said Henri with a broad grin.
Presently a thousand noses appeared, and nervously
disappeared, like the wink of an eye. Then they appeared
again, and a thousand pair of eyes followed.
Instantly, like Jack in the box, they were all on the top
of their hillocks again, chattering and wagging their
little tails as vigorously as ever. You could not say
that you
saw
them jump out of their holes. Suddenly,
as if by magic, they
were
out; then Dick tossed up his
arms, and suddenly, as if by magic, they were gone!
Their number was incredible, and their cities were
full of riotous activity. What their occupations were
the hunters could not ascertain, but it was perfectly
evident that they visited a great deal and gossiped
tremendously, for they ran about from house to house,
and sat chatting in groups; but it was also observed
that they never went far from their own houses. Each
seemed to have a circle of acquaintance in the immediate
neighbourhood of his own residence, to which in case of
sudden danger he always fled.
But another thing about these prairie-dogs (perhaps,
considering their size, we should call them prairie-doggies), another
thing
about them, we say, was that
each doggie lived with an owl, or, more correctly, an
owl lived with each doggie! This is such an extraordinary
fact
that we could scarce hope that men would
believe us, were our statement not supported by dozens
of trustworthy travellers who have visited and written
about these regions. The whole plain was covered with
these owls. Each hole seemed to be the residence of an
owl and a doggie, and these incongruous couples lived
together apparently in perfect harmony.
We have not been able to ascertain from travellers
why
the owls have gone to live with these doggies, so
we beg humbly to offer our own private opinion to the
reader. We assume, then, that owls find it absolutely
needful to have holes. Probably prairie-owls cannot dig
holes for themselves. Having discovered, however, a
race of little creatures that could, they very likely determined
to take forcible possession of the holes made
by them. Finding, no doubt, that when they did so
the doggies were too timid to object, and discovering,
moreover, that they were sweet, innocent little creatures,
the owls resolved to take them into partnership,
and so the thing was settled--that's how it came about,
no doubt of it!
There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes
also; but we cannot certify our reader of the truth of
this. Still it is well to be acquainted with a report that
is current among the men of the backwoods. If it be
true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family is the
most miscellaneous and remarkable on the face of--or,
as Henri said, in the bo'-els of the earth.
Dick and his friends were so deeply absorbed in
watching these curious little creatures that they did not
observe the rapid spread of the black clouds over the
sky. A few heavy drops of rain now warned them to
seek shelter, so wheeling round they dashed off at full
speed for the clump of willows, which they gained just
as the rain began to descend in torrents.
"Now, lads, do it slick. Off packs and saddles," cried
Joe Blunt, jumping from his horse. "I'll make a hut
for ye, right off."
"A hut, Joe! what sort o' hut can ye make here?"
inquired Dick.
"Ye'll see, boy, in a minute."
"Ach! lend me a hand here, Dick; de bockle am
tight as de hoss's own skin. Ah! dere all right."
"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed Dick, as Crusoe
advanced with something in his mouth. "I declare, it's
a bird o' some sort."
"A prairie-hen," remarked Joe, as Crusoe laid the
bird at Dick's feet; "capital for supper."
"Ah! dat chien is superb! goot dog. Come here, I
vill clap you."
But Crusoe refused to be caressed. Meanwhile, Joe
and Dick formed a sort of beehive-looking hut by
bending down the stems of a tall bush and thrusting
their points into the ground. Over this they threw the
largest buffalo robe, and placed another on the ground
below it, on which they laid their packs of goods.
These they further secured against wet by placing
several robes over them and a skin of parchment. Then
they sat down on this pile to rest, and consider what
should be done next.
"'Tis a bad look-out," said Joe, shaking his head.
"I fear it is," replied Dick in a melancholy tone.
Henri said nothing, but he sighed deeply on looking
up at the sky, which was now of a uniform watery gray,
while black clouds drove athwart it. The rain was
pouring in torrents, and the wind began to sweep it in
broad sheets over the plains, and under their slight covering,
so that in a short time they were wet to the skin.
The horses stood meekly beside them, with their tails
and heads equally pendulous; and Crusoe sat before his
master, looking at him with an expression that seemed
to say, "Couldn't you put a stop to this if you were to
try?"
"This'll never do. I'll try to git up a fire," said
Dick, jumping up in desperation.
"Ye may save yerself the trouble," remarked Joe
dryly--at least as dryly as was possible in the circumstances.
However, Dick did try, but he failed signally. Everything
was soaked and saturated. There were no large
trees; most of the bushes were green, and the dead ones
were soaked. The coverings were slobbery, the skins
they sat on were slobbery, the earth itself was slobbery;
so Dick threw his blanket (which was also slobbery)
round his shoulders, and sat down beside his companions
to grin and bear it. As for Joe and Henri, they were
old hands and accustomed to such circumstances. From
the first they had resigned themselves to their fate, and
wrapping their wet blankets round them sat down, side
by side, wisely to endure the evils that they could not
cure.
There is an old rhyme, by whom composed we know
not, and it matters little, which runs thus,--
/*
"For every evil under the sun
There is a remedy--or there's none.
*/
/*
If there is--try and find it;
If there isn't--never mind it!"
*/
There is deep wisdom here in small compass. The
principle involved deserves to be heartily recommended.
Dick never heard of the lines, but he knew the principle
well, so he began to "never mind it" by sitting down
beside his companions and whistling vociferously. As
the wind rendered this a difficult feat, he took to singing
instead. After that he said, "Let's eat a bite, Joe,
and then go to bed."
"Be all means," said Joe, who produced a mass of
dried deer's meat from a wallet.
"It's cold grub," said Dick, "and tough."
But the hunters' teeth were sharp and strong, so they
ate a hearty supper and washed it down with a drink
of rain water collected from a pool on the top of their
hut. They now tried to sleep, for the night was advancing,
and it was so dark that they could scarce see
their hands when held up before their faces. They sat
back to back, and thus, in the form of a tripod, began
to snooze. Joe's and Henri's seasoned frames would
have remained stiff as posts till morning; but Dick's
body was young and pliant, so he hadn't been asleep a
few seconds when he fell forward into the mud and
effectually awakened the others. Joe gave a grunt,
and Henri exclaimed, "Hah!" but Dick was too sleepy
and miserable to say anything. Crusoe, however, rose
up to show his sympathy, and laid his wet head on his
master's knee as he resumed his place. This catastrophe
happened three times in the space of an hour, and by
the third time they were all awakened up so thoroughly
that they gave up the attempt to sleep, and amused
each other by recounting their hunting experiences and
telling stories. So engrossed did they become that day
broke sooner than they had expected, and just in proportion
as the gray light of dawn rose higher into the
eastern sky did the spirits of these weary men rise
within their soaking bodies.
The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalohunt and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawneesdiscovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of ambassador
.
Fortunately the day that succeeded the dreary
night described in the last chapter was warm
and magnificent. The sun rose in a blaze of splendour,
and filled the atmosphere with steam from the moist
earth.
The unfortunates in the wet camp were not slow to
avail themselves of his cheering rays. They hung up
everything on the bushes to dry, and by dint of extreme
patience and cutting out the comparatively dry hearts
of several pieces of wood, they lighted a fire and boiled
some rain-water, which was soon converted into soup.
This, and the exercise necessary for the performance of
these several duties, warmed and partially dried them;
so that when they once more mounted their steeds and
rode away, they were in a state of comparative comfort
and in excellent spirits. The only annoyance was the
clouds of mosquitoes and large flies that assailed men
and horses whenever they checked their speed.
"I tell ye wot it is," said Joe Blunt, one fine morning
about a week after they had begun to cross the prairie,
"it's my 'pinion that we'll come on buffaloes soon. Them
tracks are fresh, an' yonder's one o' their wallers that's
bin used not long agone."
"I'll go have a look at it," cried Dick, trotting away
as he spoke.
Everything in these vast prairies was new to Dick
Varley, and he was kept in a constant state of excitement
during the first week or two of his journey. It
is true he was quite familiar with the names and habits
of all the animals that dwelt there; for many a time and
oft had he listened to the "yarns" of the hunters and
trappers of the Mustang Valley, when they returned
laden with rich furs from their periodical hunting expeditions.
But this knowledge of his only served to
whet his curiosity and his desire to
see
the denizens of
the prairies with his own eyes; and now that his wish
was accomplished, it greatly increased the pleasures of
his journey.
Dick had just reached the "wallow" referred to by
Joe Blunt, and had reined up his steed to observe it
leisurely, when a faint hissing sound reached his ear.
Looking quickly back, he observed his two companions
crouching on the necks of their horses, and slowly descending
into a hollow of the prairie in front of them,
as if they wished to bring the rising ground between
them and some object in advance. Dick instantly followed
their example, and was soon at their heels.
"Ye needn't look at the waller," whispered Joe, "for
a' tother side o' the ridge there's a bull
wallerin
'."
"Ye don't mean it!" exclaimed Dick, as they all dismounted
and picketed their horses to the plain.
"Oui," said Henri, tumbling off his horse, while a
broad grin overspread his good-natured countenance,
"it is one fact! One buffalo bull be wollerin' like a
enormerous hog. Also, dere be t'ousands o' buffaloes
farder on."
"Can ye trust yer dog keepin' back?" inquired Joe,
with a dubious glance at Crusoe.
"Trust him! Ay, I wish I was as sure o' myself."
"Look to yer primin', then, an' we'll have tongues
and marrow bones for supper to-night, I'se warrant.
Hist! down on yer knees and go softly. We might
ha' run them down on horseback, but it's bad to wind
yer beasts on a trip like this, if ye can help it; an' it's
about as easy to stalk them. Leastways, we'll try.
Lift yer head slowly, Dick, an' don't show more nor the
half o't above the ridge."
Dick elevated his head as directed, and the scene that
met his view was indeed well calculated to send an
electric shock to the heart of an ardent sportsman.
The vast plain beyond was absolutely blackened with
countless herds of buffaloes, which were browsing on