Hooray! shouted Larry, jumping up at this point, and performing a species of war-dance for a few moments, and then sitting down and demanding another supply of tea. Didnt I tell ye, Bunco, that the order would soon be up anchor an away again! Its Wanderin Will hes been named, an Wanderin Will hell remain, thats as plain as the nose on me face.
No doubt the nose on your face is very plainthe plainest I ever did see, said Maryann sharply,but youre quite wrong about Master Will, for hes very anxious to get married, I can tell you, an wants to settle down at ome, like a sensible man, though it does grieve my eart to think of the creetur as has took him in in furrin parts.
Get married! exclaimed Larry, Jemima, and Richards in the same breath.
Yes, get married, replied Maryann, very full of the importance of her keyhole discoveries, and not willing to make them known too readily.
How did you come to know that, Maryhann? asked Jemima; are you sure of it?
How I came for to know it, replied the other, is nobodys business (she paused a moment and looked sternly at Richards, but that sensible man continued to gaze steadfastly at his plate and to scrunch crusts with grave abstraction), and, as to its bein true, all I can say is I had it from his own lips. Master Will has no objection to my knowing what he tells his motheras no more he shouldnt, for Jemimar, you can bear me witness that Ive been a second mother to him, an used to love him as if he were my ownthough he was a aggrawatin hinfant, an used to bump his ead, an skin his knees, an tear his clothes, an wet his feet, in a way that often distracted me, though I did my very best to prevent it; but nothinks of any use tryin of wen you cant do it; as my usband, as was in the mutton-pie line, said to the doctor the night afore he diedmy eart used to be quite broke about him, so it did; but thats all past an gonewell, as I was a-sayin, Master Will he told his mother as ow there was a young lady (so he called her) as ad won his art, an she was a cannibal as lived on a coal island in the Paphysic Ocean. Then he told her some stories about the coal island as made my blood run cold, and said his Flora behaved like a heroine in the midst of it all.
At this point Larry and Bunco exchanged meaning glances, and the former gave vent to a soft whistle, which he accompanied with a wink.
Im sure, continued Maryann, its past my comprehension; for instead of being dreadfully shocked, as I had expected, Mrs Osten threw her arms round Master Wills neck and blessed him and the cannibal, too, and said she hoped to be spared to see em united, though she wouldnt like them to remain on the coal island in the Paphysic. I do assure you, Jemimar, continued Maryann, putting the corner of her apron to her eyes, it quite gave me a turn, and I was nearly took bad wen I eard it. Master Will, he made his mother promise to keep it to herself, as, he said, not a soul in the world knew of it but him and her
Mr Richards coughed at this point, and appeared to be engaged in a severe conflict with an untractable crust, which caused Maryann to stop suddenly and look at him. But Larry again came to the rescue by saying
Why, Maryann, my dear, yeve bin an mistook a good deal of what youve heard, intirely. This Flora Westwood is no cannibal, but wan o the purtiest bit craturs I iver had the good luck to set eyes on; as white as a lily, wid cheeks like the rose, not to spake of a smile an a timper of an angel. Shes a parsons daughter, too, an lives on a coral island in the Pacific Ocean, where the people is cannibals, no doubt, as Ive good raison to know, for they ait up a lot o me shipmates, and it was by good luck they didnt ait up myself and Master Will toothough I do belaive theyd have found me so tough that Id have blunted their teeth an soured on their stummicks, bad luck to them. But its surprised that I am to hear about this. Ah, then, Master Will, but yere a sly dogmore cunnin than I took ye for. Ye threw dust in the eyes of Larry OHale, anyhow.
Poor Maryann appeared much relieved by this explanation, although she felt it to be consistent with her dignity that she should throw considerable doubt on Larrys statement, cross-question him pretty severely, and allow herself to be convinced only after the accumulation of an amount of evidence that could not be resisted.
Well, now, that accounts for the way in which his mother received the news, said Maryann.
It is a strange story, remarked Jemima.
Uncommon, observed Richards.
Bunco said nothing, but he grinned from ear to ear.
At that moment, as if it were aware of the climax at which the party had arrived, the baby, without a single note of warning, set up a hideous howl, in the midst of which the bell rang, and Maryann rose to answer it.
Master Will wants to speak to you, Mr Hale, and to Mr Bunco, too, she said on returning.
Come along, Mister Bunco, said Larry, thatll be the order to trip our anchors.
My friends, said Will Osten, when the two were seated on the corners of their respective chairs in the drawing-room, I sent for you to say that circumstances have occurred which render it necessary that I should visit California. Do you feel inclined to join me in this trip, or do you prefer to remain in England?
Im yer man, said Larry.
Sos me, added Bunco.
I thought so, said Will, smiling; we have been comrades together too long to part yet. But I must start without delay, and mean to go by the plains and across the Rocky Mountains. Are you ready to set off on short notice?
In half an hour av ye plaze, sur, said Larry.
Bunco grinned and nodded his head.
The end of the week will do, said Will, laughing; so be off and make your preparations for a long and rough trip.
In pursuance of this plan, Will Osten and his two staunch followers, soon after the date of the above conversation, crossed the Atlantic, traversed the great Lakes of Canada to the centre of North America, purchased, at the town of Saint Pauls, horses, guns, provisions, powder, shot, etcetera, for a long journey, and found themselves, one beautiful summer evening, galloping gaily over those wide prairies that roll beyond the last of the backwood settlements, away into the wild recesses of the Western Wilderness.
Chapter Two
Describes a Burst over the Western Prairie, and introduces a New Character, also a Hunt, and a Great FeastWandering Will and his companions laid the reins on the necks of their half-tamed horses and galloped wildly away over the western prairie. Perhaps it was the feeling of absolute freedom from human restraints that excited them to the galloping and shouting condition of maniacs; perhaps it was the idea of sweeping over unbounded space in these interminable plains, or the influence of the fresh air around, the sunny blue sky overhead, and the flower-speckled sward underfootperhaps it was all these put together, but, whatever the cause, our three travellers commenced their journey at a pace that would have rendered them incapable of further progress in a few hours had they kept it up. Their state of mind was aptly expressed, at the end of one of these wild flights, by Larry, who exclaimed, as he reined in
Ah, then, its flyin Ill be in a minit. Sure av I only had a pair o wings no bigger than a sparrows, I cud do it aisy.
Ah, then, its flyin Ill be in a minit. Sure av I only had a pair o wings no bigger than a sparrows, I cud do it aisy.
Yoos a goose, Larry, observed Bunco.
Faix if I was its mesilf as would fly away an lave you to waller on the dirty earth ye belongs to, retorted the other.
Dirty earth! echoed Will Osten, gazing round on the plains of bright green grass that waved in the soft air with something like the gentle heavings of the sea. Come, lets have another!
They stretched out again at full gallop and swept away like the wind itself.
Hooroo! shouted Larry OHale, wildly throwing out both arms and rising in his stirrups; look here, Bunco, Im goin to fly, boy!
Larry didnt mean to do so, but he did fly! His horse put its foot in a badger-hole at that moment and fell. The rider, flying over its head, alighted on his back, and remained in that position quite motionless, while his alarmed comrades reined up hastily and dismounted.
Not hurt, I hope, said Will, anxiously.
Och! ha! gintly, doctor, take me up tinderly, gasped the poor man as they raised him to the perpendicular position, in which he stood for nearly a minute making very wry faces and slowly moving his shoulders and limbs to ascertain whether any bones were fractured.
I do belave Im all right, he said at length with a sigh of relief; have a care, Bunco, kape yer paws off, but take a squint at the nape o me neck an see if me back-bone is stickin up through me shirt-collar.
Me no can see him, said the sympathetic Bunco.
Thats a blissin anyhow. I only wish ye cud feel him, Bunco. Doctor, dear, did ye iver see stars in the day-time?
No, never.
Then yed better make a scientific note of it in yer book, for I see em at this good minit dancin about like will-o-the-wisps in a bog of Ould Ireland. There, help me on to the back o the bastebad luck to the badgers, say I.
Thus muttering to himself and his comrades, half exasperated by the stunning effects of his fall, yet rather thankful to find that no real damage was done, Larry remounted, and all three continued their journey with not much less enjoyment, but with abated energy.
Thus much for the beginning. Availing ourselves of an authors privilege to annihilate time and space at pleasure, we change the scene. The three travellers are still riding over the same prairie, but at the distance of a hundred miles or so from the spot where the accident above described took place.
It was evening. The sun was gradually sinking in the westfar beyond that far west to which they had penetrated. The wanderers looked travel-stained, and appeared somewhat fatigued, while their horses advanced with slow steps and drooping heads. Two pack-horses, which had been procured by them with an additional supply of necessaries at a solitary fort belonging to the fur-traders of that region, were driven by Larry, whose voice and action seemed to indicate that he and they were actuated by different sentiments and desires.
Of all the lazy bastes, he exclaimed, giving one of the horses a tremendous cut over the flank that startled it into temporary life, I iver did seebut, och! whats the usetheres niver a dhrop o wather in this wilderness. We may as well lie down an die at wance.
Hush, Larry, said Will Osten, dont talk lightly of dying.
Lightly is it? Well, now, theres nothin light about me from the sole o me fut to the top o the tallest hair on me head, an the heaviest part about me is the heart, which feels like lead intirely. But cheer up, Larry, yer owld grandmother always said ye was born to be hanged, so of coorse ye cant be starvedthats a comfort, anyhow!
What think you, Bunco, said Will Osten, turning to his dark-skinned companion, shall we encamp on this arid part of the plain and go waterless as well as supperless to rest, or shall we push on? I fear the horses will break down if we try to force them much further.
Water not be far-off, said Bunco curtly.
Very well, we shall hold on.
In silence they continued to advance until the sun was descending towards the horizon, when there suddenly appeared, on the brow of an eminence, the figure of a solitary horseman. Sharply defined as he was against the bright sky, this horseman appeared to be of supernaturally huge proportionsinsomuch that the three travellers pulled up by tacit consent, and glanced inquiringly at each other.
Its a ghost at last! muttered the superstitious Irishman, whose expression of countenance showed that he was not by any means in a jesting humour.
Ghost or not, we must be prepared to meet him, said Will, loosening a large hunting-knife in its sheath and examining the priming of his rifle.
The strange horseman had evidently observed the party, for he presently descended the rising ground and rode slowly towards them. In doing so he passed out of the strong light, and consequently assumed more ordinary proportions, but still when he drew near, it was evident that he was a man of immense size. He rode a black steed of the largest and most powerful description; was clad in the leathern hunting-shirt, belt, leggings, moccasins, etcetera, peculiar to the western hunter, and carried a short rifle in the hollow of his right arm.
Good-evening, strangers, he said, in a tone that savoured of the Yankee, but with an easy manner and good-humoured gravity that seemed to indicate English extraction. Goin far?
To California, said Will, smiling at the abrupt commencement of the conversation.
Hm, a longish bit. Come far?
From England.
Hm, a longish bit, too. Lost and starvin, I see.
Not exactly, but pretty nearly so, said Will. I had entertained the belief, presumptuous if you will, that I could find my way in any part of the wilderness by means of a sextant and pocket compass, and, to say truth, I dont feel quite sure that I should have failed, but before I had a sufficient opportunity of testing my powers, one of our baggage horses rolled down the bank of a creek and broke my sextant. In trying to save him I rolled down along with him and smashed my compass, so I have resigned the position of guide in favour of my friend here, who, being a native, seems to possess a mysterious power in the matter of finding his way.
From the other side of the mountains? asked the strange horseman, glancing at Bunco.
Yoos right, said Bunco, with a grin.
There was a slight touch of humour in the grave stern countenance of the stranger as he replied in a language which was quite unintelligible to Will and Larry, but which appeared to create wonderful sensations in the breast of Bunco, who for some minutes continued to talk with much volubility and eagerness.
You appear to be old friends? said Will, inquiringly, to the stranger.
Not xactly, he replied, but Ive trapped on the west side o the mountains, and the Redskin is excited a bit at meetin with a man who knows his nation and his name. Ive heard of him before. He was thought a brave warrior by his tribe, but it is so long since he disappeared from the face o the arth that theyve given him up for dead. His wife was alive last fall. I saw her myself, and she has steadily refused to marry any of the young bravesat least she had refused so to do up to the time I left; but theres no calclatin what these Redskins will do. However, Ive comforted this one wi the news.