Part 17 (1/2)

”We've given the Sioux a lesson they'll not forget in a hurry,”

exclaimed Sandy, as wethat ere near, and before they could stand to their ar all the felloho had ht, as they jumped up to fly, left behind them We took possession of the muskets, and followed up the enemy for an hour or more How many were killed it would have been hard to say, as we did not stop to count those we shot down; but our redskin friends have got thirty scalps, which would be about the tally, as they looked out for all who fell I don't approve of the custo whether a man's alive or dead before they lift the hair froladly have prevented the slaughter which had occurred It struck us that probably the Sioux in their flight had thron the men who had been killed or wounded in the attack on the fort, and that these were included in the nu a scalp-dance outside the fort--not a very edifying spectacle, but an aht--were invited to partake of a feast which had been in the ed on it, and though not of a very refined description, it suited the taste of our guests

We had buffalo meat and venison, boiled, roasted, and steith flour cakes, and potatoes the produce of our garden A small aive the Indians enough to make theot sufficient tospeeches were uttered, expressing the affection they felt for us, their pale-face brothers

When night came on they encae body of Indians, whoever they were, to sleep inside the fort As they were aware of this, they were not offended The weather being warh unable to put up a down they had another scalp-dance, which they kept up to a late hour

We were in hopes that they would go the next day, but they showed no inclination toas they could obtain an abundant supply of food We, of course, were obliged to serve it out frorateful had we given them a hint to take their departure They thus consumed nearly the whole of the substantial provisions we had in the fort, including flour and potatoes; and not till Alick told them that we had but littleaway

Before doing so they invited us to acco in a few days, after they had returned to their own lodges and obtained horses for the purpose

Martin and I were eager to go, as was Robin; and we persuaded Alick to accoe after the arduous work he had gone through At first he was very doubtful about the e, which he often had done when compelled to be absent frouns, intending to shoot on the way, directing our horses to be brought after us We were accompanied by Bouncer, as always our attendant on such occasions; and very useful he oftenall animals, but especially cautious when he met with those hose prowess he ell acquainted We had bagged two or three s our usual custoether, we each took a different path, which led us to some distance apart Martin was nearest to me; I could still see him between the trees, when I heard a shot I looked towards him; but as I saw no smoke, I concluded that he had not fired Directly afterwards he shouted, ”Coto Alick, who I hopedtolerably open in the direction I had taken, I quickly overtook Martin

”It was there I heard his voice,” he exclai out I can't understand it, but I hope nothing terrible has happened to hiot near him At the same moment Alick appeared in another direction between the trees

Instead of being alarhter, for there was Robin holding on to the bushy tail of an ani towards a hole near at hand ”Help et away”

Robin pulled in one direction, and the beast, which I saas an unusually large badger, was endeavouring to scra Robin after it Before Bouncer, who had followed Alick, could spring forward to Robin's assistance the badger had reached its hole, dohich it was struggling with ht andbitten, held on stoutly, while Bouncer flew at the hinder quarters of the beast, of which he took a firrip

”Pull away, Robin, pull away,” I shouted ”You can have the honour of killing him yourself, with the help of Bouncer”

Robin hauled away, and so did the dog; but for soain the victory At last Robin, by a desperate effort, hauled the unfortunate badger out of the hole; and as he did so he fell backwards, still holding on, and drawing the creature almost over hi up a thick stick which lay at hand, stunned it with a blohen it was quickly dispatched We took off the skin, as we had those of the other animals we had shot, and did theht our horses

I mention the circuh it will not appear a very important one, it showed Robin's deter he undertook After that we used frequently to observe, ”Stick to it as Robin did to the badger's tail, and you'll get it out of the hole at last”

It is what I would advise others to do when they have difficulties to contend with, whether great or small

The horses overtook us in the afternoon, e rode on and ca to join our Indian friends the next day We had brought with us a sa that the Indians would be able to furnish us with buffalo meat, on which we had no objection to live for a few days

Next ht our horses, we rode on; but it was not till nearly evening that we reached the Cree cahich they appropriated to our use, and the followingstarted for the southward in search of buffalo, which were supposed to be in considerable nu only to take a meal about noon, but not a buffalo did we see We had exhausted all our provisions, and regretted that we had not brought more with us for our own private use

Small fires only were formed, around which we lay down to sleep It was nearly dahen the Cree chief, touchinghis head close down to the ground

I did so, and could hear a low, dull sound, as if nu the soil

”That is the tramp of buffaloes,” he observed

When, however, I sat up I could hear nothing The chief told me to call my brother and other friends, and proposed, as soon as we had had so to eat, that we should set off in the direction from whence the sounds we had heard proceeded