CHAPTER XXV
THE VILLAGE OF THE MANDANS
"THAT'S a bitter disappointment, Captain Lewis," declared Dick, whenhe could speak clearly, after gulping down the lump that arose in histhroat.
"Yes, I can well understand that it must seem so, after all theadventures and hardships you have met with in order to overtake us,"replied the genial leader of the exploring party; "but, then, what isto hinder you from accompanying us as far as the Mandan country, wherewe will undoubtedly come upon Williams again, and you can induce himto affix his signature to the document? Indeed, both Captain Clark andmyself will only too gladly witness it, if that would please you."
Dick looked at Roger, and the latter smiled, although a moment beforehe had felt the bitter tears of disappointment welling into his eyes.
"It is the only thing we can do, Roger!"
"And, after all, what could be nicer, since it will give us a chanceto be in the company of Captains Lewis and Clark for many days," theother rejoined, as though he had seen the sun gleam through the rainclouds.
"And," the commander continued, encouragingly, "after we have decidedwhere we shall spend the winter, somewhere near the Mandan village, soas to undertake the scaling of the mountains when spring comes again,we may be sending a couple of scouts back down the river with a messageto the President, to inform him of what success we have met with thusfar, since he will be anxious to know. If you choose, you can accompanythat party; or, if you would rather remain with us, entrust one ofthem--a reliable man he shall be--with your valuable document, to bedelivered, on my word of honor, to your grandfather on their reachingSt. Louis."
"Oh!"
That was all Roger said, but the light that flashed across his eager,boyish face baffled description. What Captain Lewis had just saidamounted to an invitation to join the exploring force, and be a memberof the expedition that was bound to go down in history as famous.
And perhaps quiet, sober Dick experienced some of the same enthusiasm,although he was better able to restrain his feelings. The prospect ofbeing in the company of these hardy souls for days, and perhaps weeks,was a pleasant one; and, if that pleasure were extended to the entirewinter and following summer, it would be the greatest event of theirlives.
Dick realized that, having said as much as he had, it was only rightthat he should go into more details concerning the scheme of the Frenchtrader to legally cheat them out of their homes.
Accordingly, he told all that he knew about it, both of the commanderslistening with considerable interest, and expressing their sympathywith the settlers.
"I have heard of this Lascelles," remarked Captain Lewis, "and nothingto his credit, either. He is certainly a rascal. It is a pity the lawcannot reach such as he; but his cunning always keeps him from puttinghis neck in the rope. But some fine day he is certain to meet hisfate at the hands of some furious frontiersman whom he has cheated. Iunderstand that, years ago, he used to be a trapper, and by degreeschanged into a buyer of pelts, and a rich trader."
"I have met him many times," said Captain Clark, "and never likedthe man. He is one of those blustering bullies, who believes he canfrighten others by a black frown, and hard words."
When the expedition once more started, the boys were looked upon asmembers of the party. They had a most delightful afternoon, vastlydifferent from the distress and gloom of the earlier part of the day.
All that was done they watched with considerable interest, learning howthese expert French Canadian watermen managed, in order to cope withthe swift current of the river at its worst stage.
It was agreed by all that the flood would subside almost as quickly asit had come, and that inside of two days the river would probably beat about the same level as before. Still, as it kept on rising for thebalance of the afternoon, Dick was of the opinion that the island musthave been fully covered, which, had they remained there, would havenecessitated their climbing the tree, in order to keep from being sweptaway.
They were bubbling over with delight at their improved prospects.
"I'll always believe in that old saying about its being 'darkest justbefore dawn,'" Roger remarked, as they rode on ahead of the rest of theparty, though there were always a few scouts far in the van to lookfor signs of hostile Indians, who might be trying to lay some sort ofambush, with the design of sending a shower of arrows among the whites.
"Who are these Mandan Indians the captain was telling us about, Dick?"asked the younger boy, while they rode together late in the afternoon,with a fair sky overhead, and a brisk breeze blowing that seemed tohint of the autumn season not so far away.
"I've heard some talk about them," replied Dick; "and people say theyare different from all the other tribes up here. Some call them thewhite Indians, because they seem to be less of a coppery hue thanthe rest. And they have many queer customs, which we may see forourselves--if we have to stick by the expedition that long, at least."(Note 5.)
"'At least!'" echoed Roger, meaningly; "that sounds as if you might bethinking of accepting Captain Lewis's invitation to become members ofthe expedition, and go all the way with him to the Western ocean."
Dick sighed.
"Sometimes I am tempted to say I'd like nothing better, if we couldbe positive that the paper, that is going to save our parents' homes,was sure of reaching the hands of Grandfather Armstrong. Then again,a longing to see my mother and father and Sam will grip me, and shakethat temptation off."
"It is the same with me, Dick; and, yet, just think what a gloriouschance we have to see wonderful things. It will never come to usagain; and perhaps our parents would think we were foolish not to takeadvantage of it now. Of course I never would dream of such a thing, ifwe couldn't get that paper home to them; but Captain Lewis assured usit would go just as safely with his messengers as though we carried itourselves."
"Yes, that's so, Roger; and we'll talk it over," Dick went on hastily."Surely we shall have plenty of time for that as the days pass by. And,if we can see our way clear to do it honorably, without feeling that weare wrong, perhaps--"
"You will say stay?" exclaimed the other, joyfully.
"Wait and see," was the only satisfaction Dick would give his impetuouscompanion; but Roger knew that the seed had been planted, and he hadreason to believe it must germinate in good season, if all went well.
Then came the camp, as evening approached.
How different it all was to what they had been used to doing. There wasapparently no reason for concealment. The fires blazed brightly andcheerfully, and the preparations for cooking the evening meal were goneabout in a manner quite the opposite to what they had become accustomedto; the men laughing and chatting as they hovered around the severalfires, while sentries, posted by Captain Clark to ensure against anysurprise, stood their posts, grim and faithful.
One of the voyageurs, a man named Fields, seemed to be particularlyinterested in the two lads, and they learned the reason why when theycame to chat with him later in the evening, sitting beside a fire.
"I knew Pat O'Mara," he told them, "and often heard him tell about yourfathers, who were to him Bob and Sandy Armstrong. I also knew DanielBoone and Simon Kenton in the days gone by, for I have roamed over allthe country between the Great Lakes and Kentucky. And it pleases me tothink that I've run across the sons of those pioneers who came down theOhio River when its banks were lined with savage Shawanees, Delawaresand other red foes, waiting for a chance to surprise settlers, and lifttheir scalps."
Fields, whose name will be found written on the scroll of fame as amember of that wonderful little party, was a man of more than ordinaryintelligence, and both Dick and Roger came to be very fond of him inthe long days that followed, as they continued to press on, always intothe northwest, with the river gradually becoming smaller the fartherthey advanced toward its unknown source.
The two Armstrong boys were not willing to simply act as guests, andaccept favors. They wanted to do their part toward supplying theexpedition with fresh meat while in company w
ith those who had been sokind to them.
So from time to time they went out, generally in the company of someolder hunter, like Fields, to look for buffalo, elk, antelope or anyother kind of game. And, as had usually been the case in their hunts,the boys were lucky in finding plenty of game; so that before long theybegan to be looked on as the main source of fresh meat supply for thecamp.
They met with more or less adventure while engaged in this work;but nothing of a really serious nature came along. Nor were they sounfortunate as to run across hostile Indians, though constantly warnedto keep a sharp lookout for signs of the treacherous Sioux, who werefeared more than any of the other tribes along the upper reaches ofthe "Big Muddy," as the Missouri came to be called even in those earlydays, on account of the condition of its turgid waters.
Another thing Dick and Roger bore in mind, and this was the possiblepresence of the French trader, Francois Lascelles, and his son Alexisin the neighborhood. Not a thing had they heard concerning this pairsince leaving St. Louis, and secretly Dick was hoping that they hadbeen turned back by the innumerable obstacles they must have met withsoon after starting.
It was only natural that, finding themselves in the company of suchmen as Fields, who were wrapped up heart and soul in the determinationof the expedition to cross the mighty mountain chain that was known tostand as a barrier between the plains and the far distant Western sea,the boys should become daily more and more deeply interested in theenterprise.
By degrees even the stern resolution of Dick to let nothing tempthim to delay his return to the mother whom he missed so much, wasweakening; and it seemed probable that in the end he would be ready toaccede to Roger's eager plea that they cast their fortunes in with theothers, on condition that the signed document could be surely carriedto Grandfather Armstrong by a trusty messenger.
As they ascended higher up the river, and it became clearer, thefishing became greatly improved. Often of an evening, when waiting forsupper to be announced, Roger would indulge to his heart's content inhis favorite sport; so that many a time he was able to supply fish forthe whole camp.
There were other ways in which the two lads proved that they werehunters with a good knowledge of the habits of game. When the riverran through great sections of wooded country, as frequently happened,they would take a dugout canoe, and, after dark had set in, pushfurther up-stream, keeping close to the shore, and carrying a lightedtorch in the bow.
In this way they frequently sighted deer that were feeding in thewater, possibly making a meal from certain lily pads they fancied.Startled by the sudden glow of the wonderful fire, they would oftenstand there, staring as though unable to understand what it allmeant, until the keen eyes of those in the boat sighted them, whena well-aimed arrow would very likely provide the camp with anotherabundant supply of food.
Once the boys came unexpectedly on a buffalo bull also standingknee-deep in the river, drinking his fill, or cooling off after awarm day. And Roger, being quick to act, had fired his feathered barbalmost before Dick could warn him to be careful. The result was thatthe wounded beast charged the boat, and upset it, so that the boyswere given wet jackets, and might have even suffered the loss of theirlong-barreled guns only that they had the good sense to keep a tightgrip on these as they floundered in the water.
The enraged and wounded buffalo was ready to attack them again, and soDick, in order to settle the matter in their favor, was compelled tomake use of his rifle, shooting the bull at close quarters, just as hewas rushing toward the spot where Roger was splashing in his endeavorto keep his head above the surface.
It can be understood that after such an experience Roger was apt tostay his hand whenever it happened that they discovered a buffalo inthe river; since another time they might not chance to be so fortunate.
So the days passed, and the pioneer boys were enjoying themselvesvastly; but the time came when the peaceful scene was suddenly changed.There seemed to be a commotion ahead, and the boys, who had been ridingin the rear, galloped up in order to learn what it all meant.
Some of the scouts had come in to announce that they were now drawingclose to the Mandan village, where Captain Lewis was thinking ofsettling down for the autumn and winter, if the signs were favorable.This meant, if he could make the chief a good friend by the bestowalof presents, such as looking-glasses, beads, knives, and other thingskept in stock for this very purpose.
"To-morrow, they say, we ought to be there," Roger told Dick, as theyrode on.
"Yes, and oh! how I hope that we will find Jasper Williams waiting forthe expedition to arrive," returned Dick, with considerable emotion;for the longer this meeting was delayed, the more it began to get upontheir nerves.
"Well," remarked Roger, turning philosopher for once, "we've beenso lucky up to now that I don't see how we could miss getting hissignature to that paper. He must be in the Mandan village; and byto-morrow night we may have had the two captains witness the signing ofhis name, that will mean so much to all at home."
"You're right, Roger, and I believe the same, deep in my heart," Dickwent on. "And, even if he should be away when we get to the Mandanvillage, it can only be for a short time. We will find him, believethat, if we have to go out after him."
All that evening they were rather silent. The near approach of thecrisis in their affairs rather appalled the lads. They had anticipatedthis thing for so long a time, that the coming of the fateful hour,when all must be put to the test, rather unnerved them.
Little sleep visited their eyes that night, for Captain Lewis hadinformed them that some time on the morrow they would reach the Mandanvillage. He had received a message from Williams, reporting that thegreat chief of the Mandans was disposed to be friendly, and was sendinga token of amity in the shape of presents, being handsome robes,decorated after the Indian custom, and very valuable.
With the coming of the dawn the expedition again commenced its forwardmove. As the river flowed smoothly all through this region they wereable to make rapid progress throughout the morning, and most of theafternoon.
About three o'clock they came to the great Mandan village, situatedamong the trees in a place where the country was rolling. Long beforethey arrived they knew they were drawing near the place, from theuproar that greeted their ears--the beating of tomtoms, barking ofdogs, neighing of horses, and all manner of sounds that would indicateunusual excitement.
Then a large band of warriors came out to greet them, with orders thatthe white men should be given all honors as the guests of the chief.Thus those on the three boats, as well as that part of the expeditionashore, were escorted to the village, amid a great clamor. But it wasto be noticed that the soldiers kept close together, and had their gunsalways in a condition for immediate use, to impress the Indians withtheir ability to defend themselves.
But the Mandans were evidently disposed to be friendly. They lacked thefierce disposition of the Sioux, with whom they were constantly at war,though they could fight, and bravely too, when they had to.
Once in the Indian village, the boys saw a thousand things of interestaround them; for this was the first opportunity they ever had had toroam about among the lodges of a large Indian camp. But they were ina fever of suspense concerning Jasper Williams; for surely the scoutwould have shown himself at their approach, had he been there.
Captain Lewis, knowing the anxious state of their minds, had promisedto ask the chief concerning the scout in his first interview; and theyhung around the wigwam which, by its gay markings, they knew must bethe council chamber, and into which both the captains had been led halfan hour before.
"Here he comes!" announced Roger, finally, in a gleeful tone.
Dick did not answer, for he could see that Captain Lewis lookedserious, as though he had rather disappointing news for them; and hisheart seemed to almost cease beating for a brief interval as the leaderof the explorers advanced toward the spot where he and Roger stoodawaiting him.