by J. B. Jones
CHAPTER III.
Glenn's castle--Mary--Books--A hunt--Joe and Pete--A tumble--Anopossum--A shot--Another tumble--A doe--The return--They set outagain--A mound--A buffalo--An encounter--Night--Terrificspectacle--Escape--Boone--Sneak--Indians.
Some weeks had passed since the bear hunt. The emigrants had crossedthe river, and selected their future homes in the groves that borderedthe prairie, some miles distant from the ferry. Glenn, when landed onthe south side of the Missouri, took up his abode for a short timewith Jasper Roughgrove, the ferryman, while some half dozen men, whoseservices his gold secured, were building him a novel habitation. Andthe location was as singular as the construction of his house. It wason a peak that jutted over the river, some three hundred feet high,whence he had a view eight or ten miles down the stream, and acrossthe opposite bottom-land to the hills mentioned in the precedingchapter. The view was obstructed above by a sudden bend of the stream;but on the south, the level prairie ran out as far as the eye couldreach, interrupted only by the young groves that were interspersed atintervals. His house, constructed of heavy stones, was about fifteenfeet square, and not more than ten in height. The floor was formed ofhewn timbers, the walls covered with a rough coat of lime, and theroof made of heavy boards. However uncouth this abode appeared to theeye of Glenn, yet he had followed the instructions of Boone, (to whomhe had fully disclosed his plan, and repeated his odd resolution,) andreared a tenement not only capable of resisting the wintry winds thatwere to howl around it, but sufficiently firm to withstand the attacksof any foe, whether the wild beast of the forest or the prowlingIndian. The door was very narrow and low, being made of a solid rockfull six inches in thickness, which required the strength of a man toturn on its hinges, even when the ponderous bolt on the inside wasunfastened. There was a small square window on each side containing asingle pane of glass, and made to be secured at a moment's warning, bymeans of thick stone shutters on the inside. The fire-place was ampleat the hearth, but the flue through which the smoke escaped was small,and ran in a serpentine direction up through the northern wall; whilethe ceiling was overlaid with smooth flat stones, fastened down withhuge iron spikes, and supported by strong wooden joists. The furnitureconsisted of a few trunks, (which answered for seats,) two camp beds,four barrels of hard biscuit, a few dishes and cooking utensils, and aquantity of hunting implements. Many times did Joe shake his head inwonderment as this house was preparing for his reception. It seemed tohim too much danger was apprehended from without, and it too muchresembled a solitary, and secure prison, should one be confinedwithin. Nevertheless, he was permitted to adopt his own plan in theconstruction of a shelter for the horses. And the retention of theseanimals was some relief to his otherwise gloomy forebodings, when hebeheld the erection of his master's suspicious tenement. Hesuperintended the building of a substantial and comfortable stable. Hehad stalls, a small granary, and a regular rack made for theaccommodation of the horses, and procured, with difficulty and nolittle expense, a supply of provender. The space, including thebuildings, which had been cleared of the roots and stones, for thepurpose of cultivating a garden, was about one hundred feet indiameter, and enclosed by a circular row of posts driven firmly in theground, and rising some ten feet above the surface. These were plantedso closely together that even a squirrel would have found it difficultto enter without climbing over them. Indeed, Joe had an especial eyeto this department, having heard some awful tales of the snakes thatsomewhat abounded in those regions in the warm seasons.
One corner of the stable, wherein a quantity of straw was placed, wasappropriated for the comfort of the dogs, Ringwood and Jowler, whichhad been presented to Glenn by his obliging friend, after they hadexhibited their skill in the bear hunt.
When every thing was completed, preparatory for his removal thither,Glenn dismissed his faithful artisans, bestowing upon them a liberalreward for their labour, and took possession of his castle. But,notwithstanding the strange manner in which he proposed to spend hisdays, and his habitual grave demeanour and taciturnity, yet his kindtone, when he uttered a request, or ventured a remark, on thetransactions passing around him, and his contempt for money, which hesquandered with a prodigal hand, had secured for him the good-will ofthe ferrymen, and the friendship of the surrounding emigrants. Butthere was one whose esteem had no venal mixture in it. This was Mary,the old ferryman's daughter, a fair-cheeked girl of nineteen, whonever neglected an opportunity of performing a kind office for herfather's temporary guest; and when he and his man departed for theirown tenement, not venturing directly to bestow them on our hero, shepresented Joe with divers articles for their amusement and comfort intheir secluded abode, among which were sundry live fowls, a pet fawn,and a kitten.
The first few days, after being installed in his solitary home, ourhero passed with his books. But he did not realize all thesatisfaction he anticipated from his favourite authors in his secludedcell. The scene around him contrasted but ill with the creations ofShakspeare; and if some of the heroes of Scott were identified withthe wildest features of nature, he found it impossible to look aroundhim and enjoy the magic of the page at the same time.
Joe employed himself in attending to his horses, feeding the fowls anddogs, and playing with the fawn and a kitten. He also practicedloading and shooting his musket, and endeavoured to learn the mode ofdoing execution on other objects without committing violence onhimself.
"Joe," said Glenn, one bright frosty morning, "saddle the horses; wewill make an excursion in the prairie, and see what success we canhave without the presence and assistance of an experienced hunter. Idesigned awaiting the visit of Boone, which he promised should takeplace about this time; but we will venture out without him; if we killnothing, at least we shall have the satisfaction of doing no harm."
Joe set off towards the stable, smiling at Glenn's joke, and heartilydelighted to exchange the monotony of his domestic employment, whichwas becoming irksome, for the sports of the field, particularly as hewas now entirely recovered from the effects of his late disasters, andbegan to grow weary of wasting his ammunition in firing at a target,when there was an abundance of game in the vicinity.
"Whoop! Bingwood--Jowler!" cried he, leading the horses briskly forth.The dogs came prancing and yelping round him, as well pleased ashimself at the prospect of a day's sport; and when Glenn came out theyexhibited palpable signs of recognition and eagerness to accompanytheir new master on his first deer-hunt. Glenn stroked their heads,which were constantly rubbed against his hands, and his caresses weregratefully received by the faithful hounds. He had been instructed byBoone how to manage them, so as either to keep them at his side whenhe wished to approach the game stealthily, or to send them forth whenrapid pursuit was required, and he was now anxious to test theirsagacity.
When mounted, the young men set forward in a southern direction, thevalley in which the ferryman's cabin was situated on one hand, and oneabout the same distance above on the other. But the space between themgradually widened as they progressed, and in a few minutes bothdisappeared entirely, terminating in scarcely perceptible rivuletsrunning slowly down from the high and level prairie. Here Glenn pausedto determine what course he should take. The sun shone brightly on theinterminable expanse before him, and not a breeze ruffled the long drygrass around, nor disturbed the few sear leaves that yet clung to thediminutive clusters of bushes scattered at long intervals over theprairie. It was a delightful scene. From the high position of ourhero, he could distinguish objects miles distant on the plain; and ifthe landscape was not enlivened by houses and domestic herds, he couldat all events here and there behold parties of deer browsingpeacefully in the distance. Ringwood and Jowler also saw or scentedthem, as their attention was pointed in that direction; but so farfrom marring the sport by prematurely running forward, they knew toowell their duty to leave their master, even were the game within a fewpaces of them, without the word of command.
"I see a deer!" cried Joe, at length, having till then been employedgathering some
fine wild grapes from a neighbouring vine.
"I see several," replied Glenn; "but how we are to get within gun shotof them, is the question."
"I see them, too," said Joe, his eyes glistening.
"I have thought of a plan, Joe; whether right or wrong, is not verymaterial, as respects the exercise we are seeking; but I am inclinedto believe it is the proper one. It will at all events give you a fairopportunity of killing a deer, as you will have to fire as they run,and the great number of bullets in your musket will make you morecertain to do execution than if you fired a rifle. You will proceed toyon thicket, about a thousand yards distant, keeping the bushes allthe time between you and the deer. When you arrive at it dismount,and after tying your pony in the bushes where he will be well hid,select a position whence you can see the deer when they run; I thinkthey will go within reach of your fire. I will make a detour beyondthem, and approach from the opposite side."
"I'd rather not tie my pony," said Joe.
"Why? he would not leave you, even were he to get loose," repliedGlenn.
"I don't think he would--but I'd rather not leave him yet awhile, tillI get a little better used to hunting," said Joe, probably thinkingthere might be some danger to himself on foot in a country wherebears, wolves, and panthers were sometimes seen.
"Can you fire while sitting on your pony?" inquired Glenn.
Glenn heard a tremendous thumping behind.--P. 37]
"I suppose so," said Joe; "though I never thought to try it yet."
"Suppose you try it now, while I watch the deer, and see if what Ihave been told is true, that the mere report of a gun will not alarmthem."
"Well, I will," said Joe. "I think Pete knows as well as the steed,that shooting on him won't hurt him."
"Fire away, then," said Glenn, looking steadfastly at the deer. Joefired, and none of the deer ran off. Some continued their playfulsports, while others browsed along without lifting their heads; in alllikelihood the report did not reach them. But Glenn heard a tremendousthumping behind, and on turning round, beheld his man quietly lying onthe ground, and the pony standing about ten paces distant, with hishead turned towards Joe, his ears thrust forwards, his nostrilsdistended and snorting, and his little blue eyes ready to burst out ofhis head.
"How is this, Joe?" inquired Glenn, scarce able to repress a smile atthe ridiculous posture of his man.
"I hardly know myself," replied Joe, casting a silly glance at histreacherous pony; and after examining his limbs and finding no injuryhad been sustained, continued, "I fired as you directed, and when thesmoke cleared away, I found myself lying just as you see me here. Idon't know how Pete contrived to get from under me, but there hestands, and here I lie."
"Load your gun, and try it again," said Glenn.
"I'd rather not," said Joe.
"Then I will," replied Glenn, whose horsemanship enabled him to retainthe saddle in spite of the straggles of Pete, who, after severaldischarges, submitted and bore it quietly.
Joe then mounted and set out for the designated thicket, while Glenngalloped off in another direction, followed by the hounds.
When Joe arrived at the hazel thicket, he continued in the saddle, andotherwise he would not have been able to see over the prairie for thetall grass which had grown very luxuriantly in that vicinity. Therewas a path, however, running round the edge of the bushes, which hadbeen made by the deer and other wild animals, and in this hecautiously groped his way, looking out in every direction for thedeer. When he had progressed about halfway round, he espied themfeeding composedly, about three hundred paces distant, on a slighteminence. There were at least fifteen of them, and some very largeones. Fearful of giving the alarm before Glenn should fire, heshielded himself from view behind a cluster of persimmon bushes, andtasted the ripe and not unpalatable fruit. And here he was destined towin his first trophy as a hunter. While bending down some branchesover head, without looking up, an opossum fell upon his hat, knockingit over his eyes, and springing on the neck of Pete, thence leaped tothe ground. But before it disappeared Joe had dismounted, and givingit a blow with the butt of his musket it rolled over on its side, withits eyes closed and tongue hanging out, indicating that the stroke hadbeen fatal.
"So much for you!" said Joe, casting a proud look at his victim; andthen leaping on his pony, he gazed again at the deer. They seemed tobe still entirely unconscious of danger, and several were now lying inthe grass with their heads tip, and chewing the cud like domesticanimals. Joe drew back once more to await the action of Glenn, andturning to look at the opossum, found to his surprise that it hadvanished!
"Well, I'm the biggest fool that ever breathed!" said he, recollectingthe craftiness imputed to those animals, and searching in vain for hisgame. "If ever I come across another, he'll not come the 'possum overme, I'll answer for it!" he continued, somewhat vexed. At thisjuncture Glenn's gun was heard, and Joe observed a majority of thedeer leaping affrighted in the direction of his position. The foremostpassed within twenty yards of him, and, his limbs trembling withexcitement, he drew his gun up to his shoulder and pulled the trigger.It snapped, perhaps fortunately, for his eyes were convulsively closedat the moment; and recovering measurably by the time the next came up,this trial the gun went off, and he found himself once more prostrateon the ground.
"What in the world is the reason you won't stand still!" he exclaimed,rising and seizing the pony by the bit. The only answer Pete made wasa snort of unequivocal dissatisfaction. "Plague take your little_hide_ of you! I should have killed that fellow to a certainty, ifyou hadn't played the fool!" continued he, still addressing his ponywhile he proceeded to load his gun. When ready for another fire, hemounted again, in quite an ill humour, convinced that all chance ofkilling a deer was effectually over for the present, when, to hisutter astonishment, he beheld the deer he had fired at lying deadbefore him, and but a few paces distant. With feelings of unmixeddelight he galloped to where it lay, and springing to the earth, onemoment he whirled round his hat in exultation, and the next caressedPete, who evinced some repugnance to approach the weltering victim,and snuffed the scent of blood with any other sensation than that ofpleasure. Joe discovered that no less than a dozen balls hadpenetrated the doe's side, (for such it was,) which sufficientlyaccounted for its immediate and quiet death, that had so effectuallydeceived him into the belief that his discharge had been harmless. Henow blew his horn, which was answered by a blast from Glenn, who sooncame up to announce his own success in bringing down the largest buckin the party, and to congratulate his man on his truly remarkableachievement.
An hour was consumed in preparing the deer to be conveyed to thehouse, and by the time they were safely deposited in our hero'sdiminutive castle, and the hunters ready to issue forth in quest ofmore sport, the day was far advanced, and a slight haziness of theatmosphere dimmed in a great measure the lustre of the descending sun.
Animated with their excellent success, they anticipated much moresport, inasmuch as neither themselves nor the hounds (which hithertowere not required to do farther service than to watch one of the deerwhile the men were engaged with the other) were in the slightestdegree fatigued. The hours flew past unnoticed, while the young menproceeded gayly outward from the river in quest of new adventures.
Glenn and his man rode far beyond the scene of their late successwithout discovering any new object to gratify their undiminished zestfor the chase. It seemed that the deer which had escaped had actuallygiven intelligence to the rest of the arrival of a deadly foe in thevicinity, for not one could now be seen in riding several miles. Thesun was sinking low and dim in the west, and Glenn was on the eve ofturning homeward, when, on emerging from the flat prairie to a slighteminence that he had marked as boundary of his excursion, he beheld atno great distance an enormous mound, of pyramidical shape, which, fromits isolated condition, he could not believe to be the formation ofnature. Curious to inspect what he supposed to be a stupendousspecimen of the remains of former generations of the aborigines, heresolved to protr
act his ride and ascend to the summit. The mound wassome five hundred feet in diameter at the base, and terminated at apeak about one hundred and fifty feet in height. As our ridersascended, with some difficulty keeping in the saddle, they observedthe earth on the sides to be mixed with flint-stones, and many of themapparently having once been cut in the shape of arrow-heads; and inseveral places where chasms had been formed by heavy showers, theyremarked a great many pieces of bones, but so much broken and decayedthey could not be certain that they were particles of human skeletons.When they reached the summit, which was not more than twenty feet inwidth and entirely barren, a magnificent scene burst in view. For tenor fifteen miles round on every side, the eye could discern oval,oblong, and circular groves of various dimensions, scattered over therich virgin soil. The gentle undulations of the prairie resembled theboundless ocean entranced, as if the long swells had been suddenlyabandoned by the wind, and yet remained stationary in their rollingattitude.
"What think you of the view, Joe?" inquired Glenn, after regarding thescene many minutes in silence.
"I've been watching a little speck, way out toward the, sun, whichkeeps bobbing up and down, and gets bigger and bigger," said Joe.
"I mean the prospect around," said Glenn. I can't form an opinion,because I can't see the end of it," replied Joe, still intentlyregarding the object referred to.
"That is an animal of some kind," observed Glenn, marking the objectthat attracted Joe.
"And a wapper, too; when I first saw it I thought it was a rabbit, andnow it's bigger than a deer, and still a mile or two off," said Joe.
"We'll wait a few minutes, and see what it is," replied Glenn,checking his steed, which had proceeded a few steps downward. Theobject of their attention held its course directly towards them, andas it drew nearer it was easily distinguished to be a very largebuffalo, an animal then somewhat rare so near the white man'ssettlement, and one that our hero had often expressed a wish to see.Its dark shaggy sides, protuberant back and bushy head, were quiteperceptible as it careered swiftly onward, seemingly flying from somedanger behind.
"Down, Ringwood! Jowler!" exclaimed Glenn, preparing to fire.
"Down, Joe, too," said Joe, slipping down from his pony, preferringnot to risk another fall, and likewise preparing to fire.
When the buffalo reached the base of the mound, it saw for the firsttime the objects above, and halted. It regarded the men with moresymptoms of curiosity than alarm, but as it gazed, its distressedpantings indicated that it had been long retreating from some objectof dread.
Meantime both guns were discharged, and the contents undoubtedlypenetrated the animal's body, for he leapt upright in the air, and ondescending, staggered off slowly in a course at right angles from theone which he was first pursuing. Glenn then let the hounds go forth,and soon overtaking the animal, they were speedily forced to act onthe defensive; for the enormous foe wheeled round and pursued in turn.Finding the hounds were too cautious and active to fall victims to hissharp horns, he pawed the earth, and uttered the most horrificbellowings. As Glenn and Joe rode by the place where he had stood whenthey fired, they perceived large quantities of frothy blood, whichconvinced them that he had received a mortal wound. They rode on andpaused within eighty paces of where he now stood, and calling back thebaying hounds, again discharged their guns. The buffalo roared mosthideously, and making a few plunges towards his assailants, fell onhis knees, and the next moment turned over on his side.
"Come back, Joe!" cried Glenn to his man, who had mounted and wheeledwhen the animal rushed towards them, and was still flying away as fastas his pony could carry him.
"No--never!" replied Joe; "I won't go nigh that awful thing! Don't yousee it's getting dark? How'll we over find the way home again?"
The latter remark startled Glenn, for he had lost all consciousness ofthe lateness of the hour in the excitement, and to his dismay had alsolost all recollection of the direction of his dwelling, and darknesshad now overtaken them! While pausing to reflect from which quarterthey first approached the mound, the buffalo, to his surprise and nolittle chagrin, rose up and staggered away, the darkness seenobscuring him from view altogether. Glenn, by a blast of his horn,recalled the dogs, and joining Joe, set off much dispirited, in acourse which he feared was not the correct one. Night came upon themsuddenly, and before they had gone a mile the darkness was intense.And the breathless calm that had prevailed during the day was nowsucceeded by fitful winds that howled mournfully over the interminableprairie. Interminable the plain seemed to our benighted riders, forthere was still no object to vary the monotony of the cheerless scene,although they had paced briskly, and, as they supposed, far enough tohave reached the cliffs of the river. Nor was there even a sound heardas they rode along, save the muffled strokes of their horses' hoofs inthe dry grass that covered the earth, the low winds, and an occasionalcry of the dogs as they were trodden upon by the horses.
Ere long a change came over the scene. About two-thirds of thedistance round the verge of the horizon a faint light appeared,resembling the scene when a dense curtain of clouds hangs over head,and the rays of the morning sun steal under the edge of the thickvapour. But the stars could be seen, and the only appearance of cloudswas immediately above the circle of light. In a very few minutes theterrible truth flashed upon the mind of Glenn. The dim light along thehorizon was changed to an approaching flame! Columns of smoke could beseen rolling upwards, while the fire beneath imparted a lurid glare tothem. The wind blew more fiercely, and the fire approached from almostevery quarter with the swiftness of a race horse. The darkened vaultabove became gradually illuminated with a crimson reflection, and theyoung man shuddered with the horrid apprehension of being burnt alive!It was madness to proceed in a direction that must inevitably hastentheir fate, the fire extending in one unbroken line from left toright, and in front of them; and they turned in a course which seemedto place the greatest distance between them and the furious element.Ever and anon a frightened deer or elk leaped past. The hounds nolonger noticed them, but remained close to the horses. The leapingflames came in awful rapidity. The light increased in brilliance, andobjects were distinguishable far over the prairie. A red glare couldbe seen on the sides of the deer as they bounded over the tall, drygrass, which was soon to be no longer a refuge for them. The young menheard a low, continued roar, that increased every moment in loudness,and looking in the direction whence they supposed it proceeded, theyobserved an immense, dark, moving mass, the nature of which they couldnot divine, but it threatened to annihilate every thing that opposedit. While gazing at this additional source of danger, the horses,blinded by the surrounding light, plunged into a deep ditch that therain had washed in the rich soil. Neither men nor horses, fortunately,were injured; and after several ineffectual efforts to extricatethemselves, they here resolved to await the coming of the fire.Ringwood and Jowler whined fearfully on the verge of the ditch for aninstant, and then sprang in and crouched trembling at the feet oftheir master. The next instant the dark, thundering mass passed overhead, being nothing less than an immense herd of buffalo drivenforwards by the flames! The horses bowed their heads as if athunderbolt was passing. The fire and the heavens were hid from view,and the roar above resembled the rush of mighty waters. When the lastanimal had sprung over the chasm, Glenn thanked the propitiousaccident that thus providentially prevented him from being crushed toatoms, and uttered a prayer to Heaven that he might by a like means berescued from the fiery ordeal that awaited him. It now occurred to himthat the accumulation of weeds and grass in the chasm, which savedthem from injury when falling in, would prove fatal when the flamesarrived! And after groping some distance along the trench, he foundthe depth diminished, but the fire was not three hundred pacesdistant! His heart sank within him! But when on the eve of returningto his former position, with a resolution to remove as much of thecombustible matter as possible, a gleam of joy spread over hisfeatures, as, casting a glance in a direction from that they hadrecently pursued, he beheld the iden
tical mound he had ascended beforedark, and from which his unsteady and erratic riding in the night hadfortunately prevented a distant separation. They now led their horsesforth, and mounting without delay, whipped forward for life or death.Could the summit of the mound be attained they were in safety--forthere the soil was not encumbered with decayed vegetation--and theyspurred their animals to the top of their speed. It was a noble sightto see the majestic white steed flying towards the mound with thevelocity of the wind, while the diminutive pony miraculously followedin the wake like an inseparable shadow. The careering flames were notfar behind; and when the horses gained the summit and Glenn lookedback, the fire had reached the base!
"I thank all the saints at once!" exclaimed Joe, dismounting andfalling on his knees.
"Thank your pony's legs, also," remarked Glenn, smiling.
"Was there ever such a blessed deliverance!" said Joe, panting.
"Was there ever such a lucky tumble into a ditch!" replied Glenn, withspirits more buoyant than usual.
"Was there ever an old hunter so much deceived!" said a voice a fewpaces down that side of the cone least exposed to the glare of thefire, and so much in the shadow of the peak that the speaker was notperceived from the position of the young men. But as soon as the wordswere uttered, Ringwood and Jowler sprang from the horses' heels wherethey had lain panting, and rushed in the direction of the speaker,whom they accosted with marks of joyful recognition.
"It is Boone!" exclaimed Glenn, leaping from his horse, and runningforward to his friend, who was now seen to rise up, and a moment afterhis horse, that had been prostrate and still, was likewise on hisfeet.
"Ha! ha! ha! You have played me a fine trick, truly," laughinglyremarked Boone, returning their hearty salutations.
"How?" inquired Glenn.
"In the first place, to venture forth before my arrival; in the nextto inspire me with the belief that I was on the eve of encountering abrace of Indians. But I will begin at the beginning. When I crossedthe river and reached your hut, (which is indeed impregnable,) I wasastonished to find you had gone forth to hunt without a guide; and notso much fearing you would be lost, should night overtake you, asapprehending serious danger from the fire, the approach of which Ianticipated long before night, from the peculiar complexion of theatmosphere, I set out on your trail, in hopes of overtaking you beforethe shades of evening set in; but darkness coming on, I could traceyou no farther than to this mound. In vain did I endeavour toascertain which direction you then travelled; but resolving not toabandon the search, I continued cruising about the prairie until thenear approach of the fire forced me to retreat hither. It was whenurging my horse to his utmost speed that I beheld you and yourbear-hunter charging from another direction, and from the partialview, as we were all under whip, (and knowing the Osages were not faroff,) I was instantly convinced that you were savages. Arriving first,I made my sagacious horse lie down, and then concealed myself behindhis body."
"I am not only rejoiced that we were not the savages you supposed,(for then Joe and I must have perished in the flames somewhere,) onour own account, but for the sake of the only man who can possiblyextricate us from this dilemma," replied Glenn.
"You are somewhat wide of the mark as respects my jeopardy, my lad,"said Boone; "for had you been hostile Osages, most assuredly ere thisyou had both been killed."
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Joe, whose predicament suddenly flashedupon his mind; "for Heaven's sake let us get home as fast as possible!He says the Indians are about! Do let us go, Mr. Glenn; we can travelnow out yonder where the grass has all been burnt."
"Pshaw! You seem more alarmed now, Joe, than when there really wasdanger. Are the Osages truly hostile?" continued Glenn, addressingBoone.
"They are not at war with the whites, as a nation," replied Boone,ever and anon looking towards the only point from which the fire nowapproached; "but in thin settlements, where, they may easily be thestrongest party, as roving brigands, they may be considered extremelydangerous. Your man's advice is not bad."
"There! Don't you hear that? Now, _do_ let's go home!" continued Joe,with increased alarm.
Fortunately, that portion of the plain over which the scathing elementhad spent its fury was the direction the party should pursue inretracing their way homeward.
The light dry grass had been soon consumed, and the earth wore ablackened appearance, and was as smooth as if vegetation had nevercovered the surface. As the party rode briskly along, (and the ponynow kept in advance,) the horses' hoofs rattled as loudly on the bakedground as if it were a plank floor. The reflection of the fire in thedistance still threw a lurid glare over the extended heath. As thesmoke gradually ascended, objects could be discerned at a greatdistance, and occasionally a half-roasted deer or elk, was seenplunging about, driven to madness by its tortures. And frequently theyfound the dead bodies of smaller animals that could find no safety inflight.
"What's that?" cried Joe, reining up his pony, and gazing at a hugedark object ahead.
"A prize, to which we are justly entitled!" exclaimed Glenn, ridingforward, on discovering it to be the buffalo (now dead) that they hadfired upon early in the evening, and which circumstance he wasrelating to Boone at the moment of the discovery by Joe.
"You have not only been lucky as hunters," said Boone, as theydismounted to inspect the animal, (which was an enormous bull,) "but,what is extraordinary indeed, when you find your fallen game, it isalready cooked!"
"Huzza for us!" cried Joe, momentarily forgetting the Indians, in hisextravagant joy of having aided in killing the animal, and at the sametime leaping astride of it.
"The wolves have been here before us," observed Boone, seeing a largequantity of the buffalo's viscera on the ground, which he supposed hadbeen torn out by those ravenous animals.
"Oh! oh! oh! oh!" exclaimed Joe, leaping up, and running a few steps,and then tumbling down and continuing his cries.
"What has hurt the fellow so badly?" inquired Glenn, walking roundfrom the back of the animal to the front. The words were scarcelyuttered before he likewise sprang away, hastily, as he beheld apronged instrument thrust from the orifice in the body whence thebowels had been extracted!
"Dod! I wonder if it's wolves or Injins!" exclaimed a voice within thecavity of the huge body.
"I've heard that voice before--it must be Sneak's," said Boone,laughing heartily.
Now the buffalo was observed to quiver slightly, and after someexertion to extricate himself, the long snake-like form of theredoubtable "Hatchet-face" came forth and stood erect before thegaping mouth and staring eyes of Joe.
"If I didn't hear a white man speak, I wish I may be singed!"exclaimed Sneak, wiping the moisture from his face, and rolling hiseyes round.
"What did you stick that sharp thing in the calf of my leg for?"demanded Joe, shaking his head threateningly and coming forward.
"He! he! he! That's revenge for shooting my pups," replied Sneak.
"But how came you here?" inquired Boone.
"I was taking a hunt"--here Boone interrupted him by asking where hisgun was. "I had no gun," said Sneak; and then stooping down andrunning his arm into the body of the buffalo, he produced a prongedspear, about four feet in length; "this," he continued, "is what Ihunted with, and I was hunting after muskrats in the ponds out here,when the fire came like blazes, and like to 'ave ketched me! I droppedall the muskrats I had stuck, and streaked it for about an hourtowards the river. But it gained on me like lightning, and I'd 'avebeen in a purty fix if I hadn't come across this dead bull. I out withmy knife and was into him in less than no time--but split me, if Ididn't feel the heat of the fire as I pulled in my feet! I knew theInjins was about, by the buffalo; and the tarnation wolves, too, arealways everywhere, and that accounts for my jobbing that feller's legwhen he sot down on top of me."
Glenn's laughter at the above narration was arrested by Boone, whoplaced one hand on his shoulder, and with the other pointed outtowards the fire about a mile distant, before which and th
rown inrelief by the flames could be distinctly discerned the flitting formsof a band of savages! A number were mounted, and others could be seenon foot, and all moving about in various directions round a large herdof buffalo, which occasionally made a stand to resist the foe thatharassed them on all sides, but were soon driven forward again by theflames. Now a mounted chief could be seen to ride boldly up within afew paces of the dark mass of animals, and drawing his arrow to thehead, discharge it, shaft and all, into the defenceless side of hisvictim. The enraged animal thus pursued either fell or rushedfuriously on its foe; but the skilful savage, by a dexterous turn orsudden leap, seemed to avoid him with ease, and flying round, sentforth another barbed messenger as he careered at full speed.
"As I'm afoot, I'll go ahead!" cried Sneak, starting off at a gaitthat verified his words.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Joe, leaping on his pony and whipping afterSneak, while Boone and Glenn followed in a brisk gallop.