Dick Onslow Among the Redskins Read online

  CHAPTER FOUR.

  THE INDIANS PROPOSE TO KILL ME--I AM BOUND READY FOR THE TORTURE--MYGUESTS FIND THE FIRE-WATER, AND I FIND THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING ABSTAINEDFROM IT--A FEARFUL CONFERENCE--A TOMAHAWK SENT AT MY HEAD--THE SPIRITSTAKE EFFECT--I WORK MY LIMBS FREE--SHALL I KILL MY ENEMIES?--I FLY--ARUN FOR LIFE--MY TERRIBLE JOURNEY--I SINK EXHAUSTED--A FRIENDLY INDIAN--A KIND RECEPTION--I HAVE CAUSE TO REJOICE THAT I DID NOT REDDEN MY HANDSWITH BLOOD.

  The Indians sat round the fire, devouring with dreadful composure theremainder of my scanty stock of provisions. I could not withdraw myeyes from them. I felt as if I was in a horrid dream, and yet I was toocertain of the reality of what had occurred to doubt it. "Even werethey to spare my life, I must starve," I thought to myself, "so itmatters little what they do to me." They ate up all their own food andall mine, till nothing remained. The Red man, although he can go a longtime without food, is a complete glutton when he gets a quantity, and isutterly regardless of what may be his future exigencies. When they hadeaten up all the food exposed to view, they began to hunt about the tentfor more. I watched them anxiously, for I was afraid that they wouldget hold of the gunpowder, and still more did I dread their finding thebrandy. The chief, a villainous-looking old warrior, was the mostactive in the search. He went round and round the tent, poking hisfingers into every package, and sniffing up with his nose, till at lasthis keen scent enabled him to discover the existence of the spirit cask,which I had already broached. With a grunt of satisfaction, in whichthe whole party joined, he dragged it forward, and made signs to hisfollowers that all should share in the much-prized fire-water. Itrembled at what would be the consequences. "They would have treated mebadly enough while they were sober, but with all their evil passionsinflamed by liquor, they will be perfect demons," I thought to myself."How wrong I was not to have let the dangerous spirit run out long ago."How brightly their eyes glared, how eagerly they pressed forward to geta share of the coveted fire-water, which the old chief was serving out.I observed that he took care to help himself more largely than he didanybody else. Scarcely had they drunk off what was first distributed tothem than they put forward their leathern drinking-cups to ask for more.The old chief having helped himself, gave some to his followers. Thentheir eyes began to glitter; the calm, sedate bearing of the Indian wasthrown off; they talked rapidly and vehemently, and laughed loudly, andtheir fingers began to play with the handles of their tomahawks andscalping-knives in a way that made my blood run cold. The red-skins,when they take a captive for whom for any reason they have an especialhatred, generally wait two or three days, that they may have thesatisfaction of tormenting him before they commence actually to torturehim to death. As I watched them, however, I felt that any moment theymight spring up and begin to torture me.

  It is difficult to describe the horrible ingenuity they exhibit intormenting their victims. Talk of the virtues of the savage--I do notbelieve in them. He may have some good qualities, but he is generallythe cruel, remorseless monster sin has made him. Civilisation has itsvices--I know that full well--and bad enough they are, but they are mildcompared to those of the true unadulterated savage, who prides himselfon his art in making his victims writhe under his tortures, and killsmerely that he may boast of the number of those he has slaughtered, andmay exhibit their scalps as trophies of his victories. It is aconvincing proof to me that the same spirit of evil, influenced by themost intense hatred to the human race, is going continually about toincite men to crime. The Dyak of Borneo, the Fijian of the Pacific, andthe red savage of North America, are much alike; and identically thesame change is wrought in all when the light of truth is brought amongthem, and the Christian's faith sheds its softening influence over theirhearts. Many such ideas as those I have alluded to passed through mymind as I sat, unable to move, watching the proceedings of the savages,and I felt with a pang of intense remorse how utterly I had neglecteddoing anything towards sending the gospel of salvation in which Ibelieved and thought I trusted, to them or any other of the heathennations of the world.

  The red-skins went on talking fast and furiously; then they put outtheir hands, and called on the old chief to serve them out furtherdraughts of their loved fire-water. He dared not deny them. He helpedhimself, and his eyes began to roll round and round with a frightfulglare, and every now and then they turned upon me, and I thought my lastmoment had come; but one of his companions, in a tone which had lost allrespect for him, called off his attention for a moment, and I had areprieve. It was but for a few minutes. I became once more the subjectof conversation. Again the cups were filled and quaffed. I sat asmotionless as a statue. A sign of fear, or even of consciousness, wouldonly tend to enrage my captors. The countenance of the old chief grewmore terrific. He grasped his deadly tomahawk, and, drawing it from hisbelt, lifted his arm to hurl it at my head. I expected that instant tofeel the horrible crash as the sharp weapon entered my skull. I,notwithstanding, fixed my eye steadily on him. He bent back his arm;the tomahawk flew across the tent, but the spirits he had swallowed hadunnerved his limbs and confused his sight, and, unconscious apparentlyof what he had done, he rolled over on his side. His companions weretoo far gone to take notice of his state. They rather seemed to rejoiceat it, that now they could help themselves to as much liquor as was tobe got. As the savages went on drinking, and I saw the condition towhich they were reducing themselves, hope once more revived in mybreast. I might work my way out of the leather thongs which bound me,and get clear of my captors; but then where was I to go? I was againtolerably strong, and I could run some miles, but in what directionshould I bend my steps? I could scrape together a little food from thatleft by the Indians; but had I any chance of reaching any fort orsettlement in the depth of winter? I should, too probably, be frozen todeath, or be devoured by wolves, or be scalped by hostile Indians. Theprospect was not cheering. Still all risks were far preferable to beingtormented to death by my present captors. I was beginning to indulge ina prospect of escaping, remote though it might be, when two more of theIndians all of a sudden took it into their heads to hurl their hatchetsat me. It was the last effort of expiring intelligence, and they bothfell back overpowered by liquor. In a very short time, one by one, therest of their companions yielded to its influences, and the whole bandof Indians lay perfectly drunk and helpless at my feet.

  No time was to be lost; how long they might continue in that state Icould not tell. At all events it was important to get a long start ofthem. I found that I might in time gnaw away the thongs which bound mywrists. I set to work; they were very tough, but by perseverance I gotthrough one, and then the other, and my hands were free. Still I had atough thong round my neck, secured to one of the posts of the bed, andanother round my ankles fastened to another below me. If I attempted tostoop down, I tightened the thong round my neck, nor could I draw myfeet up to meet my hands. The savages had taken my own knife from me.I struggled, and pulled, and tugged, to get my feet clear, till I almostcut through my ankles to the bone. At last I thought of the tomahawksthe savages had thrown at me. I leaned back and felt about behind me.To my great joy my fingers clutched the handle of one, the blade ofwhich was sticking deep into the frame of the bed. I dragged it out,and very soon cut through the thong round my neck. To clear my feet wasa work of less trouble: I was free. I can scarcely describe mysensations as I stood among my now helpless enemies. My first thoughtwas to make preparations for my flight. I collected all the food ofevery description and packed it away in a bag, which I fastened round mywaist. I took my rifle and filled my powder-flask, with a furthersupply in a leathern case which had been Obed's, and all thepercussion-caps, and as much shot as I could carry. I took theprecaution also of collecting all the bows and arrows, and otherweapons, of the Indians, and of piling them upon the fire, where theywere quickly consumed. Then I threw over my shoulder my buffalo-skincoat, and stood prepared for flight. "Whither shall I fly? How can Iescape from my swift-heeled enemies with all this weight of th
ings tocarry? Need I fly?" A dreadful thought came into my head. "Theyintended to kill me. There they lie utterly helpless. A fewwell-directed blows from one of their own tomahawks which they hurled atmy head, and not one of them can harm me more. I may dispose of them asI disposed of their two brethren who tried to kill me. I have a rightto do so. Surely I have a right to destroy them." If I did not say, Ithought all these things. Whence did the suggestion come? "Oh, may Ibe guided to do what is right," I mentally ejaculated. I gazed at thehelpless beings scattered around. "They are human. `Forgive us ourtrespasses, as we forgive them who trespass against us.' What does thatmean?" I asked myself. "Oh, no, I dare not injure them. Never mindwhat the rough backwoodsman would say to my conduct. I am sure it isbraver to refrain than to kill. Certainly, as a Christian, I cannotkill them--I dare not. To His guidance and protection who formed theworld and all living creatures, I commit myself." With these words, notdaring to look behind me, I rushed from the tent.

  I took a westerly course, for I thought that I should more likely fallin with Obed in that direction, should he have reached a fort in safety,and succeeded in obtaining help to come and rescue me. On I went asfast as I could move, but my limbs were stiff, and the weight I carriedwas considerable. I tried to turn my thoughts from the savages, but Icould not help calculating how long they might continue in their stateof stupor. There was still some brandy left in the cask; when theyrecovered their senses, rather than pursue me they might be tempted todrink again. It was a question which was the strongest passion, whetherthe love of drink or the desire for revenge would prevail. On I went,the snow was now tolerably hard, so I made pretty good progress, yet thered-skins would go twice as fast when once they began to pursue me.

  I went a mile before I stopped. Then, on reaching an elevation, whenceI could have a clear view over the white glittering plain, I looked backat the spot where I had spent so many days and nights of pain andsuffering, and where also I owned that I had been most mercifullypreserved from so many dangers. The tent stood where it had been formany months, the smoke was curling out of the top into the calm sky, andall around looked so unchanged that I could scarcely persuade myselfthat in the interior was collected a band of malignant foes, who wouldrejoice in my destruction. I looked but a few seconds, and then away Iwent on my course. I walked on, sometimes breaking into a run where thesnow was harder and would allow it, till sunset, and then the stars cameout brightly in the firmament of heaven, and I was able to steer mycourse with greater certainty even than in the daytime. I could notthink very much; but I did feel thankful that I had not yielded to thetemptation of drinking the spirits myself, when I had felt low andalmost hopeless. Had I done so, I should have destroyed the very meanspresented for my deliverance. I got over the plain with tolerable ease,for the sun had at times melted the snow, which when it froze again hadbecome hard and rough. As I ran on, however, I was trying to devisesome plan by which the Indians might be turned off my track. Toobliterate it, however, was hopeless, unless a heavy fall of snow shouldcome on, and even then the cunning rascals, by scraping away the snow atintervals, were very likely to find me out.

  It was nearly midnight, I calculated, when I felt that I must stop torest and take some food. I sat down on what I took to be a mound ofearth covered with snow. I ate a handful of rice and a little biscuit,and chewed a piece of wolf's flesh, and felt somewhat revived. I shouldhave liked to have gone to sleep, but I dared not, even for a moment.It would have been, had I given way to the feeling, the sleep of death.I scarcely know why, but as I sat on the heap I struck the butt-end ofmy rifle into the snow; it gave way. I found there was somethingbeneath it. With eager haste, for I remembered that every moment wasprecious, I threw off the snow. The body of a man lay beneath. Adreadful sensation came over me. It must be that of Obed, slaughtered,perhaps, on his way to succour me; the idea almost overcame me; Iresisted, however, the feeling of despair, and roused myself up. Ithrew off more of the snow; I could see, by the faint light of the moon,that little more than a skeleton remained; the dress, however, wasthere; it was that of a backwoodsman. With horrible eagerness, yet withloathing, I examined the tattered clothes. I felt sure that they wherethose Obed had worn. In my search my hand struck against something; Itook it up, it was an old silver watch; such a one Obed had not got, butoften had I seen it in the hands of his brother Joab.

  Poor Joab, then, had been killed on the first attack of the red-skins.What had become of the rest of the party? I dreaded lest I should findtheir remains as I had that of Joab. Taking the watch, I secured itabout me to restore to his family should I ever meet them. I huntedabout for his rifle; it was nowhere to be found. It had been carriedoff, I concluded, by the Indians. With a heavy heart I ran on, after mybrief rest, expecting every instant to come on more of the remains of myold friends, but I saw no indications of them, and there was no time tocarry on the search.

  I went on after this for some time without halting even for a moment. Ihad now been several hours on foot. Had I enjoyed my usual strength,such as I possessed before being wounded, I should have made light ofthe fatigue. I was, however, again obliged to sit down. I reckoned onhaving a long start of the red-skins. I hoped to retain my strength soas to redouble my speed when I thought they would be pressing after me.I had deprived them of their arms, and they had no food; so that, couldI contrive to keep beyond their reach for two or three days, they mustbe delayed to obtain it, if they attempted to follow me. Unless alsotheir lodges were in the neighbourhood, and they could go and get arms,I possessed another very great advantage over them. Of course ifpursued I would not hesitate for a moment about shooting them down.These ideas occurred to me as I ran on, and I began to feel that my casewas not so hopeless as I at first considered it. My great dread was ofthe wolves. As yet I had not heard any of those cries which make nighthideous in the desert regions; but I knew that if a pack once scented meout and gave chase, I should have little chance of escaping them, unlessI could find a tree, up which I might climb out of their way.

  I ran on all night, keeping nearly due west, and daylight found mepursuing my way with unflagging speed. At last I struck what I took tobe a branch of the Nebraska river. A wood was not far-off on the otherside. "I'll try if a white man cannot manage to deceive the acutenesseven of a red-skin," I thought to myself. The wind had blown the snowcompletely off the ice on the river. I crossed the river and madetowards the wood. I stirred up the snow in a way which I knew wouldpuzzle the Indians, and then treading backwards on my footmarks, I oncemore reached the river.

  Then away I went up the stream over the smooth ice as hard as I couldrun. Now and then I tumbled down, but I quickly picked myself up again,and was off as fast as ever. When a man believes that a body ofred-skins or a pack of wolves are at his heels, he is likely to runpretty fast. I sat down once for breakfast for five minutes, and onceat noon for dinner of raw rice and wolves' ribs, and away I went again.At last I found that the river was making so many bends that it would benecessary to land, which I did on the north shore. Night came on, but Idid not relax my speed; the stars came out and guided me as before. Iwas beginning, however, to feel much distressed. I bore up as well as Icould, but I fancied that I could not continue my course much beyond themorning, even if I could go through the night. I came to some bushesgrowing above the snow; they would afford me shelter from the wind, andI might, I thought, venture to rest for half an hour or so. I shouldhave wished to light a fire, but I dared not, lest the smoke mightbetray me.

  I sat down and began searching in my bag for some food, when a distantand faint cry struck my ear. I listened; again I heard it. I knew toowell what it was. The cry of a pack of wolves. Could they have gainedscent of me and be following in my rack? The bare thought of such athing made me start up, and again set forth at full speed. For what Iknew to the contrary, I had both wolves and Indians following me. Thewolves were gaining on me, that was certain. I could distinguish theyelps and
barks through the still midnight. They might yet be some wayoff. I tried to pierce through the gloom ahead in the hopes of seeingsome clump of trees rising out of the snowy plain in which I might takeshelter. On I ran. It, at all events, would not do to stay where Iwas. The sound of those horrid yelps, if anything had been required tomake me exert myself would have added fleetness to my feet. I longedfor day; I thought they would be less likely to attack me. For a wholehour I ran on, I believe. It seemed more like three or four with thosedreadful sounds ringing in my ears. I thought they were coming nearerand nearer. At last I saw some object rising up before me in thedarkness. It might be a distant hill, or it might be the outline of thewished-for wood.

  "But if I succeed in reaching it and climbing a tree, will not the delayenable the Indians to overtake me?" I thought. "I will keep outsidethe wood till the near approach of the brutes compels me to climb a treeto get out of their way." I kept to this resolution. It proved to be awood that I had seen. I skirted it as I continued my course. All thetime I kept listening with a feeling of horror to the hideous chorus ofthe wolves.

  Suddenly I was conscious that the sounds were growing fainter. Inanother twenty minutes I was certain of it. They were in pursuit ofsome wild beast or other, perhaps of some unfortunate Indian traversingthe prairie. How thankful I felt when the sounds altogether ceased.This circumstance gave me fresh courage. I pursued my course steadilyonward. I stopped even five minutes to rest and take a little food.The sun rose, still I was going on, but I began to feel that naturewould not hold out much longer. I felt a dizziness in my eyes, and myknees began to tremble, and I drew my breath with difficulty. I wasagain in a vast plain. The sun was behind me; I followed my own shadow.Sometimes I could distinguish nothing before me, then the giddinesswent away.

  Suddenly, as I looked up, I saw before me eight or ten figures moving ina line across my path. Could they be the Pawnees who had lost my track,and were thus making a circuit in the expectation of coming on it? Ifthey were, I would defend myself to the last. I felt for my rifle, andtried to get it ready to fire, but I had miscalculated my strength. Theagitation was too much for me; I stumbled blindly forward a few paces,and then sank down helplessly in the snow. I tried to rise--to move--Icould not, so I gave myself up for lost, and prepared for death. I wasnot afraid, I was not unhappy; indeed, I had no very acute feelingswhatever, and very soon lost all consciousness. I was aroused by ahuman voice.

  "Why, stranger, where have you dropped from? You seem to be in a sadplight!"

  I looked up to discover whence the voice came, and there, instead of awhite face, as I expected, I saw a tall Indian, as he seemed by hisdress, though perhaps he was rather fairer than his people usually are,bending over me. I could not reply, but, with a sort of hystericallaugh, I made signs that I had come from the eastward, and that some onewas in pursuit of me.

  "Well, never mind talking now; we must first set you on your feetagain," he said in a kind voice. "My companions will be here presently.You want food and rest, and then you can tell us what has happened."

  "Food, food," I whispered.

  "Yes, poor fellow, you shall have it," he answered, in a tone ofcommiseration, taking from his wallet some pemmican, which I ate with akeen relish.

  The food revived me, and I felt much better by the time my new friend'scompanions came up. They stood round me while I continued eating, withlooks of pity and wonder on their expressive countenances. I saw bytheir dress and appearance that they were Ottoes, a tribe dwelling tothe south of the Nebraska, and always friendly to the whites. My friendwas the only one who could speak English, which he did perfectly. Hesaw me examining his countenance.

  "I am half an Englishman," he observed. "I am called John Pipestick.My father came from Kent, in the old country, I have often heard himsay; the garden of England he called it. A poor place for buffaloes andwild turkeys, I should think, so it would not suit me. He sometimestalked of going to have a look at the hop fields and a taste of its ale,but he was killed by the Pawnees, who carried of his scalp. I've notleft him unavenged, though. My mother was a red-skin, and belonged tothis tribe, and I have no wish to quit them. But come, friend, you havedone eating, and a man who can eat is not in a very bad way. Lean onus, and we will take you to our tents. They are not more than threemiles off."

  Supported in the arms of the kind Ottoes, I walked along with tolerableease. They were very fine fellows. One was fully six feet six inchesin height, and proportionably strong limbed. The rest were not much hisinferiors. John Pipestick was shorter, but very strong. As I walkedalong I found my tongue loosed, and I gave a succinct account of whathad occurred. John interpreted. The Indians pricked up their ears, andhad an animated discussion among themselves. We reached at length whatis called a cedar swamp in the States. The cedar trees form a dense,tangled thicket, perfectly impervious to the wind, and in winter, whenthe moist ground is frozen hard below, such a locality is perfectlyhealthy. Woe betide the unfortunate wretch who has to take up hisquarters within one in the summer time, when mosquitoes and rattlesnakesabound. He will wish himself well out of it before the morning.

  Drawing aside a few boughs, the Ottoes led the way by a narrow pathtowards the centre of the thicket, and we soon found ourselves in anopen space, in which were pitched a couple of tents. Several women andthree or four men came out to greet us, and warmly shook my hands. Ifelt truly, as John Pipestick had called me, a brother among them. Theyplaced me in a tent before a fire, and gave me warm food, and chafed mylimbs, and then covered me up with a buffalo robe. I quickly fellasleep, and never have I slept so soundly in my life, or with a sense ofmore perfect security. At last I awoke; I had not stirred for fourteenhours. It was night, but the Indians were sitting up round the firecleaning their arms. They seemed highly pleased when I awoke.

  "We have been waiting for you to start on an expedition," exclaimed JohnPipestick. "How do you feel? Are you able, think you, to walk?"

  I got up and stretched my limbs. They felt a little stiff, and painedme slightly, but I thought, I said, that exercise would take that off.

  "No fear then," said John; "take some food. Our people are anxious tostart. I'll tell you all about it as we go along."

  I lost no time in putting on my moccasins and in getting ready for astart, after I had partaken of some pemmican and a warm broth, of whicha wild turkey formed the chief ingredient. I found a party of tenIndians besides Pipestick, all armed with rifles, besides hatchets andknives, and some had likewise bows and quivers of arrows at their backs.In their buffalo-skin coats they looked very like a troop of bears.The remainder of the party were preparing to follow with a light wagon,in which they carried their tents and provisions, and four shaggy littleponies to drag it. I saw that we were taking an easterly course. Iasked where we were going.

  "To your tent," was the answer.

  "But the Pawnees will have gone," I remarked.

  "No fear of that while any liquor remains," he observed.

  I knew that I might as well have spoken to the winds as have attemptedto dissuade my wild friends from attacking their enemies. Still I triedto explain my view of the case. John seemed much struck by what I said.He observed that he had never seen it in that light before. He hadbeen taught to do good to your friends, but to injure your enemies tothe utmost of your power. He had no notion that such was not theChristian's creed. His father was a Christian; so was he--not that heknew much about religion. That was all very well for people who livedin towns. I tried to show him that all men had souls; that one Saviourdied for all; that all would have to stand before the judgment-seat ofGod; and that therefore religious faith and religious practice wereessential for all.

  Such was one of the many subjects of our conversation which beguiled ourway. My long solitude had made me reflect and remember many things Ihad before forgotten, and my late merciful escape had not been withoutits effects in turning my heart to my Maker. I wish that I could sayth
at, like the compass, it has ever since kept true to the pole. I didnot feel, however, that I was making very deep impression on myauditors. We pushed on, not as fast as I had come, but still at a veryrapid rate; and if I at all showed signs of flagging, two of the hugeIndians would lift me up by the shoulders and help me along, scarcelyallowing my feet to touch the ground. We camped in a wood for a shorttime, making an arbour with fir branches to keep off the cold, and thenon we went. My heart beat quick as, soon after daylight, we approachedthe height whence we could look down, I knew, on my tent. We reachedthe spot--the one where I had been standing when I saw the Pawneescoming to destroy me. I looked eagerly for the tent. It was no longerthere, nor was there a sign of living beings near. Two scouts went downto examine all the places of concealment near. After a time they signedto us to approach. We hurried down. There lay the remains of the tent,almost burned to pieces, and among a confused mass of cinders andvarious articles which the tent had contained, lay scattered about theblackened and mangled remains of my late captors.

  "Verily let not man attempt to avenge himself," I repeated. "Here is aproof of those solemn words, `Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I willrepay.'"