The advance-guard came bounding madly to the edge of the precipice.
Here they stopped short, and gazed affrighted at the gulf below. It was but for a moment. The irresistible momentum of the flying ma.s.s behind pushed them over. Down they came, absolutely a living cataract, upon the rocks below. Some struck on the projecting rocks in the descent, and their bodies were dashed almost in pieces, while their blood spurted out in showers. Others leaped from rock to rock with awful bounds, until, losing their foot-hold, they fell headlong, while others descended sheer down into the sweltering ma.s.s that lay shattered at the base of the cliffs.
d.i.c.k Varley and his dog remained rooted to the rock, as they gazed at the sickening sight, as if petrified. Scarce fifty of that n.o.ble herd of buffaloes escaped the awful leap, but they escaped only to fall before the arrows of their ruthless pursuers. d.i.c.k had often heard of this tendency of the Indians, where buffaloes were very numerous, to drive them over precipices in mere wanton sport and cruelty, but he had never seen it until now, and the sight filled his soul with horror. It was not until the din and tumult of the perishing herd and the shrill yells of the Indians had almost died away that he turned to quit the spot. But the instant he did so another shout was raised. The savages had observed him, and were seen galloping along the cliffs towards the head of the gorge, with the obvious intention of gaining the other side and capturing him. d.i.c.k sprang on Charlie"s back, and the next instant was flying down the valley towards the camp.
He did not, however, fear being overtaken, for the gorge could not be crossed, and the way round the head of it was long and rugged; but he was anxious to alarm the camp as quickly as possible, so that they might have time to call in the more distant trappers and make preparations for defence.
"Where away now, youngster," inquired Cameron, emerging from his tent as d.i.c.k, taking the brook that flowed in front at a flying leap, came crashing through the bushes into the midst of the fur-packs at full speed.
"Injuns!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed d.i.c.k, reining up, and vaulting out of the saddle.
"Hundreds of "em. Fiends incarnate every one!"
"Are they near?"
"Yes; an hour "ll bring them down on us. Are Joe and Henri far from camp to-day?"
"At Ten-mile Creek," replied Cameron with an expression of bitterness, as he caught up his gun and shouted to several men, who hurried up on seeing our hero"s burst into camp.
"Ten-mile Creek!" muttered d.i.c.k. "I"ll bring "em in, though," he continued, glancing at several of the camp horses that grazed close at hand.
In another moment he was on Charlie"s back, the line of one of the best horses was in his hand, and almost before Cameron knew what he was about he was flying down the valley like the wind. Charlie often stretched out at full speed to please his young master, but seldom had he been urged forward as he was upon this occasion. The led horse being light and wild, kept well up, and, in a marvellously short s.p.a.ce of time, they were at Ten-mile Creek.
"Hallo, d.i.c.k, wot"s to do?" inquired Joe Blunt, who was up to his knees in the water, setting a trap at the moment his friend galloped up.
"Injuns! Where"s Henri?" demanded d.i.c.k.
"At the head o" the dam there."
d.i.c.k was off in a moment, and almost instantly returned with Henri galloping beside him.
No word was spoken. In time of action these men did not waste words.
During d.i.c.k"s momentary absence, Joe Blunt had caught up his rifle and examined the priming, so that when d.i.c.k pulled up beside him, he merely laid his hand on the saddle, saying, "All right!" as he vaulted on Charlie"s back behind his young companion. In another moment they were away at full speed. The mustang seemed to feel that unwonted exertions were required of him. Double weighted though he was, he kept well up with the other horse, and in less than two hours after d.i.c.k"s leaving the camp the three hunters came in sight of it.
Meanwhile Cameron had collected nearly all his forces, and put his camp in a state of defence before the Indians arrived, which they did suddenly, and, as usual, at full gallop, to the amount of at least two hundred. They did not at first seem disposed to hold friendly intercourse with the trappers, but a.s.sembled in a semicircle round the camp in a menacing att.i.tude, while one of their chiefs stepped forward to hold a palaver. For some time the conversation on both sides was polite enough, but by degrees the Indian chief a.s.sumed an imperious tone, and demanded gifts from the trappers, taking care to enforce his request by hinting that thousands of his countrymen were not far distant. Cameron stoutly refused, and the palaver threatened to come to an abrupt and unpleasant termination just at the time that d.i.c.k and his friends appeared on the scene of action.
The brook was cleared at a bound; the three hunters leaped from their steeds and sprang to the front with a degree of energy that had a visible effect on the savages, and Cameron, seizing the moment, proposed that the two parties should smoke a pipe and hold a council. The Indians agreed, and in a few minutes they were engaged in animated and friendly intercourse. The speeches were long, and the compliments paid on either side were inflated, and, we fear, undeserved; but the result of the interview was, that Cameron made the Indians a present of tobacco and a few trinkets, and sent them back to their friends to tell them that he was willing to trade with them.
Next day the whole tribe arrived in the valley, and pitched their deerskin tents on the plain opposite to the camp of the white men.
Their numbers far exceeded Cameron"s expectation, and it was with some anxiety that he proceeded to strengthen his fortifications as much as circ.u.mstances and the nature of the ground would admit.
The Indian camp, which numbered upwards of a thousand souls, was arranged with great regularity, and was divided into three distinct sections, each section being composed of a separate tribe. The Great Snake Nation at that time embraced three tribes or divisions--namely, the Shirry-dikas, or dog-eaters; the War-are-ree-kas, or fish-eaters; and the Banattees, or robbers. These were the most numerous and powerful Indians on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. The Shirry-dikas dwelt in the plains, and hunted the buffaloes; dressed well; were cleanly; rich in horses; bold, independent, and good warriors. The War-are-ree-kas lived chiefly by fishing, and were found on the banks of the rivers and lakes throughout the country. They were more corpulent, slovenly, and indolent than the Shirry-dikas, and more peaceful. The Banattees, as we have before mentioned, were the robbers of the mountains. They were a wild and contemptible race, and at enmity with every one. In summer they went about nearly naked. In winter they clothed themselves in the skins of rabbits and wolves. Being excellent mimics, they could imitate the howling of wolves, the neighing of horses, and the cries of birds, by which means they could approach travellers, rob them, and then fly to their rocky fastnesses in the mountains, where pursuit was vain.
Such were the men who now a.s.sembled in front of the camp of the fur-traders, and Cameron soon found that the news of his presence in the country had spread far and wide among the natives, bringing them to the neighbourhood of his camp in immense crowds, so that, during the next few days, their numbers increased to thousands.
Several long palavers quickly ensued between the red men and the white, and the two great chiefs who seemed to hold despotic rule over the a.s.sembled tribes were extremely favourable to the idea of universal peace which was propounded to them. In several set speeches of great length and very considerable power, these natural orators explained their willingness to enter into amicable relations with all the surrounding nations as well as with the white men.
"But," said Pee-eye-em, the chief of the Shirry-dikas, a man above six feet high, and of immense muscular strength,--"but my tribe cannot answer for the Banattees, who are robbers, and cannot be punished, because they dwell in scattered families among the mountains. The Banattees are bad; they cannot be trusted."
None of the Banattees were present at the council when this was said; and if they had been it would have mattered little, for they were neither fierce nor courageous, although bold enough in their own haunts to murder and rob the unwary.
The second chief did not quite agree with Pee-eye-em; he said that it was impossible for them to make peace with their natural enemies, the Peigans and the Blackfeet on the east side of the mountains. It was very desirable, he admitted, but neither of these tribes would consent to it, he felt sure.
Upon this Joe blunt rose and said, "The great chief of the War-are-ree-kas is wise, and knows that enemies cannot be reconciled unless deputies are sent to make proposals of peace."
"The Pale-face does not know the Blackfeet," answered the chief. "Who will go into the lands of the Blackfeet? My young men have been sent once and again, and their scalps are now fringes to the leggings of their enemies. The War-are-ree-kas do not cross the mountains but for the purpose of making war."
"The chief speaks truth," returned Joe, "yet there are three men round the council-fire who will go to the Blackfeet and the Peigans with messages of peace from the Snakes if they wish it."
Joe pointed to himself, Henri, and d.i.c.k as he spoke, and added, "We three do not belong to the camp of the fur-traders; we only lodge with them for a time. The Great Chief of the white men has sent us to make peace with the Red-men, and to tell them that he desires to trade with them--to exchange hatchets, and guns, and blankets for furs."
This declaration interested the two chiefs greatly, and after a good deal of discussion they agreed to take advantage of Joe Blunt"s offer, and appoint him as a deputy to the court of their enemies. Having arranged these matters to their satisfaction, Cameron bestowed a red flag and a blue surtout with bra.s.s b.u.t.tons on each of the chiefs, and a variety of smaller articles on the other members of the council, and sent them away in a particularly amiable frame of mind.
Pee-eye-em burst the blue surtout at the shoulders and elbows in putting it on, as it was much too small for his gigantic frame, but, never having seen such an article of apparel before, he either regarded this as the natural and proper consequence of putting it on, or was totally indifferent to it, for he merely looked at the rents with a smile of satisfaction, while his squaw surrept.i.tiously cut off the two back b.u.t.tons and thrust them into her bosom.
By the time the council closed the night was far advanced, and a bright moon was shedding a flood of soft light over the picturesque and busy scene.
"I"ll go to the Injun camp," said Joe to Walter Cameron, as the chiefs rose to depart. "The season"s far enough advanced already; it"s time to be off; and if I"m to speak for the Red-skins in the Blackfeet Council, I"d need to know what to say."
"Please yourself, Master Blunt," answered Cameron. "I like your company and that of your friends, and if it suited you I would be glad to take you along with us to the coast of the Pacific; but your mission among the Indians is a good one, and I"ll help it on all I can. I suppose you will go also?" he added, turning to d.i.c.k Varley, who was still seated beside the council-fire caressing Crusoe.
"Wherever Joe goes, I go," answered d.i.c.k.
Crusoe"s tail, ears and eyes demonstrated high approval of the sentiment involved in this speech.
"And your friend Henri?"
"He goes too," answered Joe. "It"s as well that the Red-skins should see the three o" us before we start for the east side o" the mountains.
Ho! Henri, come here, lad."
Henri obeyed, and in a few seconds the three friends crossed the brook to the Indian camp, and were guided to the princ.i.p.al lodge by Pee-eye-em. Here a great council was held, and the proposed attempt at negotiations for peace with their ancient enemies fully discussed.
While they were thus engaged, and just as Pee-eye-em had, in the energy of an enthusiastic peroration burst the blue surtout _almost_ up to the collar, a distant rushing sound was heard, which caused every man to spring to his feet, run out of the tent, and seize his weapons.
"What can it be, Joe?" whispered d.i.c.k, as they stood at the tent door leaning on their rifles, and listening intently.
"Dunno," answered Joe shortly.
Most of the numerous fires of the camp had gone out, but the bright moon revealed the dusky forms of thousands of Indians, whom the unwonted sound had startled, moving rapidly about.
The mystery was soon explained. The Indian camp was pitched on an open plain of several miles in extent, which took a sudden bend half a mile distant, where a spur of the mountains shut out the further end of the valley from view. From beyond this point the dull rumbling sound proceeded. Suddenly there was a roar as if a mighty cataract had been let loose upon the scene. At the same moment a countless herd of wild horses came thundering round the base of the mountain and swept over the plain straight towards the Indian camp.
"A stampedo!" cried Joe, springing to the a.s.sistance of Pee-eye-em, whose favourite horses were picketted near the tent.
On they came like a living torrent, and the thunder of a thousand hoofs was soon mingled with the howling of hundreds of dogs in the camp, and the yelling of Indians, as they vainly endeavoured to restrain the rising excitement of their steeds. Henri and d.i.c.k stood rooted to the ground, gazing in silent wonder at the fierce and uncontrollable gallop of the thousands of panic-stricken horses that bore down upon the camp with the tumultuous violence of a mighty cataract.
As the maddened troop drew nigh, the camp horses began to snort and tremble violently, and when the rush of the wild steeds was almost upon them, they became ungovernable with terror, broke their halters and hobbles, and dashed wildly about. To add to the confusion at that moment, a cloud pa.s.sed over the moon and threw the whole scene into deep obscurity. Blind with terror, which was probably increased by the din of their own mad flight, the galloping troop came on, and, with a sound like the continuous roar of thunder that for an instant drowned the yell of dog and man, they burst upon the camp, trampling over packs and skins, and dried meat, etcetera, in their headlong speed, and overturning several of the smaller tents. In another moment they swept out upon the plain beyond, and were soon lost in the darkness of the night, while the yelping of dogs, as they vainly pursued them, mingled and gradually died away with the distant thunder of their retreat.
This was a "_stampedo_," one of the most extraordinary scenes that can be witnessed in the western wilderness.
"Lend a hand, Henri," shouted Joe, who was struggling with a powerful horse. "Wot"s comed over yer brains, man? This brute "ll git off if ye don"t look sharp."