Part 1 (1/2)
Afar in the Forest
by WHG Kingston
CHAPTER ONE
OUR HABITATION IN THE FOREST--MY SHARE OF THE SPOILS OF THE DAY'S CHASE--UNCLE MARK COMMENCES HIS NARRATIVE--WHY MY UNCLES DECIDED TO EMIGRATE--LANDING IN SAFETY, THEY START UP COUNTRY--THEIR MEETING WITH SIMON YEARSLEY, AN OLD SETTLER--THE SETTLEMENT IS FOUND IN RUINS--LILY AND I RESCUED--UNCLE MARK PROMISES TO RESUME HIS NARRATIVE ON THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY--MY LOVE OF NATURAL HISTORY--UNCLE MARK CONTINUES HIS NARRATIVE--YEARSLEY GOES IN PURSUIT OF THE INDIANS--THE BURIAL OF LILY'S MOTHER--THE RETURN TO THE WAGGON--THEY REACH THE NEAREST SETTLEMENT-- ALARM OF THE SETTLERS UPON HEARING OF THE OUTRAGE COMMITTED BY THE INDIANS--UNCLE STEPHEN'S MARRIAGE--CONCLUSION OF UNCLE MARK'S NARRATIVE--LILY AND I GO BERRYING--WE ARE ATTACKED BY A WOLF--KEPENAU SAVES OUR LIVES--HIS PRESENT OF VENISON TO AUNT HANNAH--KEPENAU'S BELIEF IN THE GOODNESS OF THE GREAT SPIRIT--THE INDIAN'S ADVICE
”Is Lily not Uncle Stephen's daughter, then?” I asked
The question was put to ellis, who froo out in search of game for our larder
Uncle Mark had just co the tall trees surrounding our habitation He and I together had cleared an acre and a half since we caion in which we had fixed ourselves Dark forests were on every side of us To the north and the east was the great chain of lakes which extend a third of the way across North Aes rose in the distance, with intervening heights,--soed and precipitous, others clothed to their suetation
Nuh the country; one of which, on whose banks we purposed building our future abode, passed close to our hut Besides the features I have described, there aterfalls and rapids, deep valleys and narrow gorges penetrating amid the hills; while to the south-west could be seen, fro away far beyond hule habitation of white men was to be found to the ard; and on the other side, beyond the newly-fores or huts of the hardy pioneers of civilisation,--and these scattered only here and there,-- existed for a hundred hted the fire and put the pot on to boil, had thrown hiround in front of the hut, with his back to the wall, and was busy conte the dark pines which towered up before hi it would take, with his sharp axe, to fell theht home a haunch of venison as my share of the spoils of the chase (in which I had joined Uncle Stephen); and it was in consequence of a re, that I had soerly asked at Uncle Mark the question hich this story opens
”No; Lily is not Stephen's daughter,--nor even related to him,” he answered ”But ill cut some steaks off that haunch and broil the our supper, I will tell you all about the matter”
The slices of venison, and flour-cakes baked on the fire, were soon ready; and seated at the door of our hut, with a fire burning before us to keep off the mosquitoes, we commenced our repast, when I reood o, but even now it is painful to think of those days,” he began ”We came from Cornwall, in the 'old country,'
where your Uncle Stephen, your mother, and I were born She had rated to America, ere mere boys; and ere just out of our apprenticeshi+p (Stephen as a blacksmith and I as a carpenter) e received a letter fro us to join thees to be obtained in the new country We were not long inup ourof the next year we crossed the sea, ell nigh three hundred other e out to relatives and friends, others bent on seeking their fortunes, trusting alone to their own strong arms and deter, that we had a journey of some hundred miles before us; part of which could be perfor 'corduroy' roads, through dark forests, and over mountains and plains Our brother-in-law, a bold, deter himself with a party of hardy fellows of similar tastes, had pushed on in advance of the old settlers, far to the ard, in spite of the difficulties of obtaining stores and provisions, and the dangers they knew they must encounter fro We did not, however, thinkahead, as it seemed to us, of others The forest was before us We were to win our way through it, and establish a home for ourselves and our fa on for a couple of weeks or so, following the directions your father had given us in order to find his new location, but greatly in doubt as to whether ere going right, ere fortunate enough to fall in with a settler who knew hion and tealad to have our assistance in h the forest We provided ourselves with crowbars to lift the waggon out of the ruts and holes and up the steep ascents; for we had left the 'corduroy' roads-- or, indeed, any road at all--far behind Our new acquaintance seemed to be somewhat out of spirits about the prospects of the new settle, he had determined to chance it with the rest The Indians, he said, had lately been troubleso about, evidently bent on round, and wein the country was then new to us I rened in the forest Not a leaf or bough was in motion; nor was a sound heard, except when now and then our ears caught the soughing of the wind a of the woodpeckers on the decaying trunks, or the whistling cry of the little chith
”I had expected to meet with bears, wolves, raccoons, lynxes, and other ani creatures
'They are here, notwithstanding,' observed our friend; 'you will get your eyes sharpened to find them in time In the course of a year or two you _may_ become expert backwoodsmen You can't expect to drop into the life all at once' By attending to the advice our friend gave us, and keeping our senses wide awake, we gained so that journey
”We were now approaching the settle way to the eastward of where we are noith nuon had gained the last height, frouide told us, we should be able to catch sight of the settle on the wheels,--our friend being ahead of the tearound, e heard hi forward, we found hi, with distended eyes, into the plain beyond us, from which could be seen, near the bank of a river, thick volu up from below
”'The settlement has been surprised by Indians!' he exclaimed, as soon as he could find words to speak 'I know the bloodthirsty nature of the savages They don't do things by halves, or allow a single hu to escape, if they can help it Lads, you will stick by ed on the Redskins I left my wife and children down there, and I know that I shall never see theain'
”He spoke quite calmly, like a man who had made up his on here, or the Indians will see it,--if they have not done so already,--and know that we are following them We will take it down to yonder hollow, and leave it and the oxen There is pasture enough for them, and they will not stray far Then ill follow up the Indians' trail; and et back to boast of their victory, if you will only do as I tell you'
”Of course, we at once agreed to accompany Simon Yearsley--such was our friend's naon round, we got it down to the spot he had indicated, where the oxen were unyoked, and left to crop the grass by the side of a strea our rifles, with a supply of aain set off, Yearsley leading the way
”We next descended the hill, concealing ourselves as ained the plain Although Siestures He had made up his mind, should he find his loved ones destroyed, to follow the ardless of the consequences to hi country had been cleared except a straight road through the forest, where the trees had been felled, and the stu between the reot close to the settlereater number were in flames, two or three huts on one side remained uninjured Still, not a sound reached us,-- neither the cries of the inhabitants nor the shouts of the savages
Nothing was heard save the sharp crackling of the flames