Part 33 (1/2)
These men held the opinion that Indians were ”vermin,” to exterminate which was commendable. When, therefore, they discovered our camp by the light of the fires, they rode towards it with the utmost caution, taking advantage of every bush and knoll until our sentinels observed them.
Then they rushed upon us like a hurricane, sending a volley of bullets before them.
Several of our men fell, mortally wounded. Our sentinels ran in, and a wild attempt at defence was made; but it was in vain, we had been taken completely by surprise, and, as the only chance of safety, our party scattered in all directions, each man making for the nearest woods.
Only Big Otter, Salamander, and I remained beside the camp-fires, resolved to defend our helpless females or die with them. This brought about a most unexpected turn of affairs, for the villains were so eager to hunt and kill the flying Indians, that every man went in hot pursuit of a fugitive, leaving us for the moment absolutely alone!
We were not slow in taking advantage of this. Although at the onset some of our terrified horses broke their fastenings and galloped away, others remained quiet. Among these last I observed, were my own horse and that of Salamander, which I have already said were splendid animals.
Scarcely believing our good fortune, we all bounded towards these. In a moment I had mounted. Eve seized my hand, put her foot on my toe, and, with a light spring, seated herself behind me. Big Otter, vaulting on Salamander's steed, swung Eve's mother up behind him.
”Catch another horse--there are plenty good enough for a light weight like you, Salamander,” said I, as I put my horse to its utmost speed.
Salamander was not slow to obey, but had scarcely mounted when a loud halloo told that our action had been observed. I did not look back.
One consuming idea filled my mind, and that was to save Eve Liston.
That the miscreants who now thundered after us would show us no mercy I felt well a.s.sured, and plied the heavy thong I carried with all my might. The n.o.ble steed did not require that. It strained every muscle to the uttermost.
I felt cheered to observe that Big Otter kept well up with me, and could hear that Salamander was not far behind.
We now felt that our only hope, under G.o.d, lay in the superiority of our horses, and for some time we listened to the pattering of the hoofs behind us with intense anxiety. Soon I began to fancy that we were distancing them, and ere long we became sure of this, at least as to the most of our pursuers, but there was one who kept drawing closer and closer.
Presently a shot was fired and a bullet whizzed close past my head.
At that moment Big Otter reined up so violently as to throw his horse almost on its haunches. I checked my speed but did not rein up.
Looking back, I saw my Indian friend wheel round, raise his gun to his shoulder and fire. The moon was bright, and I could see that the man who had been closing with us dropped to the ground. Whether he was killed or only wounded we did not wait to ascertain, but dashed on again as fast as ever. We soon drew rein, however, on observing that the fall of our pursuer had checked his companions. On reaching him they halted, dismounted, and finally gave up the chase. We soon left them out of sight behind us, but still we held on at a hand-gallop, resolved to put as much distance as possible between us before encamping.
During all this exciting chase Waboose's mother had clung to her stalwart support with the uncomplaining patience of Indian women; but we were deeply concerned to find on halting that she was too much exhausted to dismount and that blood was trickling from her lips. Indeed, she would have fallen to the ground if Big Otter had not caught her in his arms.
”Are you wounded, mother?” exclaimed Eve, going down on her knees, seizing one of the poor woman's hands and kissing it tenderly.
”No, Waboose, but I think there is something wrong here.” She pressed her breast gently and coughed up some blood.
”She is quite worn out,” said I. ”Come, Big Otter, let us carry her to a more comfortable place, and make a fire. A cup of tea will soon revive her.”
I spoke cheerily, with a view to comfort Eve, but I confess that great anxiety filled me when I looked at the poor woman's wan face and emaciated frame. The blood, too, appeared to me a fatal symptom, though I had but a hazy idea of everything relating to disease.
The place we had selected for our encampment was a dense ma.s.s of forest which covered the prairie in that part to an extent of about two square miles. Near the outer margin of this patch there was a curious steep mound which rose so high that from the top of it one could see over the surrounding trees. It rose somewhat in the form of a cone with a flat s.p.a.ce at the apex of not more than twenty feet in diameter. On the outer rim of this apex was a fringe of rocks and low bushes. It was, in fact, a natural fortress, which seemed so suitable for us in our circ.u.mstances that we at once set about making our camp on the top of it. We took care, however, to kindle our fire in the lowest-lying and densest thicket we could find at the foot of the mound. We also made the fire as small and free from smoke as possible, for fear of attracting any one to the spot.
While I was busy down in the dell preparing the tea, Salamander having been left to take care of the camp on the mound, Big Otter came to me.
I was alarmed by the solemn expression of his face.
”Nothing wrong, I hope?” said I, anxiously.
”The wife of Weeum the Good is dying,” said the Indian, mournfully.
”Oh! say not so,” I exclaimed, ”how dreadful to poor Waboose if this were to happen just now! You must be mistaken.”
”Big Otter may be mistaken. He is not a medicine-man, but he saw a young girl of his tribe with the same look and the same flow of blood from the mouth, and she died.”