CHAPTER XIII.
"A BUFFALO-HUNT."
Alfred Van Hoosen kept his word in relation to the buffalo-hunt, andearly on a fine morning the party took the cars for his uncle's farm inJersey.
Captain Cannon and Mr. Twinkle were in high spirits, and even Mr. Molelooked forward to some excellent sport.
Jack and Harvey pretended to be as enthusiastic as the rest, while VanHoosen discoursed upon the danger attending such a hunt as the one theywere about to engage in.
When the old homestead was reached, Alfred apologized for the absenceof his uncle, who was still away in Philadelphia, and did the honors ofthe house himself.
Old Stock, the steward, who had been posted by Alfred, spread anexcellent lunch on the table, and provided rifles and ammunition forthe party, but none of them, except Alfred, Jack and Harvey, knew thatthe cartridges were all blank.
It would never have done to kill the buffalo, for Alfred's uncle wouldnot have pardoned such an outrage.
Champagne flowed briskly, and every one was in high spirits.
"Are there many buffalo, sir, in Jersey?" inquired Captain Cannon, ofAlfred.
"Considerable," replied Alfred. "But not so many as there were. Theyare gradually being killed off."
"When in India," continued the captain, "I shot a tiger beforebreakfast, regularly, every day, for a year."
"Come, come! That is drawing the long bow," said Mr. Twinkle. "I shota lion once a week, while in Africa, for six months, but a tiger everyday, is too much."
"Fact, I assure you, sir."
"I can quite believe it," said Professor Mole. "For when I was in ChinaI used to kill a score of alligators, every day, just to keep my handin."
"Well, gentlemen," exclaimed Alfred, "suppose you show your skill onthe buffalo."
They all jumped up, grasped their rifles, took a supply of cartridges,and started for the park in which the big game were grazing.
It was raining slightly, and Mr. Mole provided himself with anumbrella, which did not add to his sportsmanlike appearance.
The professor also carried a note-book, in which to record anyinteresting fact concerning the day's hunt, so that he could send areport to the President of the Travelers' Club.
"Fine undulating country," he wrote. "Buffalo-grass observable. Jerseythe favorite home of this remarkable animal."
After walking half an hour they came upon an old bull who was standingunder a tree.
"Ha! What have we here?" cried Captain Cannon.
"That's a buffalo," replied Van Hoosen.
"Dear me, I should have taken it for a cow. How savage he looks!"
"Yes. The buffalo in his wild, untamed state is very ferocious. Now,gentlemen, Harkaway, Harvey and myself will stay here, while you threego up and stalk the game. If he escapes _you_, we will bring him down."
"Thank you," replied the captain. "Advance, my friends. This is aglorious moment."
It was observable that Mr. Twinkle trembled violently and couldscarcely hold his gun.
The three advanced together slowly, but neither would go ahead of theothers.
Van Hoosen made a signal to Jack and Harvey, who followed him into athicket.
Here old Stock, the steward, was securely hidden, awaiting their coming.
"What's in the wind now?" asked Jack.
"We're bound to scare your friends, and I want you to dress up asIndians. Stock has everything ready for us, even to a pot of red paint."
Jack struck an attitude.
"Heap big Injun, ugh!" he exclaimed, amid much laughter.
They quickly proceeded to disguise themselves, tied feathers in theirhair, put on their war-paint, and slung blankets over their shoulders.
While they were dressing the three buffalo-hunters were approaching theold bull, who watched them with as much curiosity as they displayedwith regard to him.
"Twinkle," said the captain, "you are entitled to the first shot."
"N-no," replied Twinkle, with chattering teeth. "Think you ought tohave the honor."
"I decline it."
"Then by all means let Mr. Mole attack the beast. How fierce he looks,and what terrible horns he has! Go in, Mole, and slay him!"
"That is for you to do," replied Mole. "I will lie down in the grasswhere he can't see me."
"What is the use of that?"
"Don't you see? I can take a steady shot at the savage creature and hewon't know what hit him."
The professor did not waste any more time in words. He threw himselfdown in the long grass, while Captain Cannon retired behind theunfortunate Twinkle.
The latter had never in his life shot anything bigger than a sparrow inspite of all his boasting, and he was thoroughly alarmed.
"Bless me!" exclaimed the captain. "Where are Harkaway and the otherfellows?"
"Not gone, are they?" inquired Twinkle.
"I can't see them anywhere."
"The cowards! They have run away and left us to face the music! That's_mean_," said Twinkle.
The bull at this moment left the shelter of the tree and advancedtoward the intruders on his domain.
"He's a-coming!" gasped Twinkle.
"Fire!" said the captain.
Mr. Twinkle grasped his gun fiercely, shut his eyes, turned his back tothe buffalo, and fired.
The blank cartridge struck Captain Cannon, hurting him considerably ina very tender portion of his body--not in front neither.
"Oh-h!!! I'm shot!" he said, clapping his hands to the place anddropping his gun.
"Shot! did I hit you?" asked Mr. Twinkle, innocently.
"Did you? Why, you confounded idiot, I'm covered with blood. Lookhere!" the captain gasped, indignantly.
He withdrew his hands from the wound and regarded the ruby fluid grimly.
"I'm very sorry."
"Sorry be hanged! What good will that do me? Perhaps I shall die, orlose my leg; anyway, I know I sha'n't be able to sit down in comfortfor a week."
"I apologize. It--it sha'n't occur again," replied Twinkle. "I don'tknow how it happened. This is a horrid old gun. I never shot with sucha funny gun before."
"It's my opinion you're afraid, sir," shouted the captain. "Why don'tyou load up?"
"I distinctly refuse to do so, sir," retorted Twinkle; "and after theinjurious language you have used to me, sir, I shall retire from thisshoot and leave you to kill the buffalo yourself."
Saying this, he ran away and hid himself behind a neighboring tree.
The captain looked after him contemptuously.
Meanwhile the bull was getting nearer, and it was necessary to dosomething to check his progress.
Taking a steady aim, Captain Cannon discharged his piece, and wassurprised to see the animal remain unharmed.
Loading up, he fired again and again, but the beast did not fall,though he grew enraged, and uttering a defiant snort, charged.
The captain ran with all his might and succeeded in reaching a tree,behind which he sheltered himself.
"Shoot him, Mole!" he cried. "You've a capital chance; let the brutehave it, under the foreleg."
The professor fired, but with no better luck than the others; and thebull, having his attention diverted, took a survey of his new enemy.
Snorting again, he charged at the professor, who sprung to his feet,threw away his gun, and for want of a better weapon, opened hisumbrella.
Probably the buffalo had never before seen this offshoot ofcivilization, for he was much alarmed.
Turning tail, he fled ignominiously from the field of battle, and wassoon lost to sight.
"Bravo," cried the captain.
"Victory!" shouted Mr. Twinkle.
They emerged from their shelter and warmly congratulated the professoron his exploit.
"It was a happy thought," said Mole. "I will make a note of it. 'Thebuffalo, though impervious to bullets, will fly at the sight of anumbrella.'"
"I think we had better go home," exclaimed Twinkle.
"And I second that motion," replied
the captain; "for my wound isbecoming stiff and painful. We have actually seen a buffalo and had aterrific encounter with it. This will be sufficient to report to oursociety."
"Quite," remarked Mole. "I am perfectly satisfied."
Suddenly they were startled by a fearful yell, which made them jump.
Looking round, they beheld three red Indians in all their majesty ofpaint, feathers and tomahawks.
"Oh!! look!!!!" exclaimed Twinkle, "we shall all be robbed andmurdered!"
"Indians!" said the captain. "Why did not Mr. Van Hoosen warn us ofthis danger? I thought the wretches were kept on their reservations andguarded by government troops."
"They can't scalp me," remarked Mole.
"Why not?"
"I wear a wig, to which they are welcome, if they will only spare mylife."
"Whoop! la whoop!" yelled the Indians, dancing about in eccentriccircles.
Twinkle fell on his knees, and clasping his hands begged for mercy.
"Oh! good, kind gentlemen!" he said. "Have pity on a poor Englishmanfar away from home, who only came out here in the interest of science."
"Ugh! take scalp, want heap scalp to put in wigwam," replied an Indian.
"I've very little hair, sir; it is scarcely worth taking."
"My white brother is a squaw, he has the heart of a dog; the pale-faceis a coward; ugh! I have spoken."
Captain Cannon and Mr. Mole followed Twinkle's example and sunk ontheir knees.
They looked very comical in this undignified position.
The Indians stood over them, each selecting his victim and threateninghim with a tomahawk in one hand and the scalping-knife in the other.
Jack knocked off the professor's hat and making a rapid circle with hisknife, lifted the wig.
"Ha! white man heap big fraud," he exclaimed as he hung the wig at hisbelt.
"I'm very sorry, sir," replied Mole. "But I couldn't help growing bald.It's my misfortune, not my fault--nature did it--all my family losetheir hair quite early in life."
"Give watch, money!"
"Certainly, with the greatest pleasure in life," said Mole, emptyinghis pockets.
He handed out some currency, a watch and chain, chewing tobacco and asmall flask of spirits.
"What this? fire-water, hey?"
"Yes, good, kind sir. It's old rye whisky."
"If bad, Indian kill lying pale-face," said Jack, tasting the whiskyand handing it to Harvey and Van Hoosen, who evinced their satisfactionby guttural sounds and grunts.
Harvey contented himself with cutting Mr. Twinkle's hair as short as hecould, and Van Hoosen did the same for the fire-eating captain.
They then tore up their hats and the close-cropped looked as if theyhad just come out of jail, while Mole's polished crown shone in thesunshine like a ball of ivory.
Mr. Twinkle and the captain had to give up all their valuables, whichthey did gladly, thinking they were very lucky to escape with theirlives.
"White men crawl on belly, like snake, and kiss Indians' feet,"exclaimed Jack.
"I don't care about doing that," replied Mole.
Jack flourished his knife.
"White dog want to die?" he asked.
"Oh! no. Not yet. I'll do it," cried Mole, hastily.
Jack retreated several paces, and the professor crawled toward him,kissing his feet.
Van Hoosen and Harvey made their captives do the same thing.
"Whoop!" cried Jack, "we leave the white squaws now."
He took another drink out of the flask, his companions did the same,and then they vanished in the thicket as mysteriously as they had come.
"That was a narrow escape," said the professor.
"Yes, indeed," replied Captain Cannon. "I shall have a fine story totell when I get back to London. First, I killed a savage buffalo bull,in the wilds of New Jersey."
"You didn't kill him," observed Mr. Twinkle.
"Didn't I?"
"No, indeed. I think that honor belongs to me."
"Any way, you shot something and that was myself. I'll forgive you, ifyou will let me say, without fear of contradiction, that I slew thebuffalo."
"You may as well tell a good lie while you are about it," said Mr.Mole. "_I_ always do."
"I have remarked that already," observed the captain.
"A small falsehood is a contemptible thing, but there is some glory ina big one."
"In what way can I amend mine?"
"Say that in the encounter with the bull he tossed you on his horns,and you can show your wound in corroboration of the story," replied theprofessor.
The captain did not relish this allusion to his wound, which wassituated in an inglorious portion of his anatomy.
Mr. Mole picked up the flask, which was empty, and having discoveredthis fact, his disgust found vent in words.
"These Indians are the meanest wretches I ever met with," he said.
"What have they done now?" inquired Mr. Twinkle.
"Emptied the flask--drained it _dry_, sir, by Jove! I had intendedto solace myself with a quiet drink, but human aspirations are everdestined to be dashed to the ground."
He sighed deeply.
"Let us go back to the house and enjoy Mr. Van Hoosen's hospitality,"suggested Mr. Twinkle.
"I believe that motion was seconded and carried, a few moments ago,"said the captain.
"It was," replied the professor.
"Then I will give the word of command. By your right, march! And if Iever come out buffalo-hunting in the Jersey wilds again, may the Lordforgive me."
The three men marched disconsolately toward the house, and arrangedamong themselves to say that they had encountered a band of Indians,who, after a severe fight, overpowered them by the sheer force ofnumbers.
"Let me tell the story," exclaimed Mole, "and you corroborate all Isay."
"Good!" cried the captain and Mr. Twinkle.
"I don't mind a little romancing," continued Mole. "It comes naturallyto me, and I know it requires an effort on your part, gentlemen."
The sportsmen smiled and quickened their pace, as they were anxious toreach the homestead, and enjoy the good things which they felt sure Mr.Van Hoosen would regale them with.
When they arrived at the house, they were met at the door by Alfred,Jack and Harvey.
"What sport did you meet with, sir?" asked Harkaway.
"Splendid, my dear boy," replied Mr. Mole. "You missed it."
"Is that so?"
"We killed the buffalo bull--at least, he was hit and went away into athicket to die. If it had not been for a tribe of Indians who attackedus, we should have had a capital day's gunning."
"Did the Indians fight you?"
"Yes, sir," answered Mr. Mole. "We were absolutely surrounded by fiftyof the red fiends, but we showed a determined front and beat them off."
"Did you kill any?"
"Did we. Well, I should smile if we did not," answered Mr. Mole.
"Where are the dead?"
"Ask their comrades. When they saw they were defeated, they retired indisorder, but they carried their dead with them."
"Carried off the dead?"
"Yes. I will give them the credit for that."
"But how did it occur that your wig is gone and these gentlemen havehad their hair cut short?" inquired Harkaway.
Mr. Mole looked a little confused.
"Oh! I will explain that," he said; "on our way home we were attackedby a horde of tramps."
"A horde?"
"Yes, about a score, and being exhausted by our encounter with theIndians we surrendered at discretion."
"That was rough on you, sir. It was indeed. Did the tramps rob you ofanything?"
"All we possessed; but we beat the Indians, and if we had beenpossessed of any cartridges we should have driven off the tramps."
"That is a very good story," said Jack.
Mr. Mole looked indignant.
"What do you mean by that insinuation?" he exclaimed. "Do you doubt myhonor?"
/> "Oh! no. Not for a moment."
"Then why is it a good story?"
"Simply because it is the best lie, Mr. Mole, that I have heard for along time."
Captain Cannon struck his breast with his hand and Mr. Twinkle lookedunutterable things at Jack.
"_I_ am concerned in this allegation," said the captain.
"Did I allegate anything?" asked Jack.
"Yes, sir, and I deny the allegation and despise the allegator."
"That's a stale joke," replied Jack. "But look here, gentlemen, if theIndians cut your hair or took Mr. Mole's wig, we can return the hirsuteappendages. If the tramps robbed you of money or valuables we can givethem back."
"_You_!"
"Yes, sir," continued Harkaway; "what do you say to this?"
"And this?" cried Harvey.
"And this?" added Van Hoosen.
They severally displayed the spoils they had taken, placing them on atable.
The consternation and dismay of the three pretenders was funny in theextreme.
"Then you were the Indians!" said the professor; grasping the tail endof the joke feebly.
"We were," answered Jack.
"But how did you do it?"
"Oh! we dressed up, being determined to have some fun with you, and asthere was no harm done, I hope you will forgive the joke."
"I do," replied the professor; "and I may add that I knew it was you,Jack, all along."
"You did?"
"If I hadn't known it, do you think I would have allowed you to take mywig."
"Allowed me?"
"Yes. It was the only one I had, and a bald-headed old man is not acheerful spectacle, nor calculated to inspire respect."
He took up his wig and fitted it on, after which he appropriated thevarious articles which had been taken from him.
"Ah! Jack, you think you are a very smart fellow, but I have known youfrom a boy, and you can't fool me," said Mr. Mole.
"But I did to-day, though," replied Harkaway.
Captain Cannon took what belonged to him, and appeared very indignant.
"Mr. Harkaway," he said, "you and I are members of the same club."
"We are."
"And we came over here to hunt the buffalo in its native wilds and makea report at home."
"You did, but I had other things to attend to."
"Never mind, you have grossly deceived me, and I consider your joke aninsult, sir."
"Do you?" said Jack, coldly.
"Yes, sir, I do. Look at my hair! it will take a month to grow. I shallleave this country at once."
"If you do, the country won't miss you. I don't think there will be ageneral mourning, or that the nation will go into bankruptcy."
Mr. Twinkle put on his hat with a savage air.
"I shall go, too," he said.
"By all means. Go to--Hong Kong or Halifax, if you like."
Captain Cannon put his arm in that of Mr. Twinkle.
"Mr. Van Hoosen," exclaimed Mr. Twinkle, "we are disappointed in you."
"Sorry for that. I generally pan out pretty good," replied Alfred.
"We are going, sir."
"So I heard you say before."
"We will not stay to partake of your hospitality, sir."
"Nobody asked you. I gave you a shot at my uncle's old tame buffalobull, but you had only blank cartridges, and having done that, I haveno inclination to do anything further for you."
"Blank cartridges!" ejaculated the captain.
"The deuce," said Mr. Twinkle. "That was lucky for you, Cannon, when Ifired round the corner; I might have settled you, altogether."
"Come!" replied the captain, grandly.
"One word before you go, gentlemen," exclaimed Alfred Van Hoosen. "You,as educated men, ought not to have been such idiots as to suppose youwould find buffaloes and Indians in New York State or Jersey, and youcan't blame me, as a playful American, for having a joke with you,especially as your better-informed friend, Mr. Harkaway, assisted me."
"I have nothing to say," replied Captain Cannon.
"Nor I," replied Mr. Twinkle. "For my part, I don't like the country,and the people are--"
Alfred Van Hoosen stared at him, fixedly.
"Are what?" he asked.
Mr. Twinkle made just the least little nervous start.
"Oh! perfect gentlemen, of course," he added.
"Come!" again said the captain. "The gentlemen shall hear from us."
"By cable, I guess," laughed Alfred.
"Do you join us, Mr. Mole?" asked the captain, not noticing the remarkof Van Hoosen.
"Well--no," answered the professor. "I knew it was a lark all through,and as I never bite off my nose to spite my face, I will forgive Jackthis time, and stay to lunch with my very good friend, Mr. Van Hoosen."
He held out his hand.
"No animosity, Al?" he added.
"Not the slightest in the world, my dear fellow," replied Van Hoosen.
Captain Cannon and Mr. Twinkle walked out of the room together, fullydetermined to return to England by the next steamer.
As they went, Alfred sung, the others joining in the chorus:
"We'll settle on the banks Of the lovely Ohio, Through the wild woods we'll wend As we hunt the buffalo"
And the refrain rung in their ears all the way to the depot:
"As we hunt the buff-a-lo."