Bill Biddon, Trapper Part 19

"In less than an hour I shall bid you farewell."

"Jim," interposed the fair captive, "bring my horse to the same spot.

I think I shall also leave for home to-night. If inquiry is made, you can tell them this, and add that I shall probably be with them in a few days again. As I know the wilderness well, I will guide our friend here through it."

The savage looked cautiously at us both. If he was shrewd enough to suspect the truth, he was polite enough not to show it. He replied that her wish should be gratified, and he disappeared as noiselessly as he came. It was now getting far in the night. The moon rode high in the heavens, and shed a full, perfect light down upon us.

"So you are going," said I, looking at her.

"I am going to attempt it," she answered, firmly.

"And through no action of mine shall you ever regret this step," I added, warmly.

"Oh! I hope he will soon return, for I _wish_ to go," she said, as with a s.h.i.+ver of apprehension she looked hurriedly about in the dark shadows of the forest.

"As yet, we know not each other's names," said I, pleasantly.

"True," she answered, with a faint smile. "Mine is Imogene Merment."

"And mine is William Relmond; but where can Jim be?"

"Ah! there he is now," she answered, with a deep flush; and the next minute the savage stood beside us.

"The animals are there; and I'm thinking you'd better be off. Soon as you git away, I'll cover up the hole, so thee won't think him has crawled out; but I'm much afeared there am some peeking about here."

"We will go at once," said Imogene, gathering up her dress.

I turned to give a last word to Jim, but he had vanished.

"Let us hurry," said she, "for I have a dread that we are watched, and will not get away after all. I pray G.o.d that nothing may prevent us, now that we are started."

She almost ran, and in a minute we reached the grove referred to. Here we found two horses saddled and bridled, and ready for a journey.

Without losing a moment, we mounted and struck to the northward.

"Why this direction, Imogene?" I asked.

"To avoid pursuit," she answered. "At daylight we will change it, and proceed to the south-east."

The open prairie was some miles distant, and as long as we were in the deep shadows of the wood, the greatest danger was to be apprehended.

It was more than probable that the extended absence of Jim and Imogene, at the same time, had aroused the suspicions of more than one savage. As all must have known that I was buried while still living, and that she had battled their determination as long as there was hope, when the morning came and showed her abrupt departure, they could not help suspecting the true cause.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Without losing a moment, we mounted and struck to the northward."]

The air was cool and exhilarating, and, as my fiery animal pranced beside that of Imogene, I could not restrain the wild, ardent hopes that thrilled my being. I was homeward bound with the fairest prize of the universe to me. What else could be needed? Ah! there was the fate of Nat, my companion, still shrouded in obscurity. I determined to question her at once in regard to him.

"Imogene, although this is hardly the proper moment, I cannot help questioning you about the fate of a friend of mine."

"I know to whom you refer," she answered, quickly. "I have heard him speak of you, but he does not know of your existence. He is a captive like yourself, save that he seems perfectly contented with his fate."

"Thank heaven! it seems indeed that a wonderful Providence is watching over all of us."

"I believe he can effect his escape, but it must be through your instrumentality, for I will not dare to show myself under the circ.u.mstances."

"Good, clever Nat, I will do anything for him," I exclaimed, warmly.

"He is a whole-souled fellow, for all he is so odd. Only to think, he has been so nigh me all this time! Of course, it is my place to a.s.sist him, as far as lies in my power."

"I have had several conversations with him, in all of which he spoke of you. He appeared to love you, and regretted greatly that you were so reckless. He said he had long striven to teach you how to hunt with caution, but never succeeded. He also referred to a trapper named Bill Biddon, the one who did his best to save our family when they fell victims to the savages, and who I would give all the world to see. He said he succeeded, after several years, in making quite a hunter of him."

"Oh! the rascal," I laughed, "just like him."

When day dawned we continued our journey for several hours. I learned in the course of our conversation that Imogene Merment wandered continually among the tribes for many miles around, and, as I learned in after years, her existence was known to points as far opposite as Fort Churchill and Fort Hall.[4]

[4] The Crow Indians are a numerous tribe, subdivided into the Blackfeet-Sioux, Dacotah, Ouk-pa-pas, Two Kettle, and Minnie, besides several others. Each has its separate village and chief, but all are on friendly relations with each other.

At noon I shot a ptarmigan, which was cooked and upon which we made a hearty dinner. Imogene ascended a small eminence to ascertain whether any signs of pursuit were visible. None were discovered, but we hurried forward until nightfall, when we drew up for the night. We started a fire, and at my urgent request, Imogene lay down beside it, while I kept watch. Our horses were picketed at scarcely a rod distant, and yet in the night they became so terrified at the approach of some animal, that they broke loose and fled, and we never saw them again.

This was a great loss to us, but in the morning we continued our journey on foot, and at noon ascended a high mountain, which was a spur of the Black Hills, lying between the Yellowstone and Missouri.

The day was a clear, beautiful one, and the fairest peaks of the mountains, looming up against the blue, far-off horizon, formed a fine background to the glorious landscape spread out before us. Never shall I forget the magnificent scene which was opened to our vision. To the north, the mighty wilderness stretched in one unbroken tract as far as the eye could reach, while to the southward the glistening waters of the vast rivers could be seen, winding and losing their tortuous channels in the forest again. Numerous patches of prairie were visible to the west, and small, dark specks moving over their face, showed us that animal life was not wanting in this favored country.

South of us, nestling in a deep valley, could be seen the tiny beehive-like lodges of the tribe we had left, seemingly covering scarcely a square rod of ground.

"Yonder," said Imogene, pointing to the northward, "is the tribe which holds your friend. The village is two days' journey, but the course is direct, and you cannot fail to find it. If you wish to search for him, I will remain here until you return. I should wish to approach no nearer, as it would increase the danger to both of us. Your friend has hunted with the tribe in this mountain, and should you be at a loss to find me again, ask him to guide you to the 'Death Rock,' and you will reach me by the most direct course."

I hesitated long before leaving Imogene, but my duty to Nat, and the hopeful view she took of it, finally decided me. She was confident I should find him and be back in a few days, and urged me to delay no longer. We repaired to the "Death Rock," where we separated. Imogene was familiar with its peculiarities, and a.s.sured me that in its recesses she could find security from any animal foe.[5] Before leaving her, I saw that she was provided with food sufficient to last a week at least, and as she was furnished with a rifle and ammunition, her situation was certainly as good as my own.

[5] Death Rock is composed princ.i.p.ally of a vast cave, in which it is said a whole tribe of Indians once perished; choosing death by starvation rather than to fall into the hands of their enemies.

CHAPTER XI.

THE BRIGADE AND AN OLD FRIEND.

After bidding Imogene good-by, I started on a rapid pace to the northward. At night I kindled a fire by which I slept in safety, and at an early hour resumed my journey. The character of the country continued much the same--broad belts of prairie relieved by groves of trees and streams of considerable magnitude. Birds of all kinds whirred through the air and sang within the wood, and the dark forms of wild animals were more than once seen gamboling in the distance.

At noon I reached the banks of a river, so large that I was pretty certain it was the Yellowstone, and hence was able to judge pretty correctly of my locality. The river was very broad, and it was quite a serious undertaking to cross it; but, nevertheless, it had to be done, and I commenced making my preparations.

As I was stepping in, a sound of voices struck me. I paused and listened, and soon could hear the loud, regular swelling song gradually approaching nearer and nearer, and at stated intervals the powerful chorus. There was something in the sound of this song, at such a time, that was indescribably stirring and inspiriting; and, as it came nigher and nigher, and grew louder, its power increased.

Hardly satisfied of the nature of the approaching body, I withdrew a short distance, and waited its appearance. Soon a large canoe, nearly full of men, came to view around a bend some hundred yards distant, and it was instantly followed by another and another, all keeping time to the words of the song:

We are going with the tide, Yoho! yoho!

Free as the mountain-winds we glide, Yoho! yoho!

Oh! ours is a merry life, Yoho! yoho!

And full of danger, toil, and strife, Yoho! yoho!

Then join your voices In the glad refrain, And let the mountains Echo back the strain.

As over a score of majestic voices joined in the deep swelling chorus, the echoes were awakened for miles around. I watched them in wonder and admiration. Soon, to my surprise, they made toward the sh.o.r.e where I stood. As it was noon, they were probably putting in for their dinner. In a moment the boats were hauled up on the bank, and as rough and hardy a set of fellows as ever met, sprang upon the sh.o.r.e. A half dozen scattered along the bank, and in a moment returned bearing armfuls of sticks and fuel. A huge fire was soon blazing and roaring, an enormous quant.i.ty of meat steaming and spitting, and the men, excepting the cook, were lolling about on the gra.s.s, each one smoking and chatting, and making a scene of pleasant confusion and enjoyment.

I now stepped forth from my concealment. Several turned their faces toward me as I pa.s.sed them, but no unusual amount of astonishment was manifested. I made my way to a group of three, and seated myself beside them.