The river ran through a narrow valley, with hillsides covered with white flowers and bottom lands dotted with yellow cowslips. Birds, busy with their nesting, winged their way through the balmy air. Willows, cottonwoods, elms and soft maples made a leafy border along the sh.o.r.e.
Toward late afternoon they came to a widening of the river.
"Lac Qui Parle," Hawk Eye called back, slowing down that Raven Wing might come alongside. "I have heard my father say that in the paleface tongue. It means the "lake that speaks.""
"Black Eagle once told me that the Mich-e-see-be has a great widening which is called Lake Pepin by the white man. It is bordered by high bluffs and cliffs so steep that very few cedars can take root," answered Raven Wing.
"I have heard my father tell that only low hills guard the Minnesota until its fringe of trees thickens and it enters the big woods. The hills change to bluffs that creep closer to the water. At the mouth of the Blue Earth River there is but a narrow strip of sand. From there on the Minnesota makes a bend upward toward the land of snow and the rising sun," said Hawk Eye.
"It is a long river," said Raven Wing. "We shall have dipped our paddles many, many times before we come to the trading post."
"Have you fully decided to exchange your pelts for a gun?" inquired Hawk Eye.
"Yes," answered Raven Wing quickly. "I would like one like yours."
"It is a fine weapon, as I have often told you," Hawk Eye said. "My father was proud of it. He kept our lodge well supplied with meat before an Objibway"s bullet ended his life."
"Let us make camp," Raven Wing suggested after a time. "I see a sandy beach. Up to now the sh.o.r.e has been bordered with great flat rocks."
"It is too early," Hawk Eye said. "The weather is fine. It is better to keep to our paddles until sundown. Take care that your canoe does not grate upon a hidden rock. There are many in the water."
Raven Wing was glad when his elder companion later turned toward sh.o.r.e for he was becoming a little tired. It required skill as well as strength to paddle the heavy laden canoes.
"My father"s grandmother was a Wahpeton Sioux. Her tribe, called the People of the Leaves, used to build their movable tepees along the sh.o.r.es of this lake," said Raven Wing.
[Ill.u.s.tration: {Sioux brave.}]
"That was many, many years ago. We shall have to sleep beneath a tree,"
answered Hawk Eye.
"My grandfather made his first offering to the Great Spirit here," went on Raven Wing. "He tossed his most beloved possession, a necklace of bear claws, into this very lake."
"It is a beautiful spot for such a ceremony," Hawk Eye said, thoughtfully. "I have not as yet made my offering to the Great Spirit."
Raven Wing made no answer. After his father"s death his mother had arranged the ceremony for him. He now wished that she had chosen for that occasion the spot on which his grandfather had stood.
As the canoes sc.r.a.ped bottom, Hawk Eye said; "I will here offer my most valued possession to the Great Spirit." Stepping on sh.o.r.e, he opened a doeskin pouch that was fastened to his belt.
"Your necklace of panther claws!" exclaimed Raven Wing as Hawk Eye drew forth his prize trophy.
"Yes," Hawk Eye answered, quietly. For a moment he held it in his open palm for a last look. Close by rose a great boulder of granite.
Clenching his fist about his most beloved possession, he climbed to the top of the rock and stood facing the lake for some little time. Then, holding the necklace in his right hand, he cried;
"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Sun, Moon and Stars to make my path smooth that I may reach the brow of the first hill.
[Ill.u.s.tration: HE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE ROCK AND STOOD FACING THE LAKE FOR SOME LITTLE TIME.]
"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Winds, Clouds, Rain and Snow to make smooth my path that I may reach the brow of the second hill.
"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Hills, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Trees and Gra.s.ses to make smooth my path that I may reach the brow of the third hill.
"O Great Spirit, I implore you to command the Birds, Animals and Insects to make smooth my path that I may reach the brow of the fourth hill.
"O Great Spirit, make me strong in heart and limb to reach the brow of the fifth hill, upon whose summit are the Happy Hunting Grounds.
"O Great Spirit, receive my most precious offering," and he flung the necklace far out into the lake.
[Ill.u.s.tration: {Wolf.}]
CHAPTER VI
THE BEAR
On awakening the next morning after a restful night, Hawk Eye said:
"Fresh meat tastes better than pemmican. I will take my bow and arrows and see what game I can find. In the meantime you might gather some dry wood and start a fire."
After a plunge in the cool waters of the lake, he set out. For some distance he traveled to the north, and on emerging from the timber, he came upon a hillside covered with low bushes. He had set an arrow against the bowstring in readiness for whatever kind of game might suddenly start up. As he looked about, a rabbit darted across an open s.p.a.ce. But before it could reach cover, Hawk Eye"s arrow brought it tumbling to the ground.
"Enough for our morning meal," he observed. After retrieving the arrow, he slung the dead rabbit over his shoulder and started on his way back to camp.
As there was no special trail leading toward the water, he followed a course indicated by several landmarks he had made note of when first setting out. After crossing an open s.p.a.ce, he paused at the edge of the timber belt that lined the banks of the river. He thought he had heard a slight noise in the underbrush. As the sound was not repeated, he strode in among the trees, setting an arrow against the bowstring. Presently he heard a pounding noise followed by a wheeze, and as he peered among the tree trunks, he made out the form of a huge black bear.
Surprised for a moment, the bear halted; then with a grunt took a step forward. Unprepared for such big game, Hawk Eye dropped into a backward walk, keeping his eyes fixed upon the animal, which now quickened its steps. Raising his bow and continuing to step backwards, he aimed an arrow at the heart of the bear and let fly. With a cry of pain and rage it tore the barbed shaft from its bleeding side and rushed at him.
Before he could fit another arrow to the string, his heel caught on a projecting root and he found himself sprawling upon the ground.
Springing to his feet, he attempted to recover his bow which had dropped from his hand, but before he could pick it up, the infuriated animal was almost upon him. Avoiding its outstretched paws, he ran toward the river.
As he went crashing through the tangled underbrush, he felt for his hunting knife. Although somewhat relieved at finding it still in his belt, he knew that his strength and skill would be unequal to the task of slaying the ferocious animal. His princ.i.p.al hope lay in reaching the spot where Raven Wing had kindled the fire for their morning meal. Once there ahead of the bear he could rely on Raven Wing and the loaded gun he had left with him.
Soon, however, this hope disappeared. The bear was gaining on him. Due to its great weight it easily crashed through the thick underbrush and tangled vines that impeded his own progress.
Closer came the great lumbering animal and he could almost feel its hot breath upon his neck as he fought his way through a dense thicket toward the river.
Continuing on as best he could he came to an open s.p.a.ce, covered with wide flat rocks. A short distance ahead rose a giant boulder. Scattered about its base lay a number of big rocks. Leaping upon one of them, he managed to jump to a narrow ledge upon the almost perpendicular side of the great boulder. From there he worked his way up to its flat-topped surface by clinging to crevices and projecting pieces of granite.
CHAPTER VII
THE KILL
The bear had made straight for the big boulder. Discovering that even by standing on its hind feet it could not reach the ledge upon which Hawk Eye had leaped from the nearby rock, it came down on all fours and began to circle the base of the boulder. On coming to a point where the base extended for some considerable distance, it managed to climb up the steep incline by means of its strong claws. At a point further up, however, the flat surface of the summit projected like the rim of a hat and forced the panting animal to merely cling to its position. At length it managed to get one front paw over the edge. At once Hawk Eye stabbed it with his knife. Roaring with pain, it pulled it down. After a few minutes it worked its way to one side where the rim was less p.r.o.nounced and getting a firm hold on a shelf of rock with its hind feet, again stretched over a front paw. Before Hawk Eye could use his knife its other paw came above the rim and its head appeared. Growling and showing its teeth, it dug the claws of its hind feet into the slanting rocky side and raised itself.