Year: 1870




the whole Northwest. AS some of the
more curious portions of the official note
book Of an Indian agent, l transcribe the
memoranda relating to it.


Albert Black was an honest English
gentleman, whose adventures in search OF
fortune led him away from Regent street
to wander in western wilds, and this is the
way he put through" a portion of the
winter of that year. He was residing.
with a single companion, in a little log
cabin at the Indian village of Bella Coola,
on the coast of British Columbia. There
was no white man nearer than one hun
d-ed miles, but the villages of many Indi-
an tribes were situated in the immediate
Vicinity. The winter was only half
through; few natives came trading about
the post, and as time lay heavily on their
hands, Black and his companion resolved
to go hunting for few days 4 canoe
was accordingly fitted out with a stock of
provisions and ammunition, and with an
Indian as steersman and pilot they pro-
ceeded TO cruise about among the islands,
now and then landing and stalking deer.
or shooting the ducks and wild geese
which assembly IN countless focks by the
mouths Of the northwestern rivers in VIM
ter. The season was mild, with but a
thin coating of snow on the ground, so
that each night they encamped in the
open AIR, and slept, well wrapped up in
their blankets, around the blazing log fire.
Very few old explorers in these countries
ever think Of carrying a tent with them,
and our hunters were not possessed OF
one, even had they cared to avail them
selves of its shelter They had wandered
about IN this manner for several DAYS.
when, as usual, they encamped one night
on an island, with the canoe drawn up on
the beach. Their provisions the built up
around them, to guard them from the at
taeks OF any prowling Indians or other
mlshaps Their indian pilot had informed
them he was nearly out of powder and
bullets, and at the same time begging to
be supplied with some, exhibiting his
pouch, which contained but two charges.
The hunters were too tired to open their
packages, and, notwithstanding his solio-
ltatlons, they put him off until morning.
They then, as usual, loaded their rifles,
the indian doing so also; and all three
men lay down to sleep, and all slept save
one.


How long they slept Black could not
say but all that he remembered was be-
ing awoke by the report of rifle A low
scream, and then moan by his side, told
nj MN that all was over with his companion.
Inc Indians place was vacant and before
BLACK could become fully conscious of his
situation. he was fired at from the dark,
and bullet struck his thigh. He attempt
ed TO rise, but was unable; his leg was
fractured. Instantly he grasped his re-
voiver, and he had scarcely done so before
he was conscious of figure crouching to-
wards..him in the darkness.


lie Immediately fired, but the shot did
not take effect and his would-be murderer
retreated behind some rocks. He now
staunohed the blood flowing from his
wound as well as circumstances would
permit, tying a handkerchief around it.
All doubt was now at an end that the In
dian guide, tempted by the property, had
murdered his companion, and was only
prevented by the want of ammunition
from dispatching him too. All night long
1T seemed year-he kept awake, toe
excited to sleep, though he was faint from
loss of blood Sometimes he would re.
lapse into an uneasy sleep. from which he
would be startled by the barking of his
little dog, when he would grasp his revol.
yer, only to see a figure again skulkine
! into the darkness.


Daylight at last came, and he had now
time to contemplate his situation. Help
less, badly wounded, far from white men
or friendly Indians, he was alone, with an
enemy watching every moment to DESTROY
him, as he had done his companion, whose
CLASSY eyes glared up at him. Provisions
enough were lying scattered around but
none were accessible as food, save the bag
of sugar, and on this his chief chance Of
subsistence lay. He knew enough Of
science to know that Magendie's dogs
when fed on sugar soon grew emaoiated
but he also knew that it supported life fol
time. Before night snow fell. and COW
cred the dead body out of sight. Some
times he would relapse into a half-wakine
sleep, when again the ever-faithful dog
who seemed almost conscious how matters
stood, would warn him of the approach Of
his enemy. 1t was in vain that Black at
tempted to get shot at him; and had il
not been for the watchfulness of his dog
friend, the wretch must soon have been
able to dispatch with his knife the guardi-
an whose revolver interviewed between him
and the coveted property.


And so they kept their dreary viglls
and the snow fell heavily; and though his
leg panied him exceedingly, he managed tc
keep warm in his blanket-lined burrow
The Indian would sometimes disappear fol
hours and even day, apparently looking
after food. The poor hunteriwould then
imagine that he had got clear of his blood.
thirsty enemy, when again the barking o.
Flora would warn her master. On one ol
two occasions the Indian managed 10 ap.
proach within few feet of his intended
victim before his presence was detected
and as both murderer and hunter were
equally intent on each others destruction
escapes were sometimes rather narrow
Several DAYS elapsed in this manner, unit
at last the Indian seemed to have growr
tired, and left the island in the canoe fol
| they were no longer alarmed. The sugar
bag was nearly done, and the poor dos
was now so weak with hunger, that ever
when it did not absent itself searching fol
food upon the shore it was scarcely able
to give an alarm. If Blackee survived
hunger and his ugly wound which
was now getting very painful, the
| Indian, he knew, would soon return anC
accomplish his purpose. With sucl
| thoughts his prospects were gloomy enough
and so he dosed away the hours, half fro
zen and faint 1t was the tenth night Oh,
| laQ long lOSI count OF Time, DuJ 1OunQ II
afterwards since the murderous attack
when he was awoke by loud talking OF
the beach.


-Tha- moon, sailing over the leaden
| snowy sky enabled him to recognize tn,
| figures of several Indians hauling a canor
on to the beach. He grasped his revolver
determined to soil his life dearly, for h,
was now fully persuaded that it must b,
his murderer returned with assistance.
was strange, however, it struck him, tina
they had landed in such an exposed situa
ton. "Who are you?" he inquired, il
the Chinook jargon, the trading Language
of the coast. A low, surprised cry cam,
from them. They were, apparently, una
ware of the presence of any one but them
selves. Again he shouted more cheerfully
and they approached him, when he wa
delighted TO recognize the familiar faces o
several Bella Coola Indians-old acquaint
ances of his. He told them his story anC
as they listened he uncovered the body 0
his murdered companion, they, every nov
and again, bursting INTO a cry OF horror
Food was prepared, and every attention
paid to him. The dead body was buried
| and Rlack cOnyaved IN tha Indian vilIaoa