Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 6 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

———-_. __ -——__- - - a oe —_— — - - ‘“*Keep close, and don’t run!” said the savage who had addressed me at first. ‘*No danger of my attempting it,’’ I answered, fol- lowing almost cheerfully behind them. And in truth it would have been the hight of folly to make an attempt to escape. Each of the savages was a fleet runner, each possessed a loaded rifle, and the utmost limit that I possibly could have gained, as will be evident to the reader, was perhaps ten feet. No halt was made for breakfast, and during the whole forenoon we tramped through the wilderness in a northerly direction. | | Bill Biddon, Trapper. tinued until nightfall. They traveled in Indian file my dusky friend bringing up the rear, and m self directly in front of him. This plan was adopted, not through any fear of pursuit, as they were in their own country, but because caution and watchfulness are habitual to the North American Indian, The sun had sunk beyond the western mountains, and the deep gloom of night was settling over the ' wilderness, when, as we reached the top O tla As I knew I had been in | the extreme upper part of the great Nebraska Ter- | ritory, I felt Hudson Bay Territory, within the British line. But here my companions made a turn to the eastward, and then, strangely enough, proceeded south again, so that I was uncertain whether I was now in the United States or not. The reason of this detour on the part of the savages I never knew, and could only conjecture. I afterward imagined it was for the purpose of presse ew bewildering me in case I should ever attempt to leave them. When the sun was overhead, the Indians halted upon the banks of a small, flashing stream, and pre- pane their meal. A half-hour before halting, one of he Indians had dodged off into the forest. Some time after I heard the report of a rifle, and in a few minutes he returned with a large ptarmigan in his hand. The feathers were plucked from this, and the body dressed much after the fashion of civilized com- munities. It was then partially cooked over the blaze, and, despite the change of circumstances, I made as good and substantial a meal upon it as did of my companions. retty certain that 1 was now in the | any The meal finished, the savages squatted before the | fire, drew forth their pipes, and commenced silently smoking, their eyes glittering through the vapor with suppressed darosticn, as ever and anon a side- long glance was bestowed upon me, One of the In- dians—he who spoke English—was examining my revolver. He closed one eye, and peered wonder- ingly into the six little barrels; then he fingered about the hammer, took off the cap, tasted it, and replaced it. (It may be remarked here that at the time of my experience percussion caps were almost. unknown in this region. As they were of compara- a — ee ee tively recent invention, few of the trappers consent- | ed to use them until a long time after). I was ex- oe each moment to see the weapon discharge tself, as it was fully charged, and was handled awk- wardly. The Indian looked ‘at it in eve and at last gave it up. He took a smell snuffing the npowder, handed it to me. direction of it, and ‘** What is he?’ **A young gun,’ I answered with a smile. As I took the weapon I looked about me. There were five unsuspicious savages, and there were six messengers of death at my command. For an in- stant a wild resolve thrilled me; but it was for an instant only. My soul revolted at the wholesale slaughter I should be compelled to inflict, and I looked at my interlocutor with a pleasant smile. “Does he shoot?’ he queried, his dark eyes light- ing - with curiosity. ‘Of course. Would you like to see me fire it?” “Yah! shoot at him,’ he answered, pointing at the trunk of a large tree. ** What of it?” “Hit him where you mind to.” “Oh, let’s have a mark,’’ I laughed, stepping for- ward and tearing off a small piece of the bark, so as to offer a red spot several inches in diameter. The other savages were now surveying my motions with interest, and with some degree of suspicion the for- midable looking little weapon in my hand. I saw there was an prporramuty for making a good impres- sion, and I resolved to do it. I step back a few paces, took a careful though apparently a careless pone and fired the six barrels with tolerably good ** Just look at the mark,” I remarked, rather stiffly. The Indian stepped forward and examined the holes, all within an inch or two of the center. Then with his knife he pried out each bullet, and showed them tohis companions. They grunted their satis- faction, or rather wonder, and turned the diminutive six-shooter over and over in their hands, totally un- able to comprehend how such a number of fatal shots could come almost simultaneously from it. I loaded and fired it a number of times, and my friend —he who spoke English—asked me to make him a present of it. I assented with the greatest pleasure, as I no power to refuse, and volunteered to in- struct him in its use, and all things considered, we were getting on quite intimate terms. This 4 g of mine was a stroke of policy to which I owe my life. My readiness to acquiesce in al] their wishes Convinced them that I cherished no vindictiveness, and I am satisfied that, had I asked my captors at this time to allow me to proceed un- molested upon my way, they would have done so. But I was willing to tarry with them awhile, for rea- aw. stro ed in this ‘gy f é remain 1 spot for over an hour, prac- ticing with the revolver, At the end of that thine its new owner had made such progress as to be able to strike a good-sized tree a distant at nearly every shot, eae nice thing!’’ he remarked, shoving it in his “Very good in a close hug with a bear or foe,” I replied. There was but one drawback to the savage’s pros- ee —.)——O A the lodge, a swell, I saw for the first time the Indian village. y inasort of valley, and numbered sixty or seventy lodges. As seen in the dim twilight these looked singularly pic- turesque. I could see dark forms flitting about the lodges, and the low hum of their conversation was audible. Wewere descried, as our forms stood in relief against the sky, but no signals were given by either party. As we descended into the valley my heart began to fail me at what I feared my reception would be. Stories of the tortures undergone by captives came rabies ine, and I ventured to express my fears to my riend. “What your name?” he asked. “will,” I replied. * Will, stay here, and me come and fix things. My name is Jim,” said he, taking the name probably given him by the whites with whom he was ac- quainted. The other savages seeing us halting stopped also, and looked suspiciously. Jim (as I shall hereafter name him) said something in an unintelligible tongue and they passed on. ‘Stay here, Will, and me fix things.” With this he disappeared, and I seated myself up- | on the ground to await hisreturn. It struck meas | rather curious for him to good orp ta ney to eores > and it need not be told Imade no attempt to make off. In a few minutes he returned, bearing in his arms several Indian garments. “Will, put him on, and me fix things,’’ said he throwing them down beside me. I hastily donned them, understanding fully their use and intentions. ** Keep close, and don't say notting to nobody,” he added, as they enveloped my person. give a captive such a 11 feet upon the ground, and the rivers were sealed by great depths of ice. Although frequent occasions resented themselves, I determined make no ef- ort to leave my captors until the spring had arrived. As mentioned, I had pretty well-defined suspicions that Jim was one of the savages who occupied the mysterious canoe, referred to in the preceding chap- ters. I was not positive of this, although, when I stood by his side and viewed his profile, the resem- blance seemed perfect. | One great disappointment had already come. I was sure that I should learn something either of Nat or of the mysterious captive. en I questioned Jim, he answered with such a — sincerity, that I was pretty well convince e knew nothing of either. In regard to the latter he laughed; but he knew nothing of either. Sometimes when I fell into a reverie, and suddenly awoke, I could see Jim lift his eyes quickly from me, as though he had been en- deavoring to satisfy himself of my identity. He questioned me artfully, and I told him all. At lastI resolved to put the question direct, ** Jim, didn’t you and another warrior, some moons ago, pass down the river at the south, with a white woman?” There was a perceptible start at this question, but he answered, ie th ** Don’t know nothing “bout *em,.”’ “Why, Iam pretty sure that I saw you.” He shook his head. There was nothing to be gained by further questioning, and I gaveitup. ButI was satisfied he knew more of Nat and the captive than he was willing to tell—and I was not mistaken. Shortly after this conversation, Jim told me that he and several of his tribe were in the employ of the Hudson Bay Fur Company, and traded numerous ut it pleased me with- | He now turned his face toward the village, and we | were soon wending our way through it. We passed several savages who spoke to me, Jim, however, tak- ing the responsibility of mh : ed his lodge without my identity bein This was at the extreme eastern end o discovered. the village, At last we reachb- . and, as we entered, I saw it was devoid of any per- | sons except ourselves. “You sleep there, Will,”’ said he, corner, where a buffalo-robe was visible by the dim light of a few smoldering embers. his nen A offer, I i ay while he fire, seating himself by it, and commenced the never-ceasing pleasure of Fpgine i his revolver, Lying half asleep on the buffalo-robe, ey gazing at the savage, his features all at once struck me, i had seen them before, but where I could not recollect. Let me see—ah! it was plain now. He was one of the occupants of the mysterious canoe! It soon became known throughout the village that a captive was among them, and the next morning the entrance of Jim’s lodge was thronged with those anxious to geta peep at me. Knowing that this curi- osity must be tified sooner or later, I stepped boldly forth, and mingled among them, in order to have the matter finished at once. No violence was offered me, although several pinched my arms er severely, seemingly determined to be satisfied upon all my points. My Indian friend, Jim, was married, and in the course of the day, his squaw made her reneatnne- She was a middle-aged woman, and tolerably noe looking for a savage. »Jim informed her that I was to be her slave, and thus it may be said I was estab- lished in winter-quarters. The heavy storm, referred to in the previous chap- ter, was the close of a warm season, and the fierce northern winter set in. Winter in the North-west is far different from that season in the Middle States. It is full six months in continuance, and, such is the intense coldness for the greater part of the season, that the thermometer sinks to t ty and often forty degrees below zero. Two weeks after my capture, it seemed im ible to prevent freezing to death in th a roaring fire a few feet off. Yet the savages seemed scarcely to heed it. A few extra saree were added to their costume, and they itted as incessantly through the v € as ever. In the tribe it was acknowledged that I was the roperty of Jim, and thus my lot was much more en- urable than otherwise. He was really a good-heart- ed Indian; and the course that I ever tained to- Ww won his rd. However, he was a laz dog, like all of his male kindred, and it was im - ble to discover in him any of those tical attri- butes which are so gen conceded to the North mgr 9d gc Psypaer n ky am bene ye > he a. extravagan y-wro res 0 speech common to his Kindsed: and ‘added their e an awkward oath or two, and a phrase learned rom the Hudson Bay traders. The ter part of the day he sat before his fire, smo and gazing mo into it, while his better half busied herse about the a ment as willingly and conten as SpOnen she never dreamed of a different lot, I as- her as much as lay within my power,,and came at last to do all of the out-door work. I have always regarded my capture by this tribe Sen gpe him for replenished the | inting to one | furs with them every spring. I asked him if he was not in the territory of the North-west Fur Company. He replied that that made no difference; each tres- passed upon the other’s grounds, and he had been engaged for both.* few weeks subsequent to this, therecamea storm which laid the snow six feet deep, and Jim informed me that, in company with several others, he should roceed to set his traps for the winter’s work, and e willingly consented that I should accompany him. Preparations were accordingly made. tra. garments were donned, a couple of traps taken by each, and, placing our snow-sLoes upon our feet, we sallied forth. This was the first time lever attempted to travel with snow-shoes, and, as may be supposed, I made awkward work of it. These were fully six feet in length, resembling a canoe somewhat in shape, and of extreme lighiness. The interior is filled with a gauzy net-work, which allows the light, sand-like snow to fall through without impeding one’s prognecs. wee are fastened loosely but se- curely to the feet, and when the snow is not dam ened by thaws, twenty miles can easily be made a day. Without these convenient things it would be next to impossible to travel during six months of the year in the fur-bearing regions, We proceeded westward some eight or ten miles _ before all of the traps were set, when, turning, we ge ee | | _~p | retraced our aa intending to visit them the fol- lowing night. e trap used by the Indians of this section is much the same as the common steel-tra of the States, being, however, much larger, an without the saw-like teeth of the latter. A long chain, with a heavy stone attached, is fastened to the trap, and concealed beneath the snow, to pre- vent the animal making off with the whole concern. The trap is placed just beneath the surface of the snow, and bits of frozen fish are scattered around, which attract the half-starved foxes, lynxes, beavers, and wolves in the region. Having completed all ar- rangements, we retraced our steps, reached the vi Just as night was seiting in. Nothing of note took place the next day, and, as the night came on, Jim informed me that they were ing to visit their traps to ascertain what luck they had. As he made no objection, I again donned my snow-shoes and joined them. There was but one savage besides himself. The snow was crisp and fine, and the traveling comparatively easy. Jim d a small sled be him, for the purpose of bringing back anything found in the traps, It was a bright moonlight night, and as we jour- neyed through the forest, there were > spatonee of snow almost as light as day. We shunned the trees, as the snow-crust was brittle around them, and once or twice crossed broad belts of snow, devoid of tim- ber, which Jim informed me were the beds of rivers, As we traveled on, nothing broke the silence, except the muffied sliding of our shoes over the icy crust, or a single word from one of the savepee. The first trap we reached had the fore-leg of a fox in it. I loo at Jim inquiringly, unable to under- stand it. " ‘He gnawed him off and run away; look out next ime."’ The fox had been caught by his fore-leg, and, find- ing himself unable to get loose, had eaten off the im- risoned limb and escaped on the others. In a month’s time he would probably suffer no inconven- ience from it, In the next trap was found a red fox, whose fur bears but a trifling value. He was killed, placed upon the sled, the trap reset, and ee ga ed to the rest. None of them had been visited, ex- * The Hudson Ba hy years ago, by Company, established two hun- ince Rupert, divided its terri- into four compartments—the Northern, includ- the country of the Far North; the Southern, ry oe of Indians as a fortunate circumstance. I cannot | imagine how else I could have maintained life | cluding through the unusually severe winter which followed. No mortal hand could have saved me from perishin from cold, while it would have been utterly impoesl. | ble to have procured food, when the snow lay six south to Lake Superior; the Montreal, in- e country along the northern shore of the | Gulf of St. Lawrence; and the Columbia De Rocky comeures ding ne country rest of the ountains, u on, in w lieve, they still trade, nn caps, and of course there was no means of obtain- “s any among his own kindred. He, however, sat- ed himself with the thought that he could obtain more at some of the trading-posts in that section. pects of pleasure. I had but a small quantity of The line of march was again taken up, aud con- ICO (E(0) (G Eol