CHAPTER VII
OFF ON THE GREAT JOURNEY
"THE hound!" exclaimed Sandy Armstrong, with something of his oldimpetuosity.
"But, even as it is, we will outwit him," Dick observed, with thatquiet resolution that was so distinctly a part of his character. "Theycan only have a day or so the start of us; and it may not be so hard toget ahead of his party in the thick of the woods."
"And if he tries any of his tricks on us," broke in the indignantRoger, "be sure that we will not spare him. We are going to rememberthat he is a bad man, who plans to rob us of our homes, and steal theproperty our parents have built up here. Yes, it won't be such a fineday for Monsieur Lascelles when he meets the Armstrong boys face toface; eh, Dick?"
The bad news Roger had brought from the settlement seemed to cast ashadow on the coming separation of the boys from those they loved. Themothers sighed, and had hard work to force a smile when either of thelads happened to be near. Even the fathers got together many times, andconferred as to whether one of them should not accompany the boys.
But it seemed as though fate had stepped in to prevent. Sandy hadrecently been ill, and had hardly recovered his strength; while Bob,only a week before, had cut himself in the foot with an axe, so that hewould be hobbling around for a month yet. And, under such conditions,either one of them would prove a drag on the movements of the boys.
And so it was finally decided that the original plan must be adheredto, unless they intended to change their minds entirely, and not allowDick and Roger to undertake the mission.
The news had the effect of sobering Roger somewhat. He began to realizemore than ever that their venture was to be no jaunt, but a seriousmatter, to call for the best efforts they could put forth. Not onlywould they be exposed to perils from wild animals, storms that mustsweep over the great mountains from time to time, and constantly besetby the hostile Indians whose territory they meant to invade; but herewas a new danger in the vindictive and lawless French trader, who wouldleave no stone unturned to balk the accomplishment of their mission.
Still, neither dreamed of turning back. They were like old IsraelPutnam--once his hand was at the plow, nothing could swerve him.
Their friends in the St. Louis settlement proved most kind. Many cameout to talk matters over, and some to offer good advice concerningthe many difficulties they had heard of in connection with the trailleading to the setting sun. And one and all brought something fromtheir stores that they hoped the boys might find room for among thepackages to be fastened on the packhorse.
It had been decided to take only one extra horse along. Dick had beeninstrumental in bringing about this decision. Although he advancedother reasons, the truth of the matter was that he expected they wouldhave to abandon any pack animal when dangers began to thicken aroundthem, and he did not want to be the means of causing greater loss thanwas necessary.
Besides, they could carry all they wanted on one animal. There wasa rude tent that had seen much use, cooking utensils, blankets,some extra clothing, stores intended for food, and some trinketsthat Grandfather Armstrong supplied, such as beads and smalllooking-glasses, which his experience told him might be used to gainthe good will of strange tribes of Indians, to whom such trifles wouldappeal strongly.
They could not have carried one-quarter of the many articles thatwell-meaning women friends of their mothers brought with them. This wasno junketing expedition, on which they could start with a vast amountof preserves and cakes and such dainties; but a most serious business.They did not disdain to take some of the pemmican, because that mightcome in handy should they be passing through a dangerous section ofcountry, where it would be risky to discharge a gun, lest by so doingthe sound bring a host of enemies upon them.
Dick had listened to all the stories he could concerning the wildernessfar up the great river. Then he had gone off by himself, and tried todraw an imaginary chart that would cover the ground. Upon this he hadmarked all known points; and around any of which there existed anydoubt he always drew a circle, to indicate that proof was needed.
No doubt this chart was a crude affair, and, if seen nowadays, whenevery mile of the distance has been measured and mapped by geographers,it would cause a smile; but, in the absence of anything definite, itgave the boys a certain amount of confidence; and, moreover, as theywent along, and certain features were proved to be grossly exaggerated,they could make changes.
And if they were fortunate enough to come back again, what pride theycould take in exhibiting that altered chart, which had been builtup week after week, as they pierced farther and farther into thewilderness.
The eventful day dawned bright and clear.
It seemed a friendly omen to Dick Armstrong as he went about hismorning duties as though nothing out of the ordinary was about to takeplace, so well under control did the boy hold himself.
They gathered in the big cabin of Grandfather Armstrong for dinner,every soul of the little settlement, and at the table the old man askedthat the blessings of Heaven might follow those two bold lads as theystarted out upon their adventure.
It would have been a cheerless meal indeed, had not Dick taken thingsin hand, and joked in a way quite unlike his usual self. But his fatherand uncle understood how full the lad's heart was, and that he wasforced to assume such levity in order not to break down.
Finally the meal ended, but to most of those who took part it was morelike a funeral feast than a banquet in spite of the good things withwhich Grandmother Armstrong and Aunt Kate had prepared.
And now the time had come to say good-by.
The horses were ready, fresh, and apparently eager to be moving,unconscious of the fact that in all probability they would never moresee the home stable.
Despite their efforts to appear gay, the hearts of the boys seemedto be in their throats, so that in the end, when it came each lad'sturn to embrace his mother a second time, turning to her last of all,neither Dick nor Roger could utter a single word.
But boyish nature is apt to soon recover from these things; and oncethey had shut out the familiar scene, and turned their faces towardthe west, they gradually recovered their customary spirits.
"AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS THEY STOPPED THEIR HORSES, ANDTURNED IN THE SADDLE TO WAVE A FAREWELL."]
At the edge of the woods they stopped their horses, and turned in thesaddle to wave a farewell. Across the field there welled the heartycalls of fathers and grandfather; while the shrill voice of Sam badethem not to forget that they had promised to fetch him back somememento of the country on the upper reaches of the Missouri, which someday, if he lived to be a man, he meant to visit for himself.
"Ready, Roger?" asked Dick, in a husky tone; for he knew that thesooner his impulsive cousin were started, so that the trees might shutout all view of those loved faces, the better.
"Yes, come on, Dick!" answered the other, gulping hard.
A word to the horses, and they were off. The heavy woods immediatelycame between, and, even though they turned in the saddle again, nothingof their home could they see.
The boys rode at a fast pace, because it seemed to agree with theirspirits, just then, and they felt that they wanted to place somedistance between themselves and home, possibly lest their resolutionfail them.
And in thus making their start upon such a tremendous undertaking, whatstrange pictures must have occupied the minds of the adventurous pair,as they surveyed that uncertain future, which might be peopled withsuch adventures as mortals had never before dreamed of meeting?
But, just as Dick had foreseen would be the case, in half an hour bothhad seemingly recovered their spirits and were looking hopefully to thefuture to fulfill some of the many dreams that had filled their mindsever since the subject of the long journey had been broached.