Dick Onslow | Page 4

passed slowly away. Darkness
came on. I grew very hungry and faint, for I had no food in my pocket,
and had taken nothing since the morning. Had I not been wounded, that
would have been a trifle; I had often gone a whole day without eating,
with, perhaps, a lap of water every now and then from a cool stream. I
could not sleep a wink during the whole night. At times I hoped that if
my friends were victorious they might return to learn what had become
of poor Obed and me. In vain was the hope. The night wore on, the
dawn returned. I tried to stretch my legs; I found that I could not move
them.
The hours of the next day passed slowly by; I thought I heard the cries
and shrieks of the redskins in the distance--they seemed to draw nearer
and nearer--they were entering the wood--yes, I was certain of it--they
got close up to my tree--as I looked down, I saw their hideous,
malicious faces gazing up at me, eager for my destruction. Then
suddenly I became aware that they were only creatures of my
imagination, conjured up through weakness and hunger. All was again

silent. "If this state of things continues, I shall certainly drop from my
hold," I thought. Then suddenly I remembered that I had some tobacco
in my pocket. Edom Ragget had handed it to me to cut up for him. I put
a piece in my mouth, and chewed away at it. I felt much better. The
evening came; my apprehensions about the Indians decreased. Still I
knew that if I once got down the tree, I might not be able to ascend it
again, and might become a prey to wild beasts or rattlesnakes, as I felt
that I could not stand for a moment, much less walk a yard. Having
fastened my rifle to a branch, I secured one of my arms round another,
that I might not drop off, and at last fell into a deep sleep. Next
morning I awoke, feeling much better, though very hungry. As I lay
without moving, I observed a racoon playing about a branch close to
me. "Although there may be a hundred red-skins in the neighbourhood,
I must have that fellow for my breakfast," I said to myself. I released
my rifle and fired. Down fell the racoon at the foot of the tree. "He is of
no use to me unless I can get hold of him, and even could I pick him up,
I must eat him raw, as I have no means of lighting a fire where I am,"
said I to myself. While this thought passed rapidly through my mind, I
heard a sound at some distance. It was, I felt sure, that of a human
voice. I quickly reloaded my rifle, and, with my finger on the trigger,
sat in readiness for whatever might occur.
CHAPTER TWO.
A FRIEND IN NEED--HOW TWO PEOPLE MAY LIVE WHILE
ONE WILL STARVE--OBED GOES IN SEARCH OF
ADVENTURES, AND I AWAKE TO FIND A RATTLESNAKE
CLOSE TO MY NOSE--I AM SAVED--OBED RETURNS, BUT
FOLLOWED BY A GENTLEMAN WHOSE ROOM WOULD BE
MORE PLEASANT THAN HIS COMPANY--OBED CANNOT FIRE,
AND I CANNOT RUN, BUT I SAVE HIM BY SITTING STILL--WE
ANTICIPATE THE PLEASURE OF DINING ON BEAR'S
FLESH--OBED FETCHES AND CARRIES LIKE A DOG, AND WE
FARE SUMPTUOUSLY--I TAKE TO CRUTCHES--WE COLLECT
STORES AND MAKE A TENT--A RED-SKIN VISITOR.
I kept, as I was saying, my finger on the trigger, and my eye along the

barrel of my rifle, fully expecting to see a Pawnee's red visage appear
through the bushes. I knew that the dead racoon would betray me; so I
resolved to fight it out to the last, and to sell my life dearly. I heard
footsteps approaching--slowly and watchfully I thought: I peered down
out of my leafy cover; the branches of the surrounding shrubs were
pushed aside, and there, instead of the feathers and red face of an
Indian, I saw the honest countenance of young Obed Ragget, looking
cautiously about him on every side.
"Obed! Obed! I am here," I sung out; "come and help me, lad." He
sprang on when he heard my voice.
"What, Dick! is that you? Well, I am glad you have escaped, that I am,"
he exclaimed, looking up into the tree.
"So am I to see you," I cried; "but help me down, lad, for I cannot help
myself, I fear."
"That is more than I can do," said he. "Look; the red-skins have shot
me through both arms, and I can no more use them than I can fly."
I now observed that he looked very pale and weak, and that both his
arms hung down uselessly