Digging for Gold: Adventures in California

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER FIVE.

  THE TRAVELLERS MEET WITH INDIANS, AND ARE LED TO WISH THAT THEY HAD NOTGONE SEEKING FOR GOLD.

  It was the evening of a hot sultry day, when our travellers, fatiguedand foot-sore, arrived at the entrance of a small valley not far distantfrom the intended scene of their future operations. Here theydetermined to encamp for the night on the margin of a small stream,where there was grass for the mule and shelter under the trees for themen. On making their way, however, to the place, they observed anIndian village down on a plain below, and, being uncertain as to thenumbers or the temper of the natives, they were about to cross thestream and continue their journey a little further, when a party of sixIndians suddenly made their appearance in front, and advancedfearlessly, making signs of friendship.

  It was found that they understood and could talk a little Spanish, whichRance spoke fluently. After a short conversation, the guide thoughtthat it would be quite safe to stay beside them. The encampmenttherefore was made, and supper prepared.

  While this was in progress Frank and Joe went to the top of aneighbouring mound to survey the village. It was a curious residencefor human beings. Joe's remark that it resembled "a colony of bigmoles" was not inappropriate, for the huts, of which there were aboutforty, were not unlike huge mole-hills.

  These huts, it was found, they formed by excavating circular holes inthe earth, about twelve feet in diameter and four feet deep, thenbending over these a number of stout saplings, which they bound togetherwith tendrils of the vine, they formed a dome-shaped roof, which wasplastered with a thick coat of clay. An opening in one side of eachformed a door, through which entrance could be made by creeping. On theroofs of these curious dwellings many of the natives were seated,evidently awaiting the result of the deputation's conference with thewhite men.

  The main object that the Indians appeared to have in view was theobtaining of fire-arms, and it was observed that they cast longing eyesupon the rifles which leaned on the trees beside the fire. Rancetherefore advised every man to look carefully after his weapons, whilehe talked with the chief, and told him that he had no guns or ammunitionto spare. In order to please him, however, he gave him an old rustycarbine, which was bent in the barrel, and nearly useless, in exchangefor a few fresh fish.

  "My white brother is liberal," said the delighted savage in bad Spanish,as he surveyed the weapon with admiration, "but it is necessary to haveblack powder and balls."

  "I have none to spare," replied Rance, "but the settlements of the whitemen are not far off. Besides, the Indian chief is wise. He does notrequire to be told that white men come here continually, searching forgold, and that they bring much powder and ball with them. Let gold beoffered, and both may be obtained."

  The chief took this remark for a hint, and at once offered somegold-dust in exchange for powder and shot, but Rance shook his head,knowing that, if obtained, the ammunition would in all probability beused against himself. The chief was therefore obliged to rest contentin the mean time with the harmless weapon.

  Meanwhile, another party of seven or eight Indians had gone towardsFrank and Joe, and by signs made them to understand that there wassomething worth shooting on the other side of a cliff not fifty yardsoff. Our hero and his nautical friend were both of unsuspiciousnatures, and being much amused by the ludicrous gesticulations of thesavages in their efforts to enlighten them, as well as curious toascertain what it could be that was on the other side of the cliff, theyaccompanied them in that direction.

  The moment they had passed out of sight of the camp a powerful savageleaped on Frank from behind, and, grasping him round the throat withboth arms, endeavoured to throw him, while another Indian wrenched therifle out of his hand. At the same moment Joe Graddy was similarlyseized. The savages had, however, underrated the strength of theirantagonists. Frank stooped violently forward, almost to the ground, andhurled the Indian completely over his head. At the same time he drew arevolver from his belt, fired at and wounded the other Indian, whodropped the rifle, and doubled like a hare into the bushes. The othersfled right and left, as Frank sprang forward and recovered his weapon--all save the one whose unhappy lot it had been to assault Joe Graddy,and who was undergoing rapid strangulation, when Frank ran to hisrescue.

  "Have mercy on him, Joe!" he cried.

  "Marcy! why should I have marcy on such a dirty--lie still, then," saidJoe sternly, as he pressed his knee deeper into the pit of the Indian'sstomach, and compressed his throat with both hands until his tongueprotruded, and both eyes seemed about to start from their sockets.

  "Come, come, Joe; you volunteered to be my servant, so you are bound toobey me."

  Saying this, Frank seized the angry tar by the collar, and dragged himforcibly off his victim, who, after a gasp or two, rose and limped away.

  "He has got quite enough," continued Frank, "to keep you vividly in hisremembrance for the rest of his life, so we must hasten to the camp, forI fear that the Indians won't remain friendly after this unfortunateaffair."

  Grunting out his dissatisfaction pretty freely, Joe accompanied hisfriend to the camp-fire, where their comrades were found in a state ofgreat alarm about their safety. They had heard the shots and shouts,and were on the point of hastening to the rescue. The chief and hiscompanions, meanwhile, were making earnest protestations that no evilwas intended.

  When Frank and Joe appeared, Rance turned angrily on the chief, andordered him and his men to quit the camp instantly. This they hesitatedto do for a little, and the chief made fresh efforts to calm theirritated guide, but Rance knew that he had to deal with treacherousmen, and repeated his order to be off at the same time throwing forwardhis rifle in a threatening manner. Whereupon the chief flew into aviolent rage, and, after using a good deal of abusive language, returnedto his village, where he immediately summoned a council of war, and, byhis violent gesticulations and frequent looking and pointing towards thecamp, left no doubt on the minds of the travellers as to his intentions.

  Rance therefore made the best preparations possible in the circumstancesto repel an attack.

  Their position was very critical, for the Indians numbered about ahundred men, while their own party consisted only of six. But they hadthe one great advantage over their enemies--the possession of fire-arms,and felt much confidence in consequence.

  "Get out all your weapons, big and little," said Rance, as he loaded hisrifle, "and fire 'em off to begin with. It will show them that we arewell prepared."

  Accordingly they commenced letting off their pieces, and what withrifles, double shot-guns, double and single barrelled pistols, andrevolvers, they made up the formidable number of fifty-three discharges,which had a very warlike effect when fired in quick and regularsuccession.

  Carrying these in their hands, and disposed round their persons,intermixed with short swords and long bowie-knives, the whole partymounted guard, bristling like human hedge-hogs, and, placed at equalintervals on each side of the camp, marched about for an hour or two,without seeing or hearing anything more of their enemies.

  At last their mule became a little restive, putting them on the alert,and shortly afterwards an arrow whizzed past Joe's ear. He instantlypresented his carbine in the direction whence it came, and fired. Theshot was answered by a perfect shower of arrows, which pierced theclothes of some of the white men, and slightly wounded Douglas in theleft arm, but fortunately did no further damage. The discharge wasfollowed by a quick movement in the bushes, rendered audible by thecrushing of dried leaves and breaking of branches. This guided thewhites in their aim, and a volley was poured into the bush, followed byseveral random shots from revolvers.

  Soon after all noise was hushed, and a brief examination of thesurrounding bushes was made, but it could not be ascertained that anydamage had been done to the Indians, who always make it a point, whenpossible, to carry off their dead to prevent their being scalped--adishonour they fear almost as much as death.

  "Now, one half of us may sleep,"
said Rance, when the party was againcollected round the fire.

  "Sleep!" exclaimed Frank.

  "Ay, there's nothing more to fear from the rascals to-night, if we keepa good look-out--and that may be done as effectively by three of us asby six. If we each get a wink of an hour or two, we shall be quite fitto travel or to fight in the morning. So let me advise you to lose notime about it.--Not badly hurt, sir, I hope?" he added, addressingDouglas.

  "Nothing to speak of," answered the Scot, "only a graze of the skin."

  "Well, get away to rest. You can take the second watch, and it is notlikely they will disturb you before morning. If they do, you won'trequire to be called, so keep your weapons handy."

  As Rance prophesied, so it turned out. The Indians had got anunexpectedly severe repulse, and did not attempt to interfere with thetravellers during the night, but in the morning they were found to haveposted themselves on the opposite banks of the stream, evidently withthe intention of disputing the further progress of the party.

  Nothing now but prompt determination could save them from being cut offby overwhelming numbers, for if they were to hesitate, or waver in theleast, the Indians would be encouraged to make an attack. Theytherefore calmly and deliberately blew up the fire, boiled their kettleand had breakfast, after which the mule was loaded, and the partyprepared to cross the stream.

  Before doing so, however, Rance and Jeffson, being the best marksmen,advanced to the edge of the bank with two of the largest rifles and tookaim at the Indians, hoping by that means to frighten them away withoutbeing obliged to shed more blood. In this they failed, for, thedistance being fully five hundred yards, the natives evidently believedthat it was impossible for a ball to tell at such a distance. On seeingRance point his rifle at them they set up a yell of derision. There wasnothing for it, therefore, but to fire. This Rance did, and one of theIndians fell. Jeffson also fired and hit the chief, who reeled, but didnot fall. The savages immediately began a hurried retreat, and thetravellers refrained from firing, in order to convince them that allthey desired was to be allowed to go on their way unmolested.

  The crossing of the stream was then effected. On mounting the oppositebank it was found that the Indians had taken up their position, fullyarmed, on the top of their huts, with an air of quiet resolution thatshowed they apprehended an attack, and were prepared to defend theirhomes to the death.

  This, however, they were not called upon to do, for the travellersturned off to the right, and pursued their way as if nothing hadhappened. But two of the Indians had been badly hit, perhaps killed,and the thought of this dwelt much on the minds of Frank and his friendJoe all that day. Another thing that distressed them much was thewell-known custom of the natives to take their revenge at the firstfavourable opportunity. It was a rule among them to take two lives ofwhite men for every redskin killed, and they were known not to beparticular as to who the whites might be,--sufficient for them that theywere of the offending and hated race. The fact that the innocent mightthus suffer for the guilty was to them a matter of perfect indifference.

  The route over which the whites travelled that day chanced to beunusually picturesque and beautiful. The path, or "trail,"--for therewas scarcely anything worthy the name of path,--wound through a sycamoreand white-oak grove that fringed the river, the sloping banks of whichwere covered with an infinite variety of shrubs and evergreens, bearingflowers and blossoms of most delicate beauty and exquisite fragrance,amidst which tangled festoons of the indigenous vine drooped withpendant bunches of purple grapes. Arbutus shrubs of immense size wereseen, and the landscape was in some places interspersed thickly withmanzanita rushes, the crimson berries of which are much in favour withthe Indians, also with the grizzly bear! Some of the plains theycrossed were studded with magnificent oaks, devoid of underwood, such asone is accustomed to see in noblemen's parks in England.

  But all this beauty and luxuriance made comparatively little impressionon Frank and Joe, for they could not forget that human life had probablybeen sacrificed that day--a thought which filled them with sincereregret that it had ever entered into their hearts to go digging forgold.