Reginald watched the animal’s progress, and called the attention of Prairie–bird to the surprising swiftness and activity with which it held on its perilous course.
When at length it disappeared behind the angle of an abrupt precipice, she said, “Does it not call to your mind the description given of the wild–ass of the East, in the Book of Job, ‘Who has sent out the wild–ass free? or who hath loosened the band of the wild–ass? whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling? He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.’ Tell me, Reginald,” continued the maiden, after a momentary pause, “can the creature here described be the same dull patient animal that I have often seen bearing the packs of the Mexican traders?”
“The same, I believe, dearest, in its origin, and its place in natural history, but widely different in its habits and powers, if we may credit the narratives of travellers, whether modern or ancient. I remember reading a most spirited description of this same animal in the account given by the eminent historian[82] of the expedition of the younger Cyrus, who relates that the herds of them found near the banks of the Euphrates surpassed the swiftest horses in speed, and were neither to be tamed nor approached without the greatest difficulty; and in later times they have been described as abounding in the wildest regions of Persia and Tartary, where their flesh is considered one of the greatest delicacies at the table of the hunter, and even at that of the prince. In order to distinguish this animal from its humble and degraded kindred in the West, it has been dignified by the name of the Onager.”
The conversation was here interrupted by a sudden halt in the line of march, and Reginald heard the sound of numerous voices towards the front as of men speaking under surprise and excitement. When he advanced, with Prairie–bird at his side, they made way for him to pass until he reached the front, where he found War–Eagle holding by a leathern thong the most singular–looking creature that he had ever beheld. It bore in some respects the semblance of a human being, but the extreme lowness of its stature, the matted hair by which it was covered, the length of the finger nails, and the smallness of the deep–set eyes, made it almost a matter of doubt whether it did not rather belong to the monkey tribe.
This was, however, soon dispelled by Pierre, who recognised in the diminutive and terrified creature one of the race known to mountain–hunters under the name of Root–diggers. They are the most abject and wretched of all the Indian tribes, living in caves and holes, and supporting their miserable existence upon such animals as they can catch, in toils of the simplest kind, and by grubbing and digging for roots such as no other human being could eat or digest. The one now taken by the Delawares had been engaged in the latter occupation when he first saw them approach, and he fled immediately towards the rocks. Had he been followed by an eye less sure, and a foot less fleet than that of War–Eagle, he might have escaped, for despite his uncouth appearance, he was nimble as a mountain–cat, but the Delaware chief overtook and secured him; and in spite of all the endeavours made to reassure him, the unfortunate Root–digger now looked about him as if he expected every moment to be his last. Beads, trinkets, and shreds of bright–coloured cloth were all held up to him in turn, but were left unnoticed, and his deep twinkling eyes roved incessantly from one to another of the bystanders with an expression of the most intense alarm.
“Are they always thus fearful and intractable?” inquired Reginald of the Canadian hunter.
“Not always,” replied Pierre; “but the Crows and Black–feet, and white men too, generally treat them worse than dogs whenever they find them: that is not often, for they always hide among rocks and stones, and seldom come down so low in the valleys. I never saw one in this region before.”
“Prairie–bird,” said Reginald in a whisper to the maiden, “speak to the poor creature a few words of comfort. Were he shy, suspicious, and wild as a wolf, that voice would subdue and dispel his apprehensions.”
“The sweetness of the voice lies in the hearer’s partial ear,” replied Prairie–bird, blushing deeply; “but I will do your bidding to the best of my power; and if I mistake not the poor creature’s symptoms, I think I can find the means to relieve them.”
So saying, and leaping lightly from her horse, the maiden took from one of the packs a piece of baked maize–cake, and a slice of dried bison–meat. Carrying these in her hand, she approached the Root–digger, and motioning to the bystanders to retire to some distance, she deliberately untied the thong by which he had been fastened, and placing the food before him, made signs that he should eat. At first the uncouth being gazed upon her as if he could or would not understand her meaning; but she spoke to him in the soft Delaware tongue, and eating a morsel of the cake, repeated the signal that he should eat with her. Whether overcome by the gentleness of her manner, or by the cravings of hunger, the savage no longer resisted, but devoured with ravenous haste the food which she had set before him. Prairie–bird smiled at the success of her attempt, which so far encouraged her, that she again offered the several presents which he had before rejected, and which he now accepted, turning them over and over in his hand, and inspecting them with childish curiosity.