The three hunters crossed the plain in the teeth of the howling drift, and cautiously approached the bluff referred to by Roy, and from behind which the smoke ascended.
Its a camp fire, whispered Robin, as he glanced back at his companions, but I see no one there. They must have just left the place.
There was a shade of anxiety in the hunters voice as he spoke, for he thought of Fort Enterprise, its defenceless condition, and the possibility of the Indians having gone thither.
They cant have gone to the Fort, said Walter, else we should have seen their tracks on the way hither.
Come, said Robin, stepping forward quickly, we can see their tracks now, anyhow, and follow them up, and if they lead to the Fort.
The hunter did not finish his sentence, for at that moment he caught sight of the recumbent form of Wapaw in the camp.
Hist! A redskin alone, and asleep! Well, I never did xpect to see that.
Mayhap, hes a decoy-duck, suggested Walter. Better look sharp out.
Robin and Roy heeded not the caution. They at once went forward, and the father lifted the blanket from the Indians head.
Dead! exclaimed Roy, in a solemn tone.
Not yet, lad! but I do blieve the poor critters amost gone wi starvation. Come, bestir you, boysrouse up the fire, and boil the kettle.
Walter and Roy did not require a second bidding. The kettle was ere long singing on a blazing fire. The Indians limbs were chafed and warmed; a can of hot tea was administered, and Wapaw soon revived sufficiently to look up and thank his deliverers.
Now, as good luck has it, I chanced to leave my hand-sled at the Wolfs Glen. Go, fetch it, Roy, said Robin.
The lad set off at once, and, as the glen was not far distant, soon returned with a flat wooden sledge, six feet long by eighteen inches broad, on which trappers are wont to pack their game in winter. On this sledge Wapaw was firmly tied, and dragged by the hunters to Fort Enterprise.
Hast got a deer, father? cried little Nelly, as she bounded in advance of her mother to meet the returning party.
No, Nellytis dearer game than that.
What? a redskin! exclaimed Dame Gore in surprise; is he dead?
No, nor likely to die, said Robin, hes in a starvin state though, anll be none the worse of a bit of our New Years dinner. Here is game enough for one meal an more; come, lass, get it ready as fast as may be.
So saying the bold hunter passed through the Fort gate, dragging the red man behind him.
Chapter Three.
Preparations for a Feast
Why so grave, Robin? inquired Mrs Gore, when her husband returned to the parlour after seeing Wapaw laid in a warm corner of the kitchen, and committed to the care of Larry ODowd.
Molly, my dear, its of no use concealin things from you, cause when bad luck falls we must just face it. This InjunWapaw, he calls himselftells me he has comd here a-purpose, as fast as he could, to say that his tribe have resolved to attack me, burn the Fort, kill all the men, and carry you off into slavery.
God help me! can this be true?
True enough, I dont doubt, cause Wapaw has the face of an honest man, and I believe in faces. He says some of the worst men of his tribe are in power just now; that they want the contents of my store without paying for them; that he tried to get them to give up the notion, but failed. On seeing that they were bent on it, he said he was going off to hunt, and came straight here to warn me. He says they talked of starting for the Fort two days after he did, and that he pushed on as fast as he could travel, so its not likely theyll be here for two or three days yet. Ill get ready for them, howsever, and when the reptiles do come theyll meet with a warm reception, I warrant them; meanwhile, do you go and get dinner ready. We wont let such varmints interfere with our New Years feast.
While Robins wife went to her larder, his children were in the kitchen tending the Indian with earnest solicitude, and Larry was preparing a little soup for him.
Do you like rabbit soup? asked Nelly, kneeling beside the pallet of pine branches on which Wapaw lay.
The Indian smiled, and said something in his native tongue.
Sure he dont onderstan ye, exclaimed Larry, as he bustled in an energetic way amongst his pots and pans.
Let me try him with Cree, said Roy, kneeling beside his sister, I know a littlea very little Cree.
Roy tried his very little Cree, but without success.
Its o no use, he said, father must talk to him, for he knows every language on earth, I believe.
Roys idea of the number of languages on earth was very limited.
Och! dont bother him, see, here is a lingo that every wan onderstans, cried Larry, carrying a can of hot soup towards Wapaw.
Oh, let me! do let me! cried Nelly, jumping up and seizing the can.
Be all manes, said Larry, resigning it.
The child once more knelt by the side of the Indian and held the can to him, while he conveyed the soup to his lips with a trembling, unsteady hand. The eyes of the poor man glittered as he gazed eagerly at the food, which he ate with the avidity of a half-famished wolf.
His nurses looked on with great satisfaction, and when Wapaw glanced up from time to time in their faces, he was advised to continue his meal with nods and smiles of goodwill.
Great preparations were made for the dinner of that New Years Day. Those who dwell at home at ease have no idea of the peculiar feelings with which the worlds wanderers hail the season of Christmas and New Year. Surrounded as they usually are by strange scenes, and ignorant as they are of what friends at home are doing or thinking, they lay hold of this season as being one point at least in the circle of the year in which they can unite with the home circle, and, at the same time, commemorate with them the birth of the blessed Saviour of mankind, and think with them of absent friends. Much, therefore, as the happy season is made of in the old country, it is made more of, if possible, in the colonies; especially on the outskirts of the world, where the adventurous and daring have pitched their tents.
Of course Robin Gore and his household did not think of the old country, for they were descendants of settlers; but they had imbibed the spirit of the old country from their forefathers, and thought of those well-remembered friends whom they had left behind them in the settlements.
Notwithstanding the delay caused by the conveying of Wapaw to the Fort, the hunters had walked so fast that there was still some time to spare before dinner should be ready.
Roy resolved to devote this time to a ramble in the woods with his sister Nelly. Accordingly the two put on their snow-shoes, and, merely saying to their mother that they were going to take a run in the woods, set forth.
Now, it must be known that Mrs Gore had looked forward to New Years Day dinner with great interest and much anxiety. There was a general feeling of hilarity and excitement among the male members of the self-exiled family that extended itself to the good woman, and induced her to resolve that the entire household should have what Walter styled a rare blow-out! During the whole morning she had been busy with the preparation of the various dishes, among which were a tart made of cloudberry jam, a salt goose, and a lump of bears ham, besides the rabbits and ptarmigan which had been shot that day.
Thats the way to do it, Molly, cried Robin, as he opened the door and peeped in upon his wife during the height and heat of her culinary labours; keep the pot bilin, my dear, and dont spare the butter this day. It only comes once a year, you know.
Twice, muttered Larry in a low voice, as he stirred the contents of a large pot which hung over the fire.
And see that you look after Wapaw, continued Robin. Dont give him too much at first, itll hurt him.
No fear of that, replied Larry, hes got so much aready that he couldnt howld another morsel av he was to try.
Well, well, take care of him, anyhow, said Robin, with a laugh; meanwhile Ill go see after the defences o the Fort, and make all snug.
By dint of unwearied perseverance the dinner was cooked, and then it occurred to Robin to ask where the children were, but no one could tell, so the hunter remarked quietly that they would doubtless make their appearance in a short while.
Gradually the dinner reached that interesting point which is usually styled ready to dish. Whereupon Robin again asked where the children were. Still no one could tell, so he said he would go out and hail them. Loudly and long did the hunter call, but no one answered; then he made a rapid search in and about the Fort, but they were not to be found. Moreover, a snow-storm had begun to set in, and the drift rendered it difficult to distinguish tracks in the snow.
At last the days labours were brought to a close. Dinner was served, and smoked invitingly on the table. The party only awaited the return of Robin with the children. In a few minutes Robin entered hastily.
Molly, said he, in a tone of anxiety, the foolish things have gone into the woods, I think. Come, lads, we must hunt them down. Its snowin hard, so weve no time to lose.
Walter and Larry at once put on their capotes, fur-caps, and snow-shoes, and sallied forth, leaving Mrs Gore seated alone, and in a state of deep anxiety, by the side of her untasted New Years Day dinner.
Chapter Four.
Lost in the Snow
When Roy and Nelly set out for a ramble, they had at first no intention of going beyond their usual haunts in the woods around the Fort; but Roy had been inspirited by his successful march that day with his father and Walter, and felt inclined to show Nelly some new scenes to which they had not, up to that time, dared to penetrate together.
The snow-storm, already referred to, had commenced gradually. When the children set forth on their ramble only a few flakes were falling, but they had not been away half an hour when snow fell so thickly that they could not see distinctly more than a few yards ahead of them. There was no wind, however, so they continued to advance, rather pleased than otherwise with the state of things.
Oh, I do like to see falling snow, cried Nelly, with a burst of animation.
So do I, said Roy, looking back at his sister with a bright smile, and I like it best when it comes down thick and heavy, in big flakes, on a very calm day, dont you?
Yes, oh its so nice, responded Nelly sympathetically.
They paused for minutes to shake some of the snow from their garments, and beat their hands together, for their fingers were cold, and to laugh boisterously, for their hearts were merry. Then they resumed their march, Roy beating the track manfully and Nelly following in his footsteps.
In passing beneath a tall fir-tree Roy chanced to touch a twig. The result was literally overwhelming, for in a moment he was almost buried in snow, to the unutterable delight of his sister, who stood screaming with laughter as the unfortunate boy struggled to disentomb himself.
In those northern wilds, where snow falls frequently and in great abundance, masses are constantly accumulating on the branches of trees, particularly on the pines, on the broad flat branches of which these masses attain to considerable size. A slight touch is generally sufficient to bring these down, but, being soft, they never do any injury worth mentioning.
When Roy had fairly emerged from the snow he joined his sister in the laugh, but suddenly he stopped, and his face became very grave.
Whats the matter? asked Nelly, with an anxious look.
My snow-shoes broken, said Roy.
There was greater cause for anxiety on account of this accident than the reader is perhaps aware of. It may be easily understood that in a country where the snow averages four feet in depth, no one can walk half-a-mile without snow-shoes without being thoroughly exhausted; on the other hand, a man can walk thirty or forty miles a day by means of snow-shoes.
Cant you mend it? asked Nelly.
Roy, who had been carefully examining the damaged shoe, shook his head.
Ive nothing here to do it with; besides, its an awful smash. I must just try to scramble home the best way I can. Come, its not very far, well only be a bit late for dinner.
The snow-shoe having been bandaged, after a fashion, with a pocket-handkerchief, the little wanderers began to retrace their steps; but this was now a matter of extreme difficulty, owing to the quantity of snow which had fallen and almost obliterated the tracks. The broken shoe, also, was constantly giving way, so that ere long the children became bewildered as well as anxious, and soon lost the track of their outward march altogether. To make matters worse, the wind began to blow clouds of snow-drift into their faces, compelling them to seek the denser parts of the forest for shelter.
They wandered on, however, in the belief that they were drawing nearer home every step, and Roy, whose heart was stout and brave, cheered up his sisters spirit so much that she began to feel quite confident their troubles would soon be over.
Presently all their hopes were dashed to the ground by their suddenly emerging upon an open space, close to the very spot where the snow-mass had fallen on Roys head. After the first feeling of alarm and disappointment had subsided, Roy plucked up heart and encouraged Nelly by pointing out to her that they had at all events recovered their old track, which they would be very careful not to lose sight of again.
Poor Nelly whimpered a little, partly from cold and hunger as well as from disappointment, as she listened to her brothers words; then she dried her eyes and said she was ready to begin again. So they set off once more. But the difficulty of discerning the track, if great at first, was greater now, because the falling and drifting snow had well-nigh covered it up completely. In a very few minutes Roy stopped, and, confessing that he had lost it again, proposed to return once more to their starting point to try to recover it. Nelly agreed, for she was by this time too much fatigued and alarmed to have any will of her own, and was quite ready to do whatever she was told without question.
After wandering about for nearly an hour in this state of uncertainty, Roy at last stopped, and, putting his arm round his sisters waist, said that he had lost himself altogether! Poor Nelly, whose heart had been gradually sinking, fairly broke down; she hid her face in her brothers bosom, and wept.
Come now, dont do that, dear Nell, said Roy, tenderly, Ill tell you what we shall dowell camp in the snow! We have often done it close to the house, you know, for fun, so well do it now in earnest.
But its so dark and cold, sobbed Nelly, looking round with a shudder into the dark recesses of the forest, which were by that time enshrouded by the gathering shades of night; and Im so hungry too! Oh me! what shall we do?