A journey... Part IV

HE words of Mr. Burton found their way into my dreams long before I heard them with my ears.

Rouse him, says he.

It was barely morning and I was soaked to the bone after a night with scarcely two hours of sleep strung together in small bits. The oiled canvas could only provide so much protection against the heavy rains of the night before.

Mr. Burton and Flynn were on their feet, and the Bryant brothers were down the hill having a look around at what had been the indian camp. They seemed particularly interested in some of the refuse they were finding on the ground, as they were crouching to examine it.

At some point, as I was sleeping, the natives had picked up and moved on, southward according to Burton, who had the fierce and exhausted look of a man who had been on guard all night.

With little ceremony, we gathered up and continued eastward along the trail, still assaulted by a light drizzle of rain. It was still aforenoon when we arrived at the small cabin that belonged to mr. C-----'s family. I bid the other gentlemen in the party farewell as they continued on the next few miles to Bledsoe his fort.

Mrs. C----- was elated to see me when I arrived at the door, and made such a fuss over my general condition that I could not get a word in edgewise. The state of my poor cloathing, I would surely catch my death of cold, have you ever seen such a thing dear, she would see to getting me into to dry things, had I eaten yet, I looked so thin since we last met, I surely had not eaten, look dear it's the Doctor come to see you.

The small, one room cabin was crammed full of stores for the winter months. The entire wall opposite the fire was filled with hanging corn and all manner of vegetables and herbs to dry. On the wall by the door was a great salted ham that they had already begun to carve at. Their little home was scarcely more than a spot for a bed and a table, packed so full it was, I could barely find a place to set down my blue box.

Mrs. C----- saw to it that a line was run next to the fire so that my wet cloathes and things could be hung up to dry and she gave me a rather rough and ill-fitting suit of mr. C-----'s to wear whilst mine were occupied.

A journey... Part III

cold, miserable night spent shivering. I buttoned up and rolled my blankets up to make ready. My breakfast consisted of a combination of nuts and dried fruits from my haversack.

Light sleet early on as our path begins to make a slow, gradual rise uphill. Mr. Burton, who has made this trip several times in the past, seems to be of the opinion that we can be in the vicinity of Bledsoe his Fort by nightfall. I will be pleased not to sleep outdoors again this night.

The weather gives way to a cloudy, overcast day, but warmer weather. I am just beginning to reach into my haversack for a bite of dried meat when Mr. Burton, who is at the front of the party, stops in the middle of the trail. The brothers Bryant take up their arms and leave the path to gain the cover of the trees, Mr. Flynn and I do the same.

Burton very slowly moves to a cluster of trees and lays himself out flat upon the ground. He stretches his arm out and silently gestures for the Bryant boys to join him. They look down the slope and converse quietly for a while before they gesture Flynn and I over.

We all look down the slope to espy a group of fur-clad natives that have set up a small camp just off the path. Burton's eyes are better than my own, I would never have seen them if left to my own devices.

It is not their habit to be in this area in the cold months, says Burton.

Why is it that they come to be here? asks Flynn, face red, hands shaking.

It would seem that, like us, they are traveling, says Burton.

The Bryants look eager to greet them, tightening their grip on their weapons.

What are we to do? They are eleven and we are five, says I, not excited by the prospect of running to an early grave.

It is the opinion of Burton that we should stay where we are and wait for the indians to leave in the morning. It is his fear that if we make any attempt to attack, or even to go around, that they may discover us. All members of the party agree, after some grumbling from the young brothers.

The sun sets, and rain begins to fall. We stay flat on our stomachs and carefully cover ourselves with a large oiled canvas that Burton brought with him. It does little to keep us warm, but staves off the majority of the wet.

We shall keep watch all night, in the hopes that they move on in the morning.