Part 9 (1/2)
”Though they ht attack small parties of travellers,” he said, ”or such forts as ours in advanced positions However, if they do come, we shall be able to defend ourselves, and teach therounds On the chance of their co I have made every preparation for defence, and they will not capture Fort Black with as much ease as they may suppose”
CHAPTER FOUR
HURRAH! PAT IS FOUND--SANDY MCTAVISH'S YARN--HIS DISCOVERY OF ROBIN GREY--TOBOGGANING--THE DOG-TRAIN--OUR SORROW AT THE DEPARTURE OF ROSE AND LETTY--WE START ON SNOW-SHOES--WOLVES OUT FORAGING--A RACE FOR LIFE--THE FORT IN SIGHT--SAFE AT LAST--ROBIN'S STORY--HIS CAPTURE BY THE INDIANS--WAMEGON--HIS POOR FEET--HIS IMPRISONMENT IN THE LOG--”NETNOKWA,” HIS INDIAN MOTHER--THE INDIAN DANCE--WAMEGON PERSECUTES HIM--ROBIN'S NOVEL METHOD OF KILLING A DEER--WAMEGON PERSEVERES IN HIS CRUELTY
I had been thole days at the fort, and no news had been received of Sandy and his party, who had gone in search of poor Pat and th, and Rose and Letty by their kind attentions greatly contributed to raise er Mr Crisp apprehended, and Rose only supposed that she was going to Fort Ross for the sake of being a companion to Letty
They were therefore perfectly happy, and laughed and joked as their natural tempers inclined them to do
We were, of course, rather anxious about Sandy and poor Pat The latter I scarcely expected to see again, for ill as he hen he went away from me, I feared that if not at once found he would have been starved to death
I have not yet described our fort It consisted of strong palisades, surrounding nearly half an acre of ground, ooden towers at the four corners, projecting so as to enfilade each of the sides The whole was surrounded by a trench, which would make it difficult for an enemy to approach the walls, if they ell defended with -houses and stores, and huts and aht be detained during the winter
Though sth, and we had no fear, should it be attacked, of being able to defeat any nu was approaching when the lookout, as always stationed at the top of the highest tohich faced the open country, gave notice that he saw several persons on horseback approaching
We hurried up the toith our spy-glasses, and before long, greatly to our satisfaction, we distinguished Sandy at the head of the party
”Hurrah!” I exclaimed, ”and there's Pat I'side hi him on his horse”
”I see a boy too,” exclaimed Martin ”He looks to ot a white face Who can he be?”
As the party drew nearer, ere satisfied that ere right in our conjectures We all hurried out to meet them
Sandy, as soon as he saw me, juht at finding I was safe
”I thought it was all right,” he exclaimed, ”as I'll tell you by-and-by
We found your last resting-place, and traced you to the canoe; and as I discovered that Bouncer had one down the streah I was not so sure how you would have shot the rapids”
”How do you know that I ca in the country, and accustomed to Indian ways, not to have seen that you had launched a canoe from the bank; besides which I had another proof, if any had been wanting, but I'll tell you all about it presently,” he answered
”And how did you find Pat?” asked Alick
”And who is that boy in the Indian dress?” inquired Martin
”If you put one question at a tientlemen, I'll tell you how it all happened,” said Sandy ”But if you have no objection, we'll go into the fort and have soet here before nightfall, we have had no opportunity of satisfying our hunger since noon”
The horses of the party being taken by the otherstranger with a look of curiosity He appeared to be so so h it was very evident from his features and complexion that he was hi the unwillingness of the boy to advance, went towards hi; ant to hear all about you”
The boy opened his large blue eyes, but ns, and accoly Martin then led him up to Rose and Letty