Beck Center English Dept. University Libraries Emory University
Emory Women Writers Resource Project Collections:
Women's Genre Fiction Project

Adventures of the Merton Family, an electronic edition

by Anne Bowman [Bowman, Anne]

date: 1868
source publisher: Quaker City Publishing House.
collection: Genre Fiction

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CHAPTER XVI.
The Adventures of the Strangers. Departure from Buenos Ayers. Delays on the Pampas. Separation of the Party. Suspicions of the Guides. Treachery, Murder, and Robbery. The Wanderings and Sufferings of the Travellers. Welcome to Esperanza. More acquisitions, and a new Mansion projected.

THE interior of the waggon was neatly fitted up, a mattress was laid on a sort of frame, upon this couch reclined a young, pretty, and very delicate looking female and by her side, in an ornamental, uncomfortable cradle, was sleeping a very young infant. After an introduction and a little conversation with the languid lady, Dr. Lewis inquired the circumstances which had reduced them to such a distressing state.

"It is now three months," said Mr. Carruthers, "since we left Buenos Ayres. We had then two carriages for ourselves, with six waggons laden with our property, and four guides. Besides these our party was augmented by twelve experienced miners we had brought from England, who were mounted on horses and mules. We travelled slowly, for the health of my wife would not permit us to go far in a day, and at night we either rested in our waggons, when our people formed a guard round us, or at the huts of the stations. About three weeks after our departure, my wife was unable to proceed; she remained two days at a wretched hut, inhabited by an aged couple of Guachos, and at the end of that time our poor baby was prematurely born. Our situation was most distressing; and, as the best plan we could think of, we proposed to Eliza, that as soon as she was able to travel, she should return to Buenos Ayres, and permit us to proceed to Chili; from whence I promised to return, and conduct her over the mountains in the spring."

"Did you ever hear such an unkind and unnatural proposal?" murmured the invalid. "I was determined never to be separated from my husband. I would not listen to their plans. I insisted on going where Henry went."

"Alas!" said Mr. Carruthers, "it was an unfortunate determination for us all. The provisions necessary for so large a party could not be procured at this lonely spot, and after | | 180 much deliberation, William Douglas and I agreed to send forward the miners, with three waggons and two guides, and we proposed to follow as soon as Eliza was well enough to travel. She recovered so slowly that it was a month before we left that dreary hovel, where we had been able to procure no provision except beef, and consequently our own excellent store was greatly diminished when we again set out. I discovered, after a day or two, that the guides had become sullen and discontented; they continually murmured at our slow progress, declaring that it would be impossible to cross the mountains, if we did not reach them speedily, as the winter was actually begun. Douglas and I became alarmed at the dark and sinister looks of the men, and we determined at the next station we reached, to endeavor to procure another guide, and dismiss these suspicious characters.

"From that hour we never reached an inhabited station: it might be that the men suspected our intention, or that they understood the English language, which I always believed they did, though they denied it, and overheard Eliza and her sister talking of our plan of discharging them, and determined to thwart us. We were compelled, night after night, to rest in our waggons, and had now no guard except our faithful dog Wallace, but of his vigilance we never entertained a doubt. The dog had become attached to our chief guide, who caressed and fed him, and if the guides took a gallop over the plains after the wild cattle, Wallace usually accompanied them.

One morning, when we arose from our anxious rest, we heard from the guides that they had been out early chasing some wild cattle; they had brought back the carcass of a young cow, but alas! Wallace had not returned with them. They declared that they did not discover his loss till they were on the rode to the encampment, that they had then returned and sought diligently for him, but could find no trace even of his body. They suspected he must have followed the herd to some distance, and been gored by a wild bull. We were all deeply distressed, and Margaret Douglas freely declared her opinion of the treachery of the guides. She had brought up Wallace, and knew that he never wantonly attacked an animal; and he was too formidable in appearance, | | 181 and too brave in defence, to have much to fear from any antagonist.

"Douglas and I remonstrated with the men on the unsatisfactory nature of our progress; we were persuaded that they were now leading us in a direction which diverged too much to the south to be the regular road. Our accusations were received with insolence and defiance; my wife was in a fearful state from terror, and at length we peremptorily told the men that if they did not conduct us to an inhabited spot the ensuing day, they must leave us immediately. A short time after, they came to us, assured us they had diverged from the direct route to avoid some Indian tribes, who were prowling about to watch for travellers; but they added, they would certainly bring us to a station the very next day.

"We were satisfied with this assurance, and slept more peacefully than we had done for some nights. I was waked by a loud cry from John, who occupied the same waggon as Douglas and I, and had just left it to rouse the guards and drivers, who slept in another waggon. My brother and I, rushed after him, to the open door of the third waggon, on the floor of which we beheld the horrid spectacle of the two drivers lying dead, bathed in their blood. The villanous guides, who had committed this dreadful deed, had afterwards plundered the waggons of many valuables, including an ironbox of money, and had then fled, carrying with them our best horses, doubtless, with the view of retarding our progress, for they left us only the two worst horses and two mules.

"Stunned with this misfortune, we were for some time incapable of thought or action. The awful spectacle of violent death, and the fearful propect of the future, in these unknown wilds, distracted and unmanned us. What would have become of us I know not, if Douglas had not decided on calling in his wife to our aid. She is a woman of a noble, vigorous, and enterprising mind: it was she who first projected our undertaking, and it was she who rescued us in that fearful extremity. After the first shock of the dreadful intelligence, she recalled her energy, and arranged and ordered everything. The waggon which contained the two murdered men was closed--the door was even nailed up. After we had done this duty, we all knelt down, my brother and I were | | 182 still plunged in despair, and that good and intrepid woman herself pronounced such portion of the funeral service as she could apply to that sad sepulture. The waggon was left on that bloodstained spot--the tomb of the two wretched men. Margaret then besought us all to be discreet, and it is only within the last ten days that Eliza has been acquainted with the whole of the terrible transaction.

"As we had but four animals left, we were compelled to abandon all but the two travelling-waggons, in one of which we placed the most useful part of our property, and all the remains of our provision. Much was necessarily left, but a written notice affixed to the waggons, announced to whom the property belonged, and signified that if safely conveyed to Santiago, a handsome remuneration would be given. All this was Margaret's arrangement, and all was effected, and we had actually moved from the scene of horror, before Eliza awoke, when we made such explanation of the departure of the guides as satisfied her.

"But we were bewildered on the wide and trackless waste; we had no guide till we had the first view of the distant mountains, and our direct course was continually interrupted by deep rivers, or impassable marshes. For weeks and weeks we have wandered, seeking a resting place, but finding none; our provisions exhausted, for days even without water, and our poor animals daily becoming weaker. At length one horse fell dead; we saw the rest could not long survive, and we had abandoned all hope, when we met you; but now I see you will aid us."

"Be assured that you will be welcome to the simple fare and accommodations of our little community," said Dr. Lewis. "We can offer you food, shelter, and rest; and the ladies can have the pleasure of female society, and a nurse for this poor delicate baby."

"How delighted I shall be to be restored to society," said Mrs. Carruthers, with some animation. "I hope your friends, Dr. Lewis, are not still, serious people; my sister Margaret is so very rigid in her notions, that I am quite wearied with her lectures, and pine for the society of the young, for balls and amusements."

"But we really can offer you none of these pleasures," replied Lewis, laughing; "moreover, by my medical authority, | | 183 I forbid you all balls and exciting company, for some months. In the mean time, we can give you a desirable change from a broken vehicle, a short allowance of food, and a winter at the foot of the Andes."

Mrs. Carruthers looked disappointed: she did not quite like the prospect of things; but when the kind doctor again talked of herself, felt her pulse, prescribed restoratives, nursed the baby, and pronounced it to be a baby of promise, she became reconciled, and inquired when and where they were to go.

It was a question necessary to be settled; but when Lewis and Mr. Carruthers left the waggon to consult with their friends on the matter, they found the energetic Mrs. Douglas surrounded by her assistants, and everything arranged. The obstinate wheel, repaired by the skill of Tom and Almagro, now consented to turn; Niger was to be harnessed to the first waggon, and the mule to assist the wretched animals which drew the last. The bamboos were abandoned for another opportnnity, and the young horses carried the salt-bags.

All being ready, the party set out cheerfully and moved at a tolerable pace towards their haven of refuge; the gentlemen walking by the side of the laden horses, and soon becoming acquainted with each other's history while Mrs. Douglas alternately attended to her nursing duties in the waggon, and indulged in more cheerful conversation with the pedestrians. They found the river so much swollen, that it was already somewhat perilous to ford it; and Lewis saw that if they wished to have the bamboos before the spring, they must go for them next morning, before the frost was dissipated, for another day's snow added to the river would render it impassable. The strangers were charmed with the secluded beauty of the valley which their new friends had chosen for their domain, and astonished at the strength and security of the fence, which had been planted but a few months. When they reached the entrance, which was always kept barred in the absence of the gentlemen, Jack, as usual, uttered a shrill whistle, which soon summoned the sisters to unbar the door and rush out, folded in their warm ponchos, to greet the hunters.

The astonishment and embarrassment of the young girls cannot he described, when they found themselves in the pre- | | 184 sence of strangers, and saw the two huge waggons at the gate. It was some time before the kind and frank manners of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas and Mr. Carruthers reassured them, and they were able to welcome their new guests; then Dr. Lewis opened the door of the waggon, and introduced them to Mrs. Carruthers; Maria shrunk back in silent wonder, the lady was so entirely unlike her first friends; Matilda was struck with admiration at the grace and beauty and the elegant attire of the stranger, and was overjoyed at the prospect of such an acquaintance; but Mary saw only the baby.

"Do allow me to be its nurse," exclaimed she; "it is more beautiful than any doll I ever saw. I will be very, very careful, if you will trust it to me."

"Oh! I shall he truly glad to be released from the distressing task," sighed Mrs. Carruthers. "I have been wholly unaccustomed to such menial employment, and my health has grievously suffered from the unusual labor. You appear young and strong, and have doubtless, in your station of life, been accustomed to work."

"My dear Eliza," interrupted her husband, "these young ladies have been educated like yourself. It is only the unfortunate adventure which left them desolate in this solitude that has compelled them to labors to which they were not born."

"Besides that, we all like to work," added the little girl, "and I have been used to much harder labor than nursing this dear baby; so come along, Maria, we will carry it to mamma;" and the little girls skipped away with their treasure, leaving Matilda half mortified at the contempt of Mrs. Carruthers, ashamed of her own coarse dress and laborious occupations; yet pitying the weak and helpless lady whose beauty she admired so much

Mary covered the baby with her poncho till she entered the hall, as they called their usual sitting-room, then placing the little creature on her mamma's lap, she cried out, "See, mamma, what a beautiful gift God has sent us!"

"Save the girl!" exclaimed Nanny; "where can she have picked up that fundling, in this out-of-the-world place? I'll be bound its no Christian and if we bring it up, who can tell but it may scalp us some day."

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"But we are not to bring it up, Nanny," said Mary; "its papa and mamma are here, and some other people. Dr. Lewis is bringing them all to stay with us."

"What does he mean by such doings," said the irritable maiden. "Where can we get meat for so many mouths? And may be they'll be fine folks, looking for their china plates and their drinking glasses."

"If they are in distress and need, Nanny," said Mr. Merton, "as they must be to have wandered to this spot, it our duty to feed and shelter them. I will go forth to meet these strangers, and to welcome them to our humble roof and frugal entertainment."

Mrs. Merton was at first confused and overcome by news, but roused herself to assist Nanny, who, after she had scolded a little, busied herself heartily in prepartion for guests, casting many a side glance of compassion, in the midst of her bustle, on the pretty pale baby which Mary was nursing so tenderly. One of the best damask table-clothes quickly thrown over the rough wooden table; and a bright display of silver spoons contrasted strongly with the wooden platters which were by no means round, and the drinking cups of ostrich egg-shells. The salt was in an oyster-shell, and the haunch of venison, which was making ready for the hungry hunters, was destined to be served up on a wooden platter. But a cheerful fire of wood was blazing, with as little smoke as could be expected and the room was light, warm, and home-like.

The large party soon entered, Mrs. Douglas leaning on the arm of Mr. Merton, to whom she had been rapidly sketching their history and adventures. Mr. Carruthers followed, bearing his feeble wife in his arms; she was placed on one of the wooden seats, which, though covered with skins, were certainly not luxurious couches. Casting her eyes round, the lady uttered a faint cry, and, covering her face, cried, "Oh! Henry, I had hoped that we were coming to some civilized people! What will become of me! I shall certainly die in this wretched hovel!"

Henry Carruthers seemed at once ashamed and distressed: he spoke to his wife in a low voice, entreating her to be composed; but Mrs. Douglas addressed her in a tone of remonstrance.

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"Be silent, Eliza," said she, "or speak like a woman in her senses. Be thankful that you are not in a wigwam, or spitted for an Indian's supper, instead of being hospitably received by this worthy, warm-hearted family, who have, like ourselves, been unfortunate, but have had energy enough to shake off their despondence, and, by God's help, have created for themselves a peaceful home. You must pardon this sick spoilt child, my dear Mrs. Merton; you will learn before we part, to know us all. And now, my good woman," addressing Nanny, who was regarding her with much approbation, "Can I help you to take that savory preparation from the oven, for we have tasted nothing better than biscuit this ten or twelve days, and are all about famished. John will help you as soon as he has finished unloading his waggons, and a capital assistant you will find him. In kitchen, house or dairy, John is at home,--a good servant."

The venison soon smoked on the table; Mrs. Carruthers, pouted a little, but could not resist the savory odor; and though she shuddered at the platter and shell goblet, she certainly did not make a bad supper on venison and maize cakes. Nanny in the mean time fed the starved baby on warm milk, and it was soon asleep in its cradle.

"Now, gentlemen," said the managing Mrs. Douglas, "as you seem too much engaged with the good things before you, to think on the future, I must appeal to your hospitable host and his intelligent family, for advice and assistance. What would you counsel us to do? Can we procure mules and guides to enable us to cross the mountains? And can we, for love or money, obtain provision to support us on the journey?

"My dear lady," replied Mr. Merton, "we were compelled to cross these terrible mountains; but it was at the risk of our lives, even at a more favorable season. We can offer you no guide, we have but one mule, and, it would appear, we are the sole inhabitants of this remote district. I am not a man of energy; I love peace and repose, which I find here, and offer to you. Why should you attempt this dangerous expedition? Why not remain with us?"

Mrs. Carruthers uttered a little shriek at this proposal. "Oh! Henry," cried she, "I could not live in this dull place [sic] | | 187 take me some place where I can have society, and, at least, the common necessaries of life."

"I fear, fair lady," replied Dr. Lewis, "that however our primitive style of living may offend you, you must remain here for some months. The Cordilleras will not be passable till the spring is advanced; then, the passage may be effected without guides, but certainly not without fatigue, difficulty, and peril. Mrs. Merton, a lady, tender and delicate as yourself, has been compelled to rough it in the wilds, and I appeal to her to declare if her health is the worse for it."

"On the contrary, my kind and judicious friend," answered Mrs. Merton; "necessity, and your good advice, have induced me to use exertions, and brave difficulties, till I am no longer the feeble and helpless invalid I was when we left England. Then, I believed, that I could not exist if I did not recline half the day on a sofa; and now, having no sofa, I can sit on a skin-covered log, and have been glad even to find a stone for a seat. Stay with us, Mrs. Carruthers, and I trust that all your ailments will vanish under the care of Dr. Lewis, aided by our simple mode of living."

After the brothers had held a short consultation, Mr. Douglas answered for the party. "For the present, my good friend, we must inevitably fling ourselves on your hospitality; we have no means of proceeding, and are ourselves, as well as our poor beats, enfeebled by famine. I fear we shall make large inroads on your winter stores; but I trust God will repay you, for you are literally feeding the hungry. Both Henry and myself feel our health shattered by the mental anxiety we have endured, for the last ten day especially, and we shall he glad of repose for the mind as well as for the body. I cannot attempt to describe to you our utter bewilderment. I am quite persuaded that we frequently retraced the road we had gone over the previous day, when the sun, which was our only guide, was hidden in clouds. The rascally guides had carried off a box which contained a compass, with some other scientific apparatus: we were lost and the despair produced by this conviction, nearly paralysed all our efforts. I communicated my belief to Margaret, and I certainly believe that we owe to her lively remonstrances, the courage which enabled us to proceed."

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"It was truly a situation of horror," added Mr. Carruthers; "and I shall never forget the gratitude we felt, when, one evening, after fording with much difficulty a river, and ascending a rising ground beyond it, a mist, which had bewildered us all day, was suddenly dissipated. and the beams of the setting sun revealed to us a grand and glorious spectacle. The mighty chain of the Andes, that marvellous wall of Nature, which we had longed to see, though still many leagues distant, was visible to us, darkening with its gigantic shadow, the country below it. The summits of the peaks, crowned with snow, glittered in the beams of the sun, with a sublime beauty that caused us for a short time to forget our desolation. We then directed our course to the mountains; and three days after, when exhausted hope and famished nature refused further exertion, we happily encountered God's messengers of mercy, sent for our deliverance."

Supper being ended, Mr. Douglas turned to Nanny, and said: "Now, my good woman, as the child is sleeping peacefully, let us think about the beds. You will excuse me, Mrs. Merton, you are not very strong, and I must be doing something. Come away, young ladies, and help me to contrive; and Mrs. Merton, with some wonder, but perfect acquiescence, saw the bustling lady take all the trouble of the arrangements for the night into her own hands.

"Very neat little cabins, upon my word," said she, as she peeped into the small dormitories of her friends, "but no spare beds I see; we must bivouac in the hall, and be thankful."

Almagro had been assisting John to unload the waggons, and bring the contents within the inclosure, through the narrow entrance of which it was impossible for the clumsy vehicles themselves to pass. They now entered to suggest, that his small hut, which was already roofed, though not intended to be finished and inhabited till the spring, should be appropriated to some of the party. This was agreed on; a good fire was lighted, skins spread on the floor, and Charles, Tom, and Jack, with John and Almagro, took possession of the hut. The mattresses, cushions, and blankets were then brought from the waggons, and beds arranged for the wearied travellers, who were glad, after joining the family at their evening devotions, to retire to rest.

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Mrs. Douglas appeared in the kitchen early next morning, "to look after breakfast," as she said. She found the three girls returning from the corral with large bowls of new milk from the cows; Nanny having been engaged in baking fresh maize cakes.

"Very nice looking cakes," said Mrs. Douglas; but your flour is coarse, Nanny. How do you grind it?"

"We just bruise it on a flat stone," replied Nanny. "A queer sort of mill; but what matter? We are glad enough to get coarse flour for ourselves,--and for them that needs it."

"All things are good if we can get no better," said Mrs. Douglas; "but if you can mend matters, the sooner you set about it the better. William!" she called, summoning her obedient husband from his couch. "We surely have the hand corn-mill in the waggon; will you go and inquire. You see, my dears, we were obliged to abandon half our property but, I think, my mill was brought away. It was my own plan to bring it out; I did not know what strange spot we might settle on in the new country, and I determined to be provided against every emergency."

Mr. Douglas, at the command of his ruler, had issued forth in the keen, frosty air of the morning, and with the aid of John unpacked and brought up the mill, which Mrs. Douglas exhibited to Nanny with great triumph, and would have immediately tested its qualities, but the time was not convenient. The whole party had now, with the exception of Mrs. Carruthers, assembled; and Mr. Merton conducted them to his chapel, where the travellers were glad to offer up thanks for their preservation.

They returned to a breakfast of warm milk, clotted cream, and new bread; the tea and sugar had been for some time exhausted. Mrs. Douglas had sent for her basket of china, and set out the table with cups and saucers, instead of egg-shell bowls; a change which delighted Matilda and Mary, and astonished Maria, who now saw for the first time these luxuries of civilized life.

"We have still half a chest of China tea left," said Mrs. Douglas, "besides some of the yerba used at Buenos Ayres, to which Eliza took a fancy, but in my opinion it cannot be compared to tea. Of sugar we have but a small quantity, | | 190 and the chocolate was all used in the famine; but whatever is left must be common property, so, my dears, I invite you all to tea this afternoon."

The brothers being now satisfied that their further progress most be delayed for a considerable time, the prudent heads were all called together, to make such arrangements as circumstances permitted for the additional guests. It was decided that Almagro's hut should be completed, and fitted up for the residence of John and himself, and that a larger habitation should be immediately constructed for the rest of the party.

"We have chests of tools," said Mr. Douglas; "and I am no mean workman, having gone through a regular apprenticeship as an engineer. Your woods offer us material, and, with so many willing hands, we shall soon run up a neat little hut, that we may rest in for a few months."

This was joyful news for Tom and Jack, who were ever ready for action. Not a moment was lost, all Mr. Douglas' valuable chests of tools were transferred from the waggon to Almagro's hut, which was to be the workshop, and the contents of these chests seemed to the delighted boys to be inexhaustible.

"Only think, papa!" cried Jack, in a state of great excitement, "such boxes of nails, of all sizes! and we have wished so much for nails! And such a saw! And then, Maria, something you have never seen, something so useful, a wheelbarrow! If you will give me leave, Mr. Douglas, I can just run down before dinner, and wheel up one of the bookcases, for poor Maria has never seen a wheelbarrow, nor, indeed, a bookcase either, and she does love books so much since mamma taught her to read."

Jack was permitted to bring up the wheelbarrow, with the two small bookcases, which were placed in the hall, and both barrow and bookcases were duly admired by Maria. Jack would willingly have made another experiment with his new toy, as Matilda called the wheelbarrow; but dinner was on the table, and he was compelled to relinquish his amusement. Mrs. Carruthers was now reclining on a comfortable couch, made of mattresses, looking very miserable; her misery being somewhat increased by seeing that everybody else looked so happy. Mrs. Douglas was quite at home; she had won over | | 191 even Nanny, and had made with her own hands the excellent dish of hashed-venison, seasoned with Chili pepper, which the famised [sic] wanderers were now all enjoying, except Mrs. Carruthers, who, though she had her own china plate, and drinking glass, ate her dinner thanklessly.

The babe was already improved; it was a pretty dark-eyed girl, and Mr. Carruthers was very anxious that it should be baptized; therefore, after dinner, the whole party attended in the church; even Mrs. Carruthers submitted to be carried there by her husband, to witness the solemn ceremony, and to offer up thanks for her safety.

There had been some previous discussion about the name of the child, Mrs. Carruthers wishing it to be called Dolorosa, indicative of its early sorrows; Matilda, who had a taste for lofty sounding names, proposed Cordillera; Mary, who had never seen any child so small and pretty, that of Titania, and Maria, considering only its present happiness, suggested Felicia; but Mrs. Douglas crushed all their proposals.

"Why should you not call the babe Martha?" said she, "after our own good mother; it is a respect due to her memory, Eliza, and if God had given me a daughter, Martha should have been her name."

But Eliza shuddered at such a plebeian name, and finally compromised the matter by calling the child Cecelia, after the mother of Mr. Carruthers; and Matilda and Mary, with Dr. Lewis, were allowed to be sponsors: though there was small probability of circumstances permitting them to fulfill the duties of their office. Therefore, Mr. Merton, after baptizing the babe, in a solemn manner enjoined the parents to remember that they were left with the sole responsibility of the young Christian's education for eternity ; and even the thoughtless Mrs. Carruthers was awed by the words of truth and holiness.

In the evening, Mr. Douglas sketched a plan of the intended building, which was on a larger scale than the family could have previously attempted, with their limited resources. The door was to open into a spacious hall, or dining-room, on one side of which, towards the front, was the ladies' sitting-room, and on the other side a study for the gentlemen. The sleeping-rooms were behind these, and a door at the back of the hall opened into a separate building intended for a kitchen | | 192 where John was expected to fulfil his several duties. A colonnade was to extend along the front, around the wooden pillars of which were to be twined the beautiful creeping plants which abounded in the woods. In the front of the house, Mrs. Douglas proposed with her own hands, to lay out a garden; she had brought with her boxes of seeds of English vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and she promised her friends to leave behind her as a memorial of her visit, the beginning at least of a pretty garden.

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