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Title: The Pioneers
Author: R.M. Ballantyne
Release Date: June 6, 2007 [EBook #21691]
Language: English
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THE PIONEERS, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
PREFACE.
Sir Alexander Mackenzie was one of the most energetic and successful of
the discoverers who have traversed the vast wilderness of British
America. He did his work single-handed, with slender means, and slight
encouragement, at a time when discovery was rare and the country almost
_terra incognita_. The long and difficult route, so recently traversed
by the Red River Expedition, was, to Sir Alexander, but the small
beginning of his far-reaching travels. He traced the great river which
bears his name to its outlet in the Polar Sea, and was the first to
cross the Rocky Mountains in those latitudes and descend to the Pacific
ocean.
Being a man of action, and not particularly enamoured of the pen, his
journal [For a sight of which apply to the British Museum, London, or
the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh]--full though it be of important and
most interesting facts--is a bare and unadorned though valuable record
of progress made, of work done, which is unsuited to juvenile minds,
besides being bulky and scarce.
Having spent some years in Rupert's Land, and seen something of Red
Indian and fur-trading life, I have ventured to weave the incidents of
Sir Alexander's narratives into a story which, it is hoped, may prove
interesting to the young--perchance, also, to the old.
I take this opportunity of acknowledging myself deeply indebted to Sir
Alexander's daughter, Miss Mackenzie, and to his two sons, for kindly
placing at my disposal all the information in their possession.
R.M.B.
EDINBURGH, 1872.
CHAPTER ONE.
SHOWS HOW IT BEGAN.
"The world is round," said somebody in ancient times to somebody else.
"Not at all; it is flat--flat as a pancake," replied somebody else to
somebody; "and if you were to travel far enough you might get to the end
of it and tumble over the edge, if so disposed."
Ever since the commencement of this early geographical controversy, men
have been labouring with more or less energy and success to ascertain
the form and character of the earth; a grand, glorious labour it has
been; resulting in blessings innumerable to mankind--blessings both
spiritual and temporal.
We have heard some people object to geographical discovery, especially
in the inclement parts of the earth, on the ground that it could be of
no use, and involved great risk to life and limb. "Of no use!" Who can
tell what discoveries shall be useful and what useless? "The works of
God are great, sought out of all those that have pleasure therein,"
saith the Scripture. There is no reference here to usefulness, but the
searching out of God's works, without limitation, is authorised; and
those who "take pleasure therein," will be content to leave the result
of their labours in the hands of Him who sent them forth. As to
"risk,"--why, a carpenter cannot ascend to the top of a house to put the
rafters thereon without risk; a chemist cannot investigate the
properties of certain fumes without risk; you cannot even eat your
dinner without risk. Only this are we sure of--that, if man had never
undertaken labour except when such was _obviously_ useful and devoid of
risk, the world would still be in the darkness of the Middle Ages.
Reuben Guff held these sentiments, or something like them; and Reuben
was a man who had seen a great deal of life in his day, although at the
time we introduce him to public notice he had not lived more than
six-and-thirty summers. He was a bronzed, stalwart Canadian. His
father had been Scotch, his mother of French extraction; and Reuben
possessed the dogged resolution of the Scot with the vivacity of the
Frenchman. In regard to his tastes and occupation we shall let him
speak for himself.
Sitting under a pine-tree, in the wild wilderness that lies to the north
of Canada with the drumstick of a goose in one hand and a scalping-knife
in the other; with a log-fire in front of him, and his son, a stripling
of sixteen, by his side, he delivered himself of the following
sentiments:--
"I tell 'ee what it is, Lawrence," (the lad was named after the great
river on the banks of which he had been reared), "I was born to be a
pioneer. Ever since I was the height of a three-fut rule I've had a
skunner at the settlements and a love for the wilderness that I couldn't
overcome nohow. Moreover, I wouldn't overcome it if I could, for it's
my opinion that He who made us knows what He wants us to do, an' has
given us sitch feelin's and inclinations as will lead us to do it, if we
don't run mad after _notions_ of our own, as the folk in the settlements
are raither apt to do."
Here some of the "notions" referred to appeared to tickle the fancy of
the backwoodsman, for he paused to indulge in a quiet chuckle which
wrinkled up all the lines of good-humour and fun in his rough
countenance. After applying himself for a few seconds with much energy
to the drumstick,--he resumed his discourse in a slow, deliberate style
of speech which was peculiar to him:--
"Yes, Lawrence, my lad, I've made it my business ever since I was
fifteen to explore this here wilderness, livin' by my gun and guidin'
the fur-traders on their v'yages, or consorting with the Injins, as you
know very well; and, now that we've come to the big lake it is needful
to tell 'ee that I'm still bent on followin' out my callin'. I'm goin'
away to the nor'ard to explore, and you'll have to make up your mind
to-night whether _you_ will be my steersman or whether I'm to lay that
dooty on Swiftarrow. I needn't say which I'd like best."
The hunter finished the drumstick at this point, threw the bone into the
fire, lighted his pipe, and awaited his son's answer in silence.
But the son appeared to be in no hurry to reply; for, after giving his
father a glance and nod, which were meant to say, "I hear and I'll
consider, but I'm too much engaged just now to speak," he continued his
occupation of devouring venison steaks, the sauce to which was evidently
hunger.
Having finished his supper and lighted his pipe he became more
communicative.
"Father," he said, "you have always advised me to think well before
speaking."
"I have, lad; it's the natur' of our forefathers an' a very good natur'
too. I'd be sorry to see it go out of the family."
"Well, then; I've thought my best about goin' with 'ee on this trip,"
returned the youth, "an' I've resolved to go on one condition--that
Swiftarrow goes with us."
"Why so, my son? we don't need him."
"Perhaps not, but I like him; for he has taught me all that I know of
woodcraft, and I'm certain that if you and I both leave him he'll be
sure to return to the new settlement at the south end of Ontario, and
you know what the end of that would be."
"Death by drinkin'," replied Reuben Guff shaking his head slowly, while
he watched the upward flight of a ring of white smoke that had just
issued from his lips.
"Well, I won't leave him to _that_," continued the youth, with sudden
energy of manner and look, "as long as my name is Lawrence. You know
that nothin' would please me more than goin' to explore the wilderness
with you, father; but if Swiftarrow is to be left behind, there shall be
no pioneering for me. Besides, three are better than two on such a
trip, and the Injin will be sure to keep the pot full, no matter what
sort o' country we may have to pass through, for he's a dead shot wi'
the gun as well as wi' the bow."
"I daresay you're right, lad," replied Reuben, in a tone of one who
muses. "There's room in the canoe for three, and it's not unlikely that
the Injin would go south to the settlement, for he is a lonely man since
his poor mother died. I do believe that it was nothin' but his
extraor'nar' love for that old 'ooman that kep' him from goin' to the
dogs. Leastwise it was that kep' him from goin' to the settlement,
which is much the same thing, for Swiftarrow can't resist fire-water.
Yes, lad, you're right--so we'll take him with us. As you say, three
are better than two on such a v'yage."
Some weeks after the foregoing conversation the pioneers arrived at the
northern end of that great inland sea, Lake Superior, which, being
upwards of four hundred miles long, and one hundred and seventy-five
miles broad, presents many of the features of Ocean itself. This end of
the lake was, at the time we write of, and still is, an absolute
wilderness, inhabited only by scattered tribes of Indians, and almost
untouched by the hand of the white man, save at one spot, where the
fur-traders had planted an isolated establishment. At this point in the
wild woods the representatives of the fur-traders of Canada were wont to
congregate for the settlement of their affairs in the spring of every
year, and from this point also trading-parties were despatched in canoes
into the still more remote parts of the great northern wilderness,
whence they returned with rich cargoes of furs received from the "red
men" in exchange for powder and shot, guns, hatchets, knives, cloth,
twine, fish-hooks, and such articles as were suited to the tastes and
wants of a primitive and wandering people.
Here Reuben Guff and his son found Swiftarrow, as they had expected, and
proposed to him that he should accompany them on their voyage north,--a
proposal which he accepted with pleasure,--for the strong-boned Indian
had an adventurous spirit as well as a healthy frame.
Swiftarrow was a brave and powerful Indian, and was esteemed one of the
best hunters of his tribe; but no one seeing him in camp in a quiescent
state would have thought him to be possessed of much energy, for he was
slow and deliberate in his movements, and withal had a lazy look about
his eyes. But the sight of a bear or moose-deer had the effect of
waking him up in a way that caused his dark eyes to flash and his large
frame to move with cat-like activity.
When Reuben Guff discovered him on the shore of Lake Superior, he was
seated at the door of his skin lodge, anointing his hair, which was long
and black, with bear's grease--the "genuine article," without even the
admixture of a drop of scent!--so pure, in fact, that the Indian basted
his steaks and anointed his hair with grease from the same box.
"Hallo! Swiftarrow," exclaimed Reuben, as he sauntered up to the
savage, with his gun on his shoulder, "ye seem to be beautifyin' yerself
to-day--not goin' to get married, eh?"
Swiftarrow, whose long hair hung over his face like a glossy curtain,
tossed aside his locks and gazed earnestly at the hunter. A slight
smile and a pleasant gleam lighted up his dark countenance as he wiped
his greasy right hand on his legging and extended it, exclaiming,
"watchee!" by which he meant, what cheer?
"What cheer? what cheer?" replied Reuben, with a broad but quiet grin,
as he shook his friend's hand heartily.
Each man understood the other's language perfectly; but each appeared to
prefer to talk in his own tongue; for while Reuben addressed the red man
in English, Swiftarrow replied in Indian. This had been an understood
arrangement between them ever since the time when, as lads, they had
first met and formed a close friendship, on the shores of Lake Huron.
"Is my brother's trail to be through the woods or on the waters? Does
he go hunting or trading?" inquired the Indian, after the first
salutations were over.
"Well, I may say that I'm neither goin' a-huntin' or tradin'--here, fill
yer pipe wi' baccy from my pouch; it's better than yours, I'll be bound.
In a manner, too, I'm goin' both to hunt an' trade in a small way; but
my main business on this trip is to be diskivery."
The Indian uttered a sound, which meant that he did not understand.
"I'm goin' to sarch out new lands," explained Reuben, "away to the far
north. I've heard it said by Injins that have wandered to the nor'ard
that they've met in with red-skins, who said that there is a big river
flowin' out o' a great lake in the direction o' the north pole, an' that
it runs into the sea there. They may be tellin' truth, or they may be
tellin' lies; I dun know; anyhow, I'm koorious to know somethin' about
it, so I'm goin' north to see for myself, and I've comed to ask if
Swiftarrow will go with me."
The hunter paused, but the Indian remained silently smoking his long
stone-headed pipe, or calumet, with a countenance so grave and
expressionless, that no idea of his sentiments could be gathered from
it. After a brief pause, Reuben continued--
"It won't be altogether a trip of diskivery neither, for I've got some
bales of goods with me, and as we go in a small birch canoe, we'll
travel light; but I hope to come back sunk to the gunwale with furs, for
the red-skins of the far north are like enough to have plenty of pelts,
and they won't ask much for them. As to grub, you and I could manage to
supply ourselves wi' lots o' that anywheres, and I've got plenty of
powder and lead. Moreover, my boy Lawrence is goin' with me."
During the foregoing remarks, the Indian's countenance betrayed no sign
of feeling until the name of Lawrence was mentioned, when a gleam of
satisfaction shot from his eyes. Removing the pipe from his lips, he
puffed a volume of smoke through his nostrils, and said:--
"Swiftarrow will go."
Backwoodsmen seldom take long to mature their plans, and are generally
prompt to carry them into execution. Two days after the brief
conversation above narrated, the three friends pushed off in their
little birch-bark canoe and paddled up the stream which leads to the
Kakabeka Falls on the Kamenistaquoia River. Surmounting this obstacle
by the simple process of carrying the canoe and her lading past the
falls by land, and relaunching on the still water above, they continued
their voyage day by day, encamping under the trees by night, until they
had penetrated far and deep into the heart of the northern wilderness,
and had even passed beyond the most distant establishments of the
adventurous fur-traders.
The world of forest, swamp, lake, and river, that still, however, lay
between them and the land which they sought to reach, was very wide.
Weeks, and even months, would certainly elapse before they could hope to
approach it; one day, therefore, they buried their goods and stores in a
convenient place, intending to dig them up on their return, and
meanwhile turned aside into a country which promised to afford them a
good supply of fresh provisions for the voyage north.
Here an adventure befell them which brought their voyage of discovery,
at that time, to an abrupt close.
CHAPTER TWO.
TERRIBLE DISCOVERIES AND ALTERED PLANS.
"Ho!" ejaculated Swiftarrow.
"Smoke!" exclaimed Reuben Guff.
Both men spoke at the same moment,--their discovery having been
simultaneous. At the same time Lawrence pointed with the blade of his
paddle to a thin line of smoke which rose above the tree-tops into the
blue sky, and was faithfully mirrored in the lake on which they floated.
"Injins!" said Reuben, resting his steering paddle across the canoe for
a few seconds.
Swiftarrow assented with another "Ho," and Lawrence moved his gun into a
handy position to be ready for an emergency; but there was no other sign
of man's presence than the wreath of smoke. All was perfectly silent.
The air too was quite still, and the surface of the lake resembled a
sheet of glass.
"Strange," observed Reuben, "red-skins ain't usually so shy. If they
mean mischief they don't ever let smoke be seen, an' when they don't
mean mischief they generally show themselves. Come, push on, lads;
we'll go see what's i' the wind."
"I'll show them the muzzle, father," said Lawrence, laying down his
paddle and taking up his gun: "it may be well to let 'em see that we
have arms."
"No need for that, boy. If they know anything at all, they know that
white men don't go about in the wilderness empty-handed. Put down the
piece, and use your paddle."
Thus reproved, Lawrence flushed slightly, but obeyed the order and
resumed paddling.
In a few minutes they were on shore. Still all was silent as the grave.
Hauling the bow of the canoe on the beach to keep it fast, the three
men took their weapons, and, entering the woods in single file, walked
cautiously but swiftly in the direction of the smoke. They soon reached
the spot, and the scene which met their eyes was one which, while it
accounted for the silence that reigned around, filled their minds with
sadness and horror.
In an open space, where a number of trees had been cut down, stood about
a dozen skin tents or Indian lodges, some with the curtain-doors closed,
others open, exposing the interiors, on the floors of which the dead
bodies of Indian men, women, and children, lay in every attitude and in
all stages of decomposition. Outside of the tents other corpses lay
strewn on the ground, and most of these bore evidence of having been
more or less torn by wolves. The travellers knew at a glance that these
unfortunate people had fallen before that terrible disease, small-pox,
which had recently attacked and almost depopulated several districts of
the Indian country.
How the disease was introduced among the Indians at the time of which we
write, it is impossible to say and useless to conjecture. The fact of
its desolating effects is unquestionable. One who dwelt in the country
at the time writes: [See Sir Alexander Mackenzie's _Voyages_, page 14.]
"The fatal infection spread around with a baneful rapidity which no
flight could escape, and with a fatal effect that nothing could resist.
It destroyed with its pestilential breath whole families and tribes; and
the horrid scene presented, to those who had the melancholy opportunity
of beholding it, a combination of the dead, the dying, and such as, to
avoid the fate of their friends around them, prepared to disappoint the
plague of its prey by terminating their own existence. To aggravate the
picture, if aggravation were possible, the carcases were dragged forth
from the huts by the wolves, or were mangled within them by the dogs,
which thus sought to satisfy their hunger with the putrid remains of
their masters. It was not uncommon at this time for the father of a
family, whom the infection had not reached, to call his household around
him, represent the terrible sufferings and fate that awaited them, which
he believed was owing to the influence of an evil spirit who desired to
extirpate the race, and incited them to baffle death with all its
horrors by at once killing themselves--at the same time offering to
perform the deed of mercy with his own hand if their hearts should fail
them."
That some of the dead before our pioneers had acted in this way was
evident, for while most of the corpses bore marks of having been smitten
with the disease, others were there which showed nothing to account for
death save a knife wound over the region of the heart.
It was a sad and sickening sight, and drew forth one or two low-toned
sorrowful remarks from Reuben, as he moved slowly towards the tent from
which smoke still issued.
The three men paused before it because a sound came from within, and
they felt reluctant to disturb the awful silence. The pause, however,
was but momentary. Reuben lifted the covering and opened it wide. A
small fire still burned on the hearth in the centre of the lodge; around
it lay the bodies of dead men, women, and children. Only one figure,
that of an old woman, remained in a half-reclining position, but she was
motionless, and they thought her dead also. This, however, was not the
case. The flood of light which streamed in on her appeared to rouse
her, for she raised her grey head, and, gazing anxiously at the figures
which darkened the entrance of the lodge, asked in a tremulous voice:
"Is that you, my son?"
"No, mother, but it is a friend," said Swiftarrow, who understood her
language.
"A friend," repeated the old woman, shaking her head slowly, "I don't
want a friend. The Master of Life is my friend. My people said that an
evil spirit was slaying them; but I know better. It was the Great
Spirit who came to us. We have been very wicked. We needed punishment.
But why has He spared me? I was the worst of them all."
There was something terrible in the tone and manner in which this was
uttered, as if the breast of the speaker were torn with conflicting
feelings.
"She must have met wi' the missionaries some time or other," whispered
Reuben.
"Is the old woman the only one of all the tribe left alive?" asked
Swiftarrow.
"Ay, the only one--no, not the _only_ one; my son is yet alive. He went
to set a bear-trap not _very_ long since; but he should have come back
before now. He will be back soon."
The deep sigh which followed proved that the poor old woman was hoping
against hope.
"How long is't since he left you, mother?" asked Lawrence eagerly.
"Two suns have risen and set since he left, and he had not far to go."
"Father, I'll go seek for this man," said Lawrence; "something may have
befallen him."
Reuben made no objection, and the youth set off immediately in a
direction which was pointed out by the old woman.
After he was gone his father and the Indian shifted one of the cleanest
looking of the empty tents to a considerable distance from the spot
where the terrible work of death had been done, and removing the old
woman from the neighbourhood of the pestilential atmosphere, placed her
therein, kindled a fire and cooked her a little food, of which she
evidently stood much in need.
Meanwhile Lawrence sped through the pathless forest with the light step
of a strong youth and the precision of a practised hunter. About four
miles from the Indian camp he came upon the track of a bear, the
footprints of which proved that it was an unusually large one. He
followed it up closely, and was led by it to a spot where some trees had
been cut down, and not far from which he saw what appeared to him to be
the remains of a trap. Almost at the same moment of his making this
discovery he heard a growl, and saw the bear itself--a monster of the
brown species, which differs from the ordinary black bear of America in
being more carnivorous and much larger, as well as more savage and bold.
No sooner did it see the youth than it rushed upon him with great fury.
A piece of broken line was drawn tight round its neck, and another
piece round its fore-leg, while four arrows stuck in its shoulder and
side, showing plainly that it had broken loose from a snare and had been
attacked by man. But Lawrence had no time to think on these things. He
had barely time to throw forward and cock his gun when the bear was upon
him. It rose on its hind-legs, and in doing so towered high above the
youth, who, whatever his feelings might have been, looked undismayed.
With an unflinching eye he took aim at the monster's heart, and shot it
dead. So close was it to him that he singed the hair on its breast and
had to leap to one side to avoid being struck as it fell.
Reloading quickly, the young hunter advanced towards the trap, where his
worst fears were realised, for near to it he found the body of an Indian
torn limb from limb, and mostly eaten, except the head, which remained
entire. It was evident that the poor man, having set several snares for
bears, had gone to visit them, and found this brown bear caught by the
head and leg. He seemed to have tried to kill it with arrows, but must
have been afraid to go near enough to use his weapons with effect, and
the enraged animal, having broken the snare, flew upon him and tore him
to pieces.
Brown bears of this kind are very powerful. One traveller in these
regions saw the footprints of a large one, which, having seized a
moose-deer in a river, dragged it for a quarter of a mile along the
sandy banks, and afterwards devoured it all except part of the
hind-quarters; and the moose which had been treated in this
unceremonious way, judging from the size and hardness of the bones, must
have been upwards of a year old, when it would weigh as much as an ox of
the same age.
Collecting the scattered remnants of the unfortunate Indian, who was no
other than the old woman's son, Lawrence covered them over with leaves
and sticks. He then skinned the bear and cut off its claws, which he
carried away as trophies, along with one or two choice steaks cut from
the creature's flank. He also collected the weapons and part of the
dress of the Indian, with which he returned to the camp.
"Heyday! Lawrence, what have you got there, lad?" said Reuben, as his
son came up and threw the bundle on the ground.
"A brown bear, father."
"Well done!" exclaimed Reuben, with a look of pride, for although his
son had shot many a black bear in the forest, he had never before stood
face to face with such a monster as that whose skin and claws now lay at
his feet.
"It would have been well, father," said Lawrence gravely, "if the man
who first saw this had owned a gun. His arrows were no better than
needles in such a hide. See here!"
He drew from his breast the bloody portions of dress which had belonged
to the slaughtered Indian.
"The son of the old woman has gone to the happy hunting-grounds," said
Swiftarrow, referring to the heaven of the Indian, as he lifted and
examined the dress.
"Ay, ay," said Reuben sadly, "'tis the chances of the wilderness. You'd
better tell the poor old creetur', Swiftarrow; you understand her ways
and lingo better than me."
Silently the Indian went to the old woman, and laid the bloody garments
before her. At first she did not understand what had happened.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon her, and she looked quickly up into the
grave countenance of the Indian, but death and sorrow appeared to have
already done their worst on her, for she neither spoke nor wept for some
time. She took up the shreds of cloth and turned them over tenderly;
but neither sign nor groan escaped her. Evidently she had been already
so stunned by the horrors which had surrounded her for some time, that
this additional blow did not tell--at least, not at first--but Reuben
observed, while trying to comfort her some time afterwards, that a few
tears were coursing slowly down her withered cheeks.
That night, round the camp-fire, the pioneers held earnest counsel, and
resolved, sadly but firmly, that their projected journey must be given
up for that season.
"It's a hard thing to do," said Reuben, as he lay at full length before
the fire after supper, "to give up our plans after comin' so far; but it
ain't possible to carry that old 'ooman along with us an' it's not to be
thought of to leave her behind to starve, so there's nothin' for it but
to go back an' take her wi' us to the settlements. I would feel like a
murderer if I was to leave one o' God's creeturs to perish in the
wilderness. What think you, Lawrence?"
"I think you are right, father," replied the youth, with a deep sigh.
"An' what says Swiftarrow?"
"Go back," was the Indian's prompt and laconic answer.
"Well, then, we're all agreed, so we'll turn back on our trail
to-morrow; but I shall try again next year if I'm above ground. I once
know'd a Yankee who had what he called a motto, an' it was this, `Never
give in, 'xcept w'en yer wrong.' I think I'll take to that motto. It
seems to me a good 'un."
In proof, we presume, of his sincerity, Reuben Guff rolled himself in
his blanket, stretched his feet towards the fire, pillowed his head on a
bundle of moss, and at once _gave in_ to the seductive influences of
sleep; an example which was so irresistible that his companions followed
it without delay.
CHAPTER THREE.
INTRODUCES THE KING OF PIONEERS.
Discarding space and ignoring time, we seize you by the hand, reader,
and bound away with you still deeper into the northern wilderness, away
into that remote region which, at the time we write of, was the _ultima
thule_ of the fur-traders of Canada,--beyond which lay the great unknown
world, stretching to the pole. Here, amid the grand scenery of the
Rocky Mountains, lies the Athabasca Lake, also styled the Lake of the
Hills. We prefer the latter name, as being more romantic.
This is no pretty pond such as we in England are wont to visit and
delight in during our summer holidays. It is a great sheet of water; a
grand fresh-water sea, 200 miles long and 15 miles broad--a fitting gem
for the bosom of the mighty region on which it glitters.
A year has fled since the period of our last chapter, and here, in a
birch-bark canoe on the waters of the Lake of the Hills, we find our
pioneers--Reuben Guff, his son Lawrence, and his Indian friend
Swiftarrow. There is also a young Indian woman in the canoe--
Swiftarrow's wife.
The kind-hearted red man adopted the old woman who had been rescued on
their previous trip, but, not finding her a good substitute for his own
mother, he bethought him of adding a young squaw to his establishment.
While he meditated on this step, the old woman died. About the same
time Reuben Guff made proposals to him to join him on a second "v'yage
of diskivery." The Indian agreed; got married off-hand, and took his
bride along with him. We now find them all four at the Lake of the
Hills.
It may be as well to observe, in passing, that Indian brides are usually
more robust than those of civilised communities. They are quite
competent to follow their lords on the most arduous canoe voyages, and,
besides being able to wield the paddle with great dexterity, are
exceedingly useful in managing what may be styled the domestic matters
of the camp. They also keep up a constant supply of the Indian's
indispensable foot-gear--moccasins--which are so slender in their nature
that a pair may be completely worn-out in a single day of hard hunting.
The brown bride, therefore, was not a hindrance to the party, but a
useful member of it, as well as a pleasant companion. True, her
companionship consisted chiefly in answering "yes" and "no" when spoken
to, and in smiling pleasantly at all times; but this was sufficient to
satisfy the moderate demands of her male friends upon her intellectual
resources.
"Fort Chipewyan at _last_," said Reuben, resting his paddle across the
canoe and looking earnestly towards the horizon; "I hope we ain't too
late after all our pushin' on. It would be hard to find that Monsieur
Mackenzie had started."
"Too much ice in the lake," said Swiftarrow. "He has not gone yet."
"I'm not so sure o' that," observed Lawrence. "If reports be true,
Monsieur Mackenzie is not the man to wait until the ice is all off the
lakes and nothin' but plain sailin' lies before him."
"That's true, lad," replied Reuben, resuming his paddle. "I wonder," he
murmured to himself, as he gazed wistfully towards the unknown north, "I
wonder if the big river is really there, an' if it _do_ jine the sea?"
That same question was put to himself that same evening--though not for
the first time--by one of the inhabitants of Fort Chipewyan. The fort
was a mere group of two or three log-huts. In the largest of these huts
sat a man whose strongly-marked handsome countenance gave evidence of a
bold enterprising spirit and a resolute will. He pored over a map for
some time, carefully tracing a few pencil-lines into the blank spaces on
the paper, and then murmured, in words which were almost identical with
those of Reuben Guff, "I wonder if it joins the Polar Sea?"
This man was the true pioneer, or, rather, the king of pioneers, to whom
Guff gave place without a murmur, for Reuben was a modest man; and the
moment he heard that one of the gentlemen of the Canadian fur-trading
company had taken up his favourite hobby, and meant to work out the
problem, he resolved, as he said, "to play second fiddle," all the more
that the man who thus unwittingly supplanted him was a mountaineer of
the Scottish Highlands.
"It's of no manner of use, you see," he said to Swiftarrow, when
conversing on the subject, "for me to go off on a v'yage o' diskivery
w'en a gentleman like Monsieur Mackenzie, with a good edication an'
scienteefic knowledge and the wealth of a fur company at his back, is
goin' to take it in hand. No; the right thing for Reuben Guff to do in
the circumstances is to jine him an' play second fiddle--or third, if
need be."
Alexander Mackenzie--while seated in the lowly hut of that solitary
outpost poring over his map, trying to penetrate mentally into those
mysterious and unknown lands which lay just beyond him--saw, in
imagination, a great river winding its course among majestic mountains
towards the shores of the ice-laden polar seas. He also saw the lofty
peaks and snow-clad ridges of that mighty range which forms the
back-bone of the American continent, and--again in imagination--passed
beyond it and penetrated the vast wilderness to the Pacific, thus adding
new lands to the British Crown, and opening up new sources of wealth to
the fur company of which he was one of the most energetic members. He
saw all this in imagination, we say, but he did _not_, at that time, see
his name attached to one of the largest American rivers, classed with
the names of the most noted discoverers of the world, and himself
knighted. Still less, if possible, did he see, even in his wildest
flights of fancy, that the book of travels which he was destined to
write, would be translated into French by the order of Napoleon the
First, for the express purpose of being studied by Marshal Bernadotte,
with the view of enabling that warrior to devise a roundabout and
unlooked-for attack on Canada--in rear, as it were--from the region of
the northern wilderness--a fact which is well worthy of record! [See
Appendix for an interesting letter on the subject.]
None of these things loomed on the mind of the modest though romantic
and enterprising man, for at that time he was only at the beginning of
his career of discovery.
It may not be out of place here to say a word or two as to the early
career of the hero whose footsteps we are about to follow.
He was a Highlander, to begin with; and possessed all the fire and
determination peculiar to that race. At an early period of life he was
led to engage in commercial enterprises in the country north-west of
Lake Superior, joined the North-West Fur Company of Canada in 1784, and
went into the Indian country the following spring. It is not necessary
to say more than that Alexander Mackenzie proved himself to be a
first-rate fur-trader at a time when the fur-trade was carried on under
great difficulties and amid severe privations. For many years he was in
charge of Fort Chipewyan, the remote establishment to which we have just
conducted our reader. Seven years before his coming on the scene, the
Lake of the Hills had not been visited by white men, and was known only
through Indian report. When Mackenzie became ruler of the district, all
beyond the lake was _terra incognita_. His spirit was one which
thirsted to explore the unknown. He was eminently fitted both to hold
an advanced post and to invade new regions, being robust in
constitution, powerful in frame, inquisitive in mind, and enterprising
in spirit. Frequently had he arrived at Fort Chipewyan with ninety or a
hundred men without any provision for their sustenance for the winter
save their fishing-nets and guns. He was therefore accustomed to live
from hand to mouth, and to depend on his own exertions and resources in
a country where the winter is upwards of eight months long and the
severity of the climate extreme.
It was in June 1789 that he made preparations to start on his first
voyage of discovery.
Rising from the table at which he had been studying his projected route,
Mackenzie turned, with the air of a man who has made up his mind, and
said to a clerk who was smoking beside the fireplace--
"Le Roux, if we cannot prevail on these Indians to accompany us, I have
determined to start without them. Has the small canoe been gummed?"
"It has," answered Le Roux, "but I would advise delay for a day or two.
If we give them time, the Indians may change their minds; besides, the
ice has not yet sufficiently cleared away."
Mackenzie paced the room impatiently, and his eyes flashed for one
moment with impatience. They were deep blue eyes that could beam with
melting tenderness or sparkle with suppressed passion--it is but just to
add that passion in his case was usually suppressed, for he was a lover
of peace, as most truly great and powerful men usually are:
"Let us see now," he said, sitting down in front of Le Roux, "how our
resources stand. In my canoe there will be the four Canadians and the
German. Then there's our Indian friend, English Chief and his two
wives, who will embark in the second-sized canoe. The two young Indians
whom we want to accompany us with their wives must make up their minds
to-night, else I will start without them. Your own canoe with goods for
trade and provisions, will not be fully loaded; I shall therefore place
in it the provisions that we can't carry, and when we come to the place
where you are to stop and trade, and where I shall bid you farewell, we
shall doubtless have eaten our lading down sufficiently to take the
whole on board. See, by the way, that the goods and trinkets to be
given in presents as we go along are not placed in the wrong canoe."
"They are already laid with the other goods, and also the nets and
ammunition by themselves," said Le Roux, rising and laying down his
pipe.
At that moment Reuben Guff entered with his friends. The surprise of
Mackenzie was great on beholding them, but greater still was his delight
when he learned their errand. The young Indians were forthwith told
that their services would not now be required, and our friends--
including Swiftarrow's wife, Darkeye--were at once added to the
exploring party.
Next day the expedition set forth from Fort Chipewyan and swept over the
broad breast of the Lake of the Hills.
We will not trace their course over known ground. Suffice it to say
that their troubles began at once. Soon after leaving the lake they
came to a rapid part of the river which flows out of it, where they were
obliged to land and carry canoes and goods to the still water further
down, but here the ice was still unthawed on the banks, rendering the
process of reloading difficult. Soon after they came to a place called
the _Portage_ _d'Embarras_, which is occasioned by driftwood filling up
the channel of the river. There they entered the Slave River, where
there is a portage or carrying-place named the Mountain, the landing at
which is very steep and close to the fall. Below this fall there is a
mile of dangerous rapids--and here they met with their first disaster.
Reuben and Swiftarrow having landed with part of the cargo of the small
canoe, had left it in charge of Darkeye,--so named because of her large
and lustrous eyes, which, however, were the only good points about her,
for she was ill-favoured and clumsy, though strong of frame and a
diligent worker. While she was moving from one point of rock to another
that appeared to her more convenient for landing, the canoe was caught
by an eddy and swept in a moment out into the strong current, down which
it sped with fearful velocity towards the falls. Darkeye was quite
collected and cool, but she happened to dip her paddle on the edge of a
sunk rock with such vigour that the canoe overturned. Upon the heights
above her husband saw the accident, and stood rooted for a moment in
helpless dismay to the spot. It chanced that Lawrence Guff was at the
time the only man near the unfortunate woman, who, although she swam
like an otter, could not gain the bank. Seeing this, the youth sprang
towards a jutting rock that almost overhung the fall, and entering the
rushing stream so deeply that he could barely retain his foothold,
caught the woman by the hair of the head as she was sweeping towards the
edge of the fall. The two swayed for a few seconds on the verge of
destruction; then Swiftarrow came bounding down the bank like a deer,
and, catching Lawrence by the hand, dragged them both out of danger; but
before they were fairly landed the canoe was carried over the falls,
dashed to pieces, and in a few seconds its shreds were tossed wildly on
the surging rapids far down the river.
This accident caused them little loss beyond the canoe, which was soon
replaced by another, purchased from a party of Indians, with whom they
fell in that same evening.
Passing through Slave River, they swept out on the bright waters of
Great Slave Lake. Over these they sped during several days. This lake
is one of the largest fresh-water oceans of the continent, about 250
miles long and 50 broad.
And here the work of exploration fairly began. Great Slave Lake was at
that time imperfectly known from Indian report; and the river of which
they were in search flowed, it was supposed, out of its western
extremity. Here also Monsieur Le Roux was to be left behind with a
party of men to prosecute the fur-trade.
CHAPTER FOUR.
VICISSITUDES OF THE VOYAGE--INDIANS MET WITH, ETCETERA.
We have passed over the first three weeks of the voyage rapidly, but it
must not be supposed that therefore it was all plain sailing. On the
contrary, the travellers were delayed by thunderstorms, and heavy rains,
and gales, and impeded by ice, which, even in the middle of June lay
thick on the waters in some parts. They were also tormented by hosts of
mosquitoes, and at times they found difficulty in procuring food--
despite the ability of our friends Reuben, Swiftarrow, and Lawrence, who
were constituted hunters to the expedition. At other times, however,
the supply of food was abundant and varied. On one occasion the hunters
brought in seven geese, a beaver, and four ducks, besides which a large
supply of excellent trout and other fish was obtained from the nets; and
on another occasion they procured two swans, ten beavers, and a goose.
But sometimes they returned empty-handed, or with a single bird or so,
while the nets produced nothing at all. Deer were also shot
occasionally, and they found immense numbers of wild cranberries,
strawberries, rasps, and other berries, besides small spring onions; so
that, upon the whole, they fared well, and days of abstinence were more
than compensated by days of superabundance.
One evening while they were coasting along this great lake, some Indians
were discovered on the shore, and the travellers landed to make
inquiries of them as to the nature of the country beyond. There were
three lodges belonging to the Red-knife Indians, who were so named
because their knifes were made of the copper found in that region. To
the leading man of these, English Chief, being interpreter, addressed
himself.
English Chief, we may remark in passing, was one of the followers of the
chief who conducted Hearne on his expedition to the Coppermine River;
since which event he had been a principal leader of his countrymen who
were in the habit of carrying furs to the English fur-traders at
Churchill, on Hudson's Bay, and was much attached to the interest of the
Hudson Bay Company, which, at that time, was in opposition to the
Canadian or Nor'-West Company. These circumstances procured him the
title of the English Chief. An able, active, but self-sufficient and
somewhat obstinate chief he was, and caused Mackenzie a good deal of
anxiety and much trouble to keep him with the party.
In answer to his queries, the principal man of the Red-knife Indians
said that there were many more of his tribe a short distance off, and
that he would send a man to fetch them. He also said that the explorers
should see no more of them at that time, because the Slave and Beaver
Indians, as well as others of the tribe, were about to depart, and would
not be in that region again till the time when the swans cast their
feathers.
"Ask him," said Mackenzie, "if he and his friends have many furs to
dispose of."
To this the Indian replied by at once producing upwards of eight large
packs of good beaver and marten skins; and added the information that
his friends had plenty more.
"Now, then, Le Roux," said Mackenzie, turning to his clerk, "here you
and I shall part. This seems a good spot and a good opportunity for
opening up the trade with these Indians. When the rest of them arrive
we shall have a palaver, and then you shall remain to look after them,
so, open up your packs, and get ready a few small presents without
delay."
That day was spent in considerable bustle and excitement; the Indians
being overjoyed that the white traders had at last penetrated into their
country; and their joy being increased by the distribution of such
trifling, but much-prized, gifts as glass beads, knives, small
looking-glasses, etcetera. It rained in torrents all the time but this
did not damp their spirits; and as for their bodies--they were used to
it! In the afternoon Mackenzie assembled the whole tribe, and made them
the following speech, which was translated by English Chief in a very
pompous manner, for that excellent red-skin was fully alive to the
dignity of his position.
"My friends," began our explorer, "I am glad to meet with you. The
white man and the Indians are always glad to meet--they can benefit each
other mutually. Each has got what the other requires. I have come for
the purpose of opening up trade with you. It is true that I myself will
take my departure to-morrow, because I am in search of new lands; but
some of my people will remain on the spot, and if you bring in a
sufficient quantity of furs to make it answer, my men will return to
Fort Chipewyan for more goods, and will spend the winter here. They
will build a fort and continue to dwell among you as long as you shall
be found to deserve it."
At this point the speaker paused, and the dark-skinned audience gave
vent to a loud "Ho!" which was equivalent to the British "Hear, hear!"
"In regard to my own work," continued Mackenzie, "I intend to search
for, and find the great river, which, it is said, flows out of this
lake, and follow its current to the sea--or, as you call it, the great
salt lake. Do my brothers know anything about this river? If so, let
them speak."
Hereupon an old chief, with hair like small iron wire, and a skin like
shoe-leather, got up, and delivered himself as follows--
"We are glad to hear what our white brother says. It encourages us to
know that you will make a trading fort in our country, for we have need
of one. Hitherto we have had to travel far--very far--with our furs; or
if, to save trouble, we intrusted our furs to the Chipewyans, they often
pillaged us, or, at most, gave us very little for the fruits of our
toil. For a long time we have been so discouraged that we had no motive
to pursue the beaver, except to obtain a sufficiency of food and
clothing. Now if you come to us, we shall be happy--wauch!"
The last word was equivalent to the expression--"There, think o' that!"
The old man paused as if to give his audience time for reflection.
"As to the great river," he continued sententiously, "we know of its
existence; but none of our tribe has ever followed its course down to
the great salt lake. We earnestly advise our brother not to go there,
for it is a dreadful river. It is said that there are two impassable
falls in its course; and it is so long that old age will come upon you
before the time of your return. You will also encounter monsters of
horrid shapes and awful strength on the land and in the water--wauch!"
The old chief began to glare solemnly at this point, and the whole tribe
followed his example.
"It is said," he continued, "that there are bears which eat the trees as
if they were grass; whose cubs, even at their birth, are strong enough
to kill the stoutest man. There are monsters in the river so big that a
canoe full of men would be but a mouthful to them. There are so few
animals or fish fit for food, that you will all certainly be starved.
And, besides all this, evil spirits dwell there, whose chief delight
lies in attacking, killing, roasting, and devouring men--wauch!"
Here the Indian sat down with the decision of a man who has given
unanswerable arguments for the overturning of foolish plans;
nevertheless, Mackenzie's plans remained unaltered. Not so, however,
those of a young Indian, who had been engaged to guide the explorers to
the other end of the lake, in order to save them from the loss of time
which would be occasioned by the necessity of coasting round its
numerous bays. The imagination of this youth--Coppernose, as Lawrence
Guff facetiously styled him--was so wrought upon by the dreadful
description of the great river, that he manifested a strong desire to
draw back; but by the timely addition of a small kettle, an axe, a
knife, and a few beads to the gifts already bestowed on him, he was
eventually persuaded to venture.
Before departing, poor Coppernose took a ceremonious leave of his
family. He cut off a lock of his hair, and divided it into three parts.
One of these he fastened to the top of his wife's head, and blew on it
three times with the utmost violence, at the same time uttering certain
cabalistic words. The other two portions he fastened with the same
formalities to the heads of his two children.
Even at the last he hesitated, and was finally made to enter the canoe
more by force than by persuasion!
A few days later, and our pioneers were fairly embarked on the great
river, whose course to the mouth it was their object to explore.
The expedition was now somewhat reduced, owing to Monsieur Le Roux
having been left behind. It consisted of three canoes--the large one
with Mackenzie and five men; a small one, with English Chief and his two
wives, and Coppernose; and another small one, containing Reuben, his
son, Swiftarrow, and Darkeye. Two of the Canadians were also attended
by their wives; so that the party numbered sixteen souls, five of whom
were women. They all kept company as much as possible, but English
Chief was frequently left behind by the large canoe; while Reuben and
his friends, being the hunters as we have said, were necessarily absent
for considerable periods in search of game.
One evening as they were descending a beautiful sweep of the river under
sail in grand style, the English Chief--leaning composedly back in his
canoe, while his right hand slightly moved the steering paddle, and his
teeth grasped his beloved pipe--said quietly to Coppernose, of course in
the Indian tongue--
"A pretty guide you are, not to know something more about a river so
near to your own wigwam."
Coppernose, who was a humble-minded man, smiled slightly, and shook his
head as he said--
"All red men are not so adventurous as the English Chief. I never had
occasion to travel in this direction, and do not know the way."
"Boo!" ejaculated English Chief; meaning, no doubt, fiddlededee!
"But I know of a river," continued Coppernose, "which falls into this
one from the north, and comes from the Horn Mountain that we passed at
the end of Great Slave Lake; it is the country of the Beaver Indians.
My relations meet me frequently on that river. There are great plains
on both sides of that river, which abound in buffaloes and moose-deer."
"I don't believe it--wauch!" said English Chief. As this was a
discouraging reception of his remarks, Coppernose relapsed into silence.
Soon afterwards the large canoe was observed to make for a low grassy
point; and as it was about the usual camping time, English Chief made
for the same place. The hunters reached it about ten minutes later, and
bore into camp two reindeer, four geese, and a swan, besides a large
quantity of berries gathered by the fair (or brown) hands of Darkeye.
"There is plenty of game everywhere," said Reuben, in answer to a query
from his leader, "we might have killed much more if we'd had more time--
but enough is as good as a feast, as the sayin' goes in my country."
"In _your_ country?" said Mackenzie, with a smile.
"Ay, I claim to be a Scotchman--though I was born and raised in Canada--
my father hailed from the land o' cakes."
"Does Lawrence claim the same nationality on the same ground, Reuben?"
"He does not!" answered Lawrence for himself, while busy cleaning his
father's gun.
"The lad loves the Canadians," replied Reuben, with a chuckle; "besides,
he couldn't claim it on the same ground, seein' that I am fully half a
Scot, while he is at least three-quarters a Canadian."
"More the better luck for him," said one of the Canadians, who had
already kindled a fire, before which one of his comrades was busily
engaged setting up juicy venison steaks to roast.
"Oui," observed another; "vraiment, Canada beats Scottish land
altogeder."
"Ha! Faderland ees more best, den all ze vorld," said the German,
quaffing a can of water with as much zest as if it had been his own
native Rhine wine.
"I warrant me," said Mackenzie with a laugh, "that our trusty guide,
Coppernose, would not give the wilderness here for Canada, Scotland, and
Faderland put together. What say you, lad?"
Coppernose looked gravely at his questioner, but made no reply.
"Boo!" said English Chief; regarding his countryman with a look of
contempt; "hims no onerstan' Eengleesh."
"He understands how to eat a rumpsteak of venison, however," said
Mackenzie, with a laugh, as Coppernose at that moment coolly
appropriated a mass of half-roasted meat, and began to devour it.
"You'd better follow his example, lads."
The men were not slow to take this advice. In a short time all were
more or less busily engaged with venison steaks, marrow-bones, goose
drum-sticks, and fish; and comparative silence prevailed while the
cravings of nature were being appeased. After supper, pipes were
lighted, and conversation became animated for some time; but they were
all too much fatigued to prolong this period, interesting though it was.
One after another they spread their blankets under a convenient bush or
tree, and, ere long, the whole party was in the land of Nod.
CHAPTER FIVE.
DESCRIBES A LITERAL WILD-GOOSE CHASE AND OTHER MATTERS.
Time sped on its proverbially rapid wing; the summer advanced, and still
Mackenzie and his men continued to descend the mighty river of the far
north, encountering dangers and vicissitudes enough undoubtedly, but
happily escaping those terrified monsters of the forest and the flood,
which had been described by the Copper Indians of Great Slave Lake, and
the thought of which caused poor Coppernose himself to grow terrified
and desperate by turns. Fain would that unhappy son of the forest have
bid the party farewell, and returned to his own wigwam alone; but this
might not be, for his services were of some importance, and the leader
of the expedition kept on him constantly an eye, which excelled in
intense watchfulness the glare of the fiercest of those creatures which
filled his imagination. He submitted, therefore, with the best grace he
could assume; but, what between being watched by Mackenzie, haunted by
ghosts, and bullied by English Chief, poor Coppernose had a sad time of
it. He possessed, however, a naturally elastic and jovial spirit, which
tended greatly to ameliorate his condition; and as time passed by
without any serious mishap, or the appearance of any unusually dreadful
creature, he became gradually reconciled to his position.
One day--perhaps we should rather say one night, for it was approaching
midnight, although the sun was still above the horizon, owing to the
high northern latitude to which they had attained, rendering the whole
twenty-four hours round a continuous day--one day (or night) as the
canoes were sweeping down a reach of the broad river, they saw a few
wreaths of smoke rising above the tree-tops. The spot was very
beautiful, being thickly wooded and backed by high land, on the slopes
of which the trees and bushes hung like delicate fringes of green among
masses of silvery grey rock.
"That looks like the smoke of an Indian wigwam, Louis," said Mackenzie
to his bowman.
"No, monsieur, it is the wood burning," replied Louis, dipping his
vermilion-painted paddle with great vigour.
Louis was right, for soon afterwards they turned a point which disclosed
to their view a considerable tract of woodland which had been recently
destroyed by fire. Several tracts of this kind had been already passed,
some of which had been consumed long before, and forests of young
poplars had grown up in their places--a curious circumstance this, which
Mackenzie remarks on, namely, "That wherever land covered with spruce,
pine, and white birch had been laid waste with fire, there poplars, and
nothing else, were found to grow, even though none of that species of
tree had existed there before."
Passing this desolated tract they came to a part of the river which was
studded with several islands, on one of which reindeer were seen.
"There's your chance," said Mackenzie to his hunters, who happened to
range up alongside in their small canoe at that moment.
"We've seed 'em, monsieur," said Reuben, "but we must have some more
ammunition afore startin' after them, for the powder-horns of Lawrence
and Swiftarrow are both empty."
As soon as the horns were replenished, Reuben and his friends pushed out
into the stream and made for the island. The other canoes continued to
advance. They seldom waited for the hunters, for the latter being
comparatively light, could act as a sort of flying artillery, falling
behind, turning aside, or pushing ahead, as the case might require, in
pursuit of game, and almost always returning to the main body about the
camping hour, or soon after it. On this evening, however, the canoes
reached a snug camping-ground before the usual time; they therefore
determined to stop there and set the nets, as well as to overhaul the
canoes, which stood much in need of repair. The cold of the ice-laden
waters, through which they had recently passed, had cracked the gum off
the seams, and collisions with the ice itself had made some ugly slits
in the birch-bark of which the canoes were made.
That evening the nets, which were set in four fathoms water, produced an
abundant supply of carp, whitefish, and trout.
"Now, lads," said Mackenzie, when the canoe brought ashore the welcome
provisions, "set the women to work to make pemmican, for we must leave a
supply concealed here against our return."
Louis Blanc superintended the making of this pemmican, which consisted
of fish dried in the sun and pounded between two stones. Pemmican is
also made of meat, in which case the pounded meat is put into a bag made
of the raw hide of the animal; the bag is then filled with melted fat
and the mouth sewed up with raw sinews. This style of pemmican will
keep fresh for years.
"Where did English Chief go when we landed?" asked Mackenzie.
"Don't know, monsieur," replied Louis.
"After game, probably," observed the leader, as he sat down on the stump
of a fallen tree and began to make notes in his journal.
Some time thereafter, Reuben's canoe returned laden with two deer,
besides two swans, a number of ducks and hares, and several brace of
ptarmigan, which latter were quite grey at that season, with the
exception of one or two pure white feathers in the tail. They said that
wild-fowl were innumerable among the islands; but this, indeed, was
obvious to all, for everywhere their plaintive and peculiar cries, and
the whirring or flapping of their wings, were heard even when the leafy
screen over the encampment hid themselves from view. Darkeye also
contributed her share to the general supplies, in the shape of several
large birch-baskets full of gooseberries, cranberries, juniper-berries,
rasps, and other wild berries, which, she said, grew luxuriantly in many
places.
Meanwhile, the night (as regards _time_) advanced, although the daylight
did not disappear, or even much diminish, but English Chief, with
Coppernose and his two squaws, did not return, and their prolonged
absence became at length a cause of no little anxiety to the leader of
the expedition. The fact was that English Chief was fond of a little
fun, and despite the dignified position which he held, and the maturity
of his years, he could not resist availing himself of any little chance
that came in his way of having what is more pithily than elegantly
styled "a spree."
It happened to be the particular period at which the wild-fowl of those
regions begin to cast their feathers. Knowing this, English Chief
quietly slipped off with his canoe when Mackenzie landed, and soon found
a colony of swans afflicted with that humiliating lack of natural
clothing, which is the cause, doubtless, of their periodically betaking
themselves to the uttermost ends of the earth in order to hide in deep
solitude their poverty, and there renew their garments. Judge then,
reader, if you can, the consternation with which these once graceful
creatures discovered that their retreat had been found out by that
inquisitive biped, man--that they were actually caught in the act of
moulting!
Uttering a terrific "hoozoo!" or some such equally wild Red-Indian
hunting cry, English Chief dashed his paddle into the water; squaws and
comrade followed suit; the canoe shot in among the rushes, and the whole
party leaped on shore. Thus taken by surprise the swans bounced up,
extended their miserable wings, uttered a trumpet-blast of alarm, and
sought to fly. Of course they failed, but although they could not fly,
they fled on the wings of terror, and with straight necks, heads low,
legs doing double duty, and remnants of wings doing what they could,
they made for the interior of the island at a pace which at first defied
pursuit.
The higher part of the island was level and open, with here and there a
few stunted bushes.
Arrived here the trumpeting crew scattered, like wise troops when
pursued. English Chief set his heart and eyes on a particularly large
bird, and dashed after it with upraised paddle. The swan made a
desperate _detour_, apparently bent on gaining the water; it ran round a
bush, and was almost caught in the arms of the younger squaw, who,
leaving her senior in the canoe, had joined in the pursuit. A shriek
from the squaw sent it off at a tangent to the left, pinions aloft, and
terror depicted on its visage. English Chief also doubled, but a
crooked stump caught his foot and sent him headlong into the bush. At
that instant, Coppernose, having foiled a swan with a well-directed
sweep of his paddle, came up and gave chase. English Chief, nettled at
the interference, sprung up, followed and overtook him just as the
hard-pushed swan turned at bay. Both men came upon it at the same
moment, stumbled over it, and turned their wrath upon each other. The
swan, recovering, ran wildly and blindly back towards the young squaw,
who was so much alarmed by its look that she fairly turned and fled; but
hearing the shouts of the Indians as they struggled, she turned towards
them. Meanwhile, the elder squaw having landed, met the retreating swan
just as it gained the rushes. Stooping down she allowed it to approach
to within a yard of her--like a true heroine--and then, rising, hit it a
neat blow on the back of the head and laid it low for ever.
After this she joined her sister-wife (if we may be allowed the
expression) in trying to tear the Indians asunder. This was
accomplished after a few seconds, but the two men still glared at each
other. Fortunately they could do little more, having left their knives
in the canoe. While they were still in a state of indecision, an
unfortunate swan, which had taken refuge behind a bush, so far recovered
its breath as to think it advisable to get still further away from such
company. It was observed and followed as wildly as before by English
Chief. This time Coppernose had the sense to confine his attentions to
another part of the field, where, while prosecuting the chase, he
suddenly came upon a flock of geese in the same helpless circumstances
as the swans. Soon the swans were routed out of their places of
concealment, and the cries of men, women, and birds again resounded in
the air. The way in which those swans behaved was quite marvellous.
They dodged the blows aimed at them, and "jinked" round the bushes as if
they had been trained to such work in a regular public school for human
bipeds, and they struck out with their pinions, too, so deftly and with
such force that the pursuers had to become extremely cautious as well as
bold in their approaches.
At last, when the Indians were thoroughly exhausted, they gave up the
chase. On conveying the fruits of their exertions to the canoe, they
found that they had killed five swans and a like number of geese. With
these they returned in triumph to camp, to the great relief of
Mackenzie, who had began to fear either that an accident had befallen
them, or that they had deserted him.
At this place two bags of pemmican were concealed on an island, and here
one of their leads was lost in taking soundings. The current of the
river also was so violent that Mackenzie concluded they must be
approaching the rapids, of which some of the natives had made mention.
The strength of the current may be estimated from the fact that, when
the lead just referred to caught on the bottom and held on, they
attempted to clear it by paddling up stream; yet although they had eight
paddles, and were held by the line, the strength of which was equal to
four paddles, they were borne down with such force that the line snapped
asunder.
Here the weather became very bad. They had frequent thunderstorms
accompanied with violent rain, and, although it was at that time the
beginning of July, ice lay in great quantities all along the banks of
the river. On shore, the earth was thawed only to a depth of about
fourteen inches. Indeed, the soil of those regions _never_ thaws
completely. At the hottest season of the year, if you were to dig down
a few feet, you would come to a subsoil which is locked in the embrace
of _perpetual_ frost. Some signs of natives were discovered here, and,
from the appearance of the cut trees, it was evident that they possessed
no iron tools.
"Push forward," was Mackenzie's watchword more perhaps than it had been
of any previous discoverer in Rupert's Land. The Indians began ere long
to complain bitterly of his perseverance. They were not accustomed to
such constant and severe exertion, and it was with great difficulty that
he prevailed on them to continue the voyage.
As they advanced, fresh signs of natives were observed, and at last, one
evening, they came in sight of an encampment of them. It was at a place
where the current of the great river was so strong that it was in actual
ebullition, and produced a hissing noise like a kettle of water in a
moderate boiling state. The region was mountainous, and just before
them they perceived a high ridge covered with snow.
"They're evidently not much used to visitors," said Mackenzie, on
observing that the natives were running about in great confusion, some
making for the woods, and others hurrying to the canoes.
"They is used to be 'tacked by inimis," said English Chief, who was
rather proud of his knowledge of the English language.
"Hail them in the Chipewyan tongue," said Mackenzie, as the canoes
touched the beach. English Chief and the hunters landed first, and
addressed the few natives who had ventured to remain, but they were so
terrified as to be unable to reply. Seeing this, Mackenzie quietly
landed, and gave orders for the pitching of the tents. While this was
being done, the natives grew calm; they found that they understood
Chipewyan; a few words relieved them of their apprehensions, and soon
they not only came down to the tents, but were so gratified with their
reception that they sent for those members of their tribe who had fled.
Thus friendly relations were established.
There were five families, consisting of about thirty persons of two
different tribes--the Slave and the Dog-rib Indians.
CHAPTER SIX.
INDIANS MET WITH, AND THE MOUTH OF THE GREAT RIVER REACHED.
Heroes are not perfect. We deem it necessary to make this observation,
because many modern biographers seem to imagine that their heroes _are_
perfect, and even attempt to prove them to be so. We therefore feel it
necessary to disclaim any such imagination or intention in regard to
_our_ hero. Alexander Mackenzie was indeed a hero, and a very fine
specimen of a man--mentally as well as physically--if we are to credit
the report of those who knew him best; but he was not perfect.
For instance, he evidently acted sometimes on the fallacious notion that
whatever gave pleasure to himself must necessarily give pleasure to all
other men. Acting on this idea in the present instance, he sought to
delight the hearts of these Slave and Dog-rib Indians by presenting them
with pipes and tobacco, and inducing them to smoke. To the credit of
humanity be it recorded that they received the gift with marked dislike,
although they were too polite to absolutely refuse it. Slaves though
one section of them were in name, they were not slaves to tobacco; and
the other section being Dog-ribs, had, we presume, too little of Adam's
rib in them to find pleasure in smoke. Of course, they knew _something_
about smoke, but it was chiefly as a nuisance, which was very
troublesome to the eyes, and which usually issued from the tops of their
wigwams--not from human lips. It must also be recorded that those
estimable savages entertained a strong antipathy to grog when it was
produced. Their hearts were reached, however, and their souls
gladdened, when knives, beads, awls, firesteels, flints, and hatchets
were presented to them; and we can fancy how animated and earnest would
be their converse over the wigwam fires, for weeks and months, if not
for years, afterwards, when they brought out, for the thousandth time,
and feasted their wondering eyes on, those delightfully useful
implements, which had been left by the mysterious white beings who had
dropped upon them so suddenly, as if from the skies, and whom they felt
half inclined at first to reverence as gods.
Having won their confidence and esteem, Mackenzie proceeded to question
them as to that portion of the great river which yet lay before him.
Their account was an exaggerated echo of that previously obtained from
the Indians of Great Slave Lake. Being, therefore, of little or no
value, our hero was obliged to advance, and solve the question for
himself. As before, the effect of the Indian stories on the Indians of
his party was very marked and discouraging. With great difficulty
Mackenzie overcame their objections to proceed, and even succeeded in
persuading one of the Dog-rib Indians to accompany him by the potent
influence of a small kettle, an axe, a knife, and a few other gifts.
This man was a stout young fellow, in a very dirty deerskin coat and
leggings, with a double blue line tattooed on his cheeks from the ears
to the nose, on the bridge of which it met in a blue spot. Hence
Lawrence, following the natural bent of his mind, which he had already
displayed in naming Coppernose, immediately addressed this new recruit
as Bluenose.
These poor savages, although exemplary in the matters of grog and
tobacco, were, we are constrained to admit, a very filthy set of
creatures; very poor also, because utterly destitute of such wealth as
the fur-traders had carried to many of the less remote tribes of
Indians. Nevertheless they possessed a considerable number of
implements of their own manufacture, some of wood and others of bone,
etcetera, which proved them to be possessed of much ingenuity and taste.
The description of their weapons reminds one of those remains of
prehistoric man which we find treasured in our museums, for they had
arrows barbed with horn, flint, iron, and copper, spears shod with bone,
daggers of horn and bone, and axes made of brown or grey stone. The
latter were from six to eight inches long and two thick, having the
inside flat and the outside round, and tapering to an edge, and were
fastened by the middle to wooden handles with a cord of raw skin. They
kindled fires by striking together a piece of white or yellow pyrites
and a flint stone over a piece of touch-wood, and boiled water in
water-tight baskets, by putting a succession of red-hot stones into
them.
From these Indians the explorers learned that they had passed, on their
voyage down the river, large bodies of Indians who inhabit the
mountains.
"He'll never make up his mind to go," observed Reuben, as, when about to
set forth again, he looked at the pale countenance of the Dog-rib who
had agreed to join the party.
Mackenzie had already had a severe argument with him in order to induce
him to fulfil his engagement, and had left him under the impression that
he had been successful; but when the poor man had said farewell to the
tribe, and was on the point of entering the canoe, his courage failed,
and he drew back. Seeing this, Lawrence suddenly seized him by the nape
of the neck, and exclaiming, "Come, look sharp, Bluenose, get in with
'ee," gave him a lift that put the matter at rest by sending him
sprawling on board. Next moment they were off, and shooting down the
rapid current of the river.
That night they encamped, amid heavy squalls of wind and rain, at the
foot of a rocky hill, on the top of which their new guide said that it
blew a gale every day of the year! Here the Dog-rib became very
unhappy, and pretended to be ill, but a strict watch was kept on him so
that he could not escape. The country around them was very wild and
rugged, and they were informed by their guide that great numbers of
bears and small white buffaloes (musk-oxen?) frequented the mountains;
also some tribes of Indians. Here some of the party attempted to ascend
a steep hill, but were almost suffocated and fairly driven back by
clouds of mosquitoes.
Natives were sometimes seen and spoken with, although their first
impulse on beholding the voyagers was almost invariably to flee. On one
occasion a whole tribe fled save one old man, who came boldly forward
and said that he was too old to run or to care much about the short time
that yet remained to him of this life. At the same time he pulled out
his grey hair by handfuls, and distributed them among the party,
imploring their favour for himself and his relations. His mind was
quickly relieved by Swiftarrow, who seemed to have a special desire, as
well as talent, for comforting aged persons of both sexes.
Some of these tribes were named the Hare Indians--hares and fish being
their principal means of support. While spending a night with these
people a storm of thunder and rain came on, in the midst of which the
Dog-rib, Bluenose, managed to make his escape. As it was important to
have a guide, Mackenzie compelled a Hare Indian to fill his place; and,
after carrying him off, took great pains to conciliate him--in which
efforts he was happily successful.
Next day they observed natives on the east shore of the river, and
directed their course towards them. Their new guide began to call to
them in an incomprehensible manner, and said that the natives did not
belong to his tribe, but were a very wicked people, who would beat them
cruelly, and pull out their hair, and maltreat them in various ways.
Despite this warning Mackenzie advanced, and soon found them to be quite
as willing to accept of gifts as other tribes. He found that they
understood their guide, and that English Chief clearly comprehended one
of themselves, although he could not make himself understood. Here the
joyful information was obtained that in three days more they should meet
with the Esquimaux, and in ten days at furthest reach the great salt
lake--or the sea.
These natives were very superior to those whom the travellers had last
met with, and one of them was engaged to take the place of Bluenose.
This man, who was clad in a shirt made of the skins of the musk-rat,
after which he was named, was a very lively individual. He sang the
songs not only of his own tribe, but also those of the Esquimaux, with
whom his tribe had been formerly at war, but were now at peace. He also
undertook to perform an Esquimaux dance in Mackenzie's canoe, and would
infallibly have upset that conveyance had he not been violently
restrained. He commented on the tribe to which Bluenose belonged with
great contempt, calling them by the strong names of cowards and liars.
During these brief visits to the natives our discoverer was not only
troubled by the thievish propensities of the natives, but had to guard
against the same tendencies in his own men, some of whom were much
confused as to the true course of rectitude in regard to "mine and
thine"; in addition to which he had to contend with a general propensity
on the part of his men to quarrel not only with each other, but with the
weather, the journey, and the decrees of fate generally. By a judicious
mixture, however, of firmness and suavity, severity and kindness, he
managed to keep the several parts of his discordant band together; and,
in so doing, proved himself an able general for the highest generalship
consists in making the most of existing circumstances and materials.
The river here ran through various channels formed by islands, some of
which were without a tree, while others were covered with spruce, fir,
and other trees. The banks, which were about six feet above the surface
of the river, displayed a face of solid ice intermixed with veins of
black earth, and as the heat of the sun melted the ice, the trees
frequently fell into the river. The variety of channels in the river
rendered it difficult to decide which should be followed. Muskrat, the
new guide, recommended that which ran to the east; but his leader, not
feeling sure of his wisdom or knowledge, preferred the middle channel.
Here Mackenzie put ashore and proceeded to engage in some cabalistic
pursuits which utterly confounded Muskrat.
"What is he doing?" asked the savage of English Chief.
"Taking the sun," replied the interpreter, with immense pomposity.
"What does that mean?" asked the savage.
English Chief tried to explain, but failed for this good reason--that he
himself was totally ignorant of the subject beyond the phrase, which he
had picked up after the manner of a parrot.
It was found that the latitude was 67 degrees 47 minutes north. This
was further north than Mackenzie had expected to make it, but the
difference was owing to the variation of the compass. From this it
became evident that the river emptied itself into the Polar Sea. Not
satisfied, however, with the apparent certainty of this, our pioneer
resolved to have ocular demonstration--to push on to the mouth of the
river, even although, by so doing, he should risk not being able to
return to Fort Chipewyan for want of provisions.
But now his men became so much discouraged that they did their utmost to
induce him to turn back, and he felt convinced that if they had had it
in their power, some of them would have left him to his fate. As
Columbus did of old, in somewhat similar circumstances, he assured them
that he would now advance only a specified number of days--seven, adding
that if he did not then reach the sea he would return. Indeed the low
state of their provisions alone formed a sufficient security for the
maintenance of his engagement.
That evening (the 11th July) they pitched their tents near to a spot
where there had been three encampments of the Esquimaux, and here
Mackenzie sat up all night to observe the sun, being now in that realm
of bright unchanging day, which in winter becomes a region of continuous
night.
At half-past twelve he called up Reuben Guff and his son and Swiftarrow,
who were the most intelligent members of his party, to view a spectacle
which they had never before seen. They thought, on observing the sun so
high, that it was the signal to embark, and were about to rouse their
comrades, when Mackenzie checked them, and it was with difficulty he
persuaded them that the sun had not descended nearer to the horizon, and
that it was then but a short time past midnight!
It is but justice to Reuben and his party to say that they offered no
opposition to their leader during the whole voyage. In regard to this,
one speech made by Reuben will suffice to describe the spirit that
animated him.
"It don't do, Lawrence," said he, "to go for to interfere wi' them as
leads. Be they wise or be they foolish it on'y makes matters wus to
interfere wi' leaders, my lad; therefore it's best _always_ to hold your
tongue an' do yer dooty. What Monsieur Mackenzie is, it ain't for the
likes of you and me to pretend for to judge. He _seems_ to me an able,
brave, and wise man, so my colours is nailed to the mast, d'ye see--as
was said by the immortal Lord Nelson--an' I've made up my mind to follow
him to the end, through thick and thin. It's little right I would have
to claim to be a pioneer if I didn't hold them sentiments."
"Them sentiments," we need scarcely add, were heartily echoed by his
Indian friend and his son.
The appearance of deserted native encampments still further confirmed
Mackenzie in his belief that he had at length reached the land of the
Esquimaux. Round their fireplaces were found scattered pieces of
whalebone, and spots were observed where train-oil had been spilt. The
deserted huts also corresponded in construction with those which were
known to be built elsewhere by the denizens of the far north. Several
runners of sledges were also found, and the skulls of a large animal,
which was conjectured to be the walrus. Here the land was covered with
short grass and flowers, though the earth was not thawed above four
inches from the surface; beneath that all was frozen hard.
The pioneers had now at last reached the entrance of what appeared to be
a lake, which was in the neighbourhood of the Polar Sea, if not that sea
itself; but the variety of channels, the strength of currents, the
shallowness of the water and quantity of ice with which it was beset,
with the ignorance of their guide, rendered it impossible to make any
further advance that season. The object of the expedition, however, had
been accomplished. The largest northern river of America, estimated at
2000 miles in length, had been traced from its source to its outlet in
the Polar Sea; the nature of the country and its inhabitants had been
ascertained; coal and copper ore had been discovered; the region had
been wrenched from the realms of _terra incognita_, and the energetic
pioneer fixed the position of his most northerly discoveries in 69
degrees 7 minutes north latitude. Another fact which proved that they
were within the influence of the sea was the rise and fall of the water,
which could be nothing else than the tide.
They caught a fish, also, resembling a herring, which none of the party
had ever seen except English Chief who declared it to be of a kind that
abounds in Hudson's Bay, and finally they beheld what settled the
question, a shoal of white whales, which their Indian guide said was the
principal food of the Esquimaux.
It was no wonder that the discoverers found the navigation very
intricate, because that great river, now named the Mackenzie, is known
to empty its waters into the Polar Sea by innumerable mouths which form
a delta of about forty miles in width. Storms, rain, and fogs, threw
additional hindrances in their way. There was, therefore, nothing left
for it but to erect a post and take possession of the land in the name
of the King.
Homeward! after that, was the order of the day. But what a mighty
distance off that home was! And, after all, when reached it was but a
log-hut or two in a part of the vast wilderness which, regarded from a
civilised-land point of view, was itself the very confines of the known
world. Our space forbids us to follow Mackenzie and his men on their
arduous and interesting return voyage. Suffice it to say that they
dragged the canoes by means of lines against the strong current for a
large portion of the way; and, after incurring innumerable dangers from
natives, rapids, storms, and starvation, they reached the Lake of the
Hills and landed at Fort Chipewyan on the 12th of September 1789, having
been absent for the long period of one hundred and two days.
That our hero was not content to rest upon the laurels thus gathered in
the far north, but longed to act the part of pioneer over the Rocky
Mountains into the far west, shall be made plain in our next chapter.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY TO THE FAR WEST PLANNED AND BEGUN.
Three years passed away, during which period Mackenzie, being busily
occupied with his arduous duties as a fur-trader, could not carry out
the more noble purposes of discovery on which his heart was set. But a
time at length arrived when circumstances permitted him to turn his eyes
once more with a set purpose on the unknown wilderness of the West.
Seated one fine morning about the beginning of spring, in his wooden
residence at Fort Chipewyan, he observed Reuben Guff passing the window
with an axe on his shoulder, that worthy, with his son and Swiftarrow,
having engaged in the service of the fur-traders at the end of the late
expedition. Opening the door, Mackenzie called him in.
"Where are you bound for just now, Reuben?"
"To dinner, monsieur."
"Reuben," said Mackenzie, with a peculiar look, "has all your pioneering
enthusiasm oozed out at your finger ends?"
"No, monsieur," replied the man, with a slight smile, "but Lawrence and
I have bin thinkin' of late that as Monsieur Mackenzie seems to have
lost heart, we must undertake a v'yage o' diskivery on our own account!"
"Good. Then you are both ready, doubtless, to begin your discoveries
with a canoe journey of some extent on short notice?"
"At once, monsieur, if it please you."
"Nay, Reuben, not quite so fast as that," said Mackenzie, with a laugh;
"you may have your dinner first. But to-morrow you shall become a
genuine pioneer by preceding me towards the far west. You know the
position of our most distant settlements on the Peace River?"
"Perfectly," said Reuben, whose eye kindled as he began to see that his
master was in earnest.
"Well, I intend to visit these settlements this fall, and push on
towards the Rocky Mountains. It will take me to the end of the season
to accomplish this, so that our real voyage of discovery will not begin
until the following spring. Now, there is a certain locality beyond our
most distant outpost, which I shall describe to you afterwards, where I
intend to build a fort and spend next winter, so as to be on the spot
ready to begin the moment the ice breaks up. Preparations must be made
there for the building of the fort. Timber must be felled, cut, and
squared for the houses and palisades, and two able and willing, as well
as experienced men, must go there to begin this work without delay. It
occurs to me that the two best men I have for such work are Reuben Guff
and his son. Are they prepared for this duty, think you?"
"Say the word, monsieur," was Reuben's laconic but significant reply.
"Well, then, it is said. Come back here after dinner with Lawrence, and
I will give you instructions: you shall start to-morrow at daybreak."
Reuben bowed and left the hall with a light step. Next day he and his
son started on their journey in a small birch-bark canoe; on the 10th of
October Mackenzie followed in a canoe of larger dimensions. He visited
several establishments of the district of which he had charge; ascended
the Peace River towards its unknown sources, gave good advice to the
several bands of Indians whom he met with by the way, and generally
strengthened the hearts and hands of his agents. Passing the last
outpost on the river, he pushed on, until, finally, he reached his
intended winter-quarters on the 1st of November--not a day too soon, for
the river was already being covered with its winter coat of ice.
Here he found Reuben and Lawrence, bronzed and hardened with toil and
exposure. They had done good service during the previous summer, for
all the timber was prepared, a space marked out for the fort, and a deep
trench dug for the palisades. Here also were found a band of natives,
amounting to about seventy men, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the
Chief, as they styled Mackenzie, and thirsting especially for tobacco
and rum, both of which--unlike the natives of the far north--they were
particularly fond of.
To build a fort in a few weeks, consisting of a dwelling-house and
several stores, with palisades eighteen feet high, in the midst of frost
so intense that their axes sometimes became as brittle as glass, and
living in tents the while, exposed to the storms of wind and snow
peculiar to a hyperborean clime, was a feat which, if detailed, would
fill a volume. We are constrained to dismiss the subject in a line.
Thus curtly, also, must we treat the winter. Yet some points we cannot
forbear to touch on, illustrative as they are of some curious
experiences of the fur-traders.
The Indians there were unusually ignorant of medical science, and when
ill applied to Mackenzie, believing, with childlike simplicity, that he
certainly knew everything and could do anything!
One woman came to him with a swelled breast, which her friends had
lacerated with flints in order to cure it; this failing, they had blown
on it, but with similar want of success. Mackenzie knew not what to do,
but, bringing common sense to bear on the case, he made the poor
creature keep it clean (she was naturally dirty), poulticed it several
times, and anointed it with healing salve. In a short time a perfect
cure was effected. After that an Indian while at work in the woods was
attacked with a sudden pain near the first joint of his thumb, which
disabled him. He appealed to Mackenzie, who, to his surprise, found a
narrow red inflamed stripe about an inch wide, extending from the man's
thumb to his shoulder. The pain was very violent, and accompanied with
chilliness and shivering. Mackenzie admits that the case was quite
beyond his skill; but as it was necessary to relieve the Indian's mind,
he attempted a cure. He prepared a kind of volatile liniment of rum and
soap, with which he ordered the arm to be rubbed. The success of this
treatment was doubtful, because at first it drove the man mad, and the
red stripe not only increased but extended in the form of several
blotches on the body, and was accompanied by pains in the stomach.
Seeing this, our amateur doctor fell back on the old plan of bleeding,
an operation which he had never before performed. The result was
marvellous. The following night the man was much better, and ere long
was restored to his former health, and filled with gratitude.
Again, on another occasion, a young Indian's gun burst and maimed his
hand so that the thumb hung by a mere strip of flesh. When he came to
the fort his wound was in a very offensive state. His friends had done
their best for him, but as their panacea for everything consisted in
singing or howling, and blowing on the affected part, he was not
perceptibly the better for their exertions. The youth's life being in
danger, Mackenzie once more tried his skill. He applied to it a
poultice of bark stripped from the roots of the spruce fir, having first
washed the wound with the juice of the bark. This proved to be a very
painful dressing, but it cleaned the wound effectually. He then cut off
the pendent thumb, and applied a dressing of salve composed of Canadian
balsam, wax, and tallow dropped from a burning candle into the water.
As before, the treatment was successful, insomuch that the young
red-skin was soon in the hunting-field again, and brought an elk's
tongue as a fee to his benefactor.
During the winter he was visited by a few Rocky Mountain Indians, who
gave him some important information; namely, that the Peace River in the
mountain districts was interrupted by numerous bad rapids and falls, and
that, towards the mid-day sun, there was another great river whose
current _ran in an opposite direction_, the distance between the sources
of the two rivers being short.
The winter, with its dreary storms and bitter colds, at length passed
away, and genial spring returned. As soon as the ice broke up,
preparations were made for an immediate start. Their large birch-bark
canoe had been overhauled and repaired. Her dimensions were twenty-five
feet long inside, two feet two inches deep, and four feet nine inches
wide. She carried goods for presents, provisions, arms, ammunition,
baggage, etcetera, to the extent of three thousand pounds weight, with a
crew of ten men, including their chief; yet she was so light that two
men could carry her when empty for three or four miles without resting.
They had no small canoe on this voyage. Their hopes, and, it may be
truly said, their lives, were dependent on this solitary and frail
conveyance.
As we have said, Mackenzie took nine men with him on this occasion, our
friends Reuben, Lawrence, and Swiftarrow being among the number, and two
of them being young Indian hunters of that region, who were supposed to
be acquainted with at least part of the route they were about to pursue,
and who were to act as interpreters. English Chief had long before left
his former master, and no women were allowed to go with the party--even
Darkeye was left behind! There was one other member of the party whom
we must not omit to mention--namely, a large dog named Wolf.
On the 9th of May 1793, Mackenzie left the fort in charge of his
interpreter, pushed off into the waters of the Peace River, turned the
canoe's bow westward, and the voyage of discovery began.
A few days afterwards they passed through scenery which all confessed
was the most beautiful they had ever beheld.
"'Tis like a glimpse o' paradise," exclaimed Reuben, as the whole party
rested on their paddles for a few minutes to gaze upon it.
"Ho!" exclaimed Swiftarrow, with a nod to his friend, which evidently
was meant for assent.
"Betterer nor the Hudson," said Ducette, one of the Canadians, with a
look of admiration.
"Does it beat Scottisland, monsieur?" asked Lawrence, with a somewhat
sly expression.
"Well, ahem," replied Mackenzie with hesitation, "it's not exactly--that
is, it is vastly different and truly magnificent--they won't compare,
Lawrence; they won't compare!"
The region did indeed merit all that could be said in its praise. The
ground on the west side of the river--which was wide and full of lovely
wooded islets--rose at intervals to a considerable height, and stretched
inwards to a great distance; at the foot of every slope there was a
soft, grassy lawn, broken here and there by abrupt precipices, which
were fringed with exuberant verdure. Shrubs and trees of every kind, in
clumps and in groves, crested the heights or nestled in the hollows:
among them were groves of poplar, with the white spruce and soft birch,
and other trees; while the banks abounded with alders and willows.
Those that bore blossom were just opening their bright buds, and the
setting sun cast a rich golden light over all, as though the glory of
the beneficent Creator were shining on His gorgeous handiwork. But that
beautiful wilderness did not blossom and bloom in solitude. It was
tenanted and enjoyed by countless numbers of living creatures. Wherever
the travellers turned their eyes, vast herds of elk and buffaloes were
to be seen, the latter sporting with their young ones on the plains, the
former preferring to browse on the slopes and uplands; and innumerable
birds of all shapes and sizes enlivened the scene with their varied
gyrations, and filled the air with melody.
It seemed, indeed, a species of paradise; but not far from it the
travellers were painfully reminded of its terrestrial nature by the
sight of a wide-spread conflagration, which carried fierce destruction
over the whole plain, and left black ruin behind; and still further on
Mackenzie was robbed of the pleasurable feelings due to the influence of
sweet scenery, by the baleful influence of man in the shape of a chief
of the Beaver Indians with a hunting-party. He tried to push on past
these Indians, but they kept up with the canoe, running along shore, and
when night approached he was compelled to encamp with them. The
consequence was, as he had feared, that these people attempted to
terrify his young Indian interpreters with dreadful accounts of the land
beyond, and succeeded so far that it was with the utmost difficulty that
they could be persuaded to remain with the expedition.
Next night they encamped at a spot where a stream fell into the Peace
River from the north.
"Voila! w'at is dis?" exclaimed Ducette, as he leaped on shore.
"The fut-print of a grizzly bar," said Reuben, stooping to examine and
measure the mark; "an oncommon big 'un, too--full nine inches wide. I
wouldn't like to embrace that bar."
The den, or place where this monster or some of its kindred had spent
the winter, was also found not far-off. It was ten feet deep,
horizontally, five feet high, and six feet wide.
"I wish we could find him," said Lawrence as he kindled the camp-fire.
"Ha! Swiftarrow has found something better," said Mackenzie, as the
Indian strode into camp laden with the tongue, marrow-bones, and other
choice portions of an elk which he had killed a short distance down the
river.
Lawrence had his wish next day, for they found a grizzly bear so
fierce-looking and large that it was well for him he was in the canoe
struggling with rapids at the time, for he was reckless enough to have
attacked it single-handed--a very dangerous proceeding, and a thing that
the Indians never do. They appear to think that at least three men are
necessary to the destruction of this much and justly feared monster of
the mountains.
Lawrence looked at Bruin with a feeling of bloodthirsty desire; Bruin
looked at Lawrence with an expression of stupid curiosity; and then
slowly, not to say sulkily, retired into his native forest. Next day
they beheld a more gratifying sight,--namely, the snow-capped Rocky
Mountains themselves, within the rugged portals of which their canoe
passed not long afterwards. Here, as was to be expected, the river
became narrower and more turbulent, and ere long the explorers had to
face dangers and difficulties which tested their courage and endurance
to the uttermost.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS FACED AND OVERCOME.
Their entrance on the difficult navigation of the mountains was
inaugurated by an accident to the canoe. It was a slight one,
however,--a rub against a rock which cracked the bark, and compelled
them to land and spend an hour or so in mending it.
The current here was very strong, and creeping up along the banks was
dangerous, owing to the masses of rock that frequently fell from the
cliffs.
At one turn of the river in particular, a loud noise was heard, "Look
out!" cried Mackenzie.
Before any one could well understand what danger threatened them, an
enormous mass of rock was seen to bound down the banks right abreast of
them, crashing through trees and bushes, and sending down showers of
smaller stones. The men paddled with all their might, but the rock came
straight at them, struck a flat piece of the cliff; and bursting like a
bombshell, descended round them in a shower of small pieces, none of
which, however, touched them, although many fell very near.
Coming one afternoon to a place where the current was stronger than
usual, Mackenzie landed with Reuben, Lawrence, and Ducette, in order to
lighten the canoe. They ascended the hills, which were covered with
cypress, and but little encumbered with underwood. Here they found a
beaten path, made either by Indians or wild animals. After walking a
mile along it, they fell in with a herd of buffaloes with their young
ones.
"Hist!" whispered Reuben, throwing forward the muzzle of his gun with
the instinct of a hunter.
"Don't fire," said Mackenzie, arresting his arm; "it may alarm the
natives, if any should chance to be within earshot. Send Wolf at them,
Ducette."
Wolf, who belonged to Ducette, and had followed his master, was a
splendid fellow,--not unlike the animal after which he had been named.
He was well trained too, and kept foot and tongue equally under command,
until his master's wishes were made known. Hearing his name mentioned,
he cocked his ears and gazed up in Ducette's face.
"Allons donc, Wolf," said Ducette.
Instantly the dog made a magnificent rush into the midst of the herd,
which scattered right and left, and seized a young calf by the nose!
The creature, though young, was powerful, and for some time struggled
bravely; but the hound held on with deadly firmness, and worried the
calf--to such an extent that in a short time Ducette was able to run in
and despatch it.
To skin and dismember the carcase was a matter of little difficulty to
these hunters, who were all expert butchers. They had just completed
the work, and were congratulating each other on this accession of veal
to the larder when a shot was heard in the direction of the canoe. It
was immediately followed by another.
"The signal to recall us," said Mackenzie. "Gather up the meat, lads;
come, be smart. Give them a couple of shots, Reuben, in reply."
The shots were fired, and, pushing down the hill through very close
underwood, they soon came upon the canoe at the foot of a rapid which it
was deemed impossible to ascend. What seemed impossible to some of his
men, however, was by no means impossible to Mackenzie himself. He
surveyed their position, saw that the succession of rapids above were
indeed impracticable on that side of the river, but observed that on the
other side it seemed possible to continue the ascent. The chief danger
lay in attempting to cross with a heavily-laden canoe; but the attempt
was made, and proved successful.
The dangers and mishaps which now assailed them in succession were
enough to have damped the ardour of the most resolute pioneer; but there
are some natures which cannot be quelled, whose motto in all
circumstances seem to be "Victory or death!" Of such a spirit was
Alexander Mackenzie, although some of his men would fain have turned
back. Indeed, the overcoming of their objection to proceed sometimes
cost him more trouble than overcoming the difficulties of the
navigation.
On reaching the other side of the river, they towed the canoe along an
island, and advanced well enough till they reached the extremity of it,
when the line had to be exchanged for the paddles. In attempting to
clear the point of the island, they were driven with great violence on a
stony shore, and the frail canoe received considerable injury. To land
and unload was the work of a few minutes; but it took a long time to
repair the damage, by fitting in new pieces of bark and re-gumming the
exposed seams. Part of the cargo, also, had to be opened and dried.
This accomplished, they carried the whole across the point which had
damaged them, reloaded and embarked. But it was now seen that it was
not possible to advance farther up that side of the river either by
paddling, hauling with the line, or pushing with poles. There remained
only the alternative, therefore, of returning by the way they had come,
or recrossing the river despite the strength of the current and the fact
that there were several cascades just below them, to get into which
would have involved canoe and men in certain destruction.
"Ve can nevair do it. Monsieur dare not!" whispered Ducette to Reuben,
as they floated for a few moments in an eddy.
Reuben glanced at his leader, who stood up in the canoe surveying the
boiling rapids with a stern, intent gaze, and said quietly, "He'll try."
"Now, my lads, shove out with a will--ho!" said Mackenzie, sitting down.
Lawrence, who was steering, dipped his paddle vigorously, the men
followed suit, the canoe shot into the stream, and in a moment gained
the sheltering eddy below an island, which was shaped somewhat like a
table with a thick centre leg--or a mushroom. There were several such
islands of solid rock in the river. They had been formed apparently by
the action of the current--doubtless also of ice--cutting away their
lower part, and leaving the mushroom-like tops, on which numbers of
geese found a convenient breeding-place. From one to another of these
islands the canoe shot in this way, thus decreasing the width of the
final traverse. They paused a little longer at the last island, then
shot into the stream, and, with a splendid sweep, gained the other side.
But here their case was little improved, for the current was almost as
violent as that from which they had escaped. The craggy banks being low
enough, however, to admit of the tracking-line being used, the men
landed and towed the canoe till they came to the foot of the most rapid
cascade they had yet seen. To ascend being impossible, they unloaded
and carried everything over a rocky point; relaunched, reloaded, and
continued to track with the line: but the dangers attending this
operation had now seriously increased, for stones both small and great
came continually rolling down the bank, and the steepness of the ground
was such that the risk of the men slipping and falling into the water
became imminent; besides which they had frequently to pass outside of
trees which overhung the precipices; at such times a false step or a
slip might have proved fatal. Presently they came to a sheer impassable
precipice, where the men had to embark and take to poling up the stream;
but ere long they got into water too deep for the poles, and recourse
was again had to the tracking-line. Coming to another precipice, they
were again checked; but Mackenzie, finding that the rock was soft, cut
steps in it for the distance of about twenty feet, and thus passing
along, leaped, at the risk of his life, on a small rock below, where he
received those who followed him on his shoulders. Thus four of them
passed, and managed to drag up the canoe, though they damaged her in
doing so. They had now reached a spot where the canoe could be
repaired, and fortunately found a dead tree which had fallen from the
cliffs above. But for this, fire could not have been kindled there, as
no wood was to be procured within a mile of the place; in which case the
repairs could not have been accomplished.
Thus yard by yard these hardy pioneers advanced by means of the line,
the paddle, or the pole, sometimes carrying the lading, sometimes the
canoe as well, and often within a hairbreadth of destruction. Indeed,
nothing but the coolness, courage, and skill of all concerned could,
under God, have brought them safely through the fatigues and dangers of
that tremendous day.
But they had not yet done with it. Having surmounted these and many
other difficulties, they reached a place where it became absolutely
necessary to make a traverse across an unusually strong current. Here
the men silently showed their estimate of the danger by stripping
themselves to their shirts, that they might be the better prepared to
swim for their lives, in case of accident to the canoe! Fortunately the
traverse was made successfully, and then at noon Mackenzie stopped and
went ashore to take an altitude. While he was thus engaged, the men
fastened the canoe and left it; but so insecure was the fastening that
the current sheered her off, and if it had not happened that one of the
men had remained in her and held on to the line, they would then and
there have been deprived of every means of advancing or returning, as
well as of present subsistence!
Despite the alarming nature of this incident, and the interference of a
cloud that sought to neutralise the sun, our persevering traveller
completed his observations, and proved the luckless spot to be situated
in 56 degrees north latitude.
The rapidity of the current increased so much here, that in the distance
of two miles they were compelled to unload four times and carry
everything except the canoe; and even when thus light they found it
difficult to prevent her being dashed to pieces against the rocks by the
violence of the eddies.
The last danger they encountered was the worst. They came to a place
where the river was nothing less than one continuous rapid, and they
took everything out of the canoe, intending to tow her up with the line,
only a few of the men being left in her. At length, however, the
tumultuous heaving of the water was so great that a wave struck the
canoe's bow and broke the line. The dismay of those on shore may be
imagined, for now it seemed as if nothing could save their comrades from
destruction; and certainly no human power did save them on that
occasion; for, while they grasped the sides of the canoe helplessly,
another wave drove them with a wild surge out of the tumbling water; so
that the men were enabled to thrust her ashore; and, strange to say,
though the frail vessel had been carried by tossing swells over rocks
which were left naked a moment later, she had received no material
injury.
This last accident, coupled with the fact that the river as far as they
could see was a sheet of white foaming water, induced the leader of the
band to give up all idea of advancing farther at that point by water.
But do not imagine, good reader, that this implied the desertion of the
canoe. On the contrary, that accommodating vessel having hitherto
carried our pioneers, they now proposed to carry it--as shall be related
presently.
Mackenzie met the grumbling discontent of his men with an order to
ascend the hill and encamp there for the night.
"Vraiment--it all very easy to say go up dere and camp for de noit,--
mais I will go not farder!" growled Ducette, as he threw a heavy bag of
provisions on his back and trudged sulkily up the hill.
The two young Indians evidently approved of this sentiment, and one or
two of the other men seemed inclined to echo it; but Reuben and Lawrence
laughed as they each shouldered a burden,--and the former said it was
his firm conviction that nothing would, could, or should stop Monsieur
Mackenzie but the Pacific Ocean.
The precipitous bank of the river, or "hill," up which they were desired
to carry the tents, provisions, etcetera, necessary for their
encampment, was so steep and encumbered with wood and scrub, that it
might of itself have formed a sufficiently disheartening obstacle to men
less accustomed to hardships; nevertheless, they braced themselves to it
with wonted vigour, pushed through the scrub, felled trees to facilitate
their ascent, and climbed like monkeys by the stems, until they gained
the summit, where very soon a roaring fire was covered with bubbling
kettles and broiling steaks and marrow-bones.
Meanwhile Mackenzie, accompanied by Swiftarrow, went off on foot to
survey the river ahead. He walked as long as daylight permitted, but
found that there seemed to be no end to the rapids and cascades, and
returned to camp with worn-out moccasins and wounded feet. During the
excursion he came on several old encampments of the Knisteneaux Indians,
which must have been formed during war expeditions, a decided proof, he
thought, of the savage and bloodthirsty nature of that people, seeing
that their natural hunting-grounds were very far removed from those
almost inaccessible regions.
It now became too apparent to the leader of the expedition that the
mountain at this place must be crossed on foot, with the canoe and its
heavy lading on the shoulders of himself and his men; but before
deciding on this course, he resolved to despatch Reuben and three men
with the two Indian interpreters to proceed along the line of the river
until they should reach a navigable part of it. Accordingly, next day
this party set out. Mackenzie remained in camp to superintend the
repairing of the canoe and take observations. He was successful in
obtaining correct time, and found the latitude to be 56 degrees 8
minutes.
At sunset the exploring party returned. They had penetrated the thick
woods, ascended hills, descended valleys, and had finally got above the
rapids, a distance of about three leagues; but their account of the
difficulties in the way of advancing was very discouraging indeed.
Mackenzie had foreseen this, and had made suitable preparations to
counteract the evil effects thereof. In their absence he had prepared
for them an enormous kettle of wild rice highly sweetened with sugar.
When the tired, hungry, and footsore men sat down to this they became
quite willing to listen to their leader's arguments in favour of a bold
advance, and when the hearty supper was washed down with a liberal
allowance of rum, and finished off with a pipe, they avowed themselves
ready to face _anything_! In this satisfactory state of mind they
retired to rest, while their leader sat up in the hope of obtaining an
observation of Jupiter and his first satellite, which laudable aim was
frustrated by cloudy weather.
CHAPTER NINE.
DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE UNKNOWN WILDERNESS.
Next day the arduous work of cutting a road through the forest and up
the mountainside was begun.
At daybreak their leader assembled the men. "Now, my lads," said he,
"the work before us for the next two or three days will be very stiff,
but it would be a disgrace to us if after having come so far, we were so
soon--only a little beyond the middle of May--to give in because of a
few difficulties. Besides, I am strongly of opinion that we cannot now
be far from the height of land, and you know well enough that the moment
we set foot on the other side of the topmost ridge of the mountains it
will be all down stream. Let us set to work, then, with a will. Take
your axes and cut your way through everything. The trees here are, as
you see, of small growth. Cut those of them that stand conveniently in
such a way as that they shall fall parallel with the intended road, but
don't sever them quite through so that they make a sort of railing on
each side. Come, Lawrence, I'm glad to see that you are ready to begin,
like a good pioneer--show them an example."
Lawrence, who was the only one of the listening band who chanced to have
his axe on his shoulder, smiled when thus addressed, and, turning round,
exclaimed "Voila!" as he swayed the axe aloft and sent it sweeping at
one stroke through a young tree, which fell with a crash and covered
half of the party with its branches.
A general laugh followed, and immediately the whole band set to work
with their axes, headed by Mackenzie himself.
From early morning till sunset they toiled during the next three days,
almost without cessation, except for meals. They cut their way from the
margin of the river, where the rocks and ground shelved so steeply that
one false step of any of the men would have been followed by a headlong
plunge into the water. Over the ridge, and down into a hollow beyond,
and up the mountain farther on, they hewed a broad track, by which they
conveyed the baggage and then carried up the canoe. This latter was an
extremely difficult operation at the first part of the road, requiring
the united efforts of the whole party. Being lifted on the shoulders of
some of the men, the tracking-rope was fastened to the bow, and others
of the party went in advance and took a couple of turns of the rope
round a stump. The bearers then advanced steadily up the steep side of
the mountain till they reached those who, by holding on to the rope,
relieved them of any downward weight. The rope was then shifted to a
stump farther up, and the advance was continued. Thus they may be said
to have warped the canoe up the mountain! By two in the afternoon
everything was got to the summit. Then Mackenzie, axe in hand, led the
way forward. The progress was slow, the work exhausting. Through every
species of country they cut their way. Here the trees were large and
the ground encumbered with little underwood; there, the land was strewn
with the trunks of fallen timber, where fire had passed with desolating
power years before, and in its place had sprung up extensive copses of
so close a growth, and so choked up with briars, that it was all but
impossible to cut through them. Poplar, birch, cypress, red-pine,
spruce, willow, alder, arrow-wood, red-wood, hard, and other trees,--all
fell before the bright axes of the _voyageurs_, with gooseberry-bushes,
currant-bushes, briars, and other shrubs innumerable. It must not be
supposed that they did this heavy work with absolute impunity. No,
there was many a bruise and blow from falling trees, and even the shrubs
were successful not only in tearing trousers and leggings, but also in
doing considerable damage to skin and flesh. So toilsome was the
labour, that at the close of one of the days they had advanced only
three miles.
On the afternoon of the third day they finally came out in triumph on
the banks of the river above the cascades, having cut a road of about
nine miles in extent.
Once again, then, behold them afloat and paddling up stream--still
westward--with hopes animated and fortune smiling, or, as Reuben put it,
with "a gale of luck blowin' right astarn." Reuben, be it observed, had
consorted with sailors in his day down the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and had
picked up a little of their slang.
But their good fortune never lasted long at a time. Their progress
being very slow, it was found advisable to send the young Indian
interpreters on shore to lighten the canoe and to hunt as they advanced.
They frequently killed elk and other game. On one of these occasions
Swiftarrow was nearly killed. He had been sent to fetch the choice
parts of an elk which they had shot, when a big rock fell from the
cliffs above, and was dashed to pieces at his very feet. Just after
this incident a violent fall of rain took place, obliging them to remain
in camp for a day. Then driftwood barred the river, and an opening had
to be forced through it. Then more cascades appeared to check their
advance; and, worst of all, just as they began to hope that the height
of land was gained, an opening in the hills revealed a range of blue
mountains far ahead of them, running south and north as far as the eye
could reach. To add to their perplexities, they came to a fork in the
river, one branch running due west, the other in a southerly direction.
"Follow the westerly branch," said one; "that must be the right one."
"Not so sure o' that," observed Reuben; "the end of a track don't
needsesarly p'int out the gin'ral run of it."
"You are right, Reuben," said Mackenzie; "besides, I have been warned of
this very branch by an old Indian whom I met last winter, and who said
he had been up here in his youth. Therefore, though appearances are
against it, I shall follow the southern branch."
Mackenzie was right in this determination, as it afterwards proved, but
most of his men grumbled very much at the time, because the southerly
branch, besides appearing to be the wrong one, was a very rapid and
dangerous stream. They knew by that time, however, that nothing could
bend their leader's will, so they submitted, though with a bad grace.
Here an immense number of beaver were seen, and a gladsome sight it was
to the fur-trader, because beaver skins at that time were in great
repute--silk hats not having, as yet, beaten them off the field and
reduced their value to almost nothing. In some places these sagacious
and busy animals had cut down several acres of large poplars. At this
place, too, they had an alarm, some of the men declaring that they had
heard shots fired by Indians in the woods. A whole night was therefore
spent on the _qui vive_, although it turned out to be a false alarm.
One morning, the weather being fine and the river more manageable than
usual, Mackenzie landed with Reuben and the two Indians, to ascend an
adjacent mountain, telling his men to proceed in the canoe diligently,
and directing them to fire two shots if they should require his return,
agreeing that he would do the same if he should wish them to wait for
him. Nothing was gained by this attempt to obtain a better prospect.
On descending to the river they fired two shots, as agreed on, but no
answer was received. Again they tried it, but the deep silence was only
broken by an echo and by the rushing of the river.
"They're behind us," suggested Reuben.
"They've overshot us," said the Indians.
Again two shots were fired, but still no reply came. Mackenzie's mind
was at once filled with anxious fears lest some accident should have
befallen his canoe, while he reproached himself for having left them
even for a brief period in such dangerous navigation.
In these circumstances he turned to consult with his men.
"It's my opinion," said Reuben, "that they've diskivered more rapids
than they bargained for, and are out of earshot behind us; so we'd
better make tracks down stream till we find 'em."
"Not so," said the elder of the Indians; "without doubt the canoe is
dashed to pieces, and our comrades are even now with their forefathers.
We shall see them no more; and my advice is that we construct a raft and
try to return on it to the lands whence we came."
Anxious though he was, Mackenzie could scarce refrain from laughing at
the prompt way in which the red man had consigned his comrades to
destruction. "Come," said he, "we won't give them up quite so readily
as you seem inclined to. We shall make at least one effort to find
them."
It was now arranged that Reuben and one of the Indians should remain at
the spot where they then were, kindle a large fire, and send branches
down the stream from time to time, as a signal to their comrades if they
chanced to be below, and that Mackenzie with the other Indian should
walk up the bank of the river several miles. This was done; but they
returned after some hours to the fire, having seen nothing of the canoe.
As evening was now approaching, they became thoroughly alarmed, and a
more rigorous plan of search was instituted. Reuben was sent off with
one Indian to proceed down the river as far as he could go before night
came on, with directions to continue the journey in the morning as far
as to the place where they had encamped the preceding evening.
Mackenzie with the other Indian again went off up the river, intending
to make a thorough search in that direction. They had no food with
them, but, having their guns and the means of making fire, they had no
anxiety on that score, except in regard to an immediate meal, for game
was scarcer than usual at that particular spot.
It was agreed that if both should fail of success, they were to return
to the place where they then separated. But their anxieties were
brought to an end sooner than they had hoped for. Not very long after
parting, Mackenzie heard a very far-off shot, and then another, and in a
few minutes an answering double shot at a still greater distance. These
being the concerted signals, he knew that the canoe party must have been
discovered by Reuben; he therefore retraced his steps with a light
heart, despite the fact that he had worn the moccasins off his feet, and
was completely drenched with rain. It turned out that the delay had
been occasioned by the breaking of the canoe, and the consequent
necessity of landing to repair damages. Indeed, the sorely-battered
craft had become almost a wreck. As a fitting climax to this disastrous
day, the night finished off with thunder, lightning, and rain.
While thus forcing their way to the head-waters of the river, they met
with a small party of miserable-looking natives, who received them at
first with violent demonstrations of an intention to immolate them on
the spot if they should dare to land. It was evident that the poor
creatures had been subjected to bad treatment and deception by other and
more powerful tribes, because they remained in a state of great
suspicion and anxiety even after the interpreter had stated earnestly
that the intentions of the white men were friendly, and after gifts had
been presented to them. By degrees, however, they became more
confident, and as their anxieties diminished their curiosity increased.
"I do believe," said Lawrence, "that the critters have never seen white
folk before."
To most people it might have seemed ridiculous to have heard that
bronzed _voyageur_ calling himself and his brown-faced, smoke-dried,
weather-worn companions, by the title of white people; but Lawrence
referred to the natural colour of the race to which he belonged.
"They do seem rather koorious," observed Reuben, as one of the Indians
timidly touched his arm and looked wonderingly up into his blue eyes.
It was found, however, that these natives had heard of white people,
though they had not seen them; moreover, they displayed a number of
knives and iron implements which they said had been procured from people
inhabiting the banks of a river which might be reached over a
carrying-place of "eleven days in length," and which river flowed in an
_opposite direction_ from the Peace River. These people, they said,
travelled during a moon to get to the country of another tribe who dwelt
in houses, and these again extended their journeys to the sea, or, as
they called it, the "Stinking Lake," where they exchanged their furs
with white people, like our pioneers, who came to the coast of that lake
in canoes as big as islands!
Here, then, at last, was definite information, and the enterprising
discoverer was not long in availing himself of it. After gratifying his
new friends with sundry little gifts, a feed of pemmican, which they
relished amazingly, and a taste of sugar to tickle their palates, he
gained their confidence so much as to induce one of them to be his
guide, and immediately pushed forward.
In the course of the following week they gained the much-longed-for
height of land, and found two lakelets within a quarter of a mile of
each other, from one of which the waters find their way through Peace
River, on the east side of the mountains, into the Arctic Sea, while
from the other the waters flow south and west through the great River
Columbia to the Pacific Ocean.
But the succession of disasters that befell them here, and the
difficulties of the route--for it could not be called navigation--threw
all their previous experiences into the shade. One day, having made a
portage, they relaunched the canoe and began the well-nigh forgotten
process of _descending_ stream. They had not gone far when they struck
a rock and were driven down sideways with great violence, Mackenzie,
followed by his men, jumped into the shallow to turn the canoe straight,
but in a moment the water deepened and they had to scramble inboard
again hurriedly. Swiftarrow by some mischance was left behind to
struggle on shore as best he might. Before they could resume their
paddles they struck again; the stem of the canoe was shattered like an
egg-shell and hung only by the gunwales, so that Lawrence, who was
steering, had to quit his place. The violence of the stroke drove them
to the opposite side of the river, where the bow met with the same fate.
At that moment Reuben seized the branches of a small overhanging tree
in a desperate hope of checking the canoe, but the tree proved so
elastic that he was jerked on shore in an instant as if by magic, and
the canoe swept over a cascade, where several holes were broken in her
bottom and nearly all the bars started. At the same moment the wreck
fell flat on the water; all the men jumped out, and Ducette, whose
courage forsook him, shouted, "Save yourselves!"
"Not so! Hold on to the canoe, men," cried Mackenzie sternly. The men
obeyed, and thus prevented the total loss of everything. Yard by yard,
on the verge of destruction they waded down the rapid, and guided the
wreck into shallow water, where some held her fast while the others, who
were quickly joined by Reuben and Swiftarrow, carried the lading safely
ashore. On this occasion several things were lost, the chief of these
being their whole stock of bullets, but they had plenty of shot left
from which ball could be made.
One might have thought this was at last sufficient to have turned them
back--so at least thought most of the men, who began to look
rebellious--but Mackenzie partly compelled, partly encouraged them to
advance. The canoe was dragged ashore and repaired, or rather
reconstructed, and eventually through indescribable difficulties he
reached the navigable stream which forms the head-waters of the Columbia
River. This he descended a considerable distance, and met with many of
the natives, who told him that the country below abounded with game and
the river with fish; but as the course of the latter ran towards the
south, and the distance by it to the sea was described as being
extremely great, he deemed it advisable to retrace his course a short
way and then strike westward overland to the Pacific.
The old canoe being now little better than a wreck, birch-bark was
procured and a new canoe built, after which the stream was ascended
until a spot was reached where the natives were in the habit of starting
overland for the sea coast. Here the canoe was hidden, an Indian guide
procured, and then these indomitable pioneers prepared to cross the
wilderness on foot.
CHAPTER TEN.
THE LAST.
We follow our travellers now over the last portion of their trying
journey. Well would it have been for them if they could have followed
their route as easily as you and I, reader, follow them in imagination.
Over mountain and swamp, through forest and brake, in heat and in cold,
sunshine and rain, they plodded wearily but resolutely on towards the
far west, until they reached the farthest west of all, where the great
continent dips into the greater Pacific.
At starting on this overland route they buried some provisions, and
putting in a place of security their canoe and such stores as they did
not require or could not carry, they set out, each man laden with a
burden varying from forty-five to ninety pounds weight, besides arms and
ammunition. They were led by an Indian guide with several of his
relations, and followed by their dog Wolf. This guide was deemed
necessary, not so much to show the way as to introduce them to the
various tribes through whose territory they should have to pass.
It takes a large portion of a quarto volume to recount their interesting
adventures by the way. How then, can we presume to attempt a fair
narrative in a few pages? The thing is impossible. We can but refer
our readers to Mackenzie's ponderous journal, in which, embedded amongst
a mass of important details, will be found a record of one of the most
interesting voyages ever undertaken.
As a matter of course difficulties assailed them at the outset. This
would seem to be the universal experience of pioneers. Game latterly
had begun to grow scarce, so that, their provisions being low, they were
obliged to go on short allowance--two meals a day. Their food, being
pemmican, required no cooking. Mingled heat, mosquitoes, sandflies, and
a rugged country, with short commons, and danger, as well as worry from
savages, was the beginning--and pretty much the middle and end--of their
experience. They were soon joined by an elderly man and three other
natives, and not only did these three Indians, but all the others along
the route, harass them by their caprice, unfaithfulness, and childish
petulance, and self-will.
One day their guide resolved to leave them; then, without being
solicited to stay, he changed his mind and went on with them. Again,
one night, at a time when they were anxious not to lose him, Mackenzie,
who knew he meant to take leave quietly, asked him to sleep with him.
He willingly consented, the white man's cloak being a snug covering, and
thus was he guarded! but his guardian suffered severe consequences owing
to the filthy state of the Indian, whose garments were indescribable,
his body being smeared with red earth, and his hair with fish-oil!
Coming to a lake they observed the sky grow very black. "A
thunder-storm brewin'," suggested Reuben.
"Encamp, and up with the tent, boys," said Mackenzie.
The tent! It was a misnomer, their only shelter being a sheet of thin
oiled cloth and the overhanging trees. Down came a deluge that kept
them very close for a time; then, on resuming the march, the guide was
requested to go in advance and brush the water off the bushes, but he
coolly declined. Mackenzie himself therefore undertook the duty.
During this storm the ground was rendered white with hailstones as large
as a musket ball. The third day they met natives who received them
well. These were going to the great river to fish, and seemed--unlike
many other tribes--to venerate age, for they carried on their backs by
turns a poor old woman who was quite blind and infirm. Farther on they
met other Indians on their way to the same great river, which abounded
with salmon. These told them that they would soon reach a river,
neither large nor long, which entered an arm of the sea, and where a
great wooden canoe with white people was said to be frequently seen!
"Here is encouragement for us; let us push on," said Mackenzie. "Push
on," echoed Reuben and Lawrence and some of the other men; but some
grumbled at the hardships they had to endure, and the short allowance of
provisions, while the Indians threatened to desert them.
Mackenzie must have had something very peculiar in his look and manner,
for he seemed to possess the faculty of saying little in reply to his
men, and yet of constraining them to follow him. Doubtless, had some
one else written his journal we should have learned the secret. It
seems as if, when rebellion was looking blackest and the storm about to
burst, instead of commanding or disputing, he calmly held his tongue and
went off to take an observation of the sun, and on that process being
completed, he almost invariably found his men in a more tractable
condition! Occasionally we read of quiet remonstrance or grave
reasoning, and frequently of hearty encouragement and wise counsel, but
_never_ of violence, although he was sorely tried. Perchance they knew
that he was dangerous to trifle with! We cannot tell, but certainly he
seems to have been a splendid manager of men.
At last they reached an Indian village where they were hospitably
entertained, and presented with as much roasted salmon as they required.
These people lived almost exclusively on fish and berries; were more
cleanly than other tribes, and apparently less addicted to war or
hunting. Here two new guides were obtained, and the people conciliated
with gifts of beads, knives, and other trinkets.
Leaving them they spent a wretched night on the shores of a lake,
deluged with rain and tormented with sandflies and mosquitoes--the
former being perhaps the greatest pests of the country. Soon the guides
grew tired of their mode of travelling, and the allowance of provisions
had to be still further reduced. Fearing that they might run short
altogether, Mackenzie ordered Reuben and his son to fall behind, bury
some pemmican in reserve for their return, and make a fire over the spot
to conceal the fact that it had been dug into. They were now on
two-thirds of their regular allowance. Soon afterwards they came to a
river too deep to ford, but one of their guides swam across and brought
over a raft that lay on the other side. This ferried most of them over,
but Swiftarrow and some of the others preferred to swim across.
At length, after many days of suffering and toil they crossed the last
range of mountains and began to descend. Here magnificent cedars and
other trees were seen, some of the former being fully eighteen feet in
circumference. The natives whom they met with were sometimes stern,
sometimes kind, but always suspicious at first. The soothing effects of
gifts, however, were pretty much the same in all. Still the party had
several narrow escapes.
On one occasion Mackenzie, when alone, was surrounded and seized, but he
soon freed himself, and just at that moment when his life seemed to hang
on a hair, Reuben Guff happened to come up, and the natives took to
flight. Some of these natives were very expert canoe-men, caught salmon
by means of weirs, dwelt in wooden houses elevated on poles, boiled
their food in water-tight baskets by putting red-hot stones into them,
made cakes of the inner rind of the hemlock sprinkled with oil, and
seemed to have a rooted antipathy to flesh of every kind. Some of the
salmon they caught were fully forty pounds' weight. The chief of one
tribe said that, ten years before, he had gone down to the sea in a
large canoe, and there had met with two large vessels full of white men
who treated him very kindly. These, Mackenzie concluded, must have been
the ships of Captain Cook, an opinion which was strengthened by the
discovery that the chief's canoe was ornamented with sea-otters' teeth,
which bear some resemblance to human teeth, for which they had been
mistaken by the great navigator. At last, on the 20th of July, the
heroic perseverance of Mackenzie met with its reward. On that day he
obtained a canoe, and descending a river, entered an arm of the Pacific!
He did not himself, indeed, deem the object of the expedition attained
until he had battled on for a couple of days longer--in the face of the
opposition of his own men and hostility of the natives--and had obtained
reliable observations which settled beyond all dispute, his exact
position on the globe. But to all intents and purposes he had
accomplished his great object on that day,--namely, the crossing of the
American Wilderness to the Pacific Ocean.
Even in the midst of his triumph this long-enduring man was worried by
petty trials, for one of the Indian guides took it into his head to
desert. As he was the son of a chief, and, it was to be feared, might
prejudice the natives against them, Reuben Guff was directed to pursue
him. That worthy took with him Swiftarrow, and exerting his long sinewy
legs to the utmost, soon overtook the fugitive and brought him back.
But it was no part of Mackenzie's plan to tyrannise over men. He
received the deserter kindly, gave him a pair of moccasins, some
provisions, a silk handkerchief, and some good advice, and then sent him
back to his friends. The other Indian who remained with them succeeded
about the same time in killing a large porcupine, which was very
acceptable to all--especially to its captor, who ate so largely of it as
to be obliged to undergo a prolonged period of repose in order to sleep
it off.
At length, being in a state of semi-starvation, with a leaky canoe, and
unfriendly natives around, Mackenzie took a last observation, which gave
52 degrees 20 minutes 48 second North latitude and 128 degrres 2 minutes
West longitude.
Then he turned his face eastward. Before quitting the coast, however, a
smooth rock was selected and thereon was written, in large letters,
with a mixture of melted grease and vermilion, this brief
memorial--"Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada, by land, the twenty-second
of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three."
The return journey was scarcely less arduous than the outward, but they
undertook it with the knowledge that every step carried them nearer
home, and with the exhilarating consciousness that their labours had
been crowned with success. Besides this, they now knew what lay before
them each day--as far as the route was concerned--and at the various
places where provisions had been secreted the party was strengthened and
enabled to advance with greater vigour. On arriving at the Great River
they found their canoe, goods, and provisions just as they had left them
about five weeks before. Here they made preparations for proceeding to
the head-waters of the Columbia River, crossing over to those of the
Peace River, and so returning by the way they had come. In order to
mark this happy point in the expedition, Mackenzie treated himself and
men to a dram, "but,"--observe that I quote his words, reader,--"we had
been so long without tasting any spirituous liquor, that we had _Lost
all relish for it_!" Rejoice in _that_ testimony, ye teetotallers.
Think of it, ye topers. Put it in your pipes, ye smokers--and make the
most of it!
"Nearing home at last, boys," said Mackenzie many weeks afterwards, as,
having descended the turbulent Peace River, they rounded a point of land
and came in sight of their old winter-quarters; "shake out the flag, and
give them a volley and a cheer."
The men obeyed, and were in such high spirits, and made such active use
of their paddles, that they reached the landing-place before the two men
who had been left there in the spring, could recover their senses
sufficiently to answer their questions! But _this_ was not home yet.
Some days had still to elapse ere these toil-worn men could lay aside
their paddles and rest their wearied limbs.
At last, after an absence of eleven months, they reached Fort Chipewyan,
where their leader resumed the duties of the fur-trade, and Swiftarrow
once more kissed the brown cheek of Darkeye, who filled his heart with
grim delight by placing in his paternal arms a soft, round, fat, little
brown female baby, with eyes as dark and bright as her own, and a nose
which was a miniature facsimile of its father's.
One week after their arrival, Reuben and Lawrence, Swiftarrow and
Darkeye, entered Mackenzie's room to bid him farewell.
"I'm sorry you are bent on leaving me," said their former leader; "but
you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have contributed greatly
to the success of our two expeditions. You have indeed proved
yourselves able pioneers."
"Thank'ee, sir," said Reuben, while a quiet smile of satisfaction
lighted up his grave features. "It was all along a hobby o' mine, an'
of Lawrence too, to do a bit o' diskivery; an' now we're content--for it
ain't possible, I fancy, to do much more in that line than push your
canoe into the Frozen Sea on the one hand, or the Pacific on the other.
It's harder work than I thowt it would be--though I didn't expect
child's play neither; an' it's our opinion, sir, that you are the only
man in the country as could have done it at all. We intend now to go
back to the settlements. As for the red-skin," he added, glancing at
Swiftarrow, "he ha'n't got no ambition one way or another as to
diskivery; but he's a good and true man, nevertheless, you'll allow.
And now, sir, farewell. May a blessing from above rest on you and
yours."
Saying this the bold backwoodsman shook Mackenzie by the hand and left
the room. Every one in the fort was on the bank to bid them farewell.
Silently they stepped into their canoe, and in a few minutes had paddled
out of sight into the great wilderness of wood and water.
Reader, our tale, if such it may be styled, _is_ told. As for the hero
whose steps for a time we have so closely followed, he became one of the
most noted traders, as he was now one of the most celebrated
discoverers, in North America. He afterwards became for a time the
travelling companion in America of the Duke of Kent, father of Queen
Victoria; was knighted in acknowledgment of his great and important
achievements; married one of Scotland's fair daughters; and finally died
in the midst of his native Highland hills, leaving behind him a volume
which--as we said at the beginning--proves him to have been one of the
most vigorous, persevering, manly, and successful pioneers that ever
traversed the continent of North America.
THE END.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
EXTRACT OF LETTER REFERRED TO ON PAGE 85.
From William Mackenzie, Esquire, of Gairloch, to George Mackenzie,
Esquire, of Avoch, dated Leamington, 24th May 1856.
When in Stockholm in 1824, Lord Blomfield, our Minister there, did me
the honour of presenting me to the King, _Bernadotte_, father of the
present King of Sweden.
At the King's special request, the audience was a private one, and I was
further especially requested to oblige by coming in my full Highland
dress. The audience lasted fully an hour. Such an interest did
Napoleon's first and most fortunate Marshal take in everything that was
Highland, not even the skiandhu escaped him.
I now come to _your_ family portion of the audience.
As we chatted on, old Bernadotte (leaning familiarly upon my O'Keachan
claymore) was pleased to say in that _suaviter in modo_ for which his
eagle eye so fitted him, "Yes, I repeat it, you Highlanders are
deservedly proud of your country. Your forefathers and your people are
a race apart, distinct from all the rest of Britain in high moral as
well as martial bearing, and long, I hope, may you feel and show it
outwardly by this noble distinction in dress. But allow me to observe,
Sir, that in your family name, in the name of Mackenzie, there is a very
predominant lustre, which shall never be obliterated from my mind.
Pray, are you connected in any way with Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the
celebrated North American traveller, whose name and researches are
immortalised by his discoveries in the Arctic Ocean, and of the river
which since then does honour to his name?" I informed His Majesty that
as a boy I had known him well, and that our family and his were nearly
connected. This seemed to give me still greater favour with him, for,
familiarly putting his hand on my shoulder-brooch, he replied that _on
that account alone_ his making my acquaintance gave him greater
satisfaction. He then proceeded to tell Lord Blomfield and me how your
father's name had become familiar to him, and so much valued in his
eyes. He said that at one time Napoleon had arranged to distract the
affairs of Britain by attacking her in her Canadian possessions--not by
a direct descent upon them, but by a route which men expected would take
England quite by surprise and prove infallible.
That route was to be up the Mississippi, Ohio, etcetera, up to our
Canadian border lakes. For this arrangements were to be made with
America, New Orleans occupied as a _pied a terre_ by France, etcetera,
etcetera. The organisation and command of this gigantic enterprise, as
Bernadotte said, "was given to me by the Emperor, with instructions to
make myself master of every work which could bear upon it, and the
facilities the nature of the country afforded. Foremost amongst these
the work of your namesake (Sir Alexander Mackenzie) was recommended, but
how to get at it, with all communications with England interdicted, all
knowledge of English unknown to me, seemed a difficulty not easily to be
got over. However, as every one knows, my _then_ master, l'Empereur,
was not the man to be overcome by such small difficulties. The _book_,
a huge quarto, was procured through the smugglers, and in an
inconceivably short space of time most admirably translated into French
for my especial use. [A copy of this translation was found in
Napoleon's library at St. Helena.] I need hardly say with what interest
I perused and reperused that admirable work, till I had made myself so
thoroughly master of it that I could almost fancy myself," this he said
laughing heartily, "taking your Canadas _en revers_ from the upper
waters; and ever since I have never ceased to look upon the name and
think of the author with more than ordinary respect and esteem."
After a short pause and a long-drawn breath, almost amounting to a sigh,
accompanied by a look at Blomfield and a most expressive "Ah, milord,
que de changes depuis ces jours-la," Bernadotte concluded by saying that
the Russian campaign had knocked that of Canada on the head until Russia
was crushed! but it had pleased God to ordain it otherwise, "et
maintenant me voila Roi de Suede"--his exact words as he concluded these
compliments to your father.
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