Part 22 (1/2)
As soon as we had got so far that there was no chance of our footsteps being heard, we began to run, keeping close together The Crees, who always move about on horseback, were less likely than most of the Indians to discover our trail, and we felt sure that they would not follow us on foot We were all in good wind, and ht be twenty or even thirty miles away before they found out that we had escaped; for even when the chief awoke he would very likely turn to again and drink a further quantity of the fire-water
We went on till we had passed the Cree encaht have ventured into it, for the women ere alone there would not have known that ere escaping, and would have consequently allowed us to continue on our way We thought it wiser, however, to avoid paying our friends a visit, as we had enough food to last us till we could reach the river After the abundant one on all day with very little food or rest
In crossing a small valley we found a number of the mesaskatoreatly refreshed us I am afraid that it will be scarcely believed that we acco to our calculation, upwards of fiftyon a highroad, it was good going over the prairie grass, with occasionally to have to h woods and across strea that the Crees would not take the trouble of co after us, and ere thankful that we had not been teht have been justified in so doing We supped off peht betray our position
We kept, however, a pile of sticks ready to kindle, should it become necessary by the approach of wolves or of bears As usual, of course, one of us kept watch, that we ht passed aithout any event of i, the moment the first streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern sky, we pushed forward at as rapid a rate as before We at last got into the country we knew pretty well, and in the afternoon of the third day caht of the spot where Fort Black had stood
”It looks black enough now,” observed Martin, as he surveyed the charred ruins ”I wish I knehere my poor father and mother are! Should the Sioux have paid thereat difficulty in escaping”
”I don't think the Sioux would have gone so far north,” observed Alick
”They are probably better off than they would have been had they come to the fort, when they to a certainty would have been murdered with the rest of our poor people Don't let us contemplate misfortunes, before we know that they have happened”
Not a huhbourhood of the fort; neither cattle nor horses were anywhere visible The whole scene was one of perfect desolation Without entering the ruins, we at once made our way down the bank to the spot where we hoped to find the canoes
The door of the shed was open One canoe only out of three remained
”So far that is satisfactory,” observed Alick ”I trust that the rest of the et down and embark before they were discovered by the Sioux I wonder the rascals didn't search for them Had they done so, they would have found this canoe and destroyed it”
”It shows, however, that only a few could have escaped--eight or ten at the utot off they would have taken all the canoes,”
said Robin
Martin and I agreed with the conclusions at which Alick and Robin had arrived We exaood condition, only requiring to have the searess on our way down the river, so we agreed to spend the night in the shed, and to co
We had food re for only two scanty meals for ourselves and Bouncer, who had been al the journey, and it was settled that we should start the first thing in the o in search of wild-fowl As we had no fear of any eneood fire outside the hut, at which we cooked the remainder of our bear's flesh and ate it for supper
Martin, while hunting about in the shed, discovered a lu over the seams of canoes This we melted in one of our tin pots, and very soon had the canoe in a fit state to launch There were several pairs of paddles, and some cloth which could be used as a sail
”Perhaps weelse which may prove useful,” observed Martin, and he twisted up a torch frorew on the bank
With this we thoroughly examined the cave, and our search was rewarded by the discovery of a flask of powder, apparently dropped by one of the men who had escaped fro sheath-knife Both were likely to prove very useful
Altogether ere very thankful that we had decided on returning to the fort After our long and rapid journey ere all very tired, and as soon as we had finished our search we lay down to rest without any fear of interruption We younger ones should have slept on, I suspect, till long after the sun was high in the heavens, had not Alick roused us up
”Come, boys,” he exclaie as soon as we can”
”I thought you said that ere to look out for wild-fowl,” observed Martin ”I suspect that if we don't in good tio without our dinner”
”We'll have breakfast, and then talk about that,” said Alick ”I want to feel that we really have begun the voyage”
Our breakfast was a very scanty one, though we had plenty of water to wash it down; the last fewup at us as we ate our food
The canoe was at last carefully lifted into the water; Alick took the steering-oar, and each of us three a paddle
”Away then we go, boys; and I pray that we ave a shove with his paddle, and we dipping ours into the water, the canoe was soon in the lided on rapidly with the current till we came to the mouth of a broad stream, which ran into it froht of some white objects
”They are swans,” cried Alick, ”and one of them will afford us an aet near the birds, for they would take to flight thetowards them