CHAPTER VIII.
Now summon the red current to thine heart —
Old man, thy mightiest wo remains to tell:
I saw the arrow from the bow string part;
I heard the hoarse, blood-freezing war-whoop swell —
I heard the victor's shout — the dying yell —
The bullet whizzing from the flashing gun —
Fierce was the combat where our warriors fell.
The savage fled toward the setting sun;
He bore away thy child, and thou art left alone.
Anon.
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In the morning on which the hunt was to have
taken place, Cameron walked up the bed of the
river on the ice, to the place where the horses
were grazing on the rushes. As he turned a
short bend, he perceived a party of Indians among
the animals, and turned about to retrace his steps
to the camp. But he had been seen, and his retreat
was cut off. Matters being in this state, he
cried for help. Two Indians came up to him
with threatening gestures. They seized him by
the arms, and hurried him off at the utmost speed
he was capable of exerting. They did not appear
disposed to harm him, but they significantly
put their fingers to their lips and drew their knives,
to let him know that silence would be his wisest
course. His first cry had, however, given the
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alarm, and the gens libres and half-breeds came
running to save their horses. Gordon was the
foremost. He came on shouting, and discharged
his piece with effect at one of the hindmost of the
marauders. Then seeing what had happened to
Cameron, he gained upon his captors till they,
aware of his pursuit, turned. A ravine twentyfive
feet broad was between them. One of the savages,
seeing the rescue inevitable, loosened his hold
upon the old man, and drew an arrow to the head
to kill him; but Gordon, exerting the physical
powers of which he possessed an uncommon
share, cleared the chasm at one bound, and felled
the Indian to the earth with the butt end of his
piece. The other uttering a wild shriek, recoiled
a few paces, and let fly an arrow at Gordon. It
glanced upon his powder horn, and struck Cameron
in the breast, where it buried itself to the feather.
Before the archer had time to draw another
shaft, Gordon was upon him. Leaping up,
he struck the Indian in the chest with his heels
and beat him to the earth; at the same receiving
a deep wound in the leg from his knife. They
grappled, but the struggles of the savage were unavailing.
Few men could have contended with
Gordon at any time, but now, he contended with
tenfold energy. Seizing the wrist of his prostrate
foe, he buried his dague, or broad knife, three
times in his bosom. The whole passed in a moment,
and the foremost of the half-breeds came
up just as the Indian drew his last breath.
Gordon stood for a moment irresolute. The
horse stealers had begun to recover from their
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confusion, and rally. At that moment one of the
free men, named Le Gros, reached the spot.
`Le Gros,' cried Gordon, `take care of the old
man. Carry him to the camp, and I will fight for
both of us.'
`Monsieur Gourdon,' answered the Canadian,
`he is dead. It is of no use to waste time on
him. Let us rather try to save the rest of the
horses.'
`No, no, he is not dead. I tell you he is not
dead. Carry him to the camp, and he may recover.
He cannot if he is left here. For God's
sake carry him to his daughter. If you do not, I
shall be obliged to do it myself.'
`I would willingly listen to your commands at
any other time, Monsieur, but see, that rascal in
green paint is already riding on my best horse,
and there are two fellows on foot trying to catch
the other.'
`You greedy rascal!' Gordon begun, but seeing
that hard words would have no effect, he continued,
`I think I am more likely to regain your
horses than yourself, Le Gros, and I promise you
I will do it, if I can. If I do not succeed, I will
pay you any price you ask for them: my word is
good, I suppose.'
`O yes; your word is as good as the money.
I will get my dogs, and carry the old man to his
lodge; but remember, Monsieur Gourdon, I have
refused an hundred and fifty dollars apiece for
my horses. Do you hear, Monsieur? I say I
shall expect something over an hundred and fifty
dollars apiece, if you do not recover them.'
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`I will pay it; I will pay it. But go, go now,
for the love of God;' and Le Gros departed.
The marauders were a band of roving Yanktons,
under a petty chief called Nopah Keon, or
`he who has twice flown.' M'Leod had had an
interview with this dignitary, and engaged him by
the promise of liquor, guns, blankets, and other articles
held in high esteem by the Indians, to endeavor
to get Flora Cameron and her father into
his power. This effected, he had no doubt that
he should be able to make his addresses acceptable.
With this view, Nopah Keon had approached
the half-breed camp, but the sight of the horses
proved too strong a temptation to his followers.
Seeing their cupidity could not be restrained,
the wily savage resolved to take advantage of
it to promote his designs. He detached ten men,
and gained the woods in the rear of the camp,
while the rest were busied catching the horses.
They dismounted, and under the cover of the trees
and underbrush, approached the lodges. There
they waited till the alarm, which they had no
doubt would be soon given, should deprive the
women and children of protection. The lodge of
Cameron, as well as his person and that of his
daughter, had been so well described to them,
that there was no danger of a mistake. But to do
M'Leod justice, he had given strict orders that no
violence, farther than was necessary to insure their
capture, should be done to Cameron or his
daughter.
But to return; Gordon, as soon as he was relieved
from the care of the old man, hastened to
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bring the hunters into some order: courage they
did not want. Nor were the Sioux unmindful of
the Indian policy of war. They all dismounted,
and the stolen horses were given in charge to
those of the party least remarkable for skill and
bravery. Each of these led five or six of the
animals out of the mélée, while a part of the warriors
checked the advance of the half breeds.
Other some occupied themselves in catching the
borses that yet ran at large. This was not effected
without difficulty. The animals were frightened,
and ran about in disorder.
Shots and arrows were exchanged incessantly,
but with little damage to either side. Both parties
took advantage of the trees, and besides, constantly
leaped about, so as to baffle any aim that
might be taken with arrow or bullet. Some gallant
charges were made by individuals on both
sides, but the success generally amounted to driving
the opponent from his cover, for none of the
combatants thought of standing a conflict hand to
hand. This could not last long. By dint of entreaty
and exhortation, Gordon at last prevailed
on the half-breeds to act together. They raised
the war whoop, and drove the Sioux from their
covers at once. This was not done without losing
two men, and the savages suffered still more.
Five of their number fell, two wounded, and three
killed, all of whom were instantly divested of their
scalps. By this time, the Indians appointed to
catch the horses had fully succeeded. They
stood in the open prairie, with the animals around
them, each with a rope bridle in its mouth. The
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Sioux, driven from the wood by the furious charge
of the half-breeds, rushed towards them, and in
an instant each was mounted. The two belonging
to Le Gros, more frightened than the rest,
had dragged the Indian who held them to a distance
from the others. Perceiving this, Gordon,
calling to a man of Kinisteneau blood, named Dés
Champs, ran towards them. They both came up,
just as the Indian was about springing upon the
back of one of the horses. Each knife was
sheathed in his vitals in an instant, and while Dés
Champs held the creatures by the bridle, our hero
turned to the assistance of his party. It was in
vain. The Dahcotahs had mounted and were
already far away. At a great distance, Gordon
saw ten or a dozen horsemen emerge from the
bed of the river and ride in a direction crossing
the course of the retreating party.
Our hero was then first sensible that he was
wounded. In the heat of combat, he had paid
no attention to the circumstance; but now, his leg
stiffened, and he began to be exhausted by the
loss of blood. Dés Champs proposed to carry
him to the camp on one of the horses he had assisted
to rescue, but this was found impracticable.
An arrow had lodged in the body of one of them,
and the other had a leg broken by a bullet. They
had not a blanket with them, in which to carry
him, and he was totally unable to walk or stand.
He had no option but to remain where he was,
until one of the men could go to the camp, and
return with a dog sledge. This service Dés
Champs volunteered to perform.
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A fire was soon kindled, the snow was cleared
away, hay was cut, and he sat down before it.
His leg was washed with snow, and the bleeding
staunched with the linen of his own shirt. In an
incredibly short space Dés Champs returned, for
he was the swiftest runner in the north-west. He
said nothing to any one, nor would he answer any
questions, but his brow spoke volumes. It was
observed too, that he had but two dogs harnessed
to the sledge. This was no objection, as two
draught dogs are abundantly able to draw a man;
yet it appeared singular that he had not taken
three out of so many. The dogs were white,
and their coats were stained with blood; yet this
on another occasion would have excited no attention:
they might have fought with some of their
own species, or at any rate there was enough
fresh meat in the camp to account for their appearance.
Some of the hunters scraped away the snow,
and began to dig graves in the frozen earth, with
their knives, for their fallen comrades. Others
placed Gordon upon the sledge and set off with
him to the camp. It presented a scene of desolation.
Five or six women lay on the ground in
different places, tomahawked and scalped. Before
the door of Cameron's lodge, lay Le Gros,
with five arrows sticking in his body. He too
had lost his scalp, but the body of a Yankton lying
a few paces from him, showed that he had not
fallen alone. His teeth were close, his features still
gave token of firm resolution, and he held a pistol,
with the cock down, in his hand. Cameron
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was lying in his lodge, helpless. The arrow had
not been withdrawn, but he still breathed. Flora
was nowhere to be found. When Gordon was
apprised of these sad tidings, he was for a moment
paralyzed. But soon recovering, he directed
Dés Champs and others, to examine the premises.
Of this there was no need: the women
who had fled and concealed themselves, at the appearance
of Nopah Keon, were soon found.
They said, that while they watched the event of
the battle, an armed band of Yanktons entered
the camp from the rear. Le Gros had deposited
old Cameron on his bed, and had issued from the
lodge, just as the savages broke in. He was immediately
killed, and the women and children did
not all escape, as has been already seen. The
Indian whose medal, &c, (16) declared him a chief,
entered Cameron's lodge, which he directly knew,
for on it was depicted a man in the act of shooting
a deer. What passed in the lodge they could
not tell, but presently the savage came forth, bearing
Flora in his arms, insensible. He carried her
into the woods, and what became of her afterwards
they knew not. The researches of Dés
Champs showed that the Yanktons had had horses
in the wood, and that they had taken a north-ward
course. But no blood was in their tracks,
and a small comb, belonging to Flora, was picked
up at some distance from the spot where the party
had taken horse; whence they concluded that
she had been carried off unharmed.
Gordon would fain have persuaded the half-breeds
to pursue; but they would not listen to the
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proposal. Their best horses were carried off, the
Indians had two hours the start, and they would
not leave their wives and children without protection.
He could do nothing himself, for he was so
much exhausted with loss of blood, that he could
not move without assistance.
The arrow was drawn from Cameron by an
old half-breed, commonly called Le Docteur, from
his skill in surgery and simples. It was not done
without difficulty, much care being requisite to
prevent the iron head from coming off in the
wound. (17) The old man sighed heavily, and inquired
for his daughter. When told what had
befallen her, his senses failed him, and the syncope
was renewed.
When he recovered, he called for Gordon.
The young man was assisted into his presence,
and sat down beside him. Cameron feebly stretched
out his hand toward him. `I have sinned, I
have sinned,' said he, `I have listened to the voice
of pride and vain glory rather than to natural affection,
and He has laid his hand heavily on me
for it.' And he groaned aloud.
Gordon spoke words of comfort to the afflicted
parent, and said that as soon as he was able to sit
upon a horse, he would redeem his daughter from
captivity, or perish in the attempt.
`Do so, do so,' said the old man. `Rescue
her from this worse than Egyptian bondage, and
she is yours. I refused you before, and grievously
am I punished for it.'
`I will. If it be in the power of man I will
do it.'
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`And I will go with you, Monsieur Gourdon,'
said Dés Champs, moved to tears, by the sight of
so much misery. `You shall not want the aid
that one hand can bestow.'
Indeed, Gordon was highly popular among the
people of the country. His great bodily powers,
his splendid courage, and his reckless generosity,
were of all qualities the most likely to gain him
the good will of such a race. Of his talents
and acquirements they knew nothing, nor would
they have cared for them if they had, but his
valor they had witnessed, and they had profited
by his expenditure. Flora was no less beloved.
Her kindness for the aged and infirm, and the affability
of her manners, had made her deservedly
a favorite. They all pitied her condition, yet
such is the inconsistency of poor human nature,
that none but Dés Champs would risk anything
for her relief.
Luckily for all concerned the Yanktons had
contented themselves with taking the running
horses, esteeming those destined to draught
slightly. In the morning, Gordon and Cameron
were placed in a cart, which was driven by Dés
Champs. The women and children were disposed
of in a similar manner, and they departed
for Pembinaw, less joyful than they came. In
three days they reached the fort. The greater
number of the men had remained to take care of
the camp, and the carts made several trips, before
the meat and baggage were transported to the settlement.
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Snelling, William Joseph, d. 1849 [1830], Tales of the northwest, or, Sketches of Indian life and character (Hilliard, Gray, Little, and Wilkins, Boston) [word count] [eaf381].
