Dick Onslow | Page 8

thus in a few minutes we had a comfortable roof over our
heads.
While we were at work, it struck me that if I could make a sort of sleigh,
it would facilitate the operation of bringing in our goods. I set to work
immediately, and in the course of two days, manufactured a machine
which answered our purpose. The season was advancing, the nights
were getting cold, and there was no time to be lost in collecting the
articles which we might require to preserve our lives through the winter,
should no one, before it set in, pass that way to rescue us. Accordingly,
we once more proceeded on our expedition. Sometimes I walked on my
crutches, and at others Obed dragged me along on the sleigh. Certainly
we were a notable example of the advantage of two people working in
concert. Alone we must have perished; together, though injured so

severely, we were able to live and comfort each other. We never had
even the slightest dispute; and though surrounded by difficulties and
dangers, and anxious about our friends, we were far from unhappy. I
have often thought that if people who are living in the midst of all sorts
luxuries and advantages would but follow the example of Obed Ragget
and me, they would be very much the happier.
Our first care was to get the kegs of powder and shot, for our stock was
almost exhausted; and with those, and a bundle of blankets, we
returned to our tent.
To make a long story short, in the course of a week we had collected
everything to be seen; and had settled ourselves very comfortably in
our new home. We also surrounded our tent with stacks of firewood,
which would serve as a barricade should we be attacked, at any time,
by the red-skins.
The exertion we went through, however, had fatigued us excessively,
and opened our wounds afresh; so that for some days we were unable to
quit the precincts of our tent. We had made ourselves beds by placing
sticks close together on the ground, and covering them with leaves,
over which we spread our blankets; and we agreed, as we lay stretched
out on them, that we were much better off than many poor fellows who
had not beds to lie on. I crawled out occasionally to light the fire, and
to cook our food, while Obed had to go to the river to get water. To
prevent the necessity of doing this so frequently, after we were both a
little rested, we emptied our beef cask, and carried it down on the sleigh
to the river, that we might fill it with water. This being done, we found
that we had over-calculated our strength, and had once more to take to
our beds. Several days more passed away, during which we scarcely
moved. Obed, too, had become very silent. I saw that something was
passing in his mind. After a time I asked him what it was.
"Why, Dick," said he, "I'm thinking that though we seem to have a
good supply of food, it won't last two hungry fellows all the winter,
even if we were to put ourselves on half allowance. Now my arms will
soon be well, and if I could make my way to one of the forts, I might
bring you assistance. I'll take a supply of powder and shot, and keep my

eyes open to look out for the red-skins. What do you say to it?"
I told him that I did not like the idea of his running so great a risk for
my sake.
"Oh, don't fear for me," he replied; "it's right that it should be done, I'm
certain of that, so I'll do it."
I said nothing more. I knew when Obed thus expressed himself, he was
in earnest. Several more days rolled slowly by. We slept a good deal in
the daytime; perhaps under our circumstances it was the best thing we
could do. One afternoon I had been asleep some time, and Obed was
snoring away on the other side of the tent, when I opened my eyes, and
then I saw, glaring at me through the doorway of the tent, the hideous
countenance of a red-skin warrior, horribly covered with paint and
decked with coloured feathers. While with his left hand he lifted up the
curtain, in his right he grasped his tomahawk, which quivered with his
eagerness to take possession of our scalps.
CHAPTER THREE.
THE RED-SKIN PROVES TO BE A FRIEND--HE AND OBED
LEAVE ME ALONE IN MY GLORY--I FORTIFY MYSELF FOR
THE WINTER--VISITED BY WOLVES--A TERRIFIC
STORM--THE WOLVES MY NIGHTLY VISITORS--I KILL SOME
AND EAT THEN, BUT FIND THEM O'ER TEUCH--AN OBJECT
MOVING IN THE DISTANCE--RED-SKINS AND ENEMIES--I
PREPARE