CHAPTER VII.
ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS.
"Where's your friend?"
There was apprehension in the question of the trapper, or he would nothave called Nat, as he had never called him before. The question wasasked, too, the instant I appeared.
"I cannot tell," I answered, seating myself gloomily.
"Whar'd you leave him?"
"I cannot answer that either. He went with me to watch the river, asyou remember. Espying that canoe which you saw yesterday, he concealedhimself a few yards distant, in order to obtain a better view of it.Since then I have seen nothing of him."
"Was it he who shot?"
"It sounded like his gun, although I am not positive that it reallywas."
"I heerd it, an' took it for him; and, shoot me, if I didn't know he'dget into some scrape."
"I fear he has, and the last one, too."
"My thoughts 'zactly. Luckily you did not, too."
"I came nearer than I wish to again, Biddon. I can tell you, that I amwilling to leave this place as soon as you wish; I've seen enough tosatisfy me."
"Shouldn't wonder; I did long ago."
"Let us leave to-morrow. Are you willing?"
"I'll go to-night if you want to."
"No; there is no need of that. It will be best to wait untildaylight."
"I don't know; that's the only time we've been interfered with."
"Besides," I added. "I have faint hopes that Nat may return."
"Waugh! you'll never see him again, and ef we're 'bout yer anotherday, we'll never see each other again. No use lookin' fur him, shootme ef thar is."
"I do not think he has been slain, only captured by some lurkingenemy, from whom he may escape."
"No, _sir_; I tell you he's gone, and I reckon as how we'd better begone too."
"Perhaps you are right, Biddon, although I shall be loth to leave thevicinity when I am not satisfied of his fate."
"I'm satisfied, an' you oughter be. Leastways, _I'm_ goin' to-morrow,an' you kin stay and play with these Blackfeet as long as you like.I've been up to see the horses, and fixed things so as to start assoon as daylight. Any 'jections?"
"None at all."
"Then 'tis settled, and let's snooze."
But it was by no means settled. As I lay that night ruminating uponthe strange scenes through which I had so recently passed, the pledgethat I had made with Nat came back to me. I had promised to remain byhim as long as there was hope; and to desert him now, would be aviolation of that vow, and a base and unworthy act upon my part. Forus both to leave him would probably seal his fate, if alive. It was byno means certain that if lost, he was irrecoverably gone, and Iresolved that if the trapper should depart on the morrow I wouldremain.
In making this resolution, perhaps it was not the desire alone tobenefit my companion that prompted it, although I aver that that alonewould have been sufficient. Unconsciously, almost, I found my thoughtswandering from Nat to the fair being who had been the cause of allthis trouble. At most, I could only speculate and conjecture withregard to her, and the same speculations and conjectures I had madebefore. Undoubtedly she was a captive among a tribe of Indians, overwhom she wielded a great influence; and that she was the same maidreferred to by Biddon, seemed certain to me. I had mentioned thisthought to him, in the hope of persuading him to remain. He startedsomewhat at the unsuspected suggestion, and, after a few moments'thought, admitted the probability of such being the case. To mysurprise I found I had completely defeated my own plans.
"I kinder thought then, that little thing war suthin' more nor human,an' ef it's her, you see, I'm purty sure now. No use talkin', I shan'tstay here longer than time 'nough to start. It might be that gal, andthen agin it moughn't. Shoot me ef it moughn't."
I said no more, for I saw it would be useless. When he had oncedetermined upon a matter there was no changing him. He was satisfiedthat "spirits invisible" had encompassed him, and there was but oneway of escaping them.
He was now reposing quietly beside me, utterly oblivious to externalthings; and as the night was far advanced, I sank upon my knees, andbesought the great Disposer of events to guide me aright in theundertaking which I was about to commence, and to watch over myunfortunate companion, now doubtless in captivity; to protect thekind-hearted trapper, and to soon clear away the mystery which hadenveloped us like a cloud. Then I lay down and slept.
I awoke, hearing a slight rustling noise beside me, and, upon lookingaround, caught a glimpse of Biddon as he departed. It was very early,and he doubtless was after the horses, in order to leave at once theplace which had such terrors for him. In the course of a half hour hereturned.
"The horses are waitin'," said he.
I arose and passed out. The three animals stood outside, a shortdistance away, each saddled and prepared for travel.
"Come, work lively, and fetch them skins out," said Biddon, commencinghimself. I made no reply, but assisted him until everything was inreadiness, for starting.
"Jump on, and shoot me ef we won't soon be clar of this outlandishplace."
"Biddon, I am not going with you," I said, mildly.
"_What?_" he asked, looking wonderingly at one, as if doubting mysenses.
"I intend to remain here."
"Ogh! jump on, an' shut up yer meat-trap; it's time we started."
"I said I was going to remain here."
"Do you mean it, Jarsey?" he queried, bending such a fierce look uponme.
"Most certainly I do."
"Then, all Bill Biddon's got to say is, you're a fool."
I colored slightly at this, but made no reply.
"What yer going to stay fur? Get shot and lose yer ha'r, I s'pose,jist to please the reds."
"I am sorry, friend Biddon, that you feel thus. When Nathan Todd and Ileft the States for this country, we pledged eternal friendship toeach other, and I am sure I should never feel at ease if I shouldleave him in this dire extremity. I am by no means satisfied that Ican afford him no assistance, although he is a captive. He has noclaims upon you, and I should not expect you to remain, but, as Isaid, I am determined not to leave this place until I have obtainedsatisfactory intelligence of him."
The trapper remained silent a few moments after this. He then spoke:
"I s'pose you mean right, Jarsey, but you're awful simple. Yer's aswhat hopes you'll find the other chap right side up and squar with hisha'r on, but I don't 'spect _your_ ha'r 'll be yer's to-night.Howsumever you're bound to stay, I see, so yer's good luck. I'd liketo stay with you, but I ain't backward to own Bill Biddon knocks under_this_ time."
He reached his hard, horny hand, and I took it.
"Good-by, Bill, I hope we shall meet again. We have not been longacquainted, but I trust long enough to be friends."
"And you'll remember as how ole Bill Biddon didn't mean what he saidjust now."
"Certainly, certainly, I know you did not."
"Wal, good-by it is, then."
A half-hour after and I was alone in the great wilderness of theNorthwest.
After parting with Biddon, I remained stationary a long time,meditating upon the strange resolve that I had acted upon. If lookedat with the common-sense view that the honest trapper gave it, I wassensible it was nothing less than a piece of recklessness upon mypart, which only could be excused by the motives that actuated me. Ifelt some regret certainly at parting with Biddon, for that honest,manly heart which throbbed within his massive breast had drawn metoward him, and I knew he had come to regard me in a far differentlight than he did at first. However, I was hopeful, and could notpersuade myself that I was never to see him again.
Toward night the sky gave evidence of an approaching storm. A strongwind arose, and a melancholy, desolate moaning, like the precursor ofwinter, could be heard at intervals in the forest. Darkness came onearlier than usual, and, as I passed into the trapper's home, thestorm burst upon me. No one who has not witnessed a storm in thewilderness, can appreciate its awful grandeur. As I cowered w
ithin theheart of the old forest king, its power was subdued to my ears; butenough reached them to give me an idea of the terrific spectaclewithout. The huge sides of the tree surrounding me rumbled and groanedas though it were yielding to the hurricane; the wind blew with suchfury that at times it sounded as though wailing screams were rendingthe air above me; and the sharp splintering of the trees riven by thelightning, rivaled the crash of the thunderbolt itself.
As the morning approached, the storm gradually died away, and as Istepped forth the sun was shining in unclouded splendor.
Slinging my rifle over my shoulder, I wandered aimlessly forward,following the course of the stream for several hours. Finally,becoming considerably wearied, I seated myself upon a fallen tree, togain a little rest; but my mind was in such a state of excitement thatthe desire to press forward was irresistible, and I arose again.
As I stood upon the spot, I happened to look across the stream uponthe prairie. The river at this point was flowing east and west, sothat I looked to the southward; and as I did so I saw Biddon in thedistance, riding leisurely away. He was miles distant, so that I couldnot hope to make my voice reach him; and as the prairie in many partswas submerged, it was out of the question to pursue with the hope ofovertaking him. So I contented myself with watching him until hedisappeared. He appeared precisely the same as when Nat and I firstcaught sight of him; and it struck me as a rather curious coincidencethat my first and last glimpse of him were similar. Shortly after, hewas a mere quivering speck on the horizon, and soon disappearedaltogether.
The storm which had just ended was the usher of the cold season. Astrong wind had arisen, and was blowing coldly through the forest. Thechanges in these regions are remarkably sudden; and by the middle ofthe afternoon, needles of ice put out along the shores of the stream.I suffered much from this sudden and severe cold; and to make itworse, everything upon which I could lay hands was so water-soaked asto make it impossible to kindle a fire.
I continued wandering aimlessly onward, until I descended a largevalley, filled with trees of enormous growth. As I entered, I heard acrackling in the bushes above me. I looked carefully about, but coulddetect nothing, although the crackling was still heard. Creepingcautiously and stealthily up the bank, I came upon the cause of thisapprehension. There was a species of fruit, called the "buffaloberry," quite numerous here, and in among them, seated on hishaunches, and contentedly devouring, was a grizzly bear. I started asI took in his colossal form, and turned to make a hasty retreat; butcuriosity held me to the spot. He was a huge, unwieldy body; hismassive form being enveloped in a coat of long, black, glossy hair,and his eyes small and glittering. His long nails rattled among theleaves, as he pulled the bushes toward him, and plucked the delicatefruit.
All at once a mad desire to take this formidable creature's life cameupon me. I knew it was only the most skillful hunter who could prevailagainst him, and yet I determined to take the risk. As he sat, hisside was turned toward me, and I made a low whistle to attract hisattention. He stopped chewing instantly, and turned his head towardme as if listening. I could see his two coal-black eyes glisteningplainly. I was lying upon my face, with my rifle resting upon a stonein front. Raising the hammer of my rifle, I took a long, a deliberate,a sure aim at one of his eyes, and before he changed his head, pulledthe trigger.
"How does that suit?" I asked exultingly, expecting to see him give upthe ghost immediately. To my surprise and terror, I saw him sittingunmoved and apparently unhurt, but looking about him, as if toascertain from what direction the shot had come. The next instant hecaught sight of the bluish wreath from my rifle, and with a low growlof rage plunged directly toward me.
That cumbrous body could roll over the ground much faster than Isuspected, and I found that, when alarmed, I could also travelrapidly. But in the tangled undergrowth I was no match for him, as hecrashed through it without the least inconvenience, and gainedrapidly. I saw he would assuredly overtake me before I could go ahundred yards further; so throwing my rifle to the ground, I drew myknife, and waited his attack. As he came rolling forward, the bloodfrom his wound trickled down, and daubed his mouth; while his redtongue lolled out, his mouth was wide open, and his long and whiteteeth shone with terrible ferocity. He was, indeed, a terrific animal,and I drew a deep breath as I felt that a struggle for life or deathwas at hand.
"I could see his two coal-black eyes glitteringplainly."]
Suddenly, when a hundred feet distant, there came the _report ofanother rifle_, and the brute halted, and gazed about him. I also casta wondering look around to see who my new friend was. No one was insight, yet I saw a faint curl of smoke rising from the bushes aboveme. The bear also discovered it, and with another growl made towardit. He had evidently been struck, and his rage was turned in anotherdirection. Hastily loading my rifle, I ran up the hill, intending tofollow and assist my unknown friend, but both he and the brute haddisappeared. I stood anxiously listening for some guiding sound, andsoon heard the report of a gun in the distance, followed by a faintshout.
Tearing through the undergrowth, I dashed hastily forward, calling outin loud tones, so that my friend might guide me to him. There was noresponse homeward. I feared that he had suffered the fate which hadwell-nigh been mine. The trail of the bear was now very plain to beseen by the broken twigs, the rising branches, and the blood marksupon the ground. Soon I reached the spot where the last struggle hadevidently taken place. The ground was torn up and cast about, and theblood was spattered for many feet around. Following further, I cameupon the dead body of the brute. There was another bullet mark in thehead, and a ghastly wound in the throat from which an enormousquantity of blood had poured.
But where was the author of this deed? Why had he fled? Who was he? Ilooked about expecting to see him near at hand, but I wasdisappointed. On the ground were the marks of a moccasin, and it wasevident my preserver was an Indian. This fact suggested otherquestions. Had he been following me? Else how came he to be presentjust at the instant needed? And what was his object? It could not bethat my life was sought, for, if such were the case, it had beenreally spared, as I had been continually exposed through the day; andin the occurrence just narrated, he had preserved my life at theimminent risk of his own.
At any rate, the affair was singular and unaccountable. The Indian wasprobably gazing upon me this moment, and I looked furtively about,half-expecting to see his glowing eye-balls in the thick shrubberyaround.
It was now growing late, and I cast about for some place in which tospend the night. The wind still blew, and a fire was indispensable. Igathered several armfuls of twigs and branches, and pitched my campupon the banks of a small rippling stream, a tributary of the riverreferred to. Here, after the expense of an almost incredible amount ofpatience, I succeeded in starting a fire, and with the feeling of aconqueror inhaled its glowing, cheerful warmth. The pangs of hungernow began to make themselves felt, as I had tasted no food the entireday. The grizzly bear lay but a short distance away, and, after a fewminutes' debate, I concluded that he should answer the demands ofnature.
As I drew my knife, and started toward him, a shadow glided frombefore me, and I saw a human form stealthily make off. I stoppedsuddenly and hesitated, but finally went on, cut a piece from theanimal, and returned. Just before I reached the crackling fire, Iagain saw a shadow flit before me and disappear. It was too distinctand plain to be a freak of imagination, and it was evident thatsomething or somebody was following or watching. Whoever he might be,I determined that, upon the first opportunity, he should have thecontents of my gun for his temerity.
The consciousness that some one was near at hand, watching, perhaps,every motion, lessened my appetite somewhat. However, after skeweringa good-sized piece and roasting it, I made a hearty supper; and, as Iproduced my inseparable pipe, I think, had it not been for theinstinctive presence of that invisible form, my enjoyment would havebeen complete.
The pleasant warmth of the fire, the soothing effect of the pipe,gradually threw a dreamy
, half-unconsciousness over me, into which Isunk with willing delight. As my listless eyes rested upon the glowingembers, there came a strain of wonderful music, like the faint tonesof some distant wind-harp. I stirred not, but listened, fearing tomove lest the spell should be broken. Again came the wave of heavenlyharmony, swelling to the most inspiring grandeur, and then dying awayinto faint, fluctuating tremors, fainter and fainter, till thestrained ear could just feel their waves. It sounded in the air aboveme, and at that moment I knew that there was nothing real in myexperience, and I listened breathlessly for it again.
The music continued, I think, over an hour, and to this day it seems Ican hear it still. Such music I have never heard before or since. As Isat alone that dark, stormy night, in the wilderness of the northwest,hundreds of miles from civilization, it seemed there was a chordwithin me that responded to the air tones above. It appearedsometimes to sink until it had enveloped me in its wild thrillingpower, and then it suddenly swept upward, until I was pained withintense listening. At last, it died away, and with a long sigh ofrelief I awoke to full consciousness.
I have heard others narrate experience similar to mine and I leave theexplanation to the curious and investigating, convinced that I canoffer none that will be satisfactory.
I replenished the fire, folded my blanket around me, and lay down tosleep. The night wind was howling dismally through the forest, and thedistant rush of the river made melancholy music. In a short time Ifell into a deep, and profound sleep.
I was aroused from this by feeling something working at my blanket. Ilay motionless a moment to ascertain the character of the threateneddanger. The next instant something struck me like the paw of ananimal; and, thinking a wolf had attacked me, I sprang to my feet witha shout, threw off my blanket, and drew my knife. Instead ofconfronting wolves, I met the gaze of a half-dozen savages! For amoment I was completely bewildered.
"You go 'long with us," said one, laying his hand upon my arm.
I saw that resistance would be useless. There were half a dozen fullyarmed, and my rifle was in their hands.
"I am in your power," said I; "do what you please with me."