Would you like to go, my pet, said her father, to a country far, far away in the north, where there are high mountains and deep valleys, inhabited by beautiful reindeer, and large lakes and rivers filled with fish; where there is very little daylight all the long winter, and where there is scarcely any night all the long, bright summer? Would my Eda like to go there?
The child possessed that fascinating quality of being intensely interested in all that was said to her. As her father spoke, her eyes gradually expanded and looked straight into his, while her head turned slowly and very slightly to one side. As he concluded, she replied, Oh! very, very, very much indeed, with a degree of energy that made both her parents laugh.
Ah, my darling! would that my lazy men were endued with some of your spirit, said Stanley, patting the childs head.
Is Prince a lazy man, papa? inquired Edith anxiously.
No, certainly, Prince is not. Why do you ask?
Because I love Prince.
And do you not love all the men?
No, replied Edith, with some hesitation; at least I dont love them very much, and I hate one.
Hate one! echoed Mrs Stanley. Come here, my darling.
Eda slipped from her fathers knee and went to her mother, feeling and looking as if she had said something wrong.
Mrs Stanley was not one of those mothers who, whenever they hear of their children having done anything wrong, assume a look of intense, solemnised horror, that would lead an ignorant spectator to suppose that intelligence had just been received of some sudden and appalling catastrophe. She knew that children could not be deceived by such pieces of acting. She expressed on her countenance precisely what she felta slight degree of sorrow that her child should cherish an evil passion, which, she knew, existed in her heart in common with all the human race, but which she expected, by Gods help and blessing, to subdue effectually at last. Kissing Edas forehead she said kindly,Which of them do you hate, darling?
Gaspard, replied the child.
And why do you hate him?
Because he struck my dog, said Eda, while her face flushed and her eyes sparkled; and he is always rude to everybody, and very, very cruel to the dogs.
That is very wrong of Gaspard; but, dearest Eda, do you not remember what is written in Gods Word,Love your enemies? It is wrong to hate anybody.
I know that, mamma, and I dont wish to hate Gaspard, but I cant help it. I wish if I didnt hate him, but it wont go away.
Well, my pet, replied Mrs Stanley, pressing the child to her bosom, but you must pray for him, and speak kindly to him when you meet him, and that will perhaps put it away. And now let us talk of the far-off country that papa was speaking about. I wonder what he has to tell you about it.
Stanley had been gazing out of the window during the foregoing colloquy, apparently inattentive, though, in reality, deeply interested in what was said. Turning round, he said
I was going to tell Eda that you had arranged to follow me to that country next year, and that perhaps you would bring her along with you.
Nay, George, you mistake. I did not arrange to do soyou only proposed the arrangement; but, to say truth, I dont like it, and I cant make up my mind to let you go without us. I cannot wait till next year.
Well, well, Jessie, I have exhausted all my powers of persuasion. I leave it entirely to yourself to do as you think best.
At this moment the sound of deep voices was heard in the hall, which was separated from Stanleys quarters by a thin partition of wood. In a few seconds the door opened, and George Barney, the Irish butler and general factotum to the establishment, announced that the min wos in the hall awaitin.
Giving Eda a parting kiss, Stanley rose and entered the hall, where François, Massan, Gaspard, and several others were grouped in a corner. On their bourgeois entering, they doffed their bonnets and bowed.
Well, lads, began Stanley, with a smile, youve thought better of it, I hope, and have come to volunteer for this expedition He checked himself and frowned, for he saw by their looks that they had come with quite a different intention. What have you to say to me? he continued abruptly.
The men looked uneasily at each other, and then fixed their eyes on François, who was evidently expected to be spokesman.
Come, François, speak out, said Stanley; if you have any objections, out with them; youre free to say what you please here.
As he spoke, and ere François could reply, Frank Morton entered the room. Ah! he exclaimed, as he deposited his rifle in a corner and flung his cap on the table, in time, I see, to help at the council!
I was just asking François to state his objections to going, said Stanley, as his young friend took his place beside him.
Objections! repeated Frank; what objections can bold spirits have to go on a bold adventure? The question should have been, Who will be first to volunteer?
At this moment the door of Stanleys apartment opened, and his wife appeared leading Eda by the hand.
Here are two volunteers, she said, with a smile; pray put us at the head of your list. We will go with you to any part of the world!
Bravo! shouted Frank, catching up Eda, with whom he was a great favourite, and hugging her tightly in his arms.
Nay, but, wife, this is sheer folly. You know not the dangers that await you
Perhaps not, interrupted Mrs Stanley; but you know them, and that is enough for me.
Indeed, Jessie, I know them not. I can but guess at them.But, ah! well, tis useless to argue further. Be it so; we shall head the list with you and Eda.
And put my name next, said a deep-toned voice from behind the other men. All turned round in surprise.
Dick Prince! they exclaimed; you here?
Ay, lads, said a tall man of about forty, who was not so remarkable for physical development (though in this respect he was by no means deficient) as for a certain decision of character that betrayed itself in every outline of his masculine, intelligent countenanceay, lads, Im here; an sorry am I that Ive jist comed in time to hear that youre sich poor-spirited rascals as to hang back when ye should jump forard.
But how came you so opportunely, Prince? inquired Stanley.
I met an Injin, sir, as told me you was goin off; so I thought you might want me, and comed straight back. And now, sir, Im ready to go; and so is François, he continued, turning to that individual, who seized his hand and exclaimed, That am I, my boyto the moon if ye like!
And Massan, too, continued Prince.
All right; book me for Nova Zembla, replied that worthy.
So, so, cried Mr Stanley, with a satisfied smile. I see, lads, that were all of one mind now. Is it not so? Are we agreed?
Agreed! agreed! they replied with one voice.
Thats well, he continued. Now then, lads, clear out and get your kits ready.And ho! Barney, give these men a glass of grog.Prince, I shall want to talk with you this evening. Come to me an hour hence.And now, he added, taking Eda by the hand, come along, my gentle volunteers; lets go to supper.
Chapter Four.
Explanatory, but not dry!Murderous designs thwarted by vigorous treatmentThe cattle pay for it!Preparations for a long, long voyage
Chapter Four.
Explanatory, but not dry!Murderous designs thwarted by vigorous treatmentThe cattle pay for it!Preparations for a long, long voyage
In order to render our story intelligible, it is necessary here to say a few words explanatory of the nature and object of the expedition referred to in the foregoing chapters.
Many years previous to the opening of our tale, it was deemed expedient, by the rulers of the Hudsons Bay Fur Company, to effect, if possible, a reconciliation or treaty of peace between the Muskigon Indians of Jamess Bay and the Esquimaux of Hudsons Straits. The Muskigons are by no means a warlike race; on the contrary, they are naturally timid, and only plucked up courage to make war on their northern neighbours in consequence of these poor people being destitute of firearms, while themselves were supplied with guns and ammunition by the fur-traders. The Esquimaux, however, are much superior to the Muskigon Indians physically, and would have held their adversaries in light esteem had they met on equal terms, or, indeed, on any terms at all; but the evil was that they never met. The Indians always took them by surprise, and from behind the rocks and bushes sent destruction into their camps with the deadly bullet; while their helpless foes could only reply with the comparatively harmless arrow and spear. Thus the war was in fact an annual raid of murderers. The conceited Muskigons returned to their wigwams in triumph, with bloody scalps hanging at their belts; while the Esquimaux pushed farther into their ice-bound fastnesses, and told their comrades, with lowering brows and heaving bosoms, of the sudden attack, and of the wives and children who had been butchered in cold blood, or led captive to the tents of the cowardly red men.
At such times those untutored inhabitants of the frozen regions vowed vengeance on the Indians, and cursed in their hearts the white men who supplied them with the deadly gun. But the curse was unmerited. In the councils of the fur-traders the subject of Esquimau wrongs had been mooted, and plans for the amelioration of their condition devised. Trading posts were established on Richmond Gulf and Little Whale River; but owing to circumstances which it is unnecessary to detail here, they turned out failures, and were at length abandoned. Still, those in charge of the districts around Hudsons Bay and Labrador continued to use every argument to prevail on the Indians to cease their murderous assaults on their unoffending neighbours, but without much effect. At length the governor of East Maina territory lying on the eastern shores of Jamess Bayadopted an argument which proved eminently successful, at least for one season.
His fort was visited by a large band of Muskigons from Albany and Moose districts, who brought a quantity of valuable furs, for which they demanded guns and ammunition, making no secret of their intention to proceed on an expedition against their enemies the Esquimaux. On hearing of this, the governor went out to them, and, in a voice of extreme indignation, assured them that they should not have an ounce of supplies for such a purpose.
But we will pay you for what we ask. We are not beggars! exclaimed the astonished Indians, into whose calculations it had never entered that white traders would refuse good furs merely in order to prevent the death of a few Esquimaux.
See, cried the angry governor, snatching up the nearest bale of furssee, thats all I care for you or your payment! and hurling the pack at its owners head, he felled him therewith to the ground. No, he continued, shaking his fist at them, Ill not give you as much powder or shot as would blow off the tail of a rabbit, if you were to bring me all the skins in Labrador!
The consequence of this vigorous conduct was that the Indians retired crestfallenutterly discomfited. But in the camp that night they plotted revenge. In the darkness of the night they slaughtered all the cattle around the establishment, and before daybreak were over the hills and far away in the direction of their hunting-grounds, loaded with fresh beef sufficient for the supply of themselves and their families for the winter! It was a heavy price to pay; but the poor Esquimaux remained unmolested that year, while the Indians received a salutary lesson. But the compulsory peace was soon broken, and it became apparent that the only effectual way to check the bloodthirsty propensity of the Indians was to arm their enemies with the gun. The destruction of the first expedition to the Esquimaux, and the bad feeling that existed in the minds of the natives of Richmond Gulf consequent thereon, induced the fur-traders to fix on another locality for a new attempt. It was thought that the remote solitudes of Ungava Bay, at the extreme north of Labrador,where the white mans axe had never yet felled the stunted pines of the north, nor the ring of his rifle disturbed its echoes,would be the spot best suited for the erection of a wooden fort.
Accordingly, it was appointed that Mr George Stanley should select a coadjutor, and proceed with a party of picked men to the scene of action as early in the spring as the ice would permit, and there build a fort as he best could, with the best materials he could find; live on whatever the country afforded in the shape of food; establish a trade in oil, whalebone, arctic foxes, etcetera, etcetera, if they were to be got; and bring about a reconciliation between the Esquimaux and the Indians of the interior, if that were possible. With the careful minuteness peculiar to documents, Stanleys instructions went on to point out that he was to start from Moosewith two half-sized canoes, each capable of carrying ten pieces or packages of 90 pounds weight each, besides the crewand bore through the ice, if the ice would allow him, till he should reach Richmond Gulf; cross this gulf, and ascend, if practicable, some of the rivers which fall into it from the height of land supposed, but not positively known, to exist somewhere in the interior. Passing this height, he was to descend by the rivers and lakes (if such existed) leading to the eastward, until he should fall upon a river reported to exist in these lands, and called by the natives Caniapuscaw, or South River, down which he was to proceed to the scene of his labours, Ungava Bay; on reaching which he was considerately left to the unaided guidance of his own discretion! Reduced to their lowest term and widest signification, the instructions directed our friend to start as early as he could, with whom he chose, and with what he liked; travel as fast as possible over terra incognita to a land of iceperhaps, also, of desolationand locate himself among bloody savages. It was hoped that there would be found a sufficiency of trees wherewith to build him a shelter against a prolonged winter; in the meantime he might enjoy a bright arctic summer sky for his canopy!
But it was known, or at least supposed, that the Esquimaux were fierce and cruel savages, if not cannibals. Their very name implies something of the sort. It signifies eaters of raw flesh, and was bestowed on them by their enemies the Muskigons. They call themselves Innuit-men, or warriors; and although they certainly do eat raw flesh when necessity compels themwhich it often doesthey asserted that they never did so from choice. However, be this as it may, the remembrance of their misdeeds in the first expeditions was fresh in the minds of the men in the service of the fur-traders, and they evinced a decided unwillingness to venture into such a country and among such a people,an unwillingness which was only at length overcome when Mrs Stanley and her little daughter heroically volunteered to share the dangers of the expedition in the manner already narrated.