"We are as dead men," was the hollow reply. "But in G.o.d"s name, who are you?"
"I am Jean Sterling, daughter of Colonel Sterling. I was carried away from home, but was rescued by these Indians, who are now taking me back to my father."
"Ay, we heard of you, did we not, James?" the man enquired, turning to his companion.
"Ay, we heard of you, Miss, on our way here, as William says," the other replied, "But so great have been our own cares and sorrows since then that we have forgotten about you."
"Do you live here?" Jean asked, wondering who these men could be.
"No, no, not living, but dying here, we and our wives and children. We are Loyalists, Miss, who arrived with the Fall Fleet. We came up the river in open boats, mistook this river one night for the main channel, and were frozen in here before morning. Our sufferings have been great. We are starving to death. Though," he added after a slight pause, "there are not so many to provide for now."
"What! have some died?" Jean asked.
"Seven, Miss, mostly little ones. They are all under the snow, and the rest of us will soon be with them."
"Come, come, you must not give up yet," the girl encouraged. "Sam and Kitty will help you, I am sure. Where do you live?"
"Just over there," and the man motioned to the right. "It"s a poor place, and the last storm was terribly hard on us."
"Take me there, then," Jean ordered. "I want to see your women and children."
A feeling of responsibility had suddenly come to her such as she had never before known. These two men before her were in the depths of despair, so something had to be done to arouse and stimulate them with courage. Hitherto she herself had been dependent upon others, and followed their guidance. But now it was different. Here were people in a strange land, and in difficult circ.u.mstances who had for the time lost their grip of things, and needed special a.s.sistance. It all came upon her in a flash, transforming her from a follower to a leader; from dependent girlhood to the glory of responsible womanhood.
Guided by the two men, they soon reached the encampment but a hundred yards away. At sight of this Jean stopped and stared in profound amazement. It was no wonder that the women and children huddled there were cold. The ones who had fashioned these rude abodes were evidently unacquainted with life in the open, so desolate was the place, and with very little protection from the driving storms.
There were about ten families in all encamped here, and at the first glance Jean could tell that they were actually starving. The women, who received her kindly, presented as brave an appearance as possible.
But their faces were worn and haggard, showing plainly the sufferings they had endured. The children, especially the younger ones, looked better, having no doubt received extra food and attention.
The arrival of the visitors caused considerable excitement and interest among the Loyalists. Men, women, and children all crowded around one fire, and listened with wonder to the tale Jean related of her capture, and how she was rescued by the two good Indians. She in return heard the pathetic story of these unfortunate people from the time they left their old homes until the present.
"It was bad enough," one woman said, "when we were all well. But when the babies began to pine and die for want of proper nourishment, then it was terrible. We gave them the best of everything, and tried to keep them warm, even pressing them against our own bodies. But it was all in vain, so we laid the little darlings to rest one by one. They are better off, I suppose, but it was very hard on us."
Her eyes, and the eyes of all were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears. Jean was deeply affected, and her heart went out in sympathy to these unfortunate people. She glanced about the rough brush abodes, and noted how few and thin were the blankets.
"You have very little bedding, I see," she remarked.
"Not nearly enough," was the reply. "We had no idea that winter would come so soon, so sent most of everything on the _Polly_."
"Are you out of provisions, too?"
"We have been out of food for days, excepting the few rabbits the men caught. There are moose in the woods, but our men have not the skill or strength to get any."
During this conversation Jean"s mind had been very active. She knew that something had to be done, and at once, if these people were to be saved from starvation. She turned away and walked over to where Sam and Kitty were erecting a little lean-to in the midst of a small thicket of fir and spruce trees.
"Sam, I want you to do something for those people," she at once began.
"They are starving."
"White man all sam" crazee," the Indian replied. "Camp bad, ugh!"
"I know that, Sam, so you must show them how to build good ones like your lodge by the lake. Will you?"
"A-ha-ha, bimeby, mebbe."
"They are starving, too, Sam, so I want you to get something for them to eat. Will you go at once? Kitty and I will finish this lean-to."
Sam, however, made no reply, but went on with his work.
"You will go, won"t you?" she pleaded. "They are King George"s people, and were driven out of their own country. I know you will help them."
These words had the desired effect, and electrified the Indian to keen interest. That they were King George"s people was all-sufficient. He spoke to Kitty, who produced two wire snares from one of their bundles, and handed them to her husband. Sam then picked up his gun and turned to Jean.
"Me go now," he said. "Come bimeby. Get bird, mebbe."
In another minute he was away, and Jean turned her attention to the building of the lean-to. As the Indian woman began to prepare supper, Jean longed to take some of the meat to the needy ones. But it was so small that it would be of little use. She could only hope that Sam would return with a good supply of birds.
Neither was she disappointed, for shortly after dark the Indian appeared carrying several plump partridges he had snared. These were soon prepared and speedily cooked, so this night the Loyalists had a better supper than usual.
Sam now directed his attention to the rude abodes, and as he examined them he emitted several grunts of disgust. Early the next morning he found an excellent camping-spot, and took Jean over to see it.
"Good camp here," he told her. "Plenty tree, plenty wood."
"Will you help those people to build new lodges?" she asked.
"A-ha-ha, Sam help."
"And can you get more meat? Perhaps you can shoot a moose."
"Sam get feesh bimeby. Kai-u-hus, mebbe."
"What is that?"
"All sam" rat. Swim in water, build house."
"Do you mean muskrat?"
"A-ha-ha. White man call"m "Injun turkey." Good."
"You are a great man, Sam. You saved my life, and now you are saving the lives of those poor people."
"Sam glad," was the quiet reply. "Sam King George man. Sam help King George peep"l."
Jean went over and explained to the Loyalists Sam"s idea about building the new abodes. They were much pleased at this suggestion, and the men at once followed Sam to the spot he had chosen, and began work. After he had given them full instructions, and helped them to make a start upon their new homes, he provided himself with a small supply of food, and started forth upon a hunting expedition. He took with him his sled and a single blanket.
"Will you be away all night?" Jean asked as she stood watching him ere his departure.
"Mebbe. See bimeby."
"Don"t stay too long, Sam, for if you do we shall all starve. Kitty says that we have very little food left."