Ti-ti-pu: a Boy of Red River
Copyright© 2024 by J. Macdonald Oxley
Chapter 2: At Odds With Bruin
‘Ech, bairns!’ exclaimed Andrew, putting a calming hand upon the head of each of the agitated children, ‘but they’re an ill lot of curs to set upon ye in that unmannerly fashion. I’m richt glad I heard the row they were making, and thocht that maybe Dour and Dandy might be glad o’ my help. I’m sore mistaken if those snarling beasts,’ and he indicated with a sweep of his hand the Huskies now hovering at a respectful distance, ‘will be ettlin’ to feel my foot verra soon. They’re nae fules, though they don’t know how to be decent to strangers.’
By this time Ailie’s tears were stayed, and Hector had recovered his wind, so they continued along the beach, the collies keeping close to Andrew’s heels, giving vent to triumphant little growls whenever a Huskie ventured within earshot.
As the sailing vessel had to lie out in the deep water, her cargo was being brought ashore in big boats, with high bows and sterns that could each carry a wonderful load. The process of discharging interested all the little party, and they were standing watching it, when one of their fellow-travellers came up, and, pointing to the boats, said: ‘It’s in those barkies that we’re going to the Red River. I canna say I like the look of them ower much. They’re right clumsy things, in my opinion.’
Before Andrew could make reply, Hector broke in with an eager ‘Oh, are we truly going on those boats? Eh, but that will be fine!—won’t it, Ailie?’ And he gave his sister a hearty hug, just by way of expressing his joy.
His father smiled with grave indulgence. ‘I would think ye’d had mair than enough of the water for a spell, laddie. I wonder ye’re so eager to take to it again.’
‘Eh, but that was in a big ship, father,’ responded Hector, defending himself, ‘and a boat will be different, and we will go along the river instead of on the ocean.’
‘We’ll see, we’ll see,’ said Andrew, sagely, ‘the river may not be sae guid to us as you think.’
As the season was slipping by, and as it was important for the settlers to reach their destination in good time before the long winter came, the preparations for the remainder of the journey were hurried as much as possible.
Yet there seemed so much to be done, that September was at hand ere the little brigade of ‘York boats,’ with their precious freight of humanity and goods, hoisted their big sails, and moved slowly off up the river, amid a parting volley of cheers and good wishes from the people of York Factory, many of whom would have been glad enough to accompany them.
Hector was in the highest spirits. This method of travelling was altogether to his liking: no longer the cramping confinement of the sailing-ship, but the freedom of the roomy boat; no more tumbling about among the rude billows, but smooth gliding on the bosom of the river; no dreary waste of chill, gray water, but on either hand the well-wooded banks glowed with varied colour, the light yellow of the fading poplar contrasting with the dark evergreen of the spruce, while the willows of an intermediate hue seemed to shade the two tints into each other. Here and there the bright purple of the dogwood, the sombre brown of the dwarf birch, and the gay yellow of the shrubby cinquefoil gave richer notes of colour, while, to the keen-eyed, restless boy, there was ever the hope of some wild animal—a fox, a deer, or perhaps even a bear—being sighted as they advanced.
It was not all plain sailing, however. In some places, the current was so strong that it became necessary to resort to tracking. Only the women and children remained in the boat, while the men, taking hold of a line fastened to the foot of the mast, tugged and toiled along the river bank, one-half their number working at a time, and then being relieved by the other; thus dragging the clumsy craft forward at the rate of about two miles an hour.
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