party of white men, news of whichhad just reached the valley, her heart sank, and she prayed inwardly toHim who is the husband of the widow that her dear one might be protectedfrom the ruthless hand of the savage. 

After a short pause, during which young Marston fidgeted about andlooked concerned, as if he had something to say which he would fainleave unsaid, Mrs Varley continued:--

"Was it far off where the bloody deed was done?"

"Yes; three weeks off, I believe. And Jim Scraggs said that he found aknife that looked like the one wot belonged to--to--" the lad hesitated. 

"To whom, my boy? Why don't ye go on?"

"To your son Dick. "

The widow's hands dropped by her side, and she would have fallen had notMarston caught her. 

"O mother dear, don't take on like that!" he cried, smoothing down thewidow's hair as her head rested on his breast. 

For some time Mrs Varley suffered the boy to fondle her in silence, while her breast laboured with anxious dread. 

"Tell me all, " she said at last, recovering a little. "Did Jim see--Dick?"

"No, " answered the boy. "He looked at all the bodies, but did not findhis; so he sent me over here to tell ye that p'raps he's escaped. "

Mrs Varley breathed more freely, and earnestly thanked God; but herfears soon returned when she thought of his being a prisoner, andrecalled the tales of terrible cruelty often related of the savages. 

While she was still engaged in closely questioning the lad, Jim Scraggshimself entered the cottage, and endeavoured in a gruff sort of way tore-assure the widow. 

"Ye see, mistress, " he said, "Dick is a oncommon tough customer, an' ifhe could only git fifty yards start, there's not a Injun in the west ascould git hold o' him agin; so don't be takin' on. "

"But what if he's bin taken prisoner?" said the widow. 

"Ay, that's jest wot I've comed about. Ye see it's not onlikely he'sbin took; so about thirty o' the lads o' the valley are ready jest nowto start away and give the red riptiles chase, an' I come to tell ye; sokeep up heart, mistress. "

With this parting word of comfort, Jim withdrew, and Marston soonfollowed, leaving the widow to weep and pray in solitude. 

Meanwhile an animated scene was going on near the block-house. Herethirty of the young hunters of the Mustang Valley were assembled, actively engaged in supplying themselves with powder and lead, andtightening their girths, preparatory to setting out in pursuit of theIndians who had murdered the white men, while hundreds of boys andgirls, and not a few matrons, crowded round and listened to theconversation, and to the deep threats of vengeance that were utteredever and anon by the younger men. 

Major Hope, too, was among them. The worthy major, unable to restrainhis roving propensities, determined to revisit the Mustang Valley, andhad arrived only two days before. 

Backwoodsmen's preparations are usually of the shortest and simplest. In a few minutes the cavalcade was ready, and away they went towards theprairies, with the bold major at their head. But their journey wasdestined to come to an abrupt and unexpected close. A couple of hours'gallop brought them to the edge of one of those open plains whichsometimes break up the woodland near the verge of the great prairies. It stretched out like a green lake towards the horizon, on which, justas the band of horsemen reached it, the sun was descending in a blaze ofglory. 

With a shout of enthusiasm, several of the younger members of the partysprang forward into the plain at a gallop; but the shout was mingledwith one of a different tone from the older men. 

"Hist!--hallo!--hold on, ye cat-a-mounts! There's Injuns ahead!"

The whole band came to a sudden halt at this cry, and watched eagerly, and for some time in silence, the motions of a small party of horsemenwho were seen in the far distance, like black specks on the golden sky. 

"They come this way, I think, " said Major Hope, after gazing steadfastlyat them for some minutes. 

Several of the old hands signified their assent to this suggestion by agrunt, although to unaccustomed eyes the objects in question looked morelike crows than horsemen, and their motion was for some time scarcelyperceptible. 

"I sees pack-horses among them, " cried young Marston in an excited tone;"an' there's three riders; but there's somethin' else, only wot it be Ican't tell. "

"Ye've sharp eyes, younker, " remarked one of the men, "an' I do b'lieveyer right. "

Presently the horsemen approached, and soon there was a brisk fire ofguessing as to who they could be. It was evident that the strangersobserved the cavalcade of white men, and regarded them as friends, forthey did not check the headlong speed at which they approached. In afew minutes they were clearly made out to be a party of three horsemendriving pack-horses before them, and _somethin'_ which some of thehunters guessed was a buffalo calf. 

Young Marston guessed too, but his guess was different. Moreover, itwas uttered with a yell that would have done credit to the fiercest ofall the savages. "Crusoe!" he shouted, while at the same moment hebrought his whip heavily down on the flank of his little horse, andsprang over the prairie like an arrow. 

One of the approaching horsemen was far ahead of his comrades, andseemed as if encircled with the flying and voluminous mane of hismagnificent horse. 

"Hah! ho!" gasped Marston in a low tone to himself, as he flew along. "Crusoe! I'd know ye, dog, among a thousand! A buffalo calf! Ha! giton with ye!"

This last part of the remark was addressed to his horse, and wasfollowed by a whack that increased the pace considerably. 

The space between two such riders was soon devoured. 

"Hallo! Dick, --Dick Varley!"

"Eh! why, Marston, my boy!"

The friends reined up so suddenly, that one might have fancied they hadmet like the knights of old in the shock of mortal conflict. 

"Is't yerself, Dick Varley?"

Dick held out his hand, and his eyes glistened, but he could not findwords. 

Marston seized it, and pushing his horse close up, vaulted nimbly offand alighted on Charlie's back behind his friend. 

"Off ye go, Dick! I'll take ye to yer mother. "

Without reply, Dick shook the reins, and in another minute was in themidst of the hunters. 

To the numberless questions that were put to him he only waited to shoutaloud, "We're all safe! They'll tell ye all about it, " he added, pointing to his comrades, who were now close at hand; and then, dashingonward, made straight for home, with little Marston clinging to hiswaist like a monkey. 

Charlie was fresh, and so was Crusoe; so you may be sure it was not longbefore they all drew up opposite the door of the widow's cottage. Before Dick could dismount, Marston had slipped off, and was already inthe kitchen. 

"Here's Dick, mother!"

The boy was an orphan, and loved the widow so much that he had come atlast to call her mother. 

Before another word could be uttered, Dick Varley was in the room. Marston immediately stepped out, and softly shut the door. Reader, weshall not open it!

Having shut the door, as we have said, Marston ran down to the edge ofthe lake, and yelled with delight--usually terminating each paroxysmwith the Indian war-whoop, with which he was well acquainted. Then hedanced, and then he sat down on a rock, and became suddenly aware thatthere were other hearts there, close beside him, as glad as his own. Another mother of the Mustang Valley was rejoicing over a long-lost son. 

Crusoe and his mother Fan were scampering round each other in a mannerthat evinced powerfully the strength of their mutual affection. 

Talk of holding converse! Every hair on Crusoe's body, every motion ofhis limbs, was eloquent with silent language. He gazed into hismother's mild eyes as if he would read her inmost soul (supposing thatshe had one). He turned his head to every possible angle, and cockedhis ears to every conceivable elevation, and rubbed his nose againstFan's, and barked softly, in every imaginable degree of modulation, andvaried these proceedings by bounding away at full speed over the rocksof the beach, and in among the bushes and out again, but always circlinground and round Fan, and keeping her in view!

It was a sight worth seeing, and young Marston sat down on a rock, deliberately and enthusiastically, to gloat over it. But perhaps themost remarkable part of it has not yet been referred to. There was yetanother heart there that was glad--exceeding glad--that day. It was alittle one too, but it was big for the body that held it. Grumps wasthere, and all that Grumps did was to sit on his haunches and stare atFan and Crusoe, and wag his tail as well as he could in so awkward aposition! Grumps was evidently bewildered with delight, and had lostnearly all power to express it. Crusoe's conduct towards him, too, wasnot calculated to clear his faculties. Every time he chanced to passnear Grumps in his elephantine gambols, he gave him a passing touch withhis nose, which always knocked him head over heels; whereat Grumpsinvariably got up quickly and wagged his tail with additional energy. Before the feelings of those canine friends were calmed, they were allthree ruffled into a state of comparative exhaustion. 

Then young Marston called Crusoe to him, and Crusoe, obedient to thevoice of friendship, went. 

"Are you happy, my dog?"

"You're a stupid fellow to ask such a question; however, it's an amiableone. Yes, I am. "

"What do _you_ want, ye small bundle o' hair?"

This was addressed to Grumps, who came forward innocently, and sat downto listen to the conversation. 

On being thus sternly questioned, the little dog put down its ears flat, and hung its head, looking up at the same time with a deprecatory lookas if to say, "Oh, dear! I beg pardon; I--I only want to sit nearCrusoe, please, but if you wish it I'll go away, sad and lonely, with mytail _very_ much between my legs--indeed I will, only say the word, but--but I'd _rather_ stay if I might. "

"Poor bundle!" said Marston, patting its head, "you can stay then. Hooray! Crusoe, are you happy, I say? Does your heart bound in youlike a cannon ball that wants to find its way out and can't--eh?"

Crusoe put his snout against Marston's cheek, and, in the excess of hisjoy, the lad threw his arms round the dog's neck and hugged itvigorously, a piece of impulsive affection which that noble animal borewith characteristic meekness, and which Grumps regarded with idioticsatisfaction. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

REJOICINGS--THE FEAST AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE--GRUMPS AND CRUSOE COME OUTSTRONG--THE CLOSING SCENE. 

The day of Dick's arrival with his companions was a great day in theannals of the Mustang Valley, and Major Hope resolved to celebrate it byan impromptu festival at the old block-house; for many hearts in thevalley had been made glad that day, and he knew full well that, undersuch circumstances, some safety-valve must be devised for the escape ofoverflowing excitement. 

A messenger was sent round to invite the population to assemble withoutdelay in front of the block-house. With backwoods-like celerity thesummons was obeyed; men, women, and children hurried towards the centralpoint wondering, yet more than half suspecting, what was the major'sobject in calling them together. 

They were not long in doubt. The first sight that presented itself asthey came trooping up the slope in front of the log hut, was an oxroasting whole before a gigantic bonfire. Tables were beingextemporised on the broad level plot in front of the gate. Other firesthere were, of smaller dimensions, on which sundry steaming pots wereplaced, and various joints of wild horse, bear, and venison roasted, andsent forth a savoury odour as well as a pleasant hissing noise. Theinhabitants of the block-house were self-taught brewers, and the resultof their recent labours now stood displayed in a row of goodly casks ofbeer--the only beverage with which the dwellers in these far-off regionswere wont to regale themselves. 

The whole scene--as the cooks moved actively about upon the lawn, andchildren romped round the fires, and settlers came flocking through theforests--might have recalled the revelry of merry England in the oldentime, though the costumes of the far west were, perhaps, somewhatdifferent from those of old England. 

No one of all the band assembled there on that day of rejoicing requiredto ask what it was all about. Had any one been in doubt for a moment, aglance at the centre of the crowd assembled round the gate of thewestern fortress would have quickly enlightened him; for there stoodDick Varley, and his mild-looking mother, and his loving dog, Crusoe. There, too, stood Joe Blunt, like a bronzed warrior returned from thefight, turning from one to another as question poured in upon questionalmost too rapidly to permit of a reply. There, too, stood Henri, making enthusiastic speeches to whoever chose to listen to him, --nowglaring at the crowd, with clenched fists and growling voice, as he toldof how Joe and he had been tied hand and foot, and lashed to poles andburied in leaves, and threatened with a slow death by torture, --at othertimes bursting into a hilarious laugh as he held forth on thepredicament of Mahtawa when that wily chief was treed by Crusoe in theprairie. 

Young Marston was there too, hanging about Dick, whom he loved as abrother and regarded as a perfect hero. Grumps, too, was there, andFan. Do you think, reader, that Grumps looked at any one but Crusoe?If you do you are mistaken. Grumps on that day became a regular, anincorrigible, utter, and perfect nuisance to everybody--not exceptinghimself, poor beast! Grumps was a dog of one idea, and that idea wasCrusoe. Out of that great idea there grew one little secondary idea, and that idea was, that the only joy on earth worth mentioning was tosit on his haunches, exactly six inches from Crusoe's nose, and gazesteadfastly into his face. Wherever Crusoe went Grumps went. If Crusoestopped Grumps was down before him in an instant. If Crusoe boundedaway, which, in the exuberance of his spirits, he often did, Grumps wasafter him like a bundle of mad hair. He was in everybody's way--inCrusoe's way, and being, so to speak, "beside himself, " was also in hisown way. If people trod upon him accidentally, which they often did, Grumps uttered a solitary heart-rending yell, proportioned in intensityto the excruciating nature of the torture he endured, then instantlyresumed his position and his fascinated stare. Crusoe generally heldhis head up, and gazed over his little friend at what was going onaround him, but if for a moment he permitted his eye to rest on thecountenance of Grumps, that creature's tail became suddenly imbued withan amount of wriggling vitality that seemed to threaten its separationfrom the body. 

It was really quite interesting to watch this unblushing, anddisinterested, and utterly reckless display of affection on the part ofGrumps, and the amiable way in which Crusoe put up with it--we say putup with it, advisedly, because it must have been a very greatinconvenience to him, seeing that if he attempted to move, his satellitemoved in front of him, so that his only way of escaping, temporarily, was by jumping over Grumps's head. 

Grumps was everywhere all day. Nobody, almost, escaped trampling onpart of him. He tumbled over everything, into everything, and againsteverything. He knocked himself, singed himself, and scalded himself, and in fact forgot himself altogether; and when, late that night, Crusoewent with Dick into his mother's cottage, and the door was shut, Grumpsstretched his ruffled, battered, ill-used, and dishevelled little bodydown on the doorstep, thrust his nose against the opening below thedoor, and lay in humble contentment all night, for he knew that Crusoewas there. 

Of course such an occasion could not pass without a shooting match. Rifles were brought out after the feast was over, just before the sunwent down into its bed on the western prairies, and "the nail" was soonsurrounded by bullets, tipped by Joe Blunt and Jim Scraggs, and, ofcourse, driven home by Dick Varley, whose silver rifle had now become, in its owner's hand, a never-failing weapon. Races, too, were started, and here again Dick stood pre-eminent, and when night spread her darkmantle over the scene, the two best fiddlers in the settlement wereplaced on empty beer-casks, and some danced by the light of the monsterfires, while others listened to Joe Blunt as he recounted theiradventures on the prairies and among the Rocky Mountains. 

There were sweethearts, and wives, and lovers at the feast, but wequestion whether any heart there was so full of love, and admiration, and gratitude as that of the Widow Varley as she watched her son Dick, throughout that merry evening. 

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Years rolled by, and the Mustang Valley prospered. Missionaries wentthere, and a little church was built, and to the blessings of a fertileland were added the far greater blessings of Christian light andknowledge. One sad blow fell on the Widow Varley's heart. Her onlybrother, Daniel Hood, was murdered by the Indians. Deeply and long shemourned, and it required all Dick's efforts and those of the pastor ofthe settlement to comfort her. But from the first the widow's heart wassustained by the loving hand that dealt the blow, and when time bluntedthe keen edge of her feelings, her face became as sweet and mild, thoughnot so lightsome, as before. 

Joe Blunt and Henri became leading men in the councils of the MustangValley, but Dick Varley preferred the woods, although, as long as hismother lived, he hovered round her cottage--going off sometimes for aday, sometimes for a week, but never longer. After her head was laid inthe dust, Dick took altogether to the woods with Crusoe and Charlie thewild horse as his only companions, and his mother's Bible in the breastof his hunting shirt. And soon Dick, the bold hunter, and his dogCrusoe, became renowned in the frontier settlements from the banks ofthe Yellow Stone River to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Many a grizzly bear did the famous "silver rifle" lay low, and many awild exciting chase and adventure did Dick go through, but during hisoccasional visits to the Mustang Valley, he was wont to say to Joe Bluntand Henri--with whom he always sojourned--that "nothin' he ever felt orsaw came up to his first grand dash over the Western Prairies into theheart of the Rocky Mountains. " And in saying this, with enthusiasm inhis eye and voice, Dick invariably appealed to, and received a readyaffirmative glance from, his early companion, and his faithful lovingfriend--the dog Crusoe. 

THE END.