Afar in the Forest Read online

  CHAPTER TWO.

  GREENFORD SETTLEMENT--THE FLYING SQUIRRELS--MIKE LAFFAN AND TOM QUAMBO--THEIR DOGS, YELP AND SNAP--A RACCOON-HUNT--MIKE HAVING SEEN A BEAR, WEGO IN CHASE--OUR DOGS SCENT BRUIN--QUAMBO IN DANGER--THE BEAR IS KILLED,AND QUAMBO RELEASED--WE RETURN TO THE HUT--THE LOGGING BEE--UNCLESTEPHEN'S HOUSE--INDIAN SUMMER--MIKE LAFFAN'S CREMONA--THE NIGHT ATTACKOF THE WOLVES--WE DETERMINE TO GO LUMBERING FOR THE WINTER--MIKE AND IGO ON AHEAD--UNCLE MARK IS ATTACKED BY A WOLF--MIKE SAVES HIM, AND WEPROCEED ONWARDS.

  We had only lately, as I have already said, arrived at our new location.My uncles had been imbued with the restless spirit of backwoodsmen, andAunt Hannah was ready to do whatever Uncle Stephen wished. So, havinggrown weary of the life at Watfield, where we had at first been located,they had resolved, along with several other inhabitants of that place,to push westward; and after making their way through forests, rivers,and swamps, and over hills and plains, had formed the new settlementwhere Uncle Stephen now was, and which they had named Greenford.

  To the hut where Uncle Mark and I lived no name had been given; but heexpressed his belief that it would one day become the centre of a greatcity. "Before that day arrives, however, you and I, Roger, will havemoved far away westward," he observed.

  I used to exercise diligence while I was at work, in order that I mighthave more time to attend to the study of natural history. My greatdelight was to get away into the forest and observe the habits of itsvarious inhabitants. Often would I sit on the root of an old treewatching the playful squirrels at their gambols. When I spied a hole inwhich I knew that a family were likely to have taken up their abode, Iwould hide myself; and before long I was generally rewarded by seeing a"papa" squirrel poking out his nose. Soon he would give an inaudiblesniff, sniff, sniff, then out would come his head, and he would lookround to ascertain whether danger was near. Presently I would catchsight of his thick furry body and lovely brush, the tail curling overhis head. Then another nose would appear, and large shining eyes; andout another would pop; followed in rapid succession by the whole family.Then, how delightful it was to watch them frolicking about, dartinground the trunks, sending the bark rattling down as they chased eachother; whisking their tails; darting along the boughs, and boundingfearlessly from branch to branch. One, reaching the end of a bough,would spread out its arms and tail, exhibiting the white fur beneath,and fly down to a lower branch, or to the earth below, followed by itscompanions; then away they would go along the logs or swinging vines,and up another trunk, quick as lightning. Sometimes I would catch themat their supper, nibbling away at the nuts which they had plucked, orhad dug out of the ground with their sharp little paws.

  A flying squirrel is indeed a beautiful creature. Its colour is a mostdelicate grey; the fur thick and short, and as soft as velvet; the eyeslarge and full. The membrane by which it is enabled to take its flightsis of a soft texture, and white, like the fur of the chinchilla. Thetail greatly resembles an elegantly-formed broad feather.

  One day, as I was wandering along the banks of a stream, for the purposeof observing the habits of a family of beavers that had lately madetheir abode there, I caught sight of a number of squirrels. They wereevidently about some important operation, since they were movingsteadily along the branches, and refraining from their usual friskingand playing. Having concealed myself from their view, in order thatthey might not be disturbed by my presence, I noticed that they went onuntil they reached the branch of a tree overhanging the stream, at theextreme end of which one, who appeared to be their leader, took post,looking eagerly up the current. In a short time a small log floatednear, with a tendency to move over to the opposite side. As it camebeneath the leader of the party he dropped down upon it, at the sametime uttering a sharp cry. Quick as lightning some others followed hisexample; and by holding on to the lower twigs they arrested its progressuntil the whole party were seated on board, when the log was allowed tofloat, as they sagaciously knew it would, towards the opposite bank. Itseemed to me as if some of them were steering it with their tails; butof that I am not positive. In a short time, after floating some waydown the stream it was guided to the shore; when one after the otherleaped off, and quickly running along the boughs of the trees, gained apoint exactly opposite to that from which they had started; after whichthey went away into the forest,--bent, I doubted not, on some predatoryexpedition. They would soon make their presence known, when theyreached the pumpkin-grounds or maize-fields of the settlers.

  I was not always alone in my rambles through the forest. Lily wouldhave been only too happy to accompany me, but Aunt Hannah judged itprudent to keep her at home; and, indeed, she had plenty of occupationthere. My chief companion, therefore, was one of Uncle Stephen'slabourers--an Irishman, Mike Laffan by name.

  Although Mike had no great knowledge of natural history, he was as fondof searching for animals as I was, and consequently was always ready toaccompany me when he had the chance. He was an honest fellow; athorough Patlander in look, manners, language, and ideas. When hecould, he used to press Tom Quambo, an old free negro, into the service;and Quambo enjoyed the fun as much as Mike did. Each possessed a dog,of which they were very proud, ugly as the animals were to look at.

  "Den, you see, massa, if Yelp not 'ansome, he know eberyting," Quamboused to remark. "He braver dan painter [meaning the puma], and run likegreased lightning."

  It was difficult to say whether Yelp or Mike's dog was the ugliest; butboth masters were equally proud of their canine friends.

  I too had a dog, which, if not a beauty, was certainly handsomer thaneither of his two acquaintances. He was clever enough in his way, butmore useful in watching the hut than in hunting; indeed, when I went outby myself for the purpose of observing the habits of the denizens of theforest, I never took him, knowing that he would only interfere withtheir sports.

  On one occasion I had been over to see my Uncle Stephen, and as I wasreturning home Mike Laffan met me.

  "Would you loike to be afther looking for a 'coon to-night, MastherRoger?" he asked. "Quambo says he can come; and Yelp and Snap aremoighty ager for the sport."

  I at once agreed to meet my two friends, accompanied by my dog Pop.

  Accordingly, at the time appointed, the day's work being over, Mike andQuambo made their appearance at the hut; while running at their heelswere their two dogs, who were soon warmly greeted by Pop.

  Setting out, we took our way along the banks of the river, near which wefully expected to fall in with several raccoons. We had our guns, andwere provided with torches and the means of lighting them. We had notgone far before we heard voices, and soon we were joined by three ladsfrom the settlement, who had got notice of the expedition. As they hadbrought their dogs, we had a full pack of mongrels of high and lowdegree, but united by one feeling,--that of deadly enmity to raccoons.

  On we went, while the dogs, who had just then scented one of their foes,yelled in chorus. Over huge logs and rotten trunks, through the brushand dead trees and briars, we went at full speed; and sometimes wadingacross bogs, sometimes climbing up banks, and occasionally tumbling overon our noses, we continued to make our way at the heels of the dogs,until old Quambo, waving his torch above his head, and suddenly stoppingshort, shouted out, "De 'coon's treed!"

  He had made a mistake, however, for the dogs bayed loudly and continuedtheir course.

  "Dat a mighty old 'coon," cried Quambo. "He know what he about."

  The raccoon, if it had got up the tree, had come down again, and wasstill ahead. Some of the party were almost in despair; but I knew thehabits of the creature too well not to feel sure that we should get itat last, so I encouraged my friends, while we dashed on as before.

  Yelp and Snap, having kept well ahead of the other dogs, were now heardbaying under a big tree, and no doubt remained that the raccoon hadtaken refuge amid its branches. Our difficulty was to get it down. Asthe others hesitated to encounter the fierce little animal amid theboughs, Mike, for the honour of "Old Ireland,"
offered to make his wayup. Without more ado, then, he got on Quambo's shoulders, sprang to abranch within his reach, and was soon lost to sight among the foliage.

  "I see him!" he shouted at last; and bits of bark, leaves, and rottentwigs came rattling down, while the loud whacks of his stick reached ourears. Presently there was a "flop;" the raccoon had been compelled toevacuate its stronghold. The dogs once more gave chase; and I, torch inhand, followed them. In less than a minute I came up with the dogs, andfound the creature at bay, its eyes flashing fire, while it bravelyfaced the pack, which, with gnashing growls and savage yells, were aboutto dash upon it, though each seemed unwilling to receive the first bitefrom its sharp teeth. But, hearing the voices of their masters, theygained courage, and in another instant had the poor animal strugglingvainly in their midst; while our blows came rattling down, to finish itssufferings, and prevent them tearing its skin to pieces.

  Such was one of several raccoon-hunts in which I took part.

  The raccoon is about the size of a spaniel, and its colour is a blackishgrey. Its tail is short and bushy, and is marked with five or sixblackish rings on a grey ground. When the animal walks slowly, or sits,it plants the soles of its feet upon the ground; but when in a hurry itruns along on the tips of its toes. It hunts for its prey chiefly atnight, when it devours any small animals it can catch. It has noobjection, however, to a vegetable diet; and, indeed, its teeth showthat it is capable of feeding on both descriptions of food.

  I once caught a young raccoon, which soon became domesticated--beingquite as tame as a dog. It possessed, however, a habit of which I couldnot cure it; that of seizing any fowls it set eyes on, and biting offtheir heads. It having treated two or three of Aunt Hannah's in thisway, I was compelled to carry it into the forest and set it at liberty.It enjoyed its freedom but a short time, however, as it was soonafterwards hunted and killed by some of our boys.

  Having got so far from home, our party were not inclined to returnwithout something in addition to the unfortunate animal we hadslaughtered. Mike, too, announced to us that he had seen a brown bearat a spot a little further on; so it was at once agreed that we should"knock up the quarters of Mr Bruin."

  It was necessary to proceed with caution; for though the "musquaw" orbrown bear will seldom attack a human being unless first assaulted, ourfriend, if unceremoniously disturbed at night, would probably not be ina good-humour. Our three well-trained dogs kept at our heels, but theother curs went yelping away through the forest; nor could theirmasters' voices succeed in calling them back. We feared, therefore,that they would rouse up the bear, and thus give it time to escapebefore we could reach its dwelling.

  "Faix, though, I am not sure that the noise outside won't make the oldgentleman keep quiet in his den," observed Mike. "He will be aftersaying to his wife, `Sure, what would be the use, Molly, of turning outto go hunting thim noisy spalpeens of dogs? I'll sit snug and quiettill they come to the door; and thin, sure, it will be toime enough toaxe thim what they want.'"

  Mike's notion encouraged us to go on; and at length Pop, Snap, and Yelpgave signs of uneasiness, and showed a decided inclination to rushforward.

  "Let dem go!" exclaimed Quambo.

  "Off with you!" we cried at once; and the dogs darted on, barkingfuriously, until they stopped before the decayed trunk of a huge tree,round which several smaller trees, once saplings, had grown up--awell-selected natural fortification. As the light of our torches fellon it, we fully expected to see Mr Bruin stalk forth and inquire whatwe wanted.

  Quambo proposed that we should light a fire in the neighbourhood, sothat, did our enemy appear, we might be better able to attack him anddefend ourselves. We followed the black's advice; but still nothingappeared. The dogs, however, showed they were convinced that someanimal or other was concealed within the trunk.

  At last, growing impatient, we approached and thrust our long sticksinto the hollow, feeling about in every direction.

  "I am sure that mine has struck something soft!" I exclaimed; andscarcely had I uttered the words when a low growl reached our ears. Adark body next appeared for an instant among the stems of the treessurrounding the hollow trunk, and then out rushed a bear through anopening which we had not perceived.

  The dogs gave chase, and so did we. Bruin had but a short start; andalthough he must have been well acquainted with the locality, we,scorning all impediments, soon overtook him--the dogs having alreadycommenced biting at his hind feet. This was too much for hisequanimity, so, suddenly turning round, he struck two or three of themwith his fore paws, sending them sprawling to a distance. As he did sothe glare of our torches dazzled his eyes, and so perplexed him that heseemed not to know what to do. Of one thing only he must have beenconvinced,--that he was in for a fight; and, brave bear as he was, hesat up on his hind legs and prepared to receive us.

  Mike fired, but only wounded him in the shoulder. This stirred upBruin's anger to a pitch of fury, and, with a growl like thunder, hedashed forward at his opponent. Mike, however, nimbly skipped on oneside, and the bear's eye fell on Quambo, who had lifted his rifle tofire. But scarcely had he pulled the trigger when the bear was uponhim, and both rolled over together.

  For an instant I thought that the black was killed, but his voiceshouting to us to drag off the bear reassured me; and Mike'shunting-knife quickly finished the animal, which was struggling in theagonies of death. Happily, his teeth had only torn Quambo's jacket; andon our dragging away the dead body the black sprang to his feet.

  "Berry good sport," he observed, shaking himself. "I'se wonder wedderMrs Bear not remain behind! and piccaninny bears too, perhaps! We lookas we go by. Howeber, we now make ready dis gen'leman to carry home."He and Mike then fastened the bear's feet together, and hung the animalto a long pole, which they cut from a sapling growing near. Then havingplaced it on their shoulders, with short pieces at right angles ateither end to prevent it slipping, they announced that they were readyto set off; so, while they led the way with our prize, we commenced ourhomeward journey.

  Whether Mrs Bruin had occupied part of the trunk, we could notpositively ascertain. Quambo expressed his belief that she had beenthere, but had taken the opportunity, while we went in chase of herspouse, to make her escape with her offspring. We possibly might havefound her; but, with her young to defend, she would have proved adangerous foe, and, as our torches were almost burnt out, we should havehad to encounter her in the dark. We therefore considered it prudent toproceed on our way.

  I remained at the hut while the rest of the party went back to thesettlement. Aunt Hannah was well pleased to obtain so valuable a prize;and she sent us, some weeks afterwards, a smoked bear's ham as our shareof the spoil.

  I can give but a very brief account of the adventures of those days;indeed, sometimes weeks went by during which I was hard at work withoutintermission, either assisting Uncle Mark, or joining in one or other ofthe "bees" got up for various purposes--when we went to help others, asour neighbours, when required, came to help us.

  Sometimes we joined what was called a "logging bee," which I may explainthus:--When a new hut was to be erected, we and others united to dragthe logs out of the forest, and to hew them into proper lengths to formthe walls of the hut. These are placed, not upright, but horizontally,one above another. The length of the outside walls is first determined;whereupon the lowest log is let a little way into the earth, and agroove is cut on the upper side with a deep notch at each end. The nextlog is placed on the top of it, each end being so cut as to dovetailinto the others at right angles; thus one log is placed upon anotheruntil the destined height of the wall is reached. Doors and windows areafterwards sawed out; and the rafters are fixed on in the usual fashion.The roof is formed of rough slabs of wood called shingles; theinterstices being filled up with clay. A big iron stove, the fluesrunning from one end to the other, keeps the hut thoroughly warm inwinter; while the thickness of the walls causes it to be cool in summer.

  Many of the s
ettlers had large houses of this description; but stores,and buildings where warmth was not of so much consequence, had theirwalls merely of planks nailed on to the framework. Uncle Stephen'shouse was built of logs raised on a platform above the ground, withsteps leading to it, and a broad verandah in front. It contained asitting-room, several bedrooms, and a kitchen; the verandah beingpainted a bright green, with stripes of pink, while the window-framesand doors were yellow. I used to think it a beautiful mansion, butperhaps that was on account of those who lived within. The abode ofLily was of necessity, to my mind, charming.

  The autumn of that year was now approaching its close. There is inNorth America, at that period of the year, what is called the "Indiansummer." The air is balmy, but fresh, and mere existence to those inhealth is delightful; a light gauze-like mist pervades the atmosphere,preventing the rays of the sun, beaming forth from an unclouded sky,from proving over-oppressive. Already the forest has assumed itsparticoloured tints. The maple has put on a dress of every hue,--ofyellow, red, pink, and green. The leaves of the beeches become of agolden tinge, and those of the oak appear as if turned into bronze,while numerous creepers present the richest reds.

  We settlers, however, had but little time in which to admire thebeauties of Nature, for we knew that every day was rapidly bringing usto the period when all agricultural labour must cease, and the groundwould be covered with a sheet of snow. Not that we were then doomed toidleness, however, for we had abundance of out-of-door work during thewinter, in felling trees; and, as soon as the snow had hardened,dragging them over it,--either to form huge heaps, where they could beburned, or to be placed in the spots where they were required forputting up buildings or fences.

  Uncle Stephen having engaged some new hands,--who, being fresh from the"old country," were unwilling, as they were unfit, to go further intothe forest,--allowed Mike and Quambo to come to us. We therefore put upa room for them next to our own, and which could be heated in winter bythe same stove. We were thus able to get on much more rapidly with ourtask of clearing the ground. Mike, indeed, was a great acquisition toour party; for, besides singing a good Irish song, he had learned toplay the fiddle,--and, of course, he had brought his "Cremona," of whichhe was justly proud, along with him. He beguiled the long winterevenings with many a merry tune, and not unfrequently set old Quambodancing. Sometimes we would look in; and we found it great fun to seeQuambo, in the confined space of the cabin, coming the "doubleshuffle"--bounding up and down, and whirling round and round, snappinghis fingers and stamping his feet, until the perspiration streamed downhis sooty cheeks. Mike would continue bobbing his head, meanwhile, andapplauding with voice and gesture, though keeping his countenance, andlooking as grave as a judge while listening to the counsel for aprisoner.

  We had now made an opening which enabled us to see the river from ourhut; and Mike declared that we were getting quite civilised, and werebeginning to look like being in the midst of a great city, barring thehouses, and streets, and people.

  "Sure, they'll be afther coming one of these days," he added.

  "When that happens, it will be time for us to think of moving furtherwestward," observed Uncle Mark.

  A violent storm, which sent the boughs and leaves flying about ourheads, brought the "Indian summer" to a conclusion, and the frost set insoon afterwards.

  One evening, after the day's work was over, and supper had beenfinished, we were sitting in our hut employed in various occupationsbefore turning in for the night, when a low howl reached our ears.

  "What is that?" I exclaimed.

  Before Uncle Mark could make answer, the howl was answered by another;and presently, others joining in, the whole forest reverberated with amelancholy and spirit-depressing chorus.

  "Wolves!" said Uncle Mark. "The frost has driven them from the highground, and they are contemplating a raid on our porkers and cattle. Wemust send them to the right-about, or they will become audacious."

  Calling to Mike and Quambo, we put on our coats and sallied forth, armedwith guns and sticks. The moon was shining brightly, so we required notorches. We made our way over the fallen trunks and rough rocks whichformed the bank of the river, but after a while the howls appeared tocome from a still greater distance than before.

  Uncle Mark now called a halt. "The brutes hear us, and are retreating,"he said. "Keep silence for a few minutes, and maybe we shall catchsight of them."

  Under his directions I seated myself on the trunk of a tree, while heand the two men stayed near. Presently I caught sight of a pair ofglaring eyeballs, and soon another wolf came into view.

  "Get your rifles ready," whispered Uncle Mark. "You, Roger, shoot theone to the left. I will aim at the next. Mike and Quambo, you take twoothers. Unless they run off, we may give a good account of the wholepack."

  As he finished speaking I fired, followed by Uncle Mark and the othermen; and, as the result, four wolves rolled over dead. The rest ofthem, however, disappointed us by turning tail and scampering off to asafe distance, from whence only their howls reached us. Uncle Mark,however, did not consider it prudent to follow them. Indeed, had theyheard us approaching they would probably have retreated out of shot; forwolves, though they will follow a fugitive, like other savage animals,will generally try to escape when pursued. So, having secured the skinsof those we had killed, although they were of no great value, wereturned homewards.

  After this we had alternately rain and frost, with a few fine days, tillthe snow came down, and the winter commenced in earnest. But we wereall pretty well inured to it. Indeed, except when the wind blew, wewere in the habit of hewing in the forest with our coats off; and eventhen we often found it hot work.

  Mike came back one day from the settlement--where he had been sent for afew stores and powder and shot--with the information that a party oflumberers had commenced operations some miles up a river which ran intothe great lake, and that the "boss" had sent a ganger to hire hands,more of whom were wanted.

  "A few dollars of ready cash would be very acceptable," observed UncleMark. "What say you, Roger? We'll start away, and spend a month or sowith them. We can take Mike with us, while Quambo will look after thehut, the cattle, and pigs."

  I was ready, of course; and so, as my uncle was a man of action, hedetermined to set off the next morning. We were all good skaters; andalthough, during the first part of our journey, we should be unable tomake use of our skates, we settled to carry them with us.

  At daybreak, then, we were up, and having taken breakfast, were ready tostart,--our provisions consisting of flour-cakes and cold pork, with apot and pannikins. Mike also carried his fiddle hung around his neck.

  "It will help to amuse the gossoons--and maybe put a few dollars in mypocket," he remarked with a wink. "Bedad! I'll keep their feet going,when the work is over for the day, and they are afther sharpening theiraxes."

  We had but one gun with us, which Mike carried, as we wished to travelwith as little encumbrance as possible.

  But just as we were starting off, Uncle Mark recollected that he hadforgotten to write to Uncle Stephen upon a matter of importance.

  "You, Roger, and Mike, can go on ahead," he said, "while I finish myletter, which I will leave with Quambo to be forwarded; and I will soonovertake you."

  As there was now light enough for us to see our way through the forest,we commenced our tramp. There was no risk of our taking the wrong road,seeing there was but one--along the course of the stream, which ran intothe larger river; and it was now frozen in such a manner as to afford usa good highway. Mike was always amusing, and I was glad of his company;besides which, as we had had a good start of my uncle, I was in hopesthat we might have time to get a shot at something.

  We had accomplished three or four miles, and I had begun to wonder whyUncle Mark had not overtaken us, as he was a quick walker, and intendedto carry only his axe, and a small skin bag over his shoulder containingsome necessaries. We were looking about us, in the hope of catchingsig
ht of a raccoon or opossum, or some larger game, when a howl, such ashad aroused us one night a short time before, sounded through theforest.

  "Sure, that comes from a pack of wolves," observed Mike. "But no! Ibelave one of the brutes is capable of making that noise. We have heardthe echoes among the trees. I hope that there are not many of them, asthey might take it into their heads to attack us, and that would not bepleasant."

  We went on, however, troubling ourselves very little about the wolf, forI felt sure that there was only one, or a couple at the most. Thestream, as we proceeded, became wider, running round the foot of somehills, with larches scattered on either side, their boughs bent down bythe snow which had frozen hard on them. The sky had become cloudy bythis time, too, and there was every appearance of a fresh fall.

  "Surely Uncle Mark will be up with us soon, Mike!" I observed.

  But scarcely had I spoken when I heard my uncle shouting to us. He wasin the middle of the frozen stream, and was hurrying towards us, axe inhand. He had good reason to keep it there, for just then we saw a hugewolf rush out from behind a clump of trees close at hand. He stopped toreceive his assailant, which, probably well nigh famished, seemed benton his destruction.

  Mike, without saying a word, had unslung the gun and dropped on hisknee, for there was not a moment to be lost. In another instant thefierce wolf would have sprung at my uncle's throat, and might have takenhis life; or, at all events, have severely injured him, and that beforewe could get near enough to render him any assistance. It all dependedon Mike's steady aim, therefore; and although I was a good shot, still Iwas thankful that he had the gun.

  He fired; and the brute, the moment that it was making its spring, fellover, snarling and hissing, with its shoulder broken. A blow on thehead from my uncle's axe finished its existence.

  "You have rendered me good service, Laffan," said my uncle, when we gotup to him. "Had you not taken steady aim, that brute's fangs would havebeen at my throat in another moment."

  "Faix, thin, Mr Mark, it is only what I would have wished to be done,"answered Mike. "And if you ever catch sight of a bear about to give mea hug, or such a brute as this at my heels,"--and he gave the dead wolfa kick--"you will be afther shooting him, sure enough!"

  "Well, Mike, we shall then be quits. In the meantime I am your debtor,"answered my uncle, laughing. Notwithstanding the danger he had been in,he was quite unmoved. His cheek had not lost its ruddy glow, nor did alimb tremble.

  We quickly skinned the wolf, and hung the hide up to the branch of atree a little way from the bank, where it would be concealed from anypassers-by. We did not wish to encumber ourselves with it in themeantime, and we hoped to find it on our return. We were not likely toforget the spot, any more than those boys in the "old country" would do,who, as I have heard, are taken to certain landmarks and whipped, inorder that they may afterwards bear them duly in mind.

  We were thankful that the wolf which had attacked my uncle was alone, asit would have been unpleasant to find ourselves followed by a howlingpack; and we now regretted that we had not all of us brought our guns.

  Trudging on some miles further, we came upon a part of the river whichhad not been frozen over until after the snow fell. Here, the ice beingclear, we put on our skates, and glided merrily along towards the spotwhere we understood the lumberers were at work.