As our three friends on that bright summer morning stood on the slope of the mountains and gazed down into the beautiful Salinas Valley before them, Elwood Brandon suddenly pointed a little to the north and said:
"See! there are others beside us!"
About a mile distant, and not far from the river, they saw a thin, black column of smoke rising among the trees, of so dark and palpable a character that it could be distinguished at once.
"Another party of Indians," replied Howard. "We seem to be getting into their neighborhood."
"I only wish they were a party of white hunters or miners, for I long to see a friendly face."
"What good could it do us? They wouldn't accompany us home, or take any trouble to see that we were protected."
"Perhaps not, but I tell you, Howard, this begins to look dangerous when we see nothing but enemies. There are but three of us, and one gun only between us. I believe a single Indian could destroy us all if he chose to do so."
"Except in one contingency."
"What is that?"
"That you should aim the gun. He would then flee at once."
Elwood laughed and added:
"But we have no breakfast, and we may as well be moving."
"You're a sensible boy," added Tim O'Rooney, "be the towken that when ye spakes ye quiverally anticipates me own thoughts."
They soon reached the level of the valley, and then took a direction straight toward the spot where they had seen the camp-fire burning. The intervening space was quite thickly grown with trees and vegetation, so that they could obtain no sight of the fire itself until they were very close to it.
"We must be careful," admonished Howard. "If it is a party of Indians they may discover us before we do them."
"I don't suppose it will do for us all to walk straight up to them, for they'll be sure to see us then."
"No, one must creep up and find whether the coast is clear. Tim has seen more of California than we have, and he can do that if he wishes."
"Sinsible agin, for I was about to spake the same. Do yees tarry here while I takes a look around. Whist! now, and kaap so still that ye'll hear me brathe all the way there and back agin."
The boys took their position each behind a large tree, and looking cautiously forth they awaited the return of their friend.
When these precautions were taken they were not a hundred yards distant from the strangers. The Irishman stepped very carefully, moving on tiptoe, and not making any noise that was perceptible. This was no great attainment in woodcraft, as any person could have done the same with ordinary care, when the woods were of the character of this one. Had there been briers or brambles, or swampy ground, or that which was unusually dry, and covered with twigs, it would have been a feat far more difficult of attainment.
Just before Tim disappeared from view they saw him sink down upon his hands and knees and creep forward; but the bushes soon shut him out from view and they could only wait with all the patience possible.
At the end of about ten minutes the genial face of the Irishman appeared, and the expression upon it gave rise to pleasant anticipations.
"Who are they?" asked the two boys together, as soon as they deemed it prudent.
"Whist! now don't spake so loud. Ye'll wake 'em out."
Tim looked behind, and became satisfied that there was no fear of discovery, when he arose to his feet, and took his careless, sauntering manner.
"Well, Tim!'" said Howard inquiringly.
"What is it yez wishes?"
"We wish to know whether these strangers are white men or Indians."
"Well, ye saas, I had to crawl up to 'em mighty careful, for if you step upon a stick no bigger than a tooth-pick, yees are sortin to wake up a slaapin' copper-skin——"
"So they were Indians, then," interrupted Elwood somewhat impatiently.
"Do yes be aisy now, and not be interruptin' of me, and yer observations and questions which ain't naaded in this case. Me owld grandfather used to till a great many stories to us spalpaans about the part he took with young Emmett—when owld Ireland stood up against England. He used to tell us his stories—did the same—and just so sure as one of us axed him a question, he'd go back to the beginning and till the whole story over again. He'd begin airly in the evening, and kaap it going till tin or eleven o'clock. I belave the old gintleman rather liked to have us be interruptin' him, for he laid bates for us wee ones, and ye see by that manes one story sometimes kept him going for a waak. Heaven bliss the owld gintleman—he had a habit of stopping in the middle of an exciting part and lighting his dudheen, and then when he'd begin again, he'd skip over a part on purpose to make us ax him a question——"
"Well, Tim, we will talk about your grandfather some other day," said Howard, who, as naturally may be supposed, was impatient for him to come to the point.
"Yis, I was just through with him, but yees should never be overmuch in haste. Me blessed mother always told me that it was the same as being too slow, and if anybody could spake of the same, could me mother do it. I was about to obsarve when yees interrupted me, that a man must be mighty careful in going up to a camp-fire, for these Indians slaap so quietly that the overturning of a leaf is sure to wake 'em, and you saa by this, if we'd all three gone up, as we war thinkin' about, they'd heard us long before we could have got sight of 'em, and our tramping in Californy would be done with——"
"So they were Indians were they?" asked Elwood again, partly amused and partly vexed at Tim's persistent dallying with their curiosity.
"Who said the same?"
"You implied it. Were they red or white men? Answer us—yes or no!"
"And that is just the pint I's raching for, as me frind, Michael O'Shanghangly, said when he took a half-quart of whisky. Yez understands that I wanted to make sure just who the same might be, and what was their number. 'Spose, now, I should have come back and said there war but three of the same, and there should be a half-dozen, or I should say they was white gintlemen like ourselves, and they should turn out to be of a darker hue. Ye saas that it wouldn't do."
The boys had become so uneasy by this time that they were walking back and forth, and talking to each other in low tones.
"I will go forward and see for myself," said Elwood. "I don't care about waiting an hour or two for him to answer my question."
"He will soon answer us; he is only indulging in a little pleasantry."
"Rather a bad time for jesting."
"I think we can be sure of one thing," added Howard a moment later.
"What is that?"
"That we are not in much danger. If we were he wouldn't wait so long to tell us."
"I don't know about that; it would be in keeping with his foolishness. I tell you, Howard, I will ask him once more, and if he doesn't answer me at once, I shall go forward and learn for myself."
"Well, do so."
"Tim, are those Indians or white men?"
"That's it, is it? Why didn't yez ax me before? They're a party of white men, be the same!"
"I wished to give yez a pleasant surprise, as the doctor said when he told the man that his wife was dead," remarked Tim, in explanation of his conduct. "Had there really been any of the red gintlemen around I'd have told you soon enough."
Our young friends were too well pleased at the intelligence to feel other than good natured, and they gladly forgave Tim for his trespass upon their patience. Without waiting further they walked hastily forward, and a moment later stood by the camp-fire.
Three men, apparently, had just aroused themselves from slumber, and were now stirring around making preparations for their breakfast. They were shaggy, unshorn, grimy-looking fellows, who had "run wild" for several years, but who had not necessarily lost their humanity, even though they had in a great degree lost its outward semblance. In the center, a large bundle of sticks were burning quite briskly, and one of the men was turning and watching some meat that was cooking over it. The others had evidently just returned from the river, for their red temples and foreheads still glistened with moisture which sparkled like dew on their patriarchal beards.
They were rough, hardy-looking fellows, but Elwood felt little apprehension as he stepped forward and said:
"Good morning, gentlemen!"
He who was cook turned his head, but a hot drop of moisture from the steaming meat at that moment flew in his eye, and clapping his finger to it, he muttered something, and forthwith and instantly gave his exclusive attention to his culinary duties.
The second man was rubbing his face with a piece of coarse cloth, and he suddenly paused with his black eyes glaring over the top, his face resembling the head of some huge animal clambering over the edge of a rock, and who, having just gained a foothold, is looking hurriedly around for his prey.
The third was combing his hair, and just at this moment it was moistened and sticking straight over his forehead like the horn of an animal. He would run the comb through with his right hand and then smooth the hair with his left. He stopped with both arms crooked over his head, and wheeled around like an automaton, and stared at the boy a moment, and then said:
"Well, there! Why didn't you ring the door-bell? I say, youngster, come forward and give us a grip of your hand. Halloo! you've got your brother with you!"
"Not my brother, but my cousin, Howard Lawrence."
The two boys shook hands with the three, and the grip that they received from the horny palms made them wince with pain.
"But where'd you come from? We don't see a couple of youngsters dressed up in your style promenading 'round in these parts every day. Where'd you come from?"
"The steamer on which we took passage the other day from Panama, was burned off the coast, and we got ashore on a raft."
"Be you the only ones?"
"No; there were quite a number that escaped."
"Where be they?"
"They were carried away by a vessel while we had wandered inland."
"And you two—halloo! here's your grandfather!"
"No; that is Tim O'Rooney, a good friend of ours."
"Your humble sarvint!" saluted the Irishman, removing his hat, making a profound bow and scraping a large foot upon the ground.
"Well, there! We're glad to see you. What's all your names?"
They were given several times, and then carefully spelled at the request of the large-whiskered man, who desired that no mistake might be made.
"You may call me Ned Trimble, and that ugly-looking fellow 'tending to the fire is George Wakeman, and that horrid-looking chap scrubbing off his dirty face, is Alfred Wilkins. Neither of them know much, and I brought them along to black my boots and dress my hair."
It looked as though Ned was a sort of a wag, for his companions smiled as if they were used to that thing. He continued:
"We're a party of hunters that have been in Californy for the last five years, and I rather guess I've prospected through every part of it."
"You must be rich by this time."
"Rich!" laughed Ned Trimble. "Well there, we're everything but rich. Somehow or other we hain't had the luck. We sold a claim up in the diggings for five hundred dollars, and the next week the party sold it for fifteen thousand. That's the way it has always gone with us; but we are going to be rich yet—ain't we, boys."
"Yes, if we only live long enough," replied Wakeman.
"I told you that chap hadn't much sense," remarked Ned, addressing his three visitors. "He doesn't know enough to answer a question as he oughter. I've been trying to teach him something, but I shall have to give it up as a bad job. Been to breakfast?"
"No—not yet."
"Thought you hadn't. Cook, put up another slice, douse it in butter, salt and pepper, and serve it up as you used to do when I employed you at the Astor. Gentlemen, how do you like it, rare or well done?"
All made answer that they were not particular, and Ned replied thereunto as follows:
"Sensible fellows! If you don't care what you get, you won't have to care much for what you don't get. What will you select as a dessert? Plum, rice, bread, or cherry pudding? Apple, mince, cranberry, plum, peach, or lemon pie? Cup-custard, tapioca, watermelon, citron, or sherry, maderia, or port. Order which ever you choose, gentlemen, it don't make any difference to us. We can give you one just as well as the other."
"I suppose you can," laughed Howard; "so we'll not take the trouble to order any."
"All right; as you please, gentlemen. We haven't any turkey or oysters left so you will have to put up with a little antelope that we shot yesterday afternoon. Fine condition for this time of year, and the best kind of flesh to starve to death on."
"We haven't had a taste of it yet; but we devoured a goodly piece of a mountain sheep."
"Just so. I was going to speak of a mountain sheep, if my servants hadn't interrupted me so often with inquiries as to how they should make the wine sauce. Ah! I see our meal is ready; we will therefore repair to the banquet hall."
The six took their seats upon the leaves, and ate the meal in the usual primitive manner, verifying the adage, "hunger is the best sauce."
Ned Trimble enlivened the meal in his usual loquacious manner; and after a great many words and circumlocution, the fact was discovered that he and his friends had spent the last five years in California, not having visited a civilized post within two years.
Disgusted with their ill success in the Sacramento Valley, they had pulled up stakes and started off to hunt new fields for themselves. They were very cheerful and hopeful, and according to their accounts had encountered every imaginable danger of the California wilds.
Elwood inquired whether they had met any grizzly bears.
"Grizzly bears!" repeated Ned, stopping just as he was about to insert a huge piece of meat in his mouth. "Grizzly bears? Well, there!We've lived among 'em!"
"Is it possible?"
"Yes; I tracked a big grizzly in the Sierra Nevada for two days and then I stopped."
"What made you stop?"
"I concluded the bear tracks were getting a little too fresh!"
One thing attracted the notice and pleased our friends, and gave them a hope of being able to supply a want they had felt every moment since landing upon the California coast. Each of the miners had two rifles, and were abundantly supplied with ammunition and mining tools. The wonder was how they could carry so heavy a load for such a distance. It could not be understood until Ned Trimble stated that they had two good, tough mules pasturing in a secluded place about a half-mile distant.
"That 'ere Injin blanket you're carryin' is rather pretty!" remarked Ned as he rubbed his greasy fingers through his hair.
"Yes, we got it of an Indian girl, and take great pride in it."
"You did, eh? What did you give her for it?"
"A gold watch."
"Ah! Well, if the watch was a first-rate one maybe she got her pay; but what did she want with a watch? That's just the way with all women. They'll give ten times the value for some little gewgaw to wear about 'em. I was engaged to a fine-looking girl in North Carolina, but I seen she was getting so extravagant that I couldn't understand it, so I left before it was too late."
"A very wise plan."
"Yes, she was very extravagant."
"In what respect?" asked Elwood, who was quite amused at their newly-found friend.
"Well, you see, she would persist in wearing shoes on Sunday instead of going barefoot like the rest of the young ladies. I warned her two or three times, but I catched her at church one day with them on, and so I went over to the house that night and told her I couldn't trust her any longer, and we exchanged presents and parted."
"Exchanged presents?" laughed Wakeman. "What sort of presents were they?"
"I wish no trifling insinuations, sir," replied Ned, with a grandiloquent air. "She returned to me a tooth brush that I had presented her some months before, and I gave back to her a tin button that she had bought of a traveling peddler, and that I had been wearing on Sundays for my breastpin. 'Tis not the intrinsic worth you know, but the associations connected with such things that makes 'em dear. But it is a painful subject, gentlemen, and let us, therefore, dismiss it."
Howard and Lawrence thought it best to introduce the matter upon which they had been so long meditating.
"I notice that each of you have two guns apiece. Did you leave San Francisco with that supply?"
"No; we've got 'em of the redskins we've run agin on the way."
"Would you be willing to sell us a couple? You observe we have but one between us, and it makes it rather dangerous, as none of us are very skillful in the use of the rifle."
"You needn't take the trouble to tell us that," replied Ned, with a quizzical look. "I'd like to accommodate you, but we had begun to think that we needed three or four guns apiece; for, you see, we intend to stay in these parts some time, and we are sure to have trouble with the redskins."
"If you really wish them," remarked Elwood, "of course we cannot ask you to part with them."
"What'll you give?" abruptly asked Ned.
"What will you take?"
"I couldn't sell you both of mine, as I wouldn't have one; but, Wakeman, if I part with one of mine will you do the same?"
"Yes; for I know they'll need the arms before they get back to San Francisco."
"Then the question is, what will you ask us for the two guns?"
"Can you give us a hundred dollars?"
"Apiece?"
"No, no, no; for both of 'em."
"Yes; we will gladly do that."
Now came the crisis. The party had not a dozen dollars among them. Howard and Elwood had left their money in the berth of the steamer, and of course it was irrevocably gone. But Elwood's watch remained, and that at the least calculation was worth one hundred and fifty; but whether the miners would accept it at a fair valuation for their pieces, was in their minds very doubtful.
"We have no money," said Howard, "but my cousin has a watch that is worth more than that sum, which he will give you for the two guns."
"Let's see it."
It was produced and passed around the company. Ned opened and shut it, and shook it and placed it to his ear.
"It ain't running," he suddenly said.
"No; the salt water has stopped it, but I do not think it is really injured. A little cleaning will speedily set it going."
Ned passed the time-piece back again.
"Don't want it; it won't do us no good."
"But you are hunting for gold, and there is enough in it to make it worth your while to take it."
"We expect to find all the gold we can carry back with us without loading our mules down with gold watches."
Elwood replaced the watch in his pocket, disheartened at the failure of his offer.
"We have no money; if you will call at my father's the next time you go to San Francisco, he will gladly give you your price."
"Don't know as we shall go to San Francisco for the next five years; shan't go any way until we are loaded down with gold, and then we won't care about calling on your father—more likely he'll want to call on us."
An idea struck Howard.
"You are pleased with our blanket. Will you exchange your guns for that?"
Ned shook his head.
"Got all the blankets we want; don't want it; keep it yourself."
"Will you not give us one gun for both the blanket and watch?"
The miner now laughed, and shook his head again.
"Don't want either; can't do it."
The boys now despaired.
"Well, we may as well give up. We can't get any guns of you."
"What is the reason you can't?"
"You seem unwilling to trade, and we can not buy them."
"Of course you can't; but——"
And thereupon the miner rose to his feet and handed one gun to Elwood and the other to Howard.
"What does this mean?" asked the latter, not comprehending him.
"You don't suppose we would bemeanenough tosellyou anything you needed so bad, do you? No; take them both, and here's a lot of lead, gun-caps and ammunition."
"But——"
"Nobutsabout it. Take 'em, you're welcome, for you need 'em. I was only joking with you."
Ned Trimble would not hear the repeated thanks of our friends, but waved them an impressive and magnificent farewell as they took their departure. They were not yet beyond sight of each other when they heard him calling to them in excited tones, and the next moment he came running after them.
"I think you said you was going to undertake to foller the river down the valley, didn't you?"
They made answer that such was their intention, whereupon he hastened to add:
"About a mile down, under some bushes that stick out by a big rock, on the same side that you're traveling, is a little Injin canoe that is just the thing you want. You're welcome to it."
"But how shall we thank you?"
"I don't know; again, my noble friends, I bid thee farewell, and if forever, still forever, fare thee well."
The eccentric miner lifted his hat, bowed very low, and sauntered back to his friends with the air of a monarch who had just indulged in some gracious act of condescension, while our friends, delighted beyond measure, hurried forward on their journey.
They were now amply provided—each having a gun and plenty of ammunition, and their faithful dog. They began to look upon themselves as on a holiday excursion. The only thing was, that there was rather too strong a tinge of danger about it. If they were but a hundred or two miles nearer home, and their parents had no anxiety regarding them, it would be more pleasant. But then, they could easily understand how much worse it easily could be, and they were heartfelt at the good fortune which had followed them thus far on their strange entry into California. The most that they could ask was that it might continue.
Elwood and Howard were anxious to test their marksmanship, but prudence forbade it, as the chances were that they would need all their ammunition, and the report of their guns might draw inconvenient attention to themselves.
They were walking cheerily along when a singular object caught their eyes. At first sight it resembled an Indian hut; but it was much too small to be inhabited by a human being, and therefore must have been the handiwork of some animal.
"Shall we batter it down?" asked Elwood.
"No; we do not know what is in it, and there is no use of wantonly destroying the home of any dumb creature."
"It reminds me of me birthplace in ould Ireland," said Tim, with a sigh.
But Terror was not so considerate as his masters; for bursting forward he placed his snout at the lower orifice, snuffed furiously, and then clawed so savagely that the greater part of the singular fabric came tumbling to the ground. It was made of brush and twigs, and like everything constructed by instinct, was put together with great skill. Terror could not be restrained until he had inflicted great injury.
"Look! what are they?" exclaimed Howard in astonishment. "What strange-looking creatures!"
"Snapping tortles!" replied Tim, staring with an expression of the greatest astonishment at the objects.
Three animals, about the size of a musk-rat, with webbed feet, and the color of mice, came scrambling forth and scampered away for the shelter of the rocks.
Terror by this time had been brought under restraint, and was prevented from crushing them to death as they ran.
Great speculation was caused by their appearance, as none of our friends had seen anything like them, nor had they ever heard or read of such. They were, in fact, a species of mountain rat living in the vicinity of mountains and constructing their singular-looking huts with remarkable skill, often building them to a height of six feet. Their fur is very fine, and the hunters and trappers frequently take the animals for their coats, although their diminutive size, when compared with the beaver, otter, and other fur-bearing animals, prevents their being much in demand.
The hunters, as perhaps it is proper to term them, were too anxious to discover the canoe to pause long at any curiosity unless it was something extraordinary. They carefully noted the distance they journeyed, and when they judged they had gone about a mile, stepped into the edge of the river and looked about them. But they saw nothing answering to Ned Trimble's description of the hiding-place of the boat.
"Perhaps he was jesting," remarked Elwood.
"No; I think he is too kind-hearted for that. He may have been mistaken as to whether it is precisely a mile or not."
"Whist! but it strikes me that the bushes are rather thick just ayonst you."
Tim pointed to a spot a hundred rods away which had failed to arrest their attention. There was nothing unusual, except mayhap that the overhanging shrubbery was rather denser than usual; but it held out hope, and the party hurried pell-mell to the spot.
There, sure enough, they descried the rock, and lifting the bushes, caught sight of the small, delicate canoe concealed beneath. Elwood was in the advance, and quickly pulled it forth with the wildest expressions of delight.
"Isn't it splendid!" he fairly shouted. "And here is a long paddle. Our work is now done."
"Do yees jist stand up in the same," said Tim, "and see what a beautiful rest it gives to the faat."
The impulsive boy caught up the paddle, and rose to his feet; but it was like unto him who first puts on skates. It flashed from beneath him, and he was precipitated headlong into the water. The others, as a matter of course, laughed.
"That was done on purpose," said Elwood as he clambered to his feet again.
"I wished to give yees a little insthruction, and that was me first lesson."
"Well, I learned considerable at any rate."
The canoe was caught, and the three carefully entered and seated themselves. It was made of bark, bound together with cord and gum, and would have held double their weight, being very light and buoyant.
A vast amount of sport was afforded the party in learning to navigate the frail vessel. Tim had had some experience in the matter, and could propel it quite dexterously; but the boys were much at fault: they expended far more strength than there was any need for, and soon exhausted themselves so thoroughly that they were obliged to relinquish the sole management of the boat into the hands of Tim O'Rooney.
"There's a bootiful current here," said he, "and we can have the illegant pleasure of moving along without working ourselves, as me frind, Michael McGubbens, said when they carried him off to Botany Bay."
The Irishman first dipped his paddle upon the one side and then upon the other, and imparted quite a velocity to the canoe. The boys were so pleased with the easy, gliding motion that they failed to notice the shores they were passing between. When finally Tim lay down his paddle and rested they were charmed.
All were tired enough to make them enjoy this relaxation and the sensation of floating so idly forward. The sky was clear and almost free of clouds, the dry air was not uncomfortably warm, and an occasional breeze that came floating apparently from the snowy peaks of the Coast Range imparted delicious coolness. On the left stretched the high hills intervening between them and the Pacific, and on the right rose the vast Coast Mountains, forming in its extensive line some of the finest scenery on the North American Continent.
By-and-by, as they rounded a bend in the river, a small island appeared near the center of the channel.
"There we will rest," said Howard.
A half-hour later the canoe lightly touched the shore, and springing out they pulled it up on the land after them. They had scarcely done so when a groan very near them startled them all.
"Whisht!" whispered Tim; "there's somebody else beside us on this island."
All three paused and listened. For a moment all was still; and then the suppressed groan of distress was heard, as though the sufferer were seeking to keep back the outcry that was forced from him.
"There it is!" whispered Howard, pointing to a clump of bushes near the edge of the river.
"It strikes me we had better leave!" replied Elwood, looking forward to the canoe as if fearful that that would be taken from them and all escape be thus cut off.
"Do you sind the dog forward and let him smell out the difficulty," suggested Tim O'Rooney.
Terror stood there between the boys, his head raised and his whole appearance indicating that he had scented something unusual, but was awaiting orders before advancing upon it. The Newfoundland looked up as if asking for directions. Elwood simply pointed toward the brush and the dog galloped to it. Instead of entering, he stopped by it and gave a low growl of discovery.
"What is it, Terror?" asked Howard.
The brute whined and ran to his masters and then back to the bushes.
"It maybe a trap to catch us," said Elwood. "I prefer very much taking to the canoe and getting away from the island."
"But it may be some one suffering and needing help. He may perish if we leave him here."
"Yez spakes the truth," said Tim. "The blessed Father would never forgive us if we should desart one of his creatures when he needed hilp."
Tim now advanced straight to the bushes, paused, and then parted them and looked in. He was heard to mutter something to himself; then he came back.
"It's an Injin, a-layin' on the ground, a-groanin' and a-rollin' over. I guess the poor fellow has got his last sickness, and we can't help him any."
All feelings were at once merged into that of pity. The three advanced and parted the bushes. There, sure enough, lay an Indian apparently nigh unto death. He turned his black eyes up to the white people in a manner that would have melted the heart of a Nero. He lay doubled up on his blanket, with his gun a short distance from him. He belonged to the Pah Utah tribe, although their hunting-grounds are further to the southwest. This fact, as a matter of course, was unknown to our friends.
The first impression was that he had been badly wounded, but a second glance showed that he was deadly sick.
Elwood Brandon had placed his hand upon the dusky forehead, and the heat and throbbing temples told him at once that he was possessed with a burning fever.
The poor Indian muttered something unintelligible, but which bore some resemblance to the word "Shasta," and he made a motion toward his mouth and then threw his head back and imitated the act of drinking.
"He must be suffering with thirst," said Howard. "How shall we manage to give him water?"
"God save the poor fellow! I will soon fix that!" exclaimed the kind-hearted Tim, rising to his feet and hurrying to the river's edge. Here he speedily constructed quite a capacious cup of leaves, and carefully filling it with cool water he as carefully carried it back to where he lay.
"Now, me good felly, just tip up his noddle and we'll make him faal aisy."
Elwood carefully raised his head, and the trembling sufferer eagerly reached forward for the cooling fluid. It was placed to his parched lips and swallowed hastily, when he immediately motioned for more.
"Will it do to give it?" asked Howard. "Will it not injure him?"
"Niver a bit," replied Tim, hurrying away for another supply.
In a moment it was brought and swallowed with the same avidity. He then lay his head back upon the blanket of the boys, which had been folded into a pillow by Howard. His great black eyes looked the thanks which his tongue was unable to express.
"Now he will slaap," said Tim. "Lave him alone."
He was relinquished to slumber while our friends retired a short distance to consult.
"How providential that we landed here," said Howard. "He was too feeble to help himself, and might have died in great distress."
"Yes, I am glad that we found him, for if he does die we may be the means of robbing his last moments of great suffering."
"Boys," said Tim, hitching up his pantaloons and scratching his head, "me mind is made up to one thing."
The boys looked inquiringly at him.
"I stays here till that poor copper-skin gets well or dies."
This decision pleased his companions, who declared their resolve of doing all they could for the sufferer.
"How much more pleasant than shooting at him," said Elwood. "I never felt better in my life than when I found I was able to do something for this Indian."
What a happiness it is indeed to minister to the wants of the suffering and distressed! What purer joy than to wipe away the damp from the brow of the dying and to speak words of consolation in their ears? That last agony must come to us all sooner or later, and oh how deeply we shall then appreciate the kindness of the friend who stands beside us, ministering to our wants and doing all possible to cheer and soothe our suffering! True, we must go alone through the Dark Valley, but others may lead us down to the border, and their cheering words may yet linger with us as the day closes and we step into that awful gloom through which we must pass before we can enter into the eternal day beyond. Though we know that He stands waiting to take our hand in His and lead us through the solemn darkness, yet the soul, hovering in its flight, longs for the companionship of the dear ones, until the final adieu must come! Oh, loving Father, whose sympathizing arms reach out to enfold us all, grant that such may be mine and the lot of all my friends.
Upon looking at the Indian an hour later, he was seen to be sleeping as calmly as an infant, while his face was covered with a mild, healthful moisture.
"He will git well!" said Tim. "Did I not stand by the bedside of my poor mother and give her the cowld water that brought her back to life agin?"
"The crisis of the fever has passed, or is passing," said Howard. "He must have an iron constitution, like all his people, and he will rally, I have no doubt."
"Yes," added Elwood, with much feeling, "there is one thing certain;allare not our enemies; we have made one friend at least."
"True, an Indian never forgets an injury nor a kindness, and his friendship may be of benefit to us before we reach home."
"I b'laves you, boys; that Injin will remember us as long as he lives, and will sarve us a good turn if the chances for the same be iver given him."
"But see, he has awaked!"
The Indian was awake and making signs to his friends. For some time they were at a loss to understand their meaning, but Howard noticed that he had a leaf in his hand which he offered to them. When the boy took it his face showed that he was pleased, but continued his signs as before.
Suddenly Elwood's eyes sparkled.
"He wants us to bring him some of those leaves. Let me have it; they must be on the island."
He hastened away and was not long in finding a bush that bore precisely the same species, and gathering quite a lot he returned to the Indian and offered them to him. But he did not seem satisfied. He looked at the leaves, nodded his head, and then taking them by the slight twigs to which they were fastened, he made as if to pull them up again.
"Ah! I know what he means!" said Howard. "It is not the leaf but the root that he wishes."
"I can soon get that."
Elwood verified his words, and scarce ten minutes elapsed ere he returned with several goodly-sized roots, which were washed and cleaned. The look of the Indian showed that he had now got what he wanted, and he began gnawing the bark and chewing it.
"He's a docthering himself now!" said Tim, "as the patient said when he gave the docther his own medicine and pisened him to death by raisin of the same. He will get along."
They watched the sufferer for a few moments. Gathering his mouth nearly full of the bark, he continued chewing and swallowing for some time longer, when he finally shut his eyes and again slept.
Picking up a piece of the root which he had gathered Elwood tasted of it. He found it so bitter that he instantly spat it out.
"It must have some medicinal quality," remarked Howard, "or he would not use it. I believe the Indians doctor entirely with herbs, and I have no doubt that he will soon be well."
"Do yez mind that if it isn't noon it is close to the same? And be the tame towken we are all slightly hungry."
Now arose a query. The island was so small that it contained no game of any kind, and so was unavailable to supply their wants. The river abounded in fish, but there was no means of catching them; and finally, after some discussion, it was agreed that Tim should cross over to the mainland and shoot something.
"Do yez kaap your eyes about yez till I'z back again, for some of the coppery gintlemen may take a notion to pay yez a visit."
The boys felt a little uneasiness as they saw their companion enter the canoe and paddle toward the eastern shore—the shore which as yet had been unvisited by them. They watched until he landed, pulled the boat up behind him into shelter, and then disappeared in the wood.
"We shall be in rather a bad situation if he never comes back," remarked Elwood.
"I don't know about that; in what better occupation can we be found than in ministering to the wants of a suffering Indian? Would not that itself protect us from injury?"
"Perhaps it might; but what would become of us any way? They wouldn't be kind enough to guide us up to San Francisco."
"They might take us so far that we could find our way."
"Hardly; I don't like to see Tim go to that shore; it looks too dangerous. I wonder why he did it?"
"He must have believed there is more game there."
"But there is enough on the other side, and he would avoid this greater danger by going there."
"I imagine that a river running through a hostile country is as dangerous upon one side as upon the other, and there is little choice, Howard, in the matter."
"But I knowyoufeel unpleasant in being thus left alone."
"I know I shall be glad to see Tim come back again, for there is always great danger in such a small party separating."
"Halloo! there goes his gun or somebody else's."
The sharp crack of the rifle came from the shore, and Elwood was sure he saw the faint smoke of the discharge ascend from some thick bushes near the edge of the wood. But he was no doubt mistaken, for as they scrutinized the spot they detected nothing of him who had fired the gun.
"I suppose it was Tim firing at some game. You know he is not a very good shot, and so he has badly wounded without killing it."
"Then we ought to hear his gun again."
"We shall no doubt——"
"Hark!"
Crack went a gun, almost instantly followed by three similar reports. The boys turned pale and looked at each other.
"What does that mean?" whispered Elwood.
"That is bad; Tim is in trouble."
"He ought to have had better sense than to paddle out there in open day, plunge right into the woods and go to shooting without stopping to see what the danger is. But what will become of him?"
"And of us?"
"This Indian here must have had some way of getting upon the island. I believe he has a canoe hid somewhere."
"But what of it? We cannot think of leaving until we know something definite about Tim."
"Unless some of the Indians start to come over to the island, and then we'll leave."
"Do you think that would be the wisest plan, Elwood? They can handle the paddle so much better than we that it would take but little time for them to overhaul us. Then, too, if they should find us by this suffering brother of theirs would it not make friends of them?"
"Suppose this Indian here is one of their enemies?"
This was a supposition that had never occurred to Howard before, but which he saw was very reasonable. All Indians not belonging to the same tribe might be supposed to be enemies of each other, and thus the mercy and kindness of our young heroes might be made the means of their destruction.
"I didn't think of that," said Howard, "it may be so. But let us hope for the best. Tim may soon return to us again."
"Not if he has a grain of sense left."
"And why not?"
"He has been seen by Indians, and if they haven't got him now they will soon have him if he undertakes to paddle his canoe over to the island."
"You are right, Elwood; he will no doubt wait until it is dark, and then come out to us as stealthily as he can."
"That is if he gets the chance. I tell you, Howard," said his cousin, starting up, "this begins to look bad."
"I know it does."
"We know how those red men handle their guns, and it don't look likely to me that all those shots have missed Tim."
"They may be quite a distance apart—far enough to make their aim uncertain."
"But then they could cut off his return to the shore."
Howard suddenly laid his hand upon the arm of his cousin and pointed to the other shore.
Three Indians walked leisurely down to the shore of the river, as though in quest of nothing particular, and stood gesticulating as they generally do with their whole arms. They were about two hundred yards above the point where Tim O'Rooney landed, but their position was such that the canoe might have rested on the surface of the water without being seen. Sensible of their danger, the boys at first sight of them withdrew into cover, from which they cautiously peered out and watched their movements.
"Those must be the three who fired the guns," whispered Elwood.
"Very probably they are; that looks more encouraging, for I do not see Tim among them."
"Maybe they have slain him and are talking as to where he came from."
"Heaven! I hope not."
"So do I; but it looks reasonable that they have made away with him and are now looking for us."
"How did they know he had any friends with him? Then, too, if they had slain him, would they not have followed his trail straight down to the water?"
"I didn't think of that.Thatquestion makes me more hopeful than anything else. It does now look somewhat cheering. But what are they after?"
The Indians were still talking in an excited manner, and more than once pointed across the river to the island as if there were something there which claimed their attention. It might be the boys themselves, or they may have known that one of their race lay there in dire extremity; but whatever the cause was it boded no good to the two boys, who were crouching in the bushes and grass and furtively watching their motions.
The latter were still gazing at them when their hearts were thrilled by the sight of Tim O'Rooney. The eyes of Elwood chanced to be fixed upon a small open space, a rod or two from where the canoe lay, when he saw the Irishman come cautiously into view, and then pause and look around him. He had an animal slung over his shoulders, whose weight was sufficient to make him stop and travel with some difficulty. They saw him turn his head and carefully scrutinize every suspicious point that was visible, and then he walked slowly toward the spot where the canoe was concealed. Whether his low stoop was caused by the weight of his game, or whether it was a precautionary measure on his part, was difficult to decide. The boys at once became painfully excited and alarmed.
"They will see him! they will see him!" said Elwood, "and it will be all over with us. What a pity! when he has got along so well!"
"Can we not warn him in some manner? The Indians do not know how near he is, nor does he know how close they are."
"How can we do it?" asked Elwood, who was anxious to give Tim some warning of his danger. "If we make any sign the Indians will see us."
"Perhaps not; for they are not looking in this direction all the time, while Tim knows that we are watching him."
"Yes; but he has his hands full to see that the savages do not find him."
The case looked critical indeed. Tim was nearing the point where it seemed inevitable that a discovery should take place. He paused at nearly every step or two, looked behind him and up and down the river in a manner that showed plainly enough his fear of his enemies. Elwood Brandon in his eagerness had risen to his feet, and was looking intently at him, waiting until he should cast his eye toward the island that he might give him warning. But the Irishman was so occupied with his enemies that he appeared to forget the existence of his friends.
Elwood did not remove his gaze, and all at once he saw him raise his head. Quick as a flash the boy sprung up a foot or two from the ground and waved his hat toward him.
"Did he see me?" he asked, as he sunk down to the earth again.
"He has paused and is looking toward us."
Tim had caught sight of the signal of the boy, but was uncertain as to its meaning. The waving of the hat might be supposed as an act of encouragement than otherwise; but there was something in the silent, hurried manner of his young friend, united with the fact that he had been, and was still, in great personal peril, that arrested his attention and set him to thinking.
"Did the Indians see me?" asked Elwood.
"I can't say positively, as I was looking at Tim at the moment you made your signal, but they do not seem to act as if they had discovered us."
"Tim saw me, didn't he? He doesn't know what to make of it."
The Irishman had laid the animal he was carrying upon the ground, and stood looking toward the inland as if waiting for some further manifestation before advancing or retreating. Believing the safety of the entire party demanded it, Elwood begun cautiously rising to his feet to repeat his warning, when he was quickly caught by his cousin.
"Down! those Indians are suspicious; they are looking right at us—don't stir."
The admonition was not a moment too soon; but while it prevented discovery on the part of the boys, it rendered the signal already given the Irishman void and of no effect. Tim, seeing nothing more of his young friend, concluded that all was right, and lifting his game to his shoulder continued his descent until he reached his canoe. This was drawn from its hiding place and launched in the water, and the animal placed in the rear. Seating himself carefully in the front, Tim lifted his paddle and began making his way toward the inland.
"Too bad! too bad!" muttered Elwood, unable to repress his feelings. "He is coming right out where they will have a fair chance with their rifles."
"If he would only turn up stream, they would see nothing of him."
"Can'tI warn him?"
"No, Elwood, it will make matters worse. Their eyes are fixed upon us."
Grasping the long oar Tim headed his boat somewhat up stream, so as not to let it drift by the island, and commenced paddling across. He had gone twenty rods or thereabouts when he was discovered by the Indians, and one of them raised his rifle and took aim at him.
"Quick, Tim, drop down, or you'll be shot!" called out Howard, forgetful of his own danger in the single hope of saving his friend from a violent death.
At the same instant that this cry was uttered the terrified boy saw a puff of smoke issue from the Indian rifle, and simultaneous with the sharp crack Tim O'Rooney was seen to fall flat in the canoe.
"He is shot!" called out Elwood.
"It is time then for us to do some of the same kind of business," replied Howard, sighting his own gun at the savage upon the shore. The distance was too great and his skill too slight to guide the ball with anything like certainty, but it skipped over the water at their very feet, and so alarmed them that they immediately dodged back under the shelter of the rocks and trees.
"What is the use?" asked Elwood gloomily. "Poor Tim is killed and there is no chance for us."
"Look! he is not dead!" whispered Howard.
The head of the Irishman was seen to rise stealthily from the bottom of the canoe, and to peer around, and then to dash down again as though fearful of another shot.
"I don't believe he has been struck!" added Howard. "He dropped down so as to save himself."
"Oh! I hope so, for we need him bad enough. See! he is fixing the body of the animal so that it shall be between him and the Indians' guns."
Such was the case. Tim was arranging and placing the carcass so that it might shield his own body while he managed the paddle. This completed he turned his face toward his young friends and called across the water:
"Be aisy, me darlings! The owld bullet come close, but not a hair of Tim O'Rooney's head was touched, and thanks be to heaven for it!"
The bullet of the treacherous Indian had indeed whizzed harmlessly by the head of Tim O'Rooney and when he fell to the bottom of the canoe it was for the purpose of preventing any more of their missiles passing too near him.
The savages, hastily driven to shelter by the unexpected shot from the island, did not by any means relinquish their designs upon the unfortunate white man in the canoe. He who had taken the quick aim and fired saw that his bullet missed, but he understood the disadvantage of his enemy, and was confident that he would still fall into their hands.
As we have shown, when the Irishman was thus suddenly interrupted, he was but a short distance from the shore. So abruptly compelled to relinquish his paddle and simply shelter his person, the current carried him quite rapidly down the stream.
Tim did not become sensible of his disadvantage until he had drifted below the island, and then upon partly rising to use his paddle the crack of a gun from the shore told him that he was watched by vigilant eyes, and thatthatoccupation was vetoed most unmistakably.
Forced thus to act entirely on the defensive, he carefully drew out his rifle and resting it on the body of his game waited his chance to avenge himself upon the unrelenting savages. He could tell from the faint blue smoke that curled upward where they were concealed, but could not catch sight of them.
Had they shown themselves, the Irishman knew it was about impossible for him to harm them at such a distance, while their dexterity in the use of the gun made it too dangerous for him to expose himself to their fire. He watched them until he had floated quite a way below, when he began to hope that they had given up their designs upon him, and he might make his way back to his friends upon the island in safety.
But when on the point of rising to a sitting position he saw them whisk through the bushes he knew they were following him along the shore—following him, too, with that skill and stealth which prevented his getting a shot at them, and placing it totally out of his power to prevent himself from being "commanded by their fire."
As may well be imagined, Howard and Elwood were deeply interested spectators of these events. Now that they had revealed their presence upon the island, and there was no further use in attempting to conceal the fact, they were eager to render their companion all the assistance possible.
But the nature of the occurrences made them helpless. Tim had drifted such a distance down stream, and had consequently drawn his enemies so far after him, that they had not the slightest chance of reaching them with their rifles, if they chose to expose themselves. They could only watch, therefore, and pray for their safety.
Floating slowly onward, onward, they observed that Tim's canoe gradually swerved to the left until it disappeared around a curve in the river. It crossed the center and was nearer the western than the eastern shore. This seemed to show that, despite his unfavorable situation, he was able to impart a motion to the boat, which, slight as it was, would eventually bring him to the opposite side of the stream.
Nothing more was seen of the Indians, although the report of several guns, heard within a half-hour of the disappearance of the canoe, prevented their feeling too sanguine over the position of Tim O'Rooney.
"We can now see the blunder he committed," said Howard. "He did wrong in going to the eastern bank when he could have secured his game as well upon the other side."
"I think he will be able to get away, unless they have a canoe with which to follow him."
"Even then he can take to the woods and hide himself until dark, and then make his way back to us."
"I hope so, but fear he will be prevented or overtaken before he can reach shelter."
"But think, Howard, he has a gun and plenty of ammunition, and there are but three of them. I should say they would hesitate some time before advancing upon him."
"But he is a poor shot, like ourselves."
"He could not miss them if they came very close to him."
"Yes; there seems to be a good chance, if they don't find more Indians to unite with them in the hunt."
This was a contingency that had not occurred to Elwood, and he was almost overwhelmed at its import until he came to reason upon it, when the likelihood of such being the case dwindled away until it almost vanished.
"We have seen no large bodies of savages, and I don't believe they care enough about catching or slaying a single man to go to all that trouble."
"Not so much trouble, perhaps, as you are apt to think. War is the business of the American Indians, you know, as it is of all barbarous people."
"But look at Ned Trimble and his friends. There are but three of them, and I have no doubt that their security is in their strength—otherwise they would not be so indifferent as to what is going on around them. You remember they did not see us until we first spoke to them."
"So it appeared; but I have an idea that they knew of our presence before Tim discovered them."
"They did not show it, at any rate."
"They looked surprised when we came up, but if we had been enemies instead of friends I believe we would have been the surprised parties. They have lived too long in the wilds of California to permit a party of strangers to steal upon them unaware."
"But what is to become of us if Tim doesn't come back?"
"We shall have to put ourselves under the care of Shasta—that is, if he gets well."
"Why do you call himShasta? Where did you hear that name?"
"The only word I have heard him speak sounded like that, and I do not know of any better name. Can you think of one?"
"No; that is good enough; let him be called Shasta, then. There may be a greater Providence in our coming upon this island than we imagine."
"There is a Providence in everything that occurs, though it may be that we are not always able to see it. Do you remember the copy we had so often at school, 'Misfortunes are often blessings in disguise?'"
"Yes; but like the truths that were driven into our heads so often at school, we fail to appreciate them until some occasion like this impresses them upon our minds. But I declare, Howard, we are turning philosophers."
"What better can we do, when there is nothing else to employ ourselves about? We need all our philosophy at such a time."
"But we must not forget our patient, Shasta."
"True. He had gone almost out of my mind until you referred to him a moment ago. Let us look at him."
The two had been stationed near the lower end of the island, and they now walked back to where they had left the suffering stranger. What was their surprise to see him standing on his feet, his blanket wrapped around him, and his attitude and position such as to raise a strong suspicion that he understood all that had taken place within the last hour or two.