Informal Chapters on Painters, Vaudeville, and Poets | Page 3

we went on foot in search of game. We succeeded
in killing a couple of deer and a turkey, so that we were again amply
supplied with food. Our baggage-mules being slow but sure-going
animals we were unable to make more than twenty miles a day, though
at a pinch we could accomplish thirty. We had again mounted and were
moving forward. The country was covered with tall grass, five and
sometimes eight feet in height, over which we could scarcely look even
when on horseback. We had ridden about a couple of miles from our
last camping-place, when Story, the tallest of our party, exclaimed--
"I see some objects moving to the northward. They look to me like
mounted men, and are apparently coming in this direction."
He unslung his glass, while we all pulled up and took a look in the
direction he pointed.
"Yes, I thought so," he exclaimed; "they are Indians, though, as there
are not many of them, they are not likely to attack us; but we must be
on our guard, notwithstanding."
We consulted what was best to be done.
"Ride steadily in the direction we are going," said Dick; "and, by
showing that we are not afraid of them, when they see our rifles they
will probably sheer off, whatever may be their present intentions. But
keep together, my lads, and let nothing tempt us to separate."
We followed Dick's advice; indeed, although we had no ostensible
leader, he always took the post on an emergency.
The strangers approached, moving considerably faster than we were
doing. As they drew nearer, Story, who took another view of them
through his glass, announced that there were two white men of the
party, thus dispelling all fears we might have entertained of an
encounter. We therefore pulled up to wait their arrival. As they got still

nearer to us, one of the white men rode forward. He was followed by
several dogs. Suddenly Dick, who had been regarding him attentively,
exclaimed--
"What, Harry Armitage, my dear fellow! What has brought you here?"
"A question much easier asked than answered, and I'll put the same to
you," said the stranger, shaking hands.
"I came out for a change of scene, and to get further from the ocean
than I have ever before been in my life; and now let me introduce you
to my friends," said Dick. The usual forms were gone through. Mr
Armitage then introduced his companion as Pierre Buffet, one of the
best hunters and trappers throughout the continent. The Indians, he said,
had been engaged by Pierre and himself to act as guides and scouts, and
to take care of the horses and baggage-mules. As our objects were the
same, before we had ridden very far we agreed to continue together, as
we should thus, in passing through territories infested by hostile
Indians, be the better able to defend ourselves.
We had reason, before long, to be thankful that our party had thus been
strengthened. We encamped as usual; and, not forgetting the lesson we
had lately received, we set a watch so that we should not be surprised,
either by wolves or Redskins. Though the former were heard howling
in the distance, we were not otherwise disturbed by them, and at dawn
we were once more in our saddles traversing the wide extending prairie,
our new associates and we exchanging accounts of the various
adventures we had met with. Armitage was not very talkative, but Dick
managed to draw him out more than could any of the rest of the party.
Buffet, in his broken English, talked away sufficiently to make ample
amends for his employer's taciturnity. Our midday halt was over, and
we did not again intend to encamp until nightfall, at a spot described by
Buffet on the banks of a stream which ran round a rocky height on the
borders of the prairie. It was, however, some distance off, and we did
not expect to reach it until later in the day than usual.
We were riding on, when I saw one of the Indians standing up in his
stirrups and looking to the northeast. Presently he called to Buntin and

pointed in the same direction. The words uttered were such as to cause
us no little anxiety. The prairie was on fire. The sharp eyes of the
Indian had distinguished the wreaths of smoke which rose above the
tall grass, and which I should have taken for a thick mist or cloud
gathering in the horizon. The wind blew from the same quarter.
"Messieurs, we must put our horses to their best speed," exclaimed
Pierre. "If the wind gets up, that fire will come on faster than we can go,
and we shall all be burnt into cinders if once