The three hunters crossed the plain in the teeth of the howling drift, and cautiously approached the bluff referred to by Roy, and from behind which the smoke ascended.
Its a camp fire, whispered Robin, as he glanced back at his companions, but I see no one there. They must have just left the place.
There was a shade of anxiety in the hunters voice as he spoke, for he thought of Fort Enterprise, its defenceless condition, and the possibility of the Indians having gone thither.
They cant have gone to the Fort, said Walter, else we should have seen their tracks on the way hither.
Come, said Robin, stepping forward quickly, we can see their tracks now, anyhow, and follow them up, and if they lead to the Fort.
The hunter did not finish his sentence, for at that moment he caught sight of the recumbent form of Wapaw in the camp.
Hist! A redskin alone, and asleep! Well, I never did xpect to see that.
Mayhap, hes a decoy-duck, suggested Walter. Better look sharp out.
Robin and Roy heeded not the caution. They at once went forward, and the father lifted the blanket from the Indians head.
Dead! exclaimed Roy, in a solemn tone.
Not yet, lad! but I do blieve the poor critters amost gone wi starvation. Come, bestir you, boysrouse up the fire, and boil the kettle.
Walter and Roy did not require a second bidding. The kettle was ere long singing on a blazing fire. The Indians limbs were chafed and warmed; a can of hot tea was administered, and Wapaw soon revived sufficiently to look up and thank his deliverers.
Now, as good luck has it, I chanced to leave my hand-sled at the Wolfs Glen. Go, fetch it, Roy, said Robin.
The lad set off at once, and, as the glen was not far distant, soon returned with a flat wooden sledge, six feet long by eighteen inches broad, on which trappers are wont to pack their game in winter. On this sledge Wapaw was firmly tied, and dragged by the hunters to Fort Enterprise.
Hast got a deer, father? cried little Nelly, as she bounded in advance of her mother to meet the returning party.
No, Nellytis dearer game than that.
What? a redskin! exclaimed Dame Gore in surprise; is he dead?
No, nor likely to die, said Robin, hes in a starvin state though, anll be none the worse of a bit of our New Years dinner. Here is game enough for one meal an more; come, lass, get it ready as fast as may be.
So saying the bold hunter passed through the Fort gate, dragging the red man behind him.
Chapter Three.
Preparations for a Feast
Why so grave, Robin? inquired Mrs Gore, when her husband returned to the parlour after seeing Wapaw laid in a warm corner of the kitchen, and committed to the care of Larry ODowd.
Molly, my dear, its of no use concealin things from you, cause when bad luck falls we must just face it. This InjunWapaw, he calls himselftells me he has comd here a-purpose, as fast as he could, to say that his tribe have resolved to attack me, burn the Fort, kill all the men, and carry you off into slavery.
God help me! can this be true?
True enough, I dont doubt, cause Wapaw has the face of an honest man, and I believe in faces. He says some of the worst men of his tribe are in power just now; that they want the contents of my store without paying for them; that he tried to get them to give up the notion, but failed. On seeing that they were bent on it, he said he was going off to hunt, and came straight here to warn me. He says they talked of starting for the Fort two days after he did, and that he pushed on as fast as he could travel, so its not likely theyll be here for two or three days yet. Ill get ready for them, howsever, and when the reptiles do come theyll meet with a warm reception, I warrant them; meanwhile, do you go and get dinner ready. We wont let such varmints interfere with our New Years feast.
While Robins wife went to her larder, his children were in the kitchen tending the Indian with earnest solicitude, and Larry was preparing a little soup for him.
Do you like rabbit soup? asked Nelly, kneeling beside the pallet of pine branches on which Wapaw lay.
The Indian smiled, and said something in his native tongue.
Sure he dont onderstan ye, exclaimed Larry, as he bustled in an energetic way amongst his pots and pans.
Let me try him with Cree, said Roy, kneeling beside his sister, I know a littlea very little Cree.
Roy tried his very little Cree, but without success.
Its o no use, he said, father must talk to him, for he knows every language on earth, I believe.
Roys idea of the number of languages on earth was very limited.
Och! dont bother him, see, here is a lingo that every wan onderstans, cried Larry, carrying a can of hot soup towards Wapaw.
Oh, let me! do let me! cried Nelly, jumping up and seizing the can.
Be all manes, said Larry, resigning it.
The child once more knelt by the side of the Indian and held the can to him, while he conveyed the soup to his lips with a trembling, unsteady hand. The eyes of the poor man glittered as he gazed eagerly at the food, which he ate with the avidity of a half-famished wolf.
His nurses looked on with great satisfaction, and when Wapaw glanced up from time to time in their faces, he was advised to continue his meal with nods and smiles of goodwill.
Great preparations were made for the dinner of that New Years Day. Those who dwell at home at ease have no idea of the peculiar feelings with which the worlds wanderers hail the season of Christmas and New Year. Surrounded as they usually are by strange scenes, and ignorant as they are of what friends at home are doing or thinking, they lay hold of this season as being one point at least in the circle of the year in which they can unite with the home circle, and, at the same time, commemorate with them the birth of the blessed Saviour of mankind, and think with them of absent friends. Much, therefore, as the happy season is made of in the old country, it is made more of, if possible, in the colonies; especially on the outskirts of the world, where the adventurous and daring have pitched their tents.
Of course Robin Gore and his household did not think of the old country, for they were descendants of settlers; but they had imbibed the spirit of the old country from their forefathers, and thought of those well-remembered friends whom they had left behind them in the settlements.
Notwithstanding the delay caused by the conveying of Wapaw to the Fort, the hunters had walked so fast that there was still some time to spare before dinner should be ready.
Roy resolved to devote this time to a ramble in the woods with his sister Nelly. Accordingly the two put on their snow-shoes, and, merely saying to their mother that they were going to take a run in the woods, set forth.
Now, it must be known that Mrs Gore had looked forward to New Years Day dinner with great interest and much anxiety. There was a general feeling of hilarity and excitement among the male members of the self-exiled family that extended itself to the good woman, and induced her to resolve that the entire household should have what Walter styled a rare blow-out! During the whole morning she had been busy with the preparation of the various dishes, among which were a tart made of cloudberry jam, a salt goose, and a lump of bears ham, besides the rabbits and ptarmigan which had been shot that day.