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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Hunters of the Ozark
+
+Author: Edward S. Ellis
+
+Release Date: September 17, 2007 [EBook #22646]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Terry heard distinctly the footsteps of the warrior."]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+THE
+HUNTERS OF THE OZARK.
+
+BY
+EDWARD S. ELLIS
+
+Author Of "Young Pioneer Series," "Log Cabin Series,"
+"Great River Series," Etc., Etc.
+
+Philadelphia:
+Henry T. Coates & Co.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1887,
+by
+PORTER & COATES.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+CHAPTER. PAGE.
+
+         I.--AN ESTRAY,                                             5
+        II.--THE TINKLE OF A BELL,                                 15
+       III.--AN ABORIGINAL PLOT,                                   25
+        IV.--A PARTY OF THE THIRD PART,                            34
+         V.--A FRIEND IN NEED,                                     44
+        VI.--FRED LINDEN RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE OZARK CAMP,   54
+       VII.--THE HUNTERS OF OZARK,                                 64
+      VIII.--A WELCOME ACQUAINTANCE,                               74
+        IX.--A MISHAP,                                             84
+         X.--A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE,                                  94
+        XI.--TRAMPING SOUTHWARD,                                  104
+       XII.--A STRANGE ANIMAL,                                    114
+      XIII.--A TROUBLESOME VISITOR,                               124
+       XIV.--A WELCOME ALLY,                                      134
+        XV.--"DEERFOOT WILL BE SENTINEL TO-NIGHT,"                144
+       XVI.--AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE,                                154
+      XVII.--A SUSPICIOUS SOUND,                                  164
+     XVIII.--LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT,                           174
+       XIX.--SHAWANOE AND WINNEBAGO,                              185
+        XX.--ANOTHER NIGHT VISITOR,                               195
+       XXI.--THE CAMP OF THE WINNEBAGOS,                          205
+      XXII.--"KEEP TO THE TRAIL,"                                 215
+     XXIII.--AN INFURIATE SHAWANOE,                               225
+      XXIV.--THE DEFIANCE,                                        236
+       XXV.--THE SIGNAL FIRE,                                     245
+      XXVI.--ON THE EDGE OF THE PRAIRIE,                          257
+     XXVII.--A MORNING MEAL,                                      269
+    XXVIII.--A STRANGE RIDE,                                      281
+      XXIX.--A YOUNG HUNTER'S STRATEGY,                           293
+       XXX.--TERRY FINISHES HIS RIDE,                             305
+      XXXI.--THE DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL,                              316
+     XXXII.--THE TERROR IN THE AIR,                               328
+    XXXIII.--FRED LINDEN AWAKENS TO AN ALARMING FACT,             340
+     XXXIV.--THE CANOE,                                           352
+      XXXV.--AMERICA VERSUS IRELAND,                              364
+     XXXVI.--AMERICA VERSUS AMERICA,                              376
+    XXXVII.--THE LAST CAMP-FIRE,                                  388
+   XXXVIII.--CONCLUSION,                                          400
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+AN ESTRAY.
+
+
+One day in the autumn Terence Clark came to the house of Frederick
+Linden and urged him to join in a hunt for a cow that had been missing
+since the night before. The latter got the consent of his mother and the
+two lads started on a search that proved to be the most eventful one
+they had ever known.
+
+A few words in the way of explanation must be given at this point. The
+date of the events I have set out to tell was toward the close of the
+last century, and the scene the south-western part of the present State
+of Missouri, but which was then a part of the vast territory known as
+Louisiana. Though the town of St. Louis had been settled a good many
+years before, there were only a few pioneers scattered through the
+almost limitless region that stretched in every direction from the
+Mississippi. Here and there the hunters and trappers were often absent
+from their homes for months at a time, during which they suffered much
+exposure and hardship. They slept for weeks in the open woods, or when
+the severity of the weather would not allow this, they found refuge in
+caves or hollow trees. Then, when enough skins had been gathered to load
+their pack-horses they started on the long tramps to the French trading
+post on the Mississippi. They followed faintly marked paths or trails
+that converged from a score or hundred different points until they
+reached the Father of Waters, where the peltries were soon sold and the
+proceeds, too often, squandered within the succeeding few hours.
+
+At the date of which I am speaking, a small settlement known as Greville
+stood in the south-western section of the large State of Missouri, as it
+is now known. The first cabins were put up only a few years before, and
+the settlers, including men, women and children, numbered about two
+hundred. Near the center of the straggling settlement stood a rude but
+strong blockhouse to be used for refuge in the event of an attack by
+Indians. As yet this emergency had not arisen, for the red men in that
+section were far less warlike and hostile than those in Ohio and
+Kentucky.
+
+The father of Fred Linden was one of the hunters and trappers who made
+regular visits to the wild section near the Ozark Mountains for the
+purpose of gathering furs. He never had less than two companions, and
+sometimes the number was half a dozen. As you are well aware, the furs
+of all animals are in the finest condition in wintry weather, since
+nature does her best to guard their bodies from the effects of cold.
+Thus it came about that the party of hunters, of whom I shall have more
+to say further on, left Greville in the autumn of the year, and as a
+rule were not seen again until spring. Since they entered a fine,
+fur-bearing country, these trips generally paid well. One convenience
+was that the hunters were not obliged to go to St. Louis to sell them.
+An agent of the great fur company that made its headquarters at that
+post, came regularly to Greville with his pack-horses and gave the same
+price for the peltries that he would have given had they been brought to
+the factory, hundreds of miles away. He was glad to do this, for the
+furs that George Linden and his brother hunters brought in were not
+surpassed in glossiness and fineness by any of the thousands gathered
+from the four points of the compass.
+
+Among the daring little band that made these regular visits to the Ozark
+region was an Irishman named Michael Clark, who had had considerable
+experience in gathering furs along the Mississippi. It was at his
+suggestion that Greville was founded, and one-half of their periodical
+journeys thus cut off. On the year following, Clark was shot and killed
+by a prowling Indian. Since his wife had been dead a long time, the only
+child, Terence, was thus left an orphan. The lad was a bright,
+good-natured fellow, liked by every one, and he made his home with the
+family of one of the other hunters named Rufus MacClaskey. The boy was
+fifteen years old on the very day that he walked over to the cabin of
+Fred Linden and asked him to help him hunt for the missing cow.
+
+The family of George Linden, while he was away, consisted of his wife,
+his daughter Edith, fourteen, and his son Fred, sixteen years old. All
+were ruddy cheeked, strong and vigorous, and among the best to do of the
+thirty-odd families that made up the population of Greville.
+
+"Has the cow ever been lost before?" asked Fred, as he and the Irish lad
+swung along beside each other, neither thinking it worth while to burden
+himself with a rifle.
+
+"Niver that I knows of, and I would know the same if she had been lost;
+we're onaisy about the cow, for you see that if this kaaps on and she
+doesn't come back I'll have to live on something else than bread and
+milk and praties."
+
+"Our cow came back just at sunset last night."
+
+"And so did them all, exciptin' our own, which makes me more onwillin'
+to accipt any excuse she may have to give."
+
+"Let me see, Terry; Brindle wore a bell round her neck, didn't she?"
+
+"That she did, and she seemed quite proud of the same."
+
+"Did you make hunt for her last night?"
+
+"I hunted as long as I could see to hunt; she wasn't missed, that is
+till after they got home. Whin I found that I didn't find her I started
+to find her; but I hadn't time to hunt very long whin it got dark and I
+had to give it up."
+
+"And didn't you hear any thing of the bell?"
+
+"Do ye think that if I heard the bell I wouldn't have found the cow? Why
+was the bell put round her neck if it wasn't to guide friends? I
+listened many a time after it got dark, but niver a tinkle did I hear."
+
+"That is queer," said Fred half to himself; "for, when no wind is
+blowing and it is calm, you can hear that bell a long ways; father has
+caught the sound in the woods, when the Brindle was all of a mile off. I
+wonder whether she could have lost the bell."
+
+"I've thought of that, and said to meself that it might be also that she
+had become lost herself in trying to find it."
+
+Fred laughed.
+
+"She hardly knows enough for _that_; and, if she found the bell she
+wouldn't know what to do with it; but if that leathern string around her
+neck had broken, it may be that she is close by. A cow after losing one
+milking is apt to feel so uncomfortable that she hurries home to be
+relieved; but what's the use of talking?" added Fred, throwing up his
+head and stepping off at a more lively pace; "we've started out to find
+her and that's all we have to do."
+
+Perhaps a dozen acres had been cleared around the little town of
+Greville. This had been planted with corn, potatoes and grain, though
+scores of unsightly stumps were left and interfered with the cultivation
+of the soil. Beyond this clearing or open space extended the immense
+forests which at one time covered almost the entire face of our country.
+On the south side of the town and distant a furlong wound a creek, which
+after many shiftings and turnings found its way into the Mississippi and
+so at last into the Gulf of Mexico. The course of this stream was so
+winding that it extended on two sides of the town and ran in a westerly
+direction, exactly the opposite of that it finally had to take in order
+to reach its outlet.
+
+As a rule, it was about twenty feet wide with a depth of from one or two
+to six feet. It was subject to tremendous overflows which sometimes
+tripled its volume and increased its width to that of a river. At such
+times a series of enormous rocks through which the creek at "low tide"
+lazily wound its way, lashed the turbid current into a fury somewhat
+like that seen in the "whirlpool" below Niagara. Could you have stood on
+the shore and looked at the furiously struggling waters, you would have
+been sure that even if a man were headed up in a barrel, he could not
+have lived to pass through the hundred yards of rapids, though there was
+reason to believe that more than one Indian had shot them in his canoe.
+
+Terry Clark told his friend that his search of the night before and of
+the morning following had been to the north and west of the settlement,
+so that it was hardly worth while to continue the hunt in that
+direction. The cows sometimes stood in the water, where so much
+switching of their tails was not needed to keep away the flies, and,
+though there was quite a growth of succulent grass on the clearing, the
+animals often crossed the creek and browsed through the woods and
+undergrowth on the other side.
+
+The boys were inclined to think that the brindle had taken that course
+during the afternoon and had actually gone astray,--something which a
+quadruped is less likely to do than a biped, though the former will
+sometimes make the blunder. There was nothing unreasonable in the theory
+that the bell had fallen from her neck and that the owner therefore
+might be not far away.
+
+At intervals, Terry shouted "_Bos! bos! bos!_" the Latin call which the
+cow sometimes recognized, though she generally paid no attention to it.
+It was the same now, possibly due to the fact that she did not hear the
+call.
+
+Reaching the edge of the stream, the boys began walking along the bank
+toward the left and scrutinizing the spongy earth close to the water.
+If the missing animal had crossed the creek she could not have failed to
+leave distinct footprints.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE TINKLE OF A BELL.
+
+
+The examination of the shore of the creek had lasted but a few minutes,
+when Terry Clark, pointing to the moist earth at their feet, called out
+in some excitement:
+
+"Do ye mind that now?"
+
+There, sure enough, were the footprints of a cow that had entered the
+stream from the same side on which the boys stood. The impressions could
+be seen for some distance in the clear water, which in the middle of the
+stream was no more than a yard deep, and they were plainly observed
+where the animal had emerged on the other side.
+
+"I don't suppose there is any difference in the tracks of cows, but I
+guess, Terry, that we are safe in making up our minds we are on the
+trail of Brindle."
+
+"I'm thinking the same," replied the other, who was not only looking
+across the creek, but into the woods beyond, as though he expected to
+catch sight of the cow herself; "though it may be the one that crossed
+there isn't the one that we're after."
+
+Fred Linden was asking himself whether there was not some way in which
+they could reach the other side without going to the trouble of removing
+their shoes and leggins, and hunting a shallow portion, or allowing
+their garments to become saturated. He exclaimed: "Why didn't I think of
+it? There's our canoe!"
+
+A number of these frail craft were owned in Greville, and Fred had a
+fine one himself, which was only a short distance off. Three minutes
+later the two reached it.
+
+The barken structure was moored by means of a long rope to a tree a
+considerable distance from the water, so that in case of one of those
+sudden rises that sometimes took place, it would not be carried away by
+the freshet. The boat was quickly launched, and a few strokes of the
+paddle carried the two to the opposite bank of the stream.
+
+"I wonder whether there is any danger of a rise," remarked Fred, as he
+carried the rope to a tree twenty feet distant and made it fast to a
+limb; "there was a good deal of thunder and lightning last night off to
+the east."
+
+"But the creek doesn't come from that way," said the surprised Terry;
+"so what is the odds, as me father said he used to ask when the Injins
+was on all sides of him, and a panther in the tree he wanted to climb,
+and he found himself standing on the head of a rattlesnake."
+
+"The creek winds through every point of the compass, so it doesn't make
+much difference, as you say, where it rains, since it is sure to make a
+rise; the only question is whether the rain was enough to affect the
+creek so that it will trouble us."
+
+"If it was goin' to do that, wouldn't it have done so before this?" was
+the natural question of his companion.
+
+"That depends on how far away the rain was."
+
+The boys were not idle while talking. The canoe was soon made fast, and
+then they resumed their hunt for the estray. They were not skillful
+enough in woodcraft to trace the animal through the forest by the means
+that an Indian would have used, but they were hopeful that by taking a
+general direction they would soon find her. If she still had the bell
+tied around her neck, there was no reason why they should not be
+successful.
+
+But while walking forward, Fred Linden asked a question of himself that
+he did not repeat aloud.
+
+"Has she been stolen?"
+
+This query was naturally followed by others. It certainly was
+unreasonable to think that a cow would leave her companions and
+deliberately wander off, at the time she was milked twice daily. She
+would speedily suffer such distress that she would come bellowing
+homeward for relief. If she really was an estray, she had missed two
+milkings--that of the previous night and the morning that succeeded.
+
+It was certain, therefore, that if she was stolen, the thief had
+attended to her milking. But who could the thief be? That was the
+important question that Fred confessed himself unable to answer.
+
+There had been occasional instances of white men who had stolen horses
+from the frontier settlements, but the lad could recall nothing of the
+kind that had taken place in that neighborhood; all of which might be
+the case without affecting the present loss, since it was evident that
+there must be a first theft of that nature.
+
+But, somehow or other, Fred could not help suspecting that the red men
+had to do with the disappearance of the animal. I have intimated in
+another place that Greville had never been harmed by the Indians, who
+were scattered here and there through the country, for there was no
+comparison between them and the fierce Shawanoes, Wyandottes,
+Pottawatomies and other tribes, whose deeds gave to Kentucky its
+impressive title of the Dark and Bloody Ground; but among the different
+bands of red men who roamed through the great wilderness west of the
+Mississippi, were those who were capable of as atrocious cruelties as
+were ever committed by the fierce warriors further east.
+
+What more likely, therefore, than that a party of these had stolen the
+cow and driven her away?
+
+There were many facts that were in favor of and against the theory; the
+chief one against it was that if a party of Indians had driven off one
+cow, they would have taken more. Then, too, the soft earth that had
+revealed the hoof tracks ought to have shown the imprint of moccasins.
+
+You will see, therefore, that Fred could speculate for hours on the
+question without satisfying himself. He was sorry that he and Terry had
+not brought their guns with them, and was half inclined to go back. It
+was not yet noon, and they had plenty of time in which to do so.
+
+"Terry," said Fred, turning suddenly about and addressing his friend,
+who was walking behind him, "we made a mistake in not bringing our
+guns."
+
+The Irish lad was about to answer when he raised his hand in a warning
+way and said:
+
+"Hist!"
+
+Both stood as motionless as the tree trunks about them, all their
+faculties centered in the one of hearing.
+
+There was the low, deep roar which is always heard in a vast wood, made
+by the soft wind stealing among the multitudinous branches, and which is
+like the voice of silence itself. They were so far from the creek that
+its soft ripple failed to reach them.
+
+"I don't hear any thing," said Fred at the end of a full minute.
+
+"Nor do I," said Terry.
+
+"Why then did you ask me to listen?"
+
+"I was thinkin' be that token that we might hear something."
+
+"What made you think so?"
+
+"The tinkle of a bell."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the amazed Fred, "are you sure?"
+
+"That I am; just as I was about to speak, I caught the faint sound--just
+as we've both heard hundreds of times."
+
+"From what point did it seem to come?"
+
+His friend pointed due south.
+
+"Strange it is that ye didn't catch the same."
+
+"So I think; it may be, Terry, that you are mistaken, and you wanted to
+hear the bell so much that the sound was in your fancy."
+
+The lad, however, would not admit this. He was sure there had been no
+mistake. Fred was about to argue further when all doubt was set at rest
+by the sound of a cow-bell that came faintly but clearly through the
+forest.
+
+"You are right," said Fred, his face brightening up; "we are on the
+track of old Brindle sure enough. It's mighty strange though how she
+came to wander so far from home."
+
+"She got lost I s'pose," replied Terry, repeating the theory that had
+been hit upon some time before.
+
+"It may be, but it is the first instance I ever heard of, where an
+animal lost its way so easily."
+
+The boys were in too high spirits, however, to try to explain that which
+puzzled them. The cow was a valuable creature, being the only one that
+belonged to the family with whom Terence lived, and who therefore could
+ill afford her loss.
+
+The friends had pushed perhaps a couple hundred yards further when
+Terry called to Fred that he was not following the right course.
+
+"Ye're bearing too much to the lift; so much so indaad that if ye kaap
+on ye'll find yersilf lift."
+
+"Why, I was about to turn a little more in that direction," replied the
+astonished Fred; "you are altogether wrong."
+
+But the other sturdily insisted that he was right, and he was so
+positive that he stopped short, and refused to go another step in the
+direction that his friend was following. The latter was just as certain
+that Terry was amiss, and it looked as if they had come to a deadlock.
+
+"There's only one way to settle it," said Fred, "and that is for each of
+us to follow the route he thinks right. The cow can't be far off and we
+shall soon find out who is wrong. The first one that finds Brindle shall
+call to the other, and he'll own up what a stupid blunder he has made."
+
+"Ye are speakin' me own sentiments," replied Terry, who kept looking
+about him and listening as if he expected every moment that the cow
+herself would solve the question. Fred Linden read the meaning of his
+action, and he, too, wondered why it was that when both had plainly
+caught the tinkle of the telltale bell, they should hear it no more.
+Strange that when it had spoken so clearly it should become silent, but
+such was the fact.
+
+Little did either suspect the cause.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+AN ABORIGINAL PLOT.
+
+
+The boys tried the plan of Fred Linden; he swerved slightly to the left,
+while Terry Clark made a sharp angle to the right. They never thought of
+getting beyond hearing of each other, and, but for the plentiful
+undergrowth they would have kept in sight. They had taken but a few
+steps when Fred looked around and found that he was alone. He could hear
+his young friend pushing his way among the trees, and once or twice he
+caught snatches of a tune that he was whistling--that being a favorite
+pastime of the lad when by himself.
+
+"It's curious how he could make such a blunder," thought Fred, with a
+smile to himself; "he will go tramping around the woods only to find
+that he was nowhere in the neighborhood of the cow. Ah, the storm is not
+yet over."
+
+He was looking to the eastward, where the sky, as he caught a glimpse of
+it among the treetops and branches, was as black as if overcast with one
+huge thunder cloud.
+
+"It was there it raged so violently last night, and the rain is falling
+in torrents again. We shall find the creek a river when we go back."
+
+The sturdy youth pressed on fully two hundred yards more, when the old
+suspicion came back to him. There was something wrong. When he could not
+explain some things he was satisfied that it was because there was an
+element of evil in those things--something that boded ill to both him
+and his friend.
+
+"I have traveled far enough since hearing that bell to pass a long ways
+beyond it," he said, compressing his lips and shaking his head; "and if
+that was Brindle that rang it the first time, she would have done it the
+second time."
+
+Twice before Fred fancied he heard something moving among the
+undergrowth a short distance in advance, and a little to one side. The
+noise was now so distinct that he could no longer deceive himself;
+there was some specific cause for it.
+
+"I guess Terry has worked over this way, finding what a mistake he has
+made--no! by gracious! it isn't Terry!"
+
+Fred started in alarm, confident that it was an Indian that was moving
+through the wood. It will be admitted that there was cause for his fear,
+if such should prove to be the case, for he was without any firearms
+with which to defend himself; but while he stood meditating whether he
+should turn and take to his heels, he caught enough of a glimpse of the
+object to make out that it was a quadruped instead of a biped.
+
+This was a great relief, though it did not remove all fear, for he was
+not in form to meet any of the wild beasts that one was liable to run
+against at any time. The next minute, he broke into a hearty laugh, for
+that which he saw was the lost cow, quietly browsing on the tender
+herbs, as though just turned loose by her owner.
+
+"Well, that is funny," said the youth, walking hastily toward her; "this
+proves that I was right. You are a pretty one, old Brindle, to lead us
+on such a chase!"
+
+The cow, hearing the voice and footsteps, stopped cropping, and with her
+motionless jaws dripping with leaves and buds, started at Fred as if she
+wasn't sure of his identity. She knew enough, however, to see that he
+was a friend, and so resumed her feeding.
+
+Assuring himself that she was the estray, Fred looked at her bag to see
+the condition of that. It was only moderately full, proving that she had
+been milked later even than the preceding night.
+
+Fred Linden had approached close enough to place his hand on the
+handsome creature, when he noticed--what indeed he knew before--the bell
+was not fastened to her neck; that explained why, after hearing the
+sound, it was heard no more.
+
+"The cord has broken just after the tinkle, and let the bell fall to the
+ground; no wonder that it was not heard again. Some one has been kind
+enough to give Brindle a milking."
+
+The words were yet in the mouth of Fred when he received a shock that
+for a moment held him speechless; a long distance to the right he
+caught the sound of the cow-bell!
+
+It was precisely the same that he and his friend had noticed, and since
+the bell of Brindle was gone, there could be but one meaning to the
+signal; it was made by some one for the purpose of drawing the boys into
+a trap.
+
+Without pausing to think over the dozen questions that came with this
+conclusion, Fred set off at the most hurried pace possible to warn his
+friend of his peril.
+
+"He has no suspicion of any thing wrong, and is sure to do the very
+thing that he ought not to do."
+
+Fred Linden was right in this conclusion. It can be readily understood,
+why no thought of peril should enter the brain of the Irish lad, who was
+never so sure that he was right and Fred wrong when the two parted to
+take different routes in search of the cow.
+
+"It's a bright lad--is Fred," said Terry, "but there isn't any law that
+I knows of by which he is to be right ivery time and Mr. Terence Clark
+wrong. I'm going straight for the point where the tinkle of the bell
+came from."
+
+The same thought puzzled him that puzzled Fred Linden; after walking
+more than the whole distance that first intervened, the cow was still
+invisible. There was nothing in the fact that when she had strayed so
+far from home, she should keep on in the same direction.
+
+"It may be that she has heard something about the Pacific Ocean, and has
+set out to see for herself whither the reports are correct," was the
+quaint thought of the Irish lad, as he pushed vigorously through the
+undergrowth, which was dense enough to turn him aside more than once and
+compel him to keep his wits about him to prevent going astray
+altogether.
+
+Now and then he paused, naturally expecting (as did Fred), that he would
+hear more of the bell; but it is not necessary to say that, like his
+companion, he was disappointed. He had fixed the point whence came the
+noise so firmly in his mind, that he could not go wrong, though a boy of
+less experience in the woods would have been sure to do so.
+
+Now, if any of you lads have ever driven cows or sheep, around whose
+necks bells were hung, you have noticed the natural fact that they have
+a sound peculiar to themselves. Referring particularly to cows, you may
+have observed the _jangle_, _jangle_, made by the motion of the head in
+cropping the grass, varied now and then by the confused jumble caused by
+the animal flinging her head over the back of her neck or fore part of
+the body to drive away the insects plaguing her. There is a certain
+regularity in all this which will continue for hours, and that may be
+said to be produced by the natural action of the animal, and which is
+altogether different from that made by the swaying motion of the hand.
+
+But Terry Clark inherited a sharpness of wits from his parents, and,
+while pushing forward among the trees and undergrowth, it struck him
+that there were several curious features about the matter.
+
+"It was a mistake, as Fred said," he thought more than once, "that we
+did not bring our guns with us."
+
+Then the second sound of the cow-bell fell upon the ear of Fred Linden;
+Terry was within a hundred feet of the point whence it came, and he
+could not have heard it more distinctly had he been standing on the spot
+himself. The noise was so peculiar that a flood of misgiving overwhelmed
+him. The _tinkle_, _tinkle_, _tinkle_, was so regular that nothing was
+plainer than that no living quadruped could have made the sound.
+
+"That was not the cow," whispered the startled Terry; "she has more
+sinse than to do any thing of the kind, as me uncle used to obsarve whin
+he was accused of kaapin' sober; but I'll find out by the same token
+what it all means."
+
+Since he had no firearms with which to defend himself, and since he was
+sure he was threatened by danger, he ought to have hastened homeward;
+but his curiosity would not permit him to do so.
+
+He advanced with all the caution possible, parting the obstructing
+bushes in front and stepping as lightly on the carpet of leaves as
+though he were a scout entering the camp of an enemy. He often stopped,
+listened and peered, not only in front and the sides, but to the rear.
+Whatever might take place, he did not intend to be surprised.
+
+He had advanced a couple of rods in this manner, when a faint sound from
+the bell caught his ear, but was instantly suppressed, as though some
+one had stopped at the instant he started to sway it. Faint as was the
+tinkle, however, he was able to locate the precise point whence it came,
+and after a little hesitation he moved toward it.
+
+All at once he caught sight of a figure in a crouching position,
+stepping softly among the trees and undergrowth. He stood still, and a
+moment later was able to distinguish the figure of an Indian warrior,
+bending slightly forward, advancing inch by inch and holding the cow-bell
+in his hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+A PARTY OF THE THIRD PART.
+
+
+The Indian warrior whom Terry Clark saw advancing stealthily through the
+undergrowth, cow-bell in hand, was a frightful object. His head and
+shoulders were bent forward, and he was stepping slowly and silently,
+while he glanced from right to left, as if searching for some object, or
+awaiting the occurrence of an expected event. His face was daubed with
+black and red paint, his long hair, as coarse as that of a horse's tail,
+dangled about his shoulders and alongside his neck, so that his eyes,
+when staring through it, seemed to be blazing among so much tangled
+brush. The ordinary hunting shirt, fringed in front, inclosed his chest,
+and was gathered at the waist by a sash or belt into which were thrust
+his hunting knife and tomahawk. The usual breechcloth, leggins and
+moccasins completed his dress.
+
+He carried a fine rifle in his left hand, in a trailing position, while
+a powder horn and bullet pouch were supported by a string passing over
+his shoulder. He was what may be called a thoroughly equipped warrior,
+without taking into account the cow-bell, which was suspended by the
+thumb and fingers of the right hand. It was thus he must have grasped
+the implement when he caused it to give out the sound that caught the
+ear of Fred Linden and Terry Clark. But at the moment the Irish lad saw
+him, and for some minutes after, he held the bell in such careful poise
+that it gave no sound at all.
+
+The Indian probably suspected his imitation of the action of the animal
+was so poor that it was likely to cause distrust, and therefore he was
+sparing in resorting to the stratagem.
+
+Now, nothing can be clearer than that if the warrior was in such a plain
+view of Terry Clark, the latter was equally exposed to his eye. The
+Indian was moving in his guarded fashion over a course at right angles
+to that followed by the lad, who was quick to realize his peril. He knew
+that every second he remained thus exposed he was likely to be seen. He
+had hardly taken a glance of his enemy, when he stooped so that his
+knees almost touched the ground, and moved as noiselessly and quickly as
+he could to the nearest tree, behind which he took shelter.
+
+This tree was an oak, large enough to hide two such boys, standing side
+by side, so that the youth felt secure for the time.
+
+"Ah, if I only had me gun," was the regret that naturally came to him;
+"I would quickly settle with the spalpeen that stole old Brindle, and
+now wants to run away wid me."
+
+It will be admitted that the situation of Terry was peculiar, for he was
+quite close to the warrior, who, there was every reason to believe, was
+hunting for him, and who was so nigh that there was imminent danger of
+discovery. It might be asked why the redskin should have taken this
+course, for in some respects it had more than one absurd feature. If he
+wanted to kill a white person, all this maneuvering with a cow-bell was
+ridiculous, while his conduct from first to last was in some respects
+unreasonable. The best explanation was that which was made sometime
+afterward by a person, who as yet has not been introduced to the reader,
+but who, when he does appear, will be admitted to be the best judge. I
+allude to Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+
+The Indian with the cow-bell was a Winnebago warrior, whose home was a
+long ways to the northward, but who had gone thither in company with
+several others on what may be called a tour of investigation. The
+driving off of the cow was probably an inspiration of the moment. The
+Indians kept her until they had got all the milk they wanted, first
+removing the bell so that her friends could not recover her until they
+were through. The stratagem which I have been describing was an
+afterthought. None of the Winnebagos except the one who tried the plan
+would have any thing to do with it, though they were willing enough that
+every white person in the settlement of Greville should perish, if the
+same could be brought about without risk to them.
+
+Left to himself, the Winnebago decided to make a prisoner of whomsoever
+should be sent to find the cow. He had reason to believe that this
+person would be a youth, and since every thing was so quiet in that
+section, he was not likely to be armed. Hence, it would be an easy
+matter to decoy him a goodly distance from the settlement, when the
+warrior could pounce upon, make him a prisoner and compel him to go with
+him. After the couple were far enough from the settlement the lad could
+be put to death, if his captor or the party to which the captor
+belonged, should so elect.
+
+Terry Clark had stood behind the sheltering tree for perhaps five
+minutes, when he became aware of an alarming fact: the warrior with the
+bell was slowly approaching him. The faint tinkle that it gave out once
+or twice told this, and when finally the lad ventured to peep around the
+side of the tree, the sight was a startling one. The Indian had risen
+almost to the upright posture, and holding the gun and bell as
+described, was moving directly toward the oak behind which the boy
+stood. Moreover at the moment the latter took the cautious look, the
+visage of the Indian showed that he was looking straight at the tree.
+
+"By the powers!" gasped Terry, "but the spalpeen observed me, and I'm
+thinkin' that he saw me before I did him."
+
+It was not at all unlikely that such was the case. The Indian may have
+felt sure of his victim, and so he indulged in a little by-play, as a
+cat often does with a mouse. Such a cruel proceeding was characteristic
+of his race.
+
+The belief that this was the case placed Terry Clark in a most trying
+position. He was without the means with which to defend himself, and in
+fact was hopeless. It was useless to try to run away, for if the warrior
+could not overtake him at once, he could bring him down with his rifle.
+
+You know how rare a thing it is for an Irishman to submit meekly, even
+when there is no hope in resistance. Terry muttered:
+
+"If he lays hands on me, there's going to be a fight; I wish Fred was
+near, that he could see that I git fair play."
+
+No person could have been more in earnest than was the Irish lad.
+
+"I'll wait till his head comes round the corner of that tree and then
+I'll give him a whack that'll tumble him over on his back, afore he
+knows what's the matter wid him; then I'll amuse myself wid hammerin'
+him after he is down till I git tired and then I'll take his gun and
+knife and tomahawk and the bell and make him walk before me to the
+sittlement."
+
+The lad had just gone over in his mind this roseate programme, when a
+soft tinkle told him that the Winnebago was within a few steps of the
+tree; and at the same moment that the youth made this interesting
+discovery, another still more astonishing one broke upon him.
+
+Just fifty feet away and behind a trunk very similar to the one that
+sheltered the lad, stood a second Indian warrior. His position was such
+that he was in plain view of Terry, though the Winnebago could not see
+him except when the latter should approach quite close to the shelter of
+the boy. The strange Indian was closely watching the hostile one, and,
+with that remarkable intuition that sometimes comes to a person in grave
+crises, Terry was convinced that he was an enemy of the Winnebago,
+though whether a friend of the youth was not so certain.
+
+In his amazement, the lad for the moment forgot his own danger and gave
+his attention to the stranger, who was the most striking looking warrior
+he had ever seen. He seemed to be about eighteen or twenty years of age,
+and was the picture of manly grace and beauty.
+
+He had long, luxuriant black hair which hung about his shoulders, being
+gathered by a loose band at the neck, so as to keep it from getting in
+front of his eyes. In the crown of this natural covering were thrust
+three stained eagle feathers, while there were two rows of colored beads
+around the neck. The fringed hunting shirt which reached almost to his
+knees was of a dull, yellow color and the sash or belt around the waist
+was of a dark red. A small but handsome bracelet encircled his left
+wrist, and the fringes of his leggins were of varied and brilliant hues,
+as were the beaded moccasins that incased his shapely feet. A tomahawk
+and knife were in his girdle, while he held a finely ornamented rifle in
+his right hand, the manner in which he manipulated the weapon showing
+that he was left-handed.
+
+The face was strikingly fine, the nose being slightly aquiline, the
+cheek bones less prominent, and the whole contour more symmetrical than
+is generally the case with his race. There was something in the
+situation that evidently amused him, for Terry saw him smile so
+unmistakably that he noticed his small and regular white teeth.
+
+It was plain that he was watching the movements of the Winnebago, though
+he said nothing, and made no gesture to the lad, whose wondering look he
+must have understood. Be that as it may, the sight of the strange
+Indian, and the belief that he was an enemy of the other with the
+cow-bell, inspired the Irish lad with a courage that he would not have
+known had the other warrior been absent.
+
+"He's waiting to see how I condooct mesilf when the spalpeen lays hands
+on me," thought Terence; "he won't have to wait long."
+
+The youth was right. The crouching Winnebago, doubtless feeling that he
+had no immediate use for the bell that had served him so well, dropped
+it to the ground beside him, and holding only his rifle in hand, stepped
+forward with the same cat-like tread that had marked his advance from
+the first. He knew that his victim was shrinking behind the trunk of the
+oak, and he was having his own peculiar sport with him.
+
+So intense was the attention of Terry that he heard distinctly the
+footsteps of the warrior, who a moment later was close enough to touch
+the tree with his hand, had he been so minded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+
+Terry Clark, the Irish lad, placed his right foot behind the left, his
+weight equally supported on both, and stood as rigid as iron, with both
+fists clinched and half raised, in the attitude of one holding himself
+ready to use nature's weapons to his utmost ability.
+
+He heard the soft moccasin press the layer of brown autumn leaves, and
+the next moment the point of a knobby, painted nose came slowly in sight
+around the side of the trunk, followed by the sloping forehead, the
+hideous face and the shoulders of the warrior, whose right hand was held
+so far to the rear with the gun that it was the last to come into view.
+
+As the Winnebago caught sight of the white-faced boy, his countenance
+was disfigured by a grin that made it more repulsive than before.
+
+"Oogh! brudder!--oogh!--Yenghese--"
+
+Just then Terry Clark let fly. He was a lusty lad, and he landed both
+fists, one after another, squarely in the painted face, with such force
+that the warrior was knocked completely off his feet. He went over
+backward as though from the kick of a horse; but, contrary to the hopes
+of his assailant, he did not let go of his gun. Had he done so, the
+youth would have caught it up and shot him before he could regain his
+feet.
+
+The blow was most presumptuous, and would have insured the death of the
+one who gave it but for the intervention of the second Indian, who
+seemed to take but a couple of bounds from the tree near which he was
+standing when he landed on the spot. The infuriated Winnebago was in the
+act of clambering to his feet, when he caught sight of the lithe,
+graceful warrior, standing only a couple of steps away, with loaded
+rifle pointed at him.
+
+"Dog of a Winnebago," he said in a voice slightly above an ordinary
+tone; "if he harms the pale face, he shall die!"
+
+There are some expressions so forcible that they can not be made more
+so. The young Indian spoke in the lingo of the Winnebago, whose totem he
+had recognized, but his posture, erect on his feet, with his cocked
+rifle in such a position that he had only to pull the trigger to send
+the bullet through the bronzed skull before him;--all this required no
+words of explanation. The Winnebago grasped the situation, and, to use
+the homely expression common at this day, he saw that the other "had the
+drop" on him.
+
+The Indian, though larger, older, heavier and stronger, was taken at
+such disadvantage that he ceased his effort to rise, and looked up at
+his conqueror with a helplessness so grotesque that under other
+circumstances it would have caused a smile. Indeed, Terry Clark did
+indulge in a slight laugh, for he saw that it was safe to do so; the
+Winnebago was on the ground before his master.
+
+"If ye want me to ring the old coow-bell, I'll be glad to obleege, for
+the performance looks as if a little moosic would give tone to the same.
+Howsumever, I'll step back and let this good looking young gintleman run
+the show."
+
+Thereupon Terry withdrew several paces and watched the proceedings with
+a depth of interest that can be fully understood.
+
+The look of the Winnebago, who was half reclining on his side,
+supporting his body with the hand that grasped his gun, plainly
+indicated the question that came from his lips.
+
+"Why does my brother look with evil eyes on the Wolf, who has come from
+the lodges of the Winnebagos? Are not all red men brothers?"
+
+"Deerfoot is a Shawanoe, whose warriors have consorted with those of the
+Winnebagos; but Deerfoot has left his lodge beyond the Mississippi and
+lives alone in the woods. He will not hurt the brave Winnebago who
+fights men, but he slays the Wolf that bites the children of the pale
+faces, that have never harmed him."
+
+Possibly the Wolf was inclined to argue the matter with the Shawanoe,
+who had caught him at such disadvantage; but the manner and words of
+Deerfoot showed that he was in no mood for discussion.
+
+"What does my brother want?" asked the Winnebago, in a voice that
+proved all fight had left him. The most, indeed, that he ventured to do
+was gently to rub his forehead and nose, where the fists of the sturdy
+Terry Clark had landed.
+
+"Let the Wolf rise to his feet, but when he does so, his gun must lie on
+the ground."
+
+This was a harsh order, but there was no help for it; the Indian
+hesitated a moment, and then, black and scowling, he slowly assumed the
+upright posture, and, folding his arms across his chest, looked in the
+face of the bright-eyed Deerfoot, to signify that he was awaiting his
+next command.
+
+"The Wolf shall now turn his face away from Deerfoot."
+
+The Winnebago obeyed the order as promptly as if he were a soldier
+undergoing drill.
+
+"Let my brother now raise his eyes, until he sees the beech with the
+white trunk," said Deerfoot, using the word "brother" for the first
+time.
+
+The object to which he alluded was perhaps fifty yards distant, the
+light color of the bark showing only here and there among the branches
+and undergrowth that happened to be less frequent than in other
+directions. The Wolf signified that he recognized the tree to which his
+conqueror referred.
+
+"Now let my brother run; when he reaches the beech he can leap behind
+it, and it will shield his body; if my brother is slow Deerfoot may fire
+his gun and Wolf will never bite again."
+
+The Winnebago wanted no explanation of this threat. It was hard for him
+to depart, leaving his rifle, but it was harder for him to lose his
+life, and he did not hesitate as to the choice. He made one tremendous
+bound that carried him a dozen feet, and then sped through the wood like
+a frightened deer. When he had passed half of the intervening distance,
+he seemed to fancy that he was not making satisfactory time for the
+Shawanoe, who, he doubtless imagined, was standing with leveled gun,
+finger on the trigger. He therefore began leaping from side to side, so
+as to disconcert the aim of the dreaded Deerfoot. In the hope also of
+further confusing him, he emitted several frenzied whoops, which added
+such grotesqueness to the scene that Terry Clark threw back his head
+and made the woods ring with laughter.
+
+"I never saw a frog hop about like that, which beats any show."
+
+Deerfoot did not have his rifle cocked or in position. The moment the
+Wolf started, he saw how great his fright was, and, lowering the flint
+of the weapon, he rested the stock on the ground and watched the antics
+of the fugitive. The Shawanoe, unlike most of his race, had a vein of
+humor in his composition. When Terry broke into mirth, he too laughed,
+but it was simply a smile, accompanied by a sparkle of his bright eyes
+which showed how much he enjoyed the scene.
+
+The moment the Wolf arrived at the beech, he darted behind it, and for
+the first time looked over his shoulder. The sight could not have been
+reassuring, for he continued his frenzied flight until the keen ear of
+the Shawanoe could no longer hear him threshing through the wood.
+
+By this time Terry Clark had made up his mind that whoever the new
+arrival might be, he was a friend. The Irish lad had not been able to
+understand any of the words that passed between the two, though their
+actions were eloquent enough to render much explanation unnecessary. But
+a person who treated the Winnebago in such style could not feel
+otherwise than friendly toward the one in whose behalf the interference
+was made. Terry blushed a little as he walked forward and reached out
+his honest hand.
+
+"If it's all the same to ye, I'll be glad to give that purty hand of
+yours an owld-fashioned shake, such as a fellow sometimes gits when he
+catches the chills an' faver."
+
+Deerfoot looked at the jolly lad with an odd expression, as he gave him
+his hand, which, I need not say, was shaken with enthusiasm. The young
+Shawanoe smiled in his own shadowy way and returned the pressure warmly.
+
+"My brother is happy," said he when the salute was finished; "it makes
+the heart of Deerfoot glad that he could be his friend."
+
+"Ye were a friend indade, though ye'll admit, Deerfut, that I toppled
+over the spalpeen in foine style, now didn't I?"
+
+"The Wolf who is a Winnebago, fell as though the lightning struck him."
+
+"How is it," asked Terry with no little curiosity, "that ye, who are as
+full-blooded an Injin as the Winnebago, can talk the English with almost
+as foine an accint as meself?"
+
+"Deerfoot has lived among the pale faces; when he was a small child he
+went with the Shawanoes to harm the white men, but they took him
+prisoner; they treated him kindly, and told him about God, who loves all
+His children, whether they be white or red, or the color of the night;
+they showed him how to read books, and to make his name and words on
+paper, so that others might read."
+
+"Can ye read and write?" asked the astonished Terry.
+
+Deerfoot smiled and nodded his head.
+
+"Well, well, that bates ivery thing!" said Terry, who instantly repeated
+the absurd belief of many of his race, by adding, "I didn't s'pose that
+an Injin could learn."
+
+Without replying to the last remark, the Shawanoe, looking the lad
+steadily in the eye, said, "Deerfoot has a message for Fred Linden; does
+my brother know him?"
+
+"Do I know him?" repeated Terry; "I know the same better than I know
+mesilf; he started wid me to hunt the coow, and I rickons that he can't
+be very fur away."
+
+"He's coming," quietly said Deerfoot, looking off to the left of Terry,
+as if about to salute a new arrival. The Irish lad wheeled in his quick
+way, but his sharp eyes caught no glimpse of his approaching friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+FRED LINDEN RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE OZARK CAMP.
+
+
+As soon as Fred Linden discovered the deception respecting the cow-bell,
+he made all haste toward the point whence came the sound, in the hope of
+warning Terry in time to save him from treachery. You will understand
+how quickly events passed when told that, although he came almost
+directly to the spot, he did not reach it until Deerfoot the Shawanoe
+asked for him. This wonderful Indian, of whom I shall have considerably
+more to tell, heard the coming of the lad whom he had never seen, before
+either the eye or ear of Terry Clark could detect his approach.
+
+As may well be supposed, Fred Linden was amazed at what met his eyes.
+The sight of Terry in friendly converse with a strange Indian was the
+opposite of what he expected to see. He slackened his hurried walk and
+looked inquiringly at Terry. The latter could talk fast when he chose,
+and the few sentences he rattled off as his companion came up made the
+matter tolerably clear.
+
+While the questioning and talk were going on, Deerfoot stood leaning on
+his long gun and gazing with a certain natural dignity at the two
+friends. He said nothing nor did he appear to show any special
+curiosity, though had any one studied his countenance, he would have
+seen that he was watching Fred Linden. He had said that he carried a
+message to him, and it was no more than natural that he should wish to
+know something about him.
+
+As for Fred himself he did not try to hide his profound interest in the
+remarkable warrior who had appeared at such an opportune time, but of
+whom he had never before heard a word. He knew that the settlers along
+the frontier often found valuable allies in the friendly Indians, and he
+concluded that this red man was one of those who, having been maltreated
+by his own people or kindly used by the whites, had given his loyalty to
+the latter; for in the brief narrative of Terry Clark, he had time only
+to tell the leading facts about the rescue of himself. Just then,
+therefore, the Irish lad knew more about Deerfoot than did the American.
+
+But it takes only a little time for such a group to become acquainted
+with each other. A general handshaking followed, and it happened more
+than once that all three were talking at the same moment. Had any one
+been able to translate the expression of Deerfoot's countenance, he
+would have seen that he was pleased with both the lads whom he now met
+for the first time. There was a rollicking good nature, a cheery courage
+and ever bubbling hopefulness about Terry that were contagious, and like
+so much sunshine that went with him wherever he went.
+
+Fred Linden was of that manly mold and rugged appearance that he would
+have drawn favorable attention wherever he might be.
+
+Such a lad in these days would have been picked out as a born athlete,
+one who was capable, with proper training, to become a first-class ball
+player, oarsman or boxer. He was a swift runner, a strong leaper, an
+expert rifle shot, and his rugged frame and rough, outdoor life gave
+him an endurance that few men could surpass. He was as tall as Deerfoot,
+with broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, clear, keen eyes, a fine
+chest and a symmetrical frame.
+
+The clothes of the two boys, it is hardly necessary to say, were of
+homespun, for a hundred years ago it would have been hard for them to
+procure any other kind of goods. The short coat was somewhat like those
+used to-day by bicyclists, reaching only a short distance below the
+waist, where the girdle was fastened in front. The trowsers, of the same
+material, reached to the knees, below which were the hunting leggins,
+common along the border. Then came the warm, woolen stockings and thick,
+heavy shoes, while the head was surmounted by a woolen cap, made by the
+deft fingers at home, and without any pattern. It was soft, and having
+no forepiece, sat on the head in whichever position it happened to be
+first placed. In this respect it resembled the valuable sealskins of the
+present day. The coats of the lads were open in front, and within were
+the pockets, which they used as required, the trowsers also being
+provided with a couple of these prime necessities.
+
+When the rattling conversation had gone on for several minutes, Terry
+ran a few steps and picked up the bell that the Indian had placed on the
+ground. The string which had held it about the neck of the animal was
+missing, having probably been cut by the knife of the impatient Wolf.
+
+"I'll take the same back home wid me and put it on Brindle if I iver
+maat her; I shouldn't be so 'stonished that I couldn't spake if I should
+find that the spalpeen had killed her."
+
+"No," said Fred, "she isn't harmed; I found her off yonder, cropping the
+buds and leaves, as innocently as though she hadn't done any thing wrong
+in leading us on this long chase. I started her toward home, and if she
+keeps up the gait she must be pretty near there by this time."
+
+This was good news to Terry, for the loss of the animal would have been
+serious to the family of Mr. MacClaskey, her owner. The Irish lad had
+hardly picked up the bell when Deerfoot pointed to the gun lying on the
+ground, where it had been left by the Wolf.
+
+"That belongs to my brother."
+
+The delighted Terry could hardly believe what was told him, and he stood
+looking doubtfully at Deerfoot, as if suspecting he had heard him amiss.
+
+"It was you who captured the gun, Deerfoot, and so, if it belongs to any
+one, ye are the spalpeen."
+
+The Shawanoe looked down at his own handsome weapon and shook his head.
+He had no need of any other weapon. Besides, this singular youth could
+not have conscientiously taken it. He did not feel justified in keeping
+it for his own use, no matter if in sore need of such a weapon; but,
+since the Winnebago had made his demonstration against Terry Clark, and
+was compelled to leave the gun behind, when he was permitted to go, it
+seemed proper that the prize should fall into the hands of the Irish
+lad.
+
+What gave special propriety to the act was the fact that, although Fred
+Linden was the owner of a fine gun, Terry had none. When his father
+lost his life, his rifle was never recovered, and though there was one
+in the family of MacClaskey, the youth had no claim upon it. He longed
+for such a weapon, with a longing that it would be hard to understand.
+The prize, therefore, was appreciated to its full value. He picked it up
+with an embarrassed grin, which quickly became natural when he turned it
+over in his hands and saw what an excellent piece it was.
+
+"More than likely it belonged to a white man in the first place," said
+Fred; "so it is right enough that it should come back to one of his own
+race."
+
+"It's loaded," said Terry, slightly raising the hammer and noticing the
+powder in the pan. Then he brought the gun to his shoulder and pointing
+it at the white trunk of the beech, which partly showed through the
+intervening branches and undergrowth, he said:
+
+"If the spalpeen should peep out from behind that tree, I'm thinkin' I
+could hit him a harder blow than when I landed me two fists on his
+mug."
+
+"The Winnebago is a long ways off," said Deerfoot, with a shake of his
+head; "he may meet my brother some day, but it will not be in this
+place."
+
+The young Shawanoe having learned all that was to be learned about his
+young friends, now reached his hand in the breast of his hunting shirt
+and drew out a small, closely-printed Bible, from between the leaves of
+which he took a piece of paper that had been folded several times. He
+glanced at the superscription, as if to make sure it was right, and then
+handed it to Fred, who, as may be supposed, took it with astonishment.
+He recognized the penciled writing as that of his father.
+
+Parting the folds, he read the following:
+
+     MY DEAR FRED:
+
+     You know that when we left home there were three of us, Hardin,
+     Bowlby and myself. There are three of us still, but Bowlby
+     considers himself of no account for some weeks to come, because of
+     a hurt to his foot which will prevent his getting around for a long
+     time. Such being the case, I have concluded, now that I have the
+     chance, to send for you to join us. You are old enough and strong
+     enough to make a full hand, and you can give us good help. Since we
+     have all the animals, you will come afoot, but you will find no
+     trouble in keeping to the trail, which has been traveled often
+     enough to make it plain. It is no more than a hundred miles from
+     Greville to our camp at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, so you
+     ought to have no difficulty in reaching here in the course of three
+     or four days. Love to your mother and Edith.
+
+     I send this by a young Shawanoe warrior, called Deerfoot. He is the
+     most remarkable Indian I ever knew. I shall have a good deal to
+     tell you about him when you reach here.
+
+                                                            YOUR FATHER.
+
+"Deerfoot bids his brothers good-by," said the young Indian, offering
+his hand, when he saw Fred had finished reading his letter; "he hopes
+that he shall see them again."
+
+"It won't be our fault if he doesn't," was the cordial response of Fred
+Linden, in which Terry heartily joined him. After a few more pleasant
+words they parted, Deerfoot following in the footsteps of the fleeing
+Winnebago, while the others moved to the northward in the direction of
+the creek. They turned aside a little from the direct course so as to
+hunt for Brindle, that Fred had seen, but she was not found. To their
+delight, however, they saw her footprints on the edge of the creek,
+proving that she had gone home with the directness of one who felt
+remorse for wandering from the straight path. She had swum the stream,
+and was doubtless before the MacClaskey cabin at that moment.
+
+But standing close to the edge of the creek, the boys became aware of a
+hard fact: it had not only risen with great rapidity during the last
+half hour, so as to become a rushing torrent, but it was still rising so
+fast that it was extremely dangerous for the boys to try to cross it in
+the canoe. Indeed, they hesitated to make the attempt, but finally
+concluded to do so.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE HUNTERS OF OZARK.
+
+
+I must tell you how it was that Deerfoot the Shawanoe came to bring the
+important letter of George Linden to his son Frederick.
+
+It has already been stated that it was the custom of a party of hunters
+and trappers to leave the settlement of Greville in the autumn of each
+year and spend most of the cold weather among the streams at the foot of
+a certain part of the Ozark Mountains. At that period, the fur bearing
+animals abounded in the section, as they were found in hundreds of other
+portions of the vast area known under the general name of the Louisiana
+Territory. You must bear in mind that there were thousands of square
+miles that had not been trodden by a white man, and so sparse were the
+Indian villages that large portions of the country remained to be
+visited even by them.
+
+Beaver, otter, foxes, bears, and buffaloes were the chief animals that
+were afterward driven west by the advancing tide of civilization, until
+the agents of the Missouri and Western Fur Companies were forced to do
+most of their work in the far west and north-west, where they came in
+collision with that vast monopoly known as the Hudson Bay Company,
+which, until recent years, not only trapped and hunted throughout
+Oregon, but along the Pacific coast as far south as California.
+
+George Linden, Rufus Hardin and James Bowlby composed the party who, in
+the autumn of the year of which I am writing, rode each a horse a
+hundred miles to the south of the frontier settlement of Greville, and
+pitched their tent at the foot of the Ozark range. Beside the animals
+ridden, each hunter took a pack-horse to help bring back the peltries
+that were to be gathered during the cold weather. As a matter of course,
+they were provided with guns and plenty of munitions, and indeed with
+every necessity for their limited wants. They had spent several winters
+there and knew what was before them. They had hunted and trapped for
+years in other parts of the great west, and more than once had made the
+long journey to the post of St. Louis to dispose of their furs, a
+necessity that, as I have explained, was removed by the annual visit of
+the agents with their long train of pack-horses to gather up the
+peltries.
+
+And so, without giving any of the interesting particulars of the ride
+southward from Greville, let us take a look at the little party gathered
+at their primitive camp in the wild Ozark region.
+
+The six horses had been relieved of their burdens on reaching the place,
+and were turned loose to crop the grass that was plentiful in many
+places. Although there was snow now and then through the winter, there
+was hardly enough to cause any suffering on the part of the animals.
+When the storms, however, were violent or prolonged, the hardy beasts
+were provided with some of the stores of dried grass that was kept in
+stock, as may be said. In case that gave out they could make shift with
+the cottonwood and other trees, whose bark was not lacking in succulent
+qualities.
+
+Although a tolerable shelter could have been found in any one of the
+numerous caves within reach, the hunters preferred to erect a rough
+cabin, that was almost strong enough to withstand a cyclone. The keen
+axes enabled them to trim off the interfering limbs, and they were
+joined at the corners so well that very little, if any, rain or snow
+could force its way through. Other logs and branches were laid across
+the top and ends fastened to the logs beneath by means of withes, so
+that the roof was not likely to be carried away unless the cabin itself
+went with it.
+
+On the top of the roof was a thick layer of branches and leaves, packed
+so closely that little moisture could find its way through. There were
+no windows, for none was needed. The single door in front was large
+enough to allow free egress and ingress. At night, when there was a
+possibility that some curious wild animal might come snuffing around,
+the door was closed by means of a framework of thick limbs, also
+fastened together with withes, swinging on leathern hinges, and made
+secure by a brace leaning against it from the inside.
+
+Within this structure were stored their supplies, and the blankets on
+which they slept were spread upon the bare ground. Their slumber was
+sweeter, too, than it would have been had they stretched themselves on
+"downy beds of ease," for health and weariness are two soporifics which
+art can never supplant.
+
+The traps and appurtenances used in their toil were never taken away
+from the place, for there was no call to do so. Such repairs as were
+needed from time to time were made in the cabin or on the spot, as the
+necessity arose. The rifles, of course, furnished the food needed, while
+an abundance of fish could be taken at any time from the streams in the
+neighborhood.
+
+A diet solely of flesh and fish is not acceptable to any one. Therefore,
+among the supplies annually brought to the cabin, were a quantity of
+coarse flour, meal, sugar, coffee, salt and tea. It may be said, that in
+one respect they were like modern campers out, except that they took the
+wrong season of the year for what so many boys consider the acme of
+enjoyment.
+
+There was little in the appearance of the three men to call for special
+description. All were in middle life, strong, rugged, and inured to
+hardship. Linden was rather tall, his face covered by a heavy beard in
+which not a gray hair had yet appeared. Hardin was fully as tall, with
+shoulders somewhat bent, and his scant, dark beard was plentifully
+sprinkled with gray. Bowlby was short and stocky in appearance. When in
+the woods he allowed his black beard to grow all over his face, but at
+home he was always smooth-shaven. He was of a swarthy complexion,
+inclined to be silent, and often moody, but like his companions he was
+brave, industrious and patient, holding a strong dislike of all Indians,
+though not inclined to go to any unjustifiable length in his feelings.
+
+The dress of the three men was similar to that of Fred and Terry, which
+has already been described. No one of them knew any thing about the
+modern overcoat or cloak. If there should come a spell of unusually
+severe weather, they had only to wrap a blanket or buffalo robe about
+the shoulders when compelled to visit the traps or remain long
+outdoors. Should it become necessary to kindle a fire within the cabin
+for the sake of warmth, a broad, flat stone was removed from an opening
+in the roof directly over the blaze, and the smoke, if so inclined,
+found its way to the clear air outside. The cooking was done under the
+adjoining trees. Of course it was of the most primitive character, but
+it suited, and that is all that is necessary.
+
+The hunters reached their cabin about the middle of the forenoon of an
+autumn day. They had eaten their regular morning meal, and they got to
+work without delay. The horses were unloaded and turned adrift, the
+stores safely housed, the blankets spread on the floor of simple earth
+in the cabin, and then the men scattered to look after their traps. This
+was a large job, for the implements had to be examined and many of them
+slightly repaired, after which they must be carried long distances and
+set.
+
+These traps were of the ordinary pattern, such as have been in general
+use for hundreds of years. The iron jaws was forced wide apart and kept
+in place by a catch, which was sprung by a slight pressure on the broad,
+flat portion in the middle. The trap being carefully hidden from sight,
+the unsuspecting animal had hardly time to rest one paw on this plate,
+when the fierce jaws, impelled by steel springs of prodigious strength,
+came together with the suddenness of lightning, and the animal, whatever
+he be, was in a grip from which there was no escape.
+
+You can understand the care required to set these traps so that they
+would do their work. The beaver is highly intelligent, and quick to
+detect the signs of man's presence. Nothing can tempt him to venture
+where he sees that his worst enemy has been before him. The fox is the
+synonym of cunning, and will often outwit the shrewdest trapper. He will
+walk around the trap and stealthily secure the bait without harm to
+himself. One of those animals has been known to reach forward and spring
+the implement, jerking back his paw quickly enough to escape the sharp
+teeth. A fox, too, when caught in a steel trap will sometimes gnaw off
+the leg just above where it is imprisoned, and afterward go through
+life with little inconvenience on three legs. You may be sure that he is
+never caught again in that fashion.
+
+It was easy to see where the sagacious beavers were in the habit of
+leaving the water and climbing the bank. The trap was carefully placed
+below the surface out of sight, and often it had no bait at all, for it
+would seem that the bait itself was liable to awaken the suspicion of
+the beavers. Occasionally, however, when it was desirable to attract
+them to the spot, an oily odoriferous substance obtained from the animal
+itself was smeared over the ground near the bank.
+
+The otters were scarcer than the beavers, but were hunted much in the
+same manner. For foxes and fur-bearing animals that roamed the the
+woods, the steel trap was baited with such food as they were fond of
+(which was about every thing), and they were so numerous through that
+part of the territory that the hunters had little difficulty in securing
+what was wanted.
+
+At the end of the second day all the traps were in position, and the
+three friends were grouped on the outside of the cabin smoking their
+pipes and talking over the outlook for the winter, which all agreed was
+favorable.
+
+The bison or buffaloes, of which mention has been made, were found in
+the open spaces or prairies where there was plenty of grass. No such
+multitudinous herds were seen as have been gathered in later years on
+the western prairies, but there were enough to make very lively hunting
+for the trio, who had shot and skinned several while on their way to the
+beaver runs.
+
+Within a half hour's walk of the camp was a beaver dam fully half a mile
+wide, built with astonishing skill and strength. The backwater flooded
+the country for many square miles, and gave the remarkable animals just
+the place they wanted for their curious huts, of which I shall have
+something to tell you further on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A WELCOME ACQUAINTANCE.
+
+
+On the fourth day after the arrival of the hunters at their cabin, the
+accident of which Mr. Linden made mention befell Bowlby. It was early in
+the morning, when the three were making their round of visits to the
+traps. Since no two inspected the same ones, they were quite widely
+separated from each other. Bowlby was walking over a rocky stretch of
+land alongside the creek when a loose stone turned under his foot,
+giving his ankle such a wrench that when he tried to stand he found he
+could not bear the least weight on it. It was one of those hurts that
+are more painful and troublesome than a fractured limb.
+
+"Here's a pretty go," he growled, as he sat down on the ground, his face
+contorted with pain; "it'll be a long time before I'll be able to stand,
+and the boys will have to bring one of the hosses here or else carry me
+home. _Hello!_"
+
+He shouted at the top of his voice, feeling no alarm, for he knew that
+his friends would come to his relief before long, even if they did not
+hear his voice; but then he reflected, as he sat on the ground beside
+the two beavers that he had killed and was carrying to his home, that he
+was in bad form if a wild animal should assail him, or there should
+happen to be a hostile Indian prowling in the vicinity. He had left his
+gun at the cabin, as was his practice, since he needed all his strength
+to bring in the products of the traps.
+
+He was startled, therefore, after his third shout; an Indian warrior,
+fully armed, walked out of the wood and came toward him; but his signs
+of peace, and more than all, the words he uttered, removed his fears.
+
+"My brother suffers; Deerfoot will help him to his cabin."
+
+"If that's so," said the greatly relieved Bowlby, "you're just the chap
+I'm waiting for. We'll leave these beavers here for the others to come
+after, and if you'll let me lean on your shoulder I guess I can hobble
+back; but I'll have to lean heavy," he added, looking doubtfully at the
+Indian, "and you ain't much more than a likely lad."
+
+"Let my brother try me," said Deerfoot, with a smile.
+
+The disabled hunter did try him, often compelled, as he was, to bear to
+such an extent upon his new friend that it may be said the latter
+sustained half his weight. The progress was slow, and when they reached
+a small stream of water, Bowlby sat down and allowed the young Shawanoe
+to bathe the inflamed limb. Great relief was felt.
+
+During this labored walk homeward, the two naturally talked a good deal
+together and learned much about each other. Deerfoot said that he had
+often hunted through the surrounding country, and he told why it was he
+had found it necessary to leave his tribe on the other side of the
+Mississippi. He said that he had spent more than one night in the
+deserted cabin of Bowlby and his friends during the summer months, when
+he found himself belated in the vicinity, and he once shot a wolf that
+was resolved on entering against his protest. It was his intention to
+make a call upon the hunters, and if they needed his aid, he was glad to
+give it in the way of helping trap or shoot game. You need not be told
+that though James Bowlby felt an innate dislike of the American race,
+there was now one exception: henceforth he was the sworn friend of
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+
+Linden and Hardin had got back from making their rounds, and were
+wondering what could have delayed their friend, when they saw him
+limping painfully on one foot, and supported by a fine looking young
+Indian warrior. Their astonishment was great, for they could not
+understand what it meant. Linden hastened to the help of Bowlby, but he
+waved him aside and said no one could do as well as Deerfoot.
+
+While Hardin went out to bring in the two beavers that had been taken
+from the traps by Bowlby, the latter was assisted to a seat on the log
+in front of the cabin. Then Deerfoot insisted on giving attention to the
+injured limb. It had swollen a great deal since he bathed it. There was
+nothing in the cabin in the way of ointment or liniment, but Deerfoot
+hastened into the wood and soon came back with the leaves of some plant
+whose virtues seemed to be well known to him. These were wrapped in a
+piece of linen, which the establishment managed to afford, and pounded
+to a pulp, and then the poultice was gently applied to the inflamed
+ankle. Bowlby declared that it felt better at once, but his face
+lengthened when Deerfoot told him that it would be a moon, or several
+weeks, before he would fully recover the use of his limb.
+
+"That will make us short-handed, and we need every one," said Mr.
+Linden; "I wish Fred was here to give us help."
+
+"I think I can ride my hoss to Greville," said Bowlby, "and bring him
+back with me."
+
+"That is hardly worth while."
+
+"Where is the home of my brother?" gently asked Deerfoot.
+
+"At the settlement of Greville, about a hundred miles to the north."
+
+"Deerfoot knows where it is," he replied; "he will take a message for
+his brother, for his footsteps lead him that way."
+
+"You're a mighty clever Indian; I will be ever so much obliged to you,"
+said Linden; "I will write a few lines to my boy, which will explain our
+trouble, though I have no doubt you could take the message just as well;
+but it is such an unexpected one that the boy might doubt it unless it
+was in my own writing. See?"
+
+The Shawanoe nodded his head to signify that it was all clear to him.
+Linden passed within the cabin, where he hurriedly wrote the few lines
+that are already known to the reader, folded the paper, and wrote on the
+outside:
+
+                           "FREDERICK LINDEN,
+                                       Grevil."
+
+He then handed it to Deerfoot, saying:
+
+"There is no special hurry, and if you are in the neighborhood of
+Greville, and can make it convenient to leave that at my house, it will
+be a great kindness to me."
+
+"If the Great Spirit does not will different it shall be in his hands
+before the setting of three more suns, but," added Deerfoot, looking at
+the superscription on the back of the paper, "has not my brother made a
+mistake?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"When Deerfoot writes the word 'Greville,' he adds two letters more than
+does my brother; perhaps, though, Deerfoot is wrong."
+
+No pen can describe the amazement that appeared on the faces of Linden
+and Bowlby. Here was a young Indian teaching a white man old enough to
+be his father how to spell in the English language! Was the like ever
+known?
+
+For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke. They were sitting on the
+log, while Deerfoot was standing in front of them. He held his rifle in
+his right hand and the folded piece of paper in his left, while he
+looked inquiringly down in the faces of the two men, whose mouths and
+eyes were open, as though they could not believe the evidence of their
+own senses. Finally, with a deep sigh, Linden slowly rose to his feet--
+
+"Well, by gracious! if that don't beat every thing! Do you mean to say
+that you can read _writing_? Impossible!"
+
+[Illustration: "For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke."]
+
+Then, as if still in doubt, he reached out and took the paper. Drawing a
+stump of a lead pencil from his pocket he completed the word properly,
+opened the paper, and handing it back to the Indian, said:
+
+"Let's hear you read _that_."
+
+"My brother writes so that any one can read his words," observed the
+young Shawanoe by way of introduction, and then in a low, soft voice he
+read the brief note from beginning to end.
+
+Bowlby, who had not yet spoken, seemed unable to express his emotions.
+Unable himself to read, the attainment of the Indian was almost past
+belief. As the best thing, therefore, that he could do, he solemnly
+reached out his hand to Linden and shook it with great earnestness.
+Settling painfully back on the log, he nodded his head several times as
+if he was almost overcome, as indeed was the case.
+
+I should state at this point that although Linden had not seen fit to
+make it known, he had heard of Deerfoot the Shawanoe long before. He
+knew of some of his exploits in Kentucky, as well as those of later
+years on the western bank of the Mississippi (which are told in the
+"Young Pioneer" and the "Log Cabin Series"), but he had never met the
+youth, nor had he ever heard or suspected that he knew how to read and
+write. Taking hold of his arm, he asked:
+
+"Where in the name of all that is wonderful did you learn that? When I
+wrote to Fred that I would tell him some things about you I did not know
+of the most extraordinary of all--that which I have just seen. Sit right
+down here, between me and Jim, and let us know all about it."
+
+Deerfoot held back, but yielded, and finally answered in his modest way
+the numerous questions with which he was plied. Bowlby had managed to
+find his tongue, and his queries were about twice as numerous as those
+of his companion. By the time that Deerfoot had time to rest, Hardin
+came back, and there was little left to tell.
+
+The Shawanoe had captured the Hunters of the Ozark. They insisted that
+he should stay to dinner with them, and he did so. Then he was badgered
+to enter into a shooting match. All were fine marksmen, and Linden was
+the best shot in Greville. Using his own rifle, Deerfoot beat every one
+of them. Then he exchanged weapons and allowed the crippled Bowlby to
+rest his piece, and the Shawanoe beat all three just as badly as before.
+They were delighted, and slapping him on the back, asked him to spend a
+week with them, but he shook his head.
+
+The sun was already beyond the meridian, and there were reasons for his
+departure which he could not explain. They liked him too well to insist,
+though they made him promise that on the first chance he would make them
+a visit. Then Deerfoot gravely pressed hands with all and quickly
+disappeared in the woods, taking the trail that led toward Greville. You
+have already learned about his meeting with Terry Clark and Fred
+Linden.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+A MISHAP.
+
+
+Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they
+came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time
+before. It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely
+an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume
+was increasing with great rapidity. The sinuosities of the creek had
+caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some
+miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
+
+It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a
+distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been
+swept away like an egg shell. As it was, the water had reached the base
+of the tree, while the boat was bobbing up and down almost in a straight
+line with the course of the creek, as though it was tugging to get
+loose.
+
+"My gracious, Terry!" said Fred, "this is a little worse than I
+expected; it is going to be hard work to get across."
+
+"Ye are right for once," added the other, gravely shaking his head;
+"them rapids are a little closer than I loike."
+
+"It seems to me," added Fred, who was unwilling to admit that he was
+afraid to try the task, "that I have gone over the creek when it was
+just as high and rapid, and have crossed at this place, too."
+
+"Who swung the paddle?"
+
+"Father did once and Mr. Bowlby at another time."
+
+"Did ye iver manage the paddle yersilf when the creek got onto one of
+its tears?"
+
+"I don't remember that I have, but that has been only because the need
+did not arise; I am not afraid to try it, even if you are."
+
+"Who said I was afraid?" demanded Terry; "I'm riddy to hop into the boat
+and sway the paddle mesilf, and I'll do it, too."
+
+He stepped into the water, which was up to his shoe tops, and began
+drawing in the rawhide rope which held the frail boat from breaking
+away. His companion laughed and said nothing until the canoe was at
+their feet and drawn up on the land away from the rushing current.
+
+"Don't be quite so touchy, Terry; that boat belongs to me and I can
+handle the paddle better than you; anyway I shall try to take us to the
+other side, and all that you have to do is to keep those limbs and trees
+from capsizing us."
+
+The time occupied in pulling the boat to the spot had given the Irish
+lad a chance to regain his usual good nature, and he made no protest
+against the decision of his companion, though Terry was no unskillful
+handler of the paddle himself.
+
+The creek was probably over a hundred feet wide, and the roiled current
+abounded with limbs and trees that swung up and down, sometimes out of
+sight and then popping up again, as though they were frolicking in the
+swift waters. It would require a strong arm and a cool head to force the
+birchen craft through these obstacles to the shore on the other side.
+It must be admitted, too, that it was a piece of imprudence on the part
+of the lads, who would have been wiser had they quietly waited where
+they were until the overflow exhausted itself. A stream that rises so
+fast subsides with the same quickness, and long before nightfall the
+creek would shrink to proportions that would take away all peril to any
+one in paddling across.
+
+They would have been compelled to go a long distance up stream before
+finding a place where the crossing was easier, and it would have been
+almost impossible to drag the canoe thither. They would have held fast
+to one end of the rope and allowed it to dance through the rapids, so as
+to allow them to make the passage below, where the great peril was
+removed, had they not known that the chances were ten to one that it
+would be snatched from their grasp, thus shutting them out altogether.
+
+Looking up and across the sloping clearing, the cabins forming the
+settlement of Greville could be seen at no great distance. From several
+of the stone chimneys the smoke was curling lazily upward, and now and
+then glimpses could be caught of persons moving hither and thither, but
+no one appeared to be looking in the direction of the creek, or if any
+one was doing so, he saw nothing of the two boys standing on the further
+shore and debating with themselves the best course to follow. At any
+rate no one would think they were unable to take care of themselves.
+
+Both Fred and Terry knew that there was but one prudent plan to follow;
+that was quietly to wait where they were until near night, by which time
+all danger would be gone. But neither proposed the course nor made
+mention of it. It is natural for youth to be rash, and there was a
+semblance of timidity in such a shrinking back that was repellent to
+American and Irish lad alike. And so you will understand how it was that
+each showed an eagerness to enter into the contest with the angry
+current.
+
+You will see, too, how foolish they were, when I tell you that during
+the few minutes they stood by the tree to which the rope had been tied
+discussing the situation, they saw the proof that the creek was
+subsiding. There was a perceptible lowering of the surface, as was shown
+by the soiled line against the trunk of the tree. Even Terry, when he
+looked down, observed that he was not standing in quite as deep water as
+he was a few minutes before. No danger, however, of his making mention
+of it.
+
+It took but a minute or so to untie the long thong that was wrapped
+about the limb, and then, as Fred was on the point of flinging the coil
+into the bottom of the boat, the end of which was drawn up on the bank,
+and to take up the paddle and push off, Terry, with some excitement,
+caught his arm and said:
+
+"Plase wait a minute, will ye?"
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll not be gone long; howld the boat only for a twinkling."
+
+He ran a dozen steps or so from shore to where was the stump of a tree
+that had probably been splintered by a thunder-bolt, and around which
+sprouted a number of bushes that were dense enough to hide a large
+object within. Carefully parting these, Terry laid down his rifle and
+the bell, and then as carefully smoothed the undergrowth in place. Then
+he hurried back.
+
+"There are plinty of lads about me own size," said he, "but there's only
+one gun that belongs to me, and if the canoe should upsit and both of us
+get drowned I want to be sure and save me gun."
+
+Fred smiled at this Irish-like explanation, but he was glad that Terry
+had left the gun on shore. It was safely hidden until he should wish to
+get it again, while its presence in the canoe would be the worst kind of
+encumbrance. The new owner was so charmed with his prize that he would
+think more of saving that than of saving the boat. It was clear that the
+task of Terry in fighting off the rushing timber would be almost as
+difficult as that of guiding it across the swift stream.
+
+"In with you!" said Fred to Terry, who carefully seated himself near the
+bow of the canoe and took up the long pole that lay in the bottom and
+projected some distance over the end of the boat. Fred Linden gave it a
+vigorous shove, landed in the stern, caught up the paddle, and
+instantly began his struggle.
+
+You will see the difficulty and danger of his task, and must therefore
+join with me in condemning the lack of judgment showed by both. They had
+to paddle more than a hundred feet across a furious torrent in which
+were scores of uprooted trees, wrenched-off limbs, and craggy stumps,
+all speeding downward with great swiftness and force. The course of the
+boat being at right angles to these objects, must bring it in collision
+with some of them, at the great risk of overturning or shattering the
+canoe, that was not calculated to withstand any such blows.
+
+And yet, though the task was a hard one, there was little doubt that the
+two lads could make their way across, provided they were given enough
+time in which to do so; but there were the rapids, so near that their
+roar was plainly heard. In case of an overturn or accident, the two
+would be swept among them. It was the same, on a smaller scale, as if a
+person should start to row across Niagara River, just above the falls,
+where by vigorous work he could make the passage, provided he did not
+drop a stroke on the way. You will say that any one making such an
+attempt placed little value on his own life.
+
+Fred Linden used his paddle after the manner of an Indian--that is, he
+dipped the broad end first on one side of the boat and then on the
+other. The paddle was not widened at each end, as is sometimes the case,
+the one who wields it using the sides alternately and with great
+rapidity. In calm water such a light structure as an Indian canoe can be
+driven with great speed, and I have no doubt that the youths would have
+made a speedy passage had it not been for the interference of the
+floating objects to which I have referred.
+
+Ten feet from land Fred was forced to back water suddenly to avoid a
+jagged stump that danced in front like a bull getting ready to charge,
+and finally did strike the bow with a thump that startled both the
+occupants.
+
+"Me pole slipped off the side of that," Terry explained, as he
+brandished the stick in front on the lookout for the threatening
+waste-wood; "have a care that ye don't drive the boat agin something
+that is stronger than the boat itsilf."
+
+By coolness, alertness and strength, Fred fought his way in safety until
+probably one-third of the distance was passed. Then he saw the great
+blunder he had made in trying to cross while the current was so high.
+The constant fighting with the floating stumps and trees caused them to
+lose so much ground--or rather water--that they were drifting
+frightfully close to the rapids, whose roar grew plainer every moment.
+But he had gone so far that it was as safe to keep on as to turn back,
+and so he dipped the paddle and swung it with renewed vigor.
+
+"Look out!" he called to Terry, who in parrying the rush of a stump a
+couple of yards in advance, did not notice one that was coming broadside
+on, its presence betrayed by a tiny branch that protruded a few inches
+above the surface like the fin of a shark. Fred did his utmost to avoid
+it, but he was too slow, and a second later the pointed log not only
+struck the side of the canoe, but capsized it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
+
+
+The partly sunken log crashed into the side of the canoe with such
+suddenness that the craft was overturned and ruined, and the occupants
+struggling in the water, before either had time to utter more than a
+single exclamation.
+
+But they were powerful swimmers, and, but for the nearness of the
+rapids, they could have afforded to laugh at their mishap. As it was,
+Terry Clark shouted, as he blew the muddy water from his mouth:
+
+"What a sinsible young gintleman I was to lave me gun on the other
+side."
+
+"We both would have been much more sensible had we left ourselves
+there," rejoined Fred, who was struggling with might and main for the
+land in front; "there's no time, Terry, to waste in talk; we've got to
+swim as never before, for nothing else will save us."
+
+The other seemed to rouse to his peril, for he made the only wise
+response he could--which was putting forth every atom of strength and
+skill that he possessed in the effort to breast the furious torrent.
+
+It is singular how often the slightest advantage turns the scale for
+life or death. At the moment the canoe was smashed and capsized Terry
+Clark was seated some six or eight feet nearer the shore toward which
+they were paddling than was Fred Linden, and this difference remained
+when the two went into the water and began swimming. The Irish lad was
+fully as skillful as the other, and he did not lose an inch of the gain
+thus given him.
+
+They were near the middle of the stream when the catastrophe took place.
+Of course they would have done better had they been without any
+clothing, but there was no time to remove any of that, and beyond
+question the two made the most gallant kind of a fight for life.
+
+Fully aroused to his peril, Terry swam with amazing power, his lips
+compressed and his eyes fixed on the land in front, which seemed quite
+near, and yet was never so hard to reach. The lad had proven by repeated
+tests that he could swim faster on his left side then in any other
+position. He quickly flung himself over and used his arms and legs like
+one who knew fully the stake for which he was contending.
+
+By this recourse he actually gained on Fred, who continued to breast the
+water with all the strength at his command. Terry was hopeful, and now
+that he was fully roused, he did not waste his strength in shouting to
+his companion. As he advanced in his crab-like fashion, he frequently
+flirted his face around so as to look in front, and thus to keep aware
+of his progress.
+
+"I'm doing well, and will make it," was his thought; "I hope Fred will
+be as fortynate as mesilf."
+
+An important point was gained by swimming on his left side; his face was
+turned up stream, and he caught sight of the floating timber quicker
+than when advancing with his face toward the land. Thus it came about
+that he saw a plunging tree, or log, similar to that which had
+destroyed the canoe, and when it was fully as close to him.
+
+Like a flash, Terry dove, intending to pass clean under it. He could not
+know any thing about the portion beneath the surface, and was a little
+startled when he found himself among leaves and a lot of small branches;
+but he swam with the same vigor and skill when below as when above the
+surface, and quickly fought his way through, rising on the other side a
+considerable distance nearer land.
+
+But he gasped with terror, for during the brief period he lost a great
+deal more than he gained. A furtive glance to the left showed him the
+mist and spray flying high in air, as the muddy waters were tossed to
+and fro by the rocks below: he was fearfully close to them.
+
+But he was also close to land, and he saw his chance; indeed, his only
+one. A tree growing out toward the creek curved downward so that the
+lower part of the trunk was within a few inches of the water. A short
+time before the current had washed against it, but was now falling away
+from it.
+
+The portion which inclined downward like a bow was several feet from
+shore, and some distance below him. It will be seen, therefore, that the
+thing for him to do was to bend all his efforts toward reaching that. If
+he could advance far enough to allow the current to sweep him beneath,
+or quite close to the tree, he could grasp it and save himself.
+
+"That's what's got to be done," was his conclusion the instant he saw
+the crooked tree; "or it's good-by to Terry Clark and his rifle."
+
+He would succeed; he saw it the next moment. The curving tree seemed to
+be sweeping up stream with frightful swiftness, but at the right second
+Terry, by a supreme effort, threw himself partly out of the water, and
+flinging both arms around the trunk, which was no more than six inches
+in diameter, he held fast.
+
+The strain was great, and he felt his fingers slipping over the shaggy
+bark, but he held on like grim death, and by a skillful upward hitch of
+his body, locked his fingers above the trunk, and was safe; he was then
+able to hold double his own weight.
+
+His next move was to throw his feet around the trunk, when it was an
+easy matter for him to twist himself over on top, where he was as secure
+as lying on his own trundle bed in the cabin at home.
+
+The instant his own safety was secured his whole soul was stirred by
+anxiety for Fred Linden, who, he knew, was placed at more disadvantage
+than he. Since he was further from shore than was he, and since the
+latter had been able to save himself only by a hair's breadth, it was
+clearly beyond the power of Fred to escape in the same manner--though it
+might be that there was some other remote chance for him.
+
+The first glance that Terry cast over the muddy waters showed him his
+friend, swimming manfully for shore, but so far out in the stream that
+it was impossible for him to reach it before passing into the grip of
+the rapids.
+
+"It's no use," called out Fred, in a voice in which there was no tremor
+or shrinking; "I'm bound for the rapids, and here goes."
+
+And deliberately facing about, he swam coolly in the direction of the
+boiling waters as though he were bathing in a still lake.
+
+"Be the powers, but he is plucky," muttered Terence, thrilled by the
+sight; "if he can get through there alive, I'll be proud of him!"
+
+The rapids, of which I have made mention several times, were caused by a
+series of irregular rocks, extending a hundred yards, in the space of
+which the stream made a descent of a dozen or twenty feet. At ordinary
+times the creek wound languidly around these obstructions, forming many
+deep, clear pools of water, that afforded the best kind of fishing.
+There was so much room for the current that there was no call for it to
+make haste.
+
+But you can understand how different it was when the creek was swollen
+by violent rains. It then dashed against the rocks, was thrown back,
+plunged against others, whirled about and charged upon still others, by
+which time it was a mass of seething foam, with the spray flying high in
+air, and a faint rainbow showing through the mist when the sun was
+shining. After fighting its way between and around and over these
+obstructions, the current emerged at the bottom one mass of boiling foam
+and dancing bubbles, which continued for several hundred feet before
+the effects of the savage churning that the water had received could be
+shaken off.
+
+Now, it would be idle to say that these rapids were as dangerous as the
+famous whirlpool below Niagara Falls; for it would not only be untrue,
+but it would shut me out from taking Fred Linden safely through them:
+for I am bound to do that, since he is too good a fellow to sacrifice at
+this early stage of my story, and you would not forgive me for doing so.
+
+But all the same the danger was great, and was enough to cause the
+bravest man to shrink from attempting the passage. Fred would have been
+glad to shrink from going through, but since that was beyond his power
+he did the wisest course--faced about and kept his wits with him.
+
+There was one consolation--the suspense could last but a few moments; he
+was sure to emerge from the lower falls within the space of a minute,
+whether alive or dead.
+
+The first object that caught his eye was his broken canoe. Naturally it
+was but a short distance below him, though it had gained a little while
+he was struggling so hard to make land. It was turned on its side,
+spinning sometimes one way and then whirling the other, according to the
+whim of the current; then sea-sawing up and down, until all at once it
+shot upward like a huge sturgeon, which sometimes flings its whole
+length out of the water.
+
+Another point must be named that was gained by this facing about of Fred
+Linden. Since he was going with the current he kept pace with every
+thing else that was afloat, and he was therefore in no danger from the
+trees and branches that had caused him so much, and, in fact, nearly all
+his trouble.
+
+At the moment he was about to enter the boiling rapids he found himself
+partly entangled in the branches of a large uprooted tree that was
+dancing about in a crazy fashion.
+
+"This may help to shield me from being dashed against the rocks," was
+his thought, as he seized hold of a thick limb close to the point where
+it put out from the trunk; "at any rate I don't see that it can make
+matters any worse."
+
+The act of Fred Linden in grasping the limb saved his life. The next
+moment he was whirled hither and thither, half strangled with foam, head
+now in air, now beneath the surface, his body grazing the jagged rocks
+by the closest possible shave, and all the time shooting forward with
+dizzying rapidity, until at last he emerged into the calmer water below
+as well and hearty as he ever was in all his life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+TRAMPING SOUTHWARD.
+
+
+An ejaculation of thankfulness escaped Fred Linden when he found himself
+floating in the comparatively still water below the rapids, and he knew
+that although he was pretty well bruised, none of his bones was broken.
+He let go of the limb of the tree that had served him so well, and
+flirting the water from his eyes, struck out with his old time vigor for
+the shore, toward which he had started in the canoe.
+
+When Terry Clark saw his friend go spinning into the whirlpool, he
+scrambled back from the trunk of the tree, on which he had found refuge,
+and ran at full speed down the bank. Fast as he went, he was just in
+time to see Fred swimming through the foaming waters toward the land.
+
+"Give me yer hand!" called out the delighted youngster; "there isn't
+any body in the wide wurruld that could bate that onless it is mesilf,
+and I couldn't do it."
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Fred, as he laboriously clambered up the steep bank;
+"that was the biggest lot of swimming and diving crowded into the space
+of a minute or two that I ever knew; I wouldn't like to take such a trip
+each day."
+
+"And I'm thinkin' that it'll be a few days after this whin we try it
+agin," added Terry, delighted to see his loved comrade before him
+unharmed; "I jist give up when I seen you plunge in among the rocks, and
+was wonderin' how your father and mother and sister Edith would faal
+when I should be luggin' your dead body home."
+
+"I'm thankful that you haven't _that_ to do," said Fred with an
+earnestness that could not be mistaken; "but come, the clothes of us
+both are dripping, and we can't get away any too soon."
+
+It was not far to walk, and a few minutes later they reached the other
+side of the clearing, where the cluster of cabins stood. The first
+living object on which their eyes rested was Brindle, lying on the
+ground and chewing her cud with an air of contentment which belongs
+exclusively to her kind, or rather kine.
+
+The boys laughed and Terry said:
+
+"If she had such a thing as conscience she wouldn't be takin' things in
+that aisy style, after givin' us a duckin' that come nigh bein' our last
+one."
+
+"You are right, Terry, but what did you do with that bell that Deerfoot
+took away from the Winnebago?"
+
+"I lift it wid my gun on the other side of the creek; I didn't want it
+tollin' our funeral knell all the time we was goin' through the rapids
+and splittin' the rocks to pieces by bangin' our heads agin them."
+
+"It is just as well, for the creek will be so low that there will be no
+danger in crossing it to-morrow, and you can get the bell again; well,
+here we are at home."
+
+The boys separated, and at the same moment, each entered the cabin where
+he lived. They were only a short distance apart. Several men and a
+number of the lads, some older and some younger than the two in whom we
+are interested, were moving about, and looked curiously at the dripping
+figures. A couple asked an explanation of Fred, but he laughingly
+answered that he would tell them after he had got dry, and immediately
+disappeared in his own house.
+
+Mrs. Linden and Edith, her daughter, who was two years younger than
+Fred, looked up in surprise when they saw the state of the lad.
+
+"Terry and I started to paddle across the creek, that is higher than
+usual, and were overturned by a tree that stove in the side of the boat
+and gave us a ducking."
+
+Having heard this explanation his folks seemed to feel no more curiosity
+about it. The lad passed into his room, he being one of those fortunate
+ones who had two complete suits of clothing, with the exception of cap
+and shoes. It took him but a short time to effect the change, when he
+reappeared, placing his foot and head gear near the fire, where they
+would soon dry.
+
+The home of Fred Linden may be taken as a type of the best that were
+found on the frontier. As a matter of course, it was made of logs, with
+a stone chimney so huge that it projected like an irregular bay window
+from the rear. The fire-place took up the greater part of one side of
+the house, where the immense blocks of oak and hickory not only diffused
+a cheery warmth through the lower portion, but sent fully one-half the
+heat up the enormous throat of the chimney.
+
+The large room, which served for parlor, sitting and dining room, was
+furnished simply, but comfortably, with plain chairs, a bench,
+spinning-wheel, a rocking-chair, table, a few cheap pictures and the
+indispensable cooking utensils. There was no stove, every thing being
+prepared in the fire-place. At that day, as you well know, no one had
+ever dreamed of using coal as an article of fuel, and the old-fashioned
+stoves were exceedingly few in number. Carpets, of course, were not
+thought of, though the rough floor was kept clean enough to serve as a
+table for food.
+
+A rifle rested on two deer prongs over the mantel-piece, and there
+seemed to be any number of knick-knacks about the room, though it would
+have been found that nearly every one had a distinct use in the
+household.
+
+Two rooms were connected on the same floor with the larger apartment.
+One of these served as the sleeping quarters for the parents when Mr.
+Linden was at home, and the other for Edith, while Fred occupied the
+loft, which had the rafters for a ceiling, and extended over half the
+lower floor. During the absence of the father, Edith and her mother used
+one room, while Fred had the other.
+
+Noon had passed when the son came home, and his substantial dinner of
+venison--procured some days before by Fred himself--brown bread,
+potatoes, butter and milk, were awaiting him. Taking his place at the
+table, he ate as only a rugged, growing boy of sixteen can eat.
+
+He made no further mention of the dangerous adventure that had just
+befallen him, but gave the full particulars of Terry Clark's encounter
+with the Winnebago Indian, who stole the bell from the cow, and tried to
+have a little sport at the expense of the boy. It was an interesting
+story, and mother and daughter listened with rapt attention. Edith, who
+was a bright girl, and very fond of her brother, asked many questions
+as to how the Winnebago looked, what he said, and whether he really
+meant to kill poor Terry. Then her interest suddenly transferred itself
+to Deerfoot, and she plied Fred with all sorts of queries, until he
+laughingly told her that she was asking them two and three times over,
+and really he had nothing more to tell.
+
+Then Fred drew out the moist and soiled bit of paper that he had taken
+from his other clothes, and which contained the message of his father.
+This, of course, caused a sensation, for it made known the fact that the
+son was to join his parent for several months. It would be supposed that
+this would cause some inconvenience, but in such a primitive community
+all were neighbors, and the chores and work that would have been done by
+Fred Linden would be cheerfully attended to by others. It was not until
+many years afterward, when the settlements became towns, that the social
+distinctions between families were formed.
+
+During all the conversation, after it had been agreed that Fred should
+start alone on a hundred mile journey through the wild forest, nothing
+was said about such a thing as the personal danger attending it. And
+that, too, directly on the heels of the Winnebago's attempt on Terry
+Clark. The habit of self-reliance was taught to the children of the
+pioneers at such an early age, that their parents felt no solicitude,
+where in these times they would have been tortured by anxiety, and, no
+doubt, with abundant reason.
+
+Mrs. Bowlby was told of the mishap that had befallen her absent lord,
+when she was asked by Edith to come over in the evening, but she was
+assured that there was no cause for alarm, and so she felt none. She
+wrote a letter to her husband, as did the wife of Hardin, and Fred's own
+mother. These constituted all the extra luggage that he was to take, for
+it would have been oppressive to load him with any thing in the nature
+of a burden when the hunters had been absent only a few days.
+
+The decision was that Fred should make his start at early dawn the next
+day. It was his purpose to reach camp on the fourth day; that would be
+only an ordinary tramp for a rugged youngster like him, and he was
+confident that he would have no trouble in keeping to the trail that had
+been ridden over so recently by his friends.
+
+The little personal articles, as they may be called, which the lad would
+require, were mostly the same as those of his father, and could be
+utilized by the son. Such, as from the nature of things, could not
+answer for both were tied into a compact package with his linen and
+strapped over his shoulders with a thick blanket. His powder horn and
+bullet pouch were not forgotten. An extra flint for his rifle was placed
+in his pocket, and the weapon, which belonged to the lad himself, was
+slung over his shoulder after the manner of a professional hunter. Then
+making sure that nothing had been left behind, Fred gave his sister and
+mother a warm hug and kiss apiece, called to them a jaunty good-by, and
+set his face toward the Ozark mountains.
+
+It had become known that he was to start on quite a lengthy journey, and
+those who were astir at that early hour called their hearty good wishes
+to the lad, who was popular with all. Fred looked for Terry, and seeing
+nothing of him, shouted his name as he passed by his door, but receiving
+no response, concluded that he was still asleep.
+
+The heart of the boy was light as he strode at a rapid pace across the
+clearing. He felt no inconvenience from the bruises received the day
+before, during the passage of the rapids, and his natural buoyancy
+caused him to look upon the tramp through the woods as a school boy
+views his long expected vacation. There was no fear of any peril in the
+stretch of unbroken forest that opened before him. It was fortunate
+indeed for his peace of mind that he did not know what was awaiting him
+in the dark arches and labyrinths of the almost interminable
+wilderness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+A STRANGE ANIMAL.
+
+
+When Fred Linden reached the creek where he had met with his stirring
+adventure the day before, he could not help smiling. It had shrunk to
+its usual volume, and was winding along as lazily as usual, the only
+sign of the violent freshet being the _débris_ left along the bank and
+the slightly roiled appearance of the current.
+
+The pioneers had so many occasions to cross this stream of water that
+they had made several attempts to put up a rude but strong bridge; but
+no matter what pains they took, they could never erect a structure
+strong enough to withstand the furious freshets which, as you can well
+understand, were often resistless.
+
+The result, therefore, was a reliance upon the canoes, some of which lay
+on one side of the stream and some on the other; but a surprise awaited
+young Linden. Seeing no boat in sight, he walked along the shore in
+quest of one, for he was resolved to keep out of the water as long as he
+could, though a lad on the frontier makes far less ado about dripping
+garments than you or I.
+
+That which surprised him was the sight of a long, uprooted tree which,
+coming down the creek, when the water was rapidly falling, had swung
+around in such position that the roots caught fast in the clayey soil on
+the bank, and the limbs were imbedded in the sand and mud on the other
+shore. The result was as good a bridge as a foot traveler could want.
+
+"That will do until there comes another rise," he said, as he carefully
+stepped upon the limbs, using them to reach the trunk, along which he
+walked across the water, leaping to the ground on the other side.
+
+He stepped off with his elastic gait, keeping so close to the path that
+he and Terry had taken the day before that he caught sight of the bushes
+around the splintered trunk of the tree where the rifle captured from
+the Winnebago had been hidden.
+
+"He'll be over early to get his prize," thought Fred; "for it is beyond
+all worth to him. If it wouldn't make him feel so bad I would plague him
+a little by hiding it."
+
+He parted the bushes and peered within. The first object on which his
+eye fell was the battered old cow-bell that had played such a curious
+part the day before, but he saw nothing of the gun itself; a brief but
+hurried search convinced him that it was gone.
+
+"That will break Terry's heart," said he to himself; "he never owned a
+gun, and now, to lose such a handsome one when it has been in his
+possession only a brief while, will grieve him as much as the loss of a
+dear friend."
+
+Just then young Linden caught the faint but clear notes of some one
+whistling. He had but to listen a second or two, when he recognized it,
+as he did the hearty laugh that followed. Looking to his right, he saw
+Terry himself standing but a few paces away, and, so to speak, in his
+"war paint." Bullet pouch, powder-horn, bundle on his back, and, more
+than all, the splendid rifle was there. The round, chubby face, clear
+eyes, and pug nose of the Irish lad seemed to radiate delight as he
+made an elaborate salute to his friend, and, with mock gravity, doffed
+his hat and scraped his foot along the ground. "Why, Terry," said the
+delighted Fred, asking the useless question, "what is the meaning of
+this?"
+
+"I'm going wid ye to the camp in the Ozark Mountains; do ye think I
+could rist aisy, knowin' that ye had to travel such a long distance wid
+no one to take care of ye?"
+
+"Well, now, that just pleases me more than I can tell you," said the
+overjoyed Fred, slapping him on the shoulder; "there isn't any one in
+the wide world whose company I want as bad as yours; I lay awake half of
+last night trying to get up some plan by which I could have you with me,
+but I couldn't think of any, and had to give it up. Father sent only for
+me, and I didn't suppose that Mr. MacClaskey would spare you. Tell me
+how you managed it."
+
+A quizzical expression came upon the face of the Irish lad, who, leaning
+on his rifle, took off his hat and scratched his head for a few seconds
+before answering.
+
+"Wal, bein' it's yersilf, Fred, I don't mind sayin' that it took some
+strategy, as I suppose Deerfut would call it. Last night, after we had
+eat our supper, and the chores were done wid, and Mr. MacClaskey had
+took his seat by the fire and lit his pipe, and Mrs. MacClaskey had
+started her spinning-wheel a-hummin', and the children had been packed
+off to bed, I told the folks the whole story. I managed it in such a
+style that the owld gentleman, who, you know, has spint two winters in
+the mountains, said it would make the folks out there desprit short of
+hands. I observed, in me careless way, that such was the case, and that
+Mr. Linden had sent word to ye that he wanted ye to come, and, from
+things that I knew, me own prisence would give great satisfaction to
+sartin parties. Ye understand that I had yersilf in me eye, though I
+didn't think there was nade of making it all plain how it was.
+
+"Wai, the owld gintleman wouldn't listen to me goin' away, but I managed
+it so well that after awhile he kind of remarked that if the folks
+wanted me, he'd no objection to me goin', as he belaved that I would
+make more there than I would at home.
+
+"_That_ was the p'int," added Terry, with a wink, as he replaced his
+cap; "and there was where me genius showed itself; I spoke about the big
+lot of furs that had to be gathered, and how much money the hunters
+would make, and what a chance there was for a risin' young man of
+industrious habits. The owld gintleman took it in, and at last said,
+bein' as I had the new gun, why he didn't know but what I might give it
+a trial.
+
+"Wal, that was all I wanted. I started to run over last night to tell
+ye, but afore I got to yer house I thought of this 'cute plan of
+s'prisin' ye. I got all ready last night, ate breakfast airly, and was
+down here and had me gun just as I observed ye makin' yer way across the
+clearin' toward this spot."
+
+And so it came about that on this beautiful sunshiny day in autumn, Fred
+Linden and Terry Clark set out, each with ammunition and loaded rifle,
+for a hundred mile tramp toward the wild region of the Ozark Mountains.
+The air was crisp and cool, and every thing joined to give them a
+buoyancy of spirits such as falls to the lot only of rugged, growing
+boys in bounding health.
+
+The two, however, had seen enough of life in the woods to know that the
+sunshine and clear air would not last. They might continue until they
+reached camp, but more than likely clouds, rain, chilly weather and
+possibly a flurry of snow would overtake them. Winter was at hand, and
+though, as I have shown, they were in quite a temperate clime, it was
+subject to violent changes, as trying as those in a much more northern
+latitude.
+
+Besides, the trail, although distinctly marked, did not lead over any
+thing like even ground all the way. Long before they could reach the
+vicinity of the camp the character of the country told of the wild,
+rocky region, covering thousands of square miles, and known as the Ozark
+Mountains. No route could lead to such a distance through an unsettled
+country without crossing a number of streams, and passing through
+regions that were any thing but attractive to the traveler.
+
+All this, however, gave just the element of danger and difficulty to the
+enterprise that was one of the most delightful features to the young
+lads, who stepped off with swinging gait to the southward. Had the
+journey been smooth and even, it would have lost the major part of its
+charms.
+
+The boys carried enough with them to give them all they were likely to
+need in the way of food for twenty-four hours. It would have been little
+trouble to take enough to last through the four days; but there was
+something unprofessional in such a course which caused their souls to
+rebel. The magnificent forest contained plenty of game, and they would
+have been poor sportsmen, indeed, had they confessed by their action
+that they distrusted their ability to procure it.
+
+The trail over which the two walked, Fred slightly in advance, was
+marked with such distinctness by the hoofs of the six horses that had
+passed along it in Indian file but a short time before that it was no
+trouble for the boys to recognize it, nor were they likely to have any
+difficulty in keeping to it throughout the whole distance.
+
+It was a little past noon, when they reached a small brook whose
+current was so cold and clear that they took a long draught from it, and
+then sat down and ate their simple lunch. They felt little fatigue, and
+as a goodly number of miles remained to be traveled, according to the
+schedule of Fred Linden, they leaped lightly across the waste and were
+soon under way again.
+
+"Do you know," said Fred, later in the afternoon, "that I've been
+thinking we have not paid enough attention to one or two important
+matters."
+
+"What are they?"
+
+"I don't know what has become of Deerfoot, and we may not see him again;
+but we know enough of him to understand that whatever he says is worth
+remembering. Now, he told us yesterday that that Winnebago, from whom he
+took that rifle, belonged to a party of those warriors, and it seems to
+me that if they are anywhere, it is between us and the camp, and we are
+likely to see more of them."
+
+"I'm of the same opinion with yersilf, but jest now there is somethin'
+else that gives me concern."
+
+"What is that?" asked the surprised Fred, stopping and turning around.
+
+"Some person or animal has been followin' us for the last half hour.
+I've heard it more than once, and it ain't fur off this very minute."
+
+The two boys stood still and looked over the trail along which they had
+been traveling. Fred Linden's fear was that Terry had discovered the
+presence of some of the very Winnebagos whom he dreaded, but he was
+mistaken. That which they saw was not a person, but a strange animal of
+such fierce mien and hostile intent that they instantly looked to their
+rifles, knowing that a savage fight was inevitable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+A TROUBLESOME VISITOR.
+
+
+There is no reason to discredit the truth of the accounts given by
+hunters in the west of wild beasts of prodigious activity, strength and
+ferocity, and that, belonging to no distinct class of animals, are a
+mixture of the fiercest. Trappers and explorers in the wild regions of
+the Rocky Mountains, sometimes meet a beast to which they have given the
+expressive name of "Indian devil," whose power and daring are such that
+a party of veteran hunters have been known to withdraw from a section
+frequented by him, simply to avoid a fight. While the stories about them
+may be exaggerated at times, there is no doubt that such animals exist,
+and there is good reason to hold them in dread.
+
+The beast that Fred Linden and Terry Clark saw in the path before them
+resembled a panther more than any animal they could call to mind. It
+might have been described as a cross between a tiger and panther, had
+that been possible. Fred had heard his father speak of those creatures
+that were detested and feared, and he was sure that they were going to
+have trouble with this one. How fortunate that each boy held a loaded
+gun in his grasp!
+
+The action of the hybrid was as peculiar as his appearance. He seemed to
+have been trotting quietly along the trail with his nose down, as though
+following the scent, when he became aware that his game had stopped, and
+were surveying him with some interest. The beast also came to an abrupt
+halt and threw up his head, as though he was equally curious to learn
+something about the party of the first part.
+
+Standing thus, with his nose quite high in the air, it struck both boys
+that he showed a resemblance to a wolf as well as a panther. He was
+larger than either, and there could be no doubt that he was amazingly
+muscular, active and courageous.
+
+Thus stood the opposing parties, as they may be called, for a full
+minute. Each looked steadily at the other, the space between them being
+no more than fifty yards. Had it been less, both boys would have fired
+at him, but they were afraid that such wounds as they could inflict
+would only rouse his fury. One of the most marked peculiarities of the
+"Indian devil" is his toughness, some of the stories in this respect
+being almost incredible.
+
+All at once the beast seemed to be overcome with disgust for the two
+youngsters. He whisked squarely about and trotted away, showing a bushy
+fox-like tail that almost swept the ground.
+
+"I call that an insoolt!" exclaimed Terence Clark, bringing his gun to
+his shoulder, taking quick aim and letting fly, before his companion
+could object. He insisted that he had hit the animal, but it is likely
+he was mistaken, for it gave no sign of being touched, trotting with the
+same even step until it passed from sight around a bend in the path.
+
+"I hit him hard," insisted Terry, who proceeded to reload his piece;
+"there's no doubt of the same."
+
+"If you had done so, he would have given some evidence of it, but there
+was not the slightest."
+
+"Ye know that such creatures are tough," coolly remarked Terry; "and the
+bullet has glanced off his side as from a rock."
+
+"If I could believe that," said the other, "I would hide somewhere until
+he went away, for it would be only a waste of powder and ball to shoot
+at him."
+
+"Hasn't he gone off? What are ye talking about?"
+
+"Gone away? Yes; for awhile, but we are not done with that beast yet; we
+shall have trouble with him."
+
+"If we keep our guns loaded and our powder dry, we'll open on him, and
+if we can't kill him we'll fill him with so much lead that he won't be
+able to travel fast, and we'll bid him good-by and walk from him."
+
+The boys waited a few minutes, thinking possibly that the strange
+creature would show himself again, but he did not appear, and they
+turned about and resumed their journey.
+
+They were now on one of the best stretches of the trail. The ground was
+even, there were no bowlders or rocks in the path to make walking
+difficult, and the undergrowth, which in some places was quite an
+obstruction, did not interfere. By the middle of the afternoon, Fred was
+confident they were twenty miles at least on the road, and he said that
+if they came upon an inviting place, they would go into camp for the
+night. The package which each carried on his back was wrapped in a
+blanket that could be used to lie upon by the fire, or in severe
+weather, though they would have cared little had they owned nothing of
+the kind.
+
+Their good spirits continued, and they were walking at a leisurely pace,
+when a rustling in the bushes on the left caused them to look in that
+direction. There stood the strange beast, not fifty feet away, head
+erect, and staring at them with the same inquiring look that he showed
+some time before.
+
+"I wonder how he likes a side view of us," said Terry, partly amused,
+but somewhat frightened; "I think he is close enough for us to fetch him
+this time."
+
+Fred was inclined to give him a shot, but he felt some doubt, and while
+he was considering the question, the beast whisked about and vanished
+like a flash.
+
+"He is a strange animal," said Fred, lowering his gun, which he was in
+the act of raising; "and I am more satisfied now than ever that we shall
+have trouble with him. The first time that we gain a fair shot, that is,
+like we had just now, let's tumble him over. He may be as daring and
+tough as the hunters say, but there isn't any animal tough enough to
+withstand a couple of well-aimed bullets."
+
+"I agree wid ye--that is, after one was fired. That shot of mine was
+well aimed and struck, but it takes somethin' more to bring him down, as
+a colored friend of mine once said when a house tumbled over on his
+head."
+
+"You saw how spry a creature he is, and if he should happen to drop down
+upon us from the branch of a tree, those sharp claws of his would play
+the mischief with us."
+
+Since there was no place in sight that suited for camping, Terry
+reloaded, and they kept on. After the fright they had received, you may
+be sure they maintained a close watch of the wood in every direction. As
+yet they had seen no game from which to procure food, but they wanted
+to go into camp near a spring or stream of water. The latter is
+generally looked upon as one of the indispensables by a party of
+campers, and it was not likely that the youths would have to travel far
+before finding what they wanted.
+
+The sun had not yet dropped below the horizon when they struck the very
+spot. There were the bubbling brook, lined by mossy banks, the small
+open space, the tall column-like trunks; and the heavy overhanging
+boughs, which, late though it was in the season, would allow but few
+drops of a shower to find their way through. The air was cool, but there
+were no signs of a storm.
+
+"There couldn't be a better place," said Fred, when he had noted all the
+points; "here is every thing that a party can want, except it be supper,
+which they ought to bring with them."
+
+"And somebody has been here ahead of us," added Terry, kicking apart the
+ashes at the base of a large tree; "there's where the fire was
+kindled."
+
+"No doubt it is where father and the rest of them spent the first night
+after leaving home: that shows that we have made good progress, and, if
+no accident happens, we shall arrive on time."
+
+"There is no need of our hurryin', as I understood that a gintleman once
+obsarved whin they were goin' to hang him; if we are two or three days
+late in gettin' there, what's the odds?"
+
+"None--though this fine weather can not last long, and when it is over,
+I should like to be at the end of our journey, where we shall have good
+shelter. I wonder what has become of the wild beast?"
+
+"Be the powers! but there he comes!"
+
+The words had hardly passed the lips of the startled Terry Clark, when
+the strange animal was seen in the path in front of them, in precisely
+the same position as when first noticed. He had evidently passed around
+to the front, as though determined to study the boys from every point of
+view. He seemed to have been standing for some minutes before discovered
+by the boys, and was now observed approaching, as the Irish lad had
+announced.
+
+He did not gallop or trot, but walked slowly, just as though having made
+up his mind to take a select meal off the youngsters, he was going to do
+so with the deliberation of an epicure that extracts the fullest
+enjoyment from his delicacies.
+
+There was something unnerving in the sight of the frightful animal
+approaching in this noiseless fashion, his jaws parted just enough to
+show his long, white teeth, but giving utterance to no growl, or
+threatening act, beyond the mere advance itself. His large, round eyes
+had a phosphorescent glow, and the long, sinewy body and limbs were the
+repository of a strength and activity that might well make a veteran
+hunter timid about encountering him.
+
+"By gracious!" said Fred Linden; "we're in for it now; he doesn't mean
+to wait for us to attack him, but is coming for us."
+
+"If I was called on to make a wager," said Terry, as cool as ever, "that
+would be the view that I would take of the same."
+
+"You fire first and I will follow; take good aim, and send your bullet
+right between the eyes."
+
+There was no time to spare, for the beast at that instant was within a
+dozen yards. Terry Clark brought his rifle to his shoulder, sighted
+quickly, and pulled the trigger.
+
+That he struck the creature was proven by his snarling growl and slight
+upward leap; but instead of stopping, he broke into a gallop and came
+straight on.
+
+Then Fred Linden aimed and fired, but he also failed to check the
+advance of the animal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+A WELCOME ALLY.
+
+
+Fred Linden, like his companion, aimed directly between the eyes of the
+strange beast, and, like him, he struck the mark; but both shots only
+served to awake the irrestrainable ferocity of the animal, which, with
+another rasping howl and parted jaws, bounded toward them. Since both
+weapons were discharged, and they had no other firearms, the boys were
+almost helpless, and it may be said their enemy was upon them.
+
+"Run!" called out Fred, wheeling about and leaping toward a tree, behind
+which he took refuge; but sturdy Terry had no thought of turning away
+from such a foe. Throwing one foot back so as to steady himself, he
+seized his fine rifle with both hands, near to the muzzle, and held it
+so as to use it as a club or shillaleh.
+
+The brute was so close that he had no more than time to gather his
+strength, and swing the heavy stock with might and main, when the animal
+bounded at him straight from the ground.
+
+There was a "dull thud," as it may be called, and the stock crashed
+against the side of the beast's head, knocking him a couple of yards to
+the left, and almost at the feet of Fred Linden; but in point of fact
+the blow did no harm except to thwart the creature for a second or two.
+
+He was now snarling, and gave utterance to one or two peculiar barking
+sounds like a dog or wolf. His eyes were ablaze, and there could be no
+doubt that his fury was at white heat. Crouching for an instant, he made
+a bound for Terry, before he had time to balance himself to deliver his
+second blow with the same power as the first.
+
+Fred Linden could not stand still and see his companion torn to shreds
+in that fashion. He leaped from behind the tree, with his gun also
+clubbed, and hastened to strike with all his might; but he was too
+late.
+
+It was a curious fact, not understood at the moment, that the savage
+creature, although he leaped straight at Terry, passed fully two feet
+over his head, and that, too, when the lad was standing erect, and
+braced to deliver his second blow.
+
+Striking on his belly, several paces beyond, the beast rolled over and
+over, clawing, snapping, snarling, and beating the air, with
+lightning-like blows. The leaves and dust flew in all directions, and
+the foam which he spat from his jaws was flecked with blood.
+
+He continued rolling and struggling until he was a rod distant, and then
+suddenly stopped, stone dead.
+
+In the excitement and swirl of the moment both Fred and Terry were
+conscious that their guns were not the only ones that were fired. At the
+instant the brute was in the act of rising from the ground a second time
+for his leap, the sharp report of another rifle was heard. The peril was
+so imminent that the lads could give no attention just then to any thing
+but the immediate business in hand; but now, seeing their fearful foe
+was dead, they knew that it was the third bullet that had done it, and
+they glanced around to see who their friend was.
+
+No one was in sight, and they advanced to the carcass, which they were
+somewhat timid about touching, even though convinced that it was beyond
+the power of doing any more harm. They saw that both of their bullets
+had struck the skull, though not at the precise points at which they
+aimed. One had passed near the right eye of the nondescript, and must
+have inflicted serious injury, but its toughness would have enabled it
+to keep up the fight, and to have slain both of the boys before they
+could have reloaded and fired a second time.
+
+A little search showed where the fatal wound had been given. Just in
+front of the fore leg the lead had entered and gone through the heart.
+No animal, so far as known, amounts to any thing after his heart has
+been torn in twain, though he may live and move for a time.
+
+"I tell you, Terry, that I don't believe there is another beast in the
+country that, after receiving two bullets in the head, like that, could
+make such a fight."
+
+"I begs to corrict ye," said the other; "it was three shots, for do ye
+not mind that I bored a hole through him when we first made his
+acquaintance?"
+
+"So you claimed, but you haven't explained how it was that such a shot
+could be made without leaving any wound?"
+
+"It may have healed up since then," suggested the Irish lad, who knew as
+well as his companion that the first bullet did not touch the beast.
+
+"I hadn't thought of that," meekly observed Fred; "but there is one
+thing certain, that if that last shot hadn't been fired, it would have
+been the last of us: where could it have come from?" he asked, looking
+around and finding the answer to his question in the sight of Deerfoot
+the Shawanoe, who came from behind a clump of bushes on the other side
+of the small stream.
+
+Fred uttered an exclamation of delight when he recognized the graceful
+young warrior, who was holding the stock of his gun in his left hand,
+with the barrel resting idly in the hollow of his right arm. Fred
+jumped across the brook, with hand extended to greet him.
+
+"I'd rather see you than any person in the world," was the truthful
+exclamation of the youth: "when you gave me the letter yesterday I
+thought what a splendid trip this would be if Terry would go with me,
+and behold, he has come! I would have liked to have you too but I didn't
+dare say so, for I didn't think it was possible: but ever since we
+started I have felt that we only lacked _you_ to make the party
+complete. Now, ain't I glad to see you, and how are you, old fellow?"
+
+The lad in his boisterous way wrung the hand of Deerfoot and slapped him
+on the shoulder; then laughed, and shook hands again with an enthusiasm
+that left no doubt of the cordiality of his welcome.
+
+As for Deerfoot, he showed a gentle dignity that was never absent. His
+faint smile lit up his handsome face, and he was pleased with the
+pleasure of the others.
+
+"Deerfoot has seen the faces of his brothers not many times, but it
+brings sunshine to his heart to meet them again."
+
+Then his countenance was crossed by an expression of gravity like an
+eclipse passing over the face of the sun.
+
+"Is my brother ill, that he suffers so much?"
+
+This question referred to Terry Clark, Deerfoot looking over the
+shoulder of Fred at the Irish lad behind him. Fred heard a curious
+noise, and turned to learn what it meant. His friend had leaned his gun
+against the nearest tree, so as to give his limbs free play, and was
+flinging his arms aloft, and dancing a jig with a vigor that made it
+look as if his legs were shot out, and back and forth, by some high
+pressure engine. Now and then he flung his cap aloft, and, as it came
+down, ducked his head under and dexterously caught it. His mouth was
+puckered up most of the time, while he whistled with might and main,
+though the energy of his general movements shut out all resemblance to a
+tune. Occasionally he stopped whistling and broke into snatches of song
+which, from the same cause, could not be identified.
+
+Fred Linden laughed. He was demonstrative, but not so much so as Terry.
+Looking sideways at Deerfoot, he saw his eyes sparkling and the corners
+of his mouth twitching. Rarely had he been amused as much as he now was
+by the extravagant manifestations of the Irish lad, for whom he had
+formed a strong regard.
+
+Deerfoot and Fred having turned their glances toward Terry, the latter
+appeared to catch sight of them for the first time. With a whoop he
+flung his hat higher than ever in the air, caught it with right side up
+on his crown as it came down, and then shouted:
+
+"How are yees, me friends?" and made a dash for them.
+
+In his enthusiasm he forgot the brook running through a small hollow
+between them. His feet went down in the depression without any knowledge
+on his part, and he sprawled headlong, his cap rolling at the feet of
+Deerfoot, who pushed the toe of his moccasin under the edge, and flung
+it to him as he rose to his feet.
+
+"It's all the same, and a part of the show," laughed Terry, "as the wife
+of the bear-keeper obsarved when the bear ate him up, and it's how are
+ye, and how do ye ixpect to be, and what have ye to say for yersilf, and
+why are ye so long answerin' me quistion?"
+
+Deerfoot simply smiled, and made no reply until Terry had replaced his
+cap, and was done with his noisy greeting. Then he pointed to his gun
+leaning against the tree, and said:
+
+"When my brother is in the woods, he should keep his gun within reach of
+his arm."
+
+"Yer moral sentiments are corrict," remarked Terry, hurrying back--this
+time without falling--to regain his piece. When he once more stood
+beside the laughing Fred, the Shawanoe addressed both:
+
+"Are the guns of my brothers loaded?"
+
+Both felt the rebuke; they had violated one of the elementary rules of
+the hunter's life, which is that the first thing to be done after
+discharging a weapon is to reload it. Fred flushed, for he did not
+remember that he had ever forgotten it before.
+
+"It was a piece of forgetfulness of which Terry and I ought to be
+ashamed, but it was the first time we had ever had a fight with such a
+beast as that: what do you call it, Deerfoot?"
+
+The Shawanoe shook his head to signify that he knew of no distinct name
+for the animal, but he explained to the boys, what they already knew,
+that it was a cross of some kind, concentrating in itself, as it seemed,
+all the power, activity, daring and ferocity of the most dreaded animals
+of the woods. Deerfoot could not deny that his shot had saved the boys
+from being torn to shreds by the brute. Had it been a few seconds later,
+or differently aimed, nothing could have saved them from its fury.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+"DEERFOOT WILL BE SENTINEL TO-NIGHT."
+
+
+"We are on our way to the camp in the Ozarks," said Fred Linden; "and am
+I mistaken in believing that you will go with us all the way?"
+
+"Such is the wish of Deerfoot," replied the Shawanoe, whereat Terry
+Clark gave signs of breaking out again; but at a warning look from Fred
+he restrained himself.
+
+"Deerfoot loves the Hunters of the Ozark; he has promised to make them a
+visit; he will do so with his friends that he has found in the woods,
+and who forget to keep their guns loaded."
+
+"No use!" exclaimed Terry, bounding in the air, striking his heels
+together, and flinging his hat aloft with a loud whoop; "I must give
+gintle exprission to me emotions, even though it makes a war with
+England."
+
+The others showed no objection to this harmless ebullition, and he
+speedily became quiet again.
+
+Had Fred Linden been intimately acquainted with Deerfoot, he would have
+noticed that he was not entirely at ease. Now and then he darted glances
+about him, as though he half expected the appearance of some unwelcome
+person. The glances were so quick and furtive that neither Fred nor
+Terry noticed them.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred, the three still standing; "we have concluded that
+there isn't a better place along the trail for a camp."
+
+To the surprise of the boys, he shook his head in dissent.
+
+"Why, this is where father and the rest spent the night when they last
+went this way."
+
+He nodded to signify that he agreed with them.
+
+"There were three of them, and they had their horses, that could not be
+well hid; when my brothers go into camp for the night, they should take
+a place where all who went by would not see them."
+
+It struck the others as curious that the Shawanoe should talk in that
+fashion, when they could not see any cause for alarm; but they had
+enough faith in him to accept his judgment on such an important matter.
+He added:
+
+"Come with Deerfoot and he will show his brothers where they may slumber
+in peace."
+
+Without any more explanation the Shawanoe moved down the bank of the
+brook, following a course parallel to the flow of the water, the other
+two keeping at his heels. He did not look around until he had gone more
+than a hundred yards. Then it was that the little party found itself in
+a rocky section, with a rough cavern on their right--that is, the
+bowlders and rocks were jumbled together in such a fashion that there
+was some resemblance to a cave. The chief merit of the place, however,
+was the privacy that it afforded, rather than the strength as a means of
+defense against an enemy.
+
+"This suits very well," said Fred, taking in all the points at a glance;
+"here is a rocky bed on which we can start a fire, and the other rocks
+and bowlders will keep off the wind, if there happens to be any; the
+water is handy, if we should need it, and it is certain that we are not
+as likely to be seen here as where we first selected."
+
+"Deerfut," said Terry, who was nosing about, "I obsarve ashes here, as
+though somebody had been ahead of us."
+
+"Deerfoot built a fire but a few moons ago, and staid over night."
+
+"If it was good enough for ye, I can stand it," said Terry, "which is
+the remark me uncle made when the Duke of Argyle asked him to stay to
+dinner."
+
+The boys unfastened the bundles from their backs and prepared to spend
+the night where they were. The blankets were spread on the flinty floor,
+and Deerfoot, setting down his gun beside theirs, helped to gather the
+wood with which to keep a fire burning. The three were so active that it
+took but a short time to collect all that was needed. This was thrown
+into one pile, from which it could be withdrawn as wanted.
+
+I must give you a better idea of the spot where the three decided to
+spend their first night in the woods together. They had walked northward
+from the trail, and, so far as they could see, the country was of the
+most broken nature, though the abundance of trees and undergrowth did
+not permit an extended view. Two masses of stone rose to the height of a
+dozen feet, and were separated by about the same distance. These rough
+walls extended back to a distance of three or four yards, where they
+came against a similar formation. Thus, as may be said, there were three
+sides to an inclosure, that part facing the brook being entirely open.
+On top of these supports were tumbled an irregular mass of bowlders and
+rocks which formed the roof. The latter had so many openings that it was
+as well ventilated as the roof of the house about which the Arkansas
+Traveler tells us.
+
+The rear part of the cavern, if it may be allowed that name, was stone,
+while the front was earth. Near the center, Deerfoot had kindled his
+fire when he staid there, the smoke finding ready escape through the
+openings above. Such a fire might give some warmth were it needed, but
+the blaze was so well hidden by the surrounding walls that it was not
+likely to be seen by any one passing no nigher than fifty feet: therein
+lay the reason why it was selected by Deerfoot.
+
+After piling up the fuel for the night, the youths threw some branches
+on the ground, near the rear of the cavern, and then spread their
+blankets over them. The Shawanoe carried no blanket with him, so it was
+expected that he would share the couch of his friends.
+
+While the three were busying themselves in this manner, Fred Linden was
+disturbed by a suspicion that had been growing from the moment Deerfoot
+expressed dissatisfaction with the spot selected for their camp. This
+suspicion was that the young Indian had a fear of something to which, as
+yet, he had made no reference.
+
+I have already shown that it was not generally considered a dangerous
+business in which the hunters of Ozark engaged. The rough, outdoor life
+sometimes brought with it hardships, and occasionally sufferings, but
+chief among the dangers was not that from Indians. It was known that
+now and then the red men fired spiteful shots at the invaders of their
+hunting grounds (as was the case with Michael Clark, the father of
+Terence), but in this section of the west that particular peril was
+deemed less than that which threatened from wild beasts. There was no
+instance of the hunters having been molested on their way to and from
+the trapping regions: why then this special caution of Deerfoot?
+
+Fred Linden, while turning these thoughts over in his mind, gave but the
+one answer--_the Winnebago_. He was an intruder in that part of
+Louisiana, and he had shown by his acts how ready he was to shed the
+blood of innocent white persons. It was not a supposition merely that
+this fierce warrior had companions. The keen eyes of Deerfoot had
+discovered the proofs that there were a half dozen, at least, with him,
+and from whom he separated for a short time while he entered into the
+"side speculation" with Brindle and her bell; so it will be seen that
+Fred Linden was not only right in his suspicion that the Wolf had to do
+with the unrest of Deerfoot, but that the latter possessed good cause
+for his misgiving.
+
+The Winnebagos, having drifted so far away from their own hunting
+grounds into this part of the world, were either going further from
+home, or were on their way back. Had the Wolf behaved himself, the band
+would have gone and come without the knowledge of any of the pioneers,
+unless there was a chance meeting in the wood, when it is not likely
+that any harm would have resulted.
+
+But one of the Winnebagos was struck in the face by a white boy, while a
+young Indian, a friend of the latter, having "got the drop" on the Wolf,
+had taken his gun from him. In other words, the crime of assault and
+robbery had been committed.
+
+Would the rest of the Winnebagos pocket the outrage and meekly withdraw
+from the country?
+
+That, it would be seen, was the all important question, upon which great
+events, as affecting the friends in whom we are interested, hinged.
+
+It was in violation of the nature of the American race that any member
+thereof should refuse to resent an indignity, when there was a chance
+of doing so. The Winnebagos had the best of reasons for believing that,
+by prowling around the settlement, or along the trail leading thereto,
+they would soon gain an opportunity to wipe out the disgrace put upon
+the Wolf, and, if not able to get back the gun that had been taken from
+him, would be able to procure another.
+
+The fact that this valuable weapon was carried in the hands of a boy,
+who had started to tramp through the woods to a point a hundred miles
+off, and that it was not at all impossible that the Winnebagos found, or
+would find it out, gave emphasis to the cause of Deerfoot's uneasiness.
+
+It is worthy of note that, while Terry Clark never once took this view
+of the situation, it occurred to his friend Fred, who waited for the
+Shawanoe to make some reference to it.
+
+"He knows best, and if he doesn't choose to say any thing about it,
+there is no call for me to do so."
+
+The shadows of night were creeping through the wood when the fire was
+started, and the smoke began stealing upward through the openings in
+the rocky roof.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred, when the fire crackled brightly, "the rule is,
+that a party in camp like this, must have some one on guard while the
+others sleep. I don't know as there is any need now, but if you think
+so, let Terry and me do it, for we are not in need of sleep."
+
+The Shawanoe looked at him intently for a moment as though he would read
+his thoughts, and then quietly said:
+
+"Deerfoot will be sentinel to-night!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE.
+
+
+Inasmuch as Terry and Fred had enough lunch left to furnish all that was
+wanted, Deerfoot decided not to hunt for any thing else. At that hour,
+when it was growing dark, it would have been hard to find any game; but
+he told them that at no great distance above, the tiny brook issued from
+a small lake, where he could easily get all the fish he wanted.
+
+Accordingly, the fire having been started at the rear of the cavern,
+where the smoke found free vent, the three sat within a circle of light,
+and partook of the coarse bread and cold venison. The latter was tough,
+but it could not withstand the teeth of the two youths, whose appetites
+were such as wait on high health.
+
+It was noticeable that the young Shawanoe ate no more than half as much
+as each of the others. Then saying that he wished to view the camp from
+the outside, he went out in front of the cavern. He remarked that he
+would be gone only a few minutes, but he took his gun with him.
+
+When Deerfoot emerged from the rude shelter it was fully dark. There was
+a moon in the sky, but the density of the surrounding forest kept out
+the rays, so that the gloom could not be penetrated to any distance.
+
+He stood still and listened. His sense of hearing, like that of sight,
+was trained to a wonderfully fine point, as you have learned in the
+incidents previously related, so that faint noises, such as you or I
+could not have detected, would have told their full story to him.
+
+But nothing more than what may be called the natural sounds of the wood
+fell on his ear. Then the young Indian leaped lightly across the small
+brook in front of the cavern and walked some two rods beyond, where he
+paused and listened again. After this he made a complete circuit of the
+cavern. This compelled him to cross the little stream once more,
+brought him back to the mouth of the retreat, and caused him also to
+climb over a great deal of broken ground, but a shadow could not have
+made the circuit more noiselessly. He stopped several times and listened
+with the same profound attention, occasionally looking toward the cavern
+within which his friends were eating their supper and talking together
+in low, guarded tones. He caught the murmur of their voices, which would
+have been audible to no one else beyond a dozen feet. Just above the
+large opening in the cavern, through which most of the smoke found its
+way, a faint, dull glow showed that the camp-fire was burning below.
+
+The inspection made by Deerfoot was satisfactory; he had discovered no
+sign of any prowling enemy, and the party could not have found a place
+where there was less likelihood of disturbance by any foes who were in
+the neighborhood. It would seem indeed that nothing short of a most
+exceptional mishap could bring any danger near. So he once more entered
+the cavern, and seated himself by the fire, upon which Fred Linden had
+just thrown a bundle of sticks that filled the cavern with a light like
+that of noonday.
+
+Terry insisted that Deerfoot should take his blanket, because the
+Shawanoe had none, and the one belonging to Fred Linden was enough for
+the others. Deerfoot at first declined, but his young friend persevered,
+so the half-dozen yards of heavy stuff were spread on the rock and earth
+floor of the cabin, and then Deerfoot disposed of himself in a lolling
+attitude, reclining on his left elbow, while he looked across and
+through the blaze at his two friends, who were stretched out in almost a
+similar attitude. It will be borne in mind that he was nearer the mouth
+of the cavern than were the others: in fact he was about half-way
+between where they were stretched and the open air. Fred and Terry did
+not notice this, or, if they did, they supposed it was accidental,
+though it was done with forethought by the sagacious young Shawanoe.
+
+The evening was yet young, and the circumstances were such as to make
+the boys talk at a rate that almost overwhelmed Deerfoot, who always
+showed a deliberation in his speech, as if he weighed each word before
+allowing it to fall from his lips.
+
+Fred and Terry had formed a strong liking for the young Shawanoe, and
+since he seemed to be in fine spirits, they plied him with questions
+until they learned the chief facts in his history. When the long
+conversation ended they knew that Deerfoot was the son of a Shawanoe
+chief, and that he was born in the Dark and Bloody Ground. When but a
+small boy he was like a spitting wildcat in his hatred of the white
+people, and it was not until he was wounded and nearly beaten to death,
+that he could be taken prisoner on one of the excursions of his people
+against the white settlements.
+
+He fell into goods hands and was nursed back to strength. Not only that,
+but those that had him in direct charge told him about God, who made the
+world, who loved His creatures, and who sorrowed to see them trying to
+harm each other, and who had sent His only Son to die for His lost
+children. It was a wonderful story to which Deerfoot listened with rapt
+attention, and all in time (as you have been told in another place),
+the extraordinary young Shawanoe became a devout follower of the meek
+and lowly One. He felt that he could never repay the whites for showing
+him the way to eternal life. Thenceforward he became their friend, and
+devoted his life to protecting them against the enmity of the red men.
+
+Deerfoot told Fred and Terry something about his stirring experiences
+with Ned Preston and Wildblossom Brown, and afterward with Jack Carleton
+and Otto Relstaub, but did not hint at one-tenth the services he had
+rendered the white people. Of all the fierce tribes that made portions
+of Ohio and Kentucky like sheol on earth, the Shawanoes were the worst:
+they were the Apaches of the last century. Deerfoot had fallen into
+their hands and many of his most desperate encounters were with them.
+Finally the efforts to take him prisoner became so far reaching that he
+saw that his usefulness as a friend of the settlements was at end. The
+rage of the Shawanoes was such that it may be said that some of their
+campaigns were planned with the sole purpose of capturing the young
+renegade, whom they hated with a hatred like that of the tigers of the
+jungle.
+
+You will see, therefore, that not only was the usefulness of Deerfoot as
+an ally of the whites ended, but he became even an element of danger to
+them. He had been urged to make his home with those who held him in such
+high regard, but he could not do so. He quietly withdrew from the
+country and crossed the Mississippi into the vast Louisiana Territory.
+There he had lived for a couple of years, and there he expected to end
+his days.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred Linden, when his remarkable narration had ended,
+"Terry and I are not new hands in the woods, and we would be much better
+satisfied if you would allow us to share the night in watching with
+you."
+
+"Why does my brother think of danger?"
+
+"Because _you_ do; I know it by your actions."
+
+The quickness of this reply struck Deerfoot favorably. He did not think
+that his conduct had been noticed, and he was gratified that his friend
+was so observant. That there should be no mistake about his suspicions,
+Fred added:
+
+"I don't know whether you have seen that Winnebago or not since you
+started him on the run yesterday; he may be still running, but I am
+quite sure, from the way you have behaved, that you suspect that he and
+the rest of his companions are prowling through the woods, on the
+lookout for a chance to revenge themselves."
+
+Deerfoot's face glowed. Fred Linden had hit the nail on the head.
+
+"My brother speaks the words of truth; his thoughts are the thoughts of
+Deerfoot."
+
+Terry Clark looked at his companion in astonishment.
+
+"How come ye to know all that, Fred?"
+
+"I see nothing remarkable about it; all I had to do was to observe the
+actions of Deerfoot since he joined us to-day. In the first place, he
+wouldn't have made us change our camping place if he hadn't had some
+misgiving, and then the way he has been mousing around the outside, and
+his decision to keep watch to-night: why what could tell the story more
+plainly?"
+
+"Begorrah," said the admiring Terry, "ye are not such a big fool as you
+look to be; I never thought of that."
+
+"Which looks as if you are a bigger dunce than you seem; but," added
+Fred, turning toward the Shawanoe, "have you seen any thing of the
+Winnebagos?"
+
+"Deerfoot has seen their footprints in the woods; they are on the watch
+for his white brothers that they may gain their scalps, because the gun
+of the Wolf was taken from him."
+
+"They seem to have hard work in finding us: where do those Winnebagos
+come from?"
+
+Deerfoot pointed to the northward, or rather to a little east of north.
+
+"Their hunting grounds are many suns' travel that way."
+
+"Why do the spalpeens come down in this part of the world, and why don't
+they behave thimselves whin they do?" demanded Terry, with some
+indignation.
+
+Deerfoot shook his head, as though the question was more than he could
+answer.
+
+"Deerfoot has met Shawanoes and Sacs and Wyandottes and Pawnees far away
+from their villages and hunting grounds, besides the strange Indians
+who come much further from the setting sun. The red men travel whither
+they will. Why the Winnebagos passed near the home of my brothers only
+they can tell."
+
+"Well, they're a bad lot," said Terry, "to try the mean trick they did
+on me; though," he added the next moment, "I'm glad they done the same,
+for if they hadn't, how would I've got hold of this lovely gun? Do ye
+think we shall have any more trouble with them?"
+
+"Deerfoot believes there will be trouble, and it will come soon!"
+
+"Well, if it does, all ye have to do is to take away the rist of their
+guns and set 'em on the run home agin."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+A SUSPICIOUS SOUND.
+
+
+By and by Fred Linden and Terry Clark became drowsy. Devoutly kneeling,
+they spent several minutes in prayer, and then stretched out on a single
+blanket, with their backs toward each other, and the face of Fred in
+such a position that he could look across the blaze at Deerfoot on the
+other side. The latter had remained still and motionless, while the
+lads, remembering the lesson they had learned at their mothers' knee,
+asked their Heavenly Father to hold them in His keeping. The young
+Shawanoe, who spent many an hour in communion with his Maker, was
+touched to see that his friends did not forget their duty.
+
+Deerfoot stirred the burning wood so that it threw out more light, and
+then, reclining on his left elbow, so that the illumination came
+directly in his face (the worst direction possible), he drew from
+beneath his hunting-shirt the small Bible, that had been presented to
+him by the Preston family, and began reading it.
+
+Fred Linden, who had his eyes fixed upon him, was so interested that his
+drowsiness departed. Without moving he watched him closely. He saw him
+turning the leaves back and forth, as if looking for some place he had
+in mind. It took him but a minute to find it, when, still leaning on his
+elbow, and with the light striking his face and the printed page, he
+seemed to become so absorbed as to lose all consciousness of his
+surroundings.
+
+Fred Linden, without betraying that he was awake, surveyed this
+remarkable performance with an admiration that for the moment made his
+eyes misty with emotion.
+
+The eyes of Deerfoot were downcast, as he read the page, so that they
+could not be seen but the handsome oval face; the luxuriant black hair,
+with the eagle feathers thrust into the crown; the rows of gleaming
+beads around the neck; the deerskin shirt that covered the breast and
+arms to the wrists, on the left one of which shone the golden bracelet;
+the red sash, behind which were shoved the knife and tomahawk; the
+brilliant fringes of the hunting-shirt and leggins; the small,
+ornamented moccasins; all these of themselves made a striking figure;
+but Fred, handsome and rugged himself, who was not accustomed to see any
+thing like beauty in the human form, was struck with the symmetry of the
+figure before him. He particularly noticed the tapering legs, and could
+not help saying to himself:
+
+"There is no Indian or white man that can run as fast as he."
+
+And the mental declaration of the lad was truth. The fleetness of the
+young warrior had never been equaled, and he had never yet met the
+person whom he could not outrun with ease and without putting forth his
+whole speed.
+
+"He don't look strong, but he is the last person that I would want to
+meet in a fight; I'll bet he is so quick that he could dodge the bullet
+fired at him."
+
+I must draw the line here: Deerfoot could not do any thing of the kind.
+
+"And he is reading his Bible! I never in all my life saw an Indian who
+could read a word of print, or do more than sign his name with a cross
+or some figure like a bug: I wonder whether we couldn't hire him to
+teach school for us at Greville."
+
+Fred thought a great many queer things about his new friend, but lay
+watching him fully ten minutes before he spoke. Then, when he saw him
+turn a leaf, he said in a low voice:
+
+"Deerfoot, will you please read aloud?"
+
+Fred expected that the Shawanoe would start and look up in surprise; but
+he never raised his eyes, or gave the least sign that these words of his
+were unexpected. He knew that Fred was watching him from the first, and
+so, before the words were more than fairly out of his mouth, Deerfoot
+began reading in a low, impressive monotone, as though he had merely
+resumed, after turning over the leaf.
+
+"After this I beheld, and lo! a great multitude, which no man could
+number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood
+before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
+palms in their hands;
+
+"And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders,
+and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces and
+worshiped God.
+
+"Singing, Amen; blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
+and power and might be unto our God for ever and for ever, Amen.
+
+"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these which are
+arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
+
+"And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, these are
+they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes
+and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
+
+"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and
+night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among
+them.
+
+"They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more; neither
+shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
+
+"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
+shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe
+away all tears from their eyes."
+
+Deerfoot read a few minutes longer from his favorite part in the New
+Testament and then ceased. He had not lifted his eyes from the page, but
+he knew that Fred Linden was asleep. He observed it in his breathing,
+which was as soft as that of an infant.
+
+The rocky cavern, the smoldering camp-fire, the two sleeping boys, the
+motionless Indian stretched out and reading his Bible by the faint
+light, the great, solemn forest walling them in, the profound stillness
+that reigned everywhere: these were elements in a picture the like of
+which it may be said (except where Deerfoot was one of the figures), had
+never been seen anywhere else, and was not likely ever to be seen again.
+
+The fire sank lower and the light on the printed page became so dim that
+even the keen eyes of the young Shawanoe could not trace the words. He
+looked at the embers as if asking himself whether he should renew the
+blaze and continue reading. But the hour for meditation had come, and he
+closed the book. Looking fondly at the stiff, wooden cover, he touched
+his lips with infinite tenderness to it, and carefully placed it in the
+inner receptacle of his hunting-shirt, murmuring as he did so:
+
+"The best friend that Deerfoot ever knew!"
+
+O light of life! Comforter of the sorrowing heart! Consoler of the
+stricken soul!
+
+In the flush of bounding health, when the passions throb high, we may
+not heed thy blessed teachings, but when man's promises prove false, and
+the head bows before the endless strife, and woes overwhelm us like a
+flood, there is relief, there is light, there is life in Thee. The
+wicked may jeer, the learned may scoff, the powerful may despise, the
+favored may turn away, but there comes the time when learning, gifts,
+wealth, power, beauty and all the world can give turn to ashes, and they
+have no boon compared to Thine. "And God shall wipe away all tears from
+their eyes." The pampered monarch, the dying beggar, the statesman, the
+slave, the mother bowed with woe, the father shaken with grief,
+childhood in its innocence, man in his strength, beauty in its scorn,
+trembling old age, can find no balm but in Thee. Better that the sun
+should be blotted from the heavens and the earth left a trackless void
+than that Thy light should be denied the world.
+
+Deerfoot lay flat on his face, his arms crossed so that his head and
+shoulders were held a few inches above the flinty floor, and his dark
+eyes were fixed on the embers in front. It was his favorite enjoyment,
+when the stirring incidents of the day were done, and he had read from
+the only Book he ever wanted to read, to spend a time in meditating on
+the truths that it may be said had become a part of his very being.
+
+Many a time had he lain thus, as motionless as if dead, while the
+wonderful brain was busy with thoughts that stirred the profoundest
+depths of his nature. There are beliefs that come to us at which reason
+may laugh, but which it can not shake or disturb. There are questions
+that the glib unbeliever may ask that we can not answer. But away down
+in our hearts is a faith which the whole world can not remove, and which
+can be uprooted only by ourselves. Woe to him who dares lay violent
+hands upon it!
+
+Deerfoot no more doubted that he and every one was in the direct keeping
+of God than he doubted that he breathed and moved. He knew that the
+Great Spirit had caused him to be made a prisoner by whites so that he
+might learn the way of life; he knew that He had given him an insight
+into the mysteries of His word that was denied to many others. A deep,
+outstretching sympathy for those less favored than he suffused his whole
+being. Gladly would he have given up his life in pain and torture and
+agony, as did One in the dim long ago, if by so doing he could earn the
+smile of his Heavenly Father.
+
+But this remarkable young Christian felt that he was doing the work
+appointed for him to do. Here and there he dropped a word that proved to
+be seed sown upon good ground, and which had borne its fruit. He had met
+his enemies in fair combat and had never taken wrong advantage of them:
+his marvelous bow and arrow, and his still more effective rifle, had
+brought many a dusky miscreant low, but he had used his amazing gifts in
+the line of duty, and for the good of others. Would that he could have
+won them by love, but it was not in the nature of things that he should
+do so. He had "broken the Bread of Life" to more than one, and he hoped
+that ere he should be called home, he should point the way to others.
+
+Suddenly he raised his chin from his hands and turned his head slightly
+to one side. His ear, whose acuteness was almost beyond belief, had
+caught a suspicious sound. Profound as might be the meditation of the
+Shawanoe, he could never forget his surroundings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.
+
+
+The crisp autumn night had not reached its turn when the full moon
+climbed from behind the straggling clouds obscuring her face, into the
+clear air above, and shone down on the wilderness, with the same calm
+splendor with which it had shone during the ages before the foot of a
+white man had rested on the soil of our country. Here and there, at
+widely-separated points, as the orb moved toward the zenith, could be
+seen the star-like twinkles of light which showed where the sparse
+settlements had been planted by the pioneers. At intervals, too, miles
+away from the clearings, could be distinguished the glimmer of the
+hunters' camp-fires, where the hardy men had lain down wrapped in their
+blankets, and to sleep the sleep of health. Still further away, by the
+side of some calmly flowing river or creek, were the ragged tepees of
+the wild Indians. Mountain, forest and stream made up the landscape,
+that was illuminated by the moon on the night when Fred Linden and Terry
+Clark lay down in slumber by the fire in the cavern, and Deerfoot the
+Shawanoe took upon himself the duty of acting as a sentinel over them.
+
+It was not yet midnight when the figure of a crouching Indian emerged
+like a shadow from the little gully which marked the course of the tiny
+stream in front of the camp. Just at the point where he appeared, a few
+rays of the moonlight found their way among the limbs, and added
+impressiveness to his appearance. A glance would have told that he had
+approached at the most stealthy gait of which he was capable, and was
+still using all the skill at his command.
+
+Finding himself within the faint light of the moon, he straightened up,
+like one who is not certain of his surroundings and is using his eyes
+and ears to their utmost. Standing erect in this manner he showed
+himself to be a full-grown warrior in middle life, of strong limbs and
+frame, and attired in the usual dress of his people.
+
+The long, coarse hair dangled about the shoulders, some of the strands
+having fallen forward in front of the chest, at the time his head drew
+it over while in a crouching posture. It grew so low on his forehead
+that no more than an inch was between the roots and shaggy eyebrows.
+Beneath these the eyes glittered like those of a snake. The ugly
+features were made more ugly by the different colored paints--most of it
+black--that was daubed over them, and the countenance was distorted by a
+swelling recently produced.
+
+The breast and arms were covered by deerskin, a fringe running down in
+front to the belt, which held his tomahawk. The frightful horn-handled
+knife was tightly grasped in his right hand. Below the belt was
+breechcloth, followed by leggins and moccasins, but it was noticeable
+that he carried no rifle with him.
+
+Perhaps you have guessed the reason; he had none to carry, for he was
+the Wolf who had been deprived of his valuable weapon on the day before
+by Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+
+As was learned in due time, the Winnebago, after being despoiled by
+Deerfoot, had made all haste to rejoin his band, that were encamped at
+no great distance from Greville. When he told his brother warriors of
+the indignity to which he had been subjected, they were as rampart as he
+for revenge. They were on the point of starting for a settlement,
+intending to await the chance to shoot down some of the unsuspecting
+people, when the leader, a man of iron will, interposed.
+
+He said that according to the story of the Wolf himself, his gun had
+been taken from him by a single warrior. A Winnebago ought to be ashamed
+to confess such a thing, and the only way by which the Wolf could redeem
+himself was to recover his gun unaided by any of his people. Let him
+come back to the party with his rifle and then they would risk their
+lives a dozen times over to repay the young Shawanoe and his youthful
+friend (they knew nothing about Fred Linden) for the insult they had put
+upon one of the leading warriors of the Winnebago tribe.
+
+You can well understand how displeasing this decision was to the Wolf,
+but there was no help for it. The warrior who gave the order was not
+only the leader of the company, but the principal chief of the tribe. No
+one dared to dispute his command, and he intimated that it was not only
+necessary for the Wolf to recover his gun in order to enlist the
+services of the rest, but his standing at home would be compromised if
+he went back without his rifle and the story that it had been taken from
+him by a single warrior of another tribe.
+
+From this you will understand the eagerness with which the Wolf set out
+to regain the weapon.
+
+The fact that Fred Linden and Terry Clark left Greville the next morning
+after the affair, mixed matters to that extent that, for a time, the
+Winnebago was at fault. It was his intention to prowl around the
+settlement, awaiting his chance, for he suspected that Deerfoot had gone
+thither with the lad who had given the Wolf such a blow in the face; but
+the discovery of the footprints of the two boys leading to the southward
+mystified the Indian. He was quite close to the creek, and the sun had
+crossed the meridian at the time this discovery was made. It was natural
+that he should look for the trail of the Shawanoe, but he could not find
+it.
+
+Finally, with a half-suspicion of the truth, the Wolf went into the
+settlement to make inquiries. He could speak enough broken English to
+make himself understood, and, as it so happened, it was Mr. MacClaskey
+himself whom he accosted. He told the inquirer the truth, adding that
+Terry took with him a gun that was captured from a vagabond Indian. But
+for that he would not have been allowed to go, for there was but one
+rifle in the family, which the settler would trust in no hands but his
+own for any length of time.
+
+The Winnebago was shrewd enough to disarm any doubt that might have been
+felt about himself. It was the rule in the settlement to show kindness
+to every wandering Indian that visited them, and no one dreamed that any
+thing was to be feared from the Wolf. But his heart was full of exulting
+malignancy. He knew who had the gun, and aware that the two boys had
+started for the camp of the Ozarks, he understood where to look for it.
+The fact that the Winnebago had no gun with him would have caused the
+belief that he was the vagabond Indian, had he not explained that he
+left it in the woods as a token of comity.
+
+The Wolf sauntered back until he was across the stream and out of sight.
+Then he sped along the trail, with a long, loping trot, which his race
+can maintain for hours without fatigue. He had a long distance to
+travel, but he reached the scene of the encounter with the strange
+animal, just as it was growing dark.
+
+At this point, he showed admirable woodcraft. The signs on the ground
+puzzled him for a time, but there was the carcass of the animal, and by
+and by he found the imprints of the small moccasins, which told him that
+the young Shawanoe had rejoined the others at this point.
+
+As you can well believe, this was any thing but a pleasant discovery,
+for, superior as was the strength of the Winnebago, he would have
+preferred to meet the two boys, even though both were armed, than to
+find himself face to face again with the remarkable Indian youth.
+
+But there was no help for it, and the dusky Winnebago compressed his
+coppery lips with the resolve that the gun should be in his hands before
+the rising of the morrow's sun.
+
+The light was rapidly fading among the trees and he improved what was
+left of it. Prowling around the spot in a circle, with his nose close to
+the ground, he discovered that the three youths had started along the
+bank of the brook toward its head.
+
+Thereupon the Winnebago formed the correct conclusion; they had moved
+from the main trail (doubtless on the suggestion of the young Shawanoe),
+in search of some place to encamp where there would be less danger of
+detection.
+
+By the time the Wolf had satisfied himself on this point, it had become
+too dark among the trees for his eyes to detect the trail, which at
+mid-day would have been as distinct as a beaten path. He therefore
+adopted the plan of which I have made mention elsewhere: he followed a
+general rule.
+
+The conclusion being that the parties for whom he was searching had
+located themselves somewhere along the creek, it was useless to try and
+follow the footprints, though there were points here and there where the
+sense of touch might have helped him. He decided to creep stealthily up
+stream until he found the camp, and then bide his time.
+
+It is hard to form an idea of the extreme care with which this was done.
+Had the Winnebago not known of the presence of Deerfoot, he would not
+have taken half the time consumed, but he had seen enough of that
+wonderful youth to know that it would require more than a child to
+outwit him.
+
+At a point about half way between the trail and the camp among the
+rocks, the Wolf thought his hands touched some imprints in the earth
+which showed that the three had turned to the right and gone deeper into
+the woods. It required reconnoitering before he discovered his mistake.
+
+With the same amazing patience he renewed his stealthy progress up the
+stream, until at last he emerged into the moonlight and found that at
+last he had reached the spot for which he had hunted so long.
+
+It so happened that as he straightened up, he looked directly into the
+mouth of the cave and saw the dull glow of the camp-fire, like the open
+eye of some monster. Not only that, but he observed the three forms
+stretched out by it. The heart of the savage throbbed with pleasure, for
+he felt that success had come at last.
+
+With the same absolute noiselessness he began creeping into the mouth of
+the cavern. One of the embers fell apart with a soft rustle, which
+caused him to stop and hold his breath lest the sleepers should awake.
+But they did not stir, and in a minute he resumed his advance.
+
+The two white lads had flung the blankets from their faces, so that he
+saw Fred Linden plainly, and enough of the other to identify him as the
+one who had smitten him. Nearer to the Winnebago than they was the third
+form, which he knew equally well.
+
+"It is the Shawanoe," was his thought; "I will bury my knife in his
+heart and then slay the others."
+
+A minute later he reached forward his upraised right hand and suddenly
+brought it down with a force that pinned the blanket to the earth. But
+to his unspeakable disgust Deerfoot was not within it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+SHAWANOE AND WINNEBAGO.
+
+
+While Fred Linden and Terry Clark lay in that part of the cavern where
+the floor was of rock, the blanket of Deerfoot was spread on the earth.
+Consequently when the Winnebago brought down his knife with such vicious
+spitefulness, it went through the folds of the blanket and was buried to
+the hilt in the ground underneath.
+
+You know that, despite the marvelous quiet with which the Winnebago
+approached the cavern, he was heard by Deerfoot, who, pausing only long
+enough to make sure that an enemy was approaching, whisked outside.
+There he stood in the impenetrable shadow under the trees, and saw the
+Winnebago at the moment he emerged into the faint moonlight and stood
+upright.
+
+The first look confirmed his suspicion that it was the Winnebago, who
+had come back to avenge himself for the affair of the preceding day.
+Deerfoot smiled to himself, for there was a tinge of absurdity about the
+whole business that was sure to become still more so.
+
+The Shawanoe paused a few seconds before darting out of the cavern,
+until he could arrange his blanket, so that it would appear as if it
+infolded his sleeping form, and then he quietly awaited events.
+
+It must be admitted that it looked like leaving Fred and Terry in great
+peril to permit such a savage enemy to creep so close to them while they
+were sound asleep; but Deerfoot knew that the first thing that the Wolf
+would do would be to attempt his life, precisely as he did attempt it.
+Before he could do any thing more, the Shawanoe concluded to impress his
+presence upon the visitor.
+
+At the moment, therefore, that the Winnebago stopped his advance and
+slowly raised his knife, as he supposed over the breast of Deerfoot,
+that gentleman, kneeling on one knee, brought his rifle to bear upon the
+Winnebago, the dull light from the fire shining along the barrel, whose
+muzzle was within a yard of the unsuspicious Wolf.
+
+The blanket through which the keen-pointed knife had been driven was no
+more firmly transfixed for the moment than was the Wolf when a slight
+hissing noise caused him to turn his head, and he saw the dreaded
+Shawanoe in a kneeling position with his gun leveled at him, the finger
+on the trigger, and the bright eye glancing along the barrel.
+
+The Winnebago was literally unable to move or speak, and Deerfoot,
+motionless himself, held him thus for several seconds. Then with the gun
+still pointed, he said in a low voice:
+
+"Dog of a Winnebago! Deerfoot has spared the life of the Wolf, and he
+now seeks to strike him in the dark."
+
+This address loosened the tongue of the terrified warrior, who, seeing
+his captor raise his head from sighting along the barrel, though he
+kept the weapon leveled, obeyed the beckoning motion of Deerfoot, and
+crept noiselessly out of the cavern. On the alert for any chance, he was
+ready to seize it, but the first object on which his eye rested in the
+dim moonlight was the figure of the young Shawanoe holding his gun in
+such a position, that, should it be necessary, he could fire like a
+flash.
+
+Deerfoot would not have hesitated to lay his gun aside, and, drawing his
+knife, give the Winnebago the same chance with himself; but the Wolf had
+left his weapon where he forced it through the blanket into the ground,
+so that he had none except his tomahawk, and he was not likely to
+attempt any thing with that.
+
+Besides, while Deerfoot had not the least fear of his enemy, he did not
+wish to fight with him. He did not engage in his many desperate
+encounters through love of victory, but because it had seemed to him
+that it was his duty, and there was no other way out of the trouble.
+
+It must be said, too, that at this hour the Shawanoe happened to be in a
+mood which rendered such encounters more than usually distasteful to
+him. After he had closed his Bible and lay on his face, looking into the
+embers and meditating, the same thought that had stirred him many a time
+before filled his mind again.
+
+Why do men strive to kill each other?
+
+It was a question which has puzzled many a wise man in the past and has
+not yet been answered. Thousands of affectionate husbands unlock the
+white arms of the loving little children from their necks, kiss the
+heartbroken wife good-by, and then rush out to try to murder one whom
+they have never seen, who has also just torn himself loose from his
+family. There is something in the thought that mystifies beyond all
+explanation.
+
+The problem which directly interested Deerfoot was whether the day would
+not come when the red men of every tribe could meet the pale faces in
+friendship instead of hatred. Why should they always be at war? Could he
+do a little to bring about that day of universal peace? Was there not
+some work which the Great Spirit had laid out for him by which he could
+help to soften the feeling of the two peoples toward each other?
+
+But Deerfoot had asked himself the same question many a time before, and
+the only answer was that the most he could do was to follow the light
+within him: that is, aid to remove a part of the antagonism between the
+two races.
+
+Alas, too, that while he was considering the question, his ear caught
+the soft rustle that told him one of his own race was seeking his life.
+Deerfoot was sorrowed more than angered. He wished that the Winnebago
+had taken some other time to make his stealthy attack.
+
+Joined to this emotion was that of another akin to sympathy for the
+Winnebago in his complete discomfiture. He had come back to regain his
+rifle, but not only had failed, but had lost his knife, and now was
+standing at the mercy of a Shawanoe young enough to be his son. The
+latter resolved that, though the Wolf had earned death, he would not
+harm him, unless forced to do so in self-defense.
+
+For half a minute the warriors, with ten feet separating them, looked
+straight at each other in silence. Fred Linden and Terry Clark slept
+soundly, for as yet there had been no noise sufficient to awake a light
+sleeper.
+
+"Why does the Wolf seek the life of Deerfoot?" asked the latter, willing
+to relieve the embarrassment of the other.
+
+"The Wolf sought the gun that had been stolen from him."
+
+"But it was not hidden in the blanket, that he should drive his knife
+through it."
+
+"The Wolf believed it was," was the curt response.
+
+"Does the Wolf strike with his knife at his own gun?" asked the
+Shawanoe, without betraying any emotion.
+
+"He would rather do so than that it should stay in the hands of an
+enemy."
+
+"It never would have been in the hands of an enemy had the Wolf acted as
+a brave warrior; but he sought the life of the young pale face who had
+never done him harm."
+
+"Has not his people stolen the hunting grounds of the red man?" demanded
+the Winnebago, who, seeing that some grace was to be allowed him, burst
+into the argument that multitudes of his people have used before and
+since. Before he could proceed further, Deerfoot asked: "Are these the
+hunting grounds of the Winnebagos?"
+
+"They are the hunting grounds of his race, though they may not be of his
+totem; Deerfoot should join with his brother the Wolf in driving the
+white men into the sea."
+
+"There was a day when that might have been done," replied Deerfoot, who
+felt that faint throb and thrill which sometimes came to him, as if to
+tell him that his Indian nature was not yet entirely dead within him;
+"once the pale faces were but a handful, and the red men hunted over all
+the ground that lies between the great waters. They could have swept the
+pale faces into the sea, but they would not be brothers with themselves;
+they fought each other. So the pale faces grew, and the day will never
+come when they need fear the red men."
+
+"The brave warrior does not ask what can be done, but does with all his
+might that which he knows the Great Spirit wishes him to do."
+
+"The Great Spirit does not tell him to kill his pale face brother; for
+they are all His children and He loves them. The Great Spirit has spoken
+to Deerfoot and told him that all His children should love one another."
+
+"Does Deerfoot do so?"
+
+"He does; he never strikes but when the Great Spirit tells him to do so;
+if he was the Wolf and the Wolf was Deerfoot, he would have slain the
+Shawanoe long ago."
+
+The Winnebago would have denied this had he not seen that it was idle to
+do so. What would he not have given at that moment could he have
+exchanged places with the handsome and triumphant young warrior?
+
+"The _true_ Great Spirit loves all His children, whether they be pale or
+red or of the color of night; He smiles when they meet each other as
+friends, and He will reward in the spirit land those who do His will on
+the earth. Let the Wolf bury the words of Deerfoot in his heart, for
+they are the words of truth, and if they are heeded he will be
+happy--Go!"
+
+The amazed Winnebago doubted for a moment that he had heard the command
+aright; but the wave of the hand which accompanied it, and the fact that
+it was in perfect consonance with the words he had just heard, satisfied
+him there was no mistake about it.
+
+"The Wolf thanks his brother for what he has done."
+
+The heart of the Winnebago forced the words between his lips as he
+turned his face away and walked down the bank of the stream in the
+direction whence he came. He vanished the next instant in the darkness.
+
+Deerfoot did not stir until every sound of the soft footsteps had died
+out. Then he lowered the hammer of his gun, bent his shoulders slightly
+forward, so as to walk freely, and entered the cavern where his friends
+were still sleeping.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+ANOTHER NIGHT VISITOR.
+
+
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe was convinced of one thing--the Wolf would trouble
+him no further that night. What he might do in the future must be left
+for the future to tell. Whether the few words that he had dropped should
+prove the good seed of which I have spoken, or whether they should be
+choked up by thorns, not even the Wolf himself could tell.
+
+The young warrior showed his convictions by flinging some wood on the
+fire, so that its blaze filled the cavern, and preparing for sleep. He
+first sat down and pulled out the knife of the Wolf, whose blade took on
+an additional gleam from the cleansing it had received in being forced
+into the flinty earth. He examined it with no little curiosity, though
+it was similar to his own.
+
+A glance, however, showed that it was an inch or two longer. It was
+straight and oval-shaped, the blade not quite two inches wide, with a
+handle that had been cut from a deer's horn and fitted with no slight
+skill. Whether it was the product of aboriginal ingenuity or was the
+work of some cutler of the Caucasian race could only be guessed, the
+matter really not being worth the trouble of guessing. Its two edges and
+the point were very sharp. Deerfoot having laid aside his gun, grasped
+the blade in his left hand and circled it through the air like a
+swordsman at play. He was so pleased with it that he decided to keep it.
+He would not throw away the one that had served him so well, but would
+present it to Fred Linden, while he retained the one with which he was
+sure he could do better work.
+
+It was singular that while the Shawanoe was turning the weapon over in
+his hand, and examining it with so much interest, that the occasion for
+its immediate use should come, but so it was.
+
+He was on the point of shoving it in behind his belt and lying down to
+sleep, when a movement of the bushes outside was heard. It was so
+distinct indeed that he knew it was not caused by a person.
+
+The rustling was accompanied by a scratching sound and low growl.
+Turning his head, he saw an immense wolf standing at the entrance of the
+cavern, his whole figure revealed in the firelight. With his jaws parted
+and his form erect, he was a formidable creature, before which almost
+any one would have recoiled. He would have advanced straight to an
+attack upon the young warrior but for the fire which partly interposed.
+Even as it was, he seemed making ready to leap at the throat of the
+youth, who was sitting on the blanket, looking coolly at him.
+
+It would have been the easiest matter in the world for Deerfoot to catch
+up his gun and shoot him dead, but he chose to do otherwise. Drawing one
+of the embers forth by the end that was not burning, he held it before
+him in his right hand, and, grasping the knife in his left, ran lightly
+toward him, as though he meant to jam it into his eyes.
+
+The bravest animal can not stand unmoved before such an attack, and the
+namesake of the human enemy whisked about and darted out of the cavern
+with the Shawanoe close behind him. The former bounded a half dozen
+steps, pausing on the very spot where the hostile warrior was first
+seen, and facing about, as if to observe whether his foe dare follow him
+any further. But Deerfoot had him now where he wished, and he flung the
+torch aside among the undergrowth, where it lay smoking for a few
+minutes before it went out.
+
+The fierce animal must have been of the opinion that he too had his
+antagonist where he wanted him, for, without the least hesitation, he
+uttered a snarling growl and made two leaps straight at him. The first
+carried him a little more than half the intervening distance, and the
+second was meant to bear Deerfoot to the earth.
+
+The young warrior, however, stepped lightly to one side, so that the
+wolf missed him altogether, and would have been forced to wheel about
+and make a second attack had the chance been given him, but at the
+instant it landed, the left hand, grasping the long, keen knife, shot
+forward with great force and lightning-like swiftness, and was buried to
+the hilt in the throat of the brute.
+
+It was a blow as effective as a cannon ball could have been, for the
+knife clove the seat of life in twain, and the beast rolled over on the
+earth dead, almost before it could emit a single yelp of agony.
+
+Deerfoot stood a moment surveying the carcass before him, and then, with
+no more excitement than he would have shown in speaking to Fred or
+Terry, he said: "'Tis a good weapon, and will serve Deerfoot well."
+
+Then he walked to the tiny brook, carefully washed the gleaming blade,
+shoved it behind his belt, where it was held in place without the sheath
+that clasped the other, and walked back to the cavern. The boys had not
+been disturbed by the outcry of the wolf, and Deerfoot, throwing some
+more wood on the flames, lay down on the blanket, drew it partly about
+him, and in ten minutes was asleep, not opening his eyes again until the
+light of morning streamed into the cavern and only a few smoldering
+embers were left of the camp-fire.
+
+He smiled when he looked upon the two youths, who were still soundly
+sleeping, all unconscious of the stirring events that had taken place
+during the darkness. There was no call for a renewal of the fire, and,
+after spending a few minutes in communion with the Great Spirit, he
+passed outside the cavern, drank from the clear water in the brook, and
+laved his face and hands.
+
+Just as he finished, Fred Linden emerged, rubbing his eyes and yawning,
+while Terry Clark was close behind him.
+
+"Good morning, Deerfoot!" called the former; "it was just like you to
+let us sleep all night while you kept watch: to-night you must let us
+take our turn."
+
+"Fred has exprissed me own sintimints," added Terry; "we have had so
+much slumber that we can kaap awake for a month. Helloa!"
+
+The gaze of the boys at that moment fell on the body of the wolf,
+stiffened in death.
+
+"You have had visitors," said Fred; "my gracious, but he's a big fellow!
+Killed by a knife thrust too, that looks as if it had gone half way
+through his body; how was it, Deerfoot?"
+
+The Shawanoe waited until they had finished bathing their hands and
+faces, and then he quietly told them the story, including the account of
+the warrior's visit. As you may well suppose, the boys opened their
+eyes, and Terry, running inside, brought out the blanket, which had been
+folded in such a manner that the knife of the Winnebago passed through
+three thicknesses of the cloth.
+
+"And to think that we slept through it all!"
+
+"Begorrah, but wasn't it lucky that we didn't have the blanket wrapped
+about us?" gasped Terry, who was in earnest in his momentary belief of
+the narrow escape of himself and companion.
+
+"It is well that you kept guard last night; neither of us would have
+heard the approach of the Winnebago; and wouldn't have known any thing
+about the other wolf until he lit on our shoulders."
+
+"My brother is mistaken," said Deerfoot; "he is like the rattlesnake; he
+gives warning before he strikes; I heard him growl, and he stopped at
+the entrance to the cavern, afraid of the fire."
+
+"Why didn't you shoot him?"
+
+"Would he have died more quietly, or with less pain than from the knife?
+It is the knife that the Winnebago left; Deerfoot wanted to learn
+whether it would serve him well."
+
+"And I should think ye ought to be satisfied, as a cousin of me own once
+remarked after working five years for a man without any pay excipt
+starvation and kicks."
+
+"The knife proved itself a good one," said Fred; "but the poorest knife
+would be just as effective in your hands."
+
+Deerfoot withdrew his own weapon from its skin sheath, and handed it to
+Fred.
+
+"Let my brother carry that, for the hour may come sooner than he thinks
+when it will be of use to him."
+
+Fred accepted it gratefully, saying, as he managed to find place for it
+somewhat after the manner of Deerfoot:
+
+"If I can handle it with half of your skill, it will serve me well
+indeed, but that can never be."
+
+Deerfoot placed the larger weapon within the sheath from which he had
+withdrawn his own and made no reply to the compliments of his friends.
+He had heard many such before, but he placed no value upon them. He
+regarded himself as simply trying to use in the best way the gifts of
+the Great Spirit. His many escapes from death and injury were due solely
+to God's protecting care, and he could never take to himself any credit
+for what he did.
+
+The excitement of the boys having subsided, the three sat down in front
+of the cavern to eat their breakfast. Enough of the food brought by Fred
+was left to give each and all the meal needed, but when they were
+through, not a particle was left; henceforth they must depend upon what
+their rifles brought them for support while on the way to the camp in
+the Ozarks.
+
+"We have two or three days' travel yet before we can reach camp," said
+Fred, while they were making ready to resume their journey; "but I don't
+think we shall want for food. What troubles me the most is that scamp of
+a Winnebago. You have spared him twice, but I don't believe it will
+make a friend of him."
+
+"He was so boilin' mad," added Terry, "because he lost his gun that now
+that he has also lost his knife he may get so much madder that he'll
+flop over and become pleased again."
+
+This, however, was a kind of philosophy to which the others could not
+agree. Deerfoot owned that he was in doubt; the sentiment of gratitude
+is not one of the chief virtues of the American race, though many
+story-tellers would have us believe that it is. There have been
+instances known where a red man has shown something of the kind, but as
+a rule they have no more of it than had the frozen serpent that was
+warmed in the bosom of him who proved his foolishness by making the
+experiment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+THE CAMP OF THE WINNEBAGOS.
+
+
+Now that the little party had started once more toward the camp in the
+Ozark Mountains, they moved at a brisk pace. It took them but a short
+time to reach the main trail, where there was a short pause while
+Deerfoot made what may be called a microscopic scrutiny of the ground.
+
+The result did not please him, for he saw the proof that the Wolf had
+turned to the right, and had preceded them over the route which they
+were to follow. He would have been better satisfied had he crossed the
+trail or turned the other way. The fact that he had gone southward meant
+that the main party which he was seeking to join were in that direction,
+though the keen eyes of the Shawanoe could detect no signs that they had
+trodden the same ground. That signified nothing, however, as they might
+have pursued a slightly different route, falling back upon the main path
+further on.
+
+Deerfoot, in telling his young friends what he had learned, added that
+he had no doubt that they would hear from the Winnebagos again, and
+possibly at an hour when least expected. Fred Linden was disturbed more
+by the knowledge that the party were approaching the camp where his
+father and his companions were unsuspicious of the danger. They could
+easily steal close enough to the cabin to shoot down all three without
+warning.
+
+When he mentioned his fear to Deerfoot, that sagacious young warrior
+told him that he saw no cause for anxiety, though he could not deny that
+something of the kind might take place. His theory was that the
+Winnebagos were not disposed to attack any party of whites in mere
+wantonness, the act of the Wolf being the whim of a single
+gnarly-brained warrior.
+
+Be that as it may, our young friends were anxious to make the best
+progress they could, and, for fully a dozen miles, they kept up their
+brisk gait. At the end of that time, the sun was overhead, and they
+were obliged to stop on the bank of a broad, swiftly-flowing stream. The
+prints made by the hoofs of the horses that had passed that way some
+days before were plainly seen, though there had been a fall of rain
+since. A glance at the water showed that it was so deep that the hunters
+must have swam their animals across.
+
+It would have been an easy matter for the boys to swim also, but they
+preferred to use a raft. Accordingly, they set to work, and it did not
+take them long to gather enough logs and driftwood to float all three.
+These were deftly fastened together by Deerfoot, who used hickory withes
+for that purpose, and, then, with a long pole which he cut and trimmed
+with his tomahawk, he pushed from shore.
+
+The propelling pole was fully fifteen feet long, and in the middle of
+the stream, the boys were surprised to see that when one end was pressed
+against the bottom, no more than two feet were above the surface: the
+depth was much greater than they had suspected.
+
+It was hard work to keep the clumsy raft moving at such disadvantage,
+but Deerfoot would not yield the pole to either of his companions, and,
+after awhile, he drove it against the shore, and all stepped upon dry
+land, without so much as their feet having become moistened.
+
+They had been carried some distance below the trail by the current, but
+they quickly regained it, and pushed on. Having eaten nothing since
+morning, all three were ahungered, but Fred and Terry grimly determined
+to wait for Deerfoot to suggest a stop before they asked for it. Had
+they but known that many a time, when on the tramp, he had gone two days
+and nights without taking a mouthful, they would not have been so
+willing to await his pleasure.
+
+But though he would not have thought of stopping before nightfall had he
+been alone, he was too considerate to subject them to discomfort; but it
+was useless to stop, since as yet they had seen nothing in the way of
+game to shoot.
+
+Terry and Fred were beginning to feel impatient with each other because
+of their mutual stubbornness when the Shawanoe, who had been walking
+quite fast, slackened his pace and turning his head, said:
+
+"My brothers are hungry, and they shall have to eat."
+
+"Ye couldn't tell us better news," replied the grateful Terry, "though I
+would be obliged to ye if ye would impart the information where there is
+any chance of our gettin' any such thing, as the people used to say whin
+me uncle on me mother's side offered to bet a sixpence on anythin'."
+
+Deerfoot made no answer, but walking still more slowly, he was seen to
+raise his hand to his mouth. Then followed the peculiar cry that a wild
+turkey makes when it is lost from its companions. The Shawanoe knew that
+the birds were in the surrounding woods, though none had shown itself.
+
+By and by there was an answer to the call from a point ahead. Asking the
+boys to wait where they were, he trotted lightly forward, and was not
+absent ten minutes when he came back with a plump turkey, whose neck he
+had wrung.
+
+Since the lads had heard no report of a gun, they wanted to know by what
+means he had secured it. He replied that he had stood behind a tree and
+repeated the call until a group of the birds approached within a few
+rods, when he made a dash among them, and seized his prize before she
+could spread her wings and fly--all of which told of a dexterity that
+few others possessed.
+
+In a brief while, a good dinner was boiled over the coals, a short rest
+taken, and the three were on the road again, it being their wish to
+travel further than on the day before. Had Deerfoot been alone he would
+have broken into a trot that would have doubled the distance before the
+set of sun.
+
+But the trail over which they were walking grew rougher. It was so rocky
+in some places that it must have tried the endurance of the horses
+ridden by the hunters. Instead of being direct, it grew very sinuous,
+made so by the efforts to avoid many formidable obstacles that rose in
+front. All this was of little account to the dusky leader, though of
+necessity it prolonged the journey, and he was obliged to slacken his
+pace to suit those who were less accustomed to such work.
+
+It was about the middle of the afternoon, when they were checked again
+by coming abreast of a stream that was too broad and deep to be forded.
+The trail, however, instead of entering the water, turned up the bank,
+and the three, under the leadership of Deerfoot, did the same.
+
+This diversion continued for fully two hundred yards, when the path
+struck the water, the point on the other side where the horsemen had
+emerged being in plain sight. The former method was resorted to, and in
+less than an hour after reaching the creek the three had safely ferried
+themselves across. It was neither so broad nor so deep as the other, but
+it delayed them fully as much.
+
+Within a half mile from the stream last crossed they came upon the trail
+of the whole Winnebago party. Just as Deerfoot suspected, they had taken
+another route, and had come back to the main path a good many miles away
+from where the Wolf left it the night before.
+
+His experienced eye told him that they were close upon the company, who
+numbered precisely twelve--several more than he supposed. Whether the
+Wolf was with them could not of course be learned until a glimpse of the
+party themselves was obtained.
+
+Matters had now taken such a shape that the Shawanoe told his companions
+that the utmost care must be used, since they were liable to stumble on
+the very ones whom they were anxious to avoid. He instructed them to
+allow him to keep fully a hundred feet in advance, and never to diminish
+the distance without orders from him.
+
+This was a prudent step, and Fred and Terry did their best to carry out
+the wishes of their guide, who walked on at a moderate pace, without
+once glancing back at his friends, who he knew would respect what he had
+said to them.
+
+Bear in mind that this arrangement was made toward the close of the
+afternoon of an autumn day. The three had not traveled more than two
+miles, with the leader so far in advance, when the gathering gloom
+became such that he would not have been visible to his followers had he
+not fallen back so as to keep in sight.
+
+Finally, when less than a dozen yards separated them, and the graceful
+figure of the young Shawanoe looked like a shadow gliding in advance, he
+suddenly halted. The eyes of the boys were upon him, and they saw him
+raise his hand as a signal to stop; they obeyed without so much as a
+whisper.
+
+He stood like a statue for two or three minutes, and then, turning his
+head without moving his body, beckoned them to approach. They could
+barely see the motion of his arm, as they stepped softly to his side;
+but before reaching him, they caught the glimmer of a light among the
+trees, somewhat in front and to the right. When they stood near him,
+they saw it more distinctly.
+
+In a partly open space, near the invariable stream of water, were a
+group of Indians, some stretched lazily on the ground, some squatted
+like tailors, two busy cooking something over the fire, and nearly every
+one smoking long-stemmed, stone pipes. They were a sturdy set of
+warriors, who were likely to give a good account of themselves in a
+hunt or fight, and both Fred and Terry knew who they were before
+Deerfoot, with his arm extended and his finger pointing toward them,
+said:
+
+"It is the camp of the Winnebagos!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+"KEEP TO THE TRAIL"
+
+
+It was an interesting scene on which the three youths looked. There were
+a dozen Winnebago warriors lolling and smoking in camp, while two of
+their number were preparing their supper, by half-broiling it over the
+blaze and coals. Fred and Terry stood in silence by the side of
+Deerfoot, gazing upon the strangers with a curiosity such as no other
+sight could have inspired.
+
+A small tree interfered somewhat with the view of Fred, and he took a
+step forward. Immediately the Shawanoe put out his arm and shook his
+head to signify that that would not do; they were as close as was safe.
+Then Fred shifted his position a little to one side, as you feel like
+doing in a public hall when a column is in front of you. To this
+Deerfoot offered no objection, and the lad was satisfied.
+
+"Begorrah, but there's the spalpeen!" whispered Terry, in some
+excitement, pointing his finger toward the camp, and with no thought of
+the uselessness of such an act.
+
+The others knew that he referred to the Wolf, who had caused them so
+much trouble, but they had already seen him. He was standing at one end
+of the group, with folded arms, while he scowled, and the firelight
+fell upon his features with such directness that the scowl could be
+plainly seen. He appeared to be looking at the two warriors busy with
+the fire, though more than likely his gaze fell indifferently upon them
+and the rest, all of whom were in his field of vision.
+
+The tomahawk showed in his girdle, but of course he was without any
+other weapon, and Terry could not avoid a smile when he noted it and he
+had to say something despite the displeasure of Deerfoot.
+
+"Do ye observe his left eye and the end of his nose where one of me
+blows landed? What could be foiner than the swell that ye see there? He
+will naad to use no black paint for siveral days, as me grandfather--"
+
+At this point Deerfoot deliberately placed his hand over the mouth of
+the speaker, abruptly ending what he proposed to say.
+
+Now, nothing could be clearer than that if the Winnebago party were in
+such plain view of the three youths, the latter in turn were liable to
+be discovered by them. They were standing beyond the circle of
+firelight, where the darkness screened them from sight, and, if one of
+the red men should look in that direction, he could not have seen them;
+but there was the probability that any moment one of the warriors might
+start out to reconnoiter their surroundings, in which event, discovery
+was almost certain. Besides, the exuberant spirits of Terry Clark taught
+Deerfoot that it was unwise to trust him in such a delicate position.
+
+Altogether, the time spent in watching the Winnebagos was barely ten
+minutes. During that period, some of those reclining on the leaves got
+up, walked about and sat down again; others kept their feet, and one
+stepped to where the two were busy with a steak of some kind that they
+were broiling over the coals, as though his hunger was making him
+impatient.
+
+But the Wolf never stirred a muscle, and Terry afterward insisted that
+he did not wink his eyes, so motionless was he. The same scowl added
+hideousness to the painted face, and it was easy to understand that his
+meditations were of any thing but a pleasant nature.
+
+Turning his back upon the camp, Deerfoot motioned for them to go back.
+They did so, he following on their heels until not the faintest glimmer
+of the fire could be seen. Then he led them by a round-about course to
+the trail beyond the camp, and explained his wishes.
+
+He was now free to admit that there was reason to believe the Winnebagos
+intended an assault upon the three hunters among the foothills of the
+Ozark, and who were unsuspicious of such danger. Of course the Shawanoe
+had no direct knowledge that such was their purpose, but he was so
+convinced that he meant to take the utmost precautions against it.
+
+He therefore proposed that he should linger near the camp until he could
+learn of a verity what their intentions were. If they meant to attack
+the Hunters of the Ozark, then he would hasten to give warning to
+Linden, Hardin and Bowlby, who, re-enforced by the three youths, would
+be strong enough to beat off an Indian party twice as strong.
+
+In the meantime, Deerfoot wished Terry and Fred to push toward the camp
+with all the speed of which they were capable, he promising to follow as
+soon as he could. They had walked almost the entire day with scarcely a
+halt on the road, but he wished them to keep on into the night so long
+as they could. They would need nothing to eat before morning and between
+sundown and sunup they ought to make a long advance on their journey.
+
+You will probably wonder why (the situation being such as was explained
+by Deerfoot), he did not keep company with the lads and help them in
+their forced march to the mountains. One reason was that he was
+convinced in the first place that a demonstration would be made by the
+Winnebagos against the Hunters of the Ozark, and he wanted to get both
+boys--especially Terry--out of the neighborhood as soon as he could; for
+their presence hampered his own actions. The safest place for them was
+in the strong cabin to the southward, and they could not get there too
+soon.
+
+Yet they would certainly travel as fast in his company as by themselves,
+and Fred and Terry, therefore, could not see why he should stay behind
+instead of going with them; yet Deerfoot the Shawanoe never took a step
+of that kind without the best reason for it, as you will admit when it
+is made clear to you. To give this explanation would require such a long
+diversion from the thread of my story that you would be impatient.
+Before I am through with the history of Deerfoot, you shall know not
+only the reason for his course but for several other things that have
+been referred to in the stories told about him.
+
+The confidence of Fred Lincoln and Terry Clark in the wonderful young
+Shawanoe was so perfect that they did not question any decision, no
+matter how little they failed to see its reason. If what he asked was in
+their power, they would bound at the chance of doing it, just as they
+did now.
+
+He had a parting warning to give.
+
+"Let my brothers make sure that they do not lose the trail; they must
+look at the ground often: when they do not see the path they must stop
+and await the rising of the sun; they can not reach the cabin too soon,
+but they can never reach it by going wrong; _keep to the trail_!"
+
+The circuitous route which they had taken under the guidance of
+Deerfoot, had brought them back to the path at a point fully a hundred
+yards beyond the camp-fire, which had been started in the small open
+space only a few rods from the path. So far as they knew there was
+nothing now between them in the way of a direct advance to the cabin of
+their hunters.
+
+"Fred," said Terry, after they were fairly under way, and while he
+almost stepped on the heels of his friend; "Deerfoot thinks we won't go
+more than five or six miles; let's show him that we ain't such babies as
+he thinks."
+
+"I feel as you do; I propose that we keep it up all night."
+
+"Will ye be kind enough to raich yer right hand over your lift shoulder
+and shake wid me on the same?"
+
+Instead of doing precisely as asked, Fred laughingly turned about and
+shook hands with his friend, whom he loved and for whom he was ready at
+any time to risk his life. They were on their mettle and they meant to
+show the young Shawanoe that they were capable of doing much more than
+he seemed to believe. They intended that when, after a few hours, he
+started to overtake them, he would find that he had a good many miles
+further to travel than he supposed.
+
+Had Deerfoot known of their thoughts he would have smiled and been
+pleased. He wanted them to do their best and he was willing, should it
+prove to be safe, to allow them to keep up the delusion that their gait
+could bear any comparison with the speed of which he was capable.
+
+Meanwhile, the boys started in earnest to carry out their intention.
+Their only fear was that they might be hindered by the difficulty in
+keeping to the trail; for though the full moon was again overhead, and
+though many of the leaves had fallen from the trees, little light was
+there to help them.
+
+But for a time, at least, the difficulty was much less than they
+expected. The path, though it continued to lead over rough places and
+around obstructions, sometimes up-hill and sometimes down, was still so
+clearly marked that Fred Linden went forward with scarcely a halt or any
+hesitation.
+
+Though there are men who have walked their five and six hundred miles
+with little rest on the road, it is a severe task for any one to keep it
+up through an entire day and night, as you can soon become convinced by
+making the experiment; but Fred and Terry were sturdy, strong-limbed
+fellows, born and bred on the frontier, who were capable of standing a
+great deal. When, therefore, they meant to astonish Deerfoot by their
+progress during the night, they felt no distrust of their ability in
+that direction.
+
+There was no reason why they should put any restraint on themselves, and
+they talked quite cheerily, Terry indulging now and then in some of his
+quaint remarks. But a tired boy does not feel like keeping up a lively
+conversation for any length of time, and so it came about that after
+awhile they walked steadily forward, for miles at a time, without
+exchanging more than a few syllables. Terry could see the figure of his
+friend with his rifle over his shoulder always a few feet in front,
+there being just enough light in the gloom to keep his form in sight,
+while Fred heard the steady tramp, tramp behind him, sometimes keeping
+pace with his own and sometimes falling "out of step."
+
+"Helloa! this is too bad!" suddenly exclaimed Fred, coming to an abrupt
+halt; "I guess this ends our tramp for to-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+AN INFURIATE SHAWANOE.
+
+
+WITH the departure of Fred and Terry, Deerfoot felt as though he had
+flung off a blanket that had been wrapped about his shoulders: his arms
+were now free and he could use them at will.
+
+He shrewdly suspected that his young friends would fancy they had been
+put upon their mettle, and would, therefore, exert themselves to their
+fullest to meet his expectations. He was glad it was so, and he would
+have been much better pleased could he have known they were in the cabin
+at the foot of the mountains, or, better still, safe at their home in
+Greville.
+
+Deerfoot now stealthily approached as close to the camp-fire as was
+safe. He screened his body behind a tree, but he was nigh enough to
+catch every word that was said in an ordinary tone, and he understood
+the Winnebago tongue well enough to want no interpreter.
+
+The Shawanoe had hardly taken his position to act as cowen, when the
+venison steaks were about one-fourth broiled, which was enough to
+satisfy the parties interested. Those who had charge of the culinary
+operations divided the meat into a dozen slices, so that each warrior
+was provided for, and the feast opened. The strong animal appetites, and
+teeth like those of the steel traps that were set at the foot of the
+Ozarks, soon brought the feast to a close, after which the feasters
+walked the few steps necessary to the brook near at hand, and lying down
+on their faces drank their fill, just as so many pigs would have done,
+grunting with satisfaction as they came back and resumed their pipes.
+
+All this Deerfoot had seen so often that it had no interest to him. He
+kept his eyes on two warriors--the Wolf and one whom he had never seen
+before. These two sat near each other on the ground while eating, and
+they talked together in low tones. Since none of those around could
+overhear the words, it was impossible for Deerfoot, with all his
+wonderful acuteness, to catch a syllable. He would have given a great
+deal could he have done so, for he suspected the dark plot that was
+taking shape in their dusky brains. There was a dangerous flash in the
+black eyes of the young Shawanoe while he watched their movements.
+
+It was clear to him that the Wolf had lost prestige, instead of gaining
+sympathy by his last misfortune. Having gone out to gather wool he had
+come back shorn, to go out a second time and to come back shorn to a
+still more ludicrous degree. The manner in which the Wolf kept apart
+from the rest, affiliating only with the single warrior at his side,
+showed the feeling in the party.
+
+It was easy to recognize the leader or chieftain, though his dress was
+precisely like the rest, but his air of authority told the story plainly
+enough. The Winnebagos were a fine set of men in their war paint, and,
+as I have said, were able to give a good account of themselves in any
+scrimmage in which they might become engaged.
+
+As unexpectedly to the warriors as to Deerfoot himself, the Winnebago
+chieftain, who was standing on one side of the fire where his rifle with
+several others leaned against a tree, took his pipe from between his
+lips and spoke to the Wolf in tones which caused that redskin to look up
+in wonder. Seeing that the sachem hesitated, as if waiting for him to
+rise, the Wolf came nimbly to his feet, as did his friend at his elbow.
+The majority of the rest, however, sat still and showed no special
+interest in what was going on.
+
+"The Wolf was the bravest of the Winnebagos," remarked the chief, "when
+our war parties met those of the Sauks and Foxes and Pottawatomies who
+dared to come into our country; the heart of the Wolf bounded with
+delight and no tomahawk was hurled with such swiftness as his: no gun
+was fired more often; no scalping knife took back more scalps to hang
+upon the ridge-pole of his wigwam.
+
+"But the Wolf came across the Big Water and his heart longed for the
+scalp of the pale face; he went out to hunt for it; he came back; the
+tongue of the Wolf is not double and tells no lies; the Wolf met a
+Shawanoe warrior who took his gun from him.
+
+"It was the young Shawanoe called Deerfoot; the Winnebagos have been
+told about Deerfoot, the friend of the white man; the heart of Black
+Bear (meaning himself) was angry; he was chief of the Winnebagos; he
+told the Wolf that he must go forth and bring back his rifle; the Wolf
+went; he did not bring back his rifle, but left his knife behind;
+Deerfoot saw him and took it away from him.
+
+"Deerfoot is but a youth; he is not a mighty warrior; the Wolf must get
+his gun and knife; he must bring back the scalp of the Shawanoe, he
+shall take Wau-ko-mia-tan with him; each shall have his gun; let them
+bring back the scalps of Deerfoot and the two pale faces with him; then
+will Black Bear forget that the Wolf was not always a great warrior.
+
+"Let the Wolf and Wau-ko-mia-tan make haste; the Winnebagos are on the
+war path; they will carry back with them the scalps of the pale faces
+who are gathering the skins of the beaver and otter and foxes by the
+base of the mountain."
+
+It may be said that this little speech developed the plan of the
+Winnebago campaign. The Wolf had fallen so low in the opinion of his
+chieftain and brother warriors, that it was necessary for him to take
+heroic measures to restore himself. Seeing this, the sachem had just
+notified him that he must secure the scalps of Deerfoot and the two
+white boys with him. Wau-ko-mia-tan (who was the warrior that sat at the
+elbow of the Wolf), was to be his companion. The chieftain knew how
+closely the two were allied, and he indulged in the little fiction of
+allowing one to keep company with the other, when the truth was he was
+afraid to let the Wolf go alone. Since on each of the two former
+excursions he had lost something, the probabilities were that if he came
+back again, it would be without his scalp.
+
+The eagerness with which the Wolf accepted this task, the moment he
+found that he was to have a companion, showed that he was an admirable
+representative of the average Indian: gratitude to him was a vice rather
+than a virtue.
+
+The expression on the face of Deerfoot showed that all forbearance was
+ended. He had twice spared the ingrate: he would do so no more.
+
+Had the Wolf told his leader that the mercy of Deerfoot had touched his
+heart, so that his arm could never more be raised in anger against him,
+but that he would seek the scalps of the hunters at the base of the
+mountains, the Shawanoe would have felt an admiration for him. Had he
+sought out Deerfoot and asked for the return of his weapons (though that
+would have been very unlike his race), Deerfoot would have restored them
+to him. But now, as it was, when they should meet it would be as mortal
+enemies.
+
+Nothing showed the vicious ingratitude of the Wolf more vividly than the
+fact that instead of waiting for the morning before entering upon his
+wicked enterprise, he started within three minutes after Black Bear, the
+chieftain, finished his little speech. The sachem picked up his own
+rifle from where it leaned against the tree and handed it to him, while
+Wau-ko-mia-tan stood at the other end of the group, until the warrior,
+his ugly face glowing like that of a demon, stepped to his side. Then
+the two, without a word or motion like a farewell, turned away and
+vanished in the gloom of the wood.
+
+They had not taken a dozen steps, when Deerfoot glided from behind the
+tree and passed after them, as if he were the shadow thrown out by the
+light of the camp-fire. The expression on his face was such as would
+have hushed Fred Linden and Terry Clark to awed silence could they have
+seen it.
+
+The two Winnebagos did not come directly back to the trail, but fell
+into it at almost the precise point where Deerfoot had led his two
+friends. They stopped a few minutes and talked in their low, guttural
+tones, none of which was understood by the Shawanoe, who listened with
+the closest attention.
+
+There was considerable distance at that time between the warriors and
+Fred and Terry, who had set out with the ambition to keep up their
+traveling through the entire night. The Winnebagos did not wait long,
+when they moved on at their usual pace.
+
+Less than a mile from the camp, the warriors again came to a halt and as
+before talked in a low voice. The point was where the wood was more
+open, so that the moonlight which found its way among the limbs above
+showed their forms quite plainly. More than that, enough of their words
+were audible to enable the listening Shawanoe, who had crept dangerously
+near, to catch their meaning.
+
+The Winnebagos turned off at almost a right angle and left the trail
+behind them. The ground was broken, but they had not gone far, when it
+became evident that they were following another path, though it was so
+faintly marked that no eye except that of an American Indian could have
+discovered it in such an uncertain light.
+
+As they advanced, the surface became not only rougher, but the grade
+which they ascended was so steep that it would have been tiresome to an
+ordinary traveler.
+
+Suddenly Deerfoot himself wheeled aside from the indistinct path to
+which the Winnebagos clung and passed lightly and with great speed
+through the wood where no one had walked before. So swiftly did he make
+his way, that, though he crossed a deep ravine and went a considerable
+distance, it was less than live minutes before he came back to the
+shadowy trail.
+
+Instead of keeping along this path, in the same direction as that of his
+enemies, he turned about and advanced to meet the red men who had dared
+to come that way. He walked with his usual noiseless step, and stopped
+on reaching the edge of the ravine over which he had leaped when it
+crossed his path only a few minutes before.
+
+This gully was more than twenty feet in depth, and about half as wide.
+The trail led to the edge on one side, continuing on the margin directly
+opposite, so that any one who wished to keep to it was perforce
+compelled to leap the chasm--a slight task for any Indian, though it
+would have been easy to make a bridge by means of a fallen tree.
+
+The moon was now directly overhead, so that a flood of light fell into
+the craggy ravine, lighting up the gray rocks and bowlders, the
+prostrate trees that had fallen from the sides, the vegetation along the
+slopes and the mossy grass that had been watered by the torrents when
+they roared through. The trees grew rank and close to the edge at the
+top--so close that some of them had slidden off and fallen part way
+below, carrying the gravel, sand and earth with the prong-like roots
+part way to the bottom.
+
+So faint was the mark of the trail opposite that even with the help of
+the moonbeams, it took an eye as keen as that of Deerfoot to tell where
+his enemies would appear. But he coolly awaited them, though his
+calmness was the fearful calm of a fury such as even he rarely knew.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+THE DEFIANCE.
+
+
+The expression of the face of Deerfoot was terrible. The whole fury of
+his nature was at white heat. He knew that the two Winnebagos had set
+out to commit a fearful crime, and it was his work to stay their hands.
+There was but the single way in which they could be stayed.
+
+The young Shawanoe kept back a couple of paces from the edge of the
+ravine, where the shadow of the stunted trees above would hide him from
+his foes when they should come in sight. He held his gun pointed and
+cocked. Though his passion had the glow of the furnace, he was as calm
+as death.
+
+[Illustration: "There was a fierce whizz like the rush of an eagle's
+wing."]
+
+He had not long to wait. By and by a low guttural exclamation struck his
+ear, and his hearing, strung to a marvelously fine point, caught the
+sound of the soft moccasins on the hard earth. Less than a minute later
+the form of the Wolf came into the moonlight, as a bather emerges from
+the side of a lake. Seeing the open ravine at his feet, he stopped, and
+instantly his companion, Wau-ko-mia-tan, appeared at his side.
+
+They quickly saw that the leap was an easy one.
+
+"Wau-ko-mia-tan will leap across," said that warrior, "then the Wolf
+will follow; let us lose no time, for the Shawanoe may be gone."
+
+The speaker recoiled a single pace and gathered his muscles for the
+leap. He took one quick step and made a terrific bound upward and
+outward, straight for the rocky brink whereon Deerfoot the Shawanoe
+instantly stepped into the moonlight.
+
+The Winnebago was in mid-air, crouching like a leaper, with his legs
+gathered under him and his arms at his side, when there was a fierce
+whiz, like the rush of an eagle's wing, something flashed in the
+moonlight, and the tomahawk, driven by a lightning-like sweep of the
+Shawanoe's arm, was buried in the chest of the Winnebago as it would
+have sunk in so much sodden earth.
+
+An ear-splitting screech burst from the throat of the smitten warrior,
+who struck the edge of the ravine like a bundle of rags flung thither,
+and then tumbled to the bottom as dead as the jagged rock on which he
+lay.
+
+The Wolf stood transfixed, unable to understand what had taken place.
+Then he saw the figure of the youthful warrior on the other side and
+heard his voice.
+
+"Rattlesnake of a Winnebago! Die the death of the rattlesnake!"
+
+The wretch was given no time to protest again, for the words were yet in
+the mouth of Deerfoot when the flash of his rifle lit up the partial
+gloom, and the crack of the weapon mingled with the death shriek of the
+redskin, who slumped end over end down the ravine and lay beside the
+body of Wau-ko-mia-tan as dead as he.
+
+"Thus shall die all that seek to follow your footsteps," muttered the
+Shawanoe, who, standing where he stood when he slew both, proceeded to
+reload his rifle with as much coolness as though he had just fired at a
+target on a tree.
+
+This finished, he let himself over the edge of the ravine, holding fast
+a moment by one hand, and then letting go, dropped lightly beside the
+two bodies that lay below. His face showed no excitement now, and he
+moved with his usual care and deliberation. Drawing the hunting-knife
+which he had taken from the Wolf, he partly bent over, but straightened
+up again, saying to himself:
+
+"Deerfoot is a Christian Indian and can not scalp a foe though as base
+as they."
+
+Picking up each rifle (that of Wau-ko-mia-tan being still clutched by
+his nerveless fingers while the Wolf's had fallen from his grasp), he
+deliberately broke the locks of each by striking them on the stones. He
+then recovered his own tomahawk, and carried off the useless weapons
+with him.
+
+He passed down the ravine until he reached a point where the sides were
+not so high. There he clambered out, still keeping the two broken guns.
+He had reached high ground on the side from which had come the
+Winnebagos, and he walked grimly forward, until in a brief while he
+reached the main trail over which he and the boys had passed a brief
+while before.
+
+He turned toward the left, which led him in the direction of the camp of
+the Ozarks as well as toward the camp of Black Bear and his Winnebagos.
+He took longer steps than usual, but did not trot or run.
+
+When he once more caught the glimmer of the camp-fire among the trees,
+he slackened his pace and drew nigh with the caution that had become a
+second nature to him. He quickly saw that the Winnebagos had disposed of
+themselves for the night. The fire was burning as brightly as ever,
+because of the attention it received from the two warriors who were
+standing on guard.
+
+The party were in a portion of the country where they knew there was
+scarcely a possibility of their being molested by any one; but the
+American Indian loves nothing like laziness and war; and, treacherous by
+nature himself, he expects treachery at all times in others. And so,
+although they knew of no enemies within miles of them (unless it was
+Deerfoot, whom they did not fear) they had two vigilant sentinels on
+duty. The rest were stretched out on their blankets with their feet
+turned toward the blaze, sleeping like so many tired animals.
+
+At the moment of Deerfoot's approach, the Winnebagos on guard were
+standing some twenty feet apart, with the fire burning between them.
+Each held a loaded gun in hand and cast his keen glance hither and
+thither in the gloom, eyes and ears alert for the first suspicious sight
+or sound.
+
+The sentinel nearer Deerfoot was Black Bear himself. The chieftain
+evidently believed that the best way to instruct his warriors in their
+duty was to set the example. His attitude showed that something had
+arrested his attention. Deerfoot knew that the sound had been made by
+his moccasin, for he purposely rustled the leaves.
+
+Black Bear looked intently off in the gloom, but seeing nothing, turned
+his head and told the other guard to fling more wood upon the fire. He
+obeyed, and the circle of light quickly extended out among the trees.
+
+It would have been an easy matter for the Shawanoe to slay both, but he
+had no thought of doing so. That would have been killing without
+justification.
+
+The Winnebago chieftain was gazing intently into the night, when from
+behind a tree, no more than a dozen steps distant, softly stepped the
+young Shawanoe.
+
+"Listen, Black Bear," said he, "to the words of Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+Twice did he spare the life of the Wolf and the Wolf thanked him, but he
+went out a third time to take his life; he was a rattlesnake, but he had
+not the courage of the rattlesnake, for he took with him Wau-ko-mia-tan,
+whose heart was that of a rattlesnake also; they bent their steps where
+none but Deerfoot has the right to go; therefore Deerfoot killed them
+and took away their guns. _There they are!_"
+
+In the same minute that Deerfoot began speaking, the second sentinel
+stepped forward and took his place beside his chief. That both were
+amazed need not be said. Each stood with the muzzle of his gun lowered,
+neither dreaming that the youth thought of assailing them.
+
+Deerfoot spoke in the slow but impressive voice natural to his race. But
+the last exclamation escaped him like the discharge from a Leyden jar.
+So quickly that neither saw a movement, he hurled the broken gun of the
+chief straight at him, following it with the second gun driven at his
+companion.
+
+Both hit their mark. Black Bear was struck in the chest with such force,
+that he was carried off his feet and knocked half fainting to the earth.
+The other was hit and compelled to recoil a step, but the weapon struck
+him lengthwise, and he was not harmed. He rallied and brought his gun to
+his shoulder, but by the time it was leveled, the Shawanoe had vanished.
+
+Such an exploit, as you may well suppose, caused consternation among the
+Winnebagos for the space of several minutes. No gun had been fired, but
+the American Indian is a light sleeper, and slight as was the
+disturbance, it aroused every one. There was a gathering about the
+fallen chieftain, who, however, came to his feet without help, though he
+gasped and was weak for a few moments. The explanation given by the
+other sentinel removed the general fear of an attack, but three of the
+warriors scattered through the wood to make sure that no surprise
+overtook them, while the others with an agitation rare among red men
+talked over the astounding occurrence.
+
+The broken rifles lying on the ground left no doubt that when the
+Shawanoe declared he had slain both the Wolf and Wau-ko-mia-tan he spoke
+the truth. Else, how could their shattered guns be in his possession?
+
+And this same youth, with an audacity beyond comprehension, had flung
+the two guns at the chieftain and his brother warrior and defied them.
+It seemed as though he must be more than a human being, to be capable of
+such deeds. Legends had reached them of some of the exploits of the
+wonderful young Shawanoe, but this surpassed them all.
+
+The Winnebagos, however, were among the bravest tribes in the west, and
+when they broke camp at early dawn, Deerfoot, who was on the watch, knew
+that it was their determination to slay every one of the three hunters
+in the camp at the foot of the Ozarks, as soon as they could reach
+them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE SIGNAL FIRE.
+
+
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe remained in the vicinity of the Winnebago camp
+until the warriors made their start at an early hour the following
+morning. He took more than one survey of the red men, who gathered about
+the blazing fire and talked over the remarkable events of the night. He
+could easily have slain every one of the scouts whom they kept moving
+through the wood, but he had no wish to do so.
+
+He heard and saw enough to convince him that they intended to make an
+attack on the camp in the mountains, but he did not feel absolutely sure
+that they would not turn aside and follow in the path of the Wolf and
+Wau-ko-mia-tan, until the party had advanced several miles to the
+southward along the Ozark trail.
+
+It seemed strange that the Winnebagos paid no attention to the two
+missing warriors, and yet, after all, it was not singular. They knew
+they were dead and it was therefore a waste of time to give heed to
+them. If by any possibility they were alive, they must take care of
+themselves, just as all brave Indians did: if unable to do so, the
+consequences must be on their own heads.
+
+So the ten Winnebagos, under the lead of the famous chieftain Black
+Bear, moved along the trail in the direction of the camp of the Hunters
+of the Ozark, and the expressions and words that had been overheard by
+the watchful Shawanoe, left no doubt that by way of revenge they meant
+to slay the three trappers who had located there for the winter.
+
+The Winnebagos came from the north-east. Their lodges, villages and
+hunting grounds were many moons' travel away, and the section of country
+through which they were journeying was so sparsely settled that they had
+no fear of pursuit. Now, when you give an American Indian the chance to
+commit some vicious mischief with no fear of being made to pay
+therefor, you may set it down as a truth that nine hundred and
+ninety-nine out of every one thousand will commit that crime. It was a
+matter of indifference, in the first place, whether they harmed the
+hunters or not. Since the latter were removed some distance from their
+path, it is probable that they would not at that time have taken the
+trouble to go in quest of them: it was the feeling of revenge that was
+the deciding weight in the scale.
+
+Let us recall the situation as it was on the second morning after Fred
+Linden and Terry Clark left their homes in Greville. The boys themselves
+were the furthest advanced along the trail to the mountains, while at a
+considerable distance behind, filed the ten Winnebago warriors, and
+hovering in the vicinity was Deerfoot the Shawanoe, watching every
+movement with the vigilance of a lynx.
+
+Whenever he chose he could make a circuit around the Winnebagos, and
+joining the boys beyond, hasten to the hunters' camp and apprise them of
+their danger; but there remained an abundance of time in which to do
+that, and he did not wish to leave the vicinity of the enemies until he
+saw a little more of them.
+
+It was evident that the Winnebagos were in no hurry. They must have
+known that two of the youths were following the trail in advance, for
+the heavy shoes of the lads could not fail to leave their imprints in
+many places; but, such being the case, the red men might ask in what
+manner they could know that a party of Winnebagos were following them,
+unless such knowledge came through Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who, wherever
+he might be, certainly was not in front of them.
+
+When the Indians came to a stream of water, they did not rush in and
+wade or swim to the other side, as they would have done had there been
+any call for haste, but like those who had gone before, they stopped
+long enough to make a raft on which they could float across. The
+American Indian is not as fond of water as he should be, and though the
+Winnebagos would have cared little for the chill of the stream, it was
+more pleasant for them to pass over dry shod; so they made their several
+rafts and poled themselves to the opposite bank.
+
+You would not look for humor under such circumstances, and yet on one of
+the three rafts there was so much of it shown that even the grim
+Shawanoe smiled.
+
+The structures on which the red men floated were, as a matter of course,
+of the frailest nature, intended as they were to last only long enough
+to bear them to the other shore. With proper management, all would have
+done this, but on one of the rafts holding four of the warriors, there
+was an aboriginal wag. A single Indian managed the pole, while the
+others squatted carefully in their respective positions and were
+expected to keep quiet, so as not to disintegrate the frail structure.
+
+The wag to whom I have referred, while sitting with an innocent
+expression on his painted countenance, quietly loosened the two or three
+withes, and gave the logs such an impetus that they separated like two
+bodies positively charged with electricity, when brought together. The
+warrior who handled the pole was standing with legs somewhat apart,
+resting on a different log, when they suddenly separated still more, and
+he sat down with a splash in the water. Another log revolved backwards,
+as did the savage who was sitting on it, while the others were also
+plashing in the stream, which was not deep enough to make them swim,
+though it came to the neck of the shortest one. The four warriors waded
+to shore amid the grins of the others, and with no suspicion of the
+criminal that had played the trick upon them.
+
+The next stream was reached by the Indians a couple of hours later. This
+was not as deep as the other and they did not stop to make rafts. After
+a little searching, they found a portion where the current did not come
+above their knees and they waded.
+
+In doing so, Black Bear took the lead, and, in accordance with a custom
+universal among Indians, each warrior carefully stepped into the
+footprints in front of him. The water was so limpid that the impression
+made by the chieftain's moccasin was plainly shown, so that there was no
+difficulty in this respect. Had a person been trailing them, he would
+have seen before him what seemed to be the footprints of a single man.
+There was but a slight variation near the further shore, where the
+moccasin of one of the Winnebagos had slid from a stone on which, like
+all the others, it was placed. The brown stone was slippery with a faint
+coating of slime, and the scrape of the deerskin down the side gave it a
+white gleam like the belly of a fish. It was a "slip" in every sense,
+and, when the slight splash announced it, Black Bear at the head of the
+procession turned about with his most impressive scowl.
+
+The party made a halt on the other bank. It was considerably past noon,
+and, while some busied themselves in starting a fire, and a couple began
+fishing in the stream, two others going into the woods with their guns,
+Deerfoot was quite sure that they had decided to spend an hour or so for
+dinner. He concluded, however, to follow the two who went into the
+woods, and it was fortunate that he did so.
+
+The first surprise that came to him was when the Winnebagos had gone
+nearly an eighth of a mile from camp. All this time they were making
+their way up quite a steep slope, so that they were close to the top of
+a high, wooded ridge.
+
+The Shawanoe might well wonder why they had taken such a course, but
+when two frightened deer burst through the undergrowth and dashed by at
+full speed, within easy gun shot, and the Winnebagos looked at them
+without raising their guns to fire, then it was that Deerfoot was
+genuinely astonished.
+
+The conclusion was inevitable that these red men were not looking for
+game.
+
+With a suspicion of their real errand (and that caused another
+surprise), Deerfoot stealthily followed the Winnebagos until they paused
+on the highest part of the ridge. He was not long kept in doubt as to
+their business.
+
+The top of the ridge was almost bare. There were a few stunted trees, a
+number of bowlders and rocks, and here and there, patches of scraggly
+grass. From this elevation, however, a magnificent view opened out on
+every hand before the spectator. To the north stretched the undulating
+country covered with prairie, stream, valley and forest, the last
+brilliant with all the gorgeous hues that come with the frosts of
+autumn.
+
+These flaming colors were visible in whatever direction the eye turned,
+and the same varied surface was seen everywhere, but to the southward,
+the Ozark Mountains had a faint bluish tinge, like a mass of clouds
+resting in the horizon. It was in that direction that the camp of the
+hunters lay, and thither the footsteps of pale face and redskin were
+directed.
+
+The two Winnebagos spent only a minute or so in scanning the surrounding
+country, when they began gathering wood, until they had quite a pile. A
+quantity of leaves, some of which were damp, was mixed among the twigs,
+so that when with a little trouble they were fired by means of the flint
+and steel in the hands of one of the red men, the fuel did not burn
+clearly but gave off considerable dark smoke, which was what the
+Winnebagos wanted.
+
+As soon as the fire was fairly burning, one of the Indians flung his
+blanket over it, his friend seizing the other part, while both held it
+thus until it was in danger of taking fire or smothering the flames. Had
+the coarse cloth been a little more cleanly it is likely that it would
+have been burned, but as it was it strangled the blaze until it may be
+said there were several bushels of smoke gathered beneath and the embers
+were at their last gasp.
+
+At that moment, the Indians raised the blanket so that they stood
+upright, and plenty of fresh air was allowed to feed the blaze. Then
+they slowly waved the blanket between them, sometimes lowering it until
+it was scorched by the sleepy flames, and then elevating it above their
+heads. All the time, they manipulated the blanket, sometimes straight up
+and down, sometimes diagonally, and indeed, in every possible way.
+
+The result of all this varied swinging was that the black column of
+vapor which slowly climbed the sky, was broken into circles, spiral
+curves, and all sorts of odd-shaped figures, which did not dissolve for
+several minutes in the clear air above.
+
+I need not tell you what this meant, for in another place I have
+described the same thing. It was a signal fire intended by the
+Winnebagos for the eyes of a party of friends who were too far off to be
+reached in any other way. Deerfoot had seen such telegraphy many a time
+and oft, and more than once he had used it. He could interpret such a
+signal when made by a Shawanoe, Wyandotte, Sauk or Fox, but he had never
+learned the code in use by the Winnebago military authorities.
+
+However, it was not possible that there was any very fine shade of
+meaning in the various manipulations of the two warriors. Keen brained
+as is the American Indian, he is unable to do a great many things with
+which he is credited: one of these is to do more than telegraph the
+simplest messages by means of fire, though it is beyond question that
+important tidings has been flashed hundreds of miles in a single night,
+from mountain top to mountain top, by means of the signal fires of the
+Indians.
+
+What disturbed Deerfoot was this proof that there was a second party of
+Winnebagos in that section of the country. He had not dreamed of such a
+thing, and it might well cause him alarm, that is, for the three men who
+were so intent on gathering their furs comparatively a short distance
+away.
+
+Carefully screening himself from observation, the Shawanoe looked
+intently in the direction of the gaze of the Winnebagos. He saw that
+they were not peering at any other ridge, but at the broad low valley to
+the north-west. They had not long to look when they detected a thin
+bluish column of smoke creeping upward among the tree tops and
+dissolving in the clear air above.
+
+Deerfoot also saw it, and he knew that it was a reply to the first
+signal. There was another party of Winnebagos in the neighborhood; they
+would soon join Black Bear's party, and there was no time for delay.
+Indeed, but for the discovery he had made, the Shawanoe would have felt
+that he had tarried too long already.
+
+It was not far now to the camp of the Hunters of the Ozark, and it was
+perilous to wait to warn them. Every hour counted. Not only that, but,
+as you can readily see, Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in still
+greater danger.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+ON THE EDGE OF THE PRAIRIE.
+
+
+The night was far advanced when Fred Linden and Terry Clark reached the
+stream, where the former remarked that their progress was stopped. Of
+course he meant that they could continue if they chose to make another
+raft or they could wade, but they had journeyed so far since dusk, and
+the trouble of constructing a float was such that he thought it best to
+wait where they were until daylight. They were pretty well fagged out,
+and nothing could have been more grateful than to throw themselves on
+the ground and sleep for several hours.
+
+Terry was as tired as his companion, but he stood irresolute, inclined
+to think it best that they should push on.
+
+"The stream doesn't look very deep," said he, "and if ye agraas wid me
+that we can wade, it'll be wiser if we make tother side and then
+journey to the nixt straam."
+
+"But that may be a good many miles further on."
+
+"Thin all we have to do is to travel a good many miles," said the plucky
+Irish lad, sitting down to take off his shoes.
+
+"I shall never give in to _you_," remarked Fred, also seating himself
+and beginning to remove his foot-gear.
+
+Before any thing more could be done, however, both were startled by the
+discovery that some one was on the other side of the stream. First they
+heard the guttural exclamations which they knew were made by Indians,
+and then they saw one of the red men come out into full view in the
+moonlight.
+
+Without a word, the boys hastily moved back under the shadow of the
+trees, making sure that they also placed several rods between them and
+the trail which they had followed to the edge of the water. Secure from
+observation, they fastened their eyes on the other bank, where they saw
+an interesting sight.
+
+Three Indian warriors stood for fully five minutes in plain sight,
+while they discussed the same question that had engaged the lads--that
+is, in what manner the stream should be crossed.
+
+It did not take them long to decide. The foremost stepped into the
+water, followed by the other two, none removing his moccasins or
+leg-gear, and in a brief while they came out upon dry land again, within
+fifty feet of where the lads were crouching under shelter.
+
+The boys trembled as they realized how narrow their escape had been. Had
+they not paused for a few minutes, they would have been in the middle of
+the stream, just as the others came down to the edge of the water. In
+the light of their recent experience with the Winnebagos, they had not a
+particle of doubt that the three belonged to the same tribe and that
+they were fierce enemies. Had they not slain the boys, they would have
+made captives of both and conducted them to the main party. Then when it
+should have been found that one of the prisoners had the gun that once
+belonged to the Wolf, their fate would have been sealed.
+
+The incident drove from the mind of Fred all wish to tarry on the road.
+He wished that they were many miles on their way to the camp in the
+Ozarks. They considered themselves members of the little party of
+hunters whom they could not reach any too soon.
+
+"I obsarved while the spalpeens were wadin'," said Terry, "that none of
+them wint lower in the water than their knees. Why didn't they take off
+their shoes like dacent gintlemen, and cross as they should; but bein'
+as they didn't do the same, why, we'll sit them the example."
+
+A minute later, the boys stepped into the stream, and, by using care,
+reached the other side, with all their garments dry. Their shoes were
+quickly replaced, and the two were off again, so moved by what they had
+seen, that for the time they forgot fatigue and every thing else.
+
+"I tell you, Terry, that matters are beginning to look worse than even
+Deerfoot thought, and you know that when he left us he didn't feel
+satisfied, by any means."
+
+"Could it be," asked his companion, "that these spalpeens don't belong
+to the same crowd that we saw?"
+
+"I am quite sure they do; these three would not have been so separated
+from the others."
+
+"Where could they have come from?" asked the puzzled Terry.
+
+"Where all the Indians come from--the woods. I suppose a large party of
+Winnebagos have been off on a tramp, and they are coming together with a
+view of going home or of making an attack on some place or persons."
+
+A random guess, like this, sometimes comes closer to the truth than a
+labored theory. The three Indians whom they had so narrowly escaped were
+members of Black Bear's party and were on their way to meet him.
+Furthermore, there were more of them at no great distance.
+
+"Me father lost his life by the Indians," said Terry, in a soft voice;
+"but though it was not known what tribe the same belonged to, I don't
+think they were Winnebagos; but Indians are Indians and are always ready
+to kill white people whiniver the chance comes along."
+
+"You are right; father doesn't think there is the least danger or he
+wouldn't have sent for me. He has hunted several seasons without any
+trouble with them, but he ought to have learned long ago to be forever
+on the watch."
+
+"Fred," said the other, stopping short in his excitement; "do ye think
+they are goin' to attack the _sittlement_?"
+
+"Impossible! There's the blockhouse and plenty of men to defend it
+against a thousand savages."
+
+"But the woods saam to be full of thim; there may be some kind of an
+Indian war that has broke out and these are the first part of the rid
+army that is to coom down and swaap us over the Rocky Mountains."
+
+But Fred could not share in this prodigious fear. He faced to the front
+again and laughed, as he resumed his walk.
+
+"There couldn't be any thing like _that_ without warning reaching us;
+some of the runners would have come to Greville with the news; besides,
+Deerfoot would have been certain to know something about it."
+
+"_That_ sittles it!" exclaimed Terry, with a sigh of relief; "ye are
+right in sayin' the Shawanoe would have knowed about it; he would have
+larned it before the spalpeens that started out on the war path, and,
+bein' as he didn't say any thin', I'm sure ye are right; but all the
+same, it looks bad for the Hunters of the Ozark, which maans oursilves
+as well as the men in the mountains."
+
+"There's no use of denying that there is enough to make all of us
+anxious, but when I remember that father and Mr. Hardin and Bowlby have
+spent so many years in the Indian country, I can not help feeling hope
+that they will be able to take care of themselves. You know they are all
+good shots and they have a cabin strong enough to stand a rough siege."
+
+"I don't forgit the same; but there's a good many more rid than white
+men and Mr. Bowlby is lame."
+
+"What of that? He doesn't expect to fight with his feet."
+
+"There are many scrimmages in which it's handy to use yer faat. If
+Deerfut hadn't popped along just as I keeled over the Wolf I'd jumped
+on him; then, do ye not mind that the men may take it into their heads
+to run away."
+
+"They have their horses," said Fred, foreseeing and agreeing with the
+response that his young friend would make.
+
+"Not one of 'em is worth a cint at such a time; a one-legged Indian
+could outrun the fastest; they would have to stick fast to the trail
+while the spalpeens would walk all around 'em."
+
+"All that is true, but if they could get a good start, it would be very
+handy for Mr. Bowlby to have one of the horses to ride."
+
+"I don't see much chance of the same," was the sensible comment of
+Terry; "but, me boy, have ye any idaa of what time it is?"
+
+"It must be far beyond midnight: surely we are a long ways in advance of
+the Winnebago camp where we left Deerfoot."
+
+"They are not meaning to make a start to-night?"
+
+"Of course not; they will not move until morning."
+
+"Thin I'm in favor of an adjournment _sine die_, at once and without
+waitin' any longer."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the puzzled Fred, stopping and looking around
+at his companion.
+
+"I'm tired out."
+
+"So am I, but I made up my mind to keep walking till I dropped, before I
+would give in to you. It will be a sensible thing for us to rest, but we
+must get far enough from the trail, so that if any more stragglers come
+along this way, they won't stumble over us."
+
+This was only simple prudence. They groped along for several rods,
+through the undergrowth and among the limbs, and were still walking,
+when Terry's foot struck some obstruction and he fell flat.
+
+"Are you hurt?" asked Fred.
+
+"Hurt? No; that's the way I always lay down, as me uncle obsarved whin
+he fell off the roof--call me early, Fred, and be sure ye don't take up
+more of the bed--than--a--gintleman----"
+
+The poor wearied fellow was asleep.
+
+Fred smiled, as he lay down beside him The air was quite brisk, so he
+unstrapped his blanket and flung part of it over his friend and the rest
+over himself, the two lying back to back as they lay the night before in
+the cavern. The dried leaves made as soft a couch as they could want and
+Fred had only time to murmur a prayer to heaven, when he too became
+unconscious.
+
+They slumbered for four full hours, when both awoke at the same moment,
+refreshed and strengthened. The sun was well up in the sky, and
+fortunately the weather continued clear, crisp and bracing. Indeed it
+could not have been more nearly perfect.
+
+They laughed when they saw where they had made their bed, right in the
+open wood, just as any wild animal would have done when overcome by
+fatigue. There was no water within sight and no food at command. The
+blanket was quickly folded up into a neat parcel and strapped to the
+back of Fred and the two retraced their steps to the trail, which they
+hoped to follow until it took them to the camp at the foot of the
+Ozarks.
+
+"I have found out one thing, that have I," remarked Terry, with the air
+of one announcing a great discovery.
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"The hungriest young gintleman on the western side of the Mississippi is
+the handsome youth whom ye have the honor of walkin' with this very
+minute."
+
+"I can feel for you on _that_ question," added Fred; "for it seems to me
+that I never wanted food so bad in all my life; we must be on the
+lookout for game. Do you know how to make that call that Deerfoot used
+to bring the turkey to him?"
+
+"No, but I know how to use the turkey after the same is brought to me.
+If I should try the signal, it would scare all the turkeys and deer and
+foxes and bears and wolves and beavers out of the country, which bein'
+the same, I won't try it, principally because I don't know how to begin
+to try it."
+
+"My gracious, Terry; if you could shoot like you can talk, we wouldn't
+have to wait long for something to eat."
+
+"Whisht, Fred," whispered Terry, in some excitement; "the wood just
+beyanst ye looks as if it wasn't any wood at all."
+
+Fred Linden had noticed the peculiarity. The trees were becoming so
+scarce and far apart that it was evident they were approaching some
+extensive clearing where no trees grew at all. The next minute the two
+stood on the edge of an immense prairie, which revealed a sight that
+profoundly interested them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+A MORNING MEAL.
+
+
+The two boys stood on the edge of a prairie which had a varying width of
+from one to three miles. Looking to the right and the left, neither end
+could be seen, so that there was no means of judging its length.
+
+The trail led straight across to the wilderness on the other side, which
+at that point was all of two miles distant. You can understand that
+walking was so much easier on the open ground that any party of
+travelers would hasten to take advantage of such a chance. The hoofs of
+the half dozen horses had left such a distinct impression that the eye
+could follow the trail a long ways from the margin of the woods.
+
+This prairie was entirely covered with a growth of succulent grass. The
+season was so late that it had lost most of its verdancy, but there was
+an abundance of nutriment in the blades and it was splendid
+feeding-ground--one of those breaks in the almost limitless forest of
+which grazing animals were sure to take advantage.
+
+The boys had paused only a minute or two, gazing out on the almost level
+expanse, when Terry uttered an exclamation of delight and pointed to the
+right. Looking in that direction (as Fred had done at the moment his
+companion spoke), he saw a welcome sight indeed. A herd of buffaloes
+were cropping the grass within gunshot of the young hunters.
+
+As I have said in another place, there were no such droves as have
+sometimes been seen on the vast prairies of the far west, numbering
+fully a hundred thousand, though a century ago some amazing collections
+of animals were met within sight of the Mississippi.
+
+The herd upon which our friends looked with so much interest numbered
+little more than a hundred, and they were ruminating along the side of
+the prairie instead of cropping the grass in the middle of the plain.
+Some of them seemed to be browsing among the trees and undergrowth, but
+the major part were scattered over the prairie to a distance of two
+hundred yards, while they were strung to a still greater extent parallel
+with the course of the prairie itself. From this you will see they were
+much dispersed, none of them being close to another, except he may have
+brushed against him now and then.
+
+The front of the drove was not less than two hundred feet away and
+others could be heard ruminating among the trees, where their huge bushy
+heads and big round eyes were often thrust into view. Some of them may
+have caught sight of the lads, but if so, they did not consider them
+worth attention, for they continued browsing and grazing, advancing step
+by step toward the spot where our young friends stood.
+
+"Frederick," said Terry, laying his hand on the arm of his companion,
+and speaking with the gravity of a judge, "whin ye swoop yer gaze on
+thim playthings out there, bear in mind that there's our breakfast, as
+me grandmither obsarved whin the dinner table upsit and ivery thing
+rolled down cellar."
+
+"Our opinion is unanimous on that point; I have already selected my
+victim, and if you will go away and start a fire, it will hurry matters
+along."
+
+"It ain't as bad as that," said Terry in some surprise, "I'm not so near
+dead that I'm goin' to die in ten minutes if I don't git somethin' to
+ate: I will stay and superintind the operations of shootin' one of them
+little pets out there."
+
+"It isn't the first buffalo I have killed--"
+
+"I'm not aware that ye have killed that yit," interrupted the Irish lad
+in his quizzical fashion.
+
+"You soon will be, but I have been out with father before to-day and
+shot buffaloes: have you?"
+
+"No; whin I goes out huntin' yer fither has't the proud distinction of
+bein' taken along. Lucky for the buffaloes I niver took a notion to go
+out and kill siveral thousand: for that raison we find the drove out
+there so innocent and confidin' that they don't know enough to be afeard
+of us."
+
+"Maybe they have no cause to be."
+
+"But they can't know that _I'm_ not goin' to shoot among them,--so why
+shouldn't they be scared out of their siven sinses? Howsumiver, ye have
+me permission to show the animals that ye are actin' under me own eye
+and orders and it will be an incouragement to yersilf to know the same."
+
+From what has been said, it will be understood that Fred Linden knew
+much more about buffaloes than did his companion. [The proper name is
+_bison_: the genuine buffalo is not found in America.] As he had said,
+this was not the first time he had hunted them, but with Terry Clark it
+was different. He had spent a good deal of his time in the woods and had
+gone in quest of wolves, bears and deer, but he had never brought down
+one of the lumbering animals for whose flesh he now yearned with a
+yearning that only the most ravening hunger can inspire.
+
+Terry had formed a deep plot during the short conversation. He did not
+know the best manner in which to shoot a buffalo and he was too proud to
+ask instruction. He encouraged the scheme, therefore, of Fred making the
+first shot. That would give him a chance to see how it was done, so
+that when he came to exhibit _his_ skill, he would make no mistake.
+
+Although up to this time the animals had not shown that they cared a
+straw for the two beings who stood so near and were looking at them with
+loaded guns in their hands, yet they were liable to become stampeded at
+any moment. A snort and jump by a single animal were likely to set the
+whole drove on a dead run, in which all hope of a breakfast on buffalo
+steaks would be gone for that morning at least.
+
+So, as a matter of prudence, Terry stayed where he was, but partly
+sheltered himself, so as not to startle any one of the animals that
+might come upon him suddenly. At the same time, Fred bent low and with
+loaded and cocked rifle began stealing toward the nearest buffalo.
+
+As it happened this was a cow in fine condition. She was plucking a
+ribbon of grass that followed the edge of prairie. By some chemistry of
+shadow and sunshine, there was this little strip of unusually tender
+herbage, which the cow was eating in her quick, vigorous way, as though
+afraid that some of her companions would find and take it from her.
+
+Fred singled out this one as his prize. Being so close to the wood, he
+could not have wanted a better chance to steal up to her. Indeed he had
+but to stand still, for she was coming a regular half step at a time as
+she clipped the grass in front of her; but the youth's hunger would not
+allow him to wait the few minutes that would have been required.
+
+When within fifty feet of the cow, Fred knelt on one knee and brought
+his rifle to a level. The cow was still advancing, "head on," when he
+made a noise similar to that which comes natural to you when you wish to
+drive the hens out of your garden-patch. The cow stopped abruptly, threw
+up her head and stared at the hunter. The sight of the crouching figure
+must have suggested to the stupid animal that every thing was not right,
+for with a frightened whiff, she bounded short around with the intention
+of joining the other animals.
+
+At the very moment she turned, Fred Linden fired, sending the bullet
+directly back of her fore leg, where it tore its way through flesh,
+muscles, bones and the heart, the battered bullet humming off through
+the air on the other side.
+
+No shot could have been more effective. The cow made a couple of wild
+leaps and then lunged forward, her nose striking the earth with such
+force that her head doubled under her and she swung over on her back and
+side with a violence that made it seem as if she had fallen down a high
+precipice.
+
+Following his old rule, Fred loaded his gun where he stood, before
+moving out to examine his prize. It was at this juncture that a stampede
+of the whole drove was due. Now that the boys had secured their
+breakfast they would not have cared had the animals thundered off out of
+sight.
+
+But the terror of the smitten creature was too brief to affect the rest,
+even though several were quite close to her at the time she gave the
+snort and rolled over on the ground. A cow grazing near did raise her
+head for a moment and look at her fallen friend as though she hardly
+understood it. She seemed to meditate plunging into the rest of the
+drove with head down and with tidings of the disaster, but she must
+have concluded that since the other cow was dead, it wasn't worth while
+to make any fuss over it; for she dropped her head and resumed her
+grazing as though she had no further interest in the matter.
+
+Even when Fred ran out, and, stooping down, began cutting a large slice
+from the shoulder of the victim, none of the others paid any attention
+to him. Close behind him came Terry, who was so desirous of examining
+the prize, that he postponed starting the fire.
+
+"Terry, how will that do for a shot?" asked Fred, with some pride, as he
+plied his knife.
+
+"Where did ye land the shot?"
+
+"Right there, behind the fore leg; you can see the hole where it
+entered."
+
+Terry turned his head to one side, closed an eye and surveyed it as
+though he was measuring the height of a wall: then he shook his head.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" asked the impatient Fred.
+
+"Ye are a sixteenth of an inch too far forward, be the token of which
+the ball wint through the upper part of the heart: whin ye kill a
+buffalo coow ye should always sind the ball through the lower instead of
+the upper part of the heart. Ye surprise me so much that I am graved
+with ye, me own Fred."
+
+The latter laughed.
+
+"I suppose it would have done as well had I sent the bullet through her
+brain; but that takes the finest kind of marksmanship."
+
+"Av course, which explains why ye didn't dare attimpt it: whin we have
+finished our dinner, supper and breakfast all in one, I'll step out on
+the perarie, strike an impressive attitude and drop the biggest bull in
+the drove, just to tach ye the gintaal way of doin' that same thing."
+
+"Well, I shall be glad to learn the best style of bringing down the
+creatures."
+
+By this time, Fred had severed a piece of meat from the shoulder of the
+buffalo. It weighed several pounds, but Terry broke in with the
+wondering inquiry:
+
+"What are ye goin' to do with _that_?"
+
+"That's for our dinner; what would you suppose?"
+
+"I thought that was the part of the coow that ye were goin' to be
+sinsible enough to lave behind while we built a fire around the rist and
+had enough of a maal to stay the pangs of hunger."
+
+Without waiting to hear the response of his companion, Terry ran among
+the trees and began gathering wood with which to start a blaze. Both
+boys were such experts at this that only a brief time was necessary.
+Fred laid the buffalo steak on the leaves and took part, striking the
+flame with his own flint and tinder. There was no water within reach and
+this was quite a deprivation, but the boys were hungry enough to wait
+for that. From his scant store of mixed salt and sugar, Fred drew forth
+enough to season the enormous slice and it was speedily half broiled.
+
+Two such hungry youngsters are not likely to be particular about their
+dinner being done to a turn, and they were eager to eat it when it was
+exceedingly rare. Leaving Terry to make known when it was ready for the
+palate, Fred walked to the edge of the prairie to take a survey.
+
+He could not forget that they had serious business before them, and,
+though he was warranted in believing that there was nothing to fear from
+the Winnebagos who had caused so much trouble, he was too wise to take
+any thing for granted.
+
+He saw the buffaloes cropping the grass with the same vigorous
+persistency which they will show for hours, while the prairie, extending
+far to the right and left, failed to show any other living creature upon
+it. So far as he could tell, there was no cause for fear.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+A STRANGE RIDE.
+
+
+When the boys had eaten their fill, there was a quantity of meat left.
+This was cooked still more over the coals, wrapped about with the
+greenest leaves that could be got, and then packed in the bundle which
+Terry Clark strapped to his back.
+
+"There's enough of the same," he explained, "to presarve us from pinin'
+away with starvation, which reminds me now that I promised ye that I'd
+show ye the properest way in which to bring down a buffalo."
+
+"I'm willing to wait until some other time," said Fred, who feared there
+would be dangerous delay; "I am more anxious to get forward than I am to
+see you make an exhibition of yourself."
+
+"It will not take me long," replied Terry, who was sure there could be
+no miss where the animals were so plentiful, while of course the delay
+ought to be slight.
+
+"If thim Winnebagos that we obsarved last night have started this way,
+they ain' t any more than fairly goin', which puts thim at the laast
+calculation a dozen good miles behind us; they won't walk any faster
+than we do, so we'll git to the camp a long ways ahead of 'em."
+
+"All this sounds reasonable, but you know we have learned that they are
+not the only Winnebagos in these parts; but then they are under the eye
+of Deerfoot and he would give us warning."
+
+"That sittles it, as I previously remarked some time ago, in token of
+which we will shake hands on the same."
+
+The Irish lad had made such an enjoyable meal that he was in the highest
+spirits. He extended his hand to his friend and shook it warmly, as he
+was inclined to do for slight cause.
+
+"Now stand still, obsarve, admire and remimber."
+
+And with this high flown counsel, Terry with his gun in position began
+moving toward an enormous bull. The latter really was not so close to
+him as was a cow, but he thought it beneath his dignity to spend his
+ammunition on such game as had served for their dinner.
+
+Although Terry Clark's natural love of humor often led him to assume
+what he failed to feel, he was hopeful in the present instance that he
+would be able to carry out the little scheme in mind. He knew that the
+weapon in his hand was a good one, and he was already so close to the
+buffalo that he was sure of bringing it down at the first fire.
+
+While he was willing to admit that Fred's shot could not have been
+improved, so far as effectiveness was concerned, yet he was in earnest
+in his intention of firing at the head. He knew that no animal is of any
+account after its brain has been perforated, and it seemed to him that
+it was more appropriate for a true sportsman to bring down his game by
+that means instead of firing at its body.
+
+Terry made a mistake from which his experience on the border ought to
+have saved him. Had he driven his bullet into the eye of the buffalo, he
+could have slain him, but he was almost certain to fail by firing
+simply at the head. It would have been far better had he followed the
+example that his companion set.
+
+The bull upon which he had cast his eyes was about twenty yards from the
+wood. He did not raise his head until this distance was diminished by
+one half. Just then a cow showed some alarm of the approaching figure
+and walked hastily away. This caused the bull to throw up his head and
+stare at Terry.
+
+"Obsarve!" called the latter to his friend, who began to feel uneasy
+over the appearance of things.
+
+A dozen spears of grass seemed to be dripping from the mouth of the
+magnificent bull, who glared at the figure of the young man in the act
+of leveling his gun as though he had some curiosity to know what was
+going on.
+
+Terry aimed at the head, making the part between and above the eyes his
+target. This was probably the most invulnerable spot of the animal.
+
+The bull was still staring at the intruder, when the latter, aiming at
+the point named, fired. The bullet struck the bony ridge at the upper
+part of the head and glanced off into space, inflicting no more real
+injury than a paper wad.
+
+But the impingement of the lead must have given the stupid brute an idea
+that harm was meant. His anger was roused, and, dropping his head with a
+savage bellow, he charged the young hunter at full speed.
+
+This was giving the matter an unpleasant turn, but there was no time to
+argue, and flinging his gun aside, Terry gave the finest exhibition of
+running he had ever shown. No one could have realized better than did he
+that the bull "meant business" and it would never do to allow himself to
+be caught.
+
+Fred Linden himself was so startled by the sudden onslaught of the
+animal that he was flurried and fired without taking proper aim. He
+struck him, but he was unable to check his charge: indeed he rather
+added to his fury. Stepping back, so as to shield himself as much as he
+could behind the nearest tree, he began reloading his weapon with the
+utmost haste.
+
+Meantime Terry, by desperate running, reached the tree at which he aimed
+a few steps in advance of his formidable foe. He had no time to climb
+the trunk, but believing the lowermost limb was within reach, he made a
+leap, seized it with both hands and swung himself out of reach, just as
+the bull thundered beneath like a runaway engine.
+
+Finding he had missed his victim, the savage beast snorted with rage,
+wheeled about, came back a few paces and was passing beneath the limb
+again, when a singular accident gave an astonishing turn to the whole
+business.
+
+The limb which afforded Terry Clark his temporary safety was unable to
+bear his weight, and, while he was struggling to raise himself to the
+upper side and it was bending low with him, it broke like a pipe stem
+close to the body of the tree.
+
+This took place so suddenly that the youth had not the slightest
+warning. Indeed it would not have availed him had he known what was
+coming, for the time was too brief in which to help himself.
+
+Down he came with the limb grasped in both hands and fell squarely on
+the back of the buffalo bull. Fortunately the bewildered animal had
+just shifted his position, so that the lad fell with his face turned
+toward the head instead of in "reverse order."
+
+Even in that exciting moment Terry saw the grotesqueness of the
+situation. His legs were stretched apart so as to span the animal just
+back of his enormous neck. Letting go of the branch that had played him
+the trick, he grasped the bushy mane with both hands and yelled in a
+voice that might have been heard a mile away:
+
+"_All aboard! off wid ye!_"
+
+So far as a bull is capable of feeling emotion, that particular specimen
+must have been in a peculiar frame of mind. He glared about him, here
+and there, turned part way round, as if the whole thing was more than he
+could understand, and then as his bulging eyes caught sight of the
+remarkable load on his back and he felt the weight of the burden, he was
+seized with a panic.
+
+He emitted a single whiffing snort, and flinging his tail high in air,
+made for the other side of the prairie as if Death himself was racing at
+his heels. His actions were of that pronounced character that his
+fright communicated itself to the rest of the herd. There was a general
+uplifting of heads, and then, as the bulls and cows saw their most
+eminent leader tearing across the prairie with a live boy astride of his
+back, the sight was too much for them. A wholesale series of snorts and
+bellows followed, tails were flirted aloft, and away the whole herd
+went, fairly making the ground tremble beneath their tread.
+
+By the time the alarmed Fred Linden had his rifle reloaded there was not
+a buffalo within a hundred yards of him. The one that bore his friend on
+his back was making as good time as the fleetest and was well toward the
+head of the drove. The panic began like an eddy of the sea; there was a
+surging of the animals toward the other side of the prairie and away
+they went, as I have said, with their tails and heels in the air, as if
+they meant to keep up their headlong flight for twenty miles, as is
+sometimes the case, when an immense drove become stampeded on the great
+plains of the west.
+
+Whatever feelings of amusement might have been first aroused by the
+figure that Terry cut on the back of the terrified bull were lost in the
+dreadful fear of Fred that it would prove a fatal ride for his friend.
+
+He could see him plainly for a fourth of a mile, but by that time the
+trampling hoofs raised a dust in the dry grass which partly obscured the
+herd and made it impossible to distinguish the figure of the lad
+clinging to the mane of his novel charger.
+
+"He will fall off," was the exclamation of Fred, "and will be trampled
+to death by the others."
+
+He recalled that the bull must have been wounded by his own shot, but
+that knowledge gave him concern instead of relief; for if the bull
+should give out, he would be trampled by those who were thundering so
+close at his heels.
+
+The buffaloes did not preserve the open order which marked them when
+they were grazing, but crowded together, so that their backs looked like
+brown dusty waves, rising and falling rapidly from the motions of their
+bodies.
+
+Fred quickly recovered from his astonishment. He had reloaded his gun,
+but when ready to fire, was afraid to do so. Too many other buffaloes
+interposed between him and the bull, and had he discharged his weapon,
+he would have been as likely to hit Terry as to wound the brute that was
+carrying him away with such speed.
+
+Running to where the rifle of the boy lay, Fred picked it up, hastily
+reloaded it, and started after the herd. He broke into a loping trot
+such as an Indian shows when hurriedly following a trail. He kept his
+eyes on the fast receding animals, his interest being now centered on
+the moment when they should reach the wood on the other side of the
+prairie.
+
+"It will be the death of him if they dash among the trees," he thought;
+"for he will be struck by some limb and have his brains dashed out."
+
+But such a catastrophe did not take place. The fleeing animals must have
+known that their headlong speed could not be kept up among the trees and
+undergrowth; so, when those at the head of the drove were close to the
+edge of the wood they swerved to the left, and the others followed with
+the same furious swiftness with which they had sped across the open.
+
+Fred Linden at this time was not a third of the way across the prairie,
+and he stopped and viewed the sight. He could distinguish the animals
+much better than when they were tearing straight away from him. They
+ran, so to speak, from under the cloud of dust that had obscured his
+vision, which, sweeping backward, left all in plain view.
+
+What he saw, too, showed that the buffaloes possessed varying rates of
+speed. A dozen were well to the front, still crowding close together,
+while the rest, also in close order, were strung along at different
+distances. Still, they were so far from Fred that his view was any thing
+but satisfactory. Shading his eyes with his hand, he peered through the
+autumn air in the search for his friend.
+
+"There he is!" he exclaimed, but the words were hardly out of his mouth
+when he saw he was mistaken. The distance was too great for him to see
+clearly.
+
+"How long will this keep up?" was the question which he would have been
+glad to answer, for it included the fate of Terence Clark. If his steed
+should grow weary and fall behind the others, possibly he would give his
+rider a chance to leap to the ground and make off; but the likelihood of
+that taking place was so remote that Fred could feel no hope.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+A YOUNG HUNTER'S STRATEGY.
+
+
+Fred Linden walked rapidly forward until he reached the middle of the
+prairie, when he paused and bent his eyes on the swiftly vanishing drove
+of buffaloes. They were speeding at right angles to the course he had
+been following, and, so far as he could judge at the distance, were on
+the same dead run with which they started.
+
+He was convinced that he was mistaken a brief while before, when, for a
+moment, he thought he caught a glimpse of Terry on the back of the
+terrified bull. He was unable to distinguish any thing that looked like
+him. He might--and it was not at all improbable--be still clinging to
+his steed, but he was too far off and too mixed up with the others for
+even the keen eyes of Fred Linden to identify him.
+
+There seemed but the one thing to do: that was to follow the drove
+until he learned the fate of his friend. Certain that he would find him
+sooner or later, Fred resorted again to his loping trot, which he could
+keep up for several hours without great fatigue.
+
+But he had not gone twenty steps at this gait, when, to his astonishment
+and alarm, he observed three Indian warriors, each mounted on a horse,
+issue from the wood at the point where the buffaloes would have entered
+it had they not turned to the left. The red men headed their animals
+directly toward Fred, and advanced at a moderate gallop.
+
+The sight was enough to make the bravest person thoughtful; for you will
+readily see the critical situation of the boy. It was useless to turn
+and run, for they would overhaul him before he could get half way to
+cover. He was in the middle of a grassy prairie, where there was not the
+slightest object which could be used as a screen in a fight with them.
+He glanced quickly about, but did not see a stone as large as his hand.
+Except so far as his weapons were concerned, he was absolutely
+helpless.
+
+Never did Fred Linden display more coolness and knowledge of Indian
+character than he did at this time when caught at such fearful
+disadvantage. He knew that if he showed any timidity, the red men would
+attack him at once, while, if he could deceive them, as he hoped, there
+was a possibility that he would escape.
+
+Two hundred yards away, the Indians drew their cantering horses down to
+a walk: they evidently saw there was no call for haste and they could
+afford to take all the time they wished. They were riding beside each
+other, instead of in Indian file, and being nigh enough to be observed
+distinctly, showed that they were dressed precisely like the Winnebagos
+whom he had noticed the night before around their camp-fire. This might
+have been, had they belonged to another totem, for there is a similarity
+in the dress of different tribes, but Fred had no doubt that these were
+Winnebagos. It began to look indeed as if there was an irruption of them
+into that section of the Louisiana Territory.
+
+During those trying moments, when Fred calmly watched the approach of
+the dusky horsemen, he was observant of the smallest things. He recalled
+that they were the same in number as the party which he and Terry so
+narrowly missed the night before on the edge of the stream and he half
+suspected they were the same, though such supposition did not correspond
+with the theories formed and accepted at the time.
+
+He saw the middle horse, which was darker in color than the others,
+slightly stumble; then the rider turned his head and said something to
+the warrior on his left, who made answer without taking his eyes from
+Fred; then the one on the right said something, his painted features
+relaxing into a frightful grin, the guttural words being plainly
+audible: all these points being noticed, as I have said, by the young
+hunter who had so much more important matters to engage his thoughts.
+
+He recalled with relief that on picking up the gun of Terry he had
+reloaded it, so that he now had two weapons ready for use. With these he
+could make a brave resistance, and you may depend upon it that the last
+thing he thought of doing was to surrender. He might easily be shot
+down where he stood, but he would die fighting.
+
+The three horsemen advanced with the same deliberate pace, their black
+eyes fixed upon Fred, who stood erect, looking straight at them. When
+they were within twenty yards, he quietly turned so as to face the other
+way, and waved his cap several times over his head. At the same moment
+he uttered a resounding whoop, replaced his cap, laid Terry's rifle at
+his feet and leveled his own at the amazed savages, who could not have
+suspected what was coming.
+
+You understand that the purpose of Fred was to make the Winnebagos
+believe that he had friends on the edge of the wood behind him to whom
+he had signaled. The act of laying down his gun was to give the
+impression that he was so sure of support that he was ready to fight
+until it should appear.
+
+Now, the red men might have been deceived by this to as full an extent
+as the youth desired, but the fact remained that, even if there were
+re-enforcements on the margin of the prairie, they were so far off that
+they could give no help if the Indians chose to assail the boy. I am
+inclined to think that had the Winnebagos believed that a dozen white
+hunters were encamped there, they would not have been restrained from
+carrying out their design by such fact: but when the cool defiance of
+the youth was added to the same, there was enough to make them pause.
+
+They might shoot him down, wheel and dash for the woods from which they
+had emerged but a short time before; but they would be liable to
+pursuit, and, when a white borderer takes to the trail, he can be as
+persistent as the red man himself, though, as I have said, had they been
+eager to shoot the boy, they would not have been stopped by that
+knowledge. But they saw that he had his loaded rifle leveled at them:
+each Winnebago probably imagined he would be the special target. Their
+guns were still in their hands and no doubt the moment any one attempted
+to raise his weapon the white boy would fire.
+
+The distance was so short that there could be no miss. It followed
+therefore that the cost of an assault upon the lad would be the death
+of one of the Winnebagos, and none of the three could know that he would
+not be the victim.
+
+The cost was more than they were willing to pay, for it must be borne in
+mind that not only was the death of one of their number considered
+assured, but it was not at all unlikely that such a daring youngster
+would be able to do something with the gun at his feet before
+succumbing.
+
+But it is not to be supposed that three mounted Indians would
+deliberately ride away from a single youth through fear alone,--that is,
+not until they had tried to circumvent him by strategy. And so it came
+to pass that within the same minute that Fred raised his rifle, the
+Winnebago who sat in the middle waved his hand toward him as a sign of
+comity. At the same time he called out: "Yenghese! Long Knife!
+Friend--friend--friend!"
+
+But Fred knew too much to be deceived. He was the master of more
+vigorous English, and, without lowering his gun, he called out:
+
+"Keep off or I'll fire! If you ride another step, I'll let daylight
+through you!"
+
+As if to add emphasis to his words, he gently swayed his rifle from
+right to left, so that it covered each warrior in turn. There was an
+involuntary ducking of the heads, and the Indians, seeing that nothing
+was to be done without large risk, opened out--two riding to the right
+and one to the left. Thus they passed by Fred without lessening the
+space between him and them.
+
+After all, this was the most trying moment to the youth, for it diverted
+his attention in the most exasperating manner. The three horsemen were
+in his field of vision, but it was hard to keep watch upon each. He
+suspected the maneuver was for the purpose of taking him off his guard,
+but it is doubtful whether such was the case, for there was something in
+the grim pose of the youthful hunter which warned them that it was
+unsafe to trifle with him.
+
+When the horsemen were opposite each other and on a line with Fred, he
+suddenly wheeled with great quickness and held his piece still leveled
+so that he could shift it from one to the other the moment needed. On
+their part, the Winnebagos watched him with cat-like vigilance, keeping
+their heads turned until they came together a hundred feet beyond, and
+between him and the wood which he had just left. There they stopped,
+their position such that the sides of their animals were turned toward
+the lad, whom they continued to view with an interest that it is safe to
+say they had never felt in any other of his race.
+
+It was tiresome to hold his heavy rifle leveled, but Fred stuck to it,
+for he knew how much depended on the next minute or two.
+
+It looked for a time as though the Winnebagos had decided not to leave
+without a demonstration, but finally they moved off with their backs
+toward Fred, and their horses on a walk.
+
+"How nicely I could pick one of them off," said he to himself, as the
+broad shoulders, with the black hair streaming over them, moved gently
+up and down with the motion of the animals, and ranged themselves beside
+each other like three dusky targets. "I could hit _him_ or _him_ or
+_him_" he added, shifting his aim from one to the other in turn, "and
+it's because they know it that they are afraid to risk a shot. If one
+of them had made a motion to take aim, I would have let fly, and I
+wouldn't have missed either. Then I would have done something with
+Terry's gun."
+
+These thoughts had hardly found expression, when the middle Winnebago
+suddenly turned on his horse, raised his gun and discharged it at Fred
+Linden. The instant he did so, he and his two companions threw
+themselves forward on their animals and dashed off on a dead run for the
+wood.
+
+Had the warrior been less hurried, it is probable he would have struck
+the astonished youth, who plainly heard the _pinge_ of the bullet as it
+almost touched his ear. His own arms were beginning to ache because of
+their constrained position, but he took as careful aim as possible and
+fired at the savage who fired at him.
+
+More than that, he hit him. A screeching yawp broke the stillness, the
+warrior half straightened up on his steed, seemed to sway, and would
+have fallen had not one of his companions caught his shoulder and
+supported him for a minute or two. The horses were brought down to a
+walk, and finally came to a standstill, though they halted at a point
+beyond rifle shot.
+
+"I hope I finished him," muttered Fred Linden, with a snap of his eyes;
+"they are seeking my life, and, if I could have my way, I would tumble
+every one of them off his horse."
+
+Never was the value of two rifles shown more strikingly than at this
+time. The moment his gun was discharged--had he possessed no other--Fred
+would have been helpless, and the Winnebagos would have been upon him
+before he could reload his piece; for that was in the days of
+flint-locks, when the charge had to be rammed down and the powder poured
+into the pan before the weapon was ready for use. It may be said,
+however, that under such circumstances he would not have fired.
+
+But before the horsemen could wheel about, they would have found the
+youth standing at "present arms" precisely as before, and the situation
+unchanged, except that one of their own number had been disabled, and to
+that extent (which was considerable) the gain was on the side of the
+lad.
+
+There could be little doubt that the stricken Winnebago was hit hard,
+though after some attention from his companions, he was able to sit his
+horse. The three warriors seemed to have lost all interest in Fred, for
+a few minutes later they rode off at a walk, without, so far as he could
+judge, once bestowing a look upon him.
+
+It struck him as singular that after his stratagem, by which he believed
+he gave the impression that he had a party of friends on the margin of
+the wood, that the Winnebagos should guide their horses to the very
+point. After all, it began to look as though he was not so successful in
+that respect as he imagined, and that it was his own courageous demeanor
+that for the time had saved his life.
+
+"I am glad they have ridden off in that direction," said the youth to
+himself, as he saw them carefully enter the wood, where they were lost
+from sight; "for if they had ridden the other way they would have
+bothered me in my hunt for Terry."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+TERRY FINISHES HIS RIDE.
+
+
+That ride of Terry Clark on the back of the buffalo bull was one which
+he could never forget had he wished to do so, which of course he did
+not. The first thrill, when the beast dashed off on a dead run, and the
+wind began blowing by the ears of the lad, was that of pleasure. He was
+having an exciting ride, and, as good fortune would have it, the animal
+was bearing him straight along the trail toward the camp in the Ozarks.
+
+"If the baste will show enough consideration for me," thought the lad,
+"to kape up his coorse for twinty miles or so, he will give me a good
+lift toward raichin' the folks, though sorry I am that I haven't Fred
+alongside or rather behind me."
+
+The bull being on a run, his progress consisted of a series of quick
+jumps, which jarred the rider so much that had he not kept a good grip
+upon the shaggy mane, he would have been unseated. The hair of the
+animal was so long that he was able to make his hold secure, though he
+had a constant fear that he would stumble, in which case the rider was
+sure to take a tremendous header that was likely to break his neck.
+
+Terry could feel the throb, as it may be called, of the engine. His
+position was such that his heels touched the body close to the shoulders
+of the bull. At that point there was an alternate swelling and sinking
+of the muscles, as the animal alighted on his feet and leaped away
+again, which Terry felt as plainly as if he had held his open hand on
+the shoulder. Then, too, the bull had a peculiar sidelong motion, as
+though some of his muscles occasionally got out of "gear," and the
+action of the hind legs did not "dovetail," so to speak, with that of
+the fore legs.
+
+Nothing escaped the eye of Terry during those exciting minutes. He
+thought the head of the bull was held unusually low, but he noticed the
+short, thick horns, curving outward and then coming over until they
+ended within a few inches of each other, and he was sure that amid the
+dusty frontispiece of the immense area of skull bone he could see where
+his useless bullet had struck and glanced off; once or twice he caught a
+whiff of the breath of the buffalo, redolent with the not unpleasant
+odor of grass, and now and then he could hear his fierce snort. It
+seemed to Terry that the animal turned his head partly to one side as if
+to get a view of the strange creature on his back. Doubtless such was
+the fact, and, after each sight, it seemed that he bounded away with
+more terror than before.
+
+Brief as was the time taken by the bull in galloping across the prairie,
+it allowed Terry to see every thing. As soon as he felt sure of
+retaining his seat, he glanced at the other animals, all of which were
+galloping in the same direction as the bull. Some of them were so fleet
+that they passed him, but he retained his place near the middle of the
+herd.
+
+The buffalo, or properly the bison, is a stupid animal, but a peculiar
+fact about the small drove amid which Terry Clark was riding was that a
+number noticed him and in their way tried to push him off. They would
+dash up beside the bull with head lowered, and rub their horns against
+him in the effort to reach the rider and unseat him.
+
+"The only way in which ye can do that," said Terry, when he saw what
+they were trying to do, "is to climb up and take a saat behind me. Thin,
+if ye'll lock yer arms about me nick ye may persuade me to stip down,
+but ye can't do much while on the ground."
+
+The buffaloes were too dull of intellect to realize their helplessness
+in this respect, and they continued crowding close to the bull until
+they must have caused him some discomfort. This crowding was of such a
+marked character that, as you will remember, it was noticed by Fred
+Linden as far off as he stood.
+
+Once or twice the rider had one of his feet slightly jammed, but he was
+able to lift it out of danger without imperiling his position. The dust
+caused by the hoofs of the animals did not rise until his steed had
+passed beyond, so that he suffered nothing therefrom and every thing in
+front was in plain view. The speed of the beast, however, caused some
+inconvenience, for the wind made him blink, and it was only by half
+closing his eyes that he could peer out between the lids and see
+clearly.
+
+Before the other side of the prairie was reached, Terry Clark began
+asking himself the natural and important question,--How is this to end?
+
+The same theories that I have mentioned as occurring to Fred Linden
+passed through his brain also. If the bull should dash among the trees
+at that headlong pace, the rider could not retain his place for more
+than a minute or two; if he was wounded enough to cause him to give out
+and fall to the ground, he would be trampled upon by those behind and
+Terry of course would share his fate.
+
+Brief as was the time given for thought, the youth considered a half
+dozen plans. He glanced over his shoulder and was alarmed to see how
+many animals were in the rear of him. He asked himself whether he could
+not slip backward, grasp the swinging tail, and dropping to the ground,
+keep his feet while he held fast to the caudal appendage, and pulling
+the other way, act as a brake upon the progress of the animal until all
+the others had passed on. Then he would "release brakes," and allow the
+bull to continue his career as suited himself.
+
+But he was compelled to admit that the plan was not feasible. The bull
+was going at such a pace that the rider would be sure to lose his
+balance the moment he struck the ground, and, though he might still hold
+fast to the tail and retard the progress of the beast, he was sure of
+getting in the way of his heels.
+
+"If his tail was a little longer," reflected Terry, "I would try the
+same, but I'm afeard I would git mixed up with his hind hoofs and things
+wouldn't be agraaable."
+
+So that plan was abandoned.
+
+"If he goes in among the trees, I'll lean forward on me face until he
+knocks out his brains--that is, if he has any--whin I'll dismount."
+
+That was all well enough if the bull should happen to follow the
+programme, but the prospect of his doing so was too remote to afford
+much comfort to the youth.
+
+"I guess I'll kaap erict like a gintleman," he concluded, "and as soon
+as a chance comes for me to jump off, I'll go."
+
+Terry had no thought but that the buffaloes would dash among the trees
+and continue their flight in the same headlong fashion, as long as they
+could; but, to his amazement, the head of the drove suddenly swerved to
+the left and the bull followed.
+
+"Be the powers, but this will never do," was his conclusion; "this
+perarie may raach all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and the bull
+doesn't act as if he meant to stop before he raaches there; I'm goin' to
+make other arrangements."
+
+He kept his seat until the drove had gone several hundred yards with
+unabated speed. So far as he could judge, the bull was holding his own
+with the rest: whatever wound he had received was of no account, so far
+as its immediate effect was seen. The others continued crowding up as
+before, but Terry did not mind them. He yelled and shook his head in the
+hope of frightening them off so as to give him the room he wished in
+order to make his venture, but they did not mind him. The odd crackling
+of their hoofs, the rattling of their horns as they struck together, and
+their occasional bellowing, made a din amid which no shout that he could
+raise would gain any consideration whatever.
+
+"There's one thing sartin," said Terry, compressing his lips and showing
+by his action that he had made up his mind to end the business one way
+or the other. "I'm tired of this crowd, and I ain't goin' to spind any
+more time with it."
+
+Between him and the wood were seven or eight buffaloes, crowding close
+in their idiotic fashion, as though to push off the rider. Terry
+recalled the day, early in spring, when he ran rapidly across the creek
+near his home, by stepping upon the surging masses of ice, one after the
+other, and leaping off again before they had time to respond to his
+weight. He resolved to try something of the kind.
+
+Holding fast to the wiry mane with his hands, he drew his feet up under
+him, balanced himself a moment, then straightened up, and, turning
+quickly, stepped upon the back of the bull that was immediately
+alongside. Before that creature could know what had been done, the
+pressure was removed and the weight of the lad was borne by a cow which
+was his next neighbor.
+
+Terry Clark ran as nimbly as a monkey across the backs of the
+intervening buffaloes, until his foot rested on the one nearest the
+wood. A slight slip at the moment of stepping upon his back disconcerted
+him so that he could not recover himself. His intention was to land on
+the ground with his face in the same direction he was going. Then, even
+if he could not keep his feet, he could run with such speed that his
+fall would not hurt him; but unfortunately as he struck the ground he
+faced the other way, and before he could check himself, he went over
+backward with such force that he was knocked senseless.
+
+After all, the fall may be considered a fortunate one, for he was not
+seriously hurt and soon recovered himself. He had received a severe
+shock, but in a short time he sat up and stared about him. Recalling
+what had taken place, he looked in the direction of the herd of
+buffaloes. None of them was in sight, but a dark heap a short distance
+away showed where the bull on which he had ridden had given out and
+fallen to the ground. He was wounded more seriously than at first seemed
+to be the case. Had Terry stayed on his back a few brief minutes longer,
+he would have gone down with him and been trampled to death by the hoofs
+of those in the rear.
+
+"I think I'm all here, as me cousin used to remark after he had enj'yed
+himself at Donnybrook Fair," said Terry, rising carefully to his feet,
+swinging his arms and kicking out his legs. He had been violently
+jarred, and he was alarmed by a dizziness that caused him to sit down
+again. But he recovered quickly, and soon was as well as ever. He turned
+to the left and passed among the trees, where, despite the coolness of
+the day, he felt the relief of the shade thus afforded him.
+
+"I s'pose Fred will be jealous whin he finds out what a foine ride I
+have had," he added, his old sense of humor coming back; "but all he has
+to do is to catch a buffalo bull and git on his back: but I don't think
+he'll forgit the same right away."
+
+Looking over the prairie, he saw the figure of his friend walking in
+almost a direct line toward him, though he was so far off that he was
+not distinctly visible, partly because of the dust which still lingered
+in the air.
+
+Fred's encounter with the Winnebago horsemen had taken place and ended
+while Terry lay senseless on the ground, so that the latter had no
+suspicion of the exciting occurrence.
+
+Terry ought to have walked out on the plain, swung his hat and cheered
+his friend; but that would have been contrary to his nature. He kept out
+of sight among the trees, until Fred was quite close, when he broke into
+vigorous whistling.
+
+Fred heard the familiar sound, stopped short, looked about him and then
+burst into laughter as he saw his comrade. The next moment they ran
+together, shook hands and mutually congratulated each other, as you will
+admit they had full warrant in doing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+THE DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL.
+
+
+It was a thrilling story which Terry Clark had to tell about his ride on
+the back of the buffalo, but, after all, it was not so stirring as the
+experience which befell Fred Linden, and the Irish lad declared that it
+surpassed his own in every respect.
+
+"Thim Winnebagos are gittin' altogether too plintiful," said he; "whin
+they come on horseback as will as on foot, there must be more than we
+can take care of, though you managed the three as well as I could have
+done the same mesilf. And so ye hit one of 'em whin ye touched off yer
+gun, did ye?"
+
+"There is no doubt of it, though I am sorry to say that it did not end
+his career right away."
+
+"It'll sarve him the good turn of givin' him time to think what a maan
+spalpeen he is any way, and that's a good deal. And so ye say they was
+mounted on horseback: what has become of thim?"
+
+"They rode in among the trees over yonder, near where we kindled the
+fire and cooked the buffalo steak."
+
+Terry walked out to the edge of the prairie, and shading his eyes,
+peered in that direction.
+
+"I can see nuthin' of thim; they must have found out that ye hadn't any
+frinds there after all the fuss ye made, and it may be they will come
+back to sittle with ye."
+
+"If I alone could attend to them, do you think we together have any
+thing to fear?"
+
+"Of course not, if it's only thim three, but we have seen so many of the
+spalpeens that they won't be loikely to foind much trouble in scarin' up
+a few hundred more and makin' it uncomfortable for us."
+
+"Well," replied Fred, with a sigh, "I am so relieved and thankful to
+know how well we got through it all, that I am hopeful we shall have no
+great trouble during the rest of the way. We ought to be able to reach
+the camp by to-morrow night if we don't have any interruption."
+
+The young friends surely had good reason to feel grateful for their
+deliverance from the perils of the morning, and with hopeful hearts they
+walked along the margin of the wood until they came to the point where
+the trail turned to the left. Over this they started at a brisk pace,
+Fred slightly in advance of his companion, for the path was not broad
+enough for them to walk any other way with freedom.
+
+"Terry," said the elder, "do you think it possible that the three
+Winnebagos with whom I had the trouble could be the three that we met
+last night, when we were about to cross the stream?"
+
+"Niver," was the emphatic reply; "how could they have got around so far
+in front? It was a good many miles the ither way that we saw the same!"
+
+"I have thought of that, but, you know, we spent several hours in sleep,
+during which they might have turned back."
+
+"But where could they have got their horses?"
+
+"They may have had them within easy reach?"
+
+"It couldn't be."
+
+"I guess you are right; we hadn't a very good view of them last night,
+though the moon shone on them when they were wading the stream and I had
+a fancy that one of them looked like the fellow I hit when I fired."
+
+"All a fancy," insisted Terry.
+
+"Well, there's no use of guessing, for any way it must be only a guess;
+but where do you suppose Deerfoot is?"
+
+"I've been thinkin' of the fellow and it saams to me that it's time he
+showed up."
+
+"I wonder whether he could have passed us in the night."
+
+"That couldn't be, for he meant to stay near the camp-fire where we lift
+him till he found out what the spalpeens were goin' to do, and he
+couldn't have got that chance till mornin'."
+
+"Unless they made a start last night."
+
+"Which the same they didn't do."
+
+The boys were more in want of water than food, and fortunately they had
+not gone far when they struck another stream, narrow enough for them to
+leap across, and which afforded them a draught with which to quench
+their thirst.
+
+"Now," said Fred, "since we have had such a good breakfast, we will
+think of nothing more to eat until night."
+
+"I don't know about not _thinkin'_ of the same," said Terry doubtfully,
+"but I am with ye in agraain' that we won't go out of the path to hunt
+any of the same onless--that is, onless we should think what I've
+brought along isn't aqual to our appetites."
+
+"We must have passed considerably more than half the distance between
+home and the camp in the mountains," added the elder, some minutes
+later; "so, if all goes well, we ought to be with our friends some time
+to-morrow afternoon."
+
+"I'm of the opinion," remarked the sagacious Terry, "that Deerfut sint
+us on ahead last night so as to git us out uv the way; thim pritty legs
+of his can travel so fast that he wanted a chance to stritch the same
+without waitin' fur us."
+
+"More than likely you are right; whenever he thinks it necessary, he
+will branch out ahead of the Winnebagos and overhaul us; so even though
+we see nothing of him, we ought not to feel much concern."
+
+"How about the wither, me lad?"
+
+Fred had noticed since resuming their journey, that the sky, which was
+clear and sunshiny in the morning, had become overcast. The sun was no
+longer visible, and a chilliness in the air warned them that the fine
+weather could not last much longer. They had not only been favored in
+this respect, but for several days before leaving home equally charming
+skies had spanned them. And so, in accordance with the laws of our
+changeable climate, a disagreeable turn was to be expected.
+
+"I was hopeful that it would keep off until we reached camp," said Fred,
+looking up through the tree tops at the darkening sky; "but that is too
+much, and we must take it as it comes."
+
+"Push on as fast as ye choose."
+
+Taking his friend at his word, Fred broke into a slow, easy trot, not
+much more rapid than an ordinary walking gait, but one which they could
+keep up a long time, where the ground was not too rough. Terry of course
+did the same, and they covered fully two miles in that manner, when they
+slackened their pace before an extensive rise of the ground. But for
+that, they would have gone much further at the same speed.
+
+Some fifteen minutes were spent in clambering up the stony incline, when
+they descended into a broad valley, the path still rough and difficult
+of passage. They recognized a dull but increasing roar as made by a
+rapid torrent, and ere long stopped on the edge of a stream fifty feet
+wide, which dashed and foamed over the rocks, breaking into eddies, and
+agitated pools, falling in foamy cataracts and splashing forward again
+with a rollicking freedom that formed one of the prettiest and most
+romantic sights on which they had ever looked.
+
+Directly at their feet was a curious formation. By some means at a
+remote day, a number of hard stones had been flung downward and given a
+spinning motion, which, acting on the softer sandstone beneath, had
+begun hollowing it out, as if by the chisel of an engraver. This
+strange operation had gone on for years, until a bowl a dozen feet
+across and half as deep had been formed. It was almost mathematically
+round, very smooth and with a tapering shape to the bottom that made the
+resemblance to an enormous punch bowl strikingly accurate.
+
+This formation (which in accordance with the taste prevailing in all
+parts of our country, should be christened the "Devil's Punch Bowl"),
+was full of limpid water, fed by a slight overflow from above and
+overrunning and flowing calmly over the lower rim. In the bottom lay
+three stones, looking like cannon balls. These were the tools with which
+the stream had carved the Devil's Punch Bowl. Having done their work,
+they were resting in the bottom, where they had lain for a period that
+could not be guessed.
+
+Out beyond, a thin sheet of the water hung like a transparent curtain
+over the edge of the rocks. It was so smooth and unruffled that it
+seemed stationary, like a film of glass, but, after striking the stones
+below, it broke into foam, whirlpools and eddies, which helped to form
+as lovely and picturesque a scene as the most devoted lover of nature
+could long to see.
+
+The picture was so pretty indeed that the boys stood for several minutes
+lost in admiration. They had never viewed any thing of the kind, and it
+was something that would always be a pleasant memory to them.
+
+But, great as was their admiration, there was a startling question that
+came to them: how was this interesting stream to be crossed?
+
+In front and up and down the bank, the eyes searched in vain for a ford.
+It was idle to think of ferrying themselves over, while the cascades,
+pools, eddies and general "upsetting" of a broad deep stream, made its
+passage as perilous as that of the rapids nearer home in which the two
+had come so near losing their lives.
+
+"There is no possible way by which we can reach the other side," said
+Fred, after they had walked a few rods up and down the stream.
+
+"I don't obsarve any way mesilf," was the response of Terry.
+
+"But there _must_ be, for how could father and the rest have crossed?"
+
+"They may have put up a bridge."
+
+"But where is the bridge? There are no signs of any thing of the kind,"
+said the bewildered Fred; "they couldn't have made a bridge without
+leaving it behind."
+
+"The high water has swipt it away."
+
+Fred stood surveying the stream and the banks, for several minutes,
+during which he once more walked back and forth, but he was right when
+he said that the place had never been spanned by even the simplest
+structure, for it could not have been done without leaving some traces
+behind.
+
+This being the case, the mystery was greater than ever; for it was
+certain that at that hour their friends were many miles distant on the
+other side.
+
+"This is a little ahead of any thing I ever heard tell of," remarked
+Fred, taking off his cap and scratching his head, after the fashion of
+Terry when he was puzzled.
+
+"It couldn't be," ventured the latter, who also had his cap in his hand
+and was stirring up his flaxen locks, "that they carried a bridge along
+with 'em."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"That's what I thought, as me sicond cousin remarked whin they told him
+his uncle carried his shillaleh a half mile and passed two persons
+without beltin' 'em over the head."
+
+"There's something about this which I can not understand."
+
+Terry turned and looked at him in his quizzical way and solemnly
+extended his hand. Fred shook it as he wished, though he was far from
+feeling in a sportive mood.
+
+"They _must_ have crossed," he added, replacing his cap with some
+violence, compressing his lips and shaking his head in a determined way;
+"do you walk up the bank, while I make a search in the other direction;
+we _must_ find the explanation."
+
+The proposition was acted upon, Terry clambering carefully along the
+slippery bank and over the rocks, until he was fully a hundred yards
+from his friend, who busied himself in doing the same thing in the
+opposite direction.
+
+All at once the Irish lad shouted. Looking up to him, Fred saw that he
+was beckoning him to approach.
+
+"I knew there must be something of the kind," thought Fred, who after
+much labor placed himself beside his friend.
+
+To his disappointment, Terry had paused before the worst part of the
+series of cascades. It was at the broadest portion of the stream, where
+the falls, whirlpools, eddies and deep water would have turned back the
+most skillful swimmer.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the astonished Fred.
+
+"I thought I'd show you the place where they _didn't_ cross," was his
+reply, and then he broke into the merriest laughter, as well he might,
+for he had solved the mystery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+THE TERROR IN THE AIR.
+
+
+"Do obsarve where the trail comes down to that big bowl?" asked Terry,
+pointing to the huge, circular cavity below them.
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Well, that's a mistake; _that isn't the right trail_."
+
+Fred turned about, and jumped and ran back to the Devil's Punch Bowl, at
+a rate that threatened his neck. Stooping over, he carefully examined
+the path. He saw that his companion was right; the trail which they had
+followed to the edge of the stream was one that had been worn by animals
+in coming to and going from the Punch Bowl. You will admit that no
+better punch in the wide world could be furnished the dumb beasts than
+that which was thus freely given to them.
+
+As if to confirm that which did not need confirming, a large buck at
+that moment appeared in the path, within a hundred feet of where Fred
+had straightened up, after examining the trail. He threw up his head on
+catching sight of the young hunter, gave one quick, inquiring stare and
+then whirled about and was off like a flash.
+
+Fred Linden could have brought him down at the moment he wheeled had he
+chosen to do so, but he recalled his own proposition to Terry some time
+before, about firing such a shot. Indeed, since they had some of the
+cooked buffalo steak left, there was no call to use any more ammunition
+for game.
+
+Terry Clark came laughing down the rocks, looking upon the whole
+business as one of the funniest of incidents, but to Fred it was any
+thing but a laughing matter. Time was becoming of the utmost value, and
+this divergence from the trail meant delay--a delay, too, whose length
+could not be guessed. If they had turned aside several miles back, it
+was more than likely that they would lose all the advantage gained by
+the laborious travel of the night before.
+
+"How could we have made such a blunder?" asked Fred, his eyes wandering
+back over the path, as though searching for an explanation of the
+mistake; "I suppose at the point where the trails cross the direction
+isn't changed much and this is more distinct than the other. Terry, I
+can't see any thing about this to laugh at."
+
+"I don't obsarve much of the same mesilf," said the other, whose face
+nevertheless was on abroad grin; "I wasn't laughing at yersilf, or the
+mistake we made."
+
+"What was it then that amused you so much?"
+
+"I was thinkin' how funny it looked to see the deer and bears and
+buffaloes and foxes and panthers all standing round that big bowl and
+winkin' at each ither while they drank their health."
+
+"Terry, there's going to be trouble because of this blunder."
+
+"What do ye signify be the same?"
+
+"I believe that all the advantage we gained by traveling so hard last
+night is lost. When we follow this trail back until it reaches the main
+one, more than likely we shall meet the Winnebagos at that point, if
+they will not actually be between us and the camp in the Ozarks."
+
+"I'm afeard it's not all a falsehood that ye are telling me," said
+Terry, with an expression in which there was nothing like a jest.
+
+"Let's be off then."
+
+At this juncture the Irish lad made a proposition which his companion
+accepted, for he thought it promised them much saving in time and
+travel.
+
+It was quite certain that the false trail followed pretty much the same
+direction as the true one: at any rate there could be no doubt that it
+crossed the stream which had stopped them, so instead of picking their
+way back for several miles, they decided to keep along the edge of the
+water itself until they struck the path.
+
+To make sure of avoiding another blunder, one should have gone up and
+the other down stream, for manifestly they could not be certain they
+were above or below the true path; but each felt too strong a misgiving
+about such a course. Their surroundings required mutual support.
+
+Beside this, they were convinced that the trail which they wished to
+recover lay above instead of below, so that, when making their way they
+were not held back by any doubt, though each could not fail to see that
+it was only a piece of guess-work.
+
+Fortunately for their peace of mind, they were right, and the plan saved
+them much time and travel. They had not gone very far, when they came
+upon the path, marked so distinctly that there could be no possible
+mistake.
+
+The width of the stream was about the same as below. The water was
+smooth, deep, clear and sluggish. The bank sloped gently down from each
+side and on the other shore were plainly seen the prints of the hoofs
+where the animals had left the water. It was so deep that whoever went
+over there had done so by floating or swimming.
+
+The crossing was so far above the point where the cascades began, that
+nothing was to be feared from them. The clumsiest raft could be ferried
+over by a child before it would drift into danger, while in case of
+swimming, the peril was still less.
+
+"If it wasn't so chilly," said Fred, "I would propose that we swim the
+stream."
+
+Terry shivered and shook his head.
+
+"We must go over on a raft; it is not only cowld, but is gittin'
+cowlder."
+
+"There's a storm brewing; it looks as black as ink off yonder."
+
+At this moment the boys made a discovery which both pleased and alarmed
+them. Such a float as they needed was at their call. There lay a half
+dozen logs and trees fastened together by several withes, and with
+enough buoyancy to bear them to the other side. Even the pole to be used
+in propulsion lay upon the heavy timbers that were pulled just far
+enough against the bank to prevent them floating off with the current.
+
+While it was pleasant to know that they would not have to go through the
+labor of constructing any thing of the kind, yet there was a cause for
+fear in the presence of the structure which led them to hesitate several
+minutes before using it.
+
+It proved that some one had crossed from the other side upon it, while
+the withes were so white and fresh at the angles, where they were
+twisted open, as to show that the raft had been made but a short time.
+
+The natural question was as to who could have been coming from the other
+way.
+
+"I know," said Terry, compressing his lips and shaking his head.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Winnebagos; they're so plintiful that it couldn't have been any one
+ilse, for they wouldn't have had a chance."
+
+"I suppose you are right," remarked Fred thoughtfully, "for they do seem
+to be almost everywhere, though I can't understand why they should be
+coming this way."
+
+"Suppose there was but one of the spalpeens, and he'd been out on a
+scout, and was on his way back to the rist of the spalpeens with the
+news, would it be onraisonable to think he would take a little pains to
+kaap his leggins and moccasins from gittin' damp enough to give him
+cowld?"
+
+"Well, I can think of no better reason than that, and am willing to
+believe it is correct, but don't you see, Terry, that all this goes to
+prove that we have lost a dangerous amount of time? We ought to have
+been many miles further on the road than we are."
+
+"The buffalo bull had a good deal to do with our impolite tarryin', and
+as he is slaapin' with his four mithers, I maan his forefathers, let him
+rist in pace."
+
+The boys did not allow their words to delay their hands. The raft was
+shoved clear, and the two took their positions upon it, Fred holding the
+pole, while his companion looked after the guns. They were astonished to
+find, directly after leaving land, that the pole, which was nearly
+twenty feet in length, would not reach bottom.
+
+This compelled them to use it as a paddle. The progress was slow, but
+the distance was so slight that it did not take them long to reach the
+other bank, where they set the structure adrift, so that it could not be
+used by any one else.
+
+Looking directly up stream, where the sky was in plain sight, its
+blackness startled even the boys, who were used to seeing the most
+violent changes of temperature. The hue was not of the dark blue which
+often gives warning of the coming tempest, but there was a greenish
+tinge to the blackness that would have awed any one.
+
+While they looked, a zigzag ribbon of flame fluttered across the
+darkened portion, accompanied by a crash that seemed to shiver the
+earth. Fred Linden, who happened to be staring straight at the fiery
+burst, saw the upper part of a large cypress that leaned over the water,
+leap from the trunk as though it had been sawn short off and flung into
+the water.
+
+It was all ablaze, and, falling upright into the current, kept its
+equilibrium, that is, it did not fall to any side, but swept slowly
+downward as upright as when on the tree, and suggested that some giant
+as big as the Statue of Liberty was walking beneath, with an enormous
+torch held above his head to light his path.
+
+"Did ye iver see the like?" asked Terry.
+
+"No; it is wonderful."
+
+[Illustration: "Did ye iver see the like?" asked Terry.]
+
+Although it was about mid-day, the heavens were so overcast that the
+gloom was like night itself. At the same time the darkness had a ghastly
+tinge which made the faces of the boys, when they looked at each other,
+livid and unearthly.
+
+The scene was so impressive that they stood motionless, watching the
+flaming tree and the inky heavens beyond. Suddenly in the sky they saw a
+figure that resembled a vast balloon slightly inclined to one side, and
+spinning on its axis with inconceivable swiftness.
+
+At the bottom the snout-like appendage wavered off to one side as though
+the amazing velocity of the upper part was twisting it loose. A similar
+formation appeared a few minutes after a short distance behind.
+
+And now began the most extraordinary exhibition of all. Imagine two
+whirling balloons, a hundred feet in height, and so black that they
+stood out from the surrounding gloom, showing like pitch against the
+dimly lit sky behind. They began a witches' waltz in the firmament,
+sometimes leaning far backward, then dancing forward, as if saluting
+each other, then "balancing," then dancing up and down, then so far away
+from each other that one would pass out of the field of vision, soon to
+reappear, however. At times they seemed as if about to rush into each
+other's arms, and then they coquetted away again and resumed the weird
+dance in the skies.
+
+You understand that I am trying to describe one of those terrible
+visitations of the west known as a cyclone. Little was heard of them a
+century ago, and the balloon to which I have compared the form of the
+ghostly dancers, was unknown to the lads, who watched the exhibition
+with an interest that was not turned into terror, as it would have been
+to-day, by the knowledge of the awful power for death and destruction
+that lies within that concentration of electricity in its most fateful
+form.
+
+It seemed a long time that this strange scene lasted, though it could
+not have been many seconds. Suddenly, while the balloon-like forms were
+saluting each other, they rushed together. There was no shock
+perceivable when they met, but there were vivid flashes from within the
+murky folds, as the heat lightning sometimes plays among the clouds at
+the close of a warm day.
+
+Having met, the forms engaged in a wrestling bout. Round and round they
+spun with the same bewildering swiftness, leaning far to one side, as
+though about to fall, and all the time whirling with such speed on the
+one spiral leg that it seemed unable to keep pace with the bulkier part
+above.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+FRED LINDEN AWAKENS TO AN ALARMING FACT.
+
+
+The approach of the cyclone was attended by an appalling roar, and a
+mass of branches and trees flying through the air, which warned the boys
+of their danger.
+
+"Terry, it won't do to stay here," shouted Fred, casting about for some
+place of refuge; "where shall we go?"
+
+Quite close to the stream which they had just crossed was an enormous
+rock. Its irregular surface, a dozen feet in extent each way, must have
+reached far down in the ground, so that nothing could have been more
+immovable. It was not the refuge that the boys would have taken, had
+they been given time to hunt for one, but surely they could not have
+found a better.
+
+A couple of leaps took Terry to the place, and, as he threw himself on
+his face, Fred was directly behind him. As they lay, the shelving rock
+was less than two feet above their heads. Though they could hear, they
+could not see what was coming. They could look to the right and left,
+but only for a few seconds in front.
+
+Using their eyes as best they could, they saw the air filled with
+leaves, twigs, branches, huge limbs and trunks, which spun forward and
+over and over, like so many feathers in a tornado.
+
+The first shock that came to the boys crouching behind the rock was a
+dead thump near their heads. An uprooted tree had been hurled from some
+point above, like an enormous spear, and, striking the rock at a slant,
+slid over the rough surface like the finger of a player over the face of
+a tambourine and out beyond, hunting for some spot where it could
+penetrate. It found it on the ground, but it was instantly wrenched
+loose by the resistless power that had first thrown it forward, and went
+end over end into the general wreck and ruin beyond.
+
+The next sight which startled the boys was on their left, directly over
+the stream. The air was filled apparently with snow, as if a violent
+squall had suddenly sprung up. It was accompanied by a hissing noise,
+which mingled with the fearful roar that had not stopped and was like
+that of the stormy Atlantic beating upon the rock-bound coast.
+
+Striking the stream, the cyclone whirled most of the water from its bed,
+scattered the mist and foam among the trees, and saturated the boys
+where they lay. The huge torch was quenched as suddenly as it was
+lighted.
+
+The most terrifying moment to Fred and Terry was when they felt the rock
+in front of them move. It was turned several inches to one side, and for
+one frightful moment, they believed that that too would be sent skimming
+through the air, or whirled over upon them. But there was no other
+refuge to which they could fly; had they attempted to rise to their
+feet, they would have been snatched up and dashed to death. So they
+flattened themselves as much as they could on their faces, and the
+terrific outburst could not reach them.
+
+Such an elemental fury can not last long. Having torn up the ponderous
+trees, overturned rocks, and cleaned out the stream, the cyclone seemed
+to mount upward and leave the earth entirely, probably to descend some
+miles away and continue its work of destruction.
+
+Fred lay still several minutes after it had passed, and then turned to
+look at his companion. He had unrolled the package and taken therefrom
+the cooked buffalo steak, which had been so roughly handled during his
+ride on the bull.
+
+"Well, well," said the astonished Fred, "I believe you are the only
+person in the world who could eat his dinner in the middle of such a
+storm as this."
+
+"I was thinkin', bein' as we are in so much of a hurry, that I would
+save some toime by dinin' without delay, though ye do me an injoostice
+by sayin' I'm through the same; I'm jist about to begin and I'll be
+plaised to have yer company."
+
+Terry may not have had much sentiment, but he was sensible. Fred sat up,
+his head just rising above the rock, and, for a few minutes, they gave
+their attention to their meal. There was enough for a fair lunch, but no
+more. A gentle wind blew against them, being the remnant left by the
+cyclone, and while they ate, you need not be told they used their eyes.
+
+The sight was a striking one: the trees lay across each other, many with
+their prong-like roots pointing toward the sky, limbs and trunks having
+been tossed about in the most bewildering confusion. The water that had
+been lifted from the creek rendered not only their clothing wet, but
+every thing around them was saturated. Walking to the side of the
+stream, they looked down at the sloping banks, wet and muddy, but with
+little water except in the bottom. The current, however, was pouring so
+swiftly from above that this was rapidly filling up, and before long
+would reach its former level.
+
+Now that the cyclone had passed, the sky rapidly cleared. There was a
+chilliness in the air, and the sun did not show itself.
+
+The boys took but a short time to view the destruction, great as it was,
+when they faced about in the direction of the camp which was their
+destination from the first. It looked as though they were finally
+separated from the trail, for since it was so covered by fallen trees
+and limbs, not the slightest trace of it was seen. They were filled with
+dismay, and indeed would have been at their wits' end had not the
+cyclone confined its fury to exceedingly narrow limits. All its
+prodigious force was spent in and directly along the stream. Twenty
+yards away, the forest was undisturbed, so that the elemental scythe had
+made a clean swath as it sped along.
+
+"Hurrah!" called out Terry, "here's the path; I follyed a straight line
+as I could from the water here, so I'm sure I couldn't coom out very far
+from the right place."
+
+Fred hurried over the ruins to his side, and a glance at the ground
+showed that his friend was right: there was the trail at their feet.
+
+"Now," said Terry, recovering his spirits, "if we had only knowed that
+that storm was coomin', we could have fastened our guns to our backs and
+swum across, without waitin' to build the raft, and saved all the time
+that we lost."
+
+"But we would have been wetted all the same, had we done so."
+
+"And gained that much time; do ye know," added Terry, in a half
+frightened voice, "what I obsarved?"
+
+"I suppose you saw what I did,--the air full of water, trees, limbs,
+stones and lightning."
+
+"While we were peepin' over the edge of the rock, ye moind that the wind
+cut our faces so we had to lower 'em to keep our heads flyin' off where
+we couldn't find 'em agin. It was yersilf that stuck yer nose in the
+ground, but I took a paap off beyanst the creek and I saan one of the
+Winnebagos."
+
+"Can it be possible! what was he doin'?"
+
+"Turnin' summersets at the rate of twinty to the second and about a
+dozen faat above the ground; I had only the one glimpse of him, but whin
+I obsarved him it looked to me as if his head and one leg wint off in
+different directions; I s'pose he's lookin' for the same."
+
+Fred Linden could hardly believe that Terry had seen one of their
+enemies, though, as you can well understand, from what cyclones have
+done in recent years, it was not at all impossible. The youth insisted
+so strongly on the first part of his statement, that Fred decided that
+at the time the storm burst, one at least of their foes was on the bank
+behind them.
+
+All this confirmed the belief he had expressed that they had lost
+invaluable time by wandering from the trail, and that they would have
+hard work to keep far enough in advance to reach the camp before the
+Winnebagos. The proof that they had received too of some of the
+Winnebagos being in front complicated the situation and added to the
+mental discomfort of both.
+
+The sky which, as you will remember, had become overcast sometime before
+the bursting of the cyclone, continued to clear, and to the surprise of
+the young hunters, about the middle of the afternoon the sun showed
+itself. The chilliness, however, remained, though the two walked so
+briskly that they could have well stood a still lower temperature.
+
+Fortunately for them (though it also operated in favor of their enemies)
+the trail was traveled without difficulty. The ground was uneven,
+sometimes up and sometimes down, but it was not hard for the feet and
+they made good progress. The distance they had to go was too great for
+them to hope to reach the end of the journey before the morrow, even if
+they traveled most of the night. They had already proven their pluck and
+resolution, and you may be sure, now that they were on the right path,
+that they did not throw away any minutes.
+
+They had eaten the extra buffalo steak sooner than was intended, but
+they could afford to wait until the morrow before partaking of any more
+food.
+
+The afternoon was far along and they were pushing forward in their usual
+vigor, talking in a hopeful strain now and then, when both were startled
+by the report of a rifle. It did not sound in front nor to the rear, but
+only a moderate distance to the left. The boys stopped and looked in
+each other's face.
+
+"Anither of the spalpeens," whispered Terry; "now there ought to be a
+gun fired on tother side of us and one in front and one behind us."
+
+"They may be there, all the same," replied Fred, staring in the
+direction whence came the report, as though he expected the appearance
+of the one who had caused it. They looked and listened for several
+minutes, but saw and heard nothing more, and resumed their hurried pace,
+frequently glancing behind, for they were in that distrustful state of
+mind which comes to one who has a strong suspicion that an enemy is
+trying to steal behind him unawares. The actual presence of such an
+enemy is no more trying than the suspense itself.
+
+The shot might have been innocent--that is, fired by some wandering
+white man or Indian who had not the remotest thought that any other
+person was within hearing. Probably such was the fact, though there was
+enough uncertainty about it to prevent the theory affording the youth
+the comfort it otherwise would have done.
+
+The lads, as you may well believe, did not stop to look into the matter,
+but pressed on at a gait which they were confident would prevent any of
+their enemies overtaking them, unless they broke into their loping trot,
+which was hardly likely.
+
+Somehow or other, Terry seemed to be thinking more about the three
+Winnebago horsemen with whom Fred Linden had had his encounter than he
+did about his own experience.
+
+"How thim spalpeens could be ridin', whin all the rist are afoot, is
+somethin' that puzzles me," said he, after they had walked some distance
+further; "can't ye give some explanation that will relaave me mind,
+Fred?"
+
+"I can certainly know no more about it than you do."
+
+"Didn't ye obsarve them with particularity?"
+
+"I can't say that I did; they were rather small, tough-looking; two were
+bay in color, while one was black: I noticed the black one more than the
+others, because the Indian that I hit was riding on him; I remember that
+he had a star in his forehead."
+
+"Who? The Winnebago?"
+
+"You know well enough that I meant the horse----"
+
+Fred Linden stopped short, and turned his white, scared face upon his
+friend. He had just awakened to an astounding fact.
+
+"What's the matter, Fred? Are ye ill?"
+
+"My gracious! why didn't I think of that before? Those three horses
+belong to father, Mr. Hardin and Mr. Bowlby."
+
+"Are ye sure of the same?"
+
+"Why, of course; I can't understand why I did not notice it the moment I
+saw them!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+THE CANOE.
+
+
+It certainly was remarkable that when Fred Linden was watching the three
+Winnebagos so closely, and when, as I have said, he noticed more than
+one trifling matter, that he failed to recognize the animals they were
+riding. All three were familiar to him, and the one he had spoken of as
+being darker in color than the others, and as having a star in his
+forehead, was the identical animal owned by his father. Fred, himself,
+had ridden him more than once.
+
+It should be said, however, that they were the pack-horses, which even
+when put to their best paces, could not make good speed. Nevertheless,
+they were of great value to the hunters.
+
+The first conviction of the lad on awaking to the alarming fact, was
+that his father and the other two men had been killed by the
+Winnebagos. The thought overcame him so that he leaned against the
+nearest tree and was on the point of fainting.
+
+"They are all dead, Terry--I know it--we may as well give up, and try to
+reach home."
+
+Terry was agitated, but not so much so as his friend.
+
+"Why, my dear boy, it's not so bad as _that_," he said feelingly; "do ye
+not moind that whin the gintlemen go to trappin' and huntin' they turn
+the horses loose to graze? The spalpeens have coom along and run off
+with the same."
+
+"Do you think so?" asked Fred, looking up yearningly for the grain of
+comfort that his companion was able to give.
+
+"I don't _think_ so; I know so; if the gintlemen took the bastes into
+the cabin and slipt with the same ivery night, as me rilatives do with
+their pigs in Ireland, why ye might think that they had suffered before
+the Winnebagos tuk thim away; but they have snaaked up where the animals
+was grazin', jumped onto their backs and rid off."
+
+This view of the case was so reasonable, that Fred rallied and half
+smiled at his own faintheartedness. He stood erect and drew a deep
+breath of satisfaction.
+
+"I believe you are right, but it strikes me that such thieves would have
+stolen all instead of half the horses."
+
+"They've lift the ither three for their frinds that I make no doubt will
+be along to take thim, if they haven't done so now."
+
+"You know that the loss of a horse is considered almost as bad as the
+loss of a man in this part of the world."
+
+"Sometimes he amounts to a good deal more, as me mither--"
+
+Terry paused in his remarks, for just then Fred uttered a
+warning--"_Sh!_" to signify that something was in the path in front. The
+next moment, he ran several paces to the right and sheltered himself
+behind a tree, Terry being only a few seconds behind him.
+
+Both had discovered what it was. A brown bear of moderate size was
+waddling along toward them. He had probably struck the trail, and
+finding it easier walking than among the trees and undergrowth, was
+swinging forward in the direction of the stream that had received such a
+visit from the cyclone.
+
+The boys could not know for a minute or two whether the beast had seen
+them, but they felt no alarm. As I have said, he was not very large nor
+formidable looking, and, if he chose to turn aside to attack them, they
+were more than his equal. As it was, their own eagerness to get forward
+was all that prevented them from shooting him.
+
+Bruin lumbered ahead in his awkward way, and, as the boys peeped forth,
+they fancied that his big brown eyes glanced mischievously at them; but
+they were mistaken. He did not see nor scent them, but went by, and, in
+a few minutes, disappeared from sight among the trees.
+
+Hardly waiting till he had vanished, the youths stepped back into the
+path and resumed the rapid pace at which they had been traveling. The
+sun, that had been partly shining from behind the clouds, was low in the
+sky, and it was not long before they were journeying in the twilight.
+The moon rose early, but its light was so much obscured by the mists
+that it gave little if any help, and the friends were disappointed to
+find it difficult to make any progress at all.
+
+At this trying juncture, they found themselves once more on the bank of
+a stream that had to be crossed before they could go any further. It was
+fully double the width of the one last passed, but did not look as if it
+was deep.
+
+"My clothes ain't all dry yit," said Terry, "and I'm in favor of wadin'
+if we can."
+
+"I am afraid it is too deep for that, and with our guns and bundles and
+thick clothes it isn't an easy thing to swim. Besides it's colder than
+it was last night and it won't be pleasant to spend a few more hours in
+wet clothing: mine is about dry."
+
+Fred added that if they should decide to push on, the only way of doing
+so was by the usual means of a raft. It would take considerable time to
+build one, and probably still longer to work their way to the other
+side.
+
+"No use of waitin'," said Terry; "let's take hold; I've an idaa that we
+ain't far from the cabin and ivery mile that we can make now counts."
+
+Fred started to give his help, when to his unbounded amazement, he
+narrowly missed going headlong over a small Indian canoe that lay at
+their feet. They would not have been more surprised had they come upon
+Deerfoot himself in a sound slumber, and not until they had stooped down
+and examined it closely were they certain that it was not some log
+fantastically shaped by nature that had floated thither.
+
+But an Indian canoe it was beyond all mistake, though after searching
+all around it, they failed to find the paddle so necessary for its
+propulsion. The boat had been drawn up the bank, underneath some bushes
+and undergrowth, where it would not have been seen by any one further
+off than six feet. It was so far back too from the stream that it would
+require an unusual overflow to carry it away.
+
+It was not so dark that the lads could not see that it was of beautiful
+pattern and fine make--one of those delicate vessels which under the
+skillful guidance of its owner skim like a swallow over the water. It
+was a prize indeed.
+
+Now, as you very well know, there is nothing wonderful about an Indian
+canoe, but the astonishment of the boys came from the fact that they
+found it in this place. Fred Linden, in listening to the accounts given
+by his father on his return in the spring from his trapping expeditions,
+had heard him say more than once that there was no Indian village
+between Greville and the camp at the foot of the Ozarks, and that,
+according to the friendly red men who occasionally visited them, he
+believed that the nearest lodge lay nearly two hundred miles to the
+north-west of Greville. It was this fact that gave the Hunters of the
+Ozark so much confidence in themselves when they went on their long
+hunts, though, as you have learned, danger did sometimes come from the
+wandering Indians, the father of Terry Clark having lost his life at
+their hands.
+
+All this being known to the boys, they had cause to wonder how it was
+that an Indian canoe lay hidden under the bushes on the shore. None of
+those people would go to the trouble of making such a boat, unless he
+expected to use it many times. It would be the same as if you had a
+costly rowboat constructed with which to cross only once a canal or
+small stream of water.
+
+But, as in many other cases, it was idle to speculate, and the boys did
+not allow any feeling of surprise to rob them of the valuable minutes.
+Finding no paddle with which to manage the boat, Fred cut a small
+sapling and trimmed it so that he had a pole fully twenty feet long.
+Then the guns were laid in the bottom, Terry took his seat, and they
+carefully pushed from shore, Fred managing the pole.
+
+As they suspected, the water was quite shallow, the depth nowhere being
+more than three or four feet; but the current was rapid, and in some
+places the bottom of the canoe grated over the gravel. Both had to move
+well to the stern to raise the bow, so as to allow them to reach land
+with dry feet.
+
+"It's a pity to allow this to float off and be lost," said Fred; "let's
+draw it up the bank where the owner won't have any trouble in finding
+it."
+
+"I would give a good deal if I could be introduced to that same
+gintleman," remarked Terry, who took off his cap and scratched his head
+as he added:
+
+"I wonder whither that is one of the canoes from near home?"
+
+"What are you talking about? How could it get _here_?"
+
+"By some subterranean communication, the same as we boys used to sind
+notes to the gurls whin I was laarnin' the higher mathematics in
+college."
+
+Fred made no comment upon the remark of his friend. The canoe, when
+relieved of their weight, was so light that the bow was pulled to the
+shore by means of the pole. Then Fred alone drew it up beyond the reach
+of the water, and it was left until the owner should come forward to
+claim it.
+
+The two now set out to hunt for the trail, with a view of making eight
+or ten miles more before they stopped to rest; but the result was
+discouraging. It took more than a half hour to make sure they had found
+it, and then they had not gone twenty yards, when Fred said he could
+not tell whether he was in the path or not.
+
+"It's no use," he added; "we may as well stop, for we are sure to repeat
+the mistake of to-day: we'll get so far wrong that it'll take many hours
+to find our way back again, and we shall lose far more than we gain."
+
+"That bein' the same--and I'm willin' to agraa that ye are now strivin'
+to till the truth--let's turn off from the trail, go back so far that
+there isn't any chance for any one to saa us and slaap till mornin'."
+
+Since there was nothing else to do, the boys did as Terry proposed. They
+were not so tired as they were the night before, and they did not dare
+to lie down on the leaves and sleep as they did then. There were wild
+animals prowling through the woods, and the fact that the lads escaped
+once could be no guaranty that they would have equally good fortune a
+second time.
+
+Terry proposed that they should climb a tree and make a bed among the
+branches; but that was hardly feasible. It is not often that the limbs
+of a tree are accommodating enough to allow any one to rest with
+comfort. The branches may be pleasant for a time, but the limbs soon
+become like iron rods and the position so cramped as to drive away all
+comfort. In addition, there was the danger of a fatal fall during sleep.
+
+So it was decided to hunt out the most secluded place possible and start
+a fire. That would keep off the wild animals, and the boys were not in
+such need of sleep that they could not afford to take turns with each
+other in watching through the night.
+
+While hunting a suitable spot, they moved down the river bank for fully
+a hundred yards, and then entered some dense undergrowth which they
+penetrated until they were sure that no safer place could be found. So
+they began gathering twigs, leaves and branches, and piling them against
+the shaggy bark of a tree, and soon had all they wanted. This was fired
+by means of the flint and steel, and a roaring, crackling blaze made
+every thing look cheerful.
+
+"Let's walk off a little ways," said Fred, "and see whether the light
+can be noticed very far; you know that we can not be too careful."
+
+Terry liked the proposal, and rose to act upon it. They moved in
+opposite directions, walking several rods, and then carefully passing
+entirely around the camp-fire. The result was satisfactory, for the
+undergrowth in all directions was so thick that they felt as secure from
+discovery as if the fire had been kindled within an impenetrable cave.
+
+And yet they were woefully mistaken, as they were destined to learn in a
+brief while.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+AMERICA VERSUS IRELAND.
+
+
+Having satisfied themselves that they could not have fallen upon a safer
+place, the boys came back to their camp, as it may be called, and sat
+down in front of the blaze. Their knapsacks were unstrapped from their
+backs and the blankets spread upon the leaves. There was some moisture
+in the thick cloth, but not enough to deter them from using them as
+couches. Their own clothing had become dry, and, under the warm glow of
+the fire, the blankets would soon be the same.
+
+In spite of the reconnoissance just made, both felt some uneasiness over
+their own situation. They were confident that no one further away than
+two or three rods would observe the fire, but the possibility remained
+that some enemy might pass within that space, brief as it was. Their
+experience since leaving Greville taught them that a large number of
+Winnebagos were in the wilderness, and, as Terry remarked, the nearer
+they approached camp, the more plentiful did they seem to become.
+
+It was this feeling which caused them to let the fire sink to half its
+first size and led them to keep far back within the circle of light
+thrown into the surrounding gloom. They talked in low voices, often
+listening and looking around, and were in any thing but a comfortable
+frame of mind. The feeling with them was that if any enemy should happen
+to be lurking in the vicinity, every possible advantage would be on his
+side.
+
+"I feel, Terry, as though all this is wasted time. I know it is more
+than likely that the Winnebagos are doing the same as we, that is,
+nothing at all; but that makes me more anxious to push on."
+
+"I've an idaa," remarked the Irish lad, who was stretched out in a lazy
+posture, with his cap in hand, while, as was his custom, he scratched
+his pate with the other; "I'm thinkin' why couldn't we aich take a torch
+in hand and walk along over the path with the same?"
+
+Fred was half inclined to try the experiment, but fear prevented. They
+had learned that the Winnebagos were not only in the rear but in front.
+No more conspicuous target can be given than that of a person carrying a
+lighted torch: it was the same as when a man with a candle in his hand
+starts out to explore his house for burglars. So that plan was not
+adopted.
+
+Terry was about to speak to his companion, when the latter saw him
+start, and, rising quickly to the sitting position, stare at a point
+beyond Fred. He had seen something that terrified him.
+
+With his big round eyes still fixed on the gloom behind young Linden,
+Terry stealthily reached for his gun, which lay on the leaves close by,
+and softly drew back the flint. Fred, as may be supposed, was alarmed,
+and starting half to his feet, glanced nervously around.
+
+He saw nothing.
+
+"What's the matter?" he asked in an undertone, as he also laid his hand
+upon his weapon.
+
+"Whin I was lookin' at ye," said Terry in a husky whisper, "I obsarved
+one of the spalpeens standin' right behind ye and close enough to touch
+ye with his hand. Before I could spake, he slipped out of sight like a
+shadder."
+
+Fred did not ask his companion whether he was sure of what he said, for
+he knew he was not mistaken.
+
+"That shows we shouldn't have started the fire; it has caught the eye of
+some of the Indians, who will be here in a few minutes; let's slip back
+in the darkness and get as far off as we can; it don't make much
+difference what course we take, but it will never do to stay here."
+
+Fred Linden had no more than completed his guarded remark, when he too
+caught sight of a warrior standing on the very edge of the circle of
+light and looking straight at him. The view of the dusky intruder was
+faint but unmistakable.
+
+The outlines and figure received enough of the firelight to cause him to
+look like a dim painting against a dark background. He was holding a
+rifle in one hand and appeared to be contemplating the lads, as if
+seeking to learn their identity before he advanced or performed some
+action.
+
+"_Sh!_ don't stir," whispered Fred, softly raising the hammer of his
+gun, "I see him,--I'll drop him!"
+
+With the utmost caution he brought the gun around in front until it was
+almost to his breast. Then as quickly as he could he raised it to his
+shoulder and aimed at the daring redskin.
+
+But the latter was invisible, he had vanished like the picture on the
+slide of a magic lantern.
+
+As you may suppose, the boys began to feel queer. There was something so
+peculiar about this business that, as Terry expressed it, he was "crawly
+all over." What they might have done can only be guessed, for before
+they could move away from the fire, Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who had been
+having a little amusement at their expense, advanced from the gloom and
+addressed them.
+
+"The heart of Deerfoot is glad when he sees his brothers do not sleep;
+he has watched them, but their eyes are open."
+
+"Wal, be the powers!" muttered Terry Clark, hastily rising to his feet,
+as did Fred; "the spalpeen that plays that trick on me has got to fight
+it out."
+
+And he began taking off his coat and spitting on his hands, to show that
+the matter could only be settled by a bout at fisticuffs. Deerfoot had
+extended his hand to Fred and he smiled at the combative Irish lad, who
+put up his fists and began dancing about him in the most belligerent
+fashion.
+
+"Give him a trial," whispered Fred, with a laugh.
+
+"Deerfoot loves his brothers; he can not hurt them."
+
+"If ye can git the bist of mesilf," said Terry, who was still sawing the
+air and hopping about as though the ground had become hot; "I'll think
+more of ye than iver before, bein' that I think more of ye now than I
+ever can, and I defy ye to sit your gun aside and git the bist of me in
+any way."
+
+"Go for him," urged Fred, knowing that the Irish boy, strong and active
+as he was, had no chance with the Shawanoe; "he thinks he is your
+master when you don't use your weapons. If you will give him a lesson,
+it will do him good."
+
+"Deerfoot will try to be a teacher to my brother," said the Shawanoe
+gravely, handing his gun to Fred, and following with his knife and
+tomahawk, that he might have no weapons except such as nature gave him.
+Then he threw some wood on the fire, so that the space immediately
+surrounding them was as light as noonday. Finally, every thing being
+ready, he proceeded to "go for" Mr. Terence Clark in a truly aboriginal
+fashion.
+
+Now, it must be borne in mind that, though there was and could not be
+the least ill feeling between the youths, yet each was resolutely
+resolved to overcome the other in the most emphatic manner at his
+command. Terry did not mean to batter the handsome face of his dusky
+friend, but to tap it so smartly that he would feel it. The naturally
+combative lad was an adept with his fists, and he meant to strike
+Deerfoot often enough to convince him of his inferiority. Then he would
+rush in, seize the young warrior and throw him to the ground, repeating
+it several times, until his antagonist cried, "Hold! Enough!" Fred
+Linden was to play the part of referee, and decide which was the better
+man. Thus you see the match bore some similarity to those of the present
+day, in which the victor is declared to be the one who in a certain
+number of rounds gains the advantage of the other.
+
+"As I am to be the boss of this business," sald Fred, with the keenest
+zest, "let me explain the terms: Each one is to strike the other as
+often as he can, the blows to be sharp enough to be felt pretty plainly,
+but not enough to cause any injury. I will let this go on until one of
+you has enough, or until I am satisfied of the superiority of one over
+the other. After that you are to have a wrestling match. When I call for
+you to stop, you must do so, no matter how anxious you may be to go on.
+Is that understood?"
+
+"The terms are agraaable to mesilf," said Terry; "it is sittled that
+there's to be no bettin' on the match."
+
+"I have no objection to your betting if you wish, but inasmuch as you
+haven't a cent and Deerfoot never did such a thing as bet in all his
+life, I don't think there will be any trouble about holding the stakes."
+
+"There ain't to be any foul blows in this," added Terry, who showed that
+he knew more than most of his friends about the "Irish champions" and
+the cause that made them champions of England and Ireland.
+
+"What do you mean by foul blows?" asked the puzzled Fred.
+
+"Hits below the belt. What I wished to observe, howiver, is that we
+ain't to recognize such things as foul blows in this fight for the
+championship of Louisiana. Aich one is to git the bist of the ither in
+the bist way he can. The rule, Deerfut, is for such pugilists to shake
+hands before beginnin' to try to knock aich ither out."
+
+And Terry extended his hand, which the young warrior gravely shook, for,
+as you can well understand, this was something to which he was
+altogether unaccustomed. He knew, however, the nature of the contest
+between himself and his doughty Irish friend, and he entered into it
+with the calm confidence with which he would have engaged Tecumseh
+himself in a fight to the death with knives.
+
+Deerfoot did not put up his hands after the manner of a pugilist, nor
+did he even close them, but fixing his eyes on those of Terry (just as
+he always did in his deadly fights with his antagonists), he began
+softly circling about him, like a cat searching for a chance to leap
+upon his prey.
+
+This did not disconcert Terry, whose pose would have been pronounced
+excellent by any one competent to judge. The left arm and foot were
+advanced, the right fist being held across and just in front of the
+breast, ready to take advantage of the first opening that presented
+itself.
+
+As Deerfoot circled around Terry, the latter moved around him, each on
+the alert for a chance.
+
+"Moind yer eye," Terry was kind enough to say; "it's a pity to sp'il
+such a handsome face, but a sinse of dooty will not allow me to thrifle,
+and so here goes!"
+
+With that he made a creditable lunge with his left, instantly following
+it with his right hand, and leaping back to avoid a counter. He did not
+strike Deerfoot nor did he receive a blow in return.
+
+"Ye are quick on yer faat and very good at dodgin', but it is an
+obligation ye owe to yersilf and to America to show whither thim foin
+purty hands can hit----"
+
+_Rap, whack, spat!_ The Shawanoe smote one cheek of Terry, then the
+other, and then his mouth, the blows being so quick that they seemed to
+be simultaneous. At the moment they were delivered, the Irish lad could
+not see that the young warrior had stirred. He appeared to be moving in
+his cat-like way around him, but beyond reach of Terry's own tough
+fists. Seeing that he must force matters, he made a furious rush for his
+antagonist.
+
+You must not set down Terry Clark as an awkward fellow who went into the
+contest without any skill. His father in his younger days was one of the
+best fighters in the north of Ireland, and he had taught considerable of
+his science to his only son, who gave an exhibition of what he could do
+when he smote the Winnebago that was swinging the cow-bell. There was
+not a lad anywhere near his years in Greville whom he could not master.
+
+Deerfoot knew nothing of the modern rules of self-defense. His
+superiority lay in his unequaled dexterity and quickness. It was that,
+as you will recall, which enabled him to win so many victories over foes
+who were his superior in every other respect.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+AMERICA VERSUS AMERICA.
+
+
+Terence Clark gathered himself for another rush and blow at the
+Shawanoe, when the latter with a quickness which the eye of Fred Linden
+could hardly follow, ducked under the arm of the Irish lad and again
+struck him a resounding blow with the flat of the hand, first on one
+side of the face and then on the other. Terry wheeled and returned the
+blows with skill. Once his hand grazed the black hair that was dangling
+about Deerfoot's head, and several times he touched the nodding
+feathers, but strive as much as he might, he could not reach the fellow
+himself.
+
+Now that the combat may be said to have opened, it went through to the
+end without halt or break. Here, there, everywhere dodged and struck the
+Shawanoe, while Terry was always just too late to catch him. Deerfoot
+might have inflicted considerable injury upon his plucky antagonist, had
+he struck him with his closed hand, but he always used his open palm.
+Some of the blows resounded like pistol shots. Having delivered all that
+he wished, Deerfoot doubled up his left hand so that only the index
+finger was extended. With this he punched the right and left ribs of
+Terry, then his chest, and then actually flipped each side of his nose,
+easily dodging the blows which the half angered Irish lad aimed at him
+in return.
+
+Suddenly Terry turned his back on his foe and deliberately struck
+several times at vacancy. Then he dropped his hands and walked back by
+the fire, saying, with a shake of his head:
+
+"I've enough! ye could bate the divil and his uncle."
+
+Fred Linden was sitting on the ground shaking with laughter. He had not
+seen any thing for a long time that pleased him so much. He had observed
+Terry in more than one fight with the boys at home and he knew he was an
+ugly customer, as full of grit as a bull dog, but the Shawanoe struck
+him fully a dozen times, while the Irish lad with all his skill
+desperately put forth never once touched him. The discomfiture of the
+brave Irish lad was complete.
+
+No witness of the bout, however, could have failed to admire the skill
+and pluck of Terry. He acquitted himself well and kept up the struggle,
+even after he was convinced that he could do nothing with his alert
+antagonist. Then, when Deerfoot began to trifle with him, he turned
+around as I have shown and struck the empty air.
+
+"Why did you do that?" asked Fred, as the three stood by the fire
+discussing the incident.
+
+Terry passed his open hand over his cheeks, which were red and smarting
+from the sharp taps of Deerfoot, and closing one eye and scratching his
+head, made answer:
+
+"I had been sthrikin' at Deerfut until I obsarved that ivery time I
+sthruck _at_ him I didn't hit him; so thinks I to mesilf, I will see
+whither I can hit him by tryin' not to hit him; so I sthruck where I
+knowed he wasn't, thinkin' he was there."
+
+"Well, I must declare Deerfoot the winner."
+
+"I can't deny that he is; I throw up the sponge and extind to him the
+best wishes for himself and family."
+
+Smiling in a way that left no doubt of his relish of the incident,
+Deerfoot warmly shook the hand of his friend, whose brave fight had
+increased his admiration of him.
+
+"My brother is brave," said he admiringly; "perhaps he can lay Deerfoot
+on his back; Deerfoot will rejoice if he can do so."
+
+"Be the powers! but that suits me," exclaimed the delighted Terry; "I
+forgot we were to have a wrestling match; Fred, ye will be koind enough
+to sarve as riferee again; we'll take side holts and it'll be the bist
+two out of thraa."
+
+Terry was warranted in feeling more confidence in this test of skill. He
+had failed--as he knew he would always fail--in a sparring contest, for
+the reason that Deerfoot was so quick that he could not touch him; but
+one of the necessities of a wrestling match is that the contestants
+shall first seize each other. Terry believed that he had as much
+physical strength as Deerfoot, and if he once got a fair hold, he would
+not let go until he downed him.
+
+Terry being right and Deerfoot left handed, each was able to secure his
+most effective grip. So, standing side by side, in the old fashioned
+style, with a dusky left arm around the white neck and a white arm
+around the dusky neck, they began the struggle.
+
+In this match, as before, Deerfoot allowed his antagonist to dally with
+him awhile before he took the aggressive. Passing him over his hip Terry
+gave Deerfoot such a violent fling that a pang of fear shot through him,
+lest he had broken the Shawanoe's neck; but though he shot headlong out
+of the grasp of the Irish lad, the Shawanoe landed lightly on his feet
+and instantly leaped back and closed with Terry again.
+
+"I'll fetch ye this time," he muttered between his compressed lips; "ye
+shan't git out of me hands till ye's down flat on yer back and mesilf
+layin' a-straddle of ye. There's a difference between boxin' and
+sparrin' and I shall taich ye the same, as me grandmither--"
+
+Both went down that instant, but the Shawanoe was on top. His
+antagonist could not have fallen flatter had he been dropped from the
+roof of a house.
+
+"Mark the first fall for Deerfut," called out Terry, hastily clambering
+to his feet, the Shawanoe extending his hand to help.
+
+This result weakened the confidence of the Irish lad in himself, that
+is, so far as concerned his opponent. He reflected that many of the
+Indians are skillful wrestlers, and while Deerfoot had had no training
+in boxing, he had in the other art. Such a cool headed athlete would be
+sure to learn fast. Terry recognized the peculiar flirt by which he had
+been turned off his feet as the very trick he had played successfully on
+his playmates at home, but which he never dreamed was known to Deerfoot.
+
+The Irish lad tried every possible lock, twist and turn upon his rival,
+but he could not get him off his feet. It seemed to Terry that he
+whirled in the air when almost on the ground, and that if he had been
+dropped head downwards from the height of a rod, he would alight on his
+feet.
+
+Fred saw Deerfoot, who was carefully watching his antagonist, smile,
+and he knew what was coming. So deftly that, for the life of him, the
+spectator could not see how it was done, Terry went over again as "flat
+as a flounder." Not only that, but to the astonishment of the victim as
+well as of the witness, the Shawanoe remained erect, so that he
+literally flung his antagonist to the ground and looked smilingly down
+upon him.
+
+"Ye can baat the baaters," exclaimed Terry, rising to his feet, and
+shaking hands with his victor. "I niver met any one who could down me in
+that sthyle. I don't know how ye did the same, but I haven't any doubts
+that ye done it, as me great uncle remarked whin the cannon ball took
+off his head."
+
+With the same shadowy smile Deerfoot looked inquiringly at Fred Linden.
+
+"Deerfoot thinks maybe his brother would be glad to lay him on the
+ground?"
+
+"I'll be hanged if I don't try it," laughed Fred, springing to his feet,
+and instantly but cautiously closing arms with the graceful warrior.
+
+"My brother can not throw Deerfoot," said the latter; "but the heart of
+Deerfoot would be glad if he would tell him how he would like to
+fall--on his shoulders, or side, or back."
+
+"I wouldn't like to fall at all; but if you think you can get me on my
+shoulders, just try it; that's all."
+
+"It shall be as my brother wishes."
+
+The words seemed yet in the mouth of Deerfoot when Fred felt himself
+sailing through space, and the next instant he landed on his shoulders
+with a shock that Terry declared made the ground shake.
+
+As before, Deerfoot himself did not fall, but looked smilingly down on
+his prostrate friend as he began climbing to his feet again.
+
+"Now, if my brother wishes to fall on his back, it shall be so."
+
+"I've little doubt that you will not do just as you say you will; I only
+ask that you wait till I say I am ready; you did the last before I had
+time to prepare."
+
+"Ye bitter not ax him to wait," said Terry, who rolled over on the
+ground in the exuberance of his mirth, at the sight of his big friend
+going down before the lithe, willowy Shawanoe; "for since he's bound to
+do what he says, the sooner ye are out of yer suspinse, the sooner ye'll
+be out of it."
+
+"Be kind enough to attend to your own affairs," said Fred stiffly;
+"Deerfoot and I are running this show."
+
+"It looks as if Deerfut had charge of the whole of it," was the comment
+of Terry, who broke into laughter again; "and whin he is done ye'll
+agraa with me."
+
+Once more the arms passed over each other's neck. Fred resolved that
+whatever came, he would not be taken by surprise this time. He was
+stronger than Terry and he had thrown him more than once. He could not
+understand, therefore, why he should not at least give the Shawanoe a
+struggle. He braced his feet, with every muscle strained, and every
+faculty on the alert.
+
+"I am ready," said he; "do your best."
+
+"On which side shall Deerfoot throw his brother?"
+
+"On my right side, and as hard as you can."
+
+Now, you will see the difficulty of the task, for Fred had his right arm
+tightly locked over the neck of Deerfoot, so that that side was guarded
+by the body of the warrior himself. It would seem, that if Fred should
+fall on either side it could only be on the left. Manifestly if it
+should be the right, the Shawanoe could not go down with him. He must
+bring him to the ground and escape from beneath him before he fell.
+
+He did it. For a second or two the contestants stood motionless. Then,
+like a flash, Deerfoot slipped from the grasp of his friend, dropped
+down in a stooping posture almost to the earth, holding the right hand
+of Fred firmly with his left (this was to prevent him using that hand to
+save himself), and then by a quick dart to the left, he carried both
+feet of his opponent off the ground, and Fred fell squarely on his right
+side, his conqueror straightening up as he went down.
+
+"I would be obleeged," said Terry, throwing back his head with laughter,
+"if yees will be koind enough to till me who is runnin' the show about
+this time."
+
+Fred was chagrined at the ease with which Deerfoot had overthrown him,
+and it was not lessened by the honest compliment which the young warrior
+gave to his skill. Both Fred and Terry had been pretty well jarred, for
+they were downed with such amazing suddenness that it could not be
+otherwise; but neither referred to it and they could only praise the
+wonderful ability of their friend.
+
+"I tell you," said Fred, seating himself on the ground beside the other
+two, after the flurry was over, "all this proves that skill is worth
+more than strength. I am quite sure that I am as strong as you,
+Deerfoot, but I don't believe that Terry and I together could lay you on
+your back. When I had my arm around your neck, I suspected you would try
+to slip out, and I squeezed you pretty hard. You slid out so quickly
+that at the moment you were down at my heels, I thought I had you fast."
+
+"I'm thinkin' that the nixt thing we should try is a race; Fred can
+outrun me and I'll agraa that he will outrun Deerfut, that is, if ye'll
+allow me to make the conditions."
+
+"What would they be?" asked Deerfoot, Looking gravely down upon his
+friends.
+
+"The race should be for a hundred yards, and Deerfut must give Fred
+ninety-five yards start, though to make it sure enough, maybe it ought
+to be ninety-six or siven."
+
+"Then you would require about ninety-nine, according to the same
+calculation," said Fred.
+
+"Ye's are right," replied Terry, to whom it seemed that no athletic feat
+was impossible for the Shawanoe; "nayther yersilf nor mesilf have a
+right to be mintioned in the same day with him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+THE LAST CAMP-FIRE.
+
+
+It seemed to strike all three of the friends at the same moment that
+they had shown a strange forgetfulness of the occasion. A sudden impulse
+had led them into a test of skill, that had continued fully a quarter of
+an hour, during which there was no thought on the part of any one of the
+gravity of their situation.
+
+But a little while before, both Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in
+distress on account of their friends, while their own position
+(believing as they did that there were Winnebagos in front as well as in
+the rear), ought to have driven away all inclination for sport or
+amusement. One of their strongest desires was the presence of Deerfoot,
+that they might have his counsel and help. Here he was, and no reference
+had been made to the subjects uppermost in their minds. Now that he took
+his seat near them by the camp-fire, as if to invite their confidence,
+they quickly returned to the all important business.
+
+First of all, they asked for his experience since their separation the
+night before. He gave only a part of it. He told nothing about his
+conflict with the Wolf and his companion, which resulted in the death of
+both, but said that he had kept watch of the Winnebagos until morning,
+when he saw them start for the camp in the mountains. He learned from
+their signaling that they had other warriors in the neighborhood, and
+there could be no doubt that an attack was intended upon the Hunters of
+the Ozark. Nevertheless the Shawanoe kept in their vicinity, until they
+approached the open prairie of which mention has been make. Then he
+decided to pass them and join his young friends.
+
+Feeling no doubt that the latter were following the right trail (several
+examinations which he made satisfied him that they were doing so), he
+left it altogether, and took a shorter route across the country. He was
+so familiar with it that he could easily do this. His intention was to
+strike the main path again at the crossing, where they had such a narrow
+escape from the cyclone; but he calculated that by nightfall they would
+be a considerable distance beyond, and he wished to test their
+watchfulness when left to themselves. So he came back to the trail about
+half way between that point and the creek which they had crossed by
+means of the canoe. He saw from an examination of the ground that he was
+ahead of them, so he sauntered forward, firing off his gun where a turn
+in the path made it seem to come from one side instead of in front of
+them. He did this as he explained with a view of warning them to keep
+their eyes open. It soon began growing dark and he kept on until he
+reached the stream, where he decided to wait and see what they would do.
+
+He was as surprised as they when they brought forth the little canoe and
+pushed themselves across by means of the pole which Fred Linden himself
+cut. He followed them, easily wading the stream. After that he indulged
+in a little diversion with which you are familiar.
+
+"Wasn't it strange, Deerfoot," said Fred, "that we should have found
+that canoe?"
+
+He nodded his head to signify that he thought it was.
+
+"Have you any idea how it got there?"
+
+"He who owned the boat hid it under the bushes."
+
+"But there are no Indian villages within a great many miles of this
+place--is that not so?"
+
+He gave another affirmative nod.
+
+"Have you any idea of who the owner can be?"
+
+A third affirmative nod followed.
+
+"Who is he?" asked Fred in astonishment.
+
+"Deerfoot."
+
+"What! Does that little canoe belong to _you_?"
+
+"Deerfoot made it and hid it under the bushes: why did not my brothers
+use the paddle?"
+
+"We hunted all round, but could not find it."
+
+"It was within reach of my brother's hands; it was covered with leaves."
+
+"And so the boat is yer own?" repeated Terry; "why that looks as if ye
+lived somewhere in this neighborhood; is such the case, owld boy?"
+
+The question did not seem to please the Shawanoe. He was sitting
+directly in front of his young friends, who looked earnestly in his
+face. He made no answer to Terry's question, but continued looking among
+the coals, as if he was pondering some other matter that had thus been
+brought to mind. Fred shook his head at Terry as a warning that he
+should not repeat his query, and the latter was wise enough not to do
+so; but the friends concluded from that moment that the wandering young
+Shawanoe made his home at no great distance from where all three were at
+that moment sitting in the wilderness. And they were right.
+
+A minute later, Deerfoot raised his head and signified that he wished to
+know in turn what had befallen them since they parted company
+twenty-four hours before. You will admit that each had a stirring story
+to tell and he told it. The Shawanoe first listened to Terry's account
+of his ride on the back of the wounded buffalo, and, when it was
+finished, he quietly remarked to his young friend that he had done well.
+
+Though he showed no emotion, it was clear to both boys that he felt the
+most concern in the experience of Fred Linden. He said nothing until the
+narrator was through, including the account of the cyclone. Deerfoot had
+heard the noise made by the latter, but he was so far removed from its
+path that he saw none of its fearful effects, and in fact cared little
+about it, for he had seen the same thing more than once before.
+
+But that which interested him was the account of Fred Linden's meeting
+with the Winnebago horse thieves. This was the first knowledge he
+received that any of their enemies were mounted on animals. Deerfoot had
+turned off the main trail so early in the day that he missed them
+altogether. When he came back to the path, near where the three were in
+camp at that moment, and he examined the ground for signs of the
+footprints of the boys, there were none that had been made by the hoofs
+of horses. They had struck the trail further to the north, taking a
+different course from the camp where they had stolen the animals.
+
+Fred blushed under the warm compliments of Deerfoot on his coolness,
+bravery and skill in the presence of the three Winnebagos. You will
+agree that it was a daring exploit indeed, which would have done credit
+to a veteran frontiersman. It could not have been otherwise to draw such
+warm praise from the Shawanoe.
+
+But the compliments could well be deferred to some other season. The
+fact that three Indians had stolen the same number of horses from the
+Hunters of the Ozark, and then had ridden leisurely away to meet their
+friends, showed that they had great confidence in themselves, doubtless
+caused by the belief that they were safe against any attempt to recover
+the property.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred, after there had been a full exchange of
+experiences; "we stopped here only because we could not keep to the
+trail in the darkness. Don't you think it best that we should now go on,
+since you will not have the same trouble that we did?"
+
+He shook his head in the negative.
+
+"It is not far to the camp of my brothers; the Winnebagos are a long
+ways back on the trail; they will not come up with us; my brothers have
+a chance to sleep; they may have no chance when they reach the cabin;
+let them sleep now."
+
+The natural inference from this remark was that he believed nothing more
+was to be apprehended from the Winnebagos, so long as our three friends
+were on their way to the cabin of the Hunters of the Ozark. The danger
+would now be transferred to that point.
+
+"Is it not likely that some of the red men are between us and our
+friends?" asked Fred, as though their guide had not thought of every
+contingency.
+
+"There is none," was the quiet answer, and then he added the
+explanation. The Winnebagos, as soon as they had captured the horses,
+had mounted them and ridden off to meet Black Bear and the rest, so as
+to combine with them in the attack upon the cabin in the mountains.
+Being so few in numbers, they did not dare stay in the neighborhood,
+but were certain to come back with the others.
+
+The theft of the animals was no part of the original plan of the red
+men, and was therefore what may be considered poor generalship, since it
+was likely to draw attention to the presence of hostiles and to put the
+Hunters of the Ozark on their guard.
+
+Deerfoot made no such remark at the time, but he afterward expressed his
+regret that he had not joined Fred and Terry earlier in the day, so that
+he could have been with them when they met the horse thieves. Had he
+done so, there can be no doubt that they would have recaptured every one
+of the animals, even if they had had to shoot each thief from the back
+of his stolen steed. Such a result would have changed the whole course
+of the events that followed.
+
+Since the Shawanoe advised them to stay where they were until morning,
+the natural query of the lads was as to the degree of danger they ran.
+They had thought there was little to be feared from Indians, but after
+the fire was started, both had misgivings--afterward intensified no
+doubt by the little trick played upon them by Deerfoot.
+
+He assured them that there was nothing to be feared from Indians. There
+was and would be none near them through the night. They were at a safe
+distance from the trail, so that if any one should pass back or forth he
+could not possibly catch a glimpse of the camp.
+
+"I never dispute a man's sintimints," said Terry, "onless it happens to
+disagraa with me own, so I'll say ye are right because we think the same
+way; but it's within me own ricolliction that whin ye enj'yed the honor
+of our coompany night before last, ye kipt guard all the night;
+Frederick and mesilf will now return the coompliment and take charge of
+the honors oursilves. If ye have any disputation that ye want to inter
+into, we'll sittle it by maans of a wristling match."
+
+Deerfoot was inclined at first to act as sentinel, just as he had done
+before, but he had already declared that there was nothing to be feared,
+and his friends were so in earnest that he could not well refuse their
+request. He would have preferred that they should gain all the sleep
+they could, so as to lay up a stock, as may be said, against what was
+likely to come at the cabin, but he yielded. He agreed to their wishes,
+and in doing so, indulged in one of his smiles, the depth of whose
+meaning neither of the youths fully comprehended. In fact it simply
+meant that he understood their ability in that respect better than they
+did themselves.
+
+And so, after reading his Bible, a portion of it aloud, he lay down upon
+the blanket of Terry, as he did two nights before, and soon fell asleep.
+
+"I'm glad to obsarve the same," remarked Terry; "for the good lookin'
+spalpeen must be in naad of slumber. I say, Fred, did ye iver saa the
+loikes of him? We must git him to run a race and jump and swim and stand
+on his head and show jist what he can do. I'm glad as I say to obsarve
+that he is aslaap, for he must naad the same. I say, Fred, let's stay
+awake till daylight, so as to fool him."
+
+"I am glad to do that in return for the watch he kept over us the other
+night; but if you and I undertake to sit up at the same time we shall
+fail. So I'll lie down and sleep awhile. When you find yourself getting
+drowsy, wake me up and then I shall be able to keep my eyes open until
+morning. In that way Deerfoot may have a whole night of rest."
+
+"I'm agraaable to the same."
+
+The plan was carried out, that is, a part of it, Fred Linden soon
+dropped asleep, and, within an hour, Terry Clark did the same. When
+Deerfoot threw his blanket off his face and assumed the sitting
+position, he saw just what he expected to see and he allowed them to
+slumber peacefully until daylight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+
+The awaking of the boys was of the most pleasant character. The sky had
+cleared and the sunlight penetrated between the branches from which the
+autumn leaves were fast falling. The crispness which is felt at that
+season of the year, stirred the young hearts and enlivened the spirits
+in spite of the serious situation in which all three found themselves.
+
+The odor of broiling fish was snuffed by the lads, and nothing could
+have been more delicious and appetizing. They were very hungry, and the
+night before they supposed they would have to wait indefinitely for
+their morning meal, but they opened their eyes to find that Deerfoot had
+provided the most toothsome breakfast that could be imagined.
+
+In the early morning light, fully two hours before the sun appeared,
+Deerfoot crossed the stream in his own canoe, and, taking the trail,
+ran several miles at the highest speed. While he did not go far enough
+to see the camp-fire of the main war party of Winnebagos, he did not
+pause until certain that they had stayed in camp all night and would not
+cross the stream where the boys lay asleep until the forenoon was half
+gone. So the Shawanoe hastened back, and dropped a short distance down
+stream in his canoe, having obtained his paddle, to an eddy where it
+took but a few minutes for him to coax a half dozen fish from the cool,
+clear depths, and these were just browning to a turn when the boys
+opened their eyes.
+
+Fred and Terry looked in each other's faces and laughed. They knew what
+an absurd failure they had made. They had promised to watch while
+Deerfoot slept, and then left him to act as sentinel until morning.
+
+"It was your fault," whispered Fred, hunting in his pocket for the
+package of salt and pepper which survived, despite the wetting it had
+received; "why didn't you wake me up, as I told you to do?"
+
+"How could I wake ye up when I was aslaap mesilf?" was the pertinent
+query of Terry; "I think I was only a half minute behind yersilf in
+beginning me swate dreams."
+
+"Even if you had roused me," said Fred, "I suppose I would have dropped
+to sleep the same as you; no one can keep awake (unless it is Deerfoot)
+while sitting on the ground. Well, I am sure I shan't say any thing
+about it if _he_ doesn't."
+
+"Let us shake on that," whispered Terry, stealthily extending his hand.
+
+Deerfoot acted as though unaware that any such lapse had occurred. The
+browned fish were spread on the green leaves, and Fred sprinkled the
+seasoning upon the portions to be eaten by himself and Terry; the
+Shawanoe preferred none on his.
+
+"If nothing unexpected happens," said Fred, "we will arrive at the cabin
+to-day."
+
+The Shawanoe inclined his head by way of answer.
+
+"When will the Winnebagos that are following us come to this stream?"
+
+Deerfoot pointed to a portion of the sky which the sun would reach in
+about three hours from that time.
+
+"The Winnebagos are together; there may be a few coming from different
+parts of the wood, but Black Bear has most of his warriors with him, and
+he feels strong enough to destroy the cabin and our brothers who are
+there."
+
+"There are three there now, and when we join them there will be six. If
+father and the rest have fair notice of their coming, they ought to be
+able to put every thing in good shape for a defense. It won't take them
+long to gather enough food to last for weeks, but how about water?"
+
+"They have no water; our brothers know not why they should have it."
+
+The Shawanoe meant to say that the men, seeing no reason why they should
+collect any store of water within their primitive structure, never did
+so. It was at their door, and, when they wished to drink, they had but
+to stoop down and drink. Believing no such emergency as now threatened
+could arise, they failed to make any provision against it.
+
+"I've been thinkin'," said Terry, "that bein' as how we started from
+Greville to j'in the Hunters of the Ozark, with the idaa of spindin' the
+winter with the same, that from the time we started we were mimbers of
+the same, but timporarily separated by a wide stritch of woods; what are
+yer own idaas?"
+
+"I am not sure that I understand what you are trying to get at, but if
+you mean to say that we may call ourselves two of the Hunters of the
+Ozark, I see no objection if we are a few days behind the rest in
+reaching the beaver runs."
+
+"Oblige me by tistifying to the same," said Terry, rather effusively,
+shoving his hand toward his friend, who suspended operations with the
+fish long enough to salute him.
+
+The breakfast was quickly finished, and the boys helped each other with
+their knapsacks, caught up their guns and followed Deerfoot as he led
+the way back to the trail. He did not hint any thing about their failure
+to keep guard for him the night before, though they felt sure that they
+would hear from him at some time not very far distant.
+
+When they found themselves following the path that had become so
+familiar, they glanced furtively behind, half expecting to hear the
+Winnebago war whoop and to see the warriors rushing after them; but not
+a living soul beside themselves was in sight, and the quiet assurance of
+their leader very nearly removed all such fear from them.
+
+"Are there any more streams to cross?" asked Fred, a moment after they
+started along the trail.
+
+"There are none."
+
+"That is good, and since we are several hours in advance of the Indians,
+we ought to be able to reach the cabin in time to give them warning,
+that is, if they are in need of it."
+
+"How can they help being in need?" asked Terry.
+
+"The horses were turned loose to look after themselves, and though I
+can't know for some time how it is, it seems to me that it could well
+happen that they would not miss the animals for several days and
+possibly not for a week or two."
+
+The best ground for doubting that the Hunters of the Ozark were aware of
+the theft of the horses was the fact that there had been no pursuit.
+Those men, it is safe to say, would not have stayed idle had they known
+that three vagabond Indians were astride of their property and riding to
+the northward. With the three fleeter animals at command, they would
+have been after them in a twinkling: they would not have been obliged to
+wait till they met Fred Linden before receiving some rifle shots.
+
+Fred was confirmed in this theory by Deerfoot, who declared that such
+was his explanation of the failure of the hunters to pursue the thieves.
+
+For two hours the trail which they were following steadily ascended,
+until they were considerably higher than when they left camp in the
+morning. The undergrowth was abundant, and the wood in some places was
+so dense that they could see only a short distance on either hand. The
+trail was sinuous, winding in and out among the rocks in a way that
+would have bewildered any one not used to such traveling.
+
+At last they reached the ridge of the elevation up which they had been
+climbing, and found themselves on the margin of a plateau or rather
+valley, beyond which rose the rugged, precipitous Ozarks. Since the
+ground sloped away from them, in the direction of the mountains, their
+view was extended over many square miles of forest, stream and natural
+clearing, to the mountain walls beyond, looking dim and soft in the
+distance, with the hazy air between.
+
+"Do my brothers see the gleam of the water yonder?" asked Deerfoot,
+pointing to a winding stream, large enough to be called a river, though
+it was half hidden by the woods. Its course was in the main at right
+angles to the trail which the boys had been following, though, at times
+it seemed to run straight toward and then away from them.
+
+The youths answered that they could not very well look in the direction
+indicated by their friend, without seeing the stream to which he
+directed their attention.
+
+The Shawanoe placed himself so that he stood in front of the two.
+
+"Now," said he, "let my brothers follow Deerfoot's finger and tell me
+what they see."
+
+Pointing well to the right, he slowly swung his index finger toward the
+left, until he had described about a quarter of a circle.
+
+Since it was not easy for the two to look exactly at the point meant, at
+the same time, Terry Clark first tried it. Removing his cap, he closed
+one eye and carefully peered along the extended arm of the Shawanoe as
+though it was a rifle which he was about to aim and fire.
+
+"What is it?" asked Fred, a moment later, with some impatience over the
+plodding deliberation of his companion.
+
+"I obsarve a big lot of traas, some rocks, some water and a claarin'
+where ye could raise a big lot of praties, and--and--and--"
+
+"I see what you mean!" exclaimed Fred in some excitement; "right in the
+middle of the clearing stands a large cabin made of logs."
+
+"It's mesilf that obsarves the same," added Terry, replacing his cap and
+looking inquiringly at the Shawanoe, who let his extended arm fall as
+he faced about and said: "That is the home of my brothers; that is the
+cabin of the Hunters of the Ozark."
+
+"Hurrah!" called out Terry; "we're purty near there."
+
+"But we don't know how matters stand," said Fred; "even Deerfoot can not
+tell whether they are all alive or dead."
+
+"I know bitter than that," remarked Terry, appealing straight to the
+Shawanoe, who, without directly answering the question, notified them of
+an interesting fact: a thin column of smoke was rising from the cabin.
+
+"That shows that some one is in there," said the Irish lad, "but whither
+he is white or rid, I don't s'pose the Shawanoe, with all his smartness,
+can tell even at this distance."
+
+"My brother speaks truth," said Deerfoot; "our brothers may be well and
+they maybe dead and the Winnebagos may have built the fire to lure us to
+them: we shall soon know."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Here for the present we must pause, for we have already filled the space
+assigned to us; but we propose soon to tell you all about the
+adventures of Deerfoot, Fred and Terry, and of their friends the Hunters
+of the Ozark, whom they were trying to help. The story in which this
+will be related will appear under the title of
+
+"THE CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS."
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+                    FAMOUS STANDARD JUVENILE LIBRARIES.
+
+               ANY VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY AT $1.00 PER VOLUME
+
+     (Except the Sportsman's Club Series, Frank Nelson Series and Jack
+                              Hazard Series.).
+
+                   Each Volume Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth.
+
+                             HORATIO ALGER, JR.
+
+The enormous sales of the books of Horatio Alger, Jr., show the
+greatness of his popularity among the boys, and prove that he is one
+of their most favored writers. I am told that more than half a million
+copies altogether have been sold, and that all the large circulating
+libraries in the country have several complete sets, of which only two
+or three volumes are ever on the shelves at one time. If this is true,
+what thousands and thousands of boys have read and are reading Mr.
+Alger's books! His peculiar style of stories, often imitated but never
+equaled, have taken a hold upon the young people, and, despite their
+similarity, are eagerly read as soon as they appear.
+
+Mr. Alger became famous with the publication of that undying book,
+"Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York." It was his first book for
+young people, and its success was so great that he immediately devoted
+himself to that kind of writing. It was a new and fertile field for a
+writer then, and Mr. Alger's treatment of it at once caught the fancy
+of the boys. "Ragged Dick" first appeared in 1868, and ever since then
+it has been selling steadily, until now it is estimated that about
+200,000 copies of the series have been sold.
+
+                                    --Pleasant Hours for Boys and Girls.
+
+A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy with them. He
+should be able to enter into their plans, hopes, and aspirations. He
+should learn to look upon life as they do. Boys object to be written
+down to. A boy's heart opens to the man or writer who understands him.
+
+                  --From Writing Stories for Boys, by Horatio Alger, Jr.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+RAGGED DICK SERIES.
+6 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $6.00
+Ragged Dick. Rough and Ready.
+Fame and Fortune. Ben the Luggage Boy.
+Mark the Match Boy. Rufus and Rose.
+
+TATTERED TOM SERIES--First Series.
+4 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $4.00
+Tattered Tom. Phil the Fiddler.
+Paul the Peddler. Slow and Sure.
+
+TATTERED TOM SERIES--Second Series.
+4 vols. $4.00
+Julius. Sam's Chance.
+The Young Outlaw. The Telegraph Boy.
+
+CAMPAIGN SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Frank's Campaign. Charlie Codman's Cruise.
+Paul Prescott's Charge.
+
+LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--First Series.
+4 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $4.00
+Luck and Pluck. Strong and Steady.
+Sink or Swim. Strive and Succeed.
+
+LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--Second Series.
+4 vols. $4.00
+Try and Trust. Risen from the Ranks.
+Bound to Rise. Herbert Carter's Legacy.
+
+BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.
+4 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $4.00
+Brave and Bold. Shifting for Himself.
+Jack's Ward. Wait and Hope.
+
+NEW WORLD SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Digging for Gold. Facing the World.
+In a New World.
+
+VICTORY SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Only an Irish Boy. Adrift in the City.
+Victor Vane, or the Young Secretary.
+
+FRANK AND FEARLESS SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Frank Hunter's Peril. Frank and Fearless.
+The Young Salesman.
+
+GOOD FORTUNE LIBRARY.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Walter Sherwood's Probation. A Boy's Fortune.
+The Young Bank Messenger.
+
+RUPERT'S AMBITION.
+1 vol. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $1.00
+
+JED, THE POOR-HOUSE BOY.
+1 vol. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $1.00
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+                           HARRY CASTLEMON.
+
+                  HOW I CAME TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK.
+
+When I was sixteen years old I belonged to a composition class. It was
+our custom to go on the recitation seat every day with clean slates, and
+we were allowed ten minutes to write seventy words on any subject the
+teacher thought suited to our capacity. One day he gave out "What a Man
+Would See if He Went to Greenland." My heart was in the matter, and
+before the ten minutes were up I had one side of my slate filled. The
+teacher listened to the reading of our compositions, and when they were
+all over he simply said: "Some of you will make your living by writing
+one of these days." That gave me something to ponder upon. I did not say
+so out loud, but I knew that my composition was as good as the best of
+them. By the way, there was another thing that came in my way just then.
+I was reading at that time one of Mayne Reid's works which I had drawn
+from the library, and I pondered upon it as much as I did upon what the
+teacher said to me. In introducing Swartboy to his readers he made use
+of this expression: "No visible change was observable in Swartboy's
+countenance." Now, it occurred to me that if a man of his education
+could make such a blunder as that and still write a book, I ought to be
+able to do it, too. I went home that very day and began a story, "The
+Old Guide's Narrative," which was sent to the _New York Weekly_, and
+came back, respectfully declined. It was written on both sides of the
+sheets but I didn't know that this was against the rules. Nothing
+abashed, I began another, and receiving some instruction, from a friend
+of mine who was a clerk in a book store, I wrote it on only one side of
+the paper. But mind you, he didn't know what I was doing. Nobody knew
+it; but one day, after a hard Saturday's work--the other boys had been
+out skating on the brick-pond--I shyly broached the subject to my
+mother. I felt the need of some sympathy. She listened in amazement, and
+then said: "Why, do you think you could write a book like that?" That
+settled the matter, and from that day no one knew what I was up to until
+I sent the first four volumes of Gunboat Series to my father. Was it
+work? Well, yes; it was hard work, but each week I had the satisfaction
+of seeing the manuscript grow until the "Young Naturalist" was all
+complete.
+
+                                        --Harry Castlemon in the Writer.
+
+GUNBOAT SERIES.
+6 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $6.00
+Frank the Young Naturalist. Frank before Vicksburg.
+Frank on a Gunboat. Frank on the Lower Mississippi.
+Frank in the Woods. Frank on the Prairie.
+
+ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Frank Among the Rancheros. Frank in the Mountains.
+Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho.
+
+SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.75
+The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle.
+The Sportsman's Club The Sportsman's Club Afloat.
+Among the Trappers.
+
+FRANK NELSON SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.75
+Snowed up. Frank in the Forecastle. The Boy Traders.
+
+BOY TRAPPER SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+The Buried Treasure. The Boy Trapper.
+The Mail Carrier.
+
+ROUGHING IT SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+George in Camp. George at the Fort.
+George at the Wheel.
+
+ROD AND GUN SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Don Gordon's Shooting Box. The Young Wild Fowlers.
+Rod and Gun Club.
+
+GO-AHEAD SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Tom Newcombe. Go-Ahead. No Moss.
+
+WAR SERIES.
+6 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $6.00
+True to His Colors. Marcy the Blockade-Runner.
+Rodney the Partisan. Marcy the Refugee.
+Rodney the Overseer. Sailor Jack the Trader.
+
+HOUSEBOAT SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+The Houseboat Boys. The Mystery of Lost River Cañon.
+The Young Game Warden.
+
+AFLOAT AND ASHORE SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Rebellion in Dixie. A Sailor in Spite of Himself.
+The Ten-Ton Cutter.
+
+THE PONY EXPRESS SERIES.
+3 vol. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+The Pony Express Rider. The White Beaver.
+Carl, The Trailer.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK ***
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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis.
+    </title>
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Hunters of the Ozark
+
+Author: Edward S. Ellis
+
+Release Date: September 17, 2007 [EBook #22646]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK ***
+
+
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+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
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+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style='width:350px'>
+<a name="illus-000" id="illus-000"></a>
+<img src="images/ozark-fpc.jpg" alt="&#34;Terry heard distinctly the footsteps of the warrior.&#34;" title="" width="350" /><br />
+<span class="caption">&#34;Terry heard distinctly the footsteps of the warrior.&#34;</span>
+</div>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<table style="margin: auto; border: black 1px solid; width:25em" summary=""><tr><td>
+<p style=" font-size:1em; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1.2em;">THE</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.6em; margin-bottom:5em;">HUNTERS OF THE OZARK.</p>
+<p style=" font-size:0.7em;">BY</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.2em;">EDWARD S. ELLIS,</p>
+<p style=" font-size:0.7em;">AUTHOR OF "YOUNG PIONEER SERIES," "LOG CABIN SERIES,"</p>
+<p style=" font-size:0.7em; margin-bottom:15em;">"GREAT RIVER SERIES," ETC., ETC.</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1em;">PHILADELPHIA:</p>
+<p style=" font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:2em;">HENRY T. COATES &amp; CO.</p>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<p class='center'>
+Copyright, 1887,<br />
+by<br />
+PORTER &amp; COATES.
+</p>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<h2 class="toc"><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2>
+<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">
+<col style="width:15%;" />
+<col style="width:5%;"  />
+<col style="width:70%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr>
+    <td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+    <td></td>
+    <td></td>
+    <td align='right'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">I.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">An Estray.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AN_ESTRAY_70">5</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">II.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Tinkle of a Bell.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_TINKLE_OF_A_BELL_247">15</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">III.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">An Aboriginal Plot.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AN_ABORIGINAL_PLOT_460">25</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">IV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Party of the Third Part.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_PARTY_OF_THE_THIRD_PART_641">34</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">V.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Friend in Need.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_FRIEND_IN_NEED_825">44</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Fred Linden Receives a Message From the Ozark Camp.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#FRED_LINDEN_RECEIVES_A_MESSAGE_FROM_THE_OZARK_CAMP_1028">54</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Hunters of Ozark.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_HUNTERS_OF_OZARK_1223">64</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Welcome Acquaintance.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_WELCOME_ACQUAINTANCE_1411">74</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">IX.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Mishap.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_MISHAP_1618">84</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">X.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Struggle For Life.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE_1819">94</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Tramping Southward.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#TRAMPING_SOUTHWARD_2013">104</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Strange Animal.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_STRANGE_ANIMAL_2207">114</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Troublesome Visitor.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_TROUBLESOME_VISITOR_2404">124</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Welcome Ally.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_WELCOME_ALLY_2609">134</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">"Deerfoot Will Be Sentinel to-Night."</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#DEERFOOT_WILL_BE_SENTINEL_TONIGHT_2805">144</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XVI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Around the Camp-Fire.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AROUND_THE_CAMPFIRE_3002">154</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XVII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Suspicious Sound.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_SUSPICIOUS_SOUND_3200">164</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XVIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Like a Thief in the Night.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#LIKE_A_THIEF_IN_THE_NIGHT_3394">174</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIX.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Shawanoe And Winnebago.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#SHAWANOE_AND_WINNEBAGO_3593">185</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XX.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Another Night Visitor.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#ANOTHER_NIGHT_VISITOR_3795">195</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Camp of the Winnebagos.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_CAMP_OF_THE_WINNEBAGOS_3997">205</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">"Keep to the Trail"</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#KEEP_TO_THE_TRAIL_4181">215</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">An Infuriate Shawanoe.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AN_INFURIATE_SHAWANOE_4372">225</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXIV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Defiance.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_DEFIANCE_4578">236</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Signal Fire.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_SIGNAL_FIRE_4770">245</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXVI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">On the Edge of the Prairie.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#ON_THE_EDGE_OF_THE_PRAIRIE_5003">257</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXVII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Morning Meal.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_MORNING_MEAL_5251">269</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXVIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Strange Ride.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_STRANGE_RIDE_5490">281</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXIX.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A Young Hunter's Strategy.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_YOUNG_HUNTERS_STRATEGY_5725">293</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXX.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Terry Finishes His Ride.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#TERRY_FINISHES_HIS_RIDE_5961">305</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Devil's Punch Bowl.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_DEVILS_PUNCH_BOWL_6180">316</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Terror in the Air.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_TERROR_IN_THE_AIR_6444">328</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Fred Linden Awakens to an Alarming Fact.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#FRED_LINDEN_AWAKENS_TO_AN_ALARMING_FACT_6696">341</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXIV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Canoe.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_CANOE_6937">352</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXV.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">America Versus Ireland.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AMERICA_VERSUS_IRELAND_7177">364</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXVI.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">America Versus America.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AMERICA_VERSUS_AMERICA_7414">376</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXVII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">The Last Camp-Fire.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_LAST_CAMPFIRE_7663">388</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XXXVIII.</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">Conclusion.</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#CONCLUSION_7897">400</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class='full' />
+
+<div>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p5" id="p5">5</a></span>
+<h1>THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK.</h1>
+</div>
+
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a name="AN_ESTRAY_70" id="AN_ESTRAY_70"></a>
+
+<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+<h3>AN ESTRAY.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>One day in the autumn Terence Clark came to the house of Frederick
+Linden and urged him to join in a hunt for a cow that had been missing
+since the night before. The latter got the consent of his mother and the
+two lads started on a search that proved to be the most eventful one
+they had ever known.</p>
+
+<p>A few words in the way of explanation must be given at this point. The
+date of the events I have set out to tell was toward the close of the
+last century, and the scene the south-western part of the present State
+of Missouri, but which was then a part of the vast territory known as
+Louisiana. Though the town of St. Louis had<span class="pagenum"><a name="p6" id="p6">6</a></span> been settled a good many
+years before, there were only a few pioneers scattered through the
+almost limitless region that stretched in every direction from the
+Mississippi. Here and there the hunters and trappers were often absent
+from their homes for months at a time, during which they suffered much
+exposure and hardship. They slept for weeks in the open woods, or when
+the severity of the weather would not allow this, they found refuge in
+caves or hollow trees. Then, when enough skins had been gathered to load
+their pack-horses they started on the long tramps to the French trading
+post on the Mississippi. They followed faintly marked paths or trails
+that converged from a score or hundred different points until they
+reached the Father of Waters, where the peltries were soon sold and the
+proceeds, too often, squandered within the succeeding few hours.</p>
+
+<p>At the date of which I am speaking, a small settlement known as Greville
+stood in the south-western section of the large State of Missouri, as it
+is now known. The first cabins were put up only a few years before, and
+the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p7" id="p7">7</a></span> settlers, including men, women and children, numbered about two
+hundred. Near the center of the straggling settlement stood a rude but
+strong blockhouse to be used for refuge in the event of an attack by
+Indians. As yet this emergency had not arisen, for the red men in that
+section were far less warlike and hostile than those in Ohio and
+Kentucky.</p>
+
+<p>The father of Fred Linden was one of the hunters and trappers who made
+regular visits to the wild section near the Ozark Mountains for the
+purpose of gathering furs. He never had less than two companions, and
+sometimes the number was half a dozen. As you are well aware, the furs
+of all animals are in the finest condition in wintry weather, since
+nature does her best to guard their bodies from the effects of cold.
+Thus it came about that the party of hunters, of whom I shall have more
+to say further on, left Greville in the autumn of the year, and as a
+rule were not seen again until spring. Since they entered a fine,
+fur-bearing country, these trips generally paid well. One convenience
+was that the hunters were not obliged to go to St. Louis to sell them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p8" id="p8">8</a></span>
+An agent of the great fur company that made its headquarters at that
+post, came regularly to Greville with his pack-horses and gave the same
+price for the peltries that he would have given had they been brought to
+the factory, hundreds of miles away. He was glad to do this, for the
+furs that George Linden and his brother hunters brought in were not
+surpassed in glossiness and fineness by any of the thousands gathered
+from the four points of the compass.</p>
+
+<p>Among the daring little band that made these regular visits to the Ozark
+region was an Irishman named Michael Clark, who had had considerable
+experience in gathering furs along the Mississippi. It was at his
+suggestion that Greville was founded, and one-half of their periodical
+journeys thus cut off. On the year following, Clark was shot and killed
+by a prowling Indian. Since his wife had been dead a long time, the only
+child, Terence, was thus left an orphan. The lad was a bright,
+good-natured fellow, liked by every one, and he made his home with the
+family of one of the other hunters named Rufus MacClaskey. The boy was
+fifteen years old on the very day that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p9" id="p9">9</a></span> he walked over to the cabin of
+Fred Linden and asked him to help him hunt for the missing cow.</p>
+
+<p>The family of George Linden, while he was away, consisted of his wife,
+his daughter Edith, fourteen, and his son Fred, sixteen years old. All
+were ruddy cheeked, strong and vigorous, and among the best to do of the
+thirty-odd families that made up the population of Greville.</p>
+
+<p>"Has the cow ever been lost before?" asked Fred, as he and the Irish lad
+swung along beside each other, neither thinking it worth while to burden
+himself with a rifle.</p>
+
+<p>"Niver that I knows of, and I would know the same if she had been lost;
+we're onaisy about the cow, for you see that if this kaaps on and she
+doesn't come back I'll have to live on something else than bread and
+milk and praties."</p>
+
+<p>"Our cow came back just at sunset last night."</p>
+
+<p>"And so did them all, exciptin' our own, which makes me more onwillin'
+to accipt any excuse she may have to give."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p10" id="p10">10</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Let me see, Terry; Brindle wore a bell round her neck, didn't she?"</p>
+
+<p>"That she did, and she seemed quite proud of the same."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you make hunt for her last night?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hunted as long as I could see to hunt; she wasn't missed, that is
+till after they got home. Whin I found that I didn't find her I started
+to find her; but I hadn't time to hunt very long whin it got dark and I
+had to give it up."</p>
+
+<p>"And didn't you hear any thing of the bell?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do ye think that if I heard the bell I wouldn't have found the cow? Why
+was the bell put round her neck if it wasn't to guide friends? I
+listened many a time after it got dark, but niver a tinkle did I hear."</p>
+
+<p>"That is queer," said Fred half to himself; "for, when no wind is
+blowing and it is calm, you can hear that bell a long ways; father has
+caught the sound in the woods, when the Brindle was all of a mile off. I
+wonder whether she could have lost the bell."</p>
+
+<p>"I've thought of that, and said to meself that it might be also that she
+had become lost herself in trying to find it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p11" id="p11">11</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Fred laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"She hardly knows enough for <i>that</i>; and, if she found the bell she
+wouldn't know what to do with it; but if that leathern string around her
+neck had broken, it may be that she is close by. A cow after losing one
+milking is apt to feel so uncomfortable that she hurries home to be
+relieved; but what's the use of talking?" added Fred, throwing up his
+head and stepping off at a more lively pace; "we've started out to find
+her and that's all we have to do."</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps a dozen acres had been cleared around the little town of
+Greville. This had been planted with corn, potatoes and grain, though
+scores of unsightly stumps were left and interfered with the cultivation
+of the soil. Beyond this clearing or open space extended the immense
+forests which at one time covered almost the entire face of our country.
+On the south side of the town and distant a furlong wound a creek, which
+after many shiftings and turnings found its way into the Mississippi and
+so at last into the Gulf of Mexico. The course of this stream was so
+winding that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p12" id="p12">12</a></span> it extended on two sides of the town and ran in a westerly
+direction, exactly the opposite of that it finally had to take in order
+to reach its outlet.</p>
+
+<p>As a rule, it was about twenty feet wide with a depth of from one or two
+to six feet. It was subject to tremendous overflows which sometimes
+tripled its volume and increased its width to that of a river. At such
+times a series of enormous rocks through which the creek at "low tide"
+lazily wound its way, lashed the turbid current into a fury somewhat
+like that seen in the "whirlpool" below Niagara. Could you have stood on
+the shore and looked at the furiously struggling waters, you would have
+been sure that even if a man were headed up in a barrel, he could not
+have lived to pass through the hundred yards of rapids, though there was
+reason to believe that more than one Indian had shot them in his canoe.</p>
+
+<p>Terry Clark told his friend that his search of the night before and of
+the morning following had been to the north and west of the settlement,
+so that it was hardly worth while to continue the hunt in that
+direction. The cows<span class="pagenum"><a name="p13" id="p13">13</a></span> sometimes stood in the water, where so much
+switching of their tails was not needed to keep away the flies, and,
+though there was quite a growth of succulent grass on the clearing, the
+animals often crossed the creek and browsed through the woods and
+undergrowth on the other side.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were inclined to think that the brindle had taken that course
+during the afternoon and had actually gone astray,&mdash;something which a
+quadruped is less likely to do than a biped, though the former will
+sometimes make the blunder. There was nothing unreasonable in the theory
+that the bell had fallen from her neck and that the owner therefore
+might be not far away.</p>
+
+<p>At intervals, Terry shouted "<i>Bos! bos! bos!</i>" the Latin call which the
+cow sometimes recognized, though she generally paid no attention to it.
+It was the same now, possibly due to the fact that she did not hear the
+call.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching the edge of the stream, the boys began walking along the bank
+toward the left and scrutinizing the spongy earth close to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p14" id="p14">14</a></span> water.
+If the missing animal had crossed the creek she could not have failed to
+leave distinct footprints.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p15" id="p15">15</a></span>
+<a name="THE_TINKLE_OF_A_BELL_247" id="THE_TINKLE_OF_A_BELL_247"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+<h3>THE TINKLE OF A BELL.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The examination of the shore of the creek had lasted but a few minutes,
+when Terry Clark, pointing to the moist earth at their feet, called out
+in some excitement:</p>
+
+<p>"Do ye mind that now?"</p>
+
+<p>There, sure enough, were the footprints of a cow that had entered the
+stream from the same side on which the boys stood. The impressions could
+be seen for some distance in the clear water, which in the middle of the
+stream was no more than a yard deep, and they were plainly observed
+where the animal had emerged on the other side.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose there is any difference in the tracks of cows, but I
+guess, Terry, that we are safe in making up our minds we are on the
+trail of Brindle."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thinking the same," replied the other,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p16" id="p16">16</a></span> who was not only looking
+across the creek, but into the woods beyond, as though he expected to
+catch sight of the cow herself; "though it may be the one that crossed
+there isn't the one that we're after."</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden was asking himself whether there was not some way in which
+they could reach the other side without going to the trouble of removing
+their shoes and leggins, and hunting a shallow portion, or allowing
+their garments to become saturated. He exclaimed: "Why didn't I think of
+it? There's our canoe!"</p>
+
+<p>A number of these frail craft were owned in Greville, and Fred had a
+fine one himself, which was only a short distance off. Three minutes
+later the two reached it.</p>
+
+<p>The barken structure was moored by means of a long rope to a tree a
+considerable distance from the water, so that in case of one of those
+sudden rises that sometimes took place, it would not be carried away by
+the freshet. The boat was quickly launched, and a few strokes of the
+paddle carried the two to the opposite bank of the stream.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p17" id="p17">17</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I wonder whether there is any danger of a rise," remarked Fred, as he
+carried the rope to a tree twenty feet distant and made it fast to a
+limb; "there was a good deal of thunder and lightning last night off to
+the east."</p>
+
+<p>"But the creek doesn't come from that way," said the surprised Terry;
+"so what is the odds, as me father said he used to ask when the Injins
+was on all sides of him, and a panther in the tree he wanted to climb,
+and he found himself standing on the head of a rattlesnake."</p>
+
+<p>"The creek winds through every point of the compass, so it doesn't make
+much difference, as you say, where it rains, since it is sure to make a
+rise; the only question is whether the rain was enough to affect the
+creek so that it will trouble us."</p>
+
+<p>"If it was goin' to do that, wouldn't it have done so before this?" was
+the natural question of his companion.</p>
+
+<p>"That depends on how far away the rain was."</p>
+
+<p>The boys were not idle while talking. The canoe was soon made fast, and
+then they<span class="pagenum"><a name="p18" id="p18">18</a></span> resumed their hunt for the estray. They were not skillful
+enough in woodcraft to trace the animal through the forest by the means
+that an Indian would have used, but they were hopeful that by taking a
+general direction they would soon find her. If she still had the bell
+tied around her neck, there was no reason why they should not be
+successful.</p>
+
+<p>But while walking forward, Fred Linden asked a question of himself that
+he did not repeat aloud.</p>
+
+<p>"Has she been stolen?"</p>
+
+<p>This query was naturally followed by others. It certainly was
+unreasonable to think that a cow would leave her companions and
+deliberately wander off, at the time she was milked twice daily. She
+would speedily suffer such distress that she would come bellowing
+homeward for relief. If she really was an estray, she had missed two
+milkings&mdash;that of the previous night and the morning that succeeded.</p>
+
+<p>It was certain, therefore, that if she was stolen, the thief had
+attended to her milking. But who could the thief be? That was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p19" id="p19">19</a></span>
+important question that Fred confessed himself unable to answer.</p>
+
+<p>There had been occasional instances of white men who had stolen horses
+from the frontier settlements, but the lad could recall nothing of the
+kind that had taken place in that neighborhood; all of which might be
+the case without affecting the present loss, since it was evident that
+there must be a first theft of that nature.</p>
+
+<p>But, somehow or other, Fred could not help suspecting that the red men
+had to do with the disappearance of the animal. I have intimated in
+another place that Greville had never been harmed by the Indians, who
+were scattered here and there through the country, for there was no
+comparison between them and the fierce Shawanoes, Wyandottes,
+Pottawatomies and other tribes, whose deeds gave to Kentucky its
+impressive title of the Dark and Bloody Ground; but among the different
+bands of red men who roamed through the great wilderness west of the
+Mississippi, were those who were capable of as atrocious cruelties as
+were ever committed by the fierce warriors further east.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p20" id="p20">20</a></span></p>
+
+<p>What more likely, therefore, than that a party of these had stolen the
+cow and driven her away?</p>
+
+<p>There were many facts that were in favor of and against the theory; the
+chief one against it was that if a party of Indians had driven off one
+cow, they would have taken more. Then, too, the soft earth that had
+revealed the hoof tracks ought to have shown the imprint of moccasins.</p>
+
+<p>You will see, therefore, that Fred could speculate for hours on the
+question without satisfying himself. He was sorry that he and Terry had
+not brought their guns with them, and was half inclined to go back. It
+was not yet noon, and they had plenty of time in which to do so.</p>
+
+<p>"Terry," said Fred, turning suddenly about and addressing his friend,
+who was walking behind him, "we made a mistake in not bringing our
+guns."</p>
+
+<p>The Irish lad was about to answer when he raised his hand in a warning
+way and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Hist!"</p>
+
+<p>Both stood as motionless as the tree trunks<span class="pagenum"><a name="p21" id="p21">21</a></span> about them, all their
+faculties centered in the one of hearing.</p>
+
+<p>There was the low, deep roar which is always heard in a vast wood, made
+by the soft wind stealing among the multitudinous branches, and which is
+like the voice of silence itself. They were so far from the creek that
+its soft ripple failed to reach them.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't hear any thing," said Fred at the end of a full minute.</p>
+
+<p>"Nor do I," said Terry.</p>
+
+<p>"Why then did you ask me to listen?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was thinkin' be that token that we might hear something."</p>
+
+<p>"What made you think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"The tinkle of a bell."</p>
+
+<p>"What!" exclaimed the amazed Fred, "are you sure?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I am; just as I was about to speak, I caught the faint sound&mdash;just
+as we've both heard hundreds of times."</p>
+
+<p>"From what point did it seem to come?"</p>
+
+<p>His friend pointed due south.</p>
+
+<p>"Strange it is that ye didn't catch the same."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p22" id="p22">22</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"So I think; it may be, Terry, that you are mistaken, and you wanted to
+hear the bell so much that the sound was in your fancy."</p>
+
+<p>The lad, however, would not admit this. He was sure there had been no
+mistake. Fred was about to argue further when all doubt was set at rest
+by the sound of a cow-bell that came faintly but clearly through the
+forest.</p>
+
+<p>"You are right," said Fred, his face brightening up; "we are on the
+track of old Brindle sure enough. It's mighty strange though how she
+came to wander so far from home."</p>
+
+<p>"She got lost I s'pose," replied Terry, repeating the theory that had
+been hit upon some time before.</p>
+
+<p>"It may be, but it is the first instance I ever heard of, where an
+animal lost its way so easily."</p>
+
+<p>The boys were in too high spirits, however, to try to explain that which
+puzzled them. The cow was a valuable creature, being the only one that
+belonged to the family with whom Terence lived, and who therefore could
+ill afford her loss.</p>
+
+<p>The friends had pushed perhaps a couple<span class="pagenum"><a name="p23" id="p23">23</a></span> hundred yards further when
+Terry called to Fred that he was not following the right course.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye're bearing too much to the lift; so much so indaad that if ye kaap
+on ye'll find yersilf lift."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I was about to turn a little more in that direction," replied the
+astonished Fred; "you are altogether wrong."</p>
+
+<p>But the other sturdily insisted that he was right, and he was so
+positive that he stopped short, and refused to go another step in the
+direction that his friend was following. The latter was just as certain
+that Terry was amiss, and it looked as if they had come to a deadlock.</p>
+
+<p>"There's only one way to settle it," said Fred, "and that is for each of
+us to follow the route he thinks right. The cow can't be far off and we
+shall soon find out who is wrong. The first one that finds Brindle shall
+call to the other, and he'll own up what a stupid blunder he has made."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye are speakin' me own sentiments," replied Terry, who kept looking
+about him and<span class="pagenum"><a name="p24" id="p24">24</a></span> listening as if he expected every moment that the cow
+herself would solve the question. Fred Linden read the meaning of his
+action, and he, too, wondered why it was that when both had plainly
+caught the tinkle of the telltale bell, they should hear it no more.
+Strange that when it had spoken so clearly it should become silent, but
+such was the fact.</p>
+
+<p>Little did either suspect the cause.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p25" id="p25">25</a></span>
+<a name="AN_ABORIGINAL_PLOT_460" id="AN_ABORIGINAL_PLOT_460"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+<h3>AN ABORIGINAL PLOT.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The boys tried the plan of Fred Linden; he swerved slightly to the left,
+while Terry Clark made a sharp angle to the right. They never thought of
+getting beyond hearing of each other, and, but for the plentiful
+undergrowth they would have kept in sight. They had taken but a few
+steps when Fred looked around and found that he was alone. He could hear
+his young friend pushing his way among the trees, and once or twice he
+caught snatches of a tune that he was whistling&mdash;that being a favorite
+pastime of the lad when by himself.</p>
+
+<p>"It's curious how he could make such a blunder," thought Fred, with a
+smile to himself; "he will go tramping around the woods only to find
+that he was nowhere in the neighborhood of the cow. Ah, the storm is not
+yet over."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p26" id="p26">26</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He was looking to the eastward, where the sky, as he caught a glimpse of
+it among the treetops and branches, was as black as if overcast with one
+huge thunder cloud.</p>
+
+<p>"It was there it raged so violently last night, and the rain is falling
+in torrents again. We shall find the creek a river when we go back."</p>
+
+<p>The sturdy youth pressed on fully two hundred yards more, when the old
+suspicion came back to him. There was something wrong. When he could not
+explain some things he was satisfied that it was because there was an
+element of evil in those things&mdash;something that boded ill to both him
+and his friend.</p>
+
+<p>"I have traveled far enough since hearing that bell to pass a long ways
+beyond it," he said, compressing his lips and shaking his head; "and if
+that was Brindle that rang it the first time, she would have done it the
+second time."</p>
+
+<p>Twice before Fred fancied he heard something moving among the
+undergrowth a short distance in advance, and a little to one side. The
+noise was now so distinct that he could no<span class="pagenum"><a name="p27" id="p27">27</a></span> longer deceive himself;
+there was some specific cause for it.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess Terry has worked over this way, finding what a mistake he has
+made&mdash;no! by gracious! it isn't Terry!"</p>
+
+<p>Fred started in alarm, confident that it was an Indian that was moving
+through the wood. It will be admitted that there was cause for his fear,
+if such should prove to be the case, for he was without any firearms
+with which to defend himself; but while he stood meditating whether he
+should turn and take to his heels, he caught enough of a glimpse of the
+object to make out that it was a quadruped instead of a biped.</p>
+
+<p>This was a great relief, though it did not remove all fear, for he was
+not in form to meet any of the wild beasts that one was liable to run
+against at any time. The next minute, he broke into a hearty laugh, for
+that which he saw was the lost cow, quietly browsing on the tender
+herbs, as though just turned loose by her owner.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that is funny," said the youth, walking hastily toward her; "this
+proves that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p28" id="p28">28</a></span> I was right. You are a pretty one, old Brindle, to lead us
+on such a chase!"</p>
+
+<p>The cow, hearing the voice and footsteps, stopped cropping, and with her
+motionless jaws dripping with leaves and buds, started at Fred as if she
+wasn't sure of his identity. She knew enough, however, to see that he
+was a friend, and so resumed her feeding.</p>
+
+<p>Assuring himself that she was the estray, Fred looked at her bag to see
+the condition of that. It was only moderately full, proving that she had
+been milked later even than the preceding night.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden had approached close enough to place his hand on the
+handsome creature, when he noticed&mdash;what indeed he knew before&mdash;the bell
+was not fastened to her neck; that explained why, after hearing the
+sound, it was heard no more.</p>
+
+<p>"The cord has broken just after the tinkle, and let the bell fall to the
+ground; no wonder that it was not heard again. Some one has been kind
+enough to give Brindle a milking."</p>
+
+<p>The words were yet in the mouth of Fred when he received a shock that
+for a moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="p29" id="p29">29</a></span> held him speechless; a long distance to the right he
+caught the sound of the cow-bell!</p>
+
+<p>It was precisely the same that he and his friend had noticed, and since
+the bell of Brindle was gone, there could be but one meaning to the
+signal; it was made by some one for the purpose of drawing the boys into
+a trap.</p>
+
+<p>Without pausing to think over the dozen questions that came with this
+conclusion, Fred set off at the most hurried pace possible to warn his
+friend of his peril.</p>
+
+<p>"He has no suspicion of any thing wrong, and is sure to do the very
+thing that he ought not to do."</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden was right in this conclusion. It can be readily understood,
+why no thought of peril should enter the brain of the Irish lad, who was
+never so sure that he was right and Fred wrong when the two parted to
+take different routes in search of the cow.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a bright lad&mdash;is Fred," said Terry, "but there isn't any law that
+I knows of by which he is to be right ivery time and Mr. Terence Clark
+wrong. I'm going straight for the point where the tinkle of the bell
+came from."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p30" id="p30">30</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The same thought puzzled him that puzzled Fred Linden; after walking
+more than the whole distance that first intervened, the cow was still
+invisible. There was nothing in the fact that when she had strayed so
+far from home, she should keep on in the same direction.</p>
+
+<p>"It may be that she has heard something about the Pacific Ocean, and has
+set out to see for herself whither the reports are correct," was the
+quaint thought of the Irish lad, as he pushed vigorously through the
+undergrowth, which was dense enough to turn him aside more than once and
+compel him to keep his wits about him to prevent going astray
+altogether.</p>
+
+<p>Now and then he paused, naturally expecting (as did Fred), that he would
+hear more of the bell; but it is not necessary to say that, like his
+companion, he was disappointed. He had fixed the point whence came the
+noise so firmly in his mind, that he could not go wrong, though a boy of
+less experience in the woods would have been sure to do so.</p>
+
+<p>Now, if any of you lads have ever driven<span class="pagenum"><a name="p31" id="p31">31</a></span> cows or sheep, around whose
+necks bells were hung, you have noticed the natural fact that they have
+a sound peculiar to themselves. Referring particularly to cows, you may
+have observed the <i>jangle</i>, <i>jangle</i>, made by the motion of the head in
+cropping the grass, varied now and then by the confused jumble caused by
+the animal flinging her head over the back of her neck or fore part of
+the body to drive away the insects plaguing her. There is a certain
+regularity in all this which will continue for hours, and that may be
+said to be produced by the natural action of the animal, and which is
+altogether different from that made by the swaying motion of the hand.</p>
+
+<p>But Terry Clark inherited a sharpness of wits from his parents, and,
+while pushing forward among the trees and undergrowth, it struck him
+that there were several curious features about the matter.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a mistake, as Fred said," he thought more than once, "that we
+did not bring our guns with us."</p>
+
+<p>Then the second sound of the cow-bell fell upon the ear of Fred Linden;
+Terry was within<span class="pagenum"><a name="p32" id="p32">32</a></span> a hundred feet of the point whence it came, and he
+could not have heard it more distinctly had he been standing on the spot
+himself. The noise was so peculiar that a flood of misgiving overwhelmed
+him. The <i>tinkle</i>, <i>tinkle</i>, <i>tinkle</i>, was so regular that nothing was
+plainer than that no living quadruped could have made the sound.</p>
+
+<p>"That was not the cow," whispered the startled Terry; "she has more
+sinse than to do any thing of the kind, as me uncle used to obsarve whin
+he was accused of kaapin' sober; but I'll find out by the same token
+what it all means."</p>
+
+<p>Since he had no firearms with which to defend himself, and since he was
+sure he was threatened by danger, he ought to have hastened homeward;
+but his curiosity would not permit him to do so.</p>
+
+<p>He advanced with all the caution possible, parting the obstructing
+bushes in front and stepping as lightly on the carpet of leaves as
+though he were a scout entering the camp of an enemy. He often stopped,
+listened and peered, not only in front and the sides, but to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p33" id="p33">33</a></span> rear.
+Whatever might take place, he did not intend to be surprised.</p>
+
+<p>He had advanced a couple of rods in this manner, when a faint sound from
+the bell caught his ear, but was instantly suppressed, as though some
+one had stopped at the instant he started to sway it. Faint as was the
+tinkle, however, he was able to locate the precise point whence it came,
+and after a little hesitation he moved toward it.</p>
+
+<p>All at once he caught sight of a figure in a crouching position,
+stepping softly among the trees and undergrowth. He stood still, and a
+moment later was able to distinguish the figure of an Indian warrior,
+bending slightly forward, advancing inch by inch and holding the cow-bell
+in his hand.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p34" id="p34">34</a></span>
+<a name="A_PARTY_OF_THE_THIRD_PART_641" id="A_PARTY_OF_THE_THIRD_PART_641"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+<h3>A PARTY OF THE THIRD PART.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The Indian warrior whom Terry Clark saw advancing stealthily through the
+undergrowth, cow-bell in hand, was a frightful object. His head and
+shoulders were bent forward, and he was stepping slowly and silently,
+while he glanced from right to left, as if searching for some object, or
+awaiting the occurrence of an expected event. His face was daubed with
+black and red paint, his long hair, as coarse as that of a horse's tail,
+dangled about his shoulders and alongside his neck, so that his eyes,
+when staring through it, seemed to be blazing among so much tangled
+brush. The ordinary hunting shirt, fringed in front, inclosed his chest,
+and was gathered at the waist by a sash or belt into which were thrust
+his hunting knife and tomahawk. The usual breechcloth, leggins and
+moccasins completed his dress.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p35" id="p35">35</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He carried a fine rifle in his left hand, in a trailing position, while
+a powder horn and bullet pouch were supported by a string passing over
+his shoulder. He was what may be called a thoroughly equipped warrior,
+without taking into account the cow-bell, which was suspended by the
+thumb and fingers of the right hand. It was thus he must have grasped
+the implement when he caused it to give out the sound that caught the
+ear of Fred Linden and Terry Clark. But at the moment the Irish lad saw
+him, and for some minutes after, he held the bell in such careful poise
+that it gave no sound at all.</p>
+
+<p>The Indian probably suspected his imitation of the action of the animal
+was so poor that it was likely to cause distrust, and therefore he was
+sparing in resorting to the stratagem.</p>
+
+<p>Now, nothing can be clearer than that if the warrior was in such a plain
+view of Terry Clark, the latter was equally exposed to his eye. The
+Indian was moving in his guarded fashion over a course at right angles
+to that followed by the lad, who was quick to realize his peril. He knew
+that every second he<span class="pagenum"><a name="p36" id="p36">36</a></span> remained thus exposed he was likely to be seen. He
+had hardly taken a glance of his enemy, when he stooped so that his
+knees almost touched the ground, and moved as noiselessly and quickly as
+he could to the nearest tree, behind which he took shelter.</p>
+
+<p>This tree was an oak, large enough to hide two such boys, standing side
+by side, so that the youth felt secure for the time.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, if I only had me gun," was the regret that naturally came to him;
+"I would quickly settle with the spalpeen that stole old Brindle, and
+now wants to run away wid me."</p>
+
+<p>It will be admitted that the situation of Terry was peculiar, for he was
+quite close to the warrior, who, there was every reason to believe, was
+hunting for him, and who was so nigh that there was imminent danger of
+discovery. It might be asked why the redskin should have taken this
+course, for in some respects it had more than one absurd feature. If he
+wanted to kill a white person, all this maneuvering with a cow-bell was
+ridiculous, while his conduct from first to last was in some respects
+unreasonable. The best explanation<span class="pagenum"><a name="p37" id="p37">37</a></span> was that which was made sometime
+afterward by a person, who as yet has not been introduced to the reader,
+but who, when he does appear, will be admitted to be the best judge. I
+allude to Deerfoot the Shawanoe.</p>
+
+<p>The Indian with the cow-bell was a Winnebago warrior, whose home was a
+long ways to the northward, but who had gone thither in company with
+several others on what may be called a tour of investigation. The
+driving off of the cow was probably an inspiration of the moment. The
+Indians kept her until they had got all the milk they wanted, first
+removing the bell so that her friends could not recover her until they
+were through. The stratagem which I have been describing was an
+afterthought. None of the Winnebagos except the one who tried the plan
+would have any thing to do with it, though they were willing enough that
+every white person in the settlement of Greville should perish, if the
+same could be brought about without risk to them.</p>
+
+<p>Left to himself, the Winnebago decided to make a prisoner of whomsoever
+should be sent to find the cow. He had reason to believe that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p38" id="p38">38</a></span> this
+person would be a youth, and since every thing was so quiet in that
+section, he was not likely to be armed. Hence, it would be an easy
+matter to decoy him a goodly distance from the settlement, when the
+warrior could pounce upon, make him a prisoner and compel him to go with
+him. After the couple were far enough from the settlement the lad could
+be put to death, if his captor or the party to which the captor
+belonged, should so elect.</p>
+
+<p>Terry Clark had stood behind the sheltering tree for perhaps five
+minutes, when he became aware of an alarming fact: the warrior with the
+bell was slowly approaching him. The faint tinkle that it gave out once
+or twice told this, and when finally the lad ventured to peep around the
+side of the tree, the sight was a startling one. The Indian had risen
+almost to the upright posture, and holding the gun and bell as
+described, was moving directly toward the oak behind which the boy
+stood. Moreover at the moment the latter took the cautious look, the
+visage of the Indian showed that he was looking straight at the tree.</p>
+
+<p>"By the powers!" gasped Terry, "but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p39" id="p39">39</a></span> spalpeen observed me, and I'm
+thinkin' that he saw me before I did him."</p>
+
+<p>It was not at all unlikely that such was the case. The Indian may have
+felt sure of his victim, and so he indulged in a little by-play, as a
+cat often does with a mouse. Such a cruel proceeding was characteristic
+of his race.</p>
+
+<p>The belief that this was the case placed Terry Clark in a most trying
+position. He was without the means with which to defend himself, and in
+fact was hopeless. It was useless to try to run away, for if the warrior
+could not overtake him at once, he could bring him down with his rifle.</p>
+
+<p>You know how rare a thing it is for an Irishman to submit meekly, even
+when there is no hope in resistance. Terry muttered:</p>
+
+<p>"If he lays hands on me, there's going to be a fight; I wish Fred was
+near, that he could see that I git fair play."</p>
+
+<p>No person could have been more in earnest than was the Irish lad.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll wait till his head comes round the corner of that tree and then
+I'll give him a whack that'll tumble him over on his back,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p40" id="p40">40</a></span> afore he
+knows what's the matter wid him; then I'll amuse myself wid hammerin'
+him after he is down till I git tired and then I'll take his gun and
+knife and tomahawk and the bell and make him walk before me to the
+sittlement."</p>
+
+<p>The lad had just gone over in his mind this roseate programme, when a
+soft tinkle told him that the Winnebago was within a few steps of the
+tree; and at the same moment that the youth made this interesting
+discovery, another still more astonishing one broke upon him.</p>
+
+<p>Just fifty feet away and behind a trunk very similar to the one that
+sheltered the lad, stood a second Indian warrior. His position was such
+that he was in plain view of Terry, though the Winnebago could not see
+him except when the latter should approach quite close to the shelter of
+the boy. The strange Indian was closely watching the hostile one, and,
+with that remarkable intuition that sometimes comes to a person in grave
+crises, Terry was convinced that he was an enemy of the Winnebago,
+though whether a friend of the youth was not so certain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p41" id="p41">41</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In his amazement, the lad for the moment forgot his own danger and gave
+his attention to the stranger, who was the most striking looking warrior
+he had ever seen. He seemed to be about eighteen or twenty years of age,
+and was the picture of manly grace and beauty.</p>
+
+<p>He had long, luxuriant black hair which hung about his shoulders, being
+gathered by a loose band at the neck, so as to keep it from getting in
+front of his eyes. In the crown of this natural covering were thrust
+three stained eagle feathers, while there were two rows of colored beads
+around the neck. The fringed hunting shirt which reached almost to his
+knees was of a dull, yellow color and the sash or belt around the waist
+was of a dark red. A small but handsome bracelet encircled his left
+wrist, and the fringes of his leggins were of varied and brilliant hues,
+as were the beaded moccasins that incased his shapely feet. A tomahawk
+and knife were in his girdle, while he held a finely ornamented rifle in
+his right hand, the manner in which he manipulated the weapon showing
+that he was left-handed.</p>
+
+<p>The face was strikingly fine, the nose being<span class="pagenum"><a name="p42" id="p42">42</a></span> slightly aquiline, the
+cheek bones less prominent, and the whole contour more symmetrical than
+is generally the case with his race. There was something in the
+situation that evidently amused him, for Terry saw him smile so
+unmistakably that he noticed his small and regular white teeth.</p>
+
+<p>It was plain that he was watching the movements of the Winnebago, though
+he said nothing, and made no gesture to the lad, whose wondering look he
+must have understood. Be that as it may, the sight of the strange
+Indian, and the belief that he was an enemy of the other with the
+cow-bell, inspired the Irish lad with a courage that he would not have
+known had the other warrior been absent.</p>
+
+<p>"He's waiting to see how I condooct mesilf when the spalpeen lays hands
+on me," thought Terence; "he won't have to wait long."</p>
+
+<p>The youth was right. The crouching Winnebago, doubtless feeling that he
+had no immediate use for the bell that had served him so well, dropped
+it to the ground beside him, and holding only his rifle in hand, stepped
+forward with the same cat-like tread that had marked<span class="pagenum"><a name="p43" id="p43">43</a></span> his advance from
+the first. He knew that his victim was shrinking behind the trunk of the
+oak, and he was having his own peculiar sport with him.</p>
+
+<p>So intense was the attention of Terry that he heard distinctly the
+footsteps of the warrior, who a moment later was close enough to touch
+the tree with his hand, had he been so minded.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p44" id="p44">44</a></span>
+<a name="A_FRIEND_IN_NEED_825" id="A_FRIEND_IN_NEED_825"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+<h3>A FRIEND IN NEED.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Terry Clark, the Irish lad, placed his right foot behind the left, his
+weight equally supported on both, and stood as rigid as iron, with both
+fists clinched and half raised, in the attitude of one holding himself
+ready to use nature's weapons to his utmost ability.</p>
+
+<p>He heard the soft moccasin press the layer of brown autumn leaves, and
+the next moment the point of a knobby, painted nose came slowly in sight
+around the side of the trunk, followed by the sloping forehead, the
+hideous face and the shoulders of the warrior, whose right hand was held
+so far to the rear with the gun that it was the last to come into view.</p>
+
+<p>As the Winnebago caught sight of the white-faced boy, his countenance
+was disfigured by a grin that made it more repulsive than before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p45" id="p45">45</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oogh! brudder!&mdash;oogh!&mdash;Yenghese&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Just then Terry Clark let fly. He was a lusty lad, and he landed both
+fists, one after another, squarely in the painted face, with such force
+that the warrior was knocked completely off his feet. He went over
+backward as though from the kick of a horse; but, contrary to the hopes
+of his assailant, he did not let go of his gun. Had he done so, the
+youth would have caught it up and shot him before he could regain his
+feet.</p>
+
+<p>The blow was most presumptuous, and would have insured the death of the
+one who gave it but for the intervention of the second Indian, who
+seemed to take but a couple of bounds from the tree near which he was
+standing when he landed on the spot. The infuriated Winnebago was in the
+act of clambering to his feet, when he caught sight of the lithe,
+graceful warrior, standing only a couple of steps away, with loaded
+rifle pointed at him.</p>
+
+<p>"Dog of a Winnebago," he said in a voice slightly above an ordinary
+tone; "if he harms the pale face, he shall die!"</p>
+
+<p>There are some expressions so forcible that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p46" id="p46">46</a></span> they can not be made more
+so. The young Indian spoke in the lingo of the Winnebago, whose totem he
+had recognized, but his posture, erect on his feet, with his cocked
+rifle in such a position that he had only to pull the trigger to send
+the bullet through the bronzed skull before him;&mdash;all this required no
+words of explanation. The Winnebago grasped the situation, and, to use
+the homely expression common at this day, he saw that the other "had the
+drop" on him.</p>
+
+<p>The Indian, though larger, older, heavier and stronger, was taken at
+such disadvantage that he ceased his effort to rise, and looked up at
+his conqueror with a helplessness so grotesque that under other
+circumstances it would have caused a smile. Indeed, Terry Clark did
+indulge in a slight laugh, for he saw that it was safe to do so; the
+Winnebago was on the ground before his master.</p>
+
+<p>"If ye want me to ring the old coow-bell, I'll be glad to obleege, for
+the performance looks as if a little moosic would give tone to the same.
+Howsumever, I'll step back and let this good looking young gintleman run
+the show."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p47" id="p47">47</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Thereupon Terry withdrew several paces and watched the proceedings with
+a depth of interest that can be fully understood.</p>
+
+<p>The look of the Winnebago, who was half reclining on his side,
+supporting his body with the hand that grasped his gun, plainly
+indicated the question that came from his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Why does my brother look with evil eyes on the Wolf, who has come from
+the lodges of the Winnebagos? Are not all red men brothers?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot is a Shawanoe, whose warriors have consorted with those of the
+Winnebagos; but Deerfoot has left his lodge beyond the Mississippi and
+lives alone in the woods. He will not hurt the brave Winnebago who
+fights men, but he slays the Wolf that bites the children of the pale
+faces, that have never harmed him."</p>
+
+<p>Possibly the Wolf was inclined to argue the matter with the Shawanoe,
+who had caught him at such disadvantage; but the manner and words of
+Deerfoot showed that he was in no mood for discussion.</p>
+
+<p>"What does my brother want?" asked the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p48" id="p48">48</a></span> Winnebago, in a voice that
+proved all fight had left him. The most, indeed, that he ventured to do
+was gently to rub his forehead and nose, where the fists of the sturdy
+Terry Clark had landed.</p>
+
+<p>"Let the Wolf rise to his feet, but when he does so, his gun must lie on
+the ground."</p>
+
+<p>This was a harsh order, but there was no help for it; the Indian
+hesitated a moment, and then, black and scowling, he slowly assumed the
+upright posture, and, folding his arms across his chest, looked in the
+face of the bright-eyed Deerfoot, to signify that he was awaiting his
+next command.</p>
+
+<p>"The Wolf shall now turn his face away from Deerfoot."</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago obeyed the order as promptly as if he were a soldier
+undergoing drill.</p>
+
+<p>"Let my brother now raise his eyes, until he sees the beech with the
+white trunk," said Deerfoot, using the word "brother" for the first
+time.</p>
+
+<p>The object to which he alluded was perhaps fifty yards distant, the
+light color of the bark showing only here and there among the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p49" id="p49">49</a></span> branches
+and undergrowth that happened to be less frequent than in other
+directions. The Wolf signified that he recognized the tree to which his
+conqueror referred.</p>
+
+<p>"Now let my brother run; when he reaches the beech he can leap behind
+it, and it will shield his body; if my brother is slow Deerfoot may fire
+his gun and Wolf will never bite again."</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago wanted no explanation of this threat. It was hard for him
+to depart, leaving his rifle, but it was harder for him to lose his
+life, and he did not hesitate as to the choice. He made one tremendous
+bound that carried him a dozen feet, and then sped through the wood like
+a frightened deer. When he had passed half of the intervening distance,
+he seemed to fancy that he was not making satisfactory time for the
+Shawanoe, who, he doubtless imagined, was standing with leveled gun,
+finger on the trigger. He therefore began leaping from side to side, so
+as to disconcert the aim of the dreaded Deerfoot. In the hope also of
+further confusing him, he emitted several frenzied whoops, which added
+such grotesqueness<span class="pagenum"><a name="p50" id="p50">50</a></span> to the scene that Terry Clark threw back his head
+and made the woods ring with laughter.</p>
+
+<p>"I never saw a frog hop about like that, which beats any show."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot did not have his rifle cocked or in position. The moment the
+Wolf started, he saw how great his fright was, and, lowering the flint
+of the weapon, he rested the stock on the ground and watched the antics
+of the fugitive. The Shawanoe, unlike most of his race, had a vein of
+humor in his composition. When Terry broke into mirth, he too laughed,
+but it was simply a smile, accompanied by a sparkle of his bright eyes
+which showed how much he enjoyed the scene.</p>
+
+<p>The moment the Wolf arrived at the beech, he darted behind it, and for
+the first time looked over his shoulder. The sight could not have been
+reassuring, for he continued his frenzied flight until the keen ear of
+the Shawanoe could no longer hear him threshing through the wood.</p>
+
+<p>By this time Terry Clark had made up his mind that whoever the new
+arrival might be, he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="p51" id="p51">51</a></span> a friend. The Irish lad had not been able to
+understand any of the words that passed between the two, though their
+actions were eloquent enough to render much explanation unnecessary. But
+a person who treated the Winnebago in such style could not feel
+otherwise than friendly toward the one in whose behalf the interference
+was made. Terry blushed a little as he walked forward and reached out
+his honest hand.</p>
+
+<p>"If it's all the same to ye, I'll be glad to give that purty hand of
+yours an owld-fashioned shake, such as a fellow sometimes gits when he
+catches the chills an' faver."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot looked at the jolly lad with an odd expression, as he gave him
+his hand, which, I need not say, was shaken with enthusiasm. The young
+Shawanoe smiled in his own shadowy way and returned the pressure warmly.</p>
+
+<p>"My brother is happy," said he when the salute was finished; "it makes
+the heart of Deerfoot glad that he could be his friend."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye were a friend indade, though ye'll admit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p52" id="p52">52</a></span> Deerfut, that I toppled
+over the spalpeen in foine style, now didn't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"The Wolf who is a Winnebago, fell as though the lightning struck him."</p>
+
+<p>"How is it," asked Terry with no little curiosity, "that ye, who are as
+full-blooded an Injin as the Winnebago, can talk the English with almost
+as foine an accint as meself?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot has lived among the pale faces; when he was a small child he
+went with the Shawanoes to harm the white men, but they took him
+prisoner; they treated him kindly, and told him about God, who loves all
+His children, whether they be white or red, or the color of the night;
+they showed him how to read books, and to make his name and words on
+paper, so that others might read."</p>
+
+<p>"Can ye read and write?" asked the astonished Terry.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot smiled and nodded his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well, that bates ivery thing!" said Terry, who instantly repeated
+the absurd belief of many of his race, by adding, "I didn't s'pose that
+an Injin could learn."</p>
+
+<p>Without replying to the last remark, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p53" id="p53">53</a></span> Shawanoe, looking the lad
+steadily in the eye, said, "Deerfoot has a message for Fred Linden; does
+my brother know him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do I know him?" repeated Terry; "I know the same better than I know
+mesilf; he started wid me to hunt the coow, and I rickons that he can't
+be very fur away."</p>
+
+<p>"He's coming," quietly said Deerfoot, looking off to the left of Terry,
+as if about to salute a new arrival. The Irish lad wheeled in his quick
+way, but his sharp eyes caught no glimpse of his approaching friend.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p54" id="p54">54</a></span>
+<a name="FRED_LINDEN_RECEIVES_A_MESSAGE_FROM_THE_OZARK_CAMP_1028" id="FRED_LINDEN_RECEIVES_A_MESSAGE_FROM_THE_OZARK_CAMP_1028"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+<h3>FRED LINDEN RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE OZARK CAMP.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As soon as Fred Linden discovered the deception respecting the cow-bell,
+he made all haste toward the point whence came the sound, in the hope of
+warning Terry in time to save him from treachery. You will understand
+how quickly events passed when told that, although he came almost
+directly to the spot, he did not reach it until Deerfoot the Shawanoe
+asked for him. This wonderful Indian, of whom I shall have considerably
+more to tell, heard the coming of the lad whom he had never seen, before
+either the eye or ear of Terry Clark could detect his approach.</p>
+
+<p>As may well be supposed, Fred Linden was amazed at what met his eyes.
+The sight of Terry in friendly converse with a strange Indian was the
+opposite of what he expected<span class="pagenum"><a name="p55" id="p55">55</a></span> to see. He slackened his hurried walk and
+looked inquiringly at Terry. The latter could talk fast when he chose,
+and the few sentences he rattled off as his companion came up made the
+matter tolerably clear.</p>
+
+<p>While the questioning and talk were going on, Deerfoot stood leaning on
+his long gun and gazing with a certain natural dignity at the two
+friends. He said nothing nor did he appear to show any special
+curiosity, though had any one studied his countenance, he would have
+seen that he was watching Fred Linden. He had said that he carried a
+message to him, and it was no more than natural that he should wish to
+know something about him.</p>
+
+<p>As for Fred himself he did not try to hide his profound interest in the
+remarkable warrior who had appeared at such an opportune time, but of
+whom he had never before heard a word. He knew that the settlers along
+the frontier often found valuable allies in the friendly Indians, and he
+concluded that this red man was one of those who, having been maltreated
+by his own people or kindly used by the whites, had given his loyalty to
+the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p56" id="p56">56</a></span> latter; for in the brief narrative of Terry Clark, he had time only
+to tell the leading facts about the rescue of himself. Just then,
+therefore, the Irish lad knew more about Deerfoot than did the American.</p>
+
+<p>But it takes only a little time for such a group to become acquainted
+with each other. A general handshaking followed, and it happened more
+than once that all three were talking at the same moment. Had any one
+been able to translate the expression of Deerfoot's countenance, he
+would have seen that he was pleased with both the lads whom he now met
+for the first time. There was a rollicking good nature, a cheery courage
+and ever bubbling hopefulness about Terry that were contagious, and like
+so much sunshine that went with him wherever he went.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden was of that manly mold and rugged appearance that he would
+have drawn favorable attention wherever he might be.</p>
+
+<p>Such a lad in these days would have been picked out as a born athlete,
+one who was capable, with proper training, to become a first-class ball
+player, oarsman or boxer. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="p57" id="p57">57</a></span> was a swift runner, a strong leaper, an
+expert rifle shot, and his rugged frame and rough, outdoor life gave
+him an endurance that few men could surpass. He was as tall as Deerfoot,
+with broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, clear, keen eyes, a fine
+chest and a symmetrical frame.</p>
+
+<p>The clothes of the two boys, it is hardly necessary to say, were of
+homespun, for a hundred years ago it would have been hard for them to
+procure any other kind of goods. The short coat was somewhat like those
+used to-day by bicyclists, reaching only a short distance below the
+waist, where the girdle was fastened in front. The trowsers, of the same
+material, reached to the knees, below which were the hunting leggins,
+common along the border. Then came the warm, woolen stockings and thick,
+heavy shoes, while the head was surmounted by a woolen cap, made by the
+deft fingers at home, and without any pattern. It was soft, and having
+no forepiece, sat on the head in whichever position it happened to be
+first placed. In this respect it resembled the valuable sealskins of the
+present day. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="p58" id="p58">58</a></span> coats of the lads were open in front, and within were
+the pockets, which they used as required, the trowsers also being
+provided with a couple of these prime necessities.</p>
+
+<p>When the rattling conversation had gone on for several minutes, Terry
+ran a few steps and picked up the bell that the Indian had placed on the
+ground. The string which had held it about the neck of the animal was
+missing, having probably been cut by the knife of the impatient Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take the same back home wid me and put it on Brindle if I iver
+maat her; I shouldn't be so 'stonished that I couldn't spake if I should
+find that the spalpeen had killed her."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Fred, "she isn't harmed; I found her off yonder, cropping the
+buds and leaves, as innocently as though she hadn't done any thing wrong
+in leading us on this long chase. I started her toward home, and if she
+keeps up the gait she must be pretty near there by this time."</p>
+
+<p>This was good news to Terry, for the loss of the animal would have been
+serious to the family of Mr. MacClaskey, her owner. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="p59" id="p59">59</a></span> Irish lad had
+hardly picked up the bell when Deerfoot pointed to the gun lying on the
+ground, where it had been left by the Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>"That belongs to my brother."</p>
+
+<p>The delighted Terry could hardly believe what was told him, and he stood
+looking doubtfully at Deerfoot, as if suspecting he had heard him amiss.</p>
+
+<p>"It was you who captured the gun, Deerfoot, and so, if it belongs to any
+one, ye are the spalpeen."</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe looked down at his own handsome weapon and shook his head.
+He had no need of any other weapon. Besides, this singular youth could
+not have conscientiously taken it. He did not feel justified in keeping
+it for his own use, no matter if in sore need of such a weapon; but,
+since the Winnebago had made his demonstration against Terry Clark, and
+was compelled to leave the gun behind, when he was permitted to go, it
+seemed proper that the prize should fall into the hands of the Irish
+lad.</p>
+
+<p>What gave special propriety to the act was the fact that, although Fred
+Linden was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p60" id="p60">60</a></span> owner of a fine gun, Terry had none. When his father
+lost his life, his rifle was never recovered, and though there was one
+in the family of MacClaskey, the youth had no claim upon it. He longed
+for such a weapon, with a longing that it would be hard to understand.
+The prize, therefore, was appreciated to its full value. He picked it up
+with an embarrassed grin, which quickly became natural when he turned it
+over in his hands and saw what an excellent piece it was.</p>
+
+<p>"More than likely it belonged to a white man in the first place," said
+Fred; "so it is right enough that it should come back to one of his own
+race."</p>
+
+<p>"It's loaded," said Terry, slightly raising the hammer and noticing the
+powder in the pan. Then he brought the gun to his shoulder and pointing
+it at the white trunk of the beech, which partly showed through the
+intervening branches and undergrowth, he said:</p>
+
+<p>"If the spalpeen should peep out from behind that tree, I'm thinkin' I
+could hit him a harder blow than when I landed me two fists on his
+mug."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p61" id="p61">61</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The Winnebago is a long ways off," said Deerfoot, with a shake of his
+head; "he may meet my brother some day, but it will not be in this
+place."</p>
+
+<p>The young Shawanoe having learned all that was to be learned about his
+young friends, now reached his hand in the breast of his hunting shirt
+and drew out a small, closely-printed Bible, from between the leaves of
+which he took a piece of paper that had been folded several times. He
+glanced at the superscription, as if to make sure it was right, and then
+handed it to Fred, who, as may be supposed, took it with astonishment.
+He recognized the penciled writing as that of his father.</p>
+
+<p>Parting the folds, he read the following:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Dear Fred</span>: **</p>
+
+<p>You know that when we left home there were three of us, Hardin,
+Bowlby and myself. There are three of us still, but Bowlby
+considers himself of no account for some weeks to come, because of
+a hurt to his foot which will prevent his getting around for a long
+time. Such being the case, I have concluded, now that I have the
+chance, to send for you to join us. You are old enough and strong
+enough to make a full hand, and you can give us good help. Since we
+have all the animals, you will come afoot, but you will find no
+trouble in keeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="p62" id="p62">62</a></span> to the trail, which has been traveled often
+enough to make it plain. It is no more than a hundred miles from
+Greville to our camp at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, so you
+ought to have no difficulty in reaching here in the course of three
+or four days. Love to your mother and Edith.</p>
+
+<p>I send this by a young Shawanoe warrior, called Deerfoot. He is the
+most remarkable Indian I ever knew. I shall have a good deal to
+tell you about him when you reach here.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Your Father</span>. </p></div>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot bids his brothers good-by," said the young Indian, offering
+his hand, when he saw Fred had finished reading his letter; "he hopes
+that he shall see them again."</p>
+
+<p>"It won't be our fault if he doesn't," was the cordial response of Fred
+Linden, in which Terry heartily joined him. After a few more pleasant
+words they parted, Deerfoot following in the footsteps of the fleeing
+Winnebago, while the others moved to the northward in the direction of
+the creek. They turned aside a little from the direct course so as to
+hunt for Brindle, that Fred had seen, but she was not found. To their
+delight, however, they saw her footprints on the edge of the creek,
+proving that she had gone home with the directness of one who felt
+remorse for wandering from<span class="pagenum"><a name="p63" id="p63">63</a></span> the straight path. She had swum the stream,
+and was doubtless before the MacClaskey cabin at that moment.</p>
+
+<p>But standing close to the edge of the creek, the boys became aware of a
+hard fact: it had not only risen with great rapidity during the last
+half hour, so as to become a rushing torrent, but it was still rising so
+fast that it was extremely dangerous for the boys to try to cross it in
+the canoe. Indeed, they hesitated to make the attempt, but finally
+concluded to do so.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p64" id="p64">64</a></span>
+<a name="THE_HUNTERS_OF_OZARK_1223" id="THE_HUNTERS_OF_OZARK_1223"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+<h3>THE HUNTERS OF OZARK.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>I must tell you how it was that Deerfoot the Shawanoe came to bring the
+important letter of George Linden to his son Frederick.</p>
+
+<p>It has already been stated that it was the custom of a party of hunters
+and trappers to leave the settlement of Greville in the autumn of each
+year and spend most of the cold weather among the streams at the foot of
+a certain part of the Ozark Mountains. At that period, the fur bearing
+animals abounded in the section, as they were found in hundreds of other
+portions of the vast area known under the general name of the Louisiana
+Territory. You must bear in mind that there were thousands of square
+miles that had not been trodden by a white man, and so sparse were the
+Indian villages that large portions of the country remained to be
+visited even by them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p65" id="p65">65</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Beaver, otter, foxes, bears, and buffaloes were the chief animals that
+were afterward driven west by the advancing tide of civilization, until
+the agents of the Missouri and Western Fur Companies were forced to do
+most of their work in the far west and north-west, where they came in
+collision with that vast monopoly known as the Hudson Bay Company,
+which, until recent years, not only trapped and hunted throughout
+Oregon, but along the Pacific coast as far south as California.</p>
+
+<p>George Linden, Rufus Hardin and James Bowlby composed the party who, in
+the autumn of the year of which I am writing, rode each a horse a
+hundred miles to the south of the frontier settlement of Greville, and
+pitched their tent at the foot of the Ozark range. Beside the animals
+ridden, each hunter took a pack-horse to help bring back the peltries
+that were to be gathered during the cold weather. As a matter of course,
+they were provided with guns and plenty of munitions, and indeed with
+every necessity for their limited wants. They had spent several winters
+there and knew what was before them. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="p66" id="p66">66</a></span> had hunted and trapped for
+years in other parts of the great west, and more than once had made the
+long journey to the post of St. Louis to dispose of their furs, a
+necessity that, as I have explained, was removed by the annual visit of
+the agents with their long train of pack-horses to gather up the
+peltries.</p>
+
+<p>And so, without giving any of the interesting particulars of the ride
+southward from Greville, let us take a look at the little party gathered
+at their primitive camp in the wild Ozark region.</p>
+
+<p>The six horses had been relieved of their burdens on reaching the place,
+and were turned loose to crop the grass that was plentiful in many
+places. Although there was snow now and then through the winter, there
+was hardly enough to cause any suffering on the part of the animals.
+When the storms, however, were violent or prolonged, the hardy beasts
+were provided with some of the stores of dried grass that was kept in
+stock, as may be said. In case that gave out they could make shift with
+the cottonwood and other trees, whose bark was not lacking in succulent
+qualities.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p67" id="p67">67</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Although a tolerable shelter could have been found in any one of the
+numerous caves within reach, the hunters preferred to erect a rough
+cabin, that was almost strong enough to withstand a cyclone. The keen
+axes enabled them to trim off the interfering limbs, and they were
+joined at the corners so well that very little, if any, rain or snow
+could force its way through. Other logs and branches were laid across
+the top and ends fastened to the logs beneath by means of withes, so
+that the roof was not likely to be carried away unless the cabin itself
+went with it.</p>
+
+<p>On the top of the roof was a thick layer of branches and leaves, packed
+so closely that little moisture could find its way through. There were
+no windows, for none was needed. The single door in front was large
+enough to allow free egress and ingress. At night, when there was a
+possibility that some curious wild animal might come snuffing around,
+the door was closed by means of a framework of thick limbs, also
+fastened together with withes, swinging on leathern hinges, and made
+secure by a brace leaning against it from the inside.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p68" id="p68">68</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Within this structure were stored their supplies, and the blankets on
+which they slept were spread upon the bare ground. Their slumber was
+sweeter, too, than it would have been had they stretched themselves on
+"downy beds of ease," for health and weariness are two soporifics which
+art can never supplant.</p>
+
+<p>The traps and appurtenances used in their toil were never taken away
+from the place, for there was no call to do so. Such repairs as were
+needed from time to time were made in the cabin or on the spot, as the
+necessity arose. The rifles, of course, furnished the food needed, while
+an abundance of fish could be taken at any time from the streams in the
+neighborhood.</p>
+
+<p>A diet solely of flesh and fish is not acceptable to any one. Therefore,
+among the supplies annually brought to the cabin, were a quantity of
+coarse flour, meal, sugar, coffee, salt and tea. It may be said, that in
+one respect they were like modern campers out, except that they took the
+wrong season of the year for what so many boys consider the acme of
+enjoyment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p69" id="p69">69</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There was little in the appearance of the three men to call for special
+description. All were in middle life, strong, rugged, and inured to
+hardship. Linden was rather tall, his face covered by a heavy beard in
+which not a gray hair had yet appeared. Hardin was fully as tall, with
+shoulders somewhat bent, and his scant, dark beard was plentifully
+sprinkled with gray. Bowlby was short and stocky in appearance. When in
+the woods he allowed his black beard to grow all over his face, but at
+home he was always smooth-shaven. He was of a swarthy complexion,
+inclined to be silent, and often moody, but like his companions he was
+brave, industrious and patient, holding a strong dislike of all Indians,
+though not inclined to go to any unjustifiable length in his feelings.</p>
+
+<p>The dress of the three men was similar to that of Fred and Terry, which
+has already been described. No one of them knew any thing about the
+modern overcoat or cloak. If there should come a spell of unusually
+severe weather, they had only to wrap a blanket or buffalo robe about
+the shoulders when compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="p70" id="p70">70</a></span> to visit the traps or remain long
+outdoors. Should it become necessary to kindle a fire within the cabin
+for the sake of warmth, a broad, flat stone was removed from an opening
+in the roof directly over the blaze, and the smoke, if so inclined,
+found its way to the clear air outside. The cooking was done under the
+adjoining trees. Of course it was of the most primitive character, but
+it suited, and that is all that is necessary.</p>
+
+<p>The hunters reached their cabin about the middle of the forenoon of an
+autumn day. They had eaten their regular morning meal, and they got to
+work without delay. The horses were unloaded and turned adrift, the
+stores safely housed, the blankets spread on the floor of simple earth
+in the cabin, and then the men scattered to look after their traps. This
+was a large job, for the implements had to be examined and many of them
+slightly repaired, after which they must be carried long distances and
+set.</p>
+
+<p>These traps were of the ordinary pattern, such as have been in general
+use for hundreds of years. The iron jaws was forced wide apart<span class="pagenum"><a name="p71" id="p71">71</a></span> and kept
+in place by a catch, which was sprung by a slight pressure on the broad,
+flat portion in the middle. The trap being carefully hidden from sight,
+the unsuspecting animal had hardly time to rest one paw on this plate,
+when the fierce jaws, impelled by steel springs of prodigious strength,
+came together with the suddenness of lightning, and the animal, whatever
+he be, was in a grip from which there was no escape.</p>
+
+<p>You can understand the care required to set these traps so that they
+would do their work. The beaver is highly intelligent, and quick to
+detect the signs of man's presence. Nothing can tempt him to venture
+where he sees that his worst enemy has been before him. The fox is the
+synonym of cunning, and will often outwit the shrewdest trapper. He will
+walk around the trap and stealthily secure the bait without harm to
+himself. One of those animals has been known to reach forward and spring
+the implement, jerking back his paw quickly enough to escape the sharp
+teeth. A fox, too, when caught in a steel trap will sometimes gnaw off
+the leg just above where it is<span class="pagenum"><a name="p72" id="p72">72</a></span> imprisoned, and afterward go through
+life with little inconvenience on three legs. You may be sure that he is
+never caught again in that fashion.</p>
+
+<p>It was easy to see where the sagacious beavers were in the habit of
+leaving the water and climbing the bank. The trap was carefully placed
+below the surface out of sight, and often it had no bait at all, for it
+would seem that the bait itself was liable to awaken the suspicion of
+the beavers. Occasionally, however, when it was desirable to attract
+them to the spot, an oily odoriferous substance obtained from the animal
+itself was smeared over the ground near the bank.</p>
+
+<p>The otters were scarcer than the beavers, but were hunted much in the
+same manner. For foxes and fur-bearing animals that roamed the the
+woods, the steel trap was baited with such food as they were fond of
+(which was about every thing), and they were so numerous through that
+part of the territory that the hunters had little difficulty in securing
+what was wanted.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of the second day all the traps<span class="pagenum"><a name="p73" id="p73">73</a></span> were in position, and the
+three friends were grouped on the outside of the cabin smoking their
+pipes and talking over the outlook for the winter, which all agreed was
+favorable.</p>
+
+<p>The bison or buffaloes, of which mention has been made, were found in
+the open spaces or prairies where there was plenty of grass. No such
+multitudinous herds were seen as have been gathered in later years on
+the western prairies, but there were enough to make very lively hunting
+for the trio, who had shot and skinned several while on their way to the
+beaver runs.</p>
+
+<p>Within a half hour's walk of the camp was a beaver dam fully half a mile
+wide, built with astonishing skill and strength. The backwater flooded
+the country for many square miles, and gave the remarkable animals just
+the place they wanted for their curious huts, of which I shall have
+something to tell you further on.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p74" id="p74">74</a></span>
+<a name="A_WELCOME_ACQUAINTANCE_1411" id="A_WELCOME_ACQUAINTANCE_1411"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+<h3>A WELCOME ACQUAINTANCE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>On the fourth day after the arrival of the hunters at their cabin, the
+accident of which Mr. Linden made mention befell Bowlby. It was early in
+the morning, when the three were making their round of visits to the
+traps. Since no two inspected the same ones, they were quite widely
+separated from each other. Bowlby was walking over a rocky stretch of
+land alongside the creek when a loose stone turned under his foot,
+giving his ankle such a wrench that when he tried to stand he found he
+could not bear the least weight on it. It was one of those hurts that
+are more painful and troublesome than a fractured limb.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's a pretty go," he growled, as he sat down on the ground, his face
+contorted with pain; "it'll be a long time before I'll be able to stand,
+and the boys will have to bring one<span class="pagenum"><a name="p75" id="p75">75</a></span> of the hosses here or else carry me
+home. <i>Hello!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>He shouted at the top of his voice, feeling no alarm, for he knew that
+his friends would come to his relief before long, even if they did not
+hear his voice; but then he reflected, as he sat on the ground beside
+the two beavers that he had killed and was carrying to his home, that he
+was in bad form if a wild animal should assail him, or there should
+happen to be a hostile Indian prowling in the vicinity. He had left his
+gun at the cabin, as was his practice, since he needed all his strength
+to bring in the products of the traps.</p>
+
+<p>He was startled, therefore, after his third shout; an Indian warrior,
+fully armed, walked out of the wood and came toward him; but his signs
+of peace, and more than all, the words he uttered, removed his fears.</p>
+
+<p>"My brother suffers; Deerfoot will help him to his cabin."</p>
+
+<p>"If that's so," said the greatly relieved Bowlby, "you're just the chap
+I'm waiting for. We'll leave these beavers here for the others to come
+after, and if you'll let me lean<span class="pagenum"><a name="p76" id="p76">76</a></span> on your shoulder I guess I can hobble
+back; but I'll have to lean heavy," he added, looking doubtfully at the
+Indian, "and you ain't much more than a likely lad."</p>
+
+<p>"Let my brother try me," said Deerfoot, with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>The disabled hunter did try him, often compelled, as he was, to bear to
+such an extent upon his new friend that it may be said the latter
+sustained half his weight. The progress was slow, and when they reached
+a small stream of water, Bowlby sat down and allowed the young Shawanoe
+to bathe the inflamed limb. Great relief was felt.</p>
+
+<p>During this labored walk homeward, the two naturally talked a good deal
+together and learned much about each other. Deerfoot said that he had
+often hunted through the surrounding country, and he told why it was he
+had found it necessary to leave his tribe on the other side of the
+Mississippi. He said that he had spent more than one night in the
+deserted cabin of Bowlby and his friends during the summer months, when
+he found himself belated in the vicinity, and he once shot a<span class="pagenum"><a name="p77" id="p77">77</a></span> wolf that
+was resolved on entering against his protest. It was his intention to
+make a call upon the hunters, and if they needed his aid, he was glad to
+give it in the way of helping trap or shoot game. You need not be told
+that though James Bowlby felt an innate dislike of the American race,
+there was now one exception: henceforth he was the sworn friend of
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe.</p>
+
+<p>Linden and Hardin had got back from making their rounds, and were
+wondering what could have delayed their friend, when they saw him
+limping painfully on one foot, and supported by a fine looking young
+Indian warrior. Their astonishment was great, for they could not
+understand what it meant. Linden hastened to the help of Bowlby, but he
+waved him aside and said no one could do as well as Deerfoot.</p>
+
+<p>While Hardin went out to bring in the two beavers that had been taken
+from the traps by Bowlby, the latter was assisted to a seat on the log
+in front of the cabin. Then Deerfoot insisted on giving attention to the
+injured limb. It had swollen a great deal since he<span class="pagenum"><a name="p78" id="p78">78</a></span> bathed it. There was
+nothing in the cabin in the way of ointment or liniment, but Deerfoot
+hastened into the wood and soon came back with the leaves of some plant
+whose virtues seemed to be well known to him. These were wrapped in a
+piece of linen, which the establishment managed to afford, and pounded
+to a pulp, and then the poultice was gently applied to the inflamed
+ankle. Bowlby declared that it felt better at once, but his face
+lengthened when Deerfoot told him that it would be a moon, or several
+weeks, before he would fully recover the use of his limb.</p>
+
+<p>"That will make us short-handed, and we need every one," said Mr.
+Linden; "I wish Fred was here to give us help."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I can ride my hoss to Greville," said Bowlby, "and bring him
+back with me."</p>
+
+<p>"That is hardly worth while."</p>
+
+<p>"Where is the home of my brother?" gently asked Deerfoot.</p>
+
+<p>"At the settlement of Greville, about a hundred miles to the north."</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot knows where it is," he replied;<span class="pagenum"><a name="p79" id="p79">79</a></span> "he will take a message for
+his brother, for his footsteps lead him that way."</p>
+
+<p>"You're a mighty clever Indian; I will be ever so much obliged to you,"
+said Linden; "I will write a few lines to my boy, which will explain our
+trouble, though I have no doubt you could take the message just as well;
+but it is such an unexpected one that the boy might doubt it unless it
+was in my own writing. See?"</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe nodded his head to signify that it was all clear to him.
+Linden passed within the cabin, where he hurriedly wrote the few lines
+that are already known to the reader, folded the paper, and wrote on the
+outside:</p>
+
+<p>
+"FREDERICK LINDEN, **ususual<br />
+Grevil."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>He then handed it to Deerfoot, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"There is no special hurry, and if you are in the neighborhood of
+Greville, and can make it convenient to leave that at my house, it will
+be a great kindness to me."</p>
+
+<p>"If the Great Spirit does not will different it shall be in his hands
+before the setting of three more suns, but," added Deerfoot, looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="p80" id="p80">80</a></span> at
+the superscription on the back of the paper, "has not my brother made a
+mistake?"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"When Deerfoot writes the word 'Greville,' he adds two letters more than
+does my brother; perhaps, though, Deerfoot is wrong."</p>
+
+<p>No pen can describe the amazement that appeared on the faces of Linden
+and Bowlby. Here was a young Indian teaching a white man old enough to
+be his father how to spell in the English language! Was the like ever
+known?</p>
+
+<p>For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke. They were sitting on the
+log, while Deerfoot was standing in front of them. He held his rifle in
+his right hand and the folded piece of paper in his left, while he
+looked inquiringly down in the faces of the two men, whose mouths and
+eyes were open, as though they could not believe the evidence of their
+own senses. Finally, with a deep sigh, Linden slowly rose to his feet&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, by gracious! if that don't beat every thing! Do you mean to say
+that you can read <i>writing</i>? Impossible!"</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style='width:350px'>
+<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a>
+<img src="images/ozark-080.jpg" alt="&#34;For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke.&#34;" title="" width="350" /><br />
+<span class="caption">&#34;For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke.&#34;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="p81" id="p81">81</a></span>Then, as if still in doubt, he reached out and took the paper. Drawing a
+stump of a lead pencil from his pocket he completed the word properly,
+opened the paper, and handing it back to the Indian, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Let's hear you read <i>that</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"My brother writes so that any one can read his words," observed the
+young Shawanoe by way of introduction, and then in a low, soft voice he
+read the brief note from beginning to end.</p>
+
+<p>Bowlby, who had not yet spoken, seemed unable to express his emotions.
+Unable himself to read, the attainment of the Indian was almost past
+belief. As the best thing, therefore, that he could do, he solemnly
+reached out his hand to Linden and shook it with great earnestness.
+Settling painfully back on the log, he nodded his head several times as
+if he was almost overcome, as indeed was the case.</p>
+
+<p>I should state at this point that although Linden had not seen fit to
+make it known, he had heard of Deerfoot the Shawanoe long before. He
+knew of some of his exploits in Kentucky, as well as those of later
+years on<span class="pagenum"><a name="p82" id="p82">82</a></span> the western bank of the Mississippi (which are told in the
+"Young Pioneer" and the "Log Cabin Series"), but he had never met the
+youth, nor had he ever heard or suspected that he knew how to read and
+write. Taking hold of his arm, he asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Where in the name of all that is wonderful did you learn that? When I
+wrote to Fred that I would tell him some things about you I did not know
+of the most extraordinary of all&mdash;that which I have just seen. Sit right
+down here, between me and Jim, and let us know all about it."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot held back, but yielded, and finally answered in his modest way
+the numerous questions with which he was plied. Bowlby had managed to
+find his tongue, and his queries were about twice as numerous as those
+of his companion. By the time that Deerfoot had time to rest, Hardin
+came back, and there was little left to tell.</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe had captured the Hunters of the Ozark. They insisted that
+he should stay to dinner with them, and he did so. Then he was badgered
+to enter into a shooting match.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p83" id="p83">83</a></span> All were fine marksmen, and Linden was
+the best shot in Greville. Using his own rifle, Deerfoot beat every one
+of them. Then he exchanged weapons and allowed the crippled Bowlby to
+rest his piece, and the Shawanoe beat all three just as badly as before.
+They were delighted, and slapping him on the back, asked him to spend a
+week with them, but he shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>The sun was already beyond the meridian, and there were reasons for his
+departure which he could not explain. They liked him too well to insist,
+though they made him promise that on the first chance he would make them
+a visit. Then Deerfoot gravely pressed hands with all and quickly
+disappeared in the woods, taking the trail that led toward Greville. You
+have already learned about his meeting with Terry Clark and Fred
+Linden.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p84" id="p84">84</a></span>
+<a name="A_MISHAP_1618" id="A_MISHAP_1618"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+<h3>A MISHAP.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they
+came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time
+before. It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely
+an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume
+was increasing with great rapidity. The sinuosities of the creek had
+caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some
+miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.</p>
+
+<p>It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a
+distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been
+swept away like an egg shell. As it was, the water had reached the base
+of the tree, while the boat was bobbing up and down almost in a straight
+line with the course of<span class="pagenum"><a name="p85" id="p85">85</a></span> the creek, as though it was tugging to get
+loose.</p>
+
+<p>"My gracious, Terry!" said Fred, "this is a little worse than I
+expected; it is going to be hard work to get across."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye are right for once," added the other, gravely shaking his head;
+"them rapids are a little closer than I loike."</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me," added Fred, who was unwilling to admit that he was
+afraid to try the task, "that I have gone over the creek when it was
+just as high and rapid, and have crossed at this place, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Who swung the paddle?"</p>
+
+<p>"Father did once and Mr. Bowlby at another time."</p>
+
+<p>"Did ye iver manage the paddle yersilf when the creek got onto one of
+its tears?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember that I have, but that has been only because the need
+did not arise; I am not afraid to try it, even if you are."</p>
+
+<p>"Who said I was afraid?" demanded Terry; "I'm riddy to hop into the boat
+and sway the paddle mesilf, and I'll do it, too."</p>
+
+<p>He stepped into the water, which was up to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p86" id="p86">86</a></span> his shoe tops, and began
+drawing in the rawhide rope which held the frail boat from breaking
+away. His companion laughed and said nothing until the canoe was at
+their feet and drawn up on the land away from the rushing current.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be quite so touchy, Terry; that boat belongs to me and I can
+handle the paddle better than you; anyway I shall try to take us to the
+other side, and all that you have to do is to keep those limbs and trees
+from capsizing us."</p>
+
+<p>The time occupied in pulling the boat to the spot had given the Irish
+lad a chance to regain his usual good nature, and he made no protest
+against the decision of his companion, though Terry was no unskillful
+handler of the paddle himself.</p>
+
+<p>The creek was probably over a hundred feet wide, and the roiled current
+abounded with limbs and trees that swung up and down, sometimes out of
+sight and then popping up again, as though they were frolicking in the
+swift waters. It would require a strong arm and a cool head to force the
+birchen craft through<span class="pagenum"><a name="p87" id="p87">87</a></span> these obstacles to the shore on the other side.
+It must be admitted, too, that it was a piece of imprudence on the part
+of the lads, who would have been wiser had they quietly waited where
+they were until the overflow exhausted itself. A stream that rises so
+fast subsides with the same quickness, and long before nightfall the
+creek would shrink to proportions that would take away all peril to any
+one in paddling across.</p>
+
+<p>They would have been compelled to go a long distance up stream before
+finding a place where the crossing was easier, and it would have been
+almost impossible to drag the canoe thither. They would have held fast
+to one end of the rope and allowed it to dance through the rapids, so as
+to allow them to make the passage below, where the great peril was
+removed, had they not known that the chances were ten to one that it
+would be snatched from their grasp, thus shutting them out altogether.</p>
+
+<p>Looking up and across the sloping clearing, the cabins forming the
+settlement of Greville could be seen at no great distance. From several
+of the stone chimneys the smoke was curling<span class="pagenum"><a name="p88" id="p88">88</a></span> lazily upward, and now and
+then glimpses could be caught of persons moving hither and thither, but
+no one appeared to be looking in the direction of the creek, or if any
+one was doing so, he saw nothing of the two boys standing on the further
+shore and debating with themselves the best course to follow. At any
+rate no one would think they were unable to take care of themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Both Fred and Terry knew that there was but one prudent plan to follow;
+that was quietly to wait where they were until near night, by which time
+all danger would be gone. But neither proposed the course nor made
+mention of it. It is natural for youth to be rash, and there was a
+semblance of timidity in such a shrinking back that was repellent to
+American and Irish lad alike. And so you will understand how it was that
+each showed an eagerness to enter into the contest with the angry
+current.</p>
+
+<p>You will see, too, how foolish they were, when I tell you that during
+the few minutes they stood by the tree to which the rope had been tied
+discussing the situation, they saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="p89" id="p89">89</a></span> the proof that the creek was
+subsiding. There was a perceptible lowering of the surface, as was shown
+by the soiled line against the trunk of the tree. Even Terry, when he
+looked down, observed that he was not standing in quite as deep water as
+he was a few minutes before. No danger, however, of his making mention
+of it.</p>
+
+<p>It took but a minute or so to untie the long thong that was wrapped
+about the limb, and then, as Fred was on the point of flinging the coil
+into the bottom of the boat, the end of which was drawn up on the bank,
+and to take up the paddle and push off, Terry, with some excitement,
+caught his arm and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Plase wait a minute, will ye?"</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll not be gone long; howld the boat only for a twinkling."</p>
+
+<p>He ran a dozen steps or so from shore to where was the stump of a tree
+that had probably been splintered by a thunder-bolt, and around which
+sprouted a number of bushes that were dense enough to hide a large
+object within. Carefully parting these, Terry laid<span class="pagenum"><a name="p90" id="p90">90</a></span> down his rifle and
+the bell, and then as carefully smoothed the undergrowth in place. Then
+he hurried back.</p>
+
+<p>"There are plinty of lads about me own size," said he, "but there's only
+one gun that belongs to me, and if the canoe should upsit and both of us
+get drowned I want to be sure and save me gun."</p>
+
+<p>Fred smiled at this Irish-like explanation, but he was glad that Terry
+had left the gun on shore. It was safely hidden until he should wish to
+get it again, while its presence in the canoe would be the worst kind of
+encumbrance. The new owner was so charmed with his prize that he would
+think more of saving that than of saving the boat. It was clear that the
+task of Terry in fighting off the rushing timber would be almost as
+difficult as that of guiding it across the swift stream.</p>
+
+<p>"In with you!" said Fred to Terry, who carefully seated himself near the
+bow of the canoe and took up the long pole that lay in the bottom and
+projected some distance over the end of the boat. Fred Linden gave it a
+vigorous shove, landed in the stern, caught<span class="pagenum"><a name="p91" id="p91">91</a></span> up the paddle, and
+instantly began his struggle.</p>
+
+<p>You will see the difficulty and danger of his task, and must therefore
+join with me in condemning the lack of judgment showed by both. They had
+to paddle more than a hundred feet across a furious torrent in which
+were scores of uprooted trees, wrenched-off limbs, and craggy stumps,
+all speeding downward with great swiftness and force. The course of the
+boat being at right angles to these objects, must bring it in collision
+with some of them, at the great risk of overturning or shattering the
+canoe, that was not calculated to withstand any such blows.</p>
+
+<p>And yet, though the task was a hard one, there was little doubt that the
+two lads could make their way across, provided they were given enough
+time in which to do so; but there were the rapids, so near that their
+roar was plainly heard. In case of an overturn or accident, the two
+would be swept among them. It was the same, on a smaller scale, as if a
+person should start to row across Niagara River, just above the falls,
+where by vigorous work he<span class="pagenum"><a name="p92" id="p92">92</a></span> could make the passage, provided he did not
+drop a stroke on the way. You will say that any one making such an
+attempt placed little value on his own life.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden used his paddle after the manner of an Indian&mdash;that is, he
+dipped the broad end first on one side of the boat and then on the
+other. The paddle was not widened at each end, as is sometimes the case,
+the one who wields it using the sides alternately and with great
+rapidity. In calm water such a light structure as an Indian canoe can be
+driven with great speed, and I have no doubt that the youths would have
+made a speedy passage had it not been for the interference of the
+floating objects to which I have referred.</p>
+
+<p>Ten feet from land Fred was forced to back water suddenly to avoid a
+jagged stump that danced in front like a bull getting ready to charge,
+and finally did strike the bow with a thump that startled both the
+occupants.</p>
+
+<p>"Me pole slipped off the side of that," Terry explained, as he
+brandished the stick in front on the lookout for the threatening
+waste-wood;<span class="pagenum"><a name="p93" id="p93">93</a></span> "have a care that ye don't drive the boat agin something
+that is stronger than the boat itsilf."</p>
+
+<p>By coolness, alertness and strength, Fred fought his way in safety until
+probably one-third of the distance was passed. Then he saw the great
+blunder he had made in trying to cross while the current was so high.
+The constant fighting with the floating stumps and trees caused them to
+lose so much ground&mdash;or rather water&mdash;that they were drifting
+frightfully close to the rapids, whose roar grew plainer every moment.
+But he had gone so far that it was as safe to keep on as to turn back,
+and so he dipped the paddle and swung it with renewed vigor.</p>
+
+<p>"Look out!" he called to Terry, who in parrying the rush of a stump a
+couple of yards in advance, did not notice one that was coming broadside
+on, its presence betrayed by a tiny branch that protruded a few inches
+above the surface like the fin of a shark. Fred did his utmost to avoid
+it, but he was too slow, and a second later the pointed log not only
+struck the side of the canoe, but capsized it.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p94" id="p94">94</a></span>
+<a name="A_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE_1819" id="A_STRUGGLE_FOR_LIFE_1819"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+<h3>A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The partly sunken log crashed into the side of the canoe with such
+suddenness that the craft was overturned and ruined, and the occupants
+struggling in the water, before either had time to utter more than a
+single exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>But they were powerful swimmers, and, but for the nearness of the
+rapids, they could have afforded to laugh at their mishap. As it was,
+Terry Clark shouted, as he blew the muddy water from his mouth:</p>
+
+<p>"What a sinsible young gintleman I was to lave me gun on the other
+side."</p>
+
+<p>"We both would have been much more sensible had we left ourselves
+there," rejoined Fred, who was struggling with might and main for the
+land in front; "there's no time, Terry, to waste in talk; we've got to
+swim<span class="pagenum"><a name="p95" id="p95">95</a></span> as never before, for nothing else will save us."</p>
+
+<p>The other seemed to rouse to his peril, for he made the only wise
+response he could&mdash;which was putting forth every atom of strength and
+skill that he possessed in the effort to breast the furious torrent.</p>
+
+<p>It is singular how often the slightest advantage turns the scale for
+life or death. At the moment the canoe was smashed and capsized Terry
+Clark was seated some six or eight feet nearer the shore toward which
+they were paddling than was Fred Linden, and this difference remained
+when the two went into the water and began swimming. The Irish lad was
+fully as skillful as the other, and he did not lose an inch of the gain
+thus given him.</p>
+
+<p>They were near the middle of the stream when the catastrophe took place.
+Of course they would have done better had they been without any
+clothing, but there was no time to remove any of that, and beyond
+question the two made the most gallant kind of a fight for life.</p>
+
+<p>Fully aroused to his peril, Terry swam with<span class="pagenum"><a name="p96" id="p96">96</a></span> amazing power, his lips
+compressed and his eyes fixed on the land in front, which seemed quite
+near, and yet was never so hard to reach. The lad had proven by repeated
+tests that he could swim faster on his left side then in any other
+position. He quickly flung himself over and used his arms and legs like
+one who knew fully the stake for which he was contending.</p>
+
+<p>By this recourse he actually gained on Fred, who continued to breast the
+water with all the strength at his command. Terry was hopeful, and now
+that he was fully roused, he did not waste his strength in shouting to
+his companion. As he advanced in his crab-like fashion, he frequently
+flirted his face around so as to look in front, and thus to keep aware
+of his progress.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm doing well, and will make it," was his thought; "I hope Fred will
+be as fortynate as mesilf."</p>
+
+<p>An important point was gained by swimming on his left side; his face was
+turned up stream, and he caught sight of the floating timber quicker
+than when advancing with his face toward the land. Thus it came about
+that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="p97" id="p97">97</a></span> saw a plunging tree, or log, similar to that which had
+destroyed the canoe, and when it was fully as close to him.</p>
+
+<p>Like a flash, Terry dove, intending to pass clean under it. He could not
+know any thing about the portion beneath the surface, and was a little
+startled when he found himself among leaves and a lot of small branches;
+but he swam with the same vigor and skill when below as when above the
+surface, and quickly fought his way through, rising on the other side a
+considerable distance nearer land.</p>
+
+<p>But he gasped with terror, for during the brief period he lost a great
+deal more than he gained. A furtive glance to the left showed him the
+mist and spray flying high in air, as the muddy waters were tossed to
+and fro by the rocks below: he was fearfully close to them.</p>
+
+<p>But he was also close to land, and he saw his chance; indeed, his only
+one. A tree growing out toward the creek curved downward so that the
+lower part of the trunk was within a few inches of the water. A short
+time before the current had washed against it, but was now falling away
+from it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p98" id="p98">98</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The portion which inclined downward like a bow was several feet from
+shore, and some distance below him. It will be seen, therefore, that the
+thing for him to do was to bend all his efforts toward reaching that. If
+he could advance far enough to allow the current to sweep him beneath,
+or quite close to the tree, he could grasp it and save himself.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what's got to be done," was his conclusion the instant he saw
+the crooked tree; "or it's good-by to Terry Clark and his rifle."</p>
+
+<p>He would succeed; he saw it the next moment. The curving tree seemed to
+be sweeping up stream with frightful swiftness, but at the right second
+Terry, by a supreme effort, threw himself partly out of the water, and
+flinging both arms around the trunk, which was no more than six inches
+in diameter, he held fast.</p>
+
+<p>The strain was great, and he felt his fingers slipping over the shaggy
+bark, but he held on like grim death, and by a skillful upward hitch of
+his body, locked his fingers above the trunk, and was safe; he was then
+able to hold double his own weight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p99" id="p99">99</a></span></p>
+
+<p>His next move was to throw his feet around the trunk, when it was an
+easy matter for him to twist himself over on top, where he was as secure
+as lying on his own trundle bed in the cabin at home.</p>
+
+<p>The instant his own safety was secured his whole soul was stirred by
+anxiety for Fred Linden, who, he knew, was placed at more disadvantage
+than he. Since he was further from shore than was he, and since the
+latter had been able to save himself only by a hair's breadth, it was
+clearly beyond the power of Fred to escape in the same manner&mdash;though it
+might be that there was some other remote chance for him.</p>
+
+<p>The first glance that Terry cast over the muddy waters showed him his
+friend, swimming manfully for shore, but so far out in the stream that
+it was impossible for him to reach it before passing into the grip of
+the rapids.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use," called out Fred, in a voice in which there was no tremor
+or shrinking; "I'm bound for the rapids, and here goes."</p>
+
+<p>And deliberately facing about, he swam coolly in the direction of the
+boiling waters as though he were bathing in a still lake.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p100" id="p100">100</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Be the powers, but he is plucky," muttered Terence, thrilled by the
+sight; "if he can get through there alive, I'll be proud of him!"</p>
+
+<p>The rapids, of which I have made mention several times, were caused by a
+series of irregular rocks, extending a hundred yards, in the space of
+which the stream made a descent of a dozen or twenty feet. At ordinary
+times the creek wound languidly around these obstructions, forming many
+deep, clear pools of water, that afforded the best kind of fishing.
+There was so much room for the current that there was no call for it to
+make haste.</p>
+
+<p>But you can understand how different it was when the creek was swollen
+by violent rains. It then dashed against the rocks, was thrown back,
+plunged against others, whirled about and charged upon still others, by
+which time it was a mass of seething foam, with the spray flying high in
+air, and a faint rainbow showing through the mist when the sun was
+shining. After fighting its way between and around and over these
+obstructions, the current emerged at the bottom one mass of boiling foam
+and dancing<span class="pagenum"><a name="p101" id="p101">101</a></span> bubbles, which continued for several hundred feet before
+the effects of the savage churning that the water had received could be
+shaken off.</p>
+
+<p>Now, it would be idle to say that these rapids were as dangerous as the
+famous whirlpool below Niagara Falls; for it would not only be untrue,
+but it would shut me out from taking Fred Linden safely through them:
+for I am bound to do that, since he is too good a fellow to sacrifice at
+this early stage of my story, and you would not forgive me for doing so.</p>
+
+<p>But all the same the danger was great, and was enough to cause the
+bravest man to shrink from attempting the passage. Fred would have been
+glad to shrink from going through, but since that was beyond his power
+he did the wisest course&mdash;faced about and kept his wits with him.</p>
+
+<p>There was one consolation&mdash;the suspense could last but a few moments; he
+was sure to emerge from the lower falls within the space of a minute,
+whether alive or dead.</p>
+
+<p>The first object that caught his eye was his broken canoe. Naturally it
+was but a short<span class="pagenum"><a name="p102" id="p102">102</a></span> distance below him, though it had gained a little while
+he was struggling so hard to make land. It was turned on its side,
+spinning sometimes one way and then whirling the other, according to the
+whim of the current; then sea-sawing up and down, until all at once it
+shot upward like a huge sturgeon, which sometimes flings its whole
+length out of the water.</p>
+
+<p>Another point must be named that was gained by this facing about of Fred
+Linden. Since he was going with the current he kept pace with every
+thing else that was afloat, and he was therefore in no danger from the
+trees and branches that had caused him so much, and, in fact, nearly all
+his trouble.</p>
+
+<p>At the moment he was about to enter the boiling rapids he found himself
+partly entangled in the branches of a large uprooted tree that was
+dancing about in a crazy fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"This may help to shield me from being dashed against the rocks," was
+his thought, as he seized hold of a thick limb close to the point where
+it put out from the trunk; "at any rate I don't see that it can make
+matters any worse."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p103" id="p103">103</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The act of Fred Linden in grasping the limb saved his life. The next
+moment he was whirled hither and thither, half strangled with foam, head
+now in air, now beneath the surface, his body grazing the jagged rocks
+by the closest possible shave, and all the time shooting forward with
+dizzying rapidity, until at last he emerged into the calmer water below
+as well and hearty as he ever was in all his life.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p104" id="p104">104</a></span>
+<a name="TRAMPING_SOUTHWARD_2013" id="TRAMPING_SOUTHWARD_2013"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+<h3>TRAMPING SOUTHWARD.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>An ejaculation of thankfulness escaped Fred Linden when he found himself
+floating in the comparatively still water below the rapids, and he knew
+that although he was pretty well bruised, none of his bones was broken.
+He let go of the limb of the tree that had served him so well, and
+flirting the water from his eyes, struck out with his old time vigor for
+the shore, toward which he had started in the canoe.</p>
+
+<p>When Terry Clark saw his friend go spinning into the whirlpool, he
+scrambled back from the trunk of the tree, on which he had found refuge,
+and ran at full speed down the bank. Fast as he went, he was just in
+time to see Fred swimming through the foaming waters toward the land.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me yer hand!" called out the delighted<span class="pagenum"><a name="p105" id="p105">105</a></span> youngster; "there isn't
+any body in the wide wurruld that could bate that onless it is mesilf,
+and I couldn't do it."</p>
+
+<p>"Whew!" exclaimed Fred, as he laboriously clambered up the steep bank;
+"that was the biggest lot of swimming and diving crowded into the space
+of a minute or two that I ever knew; I wouldn't like to take such a trip
+each day."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'm thinkin' that it'll be a few days after this whin we try it
+agin," added Terry, delighted to see his loved comrade before him
+unharmed; "I jist give up when I seen you plunge in among the rocks, and
+was wonderin' how your father and mother and sister Edith would faal
+when I should be luggin' your dead body home."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thankful that you haven't <i>that</i> to do," said Fred with an
+earnestness that could not be mistaken; "but come, the clothes of us
+both are dripping, and we can't get away any too soon."</p>
+
+<p>It was not far to walk, and a few minutes later they reached the other
+side of the clearing, where the cluster of cabins stood. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="p106" id="p106">106</a></span> first
+living object on which their eyes rested was Brindle, lying on the
+ground and chewing her cud with an air of contentment which belongs
+exclusively to her kind, or rather kine.</p>
+
+<p>The boys laughed and Terry said:</p>
+
+<p>"If she had such a thing as conscience she wouldn't be takin' things in
+that aisy style, after givin' us a duckin' that come nigh bein' our last
+one."</p>
+
+<p>"You are right, Terry, but what did you do with that bell that Deerfoot
+took away from the Winnebago?"</p>
+
+<p>"I lift it wid my gun on the other side of the creek; I didn't want it
+tollin' our funeral knell all the time we was goin' through the rapids
+and splittin' the rocks to pieces by bangin' our heads agin them."</p>
+
+<p>"It is just as well, for the creek will be so low that there will be no
+danger in crossing it to-morrow, and you can get the bell again; well,
+here we are at home."</p>
+
+<p>The boys separated, and at the same moment, each entered the cabin where
+he lived. They were only a short distance apart. Several men and a
+number of the lads, some older and some<span class="pagenum"><a name="p107" id="p107">107</a></span> younger than the two in whom we
+are interested, were moving about, and looked curiously at the dripping
+figures. A couple asked an explanation of Fred, but he laughingly
+answered that he would tell them after he had got dry, and immediately
+disappeared in his own house.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Linden and Edith, her daughter, who was two years younger than
+Fred, looked up in surprise when they saw the state of the lad.</p>
+
+<p>"Terry and I started to paddle across the creek, that is higher than
+usual, and were overturned by a tree that stove in the side of the boat
+and gave us a ducking."</p>
+
+<p>Having heard this explanation his folks seemed to feel no more curiosity
+about it. The lad passed into his room, he being one of those fortunate
+ones who had two complete suits of clothing, with the exception of cap
+and shoes. It took him but a short time to effect the change, when he
+reappeared, placing his foot and head gear near the fire, where they
+would soon dry.</p>
+
+<p>The home of Fred Linden may be taken as a type of the best that were
+found on the frontier. As a matter of course, it was made of logs, with
+a stone chimney so huge that it projected like<span class="pagenum"><a name="p108" id="p108">108</a></span> an irregular bay window
+from the rear. The fire-place took up the greater part of one side of
+the house, where the immense blocks of oak and hickory not only diffused
+a cheery warmth through the lower portion, but sent fully one-half the
+heat up the enormous throat of the chimney.</p>
+
+<p>The large room, which served for parlor, sitting and dining room, was
+furnished simply, but comfortably, with plain chairs, a bench,
+spinning-wheel, a rocking-chair, table, a few cheap pictures and the
+indispensable cooking utensils. There was no stove, every thing being
+prepared in the fire-place. At that day, as you well know, no one had
+ever dreamed of using coal as an article of fuel, and the old-fashioned
+stoves were exceedingly few in number. Carpets, of course, were not
+thought of, though the rough floor was kept clean enough to serve as a
+table for food.</p>
+
+<p>A rifle rested on two deer prongs over the mantel-piece, and there
+seemed to be any number of knick-knacks about the room, though it would
+have been found that nearly every one had a distinct use in the
+household.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p109" id="p109">109</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Two rooms were connected on the same floor with the larger apartment.
+One of these served as the sleeping quarters for the parents when Mr.
+Linden was at home, and the other for Edith, while Fred occupied the
+loft, which had the rafters for a ceiling, and extended over half the
+lower floor. During the absence of the father, Edith and her mother used
+one room, while Fred had the other.</p>
+
+<p>Noon had passed when the son came home, and his substantial dinner of
+venison&mdash;procured some days before by Fred himself&mdash;brown bread,
+potatoes, butter and milk, were awaiting him. Taking his place at the
+table, he ate as only a rugged, growing boy of sixteen can eat.</p>
+
+<p>He made no further mention of the dangerous adventure that had just
+befallen him, but gave the full particulars of Terry Clark's encounter
+with the Winnebago Indian, who stole the bell from the cow, and tried to
+have a little sport at the expense of the boy. It was an interesting
+story, and mother and daughter listened with rapt attention. Edith, who
+was a bright girl, and very fond of her brother, asked many<span class="pagenum"><a name="p110" id="p110">110</a></span> questions
+as to how the Winnebago looked, what he said, and whether he really
+meant to kill poor Terry. Then her interest suddenly transferred itself
+to Deerfoot, and she plied Fred with all sorts of queries, until he
+laughingly told her that she was asking them two and three times over,
+and really he had nothing more to tell.</p>
+
+<p>Then Fred drew out the moist and soiled bit of paper that he had taken
+from his other clothes, and which contained the message of his father.
+This, of course, caused a sensation, for it made known the fact that the
+son was to join his parent for several months. It would be supposed that
+this would cause some inconvenience, but in such a primitive community
+all were neighbors, and the chores and work that would have been done by
+Fred Linden would be cheerfully attended to by others. It was not until
+many years afterward, when the settlements became towns, that the social
+distinctions between families were formed.</p>
+
+<p>During all the conversation, after it had been agreed that Fred should
+start alone on a hundred mile journey through the wild forest,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p111" id="p111">111</a></span> nothing
+was said about such a thing as the personal danger attending it. And
+that, too, directly on the heels of the Winnebago's attempt on Terry
+Clark. The habit of self-reliance was taught to the children of the
+pioneers at such an early age, that their parents felt no solicitude,
+where in these times they would have been tortured by anxiety, and, no
+doubt, with abundant reason.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Bowlby was told of the mishap that had befallen her absent lord,
+when she was asked by Edith to come over in the evening, but she was
+assured that there was no cause for alarm, and so she felt none. She
+wrote a letter to her husband, as did the wife of Hardin, and Fred's own
+mother. These constituted all the extra luggage that he was to take, for
+it would have been oppressive to load him with any thing in the nature
+of a burden when the hunters had been absent only a few days.</p>
+
+<p>The decision was that Fred should make his start at early dawn the next
+day. It was his purpose to reach camp on the fourth day; that would be
+only an ordinary tramp for a rugged<span class="pagenum"><a name="p112" id="p112">112</a></span> youngster like him, and he was
+confident that he would have no trouble in keeping to the trail that had
+been ridden over so recently by his friends.</p>
+
+<p>The little personal articles, as they may be called, which the lad would
+require, were mostly the same as those of his father, and could be
+utilized by the son. Such, as from the nature of things, could not
+answer for both were tied into a compact package with his linen and
+strapped over his shoulders with a thick blanket. His powder horn and
+bullet pouch were not forgotten. An extra flint for his rifle was placed
+in his pocket, and the weapon, which belonged to the lad himself, was
+slung over his shoulder after the manner of a professional hunter. Then
+making sure that nothing had been left behind, Fred gave his sister and
+mother a warm hug and kiss apiece, called to them a jaunty good-by, and
+set his face toward the Ozark mountains.</p>
+
+<p>It had become known that he was to start on quite a lengthy journey, and
+those who were astir at that early hour called their hearty good wishes
+to the lad, who was popular with<span class="pagenum"><a name="p113" id="p113">113</a></span> all. Fred looked for Terry, and seeing
+nothing of him, shouted his name as he passed by his door, but receiving
+no response, concluded that he was still asleep.</p>
+
+<p>The heart of the boy was light as he strode at a rapid pace across the
+clearing. He felt no inconvenience from the bruises received the day
+before, during the passage of the rapids, and his natural buoyancy
+caused him to look upon the tramp through the woods as a school boy
+views his long expected vacation. There was no fear of any peril in the
+stretch of unbroken forest that opened before him. It was fortunate
+indeed for his peace of mind that he did not know what was awaiting him
+in the dark arches and labyrinths of the almost interminable
+wilderness.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p114" id="p114">114</a></span>
+<a name="A_STRANGE_ANIMAL_2207" id="A_STRANGE_ANIMAL_2207"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+<h3>A STRANGE ANIMAL.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>When Fred Linden reached the creek where he had met with his stirring
+adventure the day before, he could not help smiling. It had shrunk to
+its usual volume, and was winding along as lazily as usual, the only
+sign of the violent freshet being the <i>d&eacute;bris</i> left along the bank and
+the slightly roiled appearance of the current.</p>
+
+<p>The pioneers had so many occasions to cross this stream of water that
+they had made several attempts to put up a rude but strong bridge; but
+no matter what pains they took, they could never erect a structure
+strong enough to withstand the furious freshets which, as you can well
+understand, were often resistless.</p>
+
+<p>The result, therefore, was a reliance upon the canoes, some of which lay
+on one side of the stream and some on the other; but a surprise<span class="pagenum"><a name="p115" id="p115">115</a></span> awaited
+young Linden. Seeing no boat in sight, he walked along the shore in
+quest of one, for he was resolved to keep out of the water as long as he
+could, though a lad on the frontier makes far less ado about dripping
+garments than you or I.</p>
+
+<p>That which surprised him was the sight of a long, uprooted tree which,
+coming down the creek, when the water was rapidly falling, had swung
+around in such position that the roots caught fast in the clayey soil on
+the bank, and the limbs were imbedded in the sand and mud on the other
+shore. The result was as good a bridge as a foot traveler could want.</p>
+
+<p>"That will do until there comes another rise," he said, as he carefully
+stepped upon the limbs, using them to reach the trunk, along which he
+walked across the water, leaping to the ground on the other side.</p>
+
+<p>He stepped off with his elastic gait, keeping so close to the path that
+he and Terry had taken the day before that he caught sight of the bushes
+around the splintered trunk of the tree where the rifle captured from
+the Winnebago had been hidden.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p116" id="p116">116</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He'll be over early to get his prize," thought Fred; "for it is beyond
+all worth to him. If it wouldn't make him feel so bad I would plague him
+a little by hiding it."</p>
+
+<p>He parted the bushes and peered within. The first object on which his
+eye fell was the battered old cow-bell that had played such a curious
+part the day before, but he saw nothing of the gun itself; a brief but
+hurried search convinced him that it was gone.</p>
+
+<p>"That will break Terry's heart," said he to himself; "he never owned a
+gun, and now, to lose such a handsome one when it has been in his
+possession only a brief while, will grieve him as much as the loss of a
+dear friend."</p>
+
+<p>Just then young Linden caught the faint but clear notes of some one
+whistling. He had but to listen a second or two, when he recognized it,
+as he did the hearty laugh that followed. Looking to his right, he saw
+Terry himself standing but a few paces away, and, so to speak, in his
+"war paint." Bullet pouch, powder-horn, bundle on his back, and, more
+than all, the splendid rifle was there. The round, chubby face, clear
+eyes, and pug nose<span class="pagenum"><a name="p117" id="p117">117</a></span> of the Irish lad seemed to radiate delight as he
+made an elaborate salute to his friend, and, with mock gravity, doffed
+his hat and scraped his foot along the ground. "Why, Terry," said the
+delighted Fred, asking the useless question, "what is the meaning of
+this?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going wid ye to the camp in the Ozark Mountains; do ye think I
+could rist aisy, knowin' that ye had to travel such a long distance wid
+no one to take care of ye?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now, that just pleases me more than I can tell you," said the
+overjoyed Fred, slapping him on the shoulder; "there isn't any one in
+the wide world whose company I want as bad as yours; I lay awake half of
+last night trying to get up some plan by which I could have you with me,
+but I couldn't think of any, and had to give it up. Father sent only for
+me, and I didn't suppose that Mr. MacClaskey would spare you. Tell me
+how you managed it."</p>
+
+<p>A quizzical expression came upon the face of the Irish lad, who, leaning
+on his rifle, took off his hat and scratched his head for a few seconds
+before answering.</p>
+
+<p>"Wal, bein' it's yersilf, Fred, I don't mind<span class="pagenum"><a name="p118" id="p118">118</a></span> sayin' that it took some
+strategy, as I suppose Deerfut would call it. Last night, after we had
+eat our supper, and the chores were done wid, and Mr. MacClaskey had
+took his seat by the fire and lit his pipe, and Mrs. MacClaskey had
+started her spinning-wheel a-hummin', and the children had been packed
+off to bed, I told the folks the whole story. I managed it in such a
+style that the owld gentleman, who, you know, has spint two winters in
+the mountains, said it would make the folks out there desprit short of
+hands. I observed, in me careless way, that such was the case, and that
+Mr. Linden had sent word to ye that he wanted ye to come, and, from
+things that I knew, me own prisence would give great satisfaction to
+sartin parties. Ye understand that I had yersilf in me eye, though I
+didn't think there was nade of making it all plain how it was.</p>
+
+<p>"Wai, the owld gintleman wouldn't listen to me goin' away, but I managed
+it so well that after awhile he kind of remarked that if the folks
+wanted me, he'd no objection to me goin', as he belaved that I would
+make more there than I would at home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p119" id="p119">119</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"<i>That</i> was the p'int," added Terry, with a wink, as he replaced his
+cap; "and there was where me genius showed itself; I spoke about the big
+lot of furs that had to be gathered, and how much money the hunters
+would make, and what a chance there was for a risin' young man of
+industrious habits. The owld gintleman took it in, and at last said,
+bein' as I had the new gun, why he didn't know but what I might give it
+a trial.</p>
+
+<p>"Wal, that was all I wanted. I started to run over last night to tell
+ye, but afore I got to yer house I thought of this 'cute plan of
+s'prisin' ye. I got all ready last night, ate breakfast airly, and was
+down here and had me gun just as I observed ye makin' yer way across the
+clearin' toward this spot."</p>
+
+<p>And so it came about that on this beautiful sunshiny day in autumn, Fred
+Linden and Terry Clark set out, each with ammunition and loaded rifle,
+for a hundred mile tramp toward the wild region of the Ozark Mountains.
+The air was crisp and cool, and every thing joined to give them a
+buoyancy of spirits such as falls<span class="pagenum"><a name="p120" id="p120">120</a></span> to the lot only of rugged, growing
+boys in bounding health.</p>
+
+<p>The two, however, had seen enough of life in the woods to know that the
+sunshine and clear air would not last. They might continue until they
+reached camp, but more than likely clouds, rain, chilly weather and
+possibly a flurry of snow would overtake them. Winter was at hand, and
+though, as I have shown, they were in quite a temperate clime, it was
+subject to violent changes, as trying as those in a much more northern
+latitude.</p>
+
+<p>Besides, the trail, although distinctly marked, did not lead over any
+thing like even ground all the way. Long before they could reach the
+vicinity of the camp the character of the country told of the wild,
+rocky region, covering thousands of square miles, and known as the Ozark
+Mountains. No route could lead to such a distance through an unsettled
+country without crossing a number of streams, and passing through
+regions that were any thing but attractive to the traveler.</p>
+
+<p>All this, however, gave just the element of danger and difficulty to the
+enterprise that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="p121" id="p121">121</a></span> one of the most delightful features to the young
+lads, who stepped off with swinging gait to the southward. Had the
+journey been smooth and even, it would have lost the major part of its
+charms.</p>
+
+<p>The boys carried enough with them to give them all they were likely to
+need in the way of food for twenty-four hours. It would have been little
+trouble to take enough to last through the four days; but there was
+something unprofessional in such a course which caused their souls to
+rebel. The magnificent forest contained plenty of game, and they would
+have been poor sportsmen, indeed, had they confessed by their action
+that they distrusted their ability to procure it.</p>
+
+<p>The trail over which the two walked, Fred slightly in advance, was
+marked with such distinctness by the hoofs of the six horses that had
+passed along it in Indian file but a short time before that it was no
+trouble for the boys to recognize it, nor were they likely to have any
+difficulty in keeping to it throughout the whole distance.</p>
+
+<p>It was a little past noon, when they reached<span class="pagenum"><a name="p122" id="p122">122</a></span> a small brook whose
+current was so cold and clear that they took a long draught from it, and
+then sat down and ate their simple lunch. They felt little fatigue, and
+as a goodly number of miles remained to be traveled, according to the
+schedule of Fred Linden, they leaped lightly across the waste and were
+soon under way again.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know," said Fred, later in the afternoon, "that I've been
+thinking we have not paid enough attention to one or two important
+matters."</p>
+
+<p>"What are they?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what has become of Deerfoot, and we may not see him again;
+but we know enough of him to understand that whatever he says is worth
+remembering. Now, he told us yesterday that that Winnebago, from whom he
+took that rifle, belonged to a party of those warriors, and it seems to
+me that if they are anywhere, it is between us and the camp, and we are
+likely to see more of them."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm of the same opinion with yersilf, but jest now there is somethin'
+else that gives me concern."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p123" id="p123">123</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What is that?" asked the surprised Fred, stopping and turning around.</p>
+
+<p>"Some person or animal has been followin' us for the last half hour.
+I've heard it more than once, and it ain't fur off this very minute."</p>
+
+<p>The two boys stood still and looked over the trail along which they had
+been traveling. Fred Linden's fear was that Terry had discovered the
+presence of some of the very Winnebagos whom he dreaded, but he was
+mistaken. That which they saw was not a person, but a strange animal of
+such fierce mien and hostile intent that they instantly looked to their
+rifles, knowing that a savage fight was inevitable.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p124" id="p124">124</a></span>
+<a name="A_TROUBLESOME_VISITOR_2404" id="A_TROUBLESOME_VISITOR_2404"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+<h3>A TROUBLESOME VISITOR.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>There is no reason to discredit the truth of the accounts given by
+hunters in the west of wild beasts of prodigious activity, strength and
+ferocity, and that, belonging to no distinct class of animals, are a
+mixture of the fiercest. Trappers and explorers in the wild regions of
+the Rocky Mountains, sometimes meet a beast to which they have given the
+expressive name of "Indian devil," whose power and daring are such that
+a party of veteran hunters have been known to withdraw from a section
+frequented by him, simply to avoid a fight. While the stories about them
+may be exaggerated at times, there is no doubt that such animals exist,
+and there is good reason to hold them in dread.</p>
+
+<p>The beast that Fred Linden and Terry Clark saw in the path before them
+resembled a panther more than any animal they could call to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p125" id="p125">125</a></span> mind. It
+might have been described as a cross between a tiger and panther, had
+that been possible. Fred had heard his father speak of those creatures
+that were detested and feared, and he was sure that they were going to
+have trouble with this one. How fortunate that each boy held a loaded
+gun in his grasp!</p>
+
+<p>The action of the hybrid was as peculiar as his appearance. He seemed to
+have been trotting quietly along the trail with his nose down, as though
+following the scent, when he became aware that his game had stopped, and
+were surveying him with some interest. The beast also came to an abrupt
+halt and threw up his head, as though he was equally curious to learn
+something about the party of the first part.</p>
+
+<p>Standing thus, with his nose quite high in the air, it struck both boys
+that he showed a resemblance to a wolf as well as a panther. He was
+larger than either, and there could be no doubt that he was amazingly
+muscular, active and courageous.</p>
+
+<p>Thus stood the opposing parties, as they may be called, for a full
+minute. Each looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="p126" id="p126">126</a></span> steadily at the other, the space between them being
+no more than fifty yards. Had it been less, both boys would have fired
+at him, but they were afraid that such wounds as they could inflict
+would only rouse his fury. One of the most marked peculiarities of the
+"Indian devil" is his toughness, some of the stories in this respect
+being almost incredible.</p>
+
+<p>All at once the beast seemed to be overcome with disgust for the two
+youngsters. He whisked squarely about and trotted away, showing a bushy
+fox-like tail that almost swept the ground.</p>
+
+<p>"I call that an insoolt!" exclaimed Terence Clark, bringing his gun to
+his shoulder, taking quick aim and letting fly, before his companion
+could object. He insisted that he had hit the animal, but it is likely
+he was mistaken, for it gave no sign of being touched, trotting with the
+same even step until it passed from sight around a bend in the path.</p>
+
+<p>"I hit him hard," insisted Terry, who proceeded to reload his piece;
+"there's no doubt of the same."</p>
+
+<p>"If you had done so, he would have given<span class="pagenum"><a name="p127" id="p127">127</a></span> some evidence of it, but there
+was not the slightest."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye know that such creatures are tough," coolly remarked Terry; "and the
+bullet has glanced off his side as from a rock."</p>
+
+<p>"If I could believe that," said the other, "I would hide somewhere until
+he went away, for it would be only a waste of powder and ball to shoot
+at him."</p>
+
+<p>"Hasn't he gone off? What are ye talking about?"</p>
+
+<p>"Gone away? Yes; for awhile, but we are not done with that beast yet; we
+shall have trouble with him."</p>
+
+<p>"If we keep our guns loaded and our powder dry, we'll open on him, and
+if we can't kill him we'll fill him with so much lead that he won't be
+able to travel fast, and we'll bid him good-by and walk from him."</p>
+
+<p>The boys waited a few minutes, thinking possibly that the strange
+creature would show himself again, but he did not appear, and they
+turned about and resumed their journey.</p>
+
+<p>They were now on one of the best stretches of the trail. The ground was
+even, there were<span class="pagenum"><a name="p128" id="p128">128</a></span> no bowlders or rocks in the path to make walking
+difficult, and the undergrowth, which in some places was quite an
+obstruction, did not interfere. By the middle of the afternoon, Fred was
+confident they were twenty miles at least on the road, and he said that
+if they came upon an inviting place, they would go into camp for the
+night. The package which each carried on his back was wrapped in a
+blanket that could be used to lie upon by the fire, or in severe
+weather, though they would have cared little had they owned nothing of
+the kind.</p>
+
+<p>Their good spirits continued, and they were walking at a leisurely pace,
+when a rustling in the bushes on the left caused them to look in that
+direction. There stood the strange beast, not fifty feet away, head
+erect, and staring at them with the same inquiring look that he showed
+some time before.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder how he likes a side view of us," said Terry, partly amused,
+but somewhat frightened; "I think he is close enough for us to fetch him
+this time."</p>
+
+<p>Fred was inclined to give him a shot, but he felt some doubt, and while
+he was considering<span class="pagenum"><a name="p129" id="p129">129</a></span> the question, the beast whisked about and vanished
+like a flash.</p>
+
+<p>"He is a strange animal," said Fred, lowering his gun, which he was in
+the act of raising; "and I am more satisfied now than ever that we shall
+have trouble with him. The first time that we gain a fair shot, that is,
+like we had just now, let's tumble him over. He may be as daring and
+tough as the hunters say, but there isn't any animal tough enough to
+withstand a couple of well-aimed bullets."</p>
+
+<p>"I agree wid ye&mdash;that is, after one was fired. That shot of mine was
+well aimed and struck, but it takes somethin' more to bring him down, as
+a colored friend of mine once said when a house tumbled over on his
+head."</p>
+
+<p>"You saw how spry a creature he is, and if he should happen to drop down
+upon us from the branch of a tree, those sharp claws of his would play
+the mischief with us."</p>
+
+<p>Since there was no place in sight that suited for camping, Terry
+reloaded, and they kept on. After the fright they had received, you may
+be sure they maintained a close watch of the wood in every direction. As
+yet they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="p130" id="p130">130</a></span> seen no game from which to procure food, but they wanted
+to go into camp near a spring or stream of water. The latter is
+generally looked upon as one of the indispensables by a party of
+campers, and it was not likely that the youths would have to travel far
+before finding what they wanted.</p>
+
+<p>The sun had not yet dropped below the horizon when they struck the very
+spot. There were the bubbling brook, lined by mossy banks, the small
+open space, the tall column-like trunks; and the heavy overhanging
+boughs, which, late though it was in the season, would allow but few
+drops of a shower to find their way through. The air was cool, but there
+were no signs of a storm.</p>
+
+<p>"There couldn't be a better place," said Fred, when he had noted all the
+points; "here is every thing that a party can want, except it be supper,
+which they ought to bring with them."</p>
+
+<p>"And somebody has been here ahead of us," added Terry, kicking apart the
+ashes at the base of a large tree; "there's where the fire was
+kindled."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p131" id="p131">131</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No doubt it is where father and the rest of them spent the first night
+after leaving home: that shows that we have made good progress, and, if
+no accident happens, we shall arrive on time."</p>
+
+<p>"There is no need of our hurryin', as I understood that a gintleman once
+obsarved whin they were goin' to hang him; if we are two or three days
+late in gettin' there, what's the odds?"</p>
+
+<p>"None&mdash;though this fine weather can not last long, and when it is over,
+I should like to be at the end of our journey, where we shall have good
+shelter. I wonder what has become of the wild beast?"</p>
+
+<p>"Be the powers! but there he comes!"</p>
+
+<p>The words had hardly passed the lips of the startled Terry Clark, when
+the strange animal was seen in the path in front of them, in precisely
+the same position as when first noticed. He had evidently passed around
+to the front, as though determined to study the boys from every point of
+view. He seemed to have been standing for some minutes before discovered
+by the boys, and was now observed<span class="pagenum"><a name="p132" id="p132">132</a></span> approaching, as the Irish lad had
+announced.</p>
+
+<p>He did not gallop or trot, but walked slowly, just as though having made
+up his mind to take a select meal off the youngsters, he was going to do
+so with the deliberation of an epicure that extracts the fullest
+enjoyment from his delicacies.</p>
+
+<p>There was something unnerving in the sight of the frightful animal
+approaching in this noiseless fashion, his jaws parted just enough to
+show his long, white teeth, but giving utterance to no growl, or
+threatening act, beyond the mere advance itself. His large, round eyes
+had a phosphorescent glow, and the long, sinewy body and limbs were the
+repository of a strength and activity that might well make a veteran
+hunter timid about encountering him.</p>
+
+<p>"By gracious!" said Fred Linden; "we're in for it now; he doesn't mean
+to wait for us to attack him, but is coming for us."</p>
+
+<p>"If I was called on to make a wager," said Terry, as cool as ever, "that
+would be the view that I would take of the same."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p133" id="p133">133</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You fire first and I will follow; take good aim, and send your bullet
+right between the eyes."</p>
+
+<p>There was no time to spare, for the beast at that instant was within a
+dozen yards. Terry Clark brought his rifle to his shoulder, sighted
+quickly, and pulled the trigger.</p>
+
+<p>That he struck the creature was proven by his snarling growl and slight
+upward leap; but instead of stopping, he broke into a gallop and came
+straight on.</p>
+
+<p>Then Fred Linden aimed and fired, but he also failed to check the
+advance of the animal.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p134" id="p134">134</a></span>
+<a name="A_WELCOME_ALLY_2609" id="A_WELCOME_ALLY_2609"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+<h3>A WELCOME ALLY.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Fred Linden, like his companion, aimed directly between the eyes of the
+strange beast, and, like him, he struck the mark; but both shots only
+served to awake the irrestrainable ferocity of the animal, which, with
+another rasping howl and parted jaws, bounded toward them. Since both
+weapons were discharged, and they had no other firearms, the boys were
+almost helpless, and it may be said their enemy was upon them.</p>
+
+<p>"Run!" called out Fred, wheeling about and leaping toward a tree, behind
+which he took refuge; but sturdy Terry had no thought of turning away
+from such a foe. Throwing one foot back so as to steady himself, he
+seized his fine rifle with both hands, near to the muzzle, and held it
+so as to use it as a club or shillaleh.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p135" id="p135">135</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The brute was so close that he had no more than time to gather his
+strength, and swing the heavy stock with might and main, when the animal
+bounded at him straight from the ground.</p>
+
+<p>There was a "dull thud," as it may be called, and the stock crashed
+against the side of the beast's head, knocking him a couple of yards to
+the left, and almost at the feet of Fred Linden; but in point of fact
+the blow did no harm except to thwart the creature for a second or two.</p>
+
+<p>He was now snarling, and gave utterance to one or two peculiar barking
+sounds like a dog or wolf. His eyes were ablaze, and there could be no
+doubt that his fury was at white heat. Crouching for an instant, he made
+a bound for Terry, before he had time to balance himself to deliver his
+second blow with the same power as the first.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden could not stand still and see his companion torn to shreds
+in that fashion. He leaped from behind the tree, with his gun also
+clubbed, and hastened to strike with all his might; but he was too
+late.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p136" id="p136">136</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was a curious fact, not understood at the moment, that the savage
+creature, although he leaped straight at Terry, passed fully two feet
+over his head, and that, too, when the lad was standing erect, and
+braced to deliver his second blow.</p>
+
+<p>Striking on his belly, several paces beyond, the beast rolled over and
+over, clawing, snapping, snarling, and beating the air, with
+lightning-like blows. The leaves and dust flew in all directions, and
+the foam which he spat from his jaws was flecked with blood.</p>
+
+<p>He continued rolling and struggling until he was a rod distant, and then
+suddenly stopped, stone dead.</p>
+
+<p>In the excitement and swirl of the moment both Fred and Terry were
+conscious that their guns were not the only ones that were fired. At the
+instant the brute was in the act of rising from the ground a second time
+for his leap, the sharp report of another rifle was heard. The peril was
+so imminent that the lads could give no attention just then to any thing
+but the immediate business in hand; but now, seeing their fearful foe
+was dead, they knew that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="p137" id="p137">137</a></span> was the third bullet that had done it, and
+they glanced around to see who their friend was.</p>
+
+<p>No one was in sight, and they advanced to the carcass, which they were
+somewhat timid about touching, even though convinced that it was beyond
+the power of doing any more harm. They saw that both of their bullets
+had struck the skull, though not at the precise points at which they
+aimed. One had passed near the right eye of the nondescript, and must
+have inflicted serious injury, but its toughness would have enabled it
+to keep up the fight, and to have slain both of the boys before they
+could have reloaded and fired a second time.</p>
+
+<p>A little search showed where the fatal wound had been given. Just in
+front of the fore leg the lead had entered and gone through the heart.
+No animal, so far as known, amounts to any thing after his heart has
+been torn in twain, though he may live and move for a time.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you, Terry, that I don't believe there is another beast in the
+country that, after receiving two bullets in the head, like that, could
+make such a fight."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p138" id="p138">138</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I begs to corrict ye," said the other; "it was three shots, for do ye
+not mind that I bored a hole through him when we first made his
+acquaintance?"</p>
+
+<p>"So you claimed, but you haven't explained how it was that such a shot
+could be made without leaving any wound?"</p>
+
+<p>"It may have healed up since then," suggested the Irish lad, who knew as
+well as his companion that the first bullet did not touch the beast.</p>
+
+<p>"I hadn't thought of that," meekly observed Fred; "but there is one
+thing certain, that if that last shot hadn't been fired, it would have
+been the last of us: where could it have come from?" he asked, looking
+around and finding the answer to his question in the sight of Deerfoot
+the Shawanoe, who came from behind a clump of bushes on the other side
+of the small stream.</p>
+
+<p>Fred uttered an exclamation of delight when he recognized the graceful
+young warrior, who was holding the stock of his gun in his left hand,
+with the barrel resting idly in the hollow of his right arm. Fred
+jumped<span class="pagenum"><a name="p139" id="p139">139</a></span> across the brook, with hand extended to greet him.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd rather see you than any person in the world," was the truthful
+exclamation of the youth: "when you gave me the letter yesterday I
+thought what a splendid trip this would be if Terry would go with me,
+and behold, he has come! I would have liked to have you too but I didn't
+dare say so, for I didn't think it was possible: but ever since we
+started I have felt that we only lacked <i>you</i> to make the party
+complete. Now, ain't I glad to see you, and how are you, old fellow?"</p>
+
+<p>The lad in his boisterous way wrung the hand of Deerfoot and slapped him
+on the shoulder; then laughed, and shook hands again with an enthusiasm
+that left no doubt of the cordiality of his welcome.</p>
+
+<p>As for Deerfoot, he showed a gentle dignity that was never absent. His
+faint smile lit up his handsome face, and he was pleased with the
+pleasure of the others.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot has seen the faces of his brothers not many times, but it
+brings sunshine to his heart to meet them again."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p140" id="p140">140</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then his countenance was crossed by an expression of gravity like an
+eclipse passing over the face of the sun.</p>
+
+<p>"Is my brother ill, that he suffers so much?"</p>
+
+<p>This question referred to Terry Clark, Deerfoot looking over the
+shoulder of Fred at the Irish lad behind him. Fred heard a curious
+noise, and turned to learn what it meant. His friend had leaned his gun
+against the nearest tree, so as to give his limbs free play, and was
+flinging his arms aloft, and dancing a jig with a vigor that made it
+look as if his legs were shot out, and back and forth, by some high
+pressure engine. Now and then he flung his cap aloft, and, as it came
+down, ducked his head under and dexterously caught it. His mouth was
+puckered up most of the time, while he whistled with might and main,
+though the energy of his general movements shut out all resemblance to a
+tune. Occasionally he stopped whistling and broke into snatches of song
+which, from the same cause, could not be identified.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden laughed. He was demonstrative,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p141" id="p141">141</a></span> but not so much so as Terry.
+Looking sideways at Deerfoot, he saw his eyes sparkling and the corners
+of his mouth twitching. Rarely had he been amused as much as he now was
+by the extravagant manifestations of the Irish lad, for whom he had
+formed a strong regard.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot and Fred having turned their glances toward Terry, the latter
+appeared to catch sight of them for the first time. With a whoop he
+flung his hat higher than ever in the air, caught it with right side up
+on his crown as it came down, and then shouted:</p>
+
+<p>"How are yees, me friends?" and made a dash for them.</p>
+
+<p>In his enthusiasm he forgot the brook running through a small hollow
+between them. His feet went down in the depression without any knowledge
+on his part, and he sprawled headlong, his cap rolling at the feet of
+Deerfoot, who pushed the toe of his moccasin under the edge, and flung
+it to him as he rose to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all the same, and a part of the show," laughed Terry, "as the wife
+of the bear-keeper<span class="pagenum"><a name="p142" id="p142">142</a></span> obsarved when the bear ate him up, and it's how are
+ye, and how do ye ixpect to be, and what have ye to say for yersilf, and
+why are ye so long answerin' me quistion?"</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot simply smiled, and made no reply until Terry had replaced his
+cap, and was done with his noisy greeting. Then he pointed to his gun
+leaning against the tree, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"When my brother is in the woods, he should keep his gun within reach of
+his arm."</p>
+
+<p>"Yer moral sentiments are corrict," remarked Terry, hurrying back&mdash;this
+time without falling&mdash;to regain his piece. When he once more stood
+beside the laughing Fred, the Shawanoe addressed both:</p>
+
+<p>"Are the guns of my brothers loaded?"</p>
+
+<p>Both felt the rebuke; they had violated one of the elementary rules of
+the hunter's life, which is that the first thing to be done after
+discharging a weapon is to reload it. Fred flushed, for he did not
+remember that he had ever forgotten it before.</p>
+
+<p>"It was a piece of forgetfulness of which Terry and I ought to be
+ashamed, but it was the first time we had ever had a fight with<span class="pagenum"><a name="p143" id="p143">143</a></span> such a
+beast as that: what do you call it, Deerfoot?"</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe shook his head to signify that he knew of no distinct name
+for the animal, but he explained to the boys, what they already knew,
+that it was a cross of some kind, concentrating in itself, as it seemed,
+all the power, activity, daring and ferocity of the most dreaded animals
+of the woods. Deerfoot could not deny that his shot had saved the boys
+from being torn to shreds by the brute. Had it been a few seconds later,
+or differently aimed, nothing could have saved them from its fury.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p144" id="p144">144</a></span>
+<a name="DEERFOOT_WILL_BE_SENTINEL_TONIGHT_2805" id="DEERFOOT_WILL_BE_SENTINEL_TONIGHT_2805"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+<h3>"DEERFOOT WILL BE SENTINEL TO-NIGHT."</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"We are on our way to the camp in the Ozarks," said Fred Linden; "and am
+I mistaken in believing that you will go with us all the way?"</p>
+
+<p>"Such is the wish of Deerfoot," replied the Shawanoe, whereat Terry
+Clark gave signs of breaking out again; but at a warning look from Fred
+he restrained himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot loves the Hunters of the Ozark; he has promised to make them a
+visit; he will do so with his friends that he has found in the woods,
+and who forget to keep their guns loaded."</p>
+
+<p>"No use!" exclaimed Terry, bounding in the air, striking his heels
+together, and flinging his hat aloft with a loud whoop; "I must give
+gintle exprission to me emotions, even though it makes a war with
+England."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p145" id="p145">145</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The others showed no objection to this harmless ebullition, and he
+speedily became quiet again.</p>
+
+<p>Had Fred Linden been intimately acquainted with Deerfoot, he would have
+noticed that he was not entirely at ease. Now and then he darted glances
+about him, as though he half expected the appearance of some unwelcome
+person. The glances were so quick and furtive that neither Fred nor
+Terry noticed them.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot," said Fred, the three still standing; "we have concluded that
+there isn't a better place along the trail for a camp."</p>
+
+<p>To the surprise of the boys, he shook his head in dissent.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, this is where father and the rest spent the night when they last
+went this way."</p>
+
+<p>He nodded to signify that he agreed with them.</p>
+
+<p>"There were three of them, and they had their horses, that could not be
+well hid; when my brothers go into camp for the night, they should take
+a place where all who went by would not see them."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p146" id="p146">146</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It struck the others as curious that the Shawanoe should talk in that
+fashion, when they could not see any cause for alarm; but they had
+enough faith in him to accept his judgment on such an important matter.
+He added:</p>
+
+<p>"Come with Deerfoot and he will show his brothers where they may slumber
+in peace."</p>
+
+<p>Without any more explanation the Shawanoe moved down the bank of the
+brook, following a course parallel to the flow of the water, the other
+two keeping at his heels. He did not look around until he had gone more
+than a hundred yards. Then it was that the little party found itself in
+a rocky section, with a rough cavern on their right&mdash;that is, the
+bowlders and rocks were jumbled together in such a fashion that there
+was some resemblance to a cave. The chief merit of the place, however,
+was the privacy that it afforded, rather than the strength as a means of
+defense against an enemy.</p>
+
+<p>"This suits very well," said Fred, taking in all the points at a glance;
+"here is a rocky bed on which we can start a fire, and the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="p147" id="p147">147</a></span> rocks
+and bowlders will keep off the wind, if there happens to be any; the
+water is handy, if we should need it, and it is certain that we are not
+as likely to be seen here as where we first selected."</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfut," said Terry, who was nosing about, "I obsarve ashes here, as
+though somebody had been ahead of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot built a fire but a few moons ago, and staid over night."</p>
+
+<p>"If it was good enough for ye, I can stand it," said Terry, "which is
+the remark me uncle made when the Duke of Argyle asked him to stay to
+dinner."</p>
+
+<p>The boys unfastened the bundles from their backs and prepared to spend
+the night where they were. The blankets were spread on the flinty floor,
+and Deerfoot, setting down his gun beside theirs, helped to gather the
+wood with which to keep a fire burning. The three were so active that it
+took but a short time to collect all that was needed. This was thrown
+into one pile, from which it could be withdrawn as wanted.</p>
+
+<p>I must give you a better idea of the spot<span class="pagenum"><a name="p148" id="p148">148</a></span> where the three decided to
+spend their first night in the woods together. They had walked northward
+from the trail, and, so far as they could see, the country was of the
+most broken nature, though the abundance of trees and undergrowth did
+not permit an extended view. Two masses of stone rose to the height of a
+dozen feet, and were separated by about the same distance. These rough
+walls extended back to a distance of three or four yards, where they
+came against a similar formation. Thus, as may be said, there were three
+sides to an inclosure, that part facing the brook being entirely open.
+On top of these supports were tumbled an irregular mass of bowlders and
+rocks which formed the roof. The latter had so many openings that it was
+as well ventilated as the roof of the house about which the Arkansas
+Traveler tells us.</p>
+
+<p>The rear part of the cavern, if it may be allowed that name, was stone,
+while the front was earth. Near the center, Deerfoot had kindled his
+fire when he staid there, the smoke finding ready escape through the
+openings above. Such a fire might give some<span class="pagenum"><a name="p149" id="p149">149</a></span> warmth were it needed, but
+the blaze was so well hidden by the surrounding walls that it was not
+likely to be seen by any one passing no nigher than fifty feet: therein
+lay the reason why it was selected by Deerfoot.</p>
+
+<p>After piling up the fuel for the night, the youths threw some branches
+on the ground, near the rear of the cavern, and then spread their
+blankets over them. The Shawanoe carried no blanket with him, so it was
+expected that he would share the couch of his friends.</p>
+
+<p>While the three were busying themselves in this manner, Fred Linden was
+disturbed by a suspicion that had been growing from the moment Deerfoot
+expressed dissatisfaction with the spot selected for their camp. This
+suspicion was that the young Indian had a fear of something to which, as
+yet, he had made no reference.</p>
+
+<p>I have already shown that it was not generally considered a dangerous
+business in which the hunters of Ozark engaged. The rough, outdoor life
+sometimes brought with it hardships, and occasionally sufferings, but
+chief among the dangers was not that from Indians.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p150" id="p150">150</a></span> It was known that
+now and then the red men fired spiteful shots at the invaders of their
+hunting grounds (as was the case with Michael Clark, the father of
+Terence), but in this section of the west that particular peril was
+deemed less than that which threatened from wild beasts. There was no
+instance of the hunters having been molested on their way to and from
+the trapping regions: why then this special caution of Deerfoot?</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden, while turning these thoughts over in his mind, gave but the
+one answer&mdash;<i>the Winnebago</i>. He was an intruder in that part of
+Louisiana, and he had shown by his acts how ready he was to shed the
+blood of innocent white persons. It was not a supposition merely that
+this fierce warrior had companions. The keen eyes of Deerfoot had
+discovered the proofs that there were a half dozen, at least, with him,
+and from whom he separated for a short time while he entered into the
+"side speculation" with Brindle and her bell; so it will be seen that
+Fred Linden was not only right in his suspicion that the Wolf had to do
+with the unrest of Deerfoot, but that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p151" id="p151">151</a></span> the latter possessed good cause
+for his misgiving.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebagos, having drifted so far away from their own hunting
+grounds into this part of the world, were either going further from
+home, or were on their way back. Had the Wolf behaved himself, the band
+would have gone and come without the knowledge of any of the pioneers,
+unless there was a chance meeting in the wood, when it is not likely
+that any harm would have resulted.</p>
+
+<p>But one of the Winnebagos was struck in the face by a white boy, while a
+young Indian, a friend of the latter, having "got the drop" on the Wolf,
+had taken his gun from him. In other words, the crime of assault and
+robbery had been committed.</p>
+
+<p>Would the rest of the Winnebagos pocket the outrage and meekly withdraw
+from the country?</p>
+
+<p>That, it would be seen, was the all important question, upon which great
+events, as affecting the friends in whom we are interested, hinged.</p>
+
+<p>It was in violation of the nature of the American race that any member
+thereof should<span class="pagenum"><a name="p152" id="p152">152</a></span> refuse to resent an indignity, when there was a chance
+of doing so. The Winnebagos had the best of reasons for believing that,
+by prowling around the settlement, or along the trail leading thereto,
+they would soon gain an opportunity to wipe out the disgrace put upon
+the Wolf, and, if not able to get back the gun that had been taken from
+him, would be able to procure another.</p>
+
+<p>The fact that this valuable weapon was carried in the hands of a boy,
+who had started to tramp through the woods to a point a hundred miles
+off, and that it was not at all impossible that the Winnebagos found, or
+would find it out, gave emphasis to the cause of Deerfoot's uneasiness.</p>
+
+<p>It is worthy of note that, while Terry Clark never once took this view
+of the situation, it occurred to his friend Fred, who waited for the
+Shawanoe to make some reference to it.</p>
+
+<p>"He knows best, and if he doesn't choose to say any thing about it,
+there is no call for me to do so."</p>
+
+<p>The shadows of night were creeping through the wood when the fire was
+started, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p153" id="p153">153</a></span> smoke began stealing upward through the openings in
+the rocky roof.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot," said Fred, when the fire crackled brightly, "the rule is,
+that a party in camp like this, must have some one on guard while the
+others sleep. I don't know as there is any need now, but if you think
+so, let Terry and me do it, for we are not in need of sleep."</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe looked at him intently for a moment as though he would read
+his thoughts, and then quietly said:</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot will be sentinel to-night!"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p154" id="p154">154</a></span>
+<a name="AROUND_THE_CAMPFIRE_3002" id="AROUND_THE_CAMPFIRE_3002"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+<h3>AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Inasmuch as Terry and Fred had enough lunch left to furnish all that was
+wanted, Deerfoot decided not to hunt for any thing else. At that hour,
+when it was growing dark, it would have been hard to find any game; but
+he told them that at no great distance above, the tiny brook issued from
+a small lake, where he could easily get all the fish he wanted.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, the fire having been started at the rear of the cavern,
+where the smoke found free vent, the three sat within a circle of light,
+and partook of the coarse bread and cold venison. The latter was tough,
+but it could not withstand the teeth of the two youths, whose appetites
+were such as wait on high health.</p>
+
+<p>It was noticeable that the young Shawanoe ate no more than half as much
+as each of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p155" id="p155">155</a></span> others. Then saying that he wished to view the camp from
+the outside, he went out in front of the cavern. He remarked that he
+would be gone only a few minutes, but he took his gun with him.</p>
+
+<p>When Deerfoot emerged from the rude shelter it was fully dark. There was
+a moon in the sky, but the density of the surrounding forest kept out
+the rays, so that the gloom could not be penetrated to any distance.</p>
+
+<p>He stood still and listened. His sense of hearing, like that of sight,
+was trained to a wonderfully fine point, as you have learned in the
+incidents previously related, so that faint noises, such as you or I
+could not have detected, would have told their full story to him.</p>
+
+<p>But nothing more than what may be called the natural sounds of the wood
+fell on his ear. Then the young Indian leaped lightly across the small
+brook in front of the cavern and walked some two rods beyond, where he
+paused and listened again. After this he made a complete circuit of the
+cavern. This compelled him to cross the little stream once<span class="pagenum"><a name="p156" id="p156">156</a></span> more,
+brought him back to the mouth of the retreat, and caused him also to
+climb over a great deal of broken ground, but a shadow could not have
+made the circuit more noiselessly. He stopped several times and listened
+with the same profound attention, occasionally looking toward the cavern
+within which his friends were eating their supper and talking together
+in low, guarded tones. He caught the murmur of their voices, which would
+have been audible to no one else beyond a dozen feet. Just above the
+large opening in the cavern, through which most of the smoke found its
+way, a faint, dull glow showed that the camp-fire was burning below.</p>
+
+<p>The inspection made by Deerfoot was satisfactory; he had discovered no
+sign of any prowling enemy, and the party could not have found a place
+where there was less likelihood of disturbance by any foes who were in
+the neighborhood. It would seem indeed that nothing short of a most
+exceptional mishap could bring any danger near. So he once more entered
+the cavern, and seated himself by the fire, upon which Fred Linden had
+just<span class="pagenum"><a name="p157" id="p157">157</a></span> thrown a bundle of sticks that filled the cavern with a light like
+that of noonday.</p>
+
+<p>Terry insisted that Deerfoot should take his blanket, because the
+Shawanoe had none, and the one belonging to Fred Linden was enough for
+the others. Deerfoot at first declined, but his young friend persevered,
+so the half-dozen yards of heavy stuff were spread on the rock and earth
+floor of the cabin, and then Deerfoot disposed of himself in a lolling
+attitude, reclining on his left elbow, while he looked across and
+through the blaze at his two friends, who were stretched out in almost a
+similar attitude. It will be borne in mind that he was nearer the mouth
+of the cavern than were the others: in fact he was about half-way
+between where they were stretched and the open air. Fred and Terry did
+not notice this, or, if they did, they supposed it was accidental,
+though it was done with forethought by the sagacious young Shawanoe.</p>
+
+<p>The evening was yet young, and the circumstances were such as to make
+the boys talk at a rate that almost overwhelmed Deerfoot, who always
+showed a deliberation in his speech, as if<span class="pagenum"><a name="p158" id="p158">158</a></span> he weighed each word before
+allowing it to fall from his lips.</p>
+
+<p>Fred and Terry had formed a strong liking for the young Shawanoe, and
+since he seemed to be in fine spirits, they plied him with questions
+until they learned the chief facts in his history. When the long
+conversation ended they knew that Deerfoot was the son of a Shawanoe
+chief, and that he was born in the Dark and Bloody Ground. When but a
+small boy he was like a spitting wildcat in his hatred of the white
+people, and it was not until he was wounded and nearly beaten to death,
+that he could be taken prisoner on one of the excursions of his people
+against the white settlements.</p>
+
+<p>He fell into goods hands and was nursed back to strength. Not only that,
+but those that had him in direct charge told him about God, who made the
+world, who loved His creatures, and who sorrowed to see them trying to
+harm each other, and who had sent His only Son to die for His lost
+children. It was a wonderful story to which Deerfoot listened with rapt
+attention, and all in time (as you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="p159" id="p159">159</a></span> been told in another place),
+the extraordinary young Shawanoe became a devout follower of the meek
+and lowly One. He felt that he could never repay the whites for showing
+him the way to eternal life. Thenceforward he became their friend, and
+devoted his life to protecting them against the enmity of the red men.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot told Fred and Terry something about his stirring experiences
+with Ned Preston and Wildblossom Brown, and afterward with Jack Carleton
+and Otto Relstaub, but did not hint at one-tenth the services he had
+rendered the white people. Of all the fierce tribes that made portions
+of Ohio and Kentucky like sheol on earth, the Shawanoes were the worst:
+they were the Apaches of the last century. Deerfoot had fallen into
+their hands and many of his most desperate encounters were with them.
+Finally the efforts to take him prisoner became so far reaching that he
+saw that his usefulness as a friend of the settlements was at end. The
+rage of the Shawanoes was such that it may be said that some of their
+campaigns were planned with the sole purpose of capturing the young
+renegade, whom they hated<span class="pagenum"><a name="p160" id="p160">160</a></span> with a hatred like that of the tigers of the
+jungle.</p>
+
+<p>You will see, therefore, that not only was the usefulness of Deerfoot as
+an ally of the whites ended, but he became even an element of danger to
+them. He had been urged to make his home with those who held him in such
+high regard, but he could not do so. He quietly withdrew from the
+country and crossed the Mississippi into the vast Louisiana Territory.
+There he had lived for a couple of years, and there he expected to end
+his days.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot," said Fred Linden, when his remarkable narration had ended,
+"Terry and I are not new hands in the woods, and we would be much better
+satisfied if you would allow us to share the night in watching with
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"Why does my brother think of danger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because <i>you</i> do; I know it by your actions."</p>
+
+<p>The quickness of this reply struck Deerfoot favorably. He did not think
+that his conduct had been noticed, and he was gratified that his friend
+was so observant. That there should be no mistake about his suspicions,
+Fred added:<span class="pagenum"><a name="p161" id="p161">161</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I don't know whether you have seen that Winnebago or not since you
+started him on the run yesterday; he may be still running, but I am
+quite sure, from the way you have behaved, that you suspect that he and
+the rest of his companions are prowling through the woods, on the
+lookout for a chance to revenge themselves."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot's face glowed. Fred Linden had hit the nail on the head.</p>
+
+<p>"My brother speaks the words of truth; his thoughts are the thoughts of
+Deerfoot."</p>
+
+<p>Terry Clark looked at his companion in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"How come ye to know all that, Fred?"</p>
+
+<p>"I see nothing remarkable about it; all I had to do was to observe the
+actions of Deerfoot since he joined us to-day. In the first place, he
+wouldn't have made us change our camping place if he hadn't had some
+misgiving, and then the way he has been mousing around the outside, and
+his decision to keep watch to-night: why what could tell the story more
+plainly?"</p>
+
+<p>"Begorrah," said the admiring Terry, "ye<span class="pagenum"><a name="p162" id="p162">162</a></span> are not such a big fool as you
+look to be; I never thought of that."</p>
+
+<p>"Which looks as if you are a bigger dunce than you seem; but," added
+Fred, turning toward the Shawanoe, "have you seen any thing of the
+Winnebagos?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot has seen their footprints in the woods; they are on the watch
+for his white brothers that they may gain their scalps, because the gun
+of the Wolf was taken from him."</p>
+
+<p>"They seem to have hard work in finding us: where do those Winnebagos
+come from?"</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot pointed to the northward, or rather to a little east of north.</p>
+
+<p>"Their hunting grounds are many suns' travel that way."</p>
+
+<p>"Why do the spalpeens come down in this part of the world, and why don't
+they behave thimselves whin they do?" demanded Terry, with some
+indignation.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot shook his head, as though the question was more than he could
+answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot has met Shawanoes and Sacs and Wyandottes and Pawnees far away
+from their villages and hunting grounds, besides the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p163" id="p163">163</a></span> strange Indians
+who come much further from the setting sun. The red men travel whither
+they will. Why the Winnebagos passed near the home of my brothers only
+they can tell."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, they're a bad lot," said Terry, "to try the mean trick they did
+on me; though," he added the next moment, "I'm glad they done the same,
+for if they hadn't, how would I've got hold of this lovely gun? Do ye
+think we shall have any more trouble with them?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot believes there will be trouble, and it will come soon!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if it does, all ye have to do is to take away the rist of their
+guns and set 'em on the run home agin."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p164" id="p164">164</a></span>
+<a name="A_SUSPICIOUS_SOUND_3200" id="A_SUSPICIOUS_SOUND_3200"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+<h3>A SUSPICIOUS SOUND.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>By and by Fred Linden and Terry Clark became drowsy. Devoutly kneeling,
+they spent several minutes in prayer, and then stretched out on a single
+blanket, with their backs toward each other, and the face of Fred in
+such a position that he could look across the blaze at Deerfoot on the
+other side. The latter had remained still and motionless, while the
+lads, remembering the lesson they had learned at their mothers' knee,
+asked their Heavenly Father to hold them in His keeping. The young
+Shawanoe, who spent many an hour in communion with his Maker, was
+touched to see that his friends did not forget their duty.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot stirred the burning wood so that it threw out more light, and
+then, reclining on his left elbow, so that the illumination came
+directly in his face (the worst direction possible),<span class="pagenum"><a name="p165" id="p165">165</a></span> he drew from
+beneath his hunting-shirt the small Bible, that had been presented to
+him by the Preston family, and began reading it.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden, who had his eyes fixed upon him, was so interested that his
+drowsiness departed. Without moving he watched him closely. He saw him
+turning the leaves back and forth, as if looking for some place he had
+in mind. It took him but a minute to find it, when, still leaning on his
+elbow, and with the light striking his face and the printed page, he
+seemed to become so absorbed as to lose all consciousness of his
+surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden, without betraying that he was awake, surveyed this
+remarkable performance with an admiration that for the moment made his
+eyes misty with emotion.</p>
+
+<p>The eyes of Deerfoot were downcast, as he read the page, so that they
+could not be seen but the handsome oval face; the luxuriant black hair,
+with the eagle feathers thrust into the crown; the rows of gleaming
+beads around the neck; the deerskin shirt that covered the breast and
+arms to the wrists, on the left one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="p166" id="p166">166</a></span> which shone the golden bracelet;
+the red sash, behind which were shoved the knife and tomahawk; the
+brilliant fringes of the hunting-shirt and leggins; the small,
+ornamented moccasins; all these of themselves made a striking figure;
+but Fred, handsome and rugged himself, who was not accustomed to see any
+thing like beauty in the human form, was struck with the symmetry of the
+figure before him. He particularly noticed the tapering legs, and could
+not help saying to himself:</p>
+
+<p>"There is no Indian or white man that can run as fast as he."</p>
+
+<p>And the mental declaration of the lad was truth. The fleetness of the
+young warrior had never been equaled, and he had never yet met the
+person whom he could not outrun with ease and without putting forth his
+whole speed.</p>
+
+<p>"He don't look strong, but he is the last person that I would want to
+meet in a fight; I'll bet he is so quick that he could dodge the bullet
+fired at him."</p>
+
+<p>I must draw the line here: Deerfoot could not do any thing of the kind.</p>
+
+<p>"And he is reading his Bible! I never in all<span class="pagenum"><a name="p167" id="p167">167</a></span> my life saw an Indian who
+could read a word of print, or do more than sign his name with a cross
+or some figure like a bug: I wonder whether we couldn't hire him to
+teach school for us at Greville."</p>
+
+<p>Fred thought a great many queer things about his new friend, but lay
+watching him fully ten minutes before he spoke. Then, when he saw him
+turn a leaf, he said in a low voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot, will you please read aloud?"</p>
+
+<p>Fred expected that the Shawanoe would start and look up in surprise; but
+he never raised his eyes, or gave the least sign that these words of his
+were unexpected. He knew that Fred was watching him from the first, and
+so, before the words were more than fairly out of his mouth, Deerfoot
+began reading in a low, impressive monotone, as though he had merely
+resumed, after turning over the leaf.</p>
+
+<p>"After this I beheld, and lo! a great multitude, which no man could
+number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood
+before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
+palms in their hands;<span class="pagenum"><a name="p168" id="p168">168</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders,
+and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces and
+worshiped God.</p>
+
+<p>"Singing, Amen; blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
+and power and might be unto our God for ever and for ever, Amen.</p>
+
+<p>"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these which are
+arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?</p>
+
+<p>"And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, these are
+they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes
+and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.</p>
+
+<p>"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and
+night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more; neither
+shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.</p>
+
+<p>"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
+shall lead them<span class="pagenum"><a name="p169" id="p169">169</a></span> unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe
+away all tears from their eyes."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot read a few minutes longer from his favorite part in the New
+Testament and then ceased. He had not lifted his eyes from the page, but
+he knew that Fred Linden was asleep. He observed it in his breathing,
+which was as soft as that of an infant.</p>
+
+<p>The rocky cavern, the smoldering camp-fire, the two sleeping boys, the
+motionless Indian stretched out and reading his Bible by the faint
+light, the great, solemn forest walling them in, the profound stillness
+that reigned everywhere: these were elements in a picture the like of
+which it may be said (except where Deerfoot was one of the figures), had
+never been seen anywhere else, and was not likely ever to be seen again.</p>
+
+<p>The fire sank lower and the light on the printed page became so dim that
+even the keen eyes of the young Shawanoe could not trace the words. He
+looked at the embers as if asking himself whether he should renew the
+blaze and continue reading. But the hour for meditation had come, and he
+closed the book. Looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="p170" id="p170">170</a></span> fondly at the stiff, wooden cover, he touched
+his lips with infinite tenderness to it, and carefully placed it in the
+inner receptacle of his hunting-shirt, murmuring as he did so:</p>
+
+<p>"The best friend that Deerfoot ever knew!"</p>
+
+<p>O light of life! Comforter of the sorrowing heart! Consoler of the
+stricken soul!</p>
+
+<p>In the flush of bounding health, when the passions throb high, we may
+not heed thy blessed teachings, but when man's promises prove false, and
+the head bows before the endless strife, and woes overwhelm us like a
+flood, there is relief, there is light, there is life in Thee. The
+wicked may jeer, the learned may scoff, the powerful may despise, the
+favored may turn away, but there comes the time when learning, gifts,
+wealth, power, beauty and all the world can give turn to ashes, and they
+have no boon compared to Thine. "And God shall wipe away all tears from
+their eyes." The pampered monarch, the dying beggar, the statesman, the
+slave, the mother bowed with woe, the father shaken with grief,
+childhood in its innocence, man in his strength, beauty in its scorn,
+trembling old age, can find<span class="pagenum"><a name="p171" id="p171">171</a></span> no balm but in Thee. Better that the sun
+should be blotted from the heavens and the earth left a trackless void
+than that Thy light should be denied the world.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot lay flat on his face, his arms crossed so that his head and
+shoulders were held a few inches above the flinty floor, and his dark
+eyes were fixed on the embers in front. It was his favorite enjoyment,
+when the stirring incidents of the day were done, and he had read from
+the only Book he ever wanted to read, to spend a time in meditating on
+the truths that it may be said had become a part of his very being.</p>
+
+<p>Many a time had he lain thus, as motionless as if dead, while the
+wonderful brain was busy with thoughts that stirred the profoundest
+depths of his nature. There are beliefs that come to us at which reason
+may laugh, but which it can not shake or disturb. There are questions
+that the glib unbeliever may ask that we can not answer. But away down
+in our hearts is a faith which the whole world can not remove, and which
+can be uprooted only by ourselves. Woe to him who dares lay violent
+hands upon it!<span class="pagenum"><a name="p172" id="p172">172</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot no more doubted that he and every one was in the direct keeping
+of God than he doubted that he breathed and moved. He knew that the
+Great Spirit had caused him to be made a prisoner by whites so that he
+might learn the way of life; he knew that He had given him an insight
+into the mysteries of His word that was denied to many others. A deep,
+outstretching sympathy for those less favored than he suffused his whole
+being. Gladly would he have given up his life in pain and torture and
+agony, as did One in the dim long ago, if by so doing he could earn the
+smile of his Heavenly Father.</p>
+
+<p>But this remarkable young Christian felt that he was doing the work
+appointed for him to do. Here and there he dropped a word that proved to
+be seed sown upon good ground, and which had borne its fruit. He had met
+his enemies in fair combat and had never taken wrong advantage of them:
+his marvelous bow and arrow, and his still more effective rifle, had
+brought many a dusky miscreant low, but he had used his amazing gifts in
+the line of duty, and for the good of others. Would that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="p173" id="p173">173</a></span> could have
+won them by love, but it was not in the nature of things that he should
+do so. He had "broken the Bread of Life" to more than one, and he hoped
+that ere he should be called home, he should point the way to others.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly he raised his chin from his hands and turned his head slightly
+to one side. His ear, whose acuteness was almost beyond belief, had
+caught a suspicious sound. Profound as might be the meditation of the
+Shawanoe, he could never forget his surroundings.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p174" id="p174">174</a></span>
+<a name="LIKE_A_THIEF_IN_THE_NIGHT_3394" id="LIKE_A_THIEF_IN_THE_NIGHT_3394"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+<h3>LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The crisp autumn night had not reached its turn when the full moon
+climbed from behind the straggling clouds obscuring her face, into the
+clear air above, and shone down on the wilderness, with the same calm
+splendor with which it had shone during the ages before the foot of a
+white man had rested on the soil of our country. Here and there, at
+widely-separated points, as the orb moved toward the zenith, could be
+seen the star-like twinkles of light which showed where the sparse
+settlements had been planted by the pioneers. At intervals, too, miles
+away from the clearings, could be distinguished the glimmer of the
+hunters' camp-fires, where the hardy men had lain down wrapped in their
+blankets, and to sleep the sleep of health. Still further away, by the
+side of some calmly flowing river or creek,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p175" id="p175">175</a></span> were the ragged tepees of
+the wild Indians. Mountain, forest and stream made up the landscape,
+that was illuminated by the moon on the night when Fred Linden and Terry
+Clark lay down in slumber by the fire in the cavern, and Deerfoot the
+Shawanoe took upon himself the duty of acting as a sentinel over them.</p>
+
+<p>It was not yet midnight when the figure of a crouching Indian emerged
+like a shadow from the little gully which marked the course of the tiny
+stream in front of the camp. Just at the point where he appeared, a few
+rays of the moonlight found their way among the limbs, and added
+impressiveness to his appearance. A glance would have told that he had
+approached at the most stealthy gait of which he was capable, and was
+still using all the skill at his command.</p>
+
+<p>Finding himself within the faint light of the moon, he straightened up,
+like one who is not certain of his surroundings and is using his eyes
+and ears to their utmost. Standing erect in this manner he showed
+himself to be a full-grown warrior in middle life, of strong limbs<span class="pagenum"><a name="p176" id="p176">176</a></span> and
+frame, and attired in the usual dress of his people.</p>
+
+<p>The long, coarse hair dangled about the shoulders, some of the strands
+having fallen forward in front of the chest, at the time his head drew
+it over while in a crouching posture. It grew so low on his forehead
+that no more than an inch was between the roots and shaggy eyebrows.
+Beneath these the eyes glittered like those of a snake. The ugly
+features were made more ugly by the different colored paints&mdash;most of it
+black&mdash;that was daubed over them, and the countenance was distorted by a
+swelling recently produced.</p>
+
+<p>The breast and arms were covered by deerskin, a fringe running down in
+front to the belt, which held his tomahawk. The frightful horn-handled
+knife was tightly grasped in his right hand. Below the belt was
+breechcloth, followed by leggins and moccasins, but it was noticeable
+that he carried no rifle with him.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps you have guessed the reason; he had none to carry, for he was
+the Wolf who had been deprived of his valuable weapon on the day before
+by Deerfoot the Shawanoe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p177" id="p177">177</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As was learned in due time, the Winnebago, after being despoiled by
+Deerfoot, had made all haste to rejoin his band, that were encamped at
+no great distance from Greville. When he told his brother warriors of
+the indignity to which he had been subjected, they were as rampart as he
+for revenge. They were on the point of starting for a settlement,
+intending to await the chance to shoot down some of the unsuspecting
+people, when the leader, a man of iron will, interposed.</p>
+
+<p>He said that according to the story of the Wolf himself, his gun had
+been taken from him by a single warrior. A Winnebago ought to be ashamed
+to confess such a thing, and the only way by which the Wolf could redeem
+himself was to recover his gun unaided by any of his people. Let him
+come back to the party with his rifle and then they would risk their
+lives a dozen times over to repay the young Shawanoe and his youthful
+friend (they knew nothing about Fred Linden) for the insult they had put
+upon one of the leading warriors of the Winnebago tribe.</p>
+
+<p>You can well understand how displeasing<span class="pagenum"><a name="p178" id="p178">178</a></span> this decision was to the Wolf,
+but there was no help for it. The warrior who gave the order was not
+only the leader of the company, but the principal chief of the tribe. No
+one dared to dispute his command, and he intimated that it was not only
+necessary for the Wolf to recover his gun in order to enlist the
+services of the rest, but his standing at home would be compromised if
+he went back without his rifle and the story that it had been taken from
+him by a single warrior of another tribe.</p>
+
+<p>From this you will understand the eagerness with which the Wolf set out
+to regain the weapon.</p>
+
+<p>The fact that Fred Linden and Terry Clark left Greville the next morning
+after the affair, mixed matters to that extent that, for a time, the
+Winnebago was at fault. It was his intention to prowl around the
+settlement, awaiting his chance, for he suspected that Deerfoot had gone
+thither with the lad who had given the Wolf such a blow in the face; but
+the discovery of the footprints of the two boys leading to the southward
+mystified the Indian.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p179" id="p179">179</a></span> He was quite close to the creek, and the sun had
+crossed the meridian at the time this discovery was made. It was natural
+that he should look for the trail of the Shawanoe, but he could not find
+it.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, with a half-suspicion of the truth, the Wolf went into the
+settlement to make inquiries. He could speak enough broken English to
+make himself understood, and, as it so happened, it was Mr. MacClaskey
+himself whom he accosted. He told the inquirer the truth, adding that
+Terry took with him a gun that was captured from a vagabond Indian. But
+for that he would not have been allowed to go, for there was but one
+rifle in the family, which the settler would trust in no hands but his
+own for any length of time.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago was shrewd enough to disarm any doubt that might have been
+felt about himself. It was the rule in the settlement to show kindness
+to every wandering Indian that visited them, and no one dreamed that any
+thing was to be feared from the Wolf. But his heart was full of exulting
+malignancy. He knew who had the gun, and aware that the two<span class="pagenum"><a name="p180" id="p180">180</a></span> boys had
+started for the camp of the Ozarks, he understood where to look for it.
+The fact that the Winnebago had no gun with him would have caused the
+belief that he was the vagabond Indian, had he not explained that he
+left it in the woods as a token of comity.</p>
+
+<p>The Wolf sauntered back until he was across the stream and out of sight.
+Then he sped along the trail, with a long, loping trot, which his race
+can maintain for hours without fatigue. He had a long distance to
+travel, but he reached the scene of the encounter with the strange
+animal, just as it was growing dark.</p>
+
+<p>At this point, he showed admirable woodcraft. The signs on the ground
+puzzled him for a time, but there was the carcass of the animal, and by
+and by he found the imprints of the small moccasins, which told him that
+the young Shawanoe had rejoined the others at this point.</p>
+
+<p>As you can well believe, this was any thing but a pleasant discovery,
+for, superior as was the strength of the Winnebago, he would have
+preferred to meet the two boys, even though both were armed, than to
+find himself face<span class="pagenum"><a name="p181" id="p181">181</a></span> to face again with the remarkable Indian youth.</p>
+
+<p>But there was no help for it, and the dusky Winnebago compressed his
+coppery lips with the resolve that the gun should be in his hands before
+the rising of the morrow's sun.</p>
+
+<p>The light was rapidly fading among the trees and he improved what was
+left of it. Prowling around the spot in a circle, with his nose close to
+the ground, he discovered that the three youths had started along the
+bank of the brook toward its head.</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon the Winnebago formed the correct conclusion; they had moved
+from the main trail (doubtless on the suggestion of the young Shawanoe),
+in search of some place to encamp where there would be less danger of
+detection.</p>
+
+<p>By the time the Wolf had satisfied himself on this point, it had become
+too dark among the trees for his eyes to detect the trail, which at
+mid-day would have been as distinct as a beaten path. He therefore
+adopted the plan of which I have made mention elsewhere: he followed a
+general rule.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p182" id="p182">182</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The conclusion being that the parties for whom he was searching had
+located themselves somewhere along the creek, it was useless to try and
+follow the footprints, though there were points here and there where the
+sense of touch might have helped him. He decided to creep stealthily up
+stream until he found the camp, and then bide his time.</p>
+
+<p>It is hard to form an idea of the extreme care with which this was done.
+Had the Winnebago not known of the presence of Deerfoot, he would not
+have taken half the time consumed, but he had seen enough of that
+wonderful youth to know that it would require more than a child to
+outwit him.</p>
+
+<p>At a point about half way between the trail and the camp among the
+rocks, the Wolf thought his hands touched some imprints in the earth
+which showed that the three had turned to the right and gone deeper into
+the woods. It required reconnoitering before he discovered his mistake.</p>
+
+<p>With the same amazing patience he renewed his stealthy progress up the
+stream, until at last he emerged into the moonlight and found<span class="pagenum"><a name="p183" id="p183">183</a></span> that at
+last he had reached the spot for which he had hunted so long.</p>
+
+<p>It so happened that as he straightened up, he looked directly into the
+mouth of the cave and saw the dull glow of the camp-fire, like the open
+eye of some monster. Not only that, but he observed the three forms
+stretched out by it. The heart of the savage throbbed with pleasure, for
+he felt that success had come at last.</p>
+
+<p>With the same absolute noiselessness he began creeping into the mouth of
+the cavern. One of the embers fell apart with a soft rustle, which
+caused him to stop and hold his breath lest the sleepers should awake.
+But they did not stir, and in a minute he resumed his advance.</p>
+
+<p>The two white lads had flung the blankets from their faces, so that he
+saw Fred Linden plainly, and enough of the other to identify him as the
+one who had smitten him. Nearer to the Winnebago than they was the third
+form, which he knew equally well.</p>
+
+<p>"It is the Shawanoe," was his thought; "I will bury my knife in his
+heart and then slay the others."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p184" id="p184">184</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A minute later he reached forward his upraised right hand and suddenly
+brought it down with a force that pinned the blanket to the earth. But
+to his unspeakable disgust Deerfoot was not within it.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p185" id="p185">185</a></span>
+<a name="SHAWANOE_AND_WINNEBAGO_3593" id="SHAWANOE_AND_WINNEBAGO_3593"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+<h3>SHAWANOE AND WINNEBAGO.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>While Fred Linden and Terry Clark lay in that part of the cavern where
+the floor was of rock, the blanket of Deerfoot was spread on the earth.
+Consequently when the Winnebago brought down his knife with such vicious
+spitefulness, it went through the folds of the blanket and was buried to
+the hilt in the ground underneath.</p>
+
+<p>You know that, despite the marvelous quiet with which the Winnebago
+approached the cavern, he was heard by Deerfoot, who, pausing only long
+enough to make sure that an enemy was approaching, whisked outside.
+There he stood in the impenetrable shadow under the trees, and saw the
+Winnebago at the moment he emerged into the faint moonlight and stood
+upright.</p>
+
+<p>The first look confirmed his suspicion that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="p186" id="p186">186</a></span> was the Winnebago, who
+had come back to avenge himself for the affair of the preceding day.
+Deerfoot smiled to himself, for there was a tinge of absurdity about the
+whole business that was sure to become still more so.</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe paused a few seconds before darting out of the cavern,
+until he could arrange his blanket, so that it would appear as if it
+infolded his sleeping form, and then he quietly awaited events.</p>
+
+<p>It must be admitted that it looked like leaving Fred and Terry in great
+peril to permit such a savage enemy to creep so close to them while they
+were sound asleep; but Deerfoot knew that the first thing that the Wolf
+would do would be to attempt his life, precisely as he did attempt it.
+Before he could do any thing more, the Shawanoe concluded to impress his
+presence upon the visitor.</p>
+
+<p>At the moment, therefore, that the Winnebago stopped his advance and
+slowly raised his knife, as he supposed over the breast of Deerfoot,
+that gentleman, kneeling on one knee, brought his rifle to bear upon the
+Winnebago, the dull light from the fire shining along the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p187" id="p187">187</a></span> barrel, whose
+muzzle was within a yard of the unsuspicious Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>The blanket through which the keen-pointed knife had been driven was no
+more firmly transfixed for the moment than was the Wolf when a slight
+hissing noise caused him to turn his head, and he saw the dreaded
+Shawanoe in a kneeling position with his gun leveled at him, the finger
+on the trigger, and the bright eye glancing along the barrel.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago was literally unable to move or speak, and Deerfoot,
+motionless himself, held him thus for several seconds. Then with the gun
+still pointed, he said in a low voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Dog of a Winnebago! Deerfoot has spared the life of the Wolf, and he
+now seeks to strike him in the dark."</p>
+
+<p>This address loosened the tongue of the terrified warrior, who, seeing
+his captor raise his head from sighting along the barrel, though he
+kept the weapon leveled, obeyed the beckoning motion of Deerfoot, and
+crept noiselessly out of the cavern. On the alert for any chance, he was
+ready to seize it, but the first object on which his eye rested in the
+dim moonlight was<span class="pagenum"><a name="p188" id="p188">188</a></span> the figure of the young Shawanoe holding his gun in
+such a position, that, should it be necessary, he could fire like a
+flash.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot would not have hesitated to lay his gun aside, and, drawing his
+knife, give the Winnebago the same chance with himself; but the Wolf had
+left his weapon where he forced it through the blanket into the ground,
+so that he had none except his tomahawk, and he was not likely to
+attempt any thing with that.</p>
+
+<p>Besides, while Deerfoot had not the least fear of his enemy, he did not
+wish to fight with him. He did not engage in his many desperate
+encounters through love of victory, but because it had seemed to him
+that it was his duty, and there was no other way out of the trouble.</p>
+
+<p>It must be said, too, that at this hour the Shawanoe happened to be in a
+mood which rendered such encounters more than usually distasteful to
+him. After he had closed his Bible and lay on his face, looking into the
+embers and meditating, the same thought that had stirred him many a time
+before filled his mind again.</p>
+
+<p>Why do men strive to kill each other?<span class="pagenum"><a name="p189" id="p189">189</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was a question which has puzzled many a wise man in the past and has
+not yet been answered. Thousands of affectionate husbands unlock the
+white arms of the loving little children from their necks, kiss the
+heartbroken wife good-by, and then rush out to try to murder one whom
+they have never seen, who has also just torn himself loose from his
+family. There is something in the thought that mystifies beyond all
+explanation.</p>
+
+<p>The problem which directly interested Deerfoot was whether the day would
+not come when the red men of every tribe could meet the pale faces in
+friendship instead of hatred. Why should they always be at war? Could he
+do a little to bring about that day of universal peace? Was there not
+some work which the Great Spirit had laid out for him by which he could
+help to soften the feeling of the two peoples toward each other?</p>
+
+<p>But Deerfoot had asked himself the same question many a time before, and
+the only answer was that the most he could do was to follow the light
+within him: that is, aid to remove a part of the antagonism between the
+two races.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p190" id="p190">190</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Alas, too, that while he was considering the question, his ear caught
+the soft rustle that told him one of his own race was seeking his life.
+Deerfoot was sorrowed more than angered. He wished that the Winnebago
+had taken some other time to make his stealthy attack.</p>
+
+<p>Joined to this emotion was that of another akin to sympathy for the
+Winnebago in his complete discomfiture. He had come back to regain his
+rifle, but not only had failed, but had lost his knife, and now was
+standing at the mercy of a Shawanoe young enough to be his son. The
+latter resolved that, though the Wolf had earned death, he would not
+harm him, unless forced to do so in self-defense.</p>
+
+<p>For half a minute the warriors, with ten feet separating them, looked
+straight at each other in silence. Fred Linden and Terry Clark slept
+soundly, for as yet there had been no noise sufficient to awake a light
+sleeper.</p>
+
+<p>"Why does the Wolf seek the life of Deerfoot?" asked the latter, willing
+to relieve the embarrassment of the other.</p>
+
+<p>"The Wolf sought the gun that had been stolen from him."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p191" id="p191">191</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But it was not hidden in the blanket, that he should drive his knife
+through it."</p>
+
+<p>"The Wolf believed it was," was the curt response.</p>
+
+<p>"Does the Wolf strike with his knife at his own gun?" asked the
+Shawanoe, without betraying any emotion.</p>
+
+<p>"He would rather do so than that it should stay in the hands of an
+enemy."</p>
+
+<p>"It never would have been in the hands of an enemy had the Wolf acted as
+a brave warrior; but he sought the life of the young pale face who had
+never done him harm."</p>
+
+<p>"Has not his people stolen the hunting grounds of the red man?" demanded
+the Winnebago, who, seeing that some grace was to be allowed him, burst
+into the argument that multitudes of his people have used before and
+since. Before he could proceed further, Deerfoot asked: "Are these the
+hunting grounds of the Winnebagos?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are the hunting grounds of his race, though they may not be of his
+totem; Deerfoot should join with his brother the Wolf in driving the
+white men into the sea."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p192" id="p192">192</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"There was a day when that might have been done," replied Deerfoot, who
+felt that faint throb and thrill which sometimes came to him, as if to
+tell him that his Indian nature was not yet entirely dead within him;
+"once the pale faces were but a handful, and the red men hunted over all
+the ground that lies between the great waters. They could have swept the
+pale faces into the sea, but they would not be brothers with themselves;
+they fought each other. So the pale faces grew, and the day will never
+come when they need fear the red men."</p>
+
+<p>"The brave warrior does not ask what can be done, but does with all his
+might that which he knows the Great Spirit wishes him to do."</p>
+
+<p>"The Great Spirit does not tell him to kill his pale face brother; for
+they are all His children and He loves them. The Great Spirit has spoken
+to Deerfoot and told him that all His children should love one another."</p>
+
+<p>"Does Deerfoot do so?"</p>
+
+<p>"He does; he never strikes but when the Great Spirit tells him to do so;
+if he was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p193" id="p193">193</a></span> Wolf and the Wolf was Deerfoot, he would have slain the
+Shawanoe long ago."</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago would have denied this had he not seen that it was idle to
+do so. What would he not have given at that moment could he have
+exchanged places with the handsome and triumphant young warrior?</p>
+
+<p>"The <i>true</i> Great Spirit loves all His children, whether they be pale or
+red or of the color of night; He smiles when they meet each other as
+friends, and He will reward in the spirit land those who do His will on
+the earth. Let the Wolf bury the words of Deerfoot in his heart, for
+they are the words of truth, and if they are heeded he will be
+happy&mdash;Go!"</p>
+
+<p>The amazed Winnebago doubted for a moment that he had heard the command
+aright; but the wave of the hand which accompanied it, and the fact that
+it was in perfect consonance with the words he had just heard, satisfied
+him there was no mistake about it.</p>
+
+<p>"The Wolf thanks his brother for what he has done."</p>
+
+<p>The heart of the Winnebago forced the words between his lips as he
+turned his face away and<span class="pagenum"><a name="p194" id="p194">194</a></span> walked down the bank of the stream in the
+direction whence he came. He vanished the next instant in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot did not stir until every sound of the soft footsteps had died
+out. Then he lowered the hammer of his gun, bent his shoulders slightly
+forward, so as to walk freely, and entered the cavern where his friends
+were still sleeping.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p195" id="p195">195</a></span>
+<a name="ANOTHER_NIGHT_VISITOR_3795" id="ANOTHER_NIGHT_VISITOR_3795"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+<h3>ANOTHER NIGHT VISITOR.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Deerfoot the Shawanoe was convinced of one thing&mdash;the Wolf would trouble
+him no further that night. What he might do in the future must be left
+for the future to tell. Whether the few words that he had dropped should
+prove the good seed of which I have spoken, or whether they should be
+choked up by thorns, not even the Wolf himself could tell.</p>
+
+<p>The young warrior showed his convictions by flinging some wood on the
+fire, so that its blaze filled the cavern, and preparing for sleep. He
+first sat down and pulled out the knife of the Wolf, whose blade took on
+an additional gleam from the cleansing it had received in being forced
+into the flinty earth. He examined it with no little curiosity, though
+it was similar to his own.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p196" id="p196">196</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A glance, however, showed that it was an inch or two longer. It was
+straight and oval-shaped, the blade not quite two inches wide, with a
+handle that had been cut from a deer's horn and fitted with no slight
+skill. Whether it was the product of aboriginal ingenuity or was the
+work of some cutler of the Caucasian race could only be guessed, the
+matter really not being worth the trouble of guessing. Its two edges and
+the point were very sharp. Deerfoot having laid aside his gun, grasped
+the blade in his left hand and circled it through the air like a
+swordsman at play. He was so pleased with it that he decided to keep it.
+He would not throw away the one that had served him so well, but would
+present it to Fred Linden, while he retained the one with which he was
+sure he could do better work.</p>
+
+<p>It was singular that while the Shawanoe was turning the weapon over in
+his hand, and examining it with so much interest, that the occasion for
+its immediate use should come, but so it was.</p>
+
+<p>He was on the point of shoving it in behind his belt and lying down to
+sleep, when a movement<span class="pagenum"><a name="p197" id="p197">197</a></span> of the bushes outside was heard. It was so
+distinct indeed that he knew it was not caused by a person.</p>
+
+<p>The rustling was accompanied by a scratching sound and low growl.
+Turning his head, he saw an immense wolf standing at the entrance of the
+cavern, his whole figure revealed in the firelight. With his jaws parted
+and his form erect, he was a formidable creature, before which almost
+any one would have recoiled. He would have advanced straight to an
+attack upon the young warrior but for the fire which partly interposed.
+Even as it was, he seemed making ready to leap at the throat of the
+youth, who was sitting on the blanket, looking coolly at him.</p>
+
+<p>It would have been the easiest matter in the world for Deerfoot to catch
+up his gun and shoot him dead, but he chose to do otherwise. Drawing one
+of the embers forth by the end that was not burning, he held it before
+him in his right hand, and, grasping the knife in his left, ran lightly
+toward him, as though he meant to jam it into his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>The bravest animal can not stand unmoved<span class="pagenum"><a name="p198" id="p198">198</a></span> before such an attack, and the
+namesake of the human enemy whisked about and darted out of the cavern
+with the Shawanoe close behind him. The former bounded a half dozen
+steps, pausing on the very spot where the hostile warrior was first
+seen, and facing about, as if to observe whether his foe dare follow him
+any further. But Deerfoot had him now where he wished, and he flung the
+torch aside among the undergrowth, where it lay smoking for a few
+minutes before it went out.</p>
+
+<p>The fierce animal must have been of the opinion that he too had his
+antagonist where he wanted him, for, without the least hesitation, he
+uttered a snarling growl and made two leaps straight at him. The first
+carried him a little more than half the intervening distance, and the
+second was meant to bear Deerfoot to the earth.</p>
+
+<p>The young warrior, however, stepped lightly to one side, so that the
+wolf missed him altogether, and would have been forced to wheel about
+and make a second attack had the chance been given him, but at the
+instant it landed, the left hand, grasping the long, keen knife,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p199" id="p199">199</a></span> shot
+forward with great force and lightning-like swiftness, and was buried to
+the hilt in the throat of the brute.</p>
+
+<p>It was a blow as effective as a cannon ball could have been, for the
+knife clove the seat of life in twain, and the beast rolled over on the
+earth dead, almost before it could emit a single yelp of agony.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot stood a moment surveying the carcass before him, and then, with
+no more excitement than he would have shown in speaking to Fred or
+Terry, he said: "'Tis a good weapon, and will serve Deerfoot well."</p>
+
+<p>Then he walked to the tiny brook, carefully washed the gleaming blade,
+shoved it behind his belt, where it was held in place without the sheath
+that clasped the other, and walked back to the cavern. The boys had not
+been disturbed by the outcry of the wolf, and Deerfoot, throwing some
+more wood on the flames, lay down on the blanket, drew it partly about
+him, and in ten minutes was asleep, not opening his eyes again until the
+light of morning streamed into the cavern and only a few smoldering
+embers were left of the camp-fire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p200" id="p200">200</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He smiled when he looked upon the two youths, who were still soundly
+sleeping, all unconscious of the stirring events that had taken place
+during the darkness. There was no call for a renewal of the fire, and,
+after spending a few minutes in communion with the Great Spirit, he
+passed outside the cavern, drank from the clear water in the brook, and
+laved his face and hands.</p>
+
+<p>Just as he finished, Fred Linden emerged, rubbing his eyes and yawning,
+while Terry Clark was close behind him.</p>
+
+<p>"Good morning, Deerfoot!" called the former; "it was just like you to
+let us sleep all night while you kept watch: to-night you must let us
+take our turn."</p>
+
+<p>"Fred has exprissed me own sintimints," added Terry; "we have had so
+much slumber that we can kaap awake for a month. Helloa!"</p>
+
+<p>The gaze of the boys at that moment fell on the body of the wolf,
+stiffened in death.</p>
+
+<p>"You have had visitors," said Fred; "my gracious, but he's a big fellow!
+Killed by a knife thrust too, that looks as if it had gone<span class="pagenum"><a name="p201" id="p201">201</a></span> half way
+through his body; how was it, Deerfoot?"</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe waited until they had finished bathing their hands and
+faces, and then he quietly told them the story, including the account of
+the warrior's visit. As you may well suppose, the boys opened their
+eyes, and Terry, running inside, brought out the blanket, which had been
+folded in such a manner that the knife of the Winnebago passed through
+three thicknesses of the cloth.</p>
+
+<p>"And to think that we slept through it all!"</p>
+
+<p>"Begorrah, but wasn't it lucky that we didn't have the blanket wrapped
+about us?" gasped Terry, who was in earnest in his momentary belief of
+the narrow escape of himself and companion.</p>
+
+<p>"It is well that you kept guard last night; neither of us would have
+heard the approach of the Winnebago; and wouldn't have known any thing
+about the other wolf until he lit on our shoulders."</p>
+
+<p>"My brother is mistaken," said Deerfoot; "he is like the rattlesnake; he
+gives warning<span class="pagenum"><a name="p202" id="p202">202</a></span> before he strikes; I heard him growl, and he stopped at
+the entrance to the cavern, afraid of the fire."</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you shoot him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Would he have died more quietly, or with less pain than from the knife?
+It is the knife that the Winnebago left; Deerfoot wanted to learn
+whether it would serve him well."</p>
+
+<p>"And I should think ye ought to be satisfied, as a cousin of me own once
+remarked after working five years for a man without any pay excipt
+starvation and kicks."</p>
+
+<p>"The knife proved itself a good one," said Fred; "but the poorest knife
+would be just as effective in your hands."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot withdrew his own weapon from its skin sheath, and handed it to
+Fred.</p>
+
+<p>"Let my brother carry that, for the hour may come sooner than he thinks
+when it will be of use to him."</p>
+
+<p>Fred accepted it gratefully, saying, as he managed to find place for it
+somewhat after the manner of Deerfoot:</p>
+
+<p>"If I can handle it with half of your skill, it will serve me well
+indeed, but that can never be."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p203" id="p203">203</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot placed the larger weapon within the sheath from which he had
+withdrawn his own and made no reply to the compliments of his friends.
+He had heard many such before, but he placed no value upon them. He
+regarded himself as simply trying to use in the best way the gifts of
+the Great Spirit. His many escapes from death and injury were due solely
+to God's protecting care, and he could never take to himself any credit
+for what he did.</p>
+
+<p>The excitement of the boys having subsided, the three sat down in front
+of the cavern to eat their breakfast. Enough of the food brought by Fred
+was left to give each and all the meal needed, but when they were
+through, not a particle was left; henceforth they must depend upon what
+their rifles brought them for support while on the way to the camp in
+the Ozarks.</p>
+
+<p>"We have two or three days' travel yet before we can reach camp," said
+Fred, while they were making ready to resume their journey; "but I don't
+think we shall want for food. What troubles me the most is that scamp of
+a Winnebago. You have spared him<span class="pagenum"><a name="p204" id="p204">204</a></span> twice, but I don't believe it will
+make a friend of him."</p>
+
+<p>"He was so boilin' mad," added Terry, "because he lost his gun that now
+that he has also lost his knife he may get so much madder that he'll
+flop over and become pleased again."</p>
+
+<p>This, however, was a kind of philosophy to which the others could not
+agree. Deerfoot owned that he was in doubt; the sentiment of gratitude
+is not one of the chief virtues of the American race, though many
+story-tellers would have us believe that it is. There have been
+instances known where a red man has shown something of the kind, but as
+a rule they have no more of it than had the frozen serpent that was
+warmed in the bosom of him who proved his foolishness by making the
+experiment.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p205" id="p205">205</a></span>
+<a name="THE_CAMP_OF_THE_WINNEBAGOS_3997" id="THE_CAMP_OF_THE_WINNEBAGOS_3997"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+<h3>THE CAMP OF THE WINNEBAGOS.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Now that the little party had started once more toward the camp in the
+Ozark Mountains, they moved at a brisk pace. It took them but a short
+time to reach the main trail, where there was a short pause while
+Deerfoot made what may be called a microscopic scrutiny of the ground.</p>
+
+<p>The result did not please him, for he saw the proof that the Wolf had
+turned to the right, and had preceded them over the route which they
+were to follow. He would have been better satisfied had he crossed the
+trail or turned the other way. The fact that he had gone southward meant
+that the main party which he was seeking to join were in that direction,
+though the keen eyes of the Shawanoe could detect no signs that they had
+trodden the same ground. That signified nothing, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p206" id="p206">206</a></span> as they might
+have pursued a slightly different route, falling back upon the main path
+further on.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot, in telling his young friends what he had learned, added that
+he had no doubt that they would hear from the Winnebagos again, and
+possibly at an hour when least expected. Fred Linden was disturbed more
+by the knowledge that the party were approaching the camp where his
+father and his companions were unsuspicious of the danger. They could
+easily steal close enough to the cabin to shoot down all three without
+warning.</p>
+
+<p>When he mentioned his fear to Deerfoot, that sagacious young warrior
+told him that he saw no cause for anxiety, though he could not deny that
+something of the kind might take place. His theory was that the
+Winnebagos were not disposed to attack any party of whites in mere
+wantonness, the act of the Wolf being the whim of a single
+gnarly-brained warrior.</p>
+
+<p>Be that as it may, our young friends were anxious to make the best
+progress they could, and, for fully a dozen miles, they kept up their
+brisk gait. At the end of that time, the sun<span class="pagenum"><a name="p207" id="p207">207</a></span> was overhead, and they
+were obliged to stop on the bank of a broad, swiftly-flowing stream. The
+prints made by the hoofs of the horses that had passed that way some
+days before were plainly seen, though there had been a fall of rain
+since. A glance at the water showed that it was so deep that the hunters
+must have swam their animals across.</p>
+
+<p>It would have been an easy matter for the boys to swim also, but they
+preferred to use a raft. Accordingly, they set to work, and it did not
+take them long to gather enough logs and driftwood to float all three.
+These were deftly fastened together by Deerfoot, who used hickory withes
+for that purpose, and, then, with a long pole which he cut and trimmed
+with his tomahawk, he pushed from shore.</p>
+
+<p>The propelling pole was fully fifteen feet long, and in the middle of
+the stream, the boys were surprised to see that when one end was pressed
+against the bottom, no more than two feet were above the surface: the
+depth was much greater than they had suspected.</p>
+
+<p>It was hard work to keep the clumsy raft<span class="pagenum"><a name="p208" id="p208">208</a></span> moving at such disadvantage,
+but Deerfoot would not yield the pole to either of his companions, and,
+after awhile, he drove it against the shore, and all stepped upon dry
+land, without so much as their feet having become moistened.</p>
+
+<p>They had been carried some distance below the trail by the current, but
+they quickly regained it, and pushed on. Having eaten nothing since
+morning, all three were ahungered, but Fred and Terry grimly determined
+to wait for Deerfoot to suggest a stop before they asked for it. Had
+they but known that many a time, when on the tramp, he had gone two days
+and nights without taking a mouthful, they would not have been so
+willing to await his pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>But though he would not have thought of stopping before nightfall had he
+been alone, he was too considerate to subject them to discomfort; but it
+was useless to stop, since as yet they had seen nothing in the way of
+game to shoot.</p>
+
+<p>Terry and Fred were beginning to feel impatient with each other because
+of their mutual<span class="pagenum"><a name="p209" id="p209">209</a></span> stubbornness when the Shawanoe, who had been walking
+quite fast, slackened his pace and turning his head, said:</p>
+
+<p>"My brothers are hungry, and they shall have to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye couldn't tell us better news," replied the grateful Terry, "though I
+would be obliged to ye if ye would impart the information where there is
+any chance of our gettin' any such thing, as the people used to say whin
+me uncle on me mother's side offered to bet a sixpence on anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot made no answer, but walking still more slowly, he was seen to
+raise his hand to his mouth. Then followed the peculiar cry that a wild
+turkey makes when it is lost from its companions. The Shawanoe knew that
+the birds were in the surrounding woods, though none had shown itself.</p>
+
+<p>By and by there was an answer to the call from a point ahead. Asking the
+boys to wait where they were, he trotted lightly forward, and was not
+absent ten minutes when he came back with a plump turkey, whose neck he
+had wrung.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p210" id="p210">210</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Since the lads had heard no report of a gun, they wanted to know by what
+means he had secured it. He replied that he had stood behind a tree and
+repeated the call until a group of the birds approached within a few
+rods, when he made a dash among them, and seized his prize before she
+could spread her wings and fly&mdash;all of which told of a dexterity that
+few others possessed.</p>
+
+<p>In a brief while, a good dinner was boiled over the coals, a short rest
+taken, and the three were on the road again, it being their wish to
+travel further than on the day before. Had Deerfoot been alone he would
+have broken into a trot that would have doubled the distance before the
+set of sun.</p>
+
+<p>But the trail over which they were walking grew rougher. It was so rocky
+in some places that it must have tried the endurance of the horses
+ridden by the hunters. Instead of being direct, it grew very sinuous,
+made so by the efforts to avoid many formidable obstacles that rose in
+front. All this was of little account to the dusky leader, though of
+necessity it prolonged the journey, and he was obliged to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p211" id="p211">211</a></span> slacken his
+pace to suit those who were less accustomed to such work.</p>
+
+<p>It was about the middle of the afternoon, when they were checked again
+by coming abreast of a stream that was too broad and deep to be forded.
+The trail, however, instead of entering the water, turned up the bank,
+and the three, under the leadership of Deerfoot, did the same.</p>
+
+<p>This diversion continued for fully two hundred yards, when the path
+struck the water, the point on the other side where the horsemen had
+emerged being in plain sight. The former method was resorted to, and in
+less than an hour after reaching the creek the three had safely ferried
+themselves across. It was neither so broad nor so deep as the other, but
+it delayed them fully as much.</p>
+
+<p>Within a half mile from the stream last crossed they came upon the trail
+of the whole Winnebago party. Just as Deerfoot suspected, they had taken
+another route, and had come back to the main path a good many miles away
+from where the Wolf left it the night before.</p>
+
+<p>His experienced eye told him that they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="p212" id="p212">212</a></span> close upon the company, who
+numbered precisely twelve&mdash;several more than he supposed. Whether the
+Wolf was with them could not of course be learned until a glimpse of the
+party themselves was obtained.</p>
+
+<p>Matters had now taken such a shape that the Shawanoe told his companions
+that the utmost care must be used, since they were liable to stumble on
+the very ones whom they were anxious to avoid. He instructed them to
+allow him to keep fully a hundred feet in advance, and never to diminish
+the distance without orders from him.</p>
+
+<p>This was a prudent step, and Fred and Terry did their best to carry out
+the wishes of their guide, who walked on at a moderate pace, without
+once glancing back at his friends, who he knew would respect what he had
+said to them.</p>
+
+<p>Bear in mind that this arrangement was made toward the close of the
+afternoon of an autumn day. The three had not traveled more than two
+miles, with the leader so far in advance, when the gathering gloom
+became such that he would not have been visible to his followers<span class="pagenum"><a name="p213" id="p213">213</a></span> had he
+not fallen back so as to keep in sight.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, when less than a dozen yards separated them, and the graceful
+figure of the young Shawanoe looked like a shadow gliding in advance, he
+suddenly halted. The eyes of the boys were upon him, and they saw him
+raise his hand as a signal to stop; they obeyed without so much as a
+whisper.</p>
+
+<p>He stood like a statue for two or three minutes, and then, turning his
+head without moving his body, beckoned them to approach. They could
+barely see the motion of his arm, as they stepped softly to his side;
+but before reaching him, they caught the glimmer of a light among the
+trees, somewhat in front and to the right. When they stood near him,
+they saw it more distinctly.</p>
+
+<p>In a partly open space, near the invariable stream of water, were a
+group of Indians, some stretched lazily on the ground, some squatted
+like tailors, two busy cooking something over the fire, and nearly every
+one smoking long-stemmed, stone pipes. They were a sturdy set of
+warriors, who were likely to give a good account<span class="pagenum"><a name="p214" id="p214">214</a></span> of themselves in a
+hunt or fight, and both Fred and Terry knew who they were before
+Deerfoot, with his arm extended and his finger pointing toward them,
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"It is the camp of the Winnebagos!"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p215" id="p215">215</a></span>
+<a name="KEEP_TO_THE_TRAIL_4181" id="KEEP_TO_THE_TRAIL_4181"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+<h3>"KEEP TO THE TRAIL"</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was an interesting scene on which the three youths looked. There were
+a dozen Winnebago warriors lolling and smoking in camp, while two of
+their number were preparing their supper, by half-broiling it over the
+blaze and coals. Fred and Terry stood in silence by the side of
+Deerfoot, gazing upon the strangers with a curiosity such as no other
+sight could have inspired.</p>
+
+<p>A small tree interfered somewhat with the view of Fred, and he took a
+step forward. Immediately the Shawanoe put out his arm and shook his
+head to signify that that would not do; they were as close as was safe.
+Then Fred shifted his position a little to one side, as you feel like
+doing in a public hall when a column is in front of you. To this
+Deerfoot offered no objection, and the lad was satisfied.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p216" id="p216">216</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Begorrah, but there's the spalpeen!" whispered Terry, in some
+excitement, pointing his finger toward the camp, and with no thought of
+the uselessness of such an act.</p>
+
+<p>The others knew that he referred to the Wolf, who had caused them so
+much trouble, but they had already seen him. He was standing at one end
+of the group, with folded arms, while he scowled, and the firelight
+fell upon his features with such directness that the scowl could be
+plainly seen. He appeared to be looking at the two warriors busy with
+the fire, though more than likely his gaze fell indifferently upon them
+and the rest, all of whom were in his field of vision.</p>
+
+<p>The tomahawk showed in his girdle, but of course he was without any
+other weapon, and Terry could not avoid a smile when he noted it and he
+had to say something despite the displeasure of Deerfoot.</p>
+
+<p>"Do ye observe his left eye and the end of his nose where one of me
+blows landed? What could be foiner than the swell that ye see there? He
+will naad to use no black paint for siveral days, as me grandfather&mdash;"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p217" id="p217">217</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this point Deerfoot deliberately placed his hand over the mouth of
+the speaker, abruptly ending what he proposed to say.</p>
+
+<p>Now, nothing could be clearer than that if the Winnebago party were in
+such plain view of the three youths, the latter in turn were liable to
+be discovered by them. They were standing beyond the circle of
+firelight, where the darkness screened them from sight, and, if one of
+the red men should look in that direction, he could not have seen them;
+but there was the probability that any moment one of the warriors might
+start out to reconnoiter their surroundings, in which event, discovery
+was almost certain. Besides, the exuberant spirits of Terry Clark taught
+Deerfoot that it was unwise to trust him in such a delicate position.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether, the time spent in watching the Winnebagos was barely ten
+minutes. During that period, some of those reclining on the leaves got
+up, walked about and sat down again; others kept their feet, and one
+stepped to where the two were busy with a steak of some kind that they
+were broiling over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p218" id="p218">218</a></span> coals, as though his hunger was making him
+impatient.</p>
+
+<p>But the Wolf never stirred a muscle, and Terry afterward insisted that
+he did not wink his eyes, so motionless was he. The same scowl added
+hideousness to the painted face, and it was easy to understand that his
+meditations were of any thing but a pleasant nature.</p>
+
+<p>Turning his back upon the camp, Deerfoot motioned for them to go back.
+They did so, he following on their heels until not the faintest glimmer
+of the fire could be seen. Then he led them by a round-about course to
+the trail beyond the camp, and explained his wishes.</p>
+
+<p>He was now free to admit that there was reason to believe the Winnebagos
+intended an assault upon the three hunters among the foothills of the
+Ozark, and who were unsuspicious of such danger. Of course the Shawanoe
+had no direct knowledge that such was their purpose, but he was so
+convinced that he meant to take the utmost precautions against it.</p>
+
+<p>He therefore proposed that he should linger near the camp until he could
+learn of a verity what their intentions were. If they meant to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p219" id="p219">219</a></span> attack
+the Hunters of the Ozark, then he would hasten to give warning to
+Linden, Hardin and Bowlby, who, re-enforced by the three youths, would
+be strong enough to beat off an Indian party twice as strong.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Deerfoot wished Terry and Fred to push toward the camp
+with all the speed of which they were capable, he promising to follow as
+soon as he could. They had walked almost the entire day with scarcely a
+halt on the road, but he wished them to keep on into the night so long
+as they could. They would need nothing to eat before morning and between
+sundown and sunup they ought to make a long advance on their journey.</p>
+
+<p>You will probably wonder why (the situation being such as was explained
+by Deerfoot), he did not keep company with the lads and help them in
+their forced march to the mountains. One reason was that he was
+convinced in the first place that a demonstration would be made by the
+Winnebagos against the Hunters of the Ozark, and he wanted to get both
+boys&mdash;especially Terry&mdash;out of the neighborhood as soon as he could; for
+their presence hampered<span class="pagenum"><a name="p220" id="p220">220</a></span> his own actions. The safest place for them was
+in the strong cabin to the southward, and they could not get there too
+soon.</p>
+
+<p>Yet they would certainly travel as fast in his company as by themselves,
+and Fred and Terry, therefore, could not see why he should stay behind
+instead of going with them; yet Deerfoot the Shawanoe never took a step
+of that kind without the best reason for it, as you will admit when it
+is made clear to you. To give this explanation would require such a long
+diversion from the thread of my story that you would be impatient.
+Before I am through with the history of Deerfoot, you shall know not
+only the reason for his course but for several other things that have
+been referred to in the stories told about him.</p>
+
+<p>The confidence of Fred Lincoln and Terry Clark in the wonderful young
+Shawanoe was so perfect that they did not question any decision, no
+matter how little they failed to see its reason. If what he asked was in
+their power, they would bound at the chance of doing it, just as they
+did now.</p>
+
+<p>He had a parting warning to give.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p221" id="p221">221</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Let my brothers make sure that they do not lose the trail; they must
+look at the ground often: when they do not see the path they must stop
+and await the rising of the sun; they can not reach the cabin too soon,
+but they can never reach it by going wrong; <i>keep to the trail</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>The circuitous route which they had taken under the guidance of
+Deerfoot, had brought them back to the path at a point fully a hundred
+yards beyond the camp-fire, which had been started in the small open
+space only a few rods from the path. So far as they knew there was
+nothing now between them in the way of a direct advance to the cabin of
+their hunters.</p>
+
+<p>"Fred," said Terry, after they were fairly under way, and while he
+almost stepped on the heels of his friend; "Deerfoot thinks we won't go
+more than five or six miles; let's show him that we ain't such babies as
+he thinks."</p>
+
+<p>"I feel as you do; I propose that we keep it up all night."</p>
+
+<p>"Will ye be kind enough to raich yer right hand over your lift shoulder
+and shake wid me on the same?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p222" id="p222">222</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Instead of doing precisely as asked, Fred laughingly turned about and
+shook hands with his friend, whom he loved and for whom he was ready at
+any time to risk his life. They were on their mettle and they meant to
+show the young Shawanoe that they were capable of doing much more than
+he seemed to believe. They intended that when, after a few hours, he
+started to overtake them, he would find that he had a good many miles
+further to travel than he supposed.</p>
+
+<p>Had Deerfoot known of their thoughts he would have smiled and been
+pleased. He wanted them to do their best and he was willing, should it
+prove to be safe, to allow them to keep up the delusion that their gait
+could bear any comparison with the speed of which he was capable.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the boys started in earnest to carry out their intention.
+Their only fear was that they might be hindered by the difficulty in
+keeping to the trail; for though the full moon was again overhead, and
+though many of the leaves had fallen from the trees, little light was
+there to help them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p223" id="p223">223</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But for a time, at least, the difficulty was much less than they
+expected. The path, though it continued to lead over rough places and
+around obstructions, sometimes up-hill and sometimes down, was still so
+clearly marked that Fred Linden went forward with scarcely a halt or any
+hesitation.</p>
+
+<p>Though there are men who have walked their five and six hundred miles
+with little rest on the road, it is a severe task for any one to keep it
+up through an entire day and night, as you can soon become convinced by
+making the experiment; but Fred and Terry were sturdy, strong-limbed
+fellows, born and bred on the frontier, who were capable of standing a
+great deal. When, therefore, they meant to astonish Deerfoot by their
+progress during the night, they felt no distrust of their ability in
+that direction.</p>
+
+<p>There was no reason why they should put any restraint on themselves, and
+they talked quite cheerily, Terry indulging now and then in some of his
+quaint remarks. But a tired boy does not feel like keeping up a lively
+conversation for any length of time, and so it came<span class="pagenum"><a name="p224" id="p224">224</a></span> about that after
+awhile they walked steadily forward, for miles at a time, without
+exchanging more than a few syllables. Terry could see the figure of his
+friend with his rifle over his shoulder always a few feet in front,
+there being just enough light in the gloom to keep his form in sight,
+while Fred heard the steady tramp, tramp behind him, sometimes keeping
+pace with his own and sometimes falling "out of step."</p>
+
+<p>"Helloa! this is too bad!" suddenly exclaimed Fred, coming to an abrupt
+halt; "I guess this ends our tramp for to-night."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p225" id="p225">225</a></span>
+<a name="AN_INFURIATE_SHAWANOE_4372" id="AN_INFURIATE_SHAWANOE_4372"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+<h3>AN INFURIATE SHAWANOE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>WITH the departure of Fred and Terry, Deerfoot felt as though he had
+flung off a blanket that had been wrapped about his shoulders: his arms
+were now free and he could use them at will.</p>
+
+<p>He shrewdly suspected that his young friends would fancy they had been
+put upon their mettle, and would, therefore, exert themselves to their
+fullest to meet his expectations. He was glad it was so, and he would
+have been much better pleased could he have known they were in the cabin
+at the foot of the mountains, or, better still, safe at their home in
+Greville.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot now stealthily approached as close to the camp-fire as was
+safe. He screened his body behind a tree, but he was nigh enough to
+catch every word that was said in an ordinary<span class="pagenum"><a name="p226" id="p226">226</a></span> tone, and he understood
+the Winnebago tongue well enough to want no interpreter.</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe had hardly taken his position to act as cowen, when the
+venison steaks were about one-fourth broiled, which was enough to
+satisfy the parties interested. Those who had charge of the culinary
+operations divided the meat into a dozen slices, so that each warrior
+was provided for, and the feast opened. The strong animal appetites, and
+teeth like those of the steel traps that were set at the foot of the
+Ozarks, soon brought the feast to a close, after which the feasters
+walked the few steps necessary to the brook near at hand, and lying down
+on their faces drank their fill, just as so many pigs would have done,
+grunting with satisfaction as they came back and resumed their pipes.</p>
+
+<p>All this Deerfoot had seen so often that it had no interest to him. He
+kept his eyes on two warriors&mdash;the Wolf and one whom he had never seen
+before. These two sat near each other on the ground while eating, and
+they talked together in low tones. Since none of those around could
+overhear the words, it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="p227" id="p227">227</a></span> impossible for Deerfoot, with all his
+wonderful acuteness, to catch a syllable. He would have given a great
+deal could he have done so, for he suspected the dark plot that was
+taking shape in their dusky brains. There was a dangerous flash in the
+black eyes of the young Shawanoe while he watched their movements.</p>
+
+<p>It was clear to him that the Wolf had lost prestige, instead of gaining
+sympathy by his last misfortune. Having gone out to gather wool he had
+come back shorn, to go out a second time and to come back shorn to a
+still more ludicrous degree. The manner in which the Wolf kept apart
+from the rest, affiliating only with the single warrior at his side,
+showed the feeling in the party.</p>
+
+<p>It was easy to recognize the leader or chieftain, though his dress was
+precisely like the rest, but his air of authority told the story plainly
+enough. The Winnebagos were a fine set of men in their war paint, and,
+as I have said, were able to give a good account of themselves in any
+scrimmage in which they might become engaged.</p>
+
+<p>As unexpectedly to the warriors as to Deerfoot<span class="pagenum"><a name="p228" id="p228">228</a></span> himself, the Winnebago
+chieftain, who was standing on one side of the fire where his rifle with
+several others leaned against a tree, took his pipe from between his
+lips and spoke to the Wolf in tones which caused that redskin to look up
+in wonder. Seeing that the sachem hesitated, as if waiting for him to
+rise, the Wolf came nimbly to his feet, as did his friend at his elbow.
+The majority of the rest, however, sat still and showed no special
+interest in what was going on.</p>
+
+<p>"The Wolf was the bravest of the Winnebagos," remarked the chief, "when
+our war parties met those of the Sauks and Foxes and Pottawatomies who
+dared to come into our country; the heart of the Wolf bounded with
+delight and no tomahawk was hurled with such swiftness as his: no gun
+was fired more often; no scalping knife took back more scalps to hang
+upon the ridge-pole of his wigwam.</p>
+
+<p>"But the Wolf came across the Big Water and his heart longed for the
+scalp of the pale face; he went out to hunt for it; he came back; the
+tongue of the Wolf is not double<span class="pagenum"><a name="p229" id="p229">229</a></span> and tells no lies; the Wolf met a
+Shawanoe warrior who took his gun from him.</p>
+
+<p>"It was the young Shawanoe called Deerfoot; the Winnebagos have been
+told about Deerfoot, the friend of the white man; the heart of Black
+Bear (meaning himself) was angry; he was chief of the Winnebagos; he
+told the Wolf that he must go forth and bring back his rifle; the Wolf
+went; he did not bring back his rifle, but left his knife behind;
+Deerfoot saw him and took it away from him.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot is but a youth; he is not a mighty warrior; the Wolf must get
+his gun and knife; he must bring back the scalp of the Shawanoe, he
+shall take Wau-ko-mia-tan with him; each shall have his gun; let them
+bring back the scalps of Deerfoot and the two pale faces with him; then
+will Black Bear forget that the Wolf was not always a great warrior.</p>
+
+<p>"Let the Wolf and Wau-ko-mia-tan make haste; the Winnebagos are on the
+war path; they will carry back with them the scalps of the pale faces
+who are gathering the skins of the beaver and otter and foxes by the
+base of the mountain."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p230" id="p230">230</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It may be said that this little speech developed the plan of the
+Winnebago campaign. The Wolf had fallen so low in the opinion of his
+chieftain and brother warriors, that it was necessary for him to take
+heroic measures to restore himself. Seeing this, the sachem had just
+notified him that he must secure the scalps of Deerfoot and the two
+white boys with him. Wau-ko-mia-tan (who was the warrior that sat at the
+elbow of the Wolf), was to be his companion. The chieftain knew how
+closely the two were allied, and he indulged in the little fiction of
+allowing one to keep company with the other, when the truth was he was
+afraid to let the Wolf go alone. Since on each of the two former
+excursions he had lost something, the probabilities were that if he came
+back again, it would be without his scalp.</p>
+
+<p>The eagerness with which the Wolf accepted this task, the moment he
+found that he was to have a companion, showed that he was an admirable
+representative of the average Indian: gratitude to him was a vice rather
+than a virtue.</p>
+
+<p>The expression on the face of Deerfoot showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="p231" id="p231">231</a></span> that all forbearance was
+ended. He had twice spared the ingrate: he would do so no more.</p>
+
+<p>Had the Wolf told his leader that the mercy of Deerfoot had touched his
+heart, so that his arm could never more be raised in anger against him,
+but that he would seek the scalps of the hunters at the base of the
+mountains, the Shawanoe would have felt an admiration for him. Had he
+sought out Deerfoot and asked for the return of his weapons (though that
+would have been very unlike his race), Deerfoot would have restored them
+to him. But now, as it was, when they should meet it would be as mortal
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing showed the vicious ingratitude of the Wolf more vividly than the
+fact that instead of waiting for the morning before entering upon his
+wicked enterprise, he started within three minutes after Black Bear, the
+chieftain, finished his little speech. The sachem picked up his own
+rifle from where it leaned against the tree and handed it to him, while
+Wau-ko-mia-tan stood at the other end of the group, until the warrior,
+his ugly face glowing like that of a demon, stepped to his side. Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="p232" id="p232">232</a></span>
+the two, without a word or motion like a farewell, turned away and
+vanished in the gloom of the wood.</p>
+
+<p>They had not taken a dozen steps, when Deerfoot glided from behind the
+tree and passed after them, as if he were the shadow thrown out by the
+light of the camp-fire. The expression on his face was such as would
+have hushed Fred Linden and Terry Clark to awed silence could they have
+seen it.</p>
+
+<p>The two Winnebagos did not come directly back to the trail, but fell
+into it at almost the precise point where Deerfoot had led his two
+friends. They stopped a few minutes and talked in their low, guttural
+tones, none of which was understood by the Shawanoe, who listened with
+the closest attention.</p>
+
+<p>There was considerable distance at that time between the warriors and
+Fred and Terry, who had set out with the ambition to keep up their
+traveling through the entire night. The Winnebagos did not wait long,
+when they moved on at their usual pace.</p>
+
+<p>Less than a mile from the camp, the warriors again came to a halt and as
+before talked in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="p233" id="p233">233</a></span> low voice. The point was where the wood was more
+open, so that the moonlight which found its way among the limbs above
+showed their forms quite plainly. More than that, enough of their words
+were audible to enable the listening Shawanoe, who had crept dangerously
+near, to catch their meaning.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebagos turned off at almost a right angle and left the trail
+behind them. The ground was broken, but they had not gone far, when it
+became evident that they were following another path, though it was so
+faintly marked that no eye except that of an American Indian could have
+discovered it in such an uncertain light.</p>
+
+<p>As they advanced, the surface became not only rougher, but the grade
+which they ascended was so steep that it would have been tiresome to an
+ordinary traveler.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Deerfoot himself wheeled aside from the indistinct path to
+which the Winnebagos clung and passed lightly and with great speed
+through the wood where no one had walked before. So swiftly did he make
+his way, that, though he crossed a deep ravine<span class="pagenum"><a name="p234" id="p234">234</a></span> and went a considerable
+distance, it was less than live minutes before he came back to the
+shadowy trail.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of keeping along this path, in the same direction as that of his
+enemies, he turned about and advanced to meet the red men who had dared
+to come that way. He walked with his usual noiseless step, and stopped
+on reaching the edge of the ravine over which he had leaped when it
+crossed his path only a few minutes before.</p>
+
+<p>This gully was more than twenty feet in depth, and about half as wide.
+The trail led to the edge on one side, continuing on the margin directly
+opposite, so that any one who wished to keep to it was perforce
+compelled to leap the chasm&mdash;a slight task for any Indian, though it
+would have been easy to make a bridge by means of a fallen tree.</p>
+
+<p>The moon was now directly overhead, so that a flood of light fell into
+the craggy ravine, lighting up the gray rocks and bowlders, the
+prostrate trees that had fallen from the sides, the vegetation along the
+slopes and the mossy grass that had been watered by the torrents when<span class="pagenum"><a name="p235" id="p235">235</a></span>
+they roared through. The trees grew rank and close to the edge at the
+top&mdash;so close that some of them had slidden off and fallen part way
+below, carrying the gravel, sand and earth with the prong-like roots
+part way to the bottom.</p>
+
+<p>So faint was the mark of the trail opposite that even with the help of
+the moonbeams, it took an eye as keen as that of Deerfoot to tell where
+his enemies would appear. But he coolly awaited them, though his
+calmness was the fearful calm of a fury such as even he rarely knew.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p236" id="p236">236</a></span>
+<a name="THE_DEFIANCE_4578" id="THE_DEFIANCE_4578"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2>
+<h3>THE DEFIANCE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The expression of the face of Deerfoot was terrible. The whole fury of
+his nature was at white heat. He knew that the two Winnebagos had set
+out to commit a fearful crime, and it was his work to stay their hands.
+There was but the single way in which they could be stayed.</p>
+
+<p>The young Shawanoe kept back a couple of paces from the edge of the
+ravine, where the shadow of the stunted trees above would hide him from
+his foes when they should come in sight. He held his gun pointed and
+cocked. Though his passion had the glow of the furnace, he was as calm
+as death.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style='width:350px'>
+<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a>
+<img src="images/ozark-236.jpg" alt="&#34;There was a fierce whizz like the rush of an eagle&#39;s wing.&#34;" title="" width="350" /><br />
+<span class="caption">&#34;There was a fierce whizz like the rush of an eagle&#39;s wing.&#34;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="p237" id="p237">237</a></span>He had not long to wait. By and by a low guttural exclamation struck his
+ear, and his hearing, strung to a marvelously fine point, caught the
+sound of the soft moccasins on the hard earth. Less than a minute later
+the form of the Wolf came into the moonlight, as a bather emerges from
+the side of a lake. Seeing the open ravine at his feet, he stopped, and
+instantly his companion, Wau-ko-mia-tan, appeared at his side.</p>
+
+<p>They quickly saw that the leap was an easy one.</p>
+
+<p>"Wau-ko-mia-tan will leap across," said that warrior, "then the Wolf
+will follow; let us lose no time, for the Shawanoe may be gone."</p>
+
+<p>The speaker recoiled a single pace and gathered his muscles for the
+leap. He took one quick step and made a terrific bound upward and
+outward, straight for the rocky brink whereon Deerfoot the Shawanoe
+instantly stepped into the moonlight.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago was in mid-air, crouching like a leaper, with his legs
+gathered under him and his arms at his side, when there was a fierce
+whiz, like the rush of an eagle's wing, something flashed in the
+moonlight, and the tomahawk, driven by a lightning-like sweep of the
+Shawanoe's arm, was buried in the chest of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p238" id="p238">238</a></span> Winnebago as it would
+have sunk in so much sodden earth.</p>
+
+<p>An ear-splitting screech burst from the throat of the smitten warrior,
+who struck the edge of the ravine like a bundle of rags flung thither,
+and then tumbled to the bottom as dead as the jagged rock on which he
+lay.</p>
+
+<p>The Wolf stood transfixed, unable to understand what had taken place.
+Then he saw the figure of the youthful warrior on the other side and
+heard his voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Rattlesnake of a Winnebago! Die the death of the rattlesnake!"</p>
+
+<p>The wretch was given no time to protest again, for the words were yet in
+the mouth of Deerfoot when the flash of his rifle lit up the partial
+gloom, and the crack of the weapon mingled with the death shriek of the
+redskin, who slumped end over end down the ravine and lay beside the
+body of Wau-ko-mia-tan as dead as he.</p>
+
+<p>"Thus shall die all that seek to follow your footsteps," muttered the
+Shawanoe, who, standing where he stood when he slew both, proceeded to
+reload his rifle with as much coolness<span class="pagenum"><a name="p239" id="p239">239</a></span> as though he had just fired at a
+target on a tree.</p>
+
+<p>This finished, he let himself over the edge of the ravine, holding fast
+a moment by one hand, and then letting go, dropped lightly beside the
+two bodies that lay below. His face showed no excitement now, and he
+moved with his usual care and deliberation. Drawing the hunting-knife
+which he had taken from the Wolf, he partly bent over, but straightened
+up again, saying to himself:</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot is a Christian Indian and can not scalp a foe though as base
+as they."</p>
+
+<p>Picking up each rifle (that of Wau-ko-mia-tan being still clutched by
+his nerveless fingers while the Wolf's had fallen from his grasp), he
+deliberately broke the locks of each by striking them on the stones. He
+then recovered his own tomahawk, and carried off the useless weapons
+with him.</p>
+
+<p>He passed down the ravine until he reached a point where the sides were
+not so high. There he clambered out, still keeping the two broken guns.
+He had reached high ground on the side from which had come the
+Winnebagos,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p240" id="p240">240</a></span> and he walked grimly forward, until in a brief while he
+reached the main trail over which he and the boys had passed a brief
+while before.</p>
+
+<p>He turned toward the left, which led him in the direction of the camp of
+the Ozarks as well as toward the camp of Black Bear and his Winnebagos.
+He took longer steps than usual, but did not trot or run.</p>
+
+<p>When he once more caught the glimmer of the camp-fire among the trees,
+he slackened his pace and drew nigh with the caution that had become a
+second nature to him. He quickly saw that the Winnebagos had disposed of
+themselves for the night. The fire was burning as brightly as ever,
+because of the attention it received from the two warriors who were
+standing on guard.</p>
+
+<p>The party were in a portion of the country where they knew there was
+scarcely a possibility of their being molested by any one; but the
+American Indian loves nothing like laziness and war; and, treacherous by
+nature himself, he expects treachery at all times in others. And so,
+although they knew of no enemies within miles of them (unless it was
+Deerfoot,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p241" id="p241">241</a></span> whom they did not fear) they had two vigilant sentinels on
+duty. The rest were stretched out on their blankets with their feet
+turned toward the blaze, sleeping like so many tired animals.</p>
+
+<p>At the moment of Deerfoot's approach, the Winnebagos on guard were
+standing some twenty feet apart, with the fire burning between them.
+Each held a loaded gun in hand and cast his keen glance hither and
+thither in the gloom, eyes and ears alert for the first suspicious sight
+or sound.</p>
+
+<p>The sentinel nearer Deerfoot was Black Bear himself. The chieftain
+evidently believed that the best way to instruct his warriors in their
+duty was to set the example. His attitude showed that something had
+arrested his attention. Deerfoot knew that the sound had been made by
+his moccasin, for he purposely rustled the leaves.</p>
+
+<p>Black Bear looked intently off in the gloom, but seeing nothing, turned
+his head and told the other guard to fling more wood upon the fire. He
+obeyed, and the circle of light quickly extended out among the trees.</p>
+
+<p>It would have been an easy matter for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p242" id="p242">242</a></span> Shawanoe to slay both, but he
+had no thought of doing so. That would have been killing without
+justification.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebago chieftain was gazing intently into the night, when from
+behind a tree, no more than a dozen steps distant, softly stepped the
+young Shawanoe.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen, Black Bear," said he, "to the words of Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+Twice did he spare the life of the Wolf and the Wolf thanked him, but he
+went out a third time to take his life; he was a rattlesnake, but he had
+not the courage of the rattlesnake, for he took with him Wau-ko-mia-tan,
+whose heart was that of a rattlesnake also; they bent their steps where
+none but Deerfoot has the right to go; therefore Deerfoot killed them
+and took away their guns. <i>There they are!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>In the same minute that Deerfoot began speaking, the second sentinel
+stepped forward and took his place beside his chief. That both were
+amazed need not be said. Each stood with the muzzle of his gun lowered,
+neither dreaming that the youth thought of assailing them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p243" id="p243">243</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot spoke in the slow but impressive voice natural to his race. But
+the last exclamation escaped him like the discharge from a Leyden jar.
+So quickly that neither saw a movement, he hurled the broken gun of the
+chief straight at him, following it with the second gun driven at his
+companion.</p>
+
+<p>Both hit their mark. Black Bear was struck in the chest with such force,
+that he was carried off his feet and knocked half fainting to the earth.
+The other was hit and compelled to recoil a step, but the weapon struck
+him lengthwise, and he was not harmed. He rallied and brought his gun to
+his shoulder, but by the time it was leveled, the Shawanoe had vanished.</p>
+
+<p>Such an exploit, as you may well suppose, caused consternation among the
+Winnebagos for the space of several minutes. No gun had been fired, but
+the American Indian is a light sleeper, and slight as was the
+disturbance, it aroused every one. There was a gathering about the
+fallen chieftain, who, however, came to his feet without help, though he
+gasped and was weak for a few moments. The explanation given by the
+other sentinel removed the general<span class="pagenum"><a name="p244" id="p244">244</a></span> fear of an attack, but three of the
+warriors scattered through the wood to make sure that no surprise
+overtook them, while the others with an agitation rare among red men
+talked over the astounding occurrence.</p>
+
+<p>The broken rifles lying on the ground left no doubt that when the
+Shawanoe declared he had slain both the Wolf and Wau-ko-mia-tan he spoke
+the truth. Else, how could their shattered guns be in his possession?</p>
+
+<p>And this same youth, with an audacity beyond comprehension, had flung
+the two guns at the chieftain and his brother warrior and defied them.
+It seemed as though he must be more than a human being, to be capable of
+such deeds. Legends had reached them of some of the exploits of the
+wonderful young Shawanoe, but this surpassed them all.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebagos, however, were among the bravest tribes in the west, and
+when they broke camp at early dawn, Deerfoot, who was on the watch, knew
+that it was their determination to slay every one of the three hunters
+in the camp at the foot of the Ozarks, as soon as they could reach
+them.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p245" id="p245">245</a></span>
+<a name="THE_SIGNAL_FIRE_4770" id="THE_SIGNAL_FIRE_4770"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2>
+<h3>THE SIGNAL FIRE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Deerfoot the Shawanoe remained in the vicinity of the Winnebago camp
+until the warriors made their start at an early hour the following
+morning. He took more than one survey of the red men, who gathered about
+the blazing fire and talked over the remarkable events of the night. He
+could easily have slain every one of the scouts whom they kept moving
+through the wood, but he had no wish to do so.</p>
+
+<p>He heard and saw enough to convince him that they intended to make an
+attack on the camp in the mountains, but he did not feel absolutely sure
+that they would not turn aside and follow in the path of the Wolf and
+Wau-ko-mia-tan, until the party had advanced several miles to the
+southward along the Ozark trail.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p246" id="p246">246</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It seemed strange that the Winnebagos paid no attention to the two
+missing warriors, and yet, after all, it was not singular. They knew
+they were dead and it was therefore a waste of time to give heed to
+them. If by any possibility they were alive, they must take care of
+themselves, just as all brave Indians did: if unable to do so, the
+consequences must be on their own heads.</p>
+
+<p>So the ten Winnebagos, under the lead of the famous chieftain Black
+Bear, moved along the trail in the direction of the camp of the Hunters
+of the Ozark, and the expressions and words that had been overheard by
+the watchful Shawanoe, left no doubt that by way of revenge they meant
+to slay the three trappers who had located there for the winter.</p>
+
+<p>The Winnebagos came from the north-east. Their lodges, villages and
+hunting grounds were many moons' travel away, and the section of country
+through which they were journeying was so sparsely settled that they had
+no fear of pursuit. Now, when you give an American Indian the chance to
+commit some vicious mischief with no fear of being made to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p247" id="p247">247</a></span> pay
+therefor, you may set it down as a truth that nine hundred and
+ninety-nine out of every one thousand will commit that crime. It was a
+matter of indifference, in the first place, whether they harmed the
+hunters or not. Since the latter were removed some distance from their
+path, it is probable that they would not at that time have taken the
+trouble to go in quest of them: it was the feeling of revenge that was
+the deciding weight in the scale.</p>
+
+<p>Let us recall the situation as it was on the second morning after Fred
+Linden and Terry Clark left their homes in Greville. The boys themselves
+were the furthest advanced along the trail to the mountains, while at a
+considerable distance behind, filed the ten Winnebago warriors, and
+hovering in the vicinity was Deerfoot the Shawanoe, watching every
+movement with the vigilance of a lynx.</p>
+
+<p>Whenever he chose he could make a circuit around the Winnebagos, and
+joining the boys beyond, hasten to the hunters' camp and apprise them of
+their danger; but there remained an abundance of time in which to do
+that, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="p248" id="p248">248</a></span> he did not wish to leave the vicinity of the enemies until he
+saw a little more of them.</p>
+
+<p>It was evident that the Winnebagos were in no hurry. They must have
+known that two of the youths were following the trail in advance, for
+the heavy shoes of the lads could not fail to leave their imprints in
+many places; but, such being the case, the red men might ask in what
+manner they could know that a party of Winnebagos were following them,
+unless such knowledge came through Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who, wherever
+he might be, certainly was not in front of them.</p>
+
+<p>When the Indians came to a stream of water, they did not rush in and
+wade or swim to the other side, as they would have done had there been
+any call for haste, but like those who had gone before, they stopped
+long enough to make a raft on which they could float across. The
+American Indian is not as fond of water as he should be, and though the
+Winnebagos would have cared little for the chill of the stream, it was
+more pleasant for them to pass over dry shod; so they made their several
+rafts and poled themselves to the opposite bank.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p249" id="p249">249</a></span></p>
+
+<p>You would not look for humor under such circumstances, and yet on one of
+the three rafts there was so much of it shown that even the grim
+Shawanoe smiled.</p>
+
+<p>The structures on which the red men floated were, as a matter of course,
+of the frailest nature, intended as they were to last only long enough
+to bear them to the other shore. With proper management, all would have
+done this, but on one of the rafts holding four of the warriors, there
+was an aboriginal wag. A single Indian managed the pole, while the
+others squatted carefully in their respective positions and were
+expected to keep quiet, so as not to disintegrate the frail structure.</p>
+
+<p>The wag to whom I have referred, while sitting with an innocent
+expression on his painted countenance, quietly loosened the two or three
+withes, and gave the logs such an impetus that they separated like two
+bodies positively charged with electricity, when brought together. The
+warrior who handled the pole was standing with legs somewhat apart,
+resting on a different log, when they suddenly separated still more, and
+he sat down with a splash in<span class="pagenum"><a name="p250" id="p250">250</a></span> the water. Another log revolved backwards,
+as did the savage who was sitting on it, while the others were also
+plashing in the stream, which was not deep enough to make them swim,
+though it came to the neck of the shortest one. The four warriors waded
+to shore amid the grins of the others, and with no suspicion of the
+criminal that had played the trick upon them.</p>
+
+<p>The next stream was reached by the Indians a couple of hours later. This
+was not as deep as the other and they did not stop to make rafts. After
+a little searching, they found a portion where the current did not come
+above their knees and they waded.</p>
+
+<p>In doing so, Black Bear took the lead, and, in accordance with a custom
+universal among Indians, each warrior carefully stepped into the
+footprints in front of him. The water was so limpid that the impression
+made by the chieftain's moccasin was plainly shown, so that there was no
+difficulty in this respect. Had a person been trailing them, he would
+have seen before him what seemed to be the footprints of a single man.
+There was but a slight variation<span class="pagenum"><a name="p251" id="p251">251</a></span> near the further shore, where the
+moccasin of one of the Winnebagos had slid from a stone on which, like
+all the others, it was placed. The brown stone was slippery with a faint
+coating of slime, and the scrape of the deerskin down the side gave it a
+white gleam like the belly of a fish. It was a "slip" in every sense,
+and, when the slight splash announced it, Black Bear at the head of the
+procession turned about with his most impressive scowl.</p>
+
+<p>The party made a halt on the other bank. It was considerably past noon,
+and, while some busied themselves in starting a fire, and a couple began
+fishing in the stream, two others going into the woods with their guns,
+Deerfoot was quite sure that they had decided to spend an hour or so for
+dinner. He concluded, however, to follow the two who went into the
+woods, and it was fortunate that he did so.</p>
+
+<p>The first surprise that came to him was when the Winnebagos had gone
+nearly an eighth of a mile from camp. All this time they were making
+their way up quite a steep slope, so that they were close to the top of
+a high, wooded ridge.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p252" id="p252">252</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe might well wonder why they had taken such a course, but
+when two frightened deer burst through the undergrowth and dashed by at
+full speed, within easy gun shot, and the Winnebagos looked at them
+without raising their guns to fire, then it was that Deerfoot was
+genuinely astonished.</p>
+
+<p>The conclusion was inevitable that these red men were not looking for
+game.</p>
+
+<p>With a suspicion of their real errand (and that caused another
+surprise), Deerfoot stealthily followed the Winnebagos until they paused
+on the highest part of the ridge. He was not long kept in doubt as to
+their business.</p>
+
+<p>The top of the ridge was almost bare. There were a few stunted trees, a
+number of bowlders and rocks, and here and there, patches of scraggly
+grass. From this elevation, however, a magnificent view opened out on
+every hand before the spectator. To the north stretched the undulating
+country covered with prairie, stream, valley and forest, the last
+brilliant with all the gorgeous hues that come with the frosts of
+autumn.</p>
+
+<p>These flaming colors were visible in whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="p253" id="p253">253</a></span> direction the eye turned,
+and the same varied surface was seen everywhere, but to the southward,
+the Ozark Mountains had a faint bluish tinge, like a mass of clouds
+resting in the horizon. It was in that direction that the camp of the
+hunters lay, and thither the footsteps of pale face and redskin were
+directed.</p>
+
+<p>The two Winnebagos spent only a minute or so in scanning the surrounding
+country, when they began gathering wood, until they had quite a pile. A
+quantity of leaves, some of which were damp, was mixed among the twigs,
+so that when with a little trouble they were fired by means of the flint
+and steel in the hands of one of the red men, the fuel did not burn
+clearly but gave off considerable dark smoke, which was what the
+Winnebagos wanted.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the fire was fairly burning, one of the Indians flung his
+blanket over it, his friend seizing the other part, while both held it
+thus until it was in danger of taking fire or smothering the flames. Had
+the coarse cloth been a little more cleanly it is likely that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="p254" id="p254">254</a></span> would
+have been burned, but as it was it strangled the blaze until it may be
+said there were several bushels of smoke gathered beneath and the embers
+were at their last gasp.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment, the Indians raised the blanket so that they stood
+upright, and plenty of fresh air was allowed to feed the blaze. Then
+they slowly waved the blanket between them, sometimes lowering it until
+it was scorched by the sleepy flames, and then elevating it above their
+heads. All the time, they manipulated the blanket, sometimes straight up
+and down, sometimes diagonally, and indeed, in every possible way.</p>
+
+<p>The result of all this varied swinging was that the black column of
+vapor which slowly climbed the sky, was broken into circles, spiral
+curves, and all sorts of odd-shaped figures, which did not dissolve for
+several minutes in the clear air above.</p>
+
+<p>I need not tell you what this meant, for in another place I have
+described the same thing. It was a signal fire intended by the
+Winnebagos for the eyes of a party of friends who were too far off to be
+reached in any other way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p255" id="p255">255</a></span> Deerfoot had seen such telegraphy many a time
+and oft, and more than once he had used it. He could interpret such a
+signal when made by a Shawanoe, Wyandotte, Sauk or Fox, but he had never
+learned the code in use by the Winnebago military authorities.</p>
+
+<p>However, it was not possible that there was any very fine shade of
+meaning in the various manipulations of the two warriors. Keen brained
+as is the American Indian, he is unable to do a great many things with
+which he is credited: one of these is to do more than telegraph the
+simplest messages by means of fire, though it is beyond question that
+important tidings has been flashed hundreds of miles in a single night,
+from mountain top to mountain top, by means of the signal fires of the
+Indians.</p>
+
+<p>What disturbed Deerfoot was this proof that there was a second party of
+Winnebagos in that section of the country. He had not dreamed of such a
+thing, and it might well cause him alarm, that is, for the three men who
+were so intent on gathering their furs comparatively a short distance
+away.</p>
+
+<p>Carefully screening himself from observation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p256" id="p256">256</a></span> the Shawanoe looked
+intently in the direction of the gaze of the Winnebagos. He saw that
+they were not peering at any other ridge, but at the broad low valley to
+the north-west. They had not long to look when they detected a thin
+bluish column of smoke creeping upward among the tree tops and
+dissolving in the clear air above.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot also saw it, and he knew that it was a reply to the first
+signal. There was another party of Winnebagos in the neighborhood; they
+would soon join Black Bear's party, and there was no time for delay.
+Indeed, but for the discovery he had made, the Shawanoe would have felt
+that he had tarried too long already.</p>
+
+<p>It was not far now to the camp of the Hunters of the Ozark, and it was
+perilous to wait to warn them. Every hour counted. Not only that, but,
+as you can readily see, Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in still
+greater danger.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p257" id="p257">257</a></span>
+<a name="ON_THE_EDGE_OF_THE_PRAIRIE_5003" id="ON_THE_EDGE_OF_THE_PRAIRIE_5003"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2>
+<h3>ON THE EDGE OF THE PRAIRIE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The night was far advanced when Fred Linden and Terry Clark reached the
+stream, where the former remarked that their progress was stopped. Of
+course he meant that they could continue if they chose to make another
+raft or they could wade, but they had journeyed so far since dusk, and
+the trouble of constructing a float was such that he thought it best to
+wait where they were until daylight. They were pretty well fagged out,
+and nothing could have been more grateful than to throw themselves on
+the ground and sleep for several hours.</p>
+
+<p>Terry was as tired as his companion, but he stood irresolute, inclined
+to think it best that they should push on.</p>
+
+<p>"The stream doesn't look very deep," said he, "and if ye agraas wid me
+that we can wade,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p258" id="p258">258</a></span> it'll be wiser if we make tother side and then
+journey to the nixt straam."</p>
+
+<p>"But that may be a good many miles further on."</p>
+
+<p>"Thin all we have to do is to travel a good many miles," said the plucky
+Irish lad, sitting down to take off his shoes.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall never give in to <i>you</i>," remarked Fred, also seating himself
+and beginning to remove his foot-gear.</p>
+
+<p>Before any thing more could be done, however, both were startled by the
+discovery that some one was on the other side of the stream. First they
+heard the guttural exclamations which they knew were made by Indians,
+and then they saw one of the red men come out into full view in the
+moonlight.</p>
+
+<p>Without a word, the boys hastily moved back under the shadow of the
+trees, making sure that they also placed several rods between them and
+the trail which they had followed to the edge of the water. Secure from
+observation, they fastened their eyes on the other bank, where they saw
+an interesting sight.</p>
+
+<p>Three Indian warriors stood for fully five<span class="pagenum"><a name="p259" id="p259">259</a></span> minutes in plain sight,
+while they discussed the same question that had engaged the lads&mdash;that
+is, in what manner the stream should be crossed.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take them long to decide. The foremost stepped into the
+water, followed by the other two, none removing his moccasins or
+leg-gear, and in a brief while they came out upon dry land again, within
+fifty feet of where the lads were crouching under shelter.</p>
+
+<p>The boys trembled as they realized how narrow their escape had been. Had
+they not paused for a few minutes, they would have been in the middle of
+the stream, just as the others came down to the edge of the water. In
+the light of their recent experience with the Winnebagos, they had not a
+particle of doubt that the three belonged to the same tribe and that
+they were fierce enemies. Had they not slain the boys, they would have
+made captives of both and conducted them to the main party. Then when it
+should have been found that one of the prisoners had the gun that once
+belonged to the Wolf, their fate would have been sealed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p260" id="p260">260</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The incident drove from the mind of Fred all wish to tarry on the road.
+He wished that they were many miles on their way to the camp in the
+Ozarks. They considered themselves members of the little party of
+hunters whom they could not reach any too soon.</p>
+
+<p>"I obsarved while the spalpeens were wadin'," said Terry, "that none of
+them wint lower in the water than their knees. Why didn't they take off
+their shoes like dacent gintlemen, and cross as they should; but bein'
+as they didn't do the same, why, we'll sit them the example."</p>
+
+<p>A minute later, the boys stepped into the stream, and, by using care,
+reached the other side, with all their garments dry. Their shoes were
+quickly replaced, and the two were off again, so moved by what they had
+seen, that for the time they forgot fatigue and every thing else.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you, Terry, that matters are beginning to look worse than even
+Deerfoot thought, and you know that when he left us he didn't feel
+satisfied, by any means."</p>
+
+<p>"Could it be," asked his companion, "that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p261" id="p261">261</a></span> these spalpeens don't belong
+to the same crowd that we saw?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am quite sure they do; these three would not have been so separated
+from the others."</p>
+
+<p>"Where could they have come from?" asked the puzzled Terry.</p>
+
+<p>"Where all the Indians come from&mdash;the woods. I suppose a large party of
+Winnebagos have been off on a tramp, and they are coming together with a
+view of going home or of making an attack on some place or persons."</p>
+
+<p>A random guess, like this, sometimes comes closer to the truth than a
+labored theory. The three Indians whom they had so narrowly escaped were
+members of Black Bear's party and were on their way to meet him.
+Furthermore, there were more of them at no great distance.</p>
+
+<p>"Me father lost his life by the Indians," said Terry, in a soft voice;
+"but though it was not known what tribe the same belonged to, I don't
+think they were Winnebagos; but Indians are Indians and are always ready
+to kill white people whiniver the chance comes along."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p262" id="p262">262</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You are right; father doesn't think there is the least danger or he
+wouldn't have sent for me. He has hunted several seasons without any
+trouble with them, but he ought to have learned long ago to be forever
+on the watch."</p>
+
+<p>"Fred," said the other, stopping short in his excitement; "do ye think
+they are goin' to attack the <i>sittlement</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"Impossible! There's the blockhouse and plenty of men to defend it
+against a thousand savages."</p>
+
+<p>"But the woods saam to be full of thim; there may be some kind of an
+Indian war that has broke out and these are the first part of the rid
+army that is to coom down and swaap us over the Rocky Mountains."</p>
+
+<p>But Fred could not share in this prodigious fear. He faced to the front
+again and laughed, as he resumed his walk.</p>
+
+<p>"There couldn't be any thing like <i>that</i> without warning reaching us;
+some of the runners would have come to Greville with the news; besides,
+Deerfoot would have been certain to know something about it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p263" id="p263">263</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"<i>That</i> sittles it!" exclaimed Terry, with a sigh of relief; "ye are
+right in sayin' the Shawanoe would have knowed about it; he would have
+larned it before the spalpeens that started out on the war path, and,
+bein' as he didn't say any thin', I'm sure ye are right; but all the
+same, it looks bad for the Hunters of the Ozark, which maans oursilves
+as well as the men in the mountains."</p>
+
+<p>"There's no use of denying that there is enough to make all of us
+anxious, but when I remember that father and Mr. Hardin and Bowlby have
+spent so many years in the Indian country, I can not help feeling hope
+that they will be able to take care of themselves. You know they are all
+good shots and they have a cabin strong enough to stand a rough siege."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't forgit the same; but there's a good many more rid than white
+men and Mr. Bowlby is lame."</p>
+
+<p>"What of that? He doesn't expect to fight with his feet."</p>
+
+<p>"There are many scrimmages in which it's handy to use yer faat. If
+Deerfut hadn't popped along just as I keeled over the Wolf<span class="pagenum"><a name="p264" id="p264">264</a></span> I'd jumped
+on him; then, do ye not mind that the men may take it into their heads
+to run away."</p>
+
+<p>"They have their horses," said Fred, foreseeing and agreeing with the
+response that his young friend would make.</p>
+
+<p>"Not one of 'em is worth a cint at such a time; a one-legged Indian
+could outrun the fastest; they would have to stick fast to the trail
+while the spalpeens would walk all around 'em."</p>
+
+<p>"All that is true, but if they could get a good start, it would be very
+handy for Mr. Bowlby to have one of the horses to ride."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see much chance of the same," was the sensible comment of
+Terry; "but, me boy, have ye any idaa of what time it is?"</p>
+
+<p>"It must be far beyond midnight: surely we are a long ways in advance of
+the Winnebago camp where we left Deerfoot."</p>
+
+<p>"They are not meaning to make a start to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not; they will not move until morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Thin I'm in favor of an adjournment<span class="pagenum"><a name="p265" id="p265">265</a></span> <i>sine die</i>, at once and without
+waitin' any longer."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?" asked the puzzled Fred, stopping and looking around
+at his companion.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm tired out."</p>
+
+<p>"So am I, but I made up my mind to keep walking till I dropped, before I
+would give in to you. It will be a sensible thing for us to rest, but we
+must get far enough from the trail, so that if any more stragglers come
+along this way, they won't stumble over us."</p>
+
+<p>This was only simple prudence. They groped along for several rods,
+through the undergrowth and among the limbs, and were still walking,
+when Terry's foot struck some obstruction and he fell flat.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you hurt?" asked Fred.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurt? No; that's the way I always lay down, as me uncle obsarved whin
+he fell off the roof&mdash;call me early, Fred, and be sure ye don't take up
+more of the bed&mdash;than&mdash;a&mdash;gintleman&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>The poor wearied fellow was asleep.</p>
+
+<p>Fred smiled, as he lay down beside him<span class="pagenum"><a name="p266" id="p266">266</a></span> The air was quite brisk, so he
+unstrapped his blanket and flung part of it over his friend and the rest
+over himself, the two lying back to back as they lay the night before in
+the cavern. The dried leaves made as soft a couch as they could want and
+Fred had only time to murmur a prayer to heaven, when he too became
+unconscious.</p>
+
+<p>They slumbered for four full hours, when both awoke at the same moment,
+refreshed and strengthened. The sun was well up in the sky, and
+fortunately the weather continued clear, crisp and bracing. Indeed it
+could not have been more nearly perfect.</p>
+
+<p>They laughed when they saw where they had made their bed, right in the
+open wood, just as any wild animal would have done when overcome by
+fatigue. There was no water within sight and no food at command. The
+blanket was quickly folded up into a neat parcel and strapped to the
+back of Fred and the two retraced their steps to the trail, which they
+hoped to follow until it took them to the camp at the foot of the
+Ozarks.</p>
+
+<p>"I have found out one thing, that have I,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p267" id="p267">267</a></span> remarked Terry, with the air
+of one announcing a great discovery.</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"The hungriest young gintleman on the western side of the Mississippi is
+the handsome youth whom ye have the honor of walkin' with this very
+minute."</p>
+
+<p>"I can feel for you on <i>that</i> question," added Fred; "for it seems to me
+that I never wanted food so bad in all my life; we must be on the
+lookout for game. Do you know how to make that call that Deerfoot used
+to bring the turkey to him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, but I know how to use the turkey after the same is brought to me.
+If I should try the signal, it would scare all the turkeys and deer and
+foxes and bears and wolves and beavers out of the country, which bein'
+the same, I won't try it, principally because I don't know how to begin
+to try it."</p>
+
+<p>"My gracious, Terry; if you could shoot like you can talk, we wouldn't
+have to wait long for something to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Whisht, Fred," whispered Terry, in some<span class="pagenum"><a name="p268" id="p268">268</a></span> excitement; "the wood just
+beyanst ye looks as if it wasn't any wood at all."</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden had noticed the peculiarity. The trees were becoming so
+scarce and far apart that it was evident they were approaching some
+extensive clearing where no trees grew at all. The next minute the two
+stood on the edge of an immense prairie, which revealed a sight that
+profoundly interested them.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p269" id="p269">269</a></span>
+<a name="A_MORNING_MEAL_5251" id="A_MORNING_MEAL_5251"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2>
+<h3>A MORNING MEAL.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The two boys stood on the edge of a prairie which had a varying width of
+from one to three miles. Looking to the right and the left, neither end
+could be seen, so that there was no means of judging its length.</p>
+
+<p>The trail led straight across to the wilderness on the other side, which
+at that point was all of two miles distant. You can understand that
+walking was so much easier on the open ground that any party of
+travelers would hasten to take advantage of such a chance. The hoofs of
+the half dozen horses had left such a distinct impression that the eye
+could follow the trail a long ways from the margin of the woods.</p>
+
+<p>This prairie was entirely covered with a growth of succulent grass. The
+season was so late that it had lost most of its verdancy, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="p270" id="p270">270</a></span> there was
+an abundance of nutriment in the blades and it was splendid
+feeding-ground&mdash;one of those breaks in the almost limitless forest of
+which grazing animals were sure to take advantage.</p>
+
+<p>The boys had paused only a minute or two, gazing out on the almost level
+expanse, when Terry uttered an exclamation of delight and pointed to the
+right. Looking in that direction (as Fred had done at the moment his
+companion spoke), he saw a welcome sight indeed. A herd of buffaloes
+were cropping the grass within gunshot of the young hunters.</p>
+
+<p>As I have said in another place, there were no such droves as have
+sometimes been seen on the vast prairies of the far west, numbering
+fully a hundred thousand, though a century ago some amazing collections
+of animals were met within sight of the Mississippi.</p>
+
+<p>The herd upon which our friends looked with so much interest numbered
+little more than a hundred, and they were ruminating along the side of
+the prairie instead of cropping the grass in the middle of the plain.
+Some of them seemed to be browsing among<span class="pagenum"><a name="p271" id="p271">271</a></span> the trees and undergrowth, but
+the major part were scattered over the prairie to a distance of two
+hundred yards, while they were strung to a still greater extent parallel
+with the course of the prairie itself. From this you will see they were
+much dispersed, none of them being close to another, except he may have
+brushed against him now and then.</p>
+
+<p>The front of the drove was not less than two hundred feet away and
+others could be heard ruminating among the trees, where their huge bushy
+heads and big round eyes were often thrust into view. Some of them may
+have caught sight of the lads, but if so, they did not consider them
+worth attention, for they continued browsing and grazing, advancing step
+by step toward the spot where our young friends stood.</p>
+
+<p>"Frederick," said Terry, laying his hand on the arm of his companion,
+and speaking with the gravity of a judge, "whin ye swoop yer gaze on
+thim playthings out there, bear in mind that there's our breakfast, as
+me grandmither obsarved whin the dinner table upsit and ivery thing
+rolled down cellar."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p272" id="p272">272</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Our opinion is unanimous on that point; I have already selected my
+victim, and if you will go away and start a fire, it will hurry matters
+along."</p>
+
+<p>"It ain't as bad as that," said Terry in some surprise, "I'm not so near
+dead that I'm goin' to die in ten minutes if I don't git somethin' to
+ate: I will stay and superintind the operations of shootin' one of them
+little pets out there."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't the first buffalo I have killed&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not aware that ye have killed that yit," interrupted the Irish lad
+in his quizzical fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"You soon will be, but I have been out with father before to-day and
+shot buffaloes: have you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; whin I goes out huntin' yer fither has't the proud distinction of
+bein' taken along. Lucky for the buffaloes I niver took a notion to go
+out and kill siveral thousand: for that raison we find the drove out
+there so innocent and confidin' that they don't know enough to be afeard
+of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe they have no cause to be."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p273" id="p273">273</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But they can't know that <i>I'm</i> not goin' to shoot among them,&mdash;so why
+shouldn't they be scared out of their siven sinses? Howsumiver, ye have
+me permission to show the animals that ye are actin' under me own eye
+and orders and it will be an incouragement to yersilf to know the same."</p>
+
+<p>From what has been said, it will be understood that Fred Linden knew
+much more about buffaloes than did his companion. [The proper name is
+<i>bison</i>: the genuine buffalo is not found in America.] As he had said,
+this was not the first time he had hunted them, but with Terry Clark it
+was different. He had spent a good deal of his time in the woods and had
+gone in quest of wolves, bears and deer, but he had never brought down
+one of the lumbering animals for whose flesh he now yearned with a
+yearning that only the most ravening hunger can inspire.</p>
+
+<p>Terry had formed a deep plot during the short conversation. He did not
+know the best manner in which to shoot a buffalo and he was too proud to
+ask instruction. He encouraged the scheme, therefore, of Fred making the
+first<span class="pagenum"><a name="p274" id="p274">274</a></span> shot. That would give him a chance to see how it was done, so
+that when he came to exhibit <i>his</i> skill, he would make no mistake.</p>
+
+<p>Although up to this time the animals had not shown that they cared a
+straw for the two beings who stood so near and were looking at them with
+loaded guns in their hands, yet they were liable to become stampeded at
+any moment. A snort and jump by a single animal were likely to set the
+whole drove on a dead run, in which all hope of a breakfast on buffalo
+steaks would be gone for that morning at least.</p>
+
+<p>So, as a matter of prudence, Terry stayed where he was, but partly
+sheltered himself, so as not to startle any one of the animals that
+might come upon him suddenly. At the same time, Fred bent low and with
+loaded and cocked rifle began stealing toward the nearest buffalo.</p>
+
+<p>As it happened this was a cow in fine condition. She was plucking a
+ribbon of grass that followed the edge of prairie. By some chemistry of
+shadow and sunshine, there was this little strip of unusually tender
+herbage, which the cow was eating in her quick, vigorous way,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p275" id="p275">275</a></span> as though
+afraid that some of her companions would find and take it from her.</p>
+
+<p>Fred singled out this one as his prize. Being so close to the wood, he
+could not have wanted a better chance to steal up to her. Indeed he had
+but to stand still, for she was coming a regular half step at a time as
+she clipped the grass in front of her; but the youth's hunger would not
+allow him to wait the few minutes that would have been required.</p>
+
+<p>When within fifty feet of the cow, Fred knelt on one knee and brought
+his rifle to a level. The cow was still advancing, "head on," when he
+made a noise similar to that which comes natural to you when you wish to
+drive the hens out of your garden-patch. The cow stopped abruptly, threw
+up her head and stared at the hunter. The sight of the crouching figure
+must have suggested to the stupid animal that every thing was not right,
+for with a frightened whiff, she bounded short around with the intention
+of joining the other animals.</p>
+
+<p>At the very moment she turned, Fred Linden fired, sending the bullet
+directly back of her fore leg, where it tore its way through flesh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p276" id="p276">276</a></span>
+muscles, bones and the heart, the battered bullet humming off through
+the air on the other side.</p>
+
+<p>No shot could have been more effective. The cow made a couple of wild
+leaps and then lunged forward, her nose striking the earth with such
+force that her head doubled under her and she swung over on her back and
+side with a violence that made it seem as if she had fallen down a high
+precipice.</p>
+
+<p>Following his old rule, Fred loaded his gun where he stood, before
+moving out to examine his prize. It was at this juncture that a stampede
+of the whole drove was due. Now that the boys had secured their
+breakfast they would not have cared had the animals thundered off out of
+sight.</p>
+
+<p>But the terror of the smitten creature was too brief to affect the rest,
+even though several were quite close to her at the time she gave the
+snort and rolled over on the ground. A cow grazing near did raise her
+head for a moment and look at her fallen friend as though she hardly
+understood it. She seemed to meditate plunging into the rest of the
+drove<span class="pagenum"><a name="p277" id="p277">277</a></span> with head down and with tidings of the disaster, but she must
+have concluded that since the other cow was dead, it wasn't worth while
+to make any fuss over it; for she dropped her head and resumed her
+grazing as though she had no further interest in the matter.</p>
+
+<p>Even when Fred ran out, and, stooping down, began cutting a large slice
+from the shoulder of the victim, none of the others paid any attention
+to him. Close behind him came Terry, who was so desirous of examining
+the prize, that he postponed starting the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"Terry, how will that do for a shot?" asked Fred, with some pride, as he
+plied his knife.</p>
+
+<p>"Where did ye land the shot?"</p>
+
+<p>"Right there, behind the fore leg; you can see the hole where it
+entered."</p>
+
+<p>Terry turned his head to one side, closed an eye and surveyed it as
+though he was measuring the height of a wall: then he shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter with you?" asked the impatient Fred.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye are a sixteenth of an inch too far forward, be the token of which
+the ball wint<span class="pagenum"><a name="p278" id="p278">278</a></span> through the upper part of the heart: whin ye kill a
+buffalo coow ye should always sind the ball through the lower instead of
+the upper part of the heart. Ye surprise me so much that I am graved
+with ye, me own Fred."</p>
+
+<p>The latter laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose it would have done as well had I sent the bullet through her
+brain; but that takes the finest kind of marksmanship."</p>
+
+<p>"Av course, which explains why ye didn't dare attimpt it: whin we have
+finished our dinner, supper and breakfast all in one, I'll step out on
+the perarie, strike an impressive attitude and drop the biggest bull in
+the drove, just to tach ye the gintaal way of doin' that same thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I shall be glad to learn the best style of bringing down the
+creatures."</p>
+
+<p>By this time, Fred had severed a piece of meat from the shoulder of the
+buffalo. It weighed several pounds, but Terry broke in with the
+wondering inquiry:</p>
+
+<p>"What are ye goin' to do with <i>that</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's for our dinner; what would you suppose?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p279" id="p279">279</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I thought that was the part of the coow that ye were goin' to be
+sinsible enough to lave behind while we built a fire around the rist and
+had enough of a maal to stay the pangs of hunger."</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting to hear the response of his companion, Terry ran among
+the trees and began gathering wood with which to start a blaze. Both
+boys were such experts at this that only a brief time was necessary.
+Fred laid the buffalo steak on the leaves and took part, striking the
+flame with his own flint and tinder. There was no water within reach and
+this was quite a deprivation, but the boys were hungry enough to wait
+for that. From his scant store of mixed salt and sugar, Fred drew forth
+enough to season the enormous slice and it was speedily half broiled.</p>
+
+<p>Two such hungry youngsters are not likely to be particular about their
+dinner being done to a turn, and they were eager to eat it when it was
+exceedingly rare. Leaving Terry to make known when it was ready for the
+palate, Fred walked to the edge of the prairie to take a survey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p280" id="p280">280</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He could not forget that they had serious business before them, and,
+though he was warranted in believing that there was nothing to fear from
+the Winnebagos who had caused so much trouble, he was too wise to take
+any thing for granted.</p>
+
+<p>He saw the buffaloes cropping the grass with the same vigorous
+persistency which they will show for hours, while the prairie, extending
+far to the right and left, failed to show any other living creature upon
+it. So far as he could tell, there was no cause for fear.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p281" id="p281">281</a></span>
+<a name="A_STRANGE_RIDE_5490" id="A_STRANGE_RIDE_5490"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2>
+<h3>A STRANGE RIDE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>When the boys had eaten their fill, there was a quantity of meat left.
+This was cooked still more over the coals, wrapped about with the
+greenest leaves that could be got, and then packed in the bundle which
+Terry Clark strapped to his back.</p>
+
+<p>"There's enough of the same," he explained, "to presarve us from pinin'
+away with starvation, which reminds me now that I promised ye that I'd
+show ye the properest way in which to bring down a buffalo."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm willing to wait until some other time," said Fred, who feared there
+would be dangerous delay; "I am more anxious to get forward than I am to
+see you make an exhibition of yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"It will not take me long," replied Terry, who was sure there could be
+no miss where the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p282" id="p282">282</a></span> animals were so plentiful, while of course the delay
+ought to be slight.</p>
+
+<p>"If thim Winnebagos that we obsarved last night have started this way,
+they ain' t any more than fairly goin', which puts thim at the laast
+calculation a dozen good miles behind us; they won't walk any faster
+than we do, so we'll git to the camp a long ways ahead of 'em."</p>
+
+<p>"All this sounds reasonable, but you know we have learned that they are
+not the only Winnebagos in these parts; but then they are under the eye
+of Deerfoot and he would give us warning."</p>
+
+<p>"That sittles it, as I previously remarked some time ago, in token of
+which we will shake hands on the same."</p>
+
+<p>The Irish lad had made such an enjoyable meal that he was in the highest
+spirits. He extended his hand to his friend and shook it warmly, as he
+was inclined to do for slight cause.</p>
+
+<p>"Now stand still, obsarve, admire and remimber."</p>
+
+<p>And with this high flown counsel, Terry with his gun in position began
+moving toward an<span class="pagenum"><a name="p283" id="p283">283</a></span> enormous bull. The latter really was not so close to
+him as was a cow, but he thought it beneath his dignity to spend his
+ammunition on such game as had served for their dinner.</p>
+
+<p>Although Terry Clark's natural love of humor often led him to assume
+what he failed to feel, he was hopeful in the present instance that he
+would be able to carry out the little scheme in mind. He knew that the
+weapon in his hand was a good one, and he was already so close to the
+buffalo that he was sure of bringing it down at the first fire.</p>
+
+<p>While he was willing to admit that Fred's shot could not have been
+improved, so far as effectiveness was concerned, yet he was in earnest
+in his intention of firing at the head. He knew that no animal is of any
+account after its brain has been perforated, and it seemed to him that
+it was more appropriate for a true sportsman to bring down his game by
+that means instead of firing at its body.</p>
+
+<p>Terry made a mistake from which his experience on the border ought to
+have saved him. Had he driven his bullet into the eye of the buffalo, he
+could have slain him, but he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="p284" id="p284">284</a></span> almost certain to fail by firing
+simply at the head. It would have been far better had he followed the
+example that his companion set.</p>
+
+<p>The bull upon which he had cast his eyes was about twenty yards from the
+wood. He did not raise his head until this distance was diminished by
+one half. Just then a cow showed some alarm of the approaching figure
+and walked hastily away. This caused the bull to throw up his head and
+stare at Terry.</p>
+
+<p>"Obsarve!" called the latter to his friend, who began to feel uneasy
+over the appearance of things.</p>
+
+<p>A dozen spears of grass seemed to be dripping from the mouth of the
+magnificent bull, who glared at the figure of the young man in the act
+of leveling his gun as though he had some curiosity to know what was
+going on.</p>
+
+<p>Terry aimed at the head, making the part between and above the eyes his
+target. This was probably the most invulnerable spot of the animal.</p>
+
+<p>The bull was still staring at the intruder, when the latter, aiming at
+the point named, fired. The bullet struck the bony ridge at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p285" id="p285">285</a></span> upper
+part of the head and glanced off into space, inflicting no more real
+injury than a paper wad.</p>
+
+<p>But the impingement of the lead must have given the stupid brute an idea
+that harm was meant. His anger was roused, and, dropping his head with a
+savage bellow, he charged the young hunter at full speed.</p>
+
+<p>This was giving the matter an unpleasant turn, but there was no time to
+argue, and flinging his gun aside, Terry gave the finest exhibition of
+running he had ever shown. No one could have realized better than did he
+that the bull "meant business" and it would never do to allow himself to
+be caught.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden himself was so startled by the sudden onslaught of the
+animal that he was flurried and fired without taking proper aim. He
+struck him, but he was unable to check his charge: indeed he rather
+added to his fury. Stepping back, so as to shield himself as much as he
+could behind the nearest tree, he began reloading his weapon with the
+utmost haste.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime Terry, by desperate running, reached the tree at which he aimed
+a few steps<span class="pagenum"><a name="p286" id="p286">286</a></span> in advance of his formidable foe. He had no time to climb
+the trunk, but believing the lowermost limb was within reach, he made a
+leap, seized it with both hands and swung himself out of reach, just as
+the bull thundered beneath like a runaway engine.</p>
+
+<p>Finding he had missed his victim, the savage beast snorted with rage,
+wheeled about, came back a few paces and was passing beneath the limb
+again, when a singular accident gave an astonishing turn to the whole
+business.</p>
+
+<p>The limb which afforded Terry Clark his temporary safety was unable to
+bear his weight, and, while he was struggling to raise himself to the
+upper side and it was bending low with him, it broke like a pipe stem
+close to the body of the tree.</p>
+
+<p>This took place so suddenly that the youth had not the slightest
+warning. Indeed it would not have availed him had he known what was
+coming, for the time was too brief in which to help himself.</p>
+
+<p>Down he came with the limb grasped in both hands and fell squarely on
+the back of the buffalo bull. Fortunately the bewildered animal<span class="pagenum"><a name="p287" id="p287">287</a></span> had
+just shifted his position, so that the lad fell with his face turned
+toward the head instead of in "reverse order."</p>
+
+<p>Even in that exciting moment Terry saw the grotesqueness of the
+situation. His legs were stretched apart so as to span the animal just
+back of his enormous neck. Letting go of the branch that had played him
+the trick, he grasped the bushy mane with both hands and yelled in a
+voice that might have been heard a mile away:</p>
+
+<p>"<i>All aboard! off wid ye!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>So far as a bull is capable of feeling emotion, that particular specimen
+must have been in a peculiar frame of mind. He glared about him, here
+and there, turned part way round, as if the whole thing was more than he
+could understand, and then as his bulging eyes caught sight of the
+remarkable load on his back and he felt the weight of the burden, he was
+seized with a panic.</p>
+
+<p>He emitted a single whiffing snort, and flinging his tail high in air,
+made for the other side of the prairie as if Death himself was racing at
+his heels. His actions were of that pronounced<span class="pagenum"><a name="p288" id="p288">288</a></span> character that his
+fright communicated itself to the rest of the herd. There was a general
+uplifting of heads, and then, as the bulls and cows saw their most
+eminent leader tearing across the prairie with a live boy astride of his
+back, the sight was too much for them. A wholesale series of snorts and
+bellows followed, tails were flirted aloft, and away the whole herd
+went, fairly making the ground tremble beneath their tread.</p>
+
+<p>By the time the alarmed Fred Linden had his rifle reloaded there was not
+a buffalo within a hundred yards of him. The one that bore his friend on
+his back was making as good time as the fleetest and was well toward the
+head of the drove. The panic began like an eddy of the sea; there was a
+surging of the animals toward the other side of the prairie and away
+they went, as I have said, with their tails and heels in the air, as if
+they meant to keep up their headlong flight for twenty miles, as is
+sometimes the case, when an immense drove become stampeded on the great
+plains of the west.</p>
+
+<p>Whatever feelings of amusement might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="p289" id="p289">289</a></span> been first aroused by the
+figure that Terry cut on the back of the terrified bull were lost in the
+dreadful fear of Fred that it would prove a fatal ride for his friend.</p>
+
+<p>He could see him plainly for a fourth of a mile, but by that time the
+trampling hoofs raised a dust in the dry grass which partly obscured the
+herd and made it impossible to distinguish the figure of the lad
+clinging to the mane of his novel charger.</p>
+
+<p>"He will fall off," was the exclamation of Fred, "and will be trampled
+to death by the others."</p>
+
+<p>He recalled that the bull must have been wounded by his own shot, but
+that knowledge gave him concern instead of relief; for if the bull
+should give out, he would be trampled by those who were thundering so
+close at his heels.</p>
+
+<p>The buffaloes did not preserve the open order which marked them when
+they were grazing, but crowded together, so that their backs looked like
+brown dusty waves, rising and falling rapidly from the motions of their
+bodies.</p>
+
+<p>Fred quickly recovered from his astonishment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p290" id="p290">290</a></span> He had reloaded his gun,
+but when ready to fire, was afraid to do so. Too many other buffaloes
+interposed between him and the bull, and had he discharged his weapon,
+he would have been as likely to hit Terry as to wound the brute that was
+carrying him away with such speed.</p>
+
+<p>Running to where the rifle of the boy lay, Fred picked it up, hastily
+reloaded it, and started after the herd. He broke into a loping trot
+such as an Indian shows when hurriedly following a trail. He kept his
+eyes on the fast receding animals, his interest being now centered on
+the moment when they should reach the wood on the other side of the
+prairie.</p>
+
+<p>"It will be the death of him if they dash among the trees," he thought;
+"for he will be struck by some limb and have his brains dashed out."</p>
+
+<p>But such a catastrophe did not take place. The fleeing animals must have
+known that their headlong speed could not be kept up among the trees and
+undergrowth; so, when those at the head of the drove were close to the
+edge of the wood they swerved to the left,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p291" id="p291">291</a></span> and the others followed with
+the same furious swiftness with which they had sped across the open.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden at this time was not a third of the way across the prairie,
+and he stopped and viewed the sight. He could distinguish the animals
+much better than when they were tearing straight away from him. They
+ran, so to speak, from under the cloud of dust that had obscured his
+vision, which, sweeping backward, left all in plain view.</p>
+
+<p>What he saw, too, showed that the buffaloes possessed varying rates of
+speed. A dozen were well to the front, still crowding close together,
+while the rest, also in close order, were strung along at different
+distances. Still, they were so far from Fred that his view was any thing
+but satisfactory. Shading his eyes with his hand, he peered through the
+autumn air in the search for his friend.</p>
+
+<p>"There he is!" he exclaimed, but the words were hardly out of his mouth
+when he saw he was mistaken. The distance was too great for him to see
+clearly.</p>
+
+<p>"How long will this keep up?" was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p292" id="p292">292</a></span> question which he would have been
+glad to answer, for it included the fate of Terence Clark. If his steed
+should grow weary and fall behind the others, possibly he would give his
+rider a chance to leap to the ground and make off; but the likelihood of
+that taking place was so remote that Fred could feel no hope.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p293" id="p293">293</a></span>
+<a name="A_YOUNG_HUNTERS_STRATEGY_5725" id="A_YOUNG_HUNTERS_STRATEGY_5725"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2>
+<h3>A YOUNG HUNTER'S STRATEGY.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Fred Linden walked rapidly forward until he reached the middle of the
+prairie, when he paused and bent his eyes on the swiftly vanishing drove
+of buffaloes. They were speeding at right angles to the course he had
+been following, and, so far as he could judge at the distance, were on
+the same dead run with which they started.</p>
+
+<p>He was convinced that he was mistaken a brief while before, when, for a
+moment, he thought he caught a glimpse of Terry on the back of the
+terrified bull. He was unable to distinguish any thing that looked like
+him. He might&mdash;and it was not at all improbable&mdash;be still clinging to
+his steed, but he was too far off and too mixed up with the others for
+even the keen eyes of Fred Linden to identify him.</p>
+
+<p>There seemed but the one thing to do: that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p294" id="p294">294</a></span> was to follow the drove
+until he learned the fate of his friend. Certain that he would find him
+sooner or later, Fred resorted again to his loping trot, which he could
+keep up for several hours without great fatigue.</p>
+
+<p>But he had not gone twenty steps at this gait, when, to his astonishment
+and alarm, he observed three Indian warriors, each mounted on a horse,
+issue from the wood at the point where the buffaloes would have entered
+it had they not turned to the left. The red men headed their animals
+directly toward Fred, and advanced at a moderate gallop.</p>
+
+<p>The sight was enough to make the bravest person thoughtful; for you will
+readily see the critical situation of the boy. It was useless to turn
+and run, for they would overhaul him before he could get half way to
+cover. He was in the middle of a grassy prairie, where there was not the
+slightest object which could be used as a screen in a fight with them.
+He glanced quickly about, but did not see a stone as large as his hand.
+Except so far as his weapons were concerned, he was absolutely
+helpless.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p295" id="p295">295</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Never did Fred Linden display more coolness and knowledge of Indian
+character than he did at this time when caught at such fearful
+disadvantage. He knew that if he showed any timidity, the red men would
+attack him at once, while, if he could deceive them, as he hoped, there
+was a possibility that he would escape.</p>
+
+<p>Two hundred yards away, the Indians drew their cantering horses down to
+a walk: they evidently saw there was no call for haste and they could
+afford to take all the time they wished. They were riding beside each
+other, instead of in Indian file, and being nigh enough to be observed
+distinctly, showed that they were dressed precisely like the Winnebagos
+whom he had noticed the night before around their camp-fire. This might
+have been, had they belonged to another totem, for there is a similarity
+in the dress of different tribes, but Fred had no doubt that these were
+Winnebagos. It began to look indeed as if there was an irruption of them
+into that section of the Louisiana Territory.</p>
+
+<p>During those trying moments, when Fred<span class="pagenum"><a name="p296" id="p296">296</a></span> calmly watched the approach of
+the dusky horsemen, he was observant of the smallest things. He recalled
+that they were the same in number as the party which he and Terry so
+narrowly missed the night before on the edge of the stream and he half
+suspected they were the same, though such supposition did not correspond
+with the theories formed and accepted at the time.</p>
+
+<p>He saw the middle horse, which was darker in color than the others,
+slightly stumble; then the rider turned his head and said something to
+the warrior on his left, who made answer without taking his eyes from
+Fred; then the one on the right said something, his painted features
+relaxing into a frightful grin, the guttural words being plainly
+audible: all these points being noticed, as I have said, by the young
+hunter who had so much more important matters to engage his thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>He recalled with relief that on picking up the gun of Terry he had
+reloaded it, so that he now had two weapons ready for use. With these he
+could make a brave resistance, and you may depend upon it that the last
+thing he<span class="pagenum"><a name="p297" id="p297">297</a></span> thought of doing was to surrender. He might easily be shot
+down where he stood, but he would die fighting.</p>
+
+<p>The three horsemen advanced with the same deliberate pace, their black
+eyes fixed upon Fred, who stood erect, looking straight at them. When
+they were within twenty yards, he quietly turned so as to face the other
+way, and waved his cap several times over his head. At the same moment
+he uttered a resounding whoop, replaced his cap, laid Terry's rifle at
+his feet and leveled his own at the amazed savages, who could not have
+suspected what was coming.</p>
+
+<p>You understand that the purpose of Fred was to make the Winnebagos
+believe that he had friends on the edge of the wood behind him to whom
+he had signaled. The act of laying down his gun was to give the
+impression that he was so sure of support that he was ready to fight
+until it should appear.</p>
+
+<p>Now, the red men might have been deceived by this to as full an extent
+as the youth desired, but the fact remained that, even if there were
+re-enforcements on the margin of the prairie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p298" id="p298">298</a></span> they were so far off that
+they could give no help if the Indians chose to assail the boy. I am
+inclined to think that had the Winnebagos believed that a dozen white
+hunters were encamped there, they would not have been restrained from
+carrying out their design by such fact: but when the cool defiance of
+the youth was added to the same, there was enough to make them pause.</p>
+
+<p>They might shoot him down, wheel and dash for the woods from which they
+had emerged but a short time before; but they would be liable to
+pursuit, and, when a white borderer takes to the trail, he can be as
+persistent as the red man himself, though, as I have said, had they been
+eager to shoot the boy, they would not have been stopped by that
+knowledge. But they saw that he had his loaded rifle leveled at them:
+each Winnebago probably imagined he would be the special target. Their
+guns were still in their hands and no doubt the moment any one attempted
+to raise his weapon the white boy would fire.</p>
+
+<p>The distance was so short that there could be no miss. It followed
+therefore that the cost of<span class="pagenum"><a name="p299" id="p299">299</a></span> an assault upon the lad would be the death
+of one of the Winnebagos, and none of the three could know that he would
+not be the victim.</p>
+
+<p>The cost was more than they were willing to pay, for it must be borne in
+mind that not only was the death of one of their number considered
+assured, but it was not at all unlikely that such a daring youngster
+would be able to do something with the gun at his feet before
+succumbing.</p>
+
+<p>But it is not to be supposed that three mounted Indians would
+deliberately ride away from a single youth through fear alone,&mdash;that is,
+not until they had tried to circumvent him by strategy. And so it came
+to pass that within the same minute that Fred raised his rifle, the
+Winnebago who sat in the middle waved his hand toward him as a sign of
+comity. At the same time he called out: "Yenghese! Long Knife!
+Friend&mdash;friend&mdash;friend!"</p>
+
+<p>But Fred knew too much to be deceived. He was the master of more
+vigorous English, and, without lowering his gun, he called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Keep off or I'll fire! If you ride another step, I'll let daylight
+through you!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p300" id="p300">300</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As if to add emphasis to his words, he gently swayed his rifle from
+right to left, so that it covered each warrior in turn. There was an
+involuntary ducking of the heads, and the Indians, seeing that nothing
+was to be done without large risk, opened out&mdash;two riding to the right
+and one to the left. Thus they passed by Fred without lessening the
+space between him and them.</p>
+
+<p>After all, this was the most trying moment to the youth, for it diverted
+his attention in the most exasperating manner. The three horsemen were
+in his field of vision, but it was hard to keep watch upon each. He
+suspected the maneuver was for the purpose of taking him off his guard,
+but it is doubtful whether such was the case, for there was something in
+the grim pose of the youthful hunter which warned them that it was
+unsafe to trifle with him.</p>
+
+<p>When the horsemen were opposite each other and on a line with Fred, he
+suddenly wheeled with great quickness and held his piece still leveled
+so that he could shift it from one to the other the moment needed. On
+their part, the Winnebagos watched him with cat-like vigilance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p301" id="p301">301</a></span> keeping
+their heads turned until they came together a hundred feet beyond, and
+between him and the wood which he had just left. There they stopped,
+their position such that the sides of their animals were turned toward
+the lad, whom they continued to view with an interest that it is safe to
+say they had never felt in any other of his race.</p>
+
+<p>It was tiresome to hold his heavy rifle leveled, but Fred stuck to it,
+for he knew how much depended on the next minute or two.</p>
+
+<p>It looked for a time as though the Winnebagos had decided not to leave
+without a demonstration, but finally they moved off with their backs
+toward Fred, and their horses on a walk.</p>
+
+<p>"How nicely I could pick one of them off," said he to himself, as the
+broad shoulders, with the black hair streaming over them, moved gently
+up and down with the motion of the animals, and ranged themselves beside
+each other like three dusky targets. "I could hit <i>him</i> or <i>him</i> or
+<i>him</i>" he added, shifting his aim from one to the other in turn, "and
+it's because they know it that they are afraid to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p302" id="p302">302</a></span> risk a shot. If one
+of them had made a motion to take aim, I would have let fly, and I
+wouldn't have missed either. Then I would have done something with
+Terry's gun."</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts had hardly found expression, when the middle Winnebago
+suddenly turned on his horse, raised his gun and discharged it at Fred
+Linden. The instant he did so, he and his two companions threw
+themselves forward on their animals and dashed off on a dead run for the
+wood.</p>
+
+<p>Had the warrior been less hurried, it is probable he would have struck
+the astonished youth, who plainly heard the <i>pinge</i> of the bullet as it
+almost touched his ear. His own arms were beginning to ache because of
+their constrained position, but he took as careful aim as possible and
+fired at the savage who fired at him.</p>
+
+<p>More than that, he hit him. A screeching yawp broke the stillness, the
+warrior half straightened up on his steed, seemed to sway, and would
+have fallen had not one of his companions caught his shoulder and
+supported him for a minute or two. The horses were<span class="pagenum"><a name="p303" id="p303">303</a></span> brought down to a
+walk, and finally came to a standstill, though they halted at a point
+beyond rifle shot.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope I finished him," muttered Fred Linden, with a snap of his eyes;
+"they are seeking my life, and, if I could have my way, I would tumble
+every one of them off his horse."</p>
+
+<p>Never was the value of two rifles shown more strikingly than at this
+time. The moment his gun was discharged&mdash;had he possessed no other&mdash;Fred
+would have been helpless, and the Winnebagos would have been upon him
+before he could reload his piece; for that was in the days of
+flint-locks, when the charge had to be rammed down and the powder poured
+into the pan before the weapon was ready for use. It may be said,
+however, that under such circumstances he would not have fired.</p>
+
+<p>But before the horsemen could wheel about, they would have found the
+youth standing at "present arms" precisely as before, and the situation
+unchanged, except that one of their own number had been disabled, and to
+that extent (which was considerable) the gain was on the side of the
+lad.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p304" id="p304">304</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There could be little doubt that the stricken Winnebago was hit hard,
+though after some attention from his companions, he was able to sit his
+horse. The three warriors seemed to have lost all interest in Fred, for
+a few minutes later they rode off at a walk, without, so far as he could
+judge, once bestowing a look upon him.</p>
+
+<p>It struck him as singular that after his stratagem, by which he believed
+he gave the impression that he had a party of friends on the margin of
+the wood, that the Winnebagos should guide their horses to the very
+point. After all, it began to look as though he was not so successful in
+that respect as he imagined, and that it was his own courageous demeanor
+that for the time had saved his life.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad they have ridden off in that direction," said the youth to
+himself, as he saw them carefully enter the wood, where they were lost
+from sight; "for if they had ridden the other way they would have
+bothered me in my hunt for Terry."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p305" id="p305">305</a></span>
+<a name="TERRY_FINISHES_HIS_RIDE_5961" id="TERRY_FINISHES_HIS_RIDE_5961"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2>
+<h3>TERRY FINISHES HIS RIDE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>That ride of Terry Clark on the back of the buffalo bull was one which
+he could never forget had he wished to do so, which of course he did
+not. The first thrill, when the beast dashed off on a dead run, and the
+wind began blowing by the ears of the lad, was that of pleasure. He was
+having an exciting ride, and, as good fortune would have it, the animal
+was bearing him straight along the trail toward the camp in the Ozarks.</p>
+
+<p>"If the baste will show enough consideration for me," thought the lad,
+"to kape up his coorse for twinty miles or so, he will give me a good
+lift toward raichin' the folks, though sorry I am that I haven't Fred
+alongside or rather behind me."</p>
+
+<p>The bull being on a run, his progress consisted of a series of quick
+jumps, which jarred<span class="pagenum"><a name="p306" id="p306">306</a></span> the rider so much that had he not kept a good grip
+upon the shaggy mane, he would have been unseated. The hair of the
+animal was so long that he was able to make his hold secure, though he
+had a constant fear that he would stumble, in which case the rider was
+sure to take a tremendous header that was likely to break his neck.</p>
+
+<p>Terry could feel the throb, as it may be called, of the engine. His
+position was such that his heels touched the body close to the shoulders
+of the bull. At that point there was an alternate swelling and sinking
+of the muscles, as the animal alighted on his feet and leaped away
+again, which Terry felt as plainly as if he had held his open hand on
+the shoulder. Then, too, the bull had a peculiar sidelong motion, as
+though some of his muscles occasionally got out of "gear," and the
+action of the hind legs did not "dovetail," so to speak, with that of
+the fore legs.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing escaped the eye of Terry during those exciting minutes. He
+thought the head of the bull was held unusually low, but he noticed the
+short, thick horns, curving outward<span class="pagenum"><a name="p307" id="p307">307</a></span> and then coming over until they
+ended within a few inches of each other, and he was sure that amid the
+dusty frontispiece of the immense area of skull bone he could see where
+his useless bullet had struck and glanced off; once or twice he caught a
+whiff of the breath of the buffalo, redolent with the not unpleasant
+odor of grass, and now and then he could hear his fierce snort. It
+seemed to Terry that the animal turned his head partly to one side as if
+to get a view of the strange creature on his back. Doubtless such was
+the fact, and, after each sight, it seemed that he bounded away with
+more terror than before.</p>
+
+<p>Brief as was the time taken by the bull in galloping across the prairie,
+it allowed Terry to see every thing. As soon as he felt sure of
+retaining his seat, he glanced at the other animals, all of which were
+galloping in the same direction as the bull. Some of them were so fleet
+that they passed him, but he retained his place near the middle of the
+herd.</p>
+
+<p>The buffalo, or properly the bison, is a stupid animal, but a peculiar
+fact about the small drove amid which Terry Clark was riding was<span class="pagenum"><a name="p308" id="p308">308</a></span> that a
+number noticed him and in their way tried to push him off. They would
+dash up beside the bull with head lowered, and rub their horns against
+him in the effort to reach the rider and unseat him.</p>
+
+<p>"The only way in which ye can do that," said Terry, when he saw what
+they were trying to do, "is to climb up and take a saat behind me. Thin,
+if ye'll lock yer arms about me nick ye may persuade me to stip down,
+but ye can't do much while on the ground."</p>
+
+<p>The buffaloes were too dull of intellect to realize their helplessness
+in this respect, and they continued crowding close to the bull until
+they must have caused him some discomfort. This crowding was of such a
+marked character that, as you will remember, it was noticed by Fred
+Linden as far off as he stood.</p>
+
+<p>Once or twice the rider had one of his feet slightly jammed, but he was
+able to lift it out of danger without imperiling his position. The dust
+caused by the hoofs of the animals did not rise until his steed had
+passed beyond, so that he suffered nothing therefrom and every thing in
+front was in plain view. The speed<span class="pagenum"><a name="p309" id="p309">309</a></span> of the beast, however, caused some
+inconvenience, for the wind made him blink, and it was only by half
+closing his eyes that he could peer out between the lids and see
+clearly.</p>
+
+<p>Before the other side of the prairie was reached, Terry Clark began
+asking himself the natural and important question,&mdash;How is this to end?</p>
+
+<p>The same theories that I have mentioned as occurring to Fred Linden
+passed through his brain also. If the bull should dash among the trees
+at that headlong pace, the rider could not retain his place for more
+than a minute or two; if he was wounded enough to cause him to give out
+and fall to the ground, he would be trampled upon by those behind and
+Terry of course would share his fate.</p>
+
+<p>Brief as was the time given for thought, the youth considered a half
+dozen plans. He glanced over his shoulder and was alarmed to see how
+many animals were in the rear of him. He asked himself whether he could
+not slip backward, grasp the swinging tail, and dropping to the ground,
+keep his feet while he held fast to the caudal appendage, and pulling
+the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p310" id="p310">310</a></span> other way, act as a brake upon the progress of the animal until all
+the others had passed on. Then he would "release brakes," and allow the
+bull to continue his career as suited himself.</p>
+
+<p>But he was compelled to admit that the plan was not feasible. The bull
+was going at such a pace that the rider would be sure to lose his
+balance the moment he struck the ground, and, though he might still hold
+fast to the tail and retard the progress of the beast, he was sure of
+getting in the way of his heels.</p>
+
+<p>"If his tail was a little longer," reflected Terry, "I would try the
+same, but I'm afeard I would git mixed up with his hind hoofs and things
+wouldn't be agraaable."</p>
+
+<p>So that plan was abandoned.</p>
+
+<p>"If he goes in among the trees, I'll lean forward on me face until he
+knocks out his brains&mdash;that is, if he has any&mdash;whin I'll dismount."</p>
+
+<p>That was all well enough if the bull should happen to follow the
+programme, but the prospect of his doing so was too remote to afford
+much comfort to the youth.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I'll kaap erict like a gintleman,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p311" id="p311">311</a></span> he concluded, "and as soon
+as a chance comes for me to jump off, I'll go."</p>
+
+<p>Terry had no thought but that the buffaloes would dash among the trees
+and continue their flight in the same headlong fashion, as long as they
+could; but, to his amazement, the head of the drove suddenly swerved to
+the left and the bull followed.</p>
+
+<p>"Be the powers, but this will never do," was his conclusion; "this
+perarie may raach all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and the bull
+doesn't act as if he meant to stop before he raaches there; I'm goin' to
+make other arrangements."</p>
+
+<p>He kept his seat until the drove had gone several hundred yards with
+unabated speed. So far as he could judge, the bull was holding his own
+with the rest: whatever wound he had received was of no account, so far
+as its immediate effect was seen. The others continued crowding up as
+before, but Terry did not mind them. He yelled and shook his head in the
+hope of frightening them off so as to give him the room he wished in
+order to make his venture, but they did not mind him. The odd<span class="pagenum"><a name="p312" id="p312">312</a></span> crackling
+of their hoofs, the rattling of their horns as they struck together, and
+their occasional bellowing, made a din amid which no shout that he could
+raise would gain any consideration whatever.</p>
+
+<p>"There's one thing sartin," said Terry, compressing his lips and showing
+by his action that he had made up his mind to end the business one way
+or the other. "I'm tired of this crowd, and I ain't goin' to spind any
+more time with it."</p>
+
+<p>Between him and the wood were seven or eight buffaloes, crowding close
+in their idiotic fashion, as though to push off the rider. Terry
+recalled the day, early in spring, when he ran rapidly across the creek
+near his home, by stepping upon the surging masses of ice, one after the
+other, and leaping off again before they had time to respond to his
+weight. He resolved to try something of the kind.</p>
+
+<p>Holding fast to the wiry mane with his hands, he drew his feet up under
+him, balanced himself a moment, then straightened up, and, turning
+quickly, stepped upon the back of the bull that was immediately
+alongside. Before<span class="pagenum"><a name="p313" id="p313">313</a></span> that creature could know what had been done, the
+pressure was removed and the weight of the lad was borne by a cow which
+was his next neighbor.</p>
+
+<p>Terry Clark ran as nimbly as a monkey across the backs of the
+intervening buffaloes, until his foot rested on the one nearest the
+wood. A slight slip at the moment of stepping upon his back disconcerted
+him so that he could not recover himself. His intention was to land on
+the ground with his face in the same direction he was going. Then, even
+if he could not keep his feet, he could run with such speed that his
+fall would not hurt him; but unfortunately as he struck the ground he
+faced the other way, and before he could check himself, he went over
+backward with such force that he was knocked senseless.</p>
+
+<p>After all, the fall may be considered a fortunate one, for he was not
+seriously hurt and soon recovered himself. He had received a severe
+shock, but in a short time he sat up and stared about him. Recalling
+what had taken place, he looked in the direction of the herd of
+buffaloes. None of them was in sight, but a<span class="pagenum"><a name="p314" id="p314">314</a></span> dark heap a short distance
+away showed where the bull on which he had ridden had given out and
+fallen to the ground. He was wounded more seriously than at first seemed
+to be the case. Had Terry stayed on his back a few brief minutes longer,
+he would have gone down with him and been trampled to death by the hoofs
+of those in the rear.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I'm all here, as me cousin used to remark after he had enj'yed
+himself at Donnybrook Fair," said Terry, rising carefully to his feet,
+swinging his arms and kicking out his legs. He had been violently
+jarred, and he was alarmed by a dizziness that caused him to sit down
+again. But he recovered quickly, and soon was as well as ever. He turned
+to the left and passed among the trees, where, despite the coolness of
+the day, he felt the relief of the shade thus afforded him.</p>
+
+<p>"I s'pose Fred will be jealous whin he finds out what a foine ride I
+have had," he added, his old sense of humor coming back; "but all he has
+to do is to catch a buffalo bull and git on his back: but I don't think
+he'll forgit the same right away."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p315" id="p315">315</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Looking over the prairie, he saw the figure of his friend walking in
+almost a direct line toward him, though he was so far off that he was
+not distinctly visible, partly because of the dust which still lingered
+in the air.</p>
+
+<p>Fred's encounter with the Winnebago horsemen had taken place and ended
+while Terry lay senseless on the ground, so that the latter had no
+suspicion of the exciting occurrence.</p>
+
+<p>Terry ought to have walked out on the plain, swung his hat and cheered
+his friend; but that would have been contrary to his nature. He kept out
+of sight among the trees, until Fred was quite close, when he broke into
+vigorous whistling.</p>
+
+<p>Fred heard the familiar sound, stopped short, looked about him and then
+burst into laughter as he saw his comrade. The next moment they ran
+together, shook hands and mutually congratulated each other, as you will
+admit they had full warrant in doing.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p316" id="p316">316</a></span>
+<a name="THE_DEVILS_PUNCH_BOWL_6180" id="THE_DEVILS_PUNCH_BOWL_6180"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2>
+<h3>THE DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was a thrilling story which Terry Clark had to tell about his ride on
+the back of the buffalo, but, after all, it was not so stirring as the
+experience which befell Fred Linden, and the Irish lad declared that it
+surpassed his own in every respect.</p>
+
+<p>"Thim Winnebagos are gittin' altogether too plintiful," said he; "whin
+they come on horseback as will as on foot, there must be more than we
+can take care of, though you managed the three as well as I could have
+done the same mesilf. And so ye hit one of 'em whin ye touched off yer
+gun, did ye?"</p>
+
+<p>"There is no doubt of it, though I am sorry to say that it did not end
+his career right away."</p>
+
+<p>"It'll sarve him the good turn of givin' him time to think what a maan
+spalpeen he is any<span class="pagenum"><a name="p317" id="p317">317</a></span> way, and that's a good deal. And so ye say they was
+mounted on horseback: what has become of thim?"</p>
+
+<p>"They rode in among the trees over yonder, near where we kindled the
+fire and cooked the buffalo steak."</p>
+
+<p>Terry walked out to the edge of the prairie, and shading his eyes,
+peered in that direction.</p>
+
+<p>"I can see nuthin' of thim; they must have found out that ye hadn't any
+frinds there after all the fuss ye made, and it may be they will come
+back to sittle with ye."</p>
+
+<p>"If I alone could attend to them, do you think we together have any
+thing to fear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not, if it's only thim three, but we have seen so many of the
+spalpeens that they won't be loikely to foind much trouble in scarin' up
+a few hundred more and makin' it uncomfortable for us."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," replied Fred, with a sigh, "I am so relieved and thankful to
+know how well we got through it all, that I am hopeful we shall have no
+great trouble during the rest of the way. We ought to be able to reach
+the camp<span class="pagenum"><a name="p318" id="p318">318</a></span> by to-morrow night if we don't have any interruption."</p>
+
+<p>The young friends surely had good reason to feel grateful for their
+deliverance from the perils of the morning, and with hopeful hearts they
+walked along the margin of the wood until they came to the point where
+the trail turned to the left. Over this they started at a brisk pace,
+Fred slightly in advance of his companion, for the path was not broad
+enough for them to walk any other way with freedom.</p>
+
+<p>"Terry," said the elder, "do you think it possible that the three
+Winnebagos with whom I had the trouble could be the three that we met
+last night, when we were about to cross the stream?"</p>
+
+<p>"Niver," was the emphatic reply; "how could they have got around so far
+in front? It was a good many miles the ither way that we saw the same!"</p>
+
+<p>"I have thought of that, but, you know, we spent several hours in sleep,
+during which they might have turned back."</p>
+
+<p>"But where could they have got their horses?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p319" id="p319">319</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They may have had them within easy reach?"</p>
+
+<p>"It couldn't be."</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you are right; we hadn't a very good view of them last night,
+though the moon shone on them when they were wading the stream and I had
+a fancy that one of them looked like the fellow I hit when I fired."</p>
+
+<p>"All a fancy," insisted Terry.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there's no use of guessing, for any way it must be only a guess;
+but where do you suppose Deerfoot is?"</p>
+
+<p>"I've been thinkin' of the fellow and it saams to me that it's time he
+showed up."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder whether he could have passed us in the night."</p>
+
+<p>"That couldn't be, for he meant to stay near the camp-fire where we lift
+him till he found out what the spalpeens were goin' to do, and he
+couldn't have got that chance till mornin'."</p>
+
+<p>"Unless they made a start last night."</p>
+
+<p>"Which the same they didn't do."</p>
+
+<p>The boys were more in want of water than food, and fortunately they had
+not gone far when they struck another stream, narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="p320" id="p320">320</a></span> enough for them to
+leap across, and which afforded them a draught with which to quench
+their thirst.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said Fred, "since we have had such a good breakfast, we will
+think of nothing more to eat until night."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know about not <i>thinkin'</i> of the same," said Terry doubtfully,
+"but I am with ye in agraain' that we won't go out of the path to hunt
+any of the same onless&mdash;that is, onless we should think what I've
+brought along isn't aqual to our appetites."</p>
+
+<p>"We must have passed considerably more than half the distance between
+home and the camp in the mountains," added the elder, some minutes
+later; "so, if all goes well, we ought to be with our friends some time
+to-morrow afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm of the opinion," remarked the sagacious Terry, "that Deerfut sint
+us on ahead last night so as to git us out uv the way; thim pritty legs
+of his can travel so fast that he wanted a chance to stritch the same
+without waitin' fur us."</p>
+
+<p>"More than likely you are right; whenever<span class="pagenum"><a name="p321" id="p321">321</a></span> he thinks it necessary, he
+will branch out ahead of the Winnebagos and overhaul us; so even though
+we see nothing of him, we ought not to feel much concern."</p>
+
+<p>"How about the wither, me lad?"</p>
+
+<p>Fred had noticed since resuming their journey, that the sky, which was
+clear and sunshiny in the morning, had become overcast. The sun was no
+longer visible, and a chilliness in the air warned them that the fine
+weather could not last much longer. They had not only been favored in
+this respect, but for several days before leaving home equally charming
+skies had spanned them. And so, in accordance with the laws of our
+changeable climate, a disagreeable turn was to be expected.</p>
+
+<p>"I was hopeful that it would keep off until we reached camp," said Fred,
+looking up through the tree tops at the darkening sky; "but that is too
+much, and we must take it as it comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Push on as fast as ye choose."</p>
+
+<p>Taking his friend at his word, Fred broke into a slow, easy trot, not
+much more rapid than an ordinary walking gait, but one which<span class="pagenum"><a name="p322" id="p322">322</a></span> they could
+keep up a long time, where the ground was not too rough. Terry of course
+did the same, and they covered fully two miles in that manner, when they
+slackened their pace before an extensive rise of the ground. But for
+that, they would have gone much further at the same speed.</p>
+
+<p>Some fifteen minutes were spent in clambering up the stony incline, when
+they descended into a broad valley, the path still rough and difficult
+of passage. They recognized a dull but increasing roar as made by a
+rapid torrent, and ere long stopped on the edge of a stream fifty feet
+wide, which dashed and foamed over the rocks, breaking into eddies, and
+agitated pools, falling in foamy cataracts and splashing forward again
+with a rollicking freedom that formed one of the prettiest and most
+romantic sights on which they had ever looked.</p>
+
+<p>Directly at their feet was a curious formation. By some means at a
+remote day, a number of hard stones had been flung downward and given a
+spinning motion, which, acting on the softer sandstone beneath, had
+begun hollowing it out, as if by the chisel of an engraver.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p323" id="p323">323</a></span> This
+strange operation had gone on for years, until a bowl a dozen feet
+across and half as deep had been formed. It was almost mathematically
+round, very smooth and with a tapering shape to the bottom that made the
+resemblance to an enormous punch bowl strikingly accurate.</p>
+
+<p>This formation (which in accordance with the taste prevailing in all
+parts of our country, should be christened the "Devil's Punch Bowl"),
+was full of limpid water, fed by a slight overflow from above and
+overrunning and flowing calmly over the lower rim. In the bottom lay
+three stones, looking like cannon balls. These were the tools with which
+the stream had carved the Devil's Punch Bowl. Having done their work,
+they were resting in the bottom, where they had lain for a period that
+could not be guessed.</p>
+
+<p>Out beyond, a thin sheet of the water hung like a transparent curtain
+over the edge of the rocks. It was so smooth and unruffled that it
+seemed stationary, like a film of glass, but, after striking the stones
+below, it broke into foam, whirlpools and eddies,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p324" id="p324">324</a></span> which helped to form
+as lovely and picturesque a scene as the most devoted lover of nature
+could long to see.</p>
+
+<p>The picture was so pretty indeed that the boys stood for several minutes
+lost in admiration. They had never viewed any thing of the kind, and it
+was something that would always be a pleasant memory to them.</p>
+
+<p>But, great as was their admiration, there was a startling question that
+came to them: how was this interesting stream to be crossed?</p>
+
+<p>In front and up and down the bank, the eyes searched in vain for a ford.
+It was idle to think of ferrying themselves over, while the cascades,
+pools, eddies and general "upsetting" of a broad deep stream, made its
+passage as perilous as that of the rapids nearer home in which the two
+had come so near losing their lives.</p>
+
+<p>"There is no possible way by which we can reach the other side," said
+Fred, after they had walked a few rods up and down the stream.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't obsarve any way mesilf," was the response of Terry.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p325" id="p325">325</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But there <i>must</i> be, for how could father and the rest have crossed?"</p>
+
+<p>"They may have put up a bridge."</p>
+
+<p>"But where is the bridge? There are no signs of any thing of the kind,"
+said the bewildered Fred; "they couldn't have made a bridge without
+leaving it behind."</p>
+
+<p>"The high water has swipt it away."</p>
+
+<p>Fred stood surveying the stream and the banks, for several minutes,
+during which he once more walked back and forth, but he was right when
+he said that the place had never been spanned by even the simplest
+structure, for it could not have been done without leaving some traces
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>This being the case, the mystery was greater than ever; for it was
+certain that at that hour their friends were many miles distant on the
+other side.</p>
+
+<p>"This is a little ahead of any thing I ever heard tell of," remarked
+Fred, taking off his cap and scratching his head, after the fashion of
+Terry when he was puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>"It couldn't be," ventured the latter, who also had his cap in his hand
+and was stirring<span class="pagenum"><a name="p326" id="p326">326</a></span> up his flaxen locks, "that they carried a bridge along
+with 'em."</p>
+
+<p>"Impossible!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I thought, as me sicond cousin remarked whin they told him
+his uncle carried his shillaleh a half mile and passed two persons
+without beltin' 'em over the head."</p>
+
+<p>"There's something about this which I can not understand."</p>
+
+<p>Terry turned and looked at him in his quizzical way and solemnly
+extended his hand. Fred shook it as he wished, though he was far from
+feeling in a sportive mood.</p>
+
+<p>"They <i>must</i> have crossed," he added, replacing his cap with some
+violence, compressing his lips and shaking his head in a determined way;
+"do you walk up the bank, while I make a search in the other direction;
+we <i>must</i> find the explanation."</p>
+
+<p>The proposition was acted upon, Terry clambering carefully along the
+slippery bank and over the rocks, until he was fully a hundred yards
+from his friend, who busied himself in doing the same thing in the
+opposite direction.</p>
+
+<p>All at once the Irish lad shouted. Looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="p327" id="p327">327</a></span> up to him, Fred saw that he
+was beckoning him to approach.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew there must be something of the kind," thought Fred, who after
+much labor placed himself beside his friend.</p>
+
+<p>To his disappointment, Terry had paused before the worst part of the
+series of cascades. It was at the broadest portion of the stream, where
+the falls, whirlpools, eddies and deep water would have turned back the
+most skillful swimmer.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?" asked the astonished Fred.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought I'd show you the place where they <i>didn't</i> cross," was his
+reply, and then he broke into the merriest laughter, as well he might,
+for he had solved the mystery.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p328" id="p328">328</a></span>
+<a name="THE_TERROR_IN_THE_AIR_6444" id="THE_TERROR_IN_THE_AIR_6444"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2>
+<h3>THE TERROR IN THE AIR.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Do obsarve where the trail comes down to that big bowl?" asked Terry,
+pointing to the huge, circular cavity below them.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's a mistake; <i>that isn't the right trail</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Fred turned about, and jumped and ran back to the Devil's Punch Bowl, at
+a rate that threatened his neck. Stooping over, he carefully examined
+the path. He saw that his companion was right; the trail which they had
+followed to the edge of the stream was one that had been worn by animals
+in coming to and going from the Punch Bowl. You will admit that no
+better punch in the wide world could be furnished the dumb beasts than
+that which was thus freely given to them.</p>
+
+<p>As if to confirm that which did not need confirming,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p329" id="p329">329</a></span> a large buck at
+that moment appeared in the path, within a hundred feet of where Fred
+had straightened up, after examining the trail. He threw up his head on
+catching sight of the young hunter, gave one quick, inquiring stare and
+then whirled about and was off like a flash.</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden could have brought him down at the moment he wheeled had he
+chosen to do so, but he recalled his own proposition to Terry some time
+before, about firing such a shot. Indeed, since they had some of the
+cooked buffalo steak left, there was no call to use any more ammunition
+for game.</p>
+
+<p>Terry Clark came laughing down the rocks, looking upon the whole
+business as one of the funniest of incidents, but to Fred it was any
+thing but a laughing matter. Time was becoming of the utmost value, and
+this divergence from the trail meant delay&mdash;a delay, too, whose length
+could not be guessed. If they had turned aside several miles back, it
+was more than likely that they would lose all the advantage gained by
+the laborious travel of the night before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p330" id="p330">330</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How could we have made such a blunder?" asked Fred, his eyes wandering
+back over the path, as though searching for an explanation of the
+mistake; "I suppose at the point where the trails cross the direction
+isn't changed much and this is more distinct than the other. Terry, I
+can't see any thing about this to laugh at."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't obsarve much of the same mesilf," said the other, whose face
+nevertheless was on abroad grin; "I wasn't laughing at yersilf, or the
+mistake we made."</p>
+
+<p>"What was it then that amused you so much?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was thinkin' how funny it looked to see the deer and bears and
+buffaloes and foxes and panthers all standing round that big bowl and
+winkin' at each ither while they drank their health."</p>
+
+<p>"Terry, there's going to be trouble because of this blunder."</p>
+
+<p>"What do ye signify be the same?"</p>
+
+<p>"I believe that all the advantage we gained by traveling so hard last
+night is lost. When we follow this trail back until it reaches the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p331" id="p331">331</a></span> main
+one, more than likely we shall meet the Winnebagos at that point, if
+they will not actually be between us and the camp in the Ozarks."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afeard it's not all a falsehood that ye are telling me," said
+Terry, with an expression in which there was nothing like a jest.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's be off then."</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture the Irish lad made a proposition which his companion
+accepted, for he thought it promised them much saving in time and
+travel.</p>
+
+<p>It was quite certain that the false trail followed pretty much the same
+direction as the true one: at any rate there could be no doubt that it
+crossed the stream which had stopped them, so instead of picking their
+way back for several miles, they decided to keep along the edge of the
+water itself until they struck the path.</p>
+
+<p>To make sure of avoiding another blunder, one should have gone up and
+the other down stream, for manifestly they could not be certain they
+were above or below the true path; but each felt too strong a misgiving
+about such<span class="pagenum"><a name="p332" id="p332">332</a></span> a course. Their surroundings required mutual support.</p>
+
+<p>Beside this, they were convinced that the trail which they wished to
+recover lay above instead of below, so that, when making their way they
+were not held back by any doubt, though each could not fail to see that
+it was only a piece of guess-work.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately for their peace of mind, they were right, and the plan saved
+them much time and travel. They had not gone very far, when they came
+upon the path, marked so distinctly that there could be no possible
+mistake.</p>
+
+<p>The width of the stream was about the same as below. The water was
+smooth, deep, clear and sluggish. The bank sloped gently down from each
+side and on the other shore were plainly seen the prints of the hoofs
+where the animals had left the water. It was so deep that whoever went
+over there had done so by floating or swimming.</p>
+
+<p>The crossing was so far above the point where the cascades began, that
+nothing was to be feared from them. The clumsiest raft could be ferried
+over by a child before it would drift<span class="pagenum"><a name="p333" id="p333">333</a></span> into danger, while in case of
+swimming, the peril was still less.</p>
+
+<p>"If it wasn't so chilly," said Fred, "I would propose that we swim the
+stream."</p>
+
+<p>Terry shivered and shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"We must go over on a raft; it is not only cowld, but is gittin'
+cowlder."</p>
+
+<p>"There's a storm brewing; it looks as black as ink off yonder."</p>
+
+<p>At this moment the boys made a discovery which both pleased and alarmed
+them. Such a float as they needed was at their call. There lay a half
+dozen logs and trees fastened together by several withes, and with
+enough buoyancy to bear them to the other side. Even the pole to be used
+in propulsion lay upon the heavy timbers that were pulled just far
+enough against the bank to prevent them floating off with the current.</p>
+
+<p>While it was pleasant to know that they would not have to go through the
+labor of constructing any thing of the kind, yet there was a cause for
+fear in the presence of the structure which led them to hesitate several
+minutes before using it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p334" id="p334">334</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It proved that some one had crossed from the other side upon it, while
+the withes were so white and fresh at the angles, where they were
+twisted open, as to show that the raft had been made but a short time.</p>
+
+<p>The natural question was as to who could have been coming from the other
+way.</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said Terry, compressing his lips and shaking his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Who?"</p>
+
+<p>"Winnebagos; they're so plintiful that it couldn't have been any one
+ilse, for they wouldn't have had a chance."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you are right," remarked Fred thoughtfully, "for they do seem
+to be almost everywhere, though I can't understand why they should be
+coming this way."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose there was but one of the spalpeens, and he'd been out on a
+scout, and was on his way back to the rist of the spalpeens with the
+news, would it be onraisonable to think he would take a little pains to
+kaap his leggins and moccasins from gittin' damp enough to give him
+cowld?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I can think of no better reason than<span class="pagenum"><a name="p335" id="p335">335</a></span> that, and am willing to
+believe it is correct, but don't you see, Terry, that all this goes to
+prove that we have lost a dangerous amount of time? We ought to have
+been many miles further on the road than we are."</p>
+
+<p>"The buffalo bull had a good deal to do with our impolite tarryin', and
+as he is slaapin' with his four mithers, I maan his forefathers, let him
+rist in pace."</p>
+
+<p>The boys did not allow their words to delay their hands. The raft was
+shoved clear, and the two took their positions upon it, Fred holding the
+pole, while his companion looked after the guns. They were astonished to
+find, directly after leaving land, that the pole, which was nearly
+twenty feet in length, would not reach bottom.</p>
+
+<p>This compelled them to use it as a paddle. The progress was slow, but
+the distance was so slight that it did not take them long to reach the
+other bank, where they set the structure adrift, so that it could not be
+used by any one else.</p>
+
+<p>Looking directly up stream, where the sky was in plain sight, its
+blackness startled even<span class="pagenum"><a name="p336" id="p336">336</a></span> the boys, who were used to seeing the most
+violent changes of temperature. The hue was not of the dark blue which
+often gives warning of the coming tempest, but there was a greenish
+tinge to the blackness that would have awed any one.</p>
+
+<p>While they looked, a zigzag ribbon of flame fluttered across the
+darkened portion, accompanied by a crash that seemed to shiver the
+earth. Fred Linden, who happened to be staring straight at the fiery
+burst, saw the upper part of a large cypress that leaned over the water,
+leap from the trunk as though it had been sawn short off and flung into
+the water.</p>
+
+<p>It was all ablaze, and, falling upright into the current, kept its
+equilibrium, that is, it did not fall to any side, but swept slowly
+downward as upright as when on the tree, and suggested that some giant
+as big as the Statue of Liberty was walking beneath, with an enormous
+torch held above his head to light his path.</p>
+
+<p>"Did ye iver see the like?" asked Terry.</p>
+
+<p>"No; it is wonderful."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p337" id="p337">337</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style='width:350px'>
+<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a>
+<img src="images/ozark-336.jpg" alt="&#34;Did ye iver see the like?&#34; asked Terry." title="" width="350" /><br />
+<span class="caption">&#34;Did ye iver see the like?&#34; asked Terry.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="p339" id="p339">339</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span>Although it was about mid-day, the heavens were so overcast that the
+gloom was like night itself. At the same time the darkness had a ghastly
+tinge which made the faces of the boys, when they looked at each other,
+livid and unearthly.</p>
+
+<p>The scene was so impressive that they stood motionless, watching the
+flaming tree and the inky heavens beyond. Suddenly in the sky they saw a
+figure that resembled a vast balloon slightly inclined to one side, and
+spinning on its axis with inconceivable swiftness.</p>
+
+<p>At the bottom the snout-like appendage wavered off to one side as though
+the amazing velocity of the upper part was twisting it loose. A similar
+formation appeared a few minutes after a short distance behind.</p>
+
+<p>And now began the most extraordinary exhibition of all. Imagine two
+whirling balloons, a hundred feet in height, and so black that they
+stood out from the surrounding gloom, showing like pitch against the
+dimly lit sky behind. They began a witches' waltz in the firmament,
+sometimes leaning far backward, then dancing forward, as if saluting
+each other, then "balancing," then dancing up and down, then so far away
+from each other that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p340" id="p340">340</a></span> one would pass out of the field of vision, soon to
+reappear, however. At times they seemed as if about to rush into each
+other's arms, and then they coquetted away again and resumed the weird
+dance in the skies.</p>
+
+<p>You understand that I am trying to describe one of those terrible
+visitations of the west known as a cyclone. Little was heard of them a
+century ago, and the balloon to which I have compared the form of the
+ghostly dancers, was unknown to the lads, who watched the exhibition
+with an interest that was not turned into terror, as it would have been
+to-day, by the knowledge of the awful power for death and destruction
+that lies within that concentration of electricity in its most fateful
+form.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed a long time that this strange scene lasted, though it could
+not have been many seconds. Suddenly, while the balloon-like forms were
+saluting each other, they rushed together. There was no shock
+perceivable when they met, but there were vivid flashes from within the
+murky folds, as the heat lightning sometimes plays among the clouds at
+the close of a warm day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p341" id="p341">341</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Having met, the forms engaged in a wrestling bout. Round and round they
+spun with the same bewildering swiftness, leaning far to one side, as
+though about to fall, and all the time whirling with such speed on the
+one spiral leg that it seemed unable to keep pace with the bulkier part
+above.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a name="FRED_LINDEN_AWAKENS_TO_AN_ALARMING_FACT_6696" id="FRED_LINDEN_AWAKENS_TO_AN_ALARMING_FACT_6696"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2>
+<h3>FRED LINDEN AWAKENS TO AN ALARMING FACT.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The approach of the cyclone was attended by an appalling roar, and a
+mass of branches and trees flying through the air, which warned the boys
+of their danger.</p>
+
+<p>"Terry, it won't do to stay here," shouted Fred, casting about for some
+place of refuge; "where shall we go?"</p>
+
+<p>Quite close to the stream which they had just crossed was an enormous
+rock. Its irregular surface, a dozen feet in extent each way, must have
+reached far down in the ground, so that nothing could have been more
+immovable. It was not the refuge that the boys would have taken, had
+they been given time to hunt for one, but surely they could not have
+found a better.</p>
+
+<p>A couple of leaps took Terry to the place, and, as he threw himself on
+his face, Fred was directly behind him. As they lay, the shelving rock
+was less than two feet above their heads. Though they could hear, they
+could not see what was coming. They could look to the right and left,
+but only for a few seconds in front.</p>
+
+<p>Using their eyes as best they could, they saw the air filled with
+leaves, twigs, branches, huge limbs and trunks, which spun forward and
+over and over, like so many feathers in a tornado.</p>
+
+<p>The first shock that came to the boys crouching behind the rock was a
+dead thump near their heads. An uprooted tree had been hurled from some
+point above, like an enormous spear, and, striking the rock at a slant,
+slid over the rough surface like the finger of a player over the face of
+a tambourine and out beyond, hunting for some spot where it could
+penetrate. It found it on the ground, but it was instantly wrenched
+loose by the resistless power that had first thrown it forward, and went
+end over end into the general wreck and ruin beyond.</p>
+
+<p>The next sight which startled the boys was on their left, directly over
+the stream. The air was filled apparently with snow, as if a violent<span class="pagenum"><a name="p342" id="p342">342</a></span>
+squall had suddenly sprung up. It was accompanied by a hissing noise,
+which mingled with the fearful roar that had not stopped and was like
+that of the stormy Atlantic beating upon the rock-bound coast.</p>
+
+<p>Striking the stream, the cyclone whirled most of the water from its bed,
+scattered the mist and foam among the trees, and saturated the boys
+where they lay. The huge torch was quenched as suddenly as it was
+lighted.</p>
+
+<p>The most terrifying moment to Fred and Terry was when they felt the rock
+in front of them move. It was turned several inches to one side, and for
+one frightful moment, they believed that that too would be sent skimming
+through the air, or whirled over upon them. But there was no other
+refuge to which they could fly; had they attempted to rise to their
+feet, they would have been snatched up and dashed to death. So they
+flattened themselves as much as they could on their faces, and the
+terrific outburst could not reach them.</p>
+
+<p>Such an elemental fury can not last long. Having torn up the ponderous
+trees, overturned rocks, and cleaned out the stream, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p343" id="p343">343</a></span> cyclone seemed
+to mount upward and leave the earth entirely, probably to descend some
+miles away and continue its work of destruction.</p>
+
+<p>Fred lay still several minutes after it had passed, and then turned to
+look at his companion. He had unrolled the package and taken therefrom
+the cooked buffalo steak, which had been so roughly handled during his
+ride on the bull.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well," said the astonished Fred, "I believe you are the only
+person in the world who could eat his dinner in the middle of such a
+storm as this."</p>
+
+<p>"I was thinkin', bein' as we are in so much of a hurry, that I would
+save some toime by dinin' without delay, though ye do me an injoostice
+by sayin' I'm through the same; I'm jist about to begin and I'll be
+plaised to have yer company."</p>
+
+<p>Terry may not have had much sentiment, but he was sensible. Fred sat up,
+his head just rising above the rock, and, for a few minutes, they gave
+their attention to their meal. There was enough for a fair lunch, but no
+more. A gentle wind blew against them, being<span class="pagenum"><a name="p344" id="p344">344</a></span> the remnant left by the
+cyclone, and while they ate, you need not be told they used their eyes.</p>
+
+<p>The sight was a striking one: the trees lay across each other, many with
+their prong-like roots pointing toward the sky, limbs and trunks having
+been tossed about in the most bewildering confusion. The water that had
+been lifted from the creek rendered not only their clothing wet, but
+every thing around them was saturated. Walking to the side of the
+stream, they looked down at the sloping banks, wet and muddy, but with
+little water except in the bottom. The current, however, was pouring so
+swiftly from above that this was rapidly filling up, and before long
+would reach its former level.</p>
+
+<p>Now that the cyclone had passed, the sky rapidly cleared. There was a
+chilliness in the air, and the sun did not show itself.</p>
+
+<p>The boys took but a short time to view the destruction, great as it was,
+when they faced about in the direction of the camp which was their
+destination from the first. It looked as though they were finally
+separated from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p345" id="p345">345</a></span> trail, for since it was so covered by fallen trees
+and limbs, not the slightest trace of it was seen. They were filled with
+dismay, and indeed would have been at their wits' end had not the
+cyclone confined its fury to exceedingly narrow limits. All its
+prodigious force was spent in and directly along the stream. Twenty
+yards away, the forest was undisturbed, so that the elemental scythe had
+made a clean swath as it sped along.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah!" called out Terry, "here's the path; I follyed a straight line
+as I could from the water here, so I'm sure I couldn't coom out very far
+from the right place."</p>
+
+<p>Fred hurried over the ruins to his side, and a glance at the ground
+showed that his friend was right: there was the trail at their feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said Terry, recovering his spirits, "if we had only knowed that
+that storm was coomin', we could have fastened our guns to our backs and
+swum across, without waitin' to build the raft, and saved all the time
+that we lost."</p>
+
+<p>"But we would have been wetted all the same, had we done so."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p346" id="p346">346</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And gained that much time; do ye know," added Terry, in a half
+frightened voice, "what I obsarved?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you saw what I did,&mdash;the air full of water, trees, limbs,
+stones and lightning."</p>
+
+<p>"While we were peepin' over the edge of the rock, ye moind that the wind
+cut our faces so we had to lower 'em to keep our heads flyin' off where
+we couldn't find 'em agin. It was yersilf that stuck yer nose in the
+ground, but I took a paap off beyanst the creek and I saan one of the
+Winnebagos."</p>
+
+<p>"Can it be possible! what was he doin'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Turnin' summersets at the rate of twinty to the second and about a
+dozen faat above the ground; I had only the one glimpse of him, but whin
+I obsarved him it looked to me as if his head and one leg wint off in
+different directions; I s'pose he's lookin' for the same."</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden could hardly believe that Terry had seen one of their
+enemies, though, as you can well understand, from what cyclones have
+done in recent years, it was not at all impossible. The youth insisted
+so strongly on the first part of his statement, that Fred decided<span class="pagenum"><a name="p347" id="p347">347</a></span> that
+at the time the storm burst, one at least of their foes was on the bank
+behind them.</p>
+
+<p>All this confirmed the belief he had expressed that they had lost
+invaluable time by wandering from the trail, and that they would have
+hard work to keep far enough in advance to reach the camp before the
+Winnebagos. The proof that they had received too of some of the
+Winnebagos being in front complicated the situation and added to the
+mental discomfort of both.</p>
+
+<p>The sky which, as you will remember, had become overcast sometime before
+the bursting of the cyclone, continued to clear, and to the surprise of
+the young hunters, about the middle of the afternoon the sun showed
+itself. The chilliness, however, remained, though the two walked so
+briskly that they could have well stood a still lower temperature.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately for them (though it also operated in favor of their enemies)
+the trail was traveled without difficulty. The ground was uneven,
+sometimes up and sometimes down, but it was not hard for the feet and
+they made good progress. The distance they had to go<span class="pagenum"><a name="p348" id="p348">348</a></span> was too great for
+them to hope to reach the end of the journey before the morrow, even if
+they traveled most of the night. They had already proven their pluck and
+resolution, and you may be sure, now that they were on the right path,
+that they did not throw away any minutes.</p>
+
+<p>They had eaten the extra buffalo steak sooner than was intended, but
+they could afford to wait until the morrow before partaking of any more
+food.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was far along and they were pushing forward in their usual
+vigor, talking in a hopeful strain now and then, when both were startled
+by the report of a rifle. It did not sound in front nor to the rear, but
+only a moderate distance to the left. The boys stopped and looked in
+each other's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Anither of the spalpeens," whispered Terry; "now there ought to be a
+gun fired on tother side of us and one in front and one behind us."</p>
+
+<p>"They may be there, all the same," replied Fred, staring in the
+direction whence came the report, as though he expected the appearance<span class="pagenum"><a name="p349" id="p349">349</a></span>
+of the one who had caused it. They looked and listened for several
+minutes, but saw and heard nothing more, and resumed their hurried pace,
+frequently glancing behind, for they were in that distrustful state of
+mind which comes to one who has a strong suspicion that an enemy is
+trying to steal behind him unawares. The actual presence of such an
+enemy is no more trying than the suspense itself.</p>
+
+<p>The shot might have been innocent&mdash;that is, fired by some wandering
+white man or Indian who had not the remotest thought that any other
+person was within hearing. Probably such was the fact, though there was
+enough uncertainty about it to prevent the theory affording the youth
+the comfort it otherwise would have done.</p>
+
+<p>The lads, as you may well believe, did not stop to look into the matter,
+but pressed on at a gait which they were confident would prevent any of
+their enemies overtaking them, unless they broke into their loping trot,
+which was hardly likely.</p>
+
+<p>Somehow or other, Terry seemed to be thinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="p350" id="p350">350</a></span> more about the three
+Winnebago horsemen with whom Fred Linden had had his encounter than he
+did about his own experience.</p>
+
+<p>"How thim spalpeens could be ridin', whin all the rist are afoot, is
+somethin' that puzzles me," said he, after they had walked some distance
+further; "can't ye give some explanation that will relaave me mind,
+Fred?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can certainly know no more about it than you do."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't ye obsarve them with particularity?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't say that I did; they were rather small, tough-looking; two were
+bay in color, while one was black: I noticed the black one more than the
+others, because the Indian that I hit was riding on him; I remember that
+he had a star in his forehead."</p>
+
+<p>"Who? The Winnebago?"</p>
+
+<p>"You know well enough that I meant the horse&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden stopped short, and turned his white, scared face upon his
+friend. He had just awakened to an astounding fact.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter, Fred? Are ye ill?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p351" id="p351">351</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My gracious! why didn't I think of that before? Those three horses
+belong to father, Mr. Hardin and Mr. Bowlby."</p>
+
+<p>"Are ye sure of the same?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course; I can't understand why I did not notice it the moment I
+saw them!"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p352" id="p352">352</a></span>
+<a name="THE_CANOE_6937" id="THE_CANOE_6937"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2>
+<h3>THE CANOE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It certainly was remarkable that when Fred Linden was watching the three
+Winnebagos so closely, and when, as I have said, he noticed more than
+one trifling matter, that he failed to recognize the animals they were
+riding. All three were familiar to him, and the one he had spoken of as
+being darker in color than the others, and as having a star in his
+forehead, was the identical animal owned by his father. Fred, himself,
+had ridden him more than once.</p>
+
+<p>It should be said, however, that they were the pack-horses, which even
+when put to their best paces, could not make good speed. Nevertheless,
+they were of great value to the hunters.</p>
+
+<p>The first conviction of the lad on awaking to the alarming fact, was
+that his father and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p353" id="p353">353</a></span> other two men had been killed by the
+Winnebagos. The thought overcame him so that he leaned against the
+nearest tree and was on the point of fainting.</p>
+
+<p>"They are all dead, Terry&mdash;I know it&mdash;we may as well give up, and try to
+reach home."</p>
+
+<p>Terry was agitated, but not so much so as his friend.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, my dear boy, it's not so bad as <i>that</i>," he said feelingly; "do ye
+not moind that whin the gintlemen go to trappin' and huntin' they turn
+the horses loose to graze? The spalpeens have coom along and run off
+with the same."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think so?" asked Fred, looking up yearningly for the grain of
+comfort that his companion was able to give.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't <i>think</i> so; I know so; if the gintlemen took the bastes into
+the cabin and slipt with the same ivery night, as me rilatives do with
+their pigs in Ireland, why ye might think that they had suffered before
+the Winnebagos tuk thim away; but they have snaaked up where the animals
+was grazin', jumped onto their backs and rid off."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p354" id="p354">354</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This view of the case was so reasonable, that Fred rallied and half
+smiled at his own faintheartedness. He stood erect and drew a deep
+breath of satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe you are right, but it strikes me that such thieves would have
+stolen all instead of half the horses."</p>
+
+<p>"They've lift the ither three for their frinds that I make no doubt will
+be along to take thim, if they haven't done so now."</p>
+
+<p>"You know that the loss of a horse is considered almost as bad as the
+loss of a man in this part of the world."</p>
+
+<p>"Sometimes he amounts to a good deal more, as me mither&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Terry paused in his remarks, for just then Fred uttered a
+warning&mdash;"<i>Sh!</i>" to signify that something was in the path in front. The
+next moment, he ran several paces to the right and sheltered himself
+behind a tree, Terry being only a few seconds behind him.</p>
+
+<p>Both had discovered what it was. A brown bear of moderate size was
+waddling along toward them. He had probably struck the trail, and
+finding it easier walking than among the trees<span class="pagenum"><a name="p355" id="p355">355</a></span> and undergrowth, was
+swinging forward in the direction of the stream that had received such a
+visit from the cyclone.</p>
+
+<p>The boys could not know for a minute or two whether the beast had seen
+them, but they felt no alarm. As I have said, he was not very large nor
+formidable looking, and, if he chose to turn aside to attack them, they
+were more than his equal. As it was, their own eagerness to get forward
+was all that prevented them from shooting him.</p>
+
+<p>Bruin lumbered ahead in his awkward way, and, as the boys peeped forth,
+they fancied that his big brown eyes glanced mischievously at them; but
+they were mistaken. He did not see nor scent them, but went by, and, in
+a few minutes, disappeared from sight among the trees.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly waiting till he had vanished, the youths stepped back into the
+path and resumed the rapid pace at which they had been traveling. The
+sun, that had been partly shining from behind the clouds, was low in the
+sky, and it was not long before they were journeying in the twilight.
+The moon rose early, but its<span class="pagenum"><a name="p356" id="p356">356</a></span> light was so much obscured by the mists
+that it gave little if any help, and the friends were disappointed to
+find it difficult to make any progress at all.</p>
+
+<p>At this trying juncture, they found themselves once more on the bank of
+a stream that had to be crossed before they could go any further. It was
+fully double the width of the one last passed, but did not look as if it
+was deep.</p>
+
+<p>"My clothes ain't all dry yit," said Terry, "and I'm in favor of wadin'
+if we can."</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid it is too deep for that, and with our guns and bundles and
+thick clothes it isn't an easy thing to swim. Besides it's colder than
+it was last night and it won't be pleasant to spend a few more hours in
+wet clothing: mine is about dry."</p>
+
+<p>Fred added that if they should decide to push on, the only way of doing
+so was by the usual means of a raft. It would take considerable time to
+build one, and probably still longer to work their way to the other
+side.</p>
+
+<p>"No use of waitin'," said Terry; "let's take hold; I've an idaa that we
+ain't far from<span class="pagenum"><a name="p357" id="p357">357</a></span> the cabin and ivery mile that we can make now counts."</p>
+
+<p>Fred started to give his help, when to his unbounded amazement, he
+narrowly missed going headlong over a small Indian canoe that lay at
+their feet. They would not have been more surprised had they come upon
+Deerfoot himself in a sound slumber, and not until they had stooped down
+and examined it closely were they certain that it was not some log
+fantastically shaped by nature that had floated thither.</p>
+
+<p>But an Indian canoe it was beyond all mistake, though after searching
+all around it, they failed to find the paddle so necessary for its
+propulsion. The boat had been drawn up the bank, underneath some bushes
+and undergrowth, where it would not have been seen by any one further
+off than six feet. It was so far back too from the stream that it would
+require an unusual overflow to carry it away.</p>
+
+<p>It was not so dark that the lads could not see that it was of beautiful
+pattern and fine make&mdash;one of those delicate vessels which under the
+skillful guidance of its owner skim like<span class="pagenum"><a name="p358" id="p358">358</a></span> a swallow over the water. It
+was a prize indeed.</p>
+
+<p>Now, as you very well know, there is nothing wonderful about an Indian
+canoe, but the astonishment of the boys came from the fact that they
+found it in this place. Fred Linden, in listening to the accounts given
+by his father on his return in the spring from his trapping expeditions,
+had heard him say more than once that there was no Indian village
+between Greville and the camp at the foot of the Ozarks, and that,
+according to the friendly red men who occasionally visited them, he
+believed that the nearest lodge lay nearly two hundred miles to the
+north-west of Greville. It was this fact that gave the Hunters of the
+Ozark so much confidence in themselves when they went on their long
+hunts, though, as you have learned, danger did sometimes come from the
+wandering Indians, the father of Terry Clark having lost his life at
+their hands.</p>
+
+<p>All this being known to the boys, they had cause to wonder how it was
+that an Indian canoe lay hidden under the bushes on the shore. None of
+those people would go to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p359" id="p359">359</a></span> trouble of making such a boat, unless he
+expected to use it many times. It would be the same as if you had a
+costly rowboat constructed with which to cross only once a canal or
+small stream of water.</p>
+
+<p>But, as in many other cases, it was idle to speculate, and the boys did
+not allow any feeling of surprise to rob them of the valuable minutes.
+Finding no paddle with which to manage the boat, Fred cut a small
+sapling and trimmed it so that he had a pole fully twenty feet long.
+Then the guns were laid in the bottom, Terry took his seat, and they
+carefully pushed from shore, Fred managing the pole.</p>
+
+<p>As they suspected, the water was quite shallow, the depth nowhere being
+more than three or four feet; but the current was rapid, and in some
+places the bottom of the canoe grated over the gravel. Both had to move
+well to the stern to raise the bow, so as to allow them to reach land
+with dry feet.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a pity to allow this to float off and be lost," said Fred; "let's
+draw it up the bank where the owner won't have any trouble in finding
+it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p360" id="p360">360</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I would give a good deal if I could be introduced to that same
+gintleman," remarked Terry, who took off his cap and scratched his head
+as he added:</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder whither that is one of the canoes from near home?"</p>
+
+<p>"What are you talking about? How could it get <i>here</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"By some subterranean communication, the same as we boys used to sind
+notes to the gurls whin I was laarnin' the higher mathematics in
+college."</p>
+
+<p>Fred made no comment upon the remark of his friend. The canoe, when
+relieved of their weight, was so light that the bow was pulled to the
+shore by means of the pole. Then Fred alone drew it up beyond the reach
+of the water, and it was left until the owner should come forward to
+claim it.</p>
+
+<p>The two now set out to hunt for the trail, with a view of making eight
+or ten miles more before they stopped to rest; but the result was
+discouraging. It took more than a half hour to make sure they had found
+it, and then they had not gone twenty yards, when Fred<span class="pagenum"><a name="p361" id="p361">361</a></span> said he could
+not tell whether he was in the path or not.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use," he added; "we may as well stop, for we are sure to repeat
+the mistake of to-day: we'll get so far wrong that it'll take many hours
+to find our way back again, and we shall lose far more than we gain."</p>
+
+<p>"That bein' the same&mdash;and I'm willin' to agraa that ye are now strivin'
+to till the truth&mdash;let's turn off from the trail, go back so far that
+there isn't any chance for any one to saa us and slaap till mornin'."</p>
+
+<p>Since there was nothing else to do, the boys did as Terry proposed. They
+were not so tired as they were the night before, and they did not dare
+to lie down on the leaves and sleep as they did then. There were wild
+animals prowling through the woods, and the fact that the lads escaped
+once could be no guaranty that they would have equally good fortune a
+second time.</p>
+
+<p>Terry proposed that they should climb a tree and make a bed among the
+branches; but that was hardly feasible. It is not often that the limbs
+of a tree are accommodating enough to<span class="pagenum"><a name="p362" id="p362">362</a></span> allow any one to rest with
+comfort. The branches may be pleasant for a time, but the limbs soon
+become like iron rods and the position so cramped as to drive away all
+comfort. In addition, there was the danger of a fatal fall during sleep.</p>
+
+<p>So it was decided to hunt out the most secluded place possible and start
+a fire. That would keep off the wild animals, and the boys were not in
+such need of sleep that they could not afford to take turns with each
+other in watching through the night.</p>
+
+<p>While hunting a suitable spot, they moved down the river bank for fully
+a hundred yards, and then entered some dense undergrowth which they
+penetrated until they were sure that no safer place could be found. So
+they began gathering twigs, leaves and branches, and piling them against
+the shaggy bark of a tree, and soon had all they wanted. This was fired
+by means of the flint and steel, and a roaring, crackling blaze made
+every thing look cheerful.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's walk off a little ways," said Fred, "and see whether the light
+can be noticed very far; you know that we can not be too careful."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p363" id="p363">363</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Terry liked the proposal, and rose to act upon it. They moved in
+opposite directions, walking several rods, and then carefully passing
+entirely around the camp-fire. The result was satisfactory, for the
+undergrowth in all directions was so thick that they felt as secure from
+discovery as if the fire had been kindled within an impenetrable cave.</p>
+
+<p>And yet they were woefully mistaken, as they were destined to learn in a
+brief while.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p364" id="p364">364</a></span>
+<a name="AMERICA_VERSUS_IRELAND_7177" id="AMERICA_VERSUS_IRELAND_7177"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2>
+<h3>AMERICA VERSUS IRELAND.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Having satisfied themselves that they could not have fallen upon a safer
+place, the boys came back to their camp, as it may be called, and sat
+down in front of the blaze. Their knapsacks were unstrapped from their
+backs and the blankets spread upon the leaves. There was some moisture
+in the thick cloth, but not enough to deter them from using them as
+couches. Their own clothing had become dry, and, under the warm glow of
+the fire, the blankets would soon be the same.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of the reconnoissance just made, both felt some uneasiness over
+their own situation. They were confident that no one further away than
+two or three rods would observe the fire, but the possibility remained
+that some enemy might pass within that space, brief as it was. Their
+experience since leaving Greville<span class="pagenum"><a name="p365" id="p365">365</a></span> taught them that a large number of
+Winnebagos were in the wilderness, and, as Terry remarked, the nearer
+they approached camp, the more plentiful did they seem to become.</p>
+
+<p>It was this feeling which caused them to let the fire sink to half its
+first size and led them to keep far back within the circle of light
+thrown into the surrounding gloom. They talked in low voices, often
+listening and looking around, and were in any thing but a comfortable
+frame of mind. The feeling with them was that if any enemy should happen
+to be lurking in the vicinity, every possible advantage would be on his
+side.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel, Terry, as though all this is wasted time. I know it is more
+than likely that the Winnebagos are doing the same as we, that is,
+nothing at all; but that makes me more anxious to push on."</p>
+
+<p>"I've an idaa," remarked the Irish lad, who was stretched out in a lazy
+posture, with his cap in hand, while, as was his custom, he scratched
+his pate with the other; "I'm thinkin' why couldn't we aich take a torch
+in hand and walk along over the path with the same?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p366" id="p366">366</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Fred was half inclined to try the experiment, but fear prevented. They
+had learned that the Winnebagos were not only in the rear but in front.
+No more conspicuous target can be given than that of a person carrying a
+lighted torch: it was the same as when a man with a candle in his hand
+starts out to explore his house for burglars. So that plan was not
+adopted.</p>
+
+<p>Terry was about to speak to his companion, when the latter saw him
+start, and, rising quickly to the sitting position, stare at a point
+beyond Fred. He had seen something that terrified him.</p>
+
+<p>With his big round eyes still fixed on the gloom behind young Linden,
+Terry stealthily reached for his gun, which lay on the leaves close by,
+and softly drew back the flint. Fred, as may be supposed, was alarmed,
+and starting half to his feet, glanced nervously around.</p>
+
+<p>He saw nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" he asked in an undertone, as he also laid his hand
+upon his weapon.</p>
+
+<p>"Whin I was lookin' at ye," said Terry in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="p367" id="p367">367</a></span> husky whisper, "I obsarved
+one of the spalpeens standin' right behind ye and close enough to touch
+ye with his hand. Before I could spake, he slipped out of sight like a
+shadder."</p>
+
+<p>Fred did not ask his companion whether he was sure of what he said, for
+he knew he was not mistaken.</p>
+
+<p>"That shows we shouldn't have started the fire; it has caught the eye of
+some of the Indians, who will be here in a few minutes; let's slip back
+in the darkness and get as far off as we can; it don't make much
+difference what course we take, but it will never do to stay here."</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden had no more than completed his guarded remark, when he too
+caught sight of a warrior standing on the very edge of the circle of
+light and looking straight at him. The view of the dusky intruder was
+faint but unmistakable.</p>
+
+<p>The outlines and figure received enough of the firelight to cause him to
+look like a dim painting against a dark background. He was holding a
+rifle in one hand and appeared to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="p368" id="p368">368</a></span> contemplating the lads, as if
+seeking to learn their identity before he advanced or performed some
+action.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Sh!</i> don't stir," whispered Fred, softly raising the hammer of his
+gun, "I see him,&mdash;I'll drop him!"</p>
+
+<p>With the utmost caution he brought the gun around in front until it was
+almost to his breast. Then as quickly as he could he raised it to his
+shoulder and aimed at the daring redskin.</p>
+
+<p>But the latter was invisible, he had vanished like the picture on the
+slide of a magic lantern.</p>
+
+<p>As you may suppose, the boys began to feel queer. There was something so
+peculiar about this business that, as Terry expressed it, he was "crawly
+all over." What they might have done can only be guessed, for before
+they could move away from the fire, Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who had been
+having a little amusement at their expense, advanced from the gloom and
+addressed them.</p>
+
+<p>"The heart of Deerfoot is glad when he sees his brothers do not sleep;
+he has watched them, but their eyes are open."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p369" id="p369">369</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Wal, be the powers!" muttered Terry Clark, hastily rising to his feet,
+as did Fred; "the spalpeen that plays that trick on me has got to fight
+it out."</p>
+
+<p>And he began taking off his coat and spitting on his hands, to show that
+the matter could only be settled by a bout at fisticuffs. Deerfoot had
+extended his hand to Fred and he smiled at the combative Irish lad, who
+put up his fists and began dancing about him in the most belligerent
+fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"Give him a trial," whispered Fred, with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot loves his brothers; he can not hurt them."</p>
+
+<p>"If ye can git the bist of mesilf," said Terry, who was still sawing the
+air and hopping about as though the ground had become hot; "I'll think
+more of ye than iver before, bein' that I think more of ye now than I
+ever can, and I defy ye to sit your gun aside and git the bist of me in
+any way."</p>
+
+<p>"Go for him," urged Fred, knowing that the Irish boy, strong and active
+as he was, had no chance with the Shawanoe; "he thinks he is<span class="pagenum"><a name="p370" id="p370">370</a></span> your
+master when you don't use your weapons. If you will give him a lesson,
+it will do him good."</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot will try to be a teacher to my brother," said the Shawanoe
+gravely, handing his gun to Fred, and following with his knife and
+tomahawk, that he might have no weapons except such as nature gave him.
+Then he threw some wood on the fire, so that the space immediately
+surrounding them was as light as noonday. Finally, every thing being
+ready, he proceeded to "go for" Mr. Terence Clark in a truly aboriginal
+fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Now, it must be borne in mind that, though there was and could not be
+the least ill feeling between the youths, yet each was resolutely
+resolved to overcome the other in the most emphatic manner at his
+command. Terry did not mean to batter the handsome face of his dusky
+friend, but to tap it so smartly that he would feel it. The naturally
+combative lad was an adept with his fists, and he meant to strike
+Deerfoot often enough to convince him of his inferiority. Then he would
+rush in, seize the young warrior and throw him to the ground,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p371" id="p371">371</a></span> repeating
+it several times, until his antagonist cried, "Hold! Enough!" Fred
+Linden was to play the part of referee, and decide which was the better
+man. Thus you see the match bore some similarity to those of the present
+day, in which the victor is declared to be the one who in a certain
+number of rounds gains the advantage of the other.</p>
+
+<p>"As I am to be the boss of this business," sald Fred, with the keenest
+zest, "let me explain the terms: Each one is to strike the other as
+often as he can, the blows to be sharp enough to be felt pretty plainly,
+but not enough to cause any injury. I will let this go on until one of
+you has enough, or until I am satisfied of the superiority of one over
+the other. After that you are to have a wrestling match. When I call for
+you to stop, you must do so, no matter how anxious you may be to go on.
+Is that understood?"</p>
+
+<p>"The terms are agraaable to mesilf," said Terry; "it is sittled that
+there's to be no bettin' on the match."</p>
+
+<p>"I have no objection to your betting if you wish, but inasmuch as you
+haven't a cent and<span class="pagenum"><a name="p372" id="p372">372</a></span> Deerfoot never did such a thing as bet in all his
+life, I don't think there will be any trouble about holding the stakes."</p>
+
+<p>"There ain't to be any foul blows in this," added Terry, who showed that
+he knew more than most of his friends about the "Irish champions" and
+the cause that made them champions of England and Ireland.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean by foul blows?" asked the puzzled Fred.</p>
+
+<p>"Hits below the belt. What I wished to observe, howiver, is that we
+ain't to re-<i>cog</i>-nize such things as foul blows in this fight for the
+championship of Louisiana. Aich one is to git the bist of the ither in
+the bist way he can. The rule, Deerfut, is for such pugilists to shake
+hands before beginnin' to try to knock aich ither out."</p>
+
+<p>And Terry extended his hand, which the young warrior gravely shook, for,
+as you can well understand, this was something to which he was
+altogether unaccustomed. He knew, however, the nature of the contest
+between himself and his doughty Irish friend, and he entered into it
+with the calm confidence with<span class="pagenum"><a name="p373" id="p373">373</a></span> which he would have engaged Tecumseh
+himself in a fight to the death with knives.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot did not put up his hands after the manner of a pugilist, nor
+did he even close them, but fixing his eyes on those of Terry (just as
+he always did in his deadly fights with his antagonists), he began
+softly circling about him, like a cat searching for a chance to leap
+upon his prey.</p>
+
+<p>This did not disconcert Terry, whose pose would have been pronounced
+excellent by any one competent to judge. The left arm and foot were
+advanced, the right fist being held across and just in front of the
+breast, ready to take advantage of the first opening that presented
+itself.</p>
+
+<p>As Deerfoot circled around Terry, the latter moved around him, each on
+the alert for a chance.</p>
+
+<p>"Moind yer eye," Terry was kind enough to say; "it's a pity to sp'il
+such a handsome face, but a sinse of dooty will not allow me to thrifle,
+and so here goes!"</p>
+
+<p>With that he made a creditable lunge with his left, instantly following
+it with his right<span class="pagenum"><a name="p374" id="p374">374</a></span> hand, and leaping back to avoid a counter. He did not
+strike Deerfoot nor did he receive a blow in return.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye are quick on yer faat and very good at dodgin', but it is an
+obligation ye owe to yersilf and to Ameri-<i>ca</i> to show whither thim foin
+purty hands can hit&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><i>Rap, whack, spat!</i> The Shawanoe smote one cheek of Terry, then the
+other, and then his mouth, the blows being so quick that they seemed to
+be simultaneous. At the moment they were delivered, the Irish lad could
+not see that the young warrior had stirred. He appeared to be moving in
+his cat-like way around him, but beyond reach of Terry's own tough
+fists. Seeing that he must force matters, he made a furious rush for his
+antagonist.</p>
+
+<p>You must not set down Terry Clark as an awkward fellow who went into the
+contest without any skill. His father in his younger days was one of the
+best fighters in the north of Ireland, and he had taught considerable of
+his science to his only son, who gave an exhibition of what he could do
+when he smote the Winnebago that was swinging the cow-bell.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p375" id="p375">375</a></span> There was
+not a lad anywhere near his years in Greville whom he could not master.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot knew nothing of the modern rules of self-defense. His
+superiority lay in his unequaled dexterity and quickness. It was that,
+as you will recall, which enabled him to win so many victories over foes
+who were his superior in every other respect.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p376" id="p376">376</a></span>
+<a name="AMERICA_VERSUS_AMERICA_7414" id="AMERICA_VERSUS_AMERICA_7414"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2>
+<h3>AMERICA VERSUS AMERICA.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Terence Clark gathered himself for another rush and blow at the
+Shawanoe, when the latter with a quickness which the eye of Fred Linden
+could hardly follow, ducked under the arm of the Irish lad and again
+struck him a resounding blow with the flat of the hand, first on one
+side of the face and then on the other. Terry wheeled and returned the
+blows with skill. Once his hand grazed the black hair that was dangling
+about Deerfoot's head, and several times he touched the nodding
+feathers, but strive as much as he might, he could not reach the fellow
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>Now that the combat may be said to have opened, it went through to the
+end without halt or break. Here, there, everywhere dodged and struck the
+Shawanoe, while Terry was always just too late to catch him. Deerfoot<span class="pagenum"><a name="p377" id="p377">377</a></span>
+might have inflicted considerable injury upon his plucky antagonist, had
+he struck him with his closed hand, but he always used his open palm.
+Some of the blows resounded like pistol shots. Having delivered all that
+he wished, Deerfoot doubled up his left hand so that only the index
+finger was extended. With this he punched the right and left ribs of
+Terry, then his chest, and then actually flipped each side of his nose,
+easily dodging the blows which the half angered Irish lad aimed at him
+in return.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Terry turned his back on his foe and deliberately struck
+several times at vacancy. Then he dropped his hands and walked back by
+the fire, saying, with a shake of his head:</p>
+
+<p>"I've enough! ye could bate the divil and his uncle."</p>
+
+<p>Fred Linden was sitting on the ground shaking with laughter. He had not
+seen any thing for a long time that pleased him so much. He had observed
+Terry in more than one fight with the boys at home and he knew he was an
+ugly customer, as full of grit as a bull dog, but the Shawanoe struck
+him fully a dozen times,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p378" id="p378">378</a></span> while the Irish lad with all his skill
+desperately put forth never once touched him. The discomfiture of the
+brave Irish lad was complete.</p>
+
+<p>No witness of the bout, however, could have failed to admire the skill
+and pluck of Terry. He acquitted himself well and kept up the struggle,
+even after he was convinced that he could do nothing with his alert
+antagonist. Then, when Deerfoot began to trifle with him, he turned
+around as I have shown and struck the empty air.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you do that?" asked Fred, as the three stood by the fire
+discussing the incident.</p>
+
+<p>Terry passed his open hand over his cheeks, which were red and smarting
+from the sharp taps of Deerfoot, and closing one eye and scratching his
+head, made answer:</p>
+
+<p>"I had been sthrikin' at Deerfut until I obsarved that ivery time I
+sthruck <i>at</i> him I didn't hit him; so thinks I to mesilf, I will see
+whither I can hit him by tryin' not to hit him; so I sthruck where I
+knowed he wasn't, thinkin' he was there."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p379" id="p379">379</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I must declare Deerfoot the winner."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't deny that he is; I throw up the sponge and extind to him the
+best wishes for himself and family."</p>
+
+<p>Smiling in a way that left no doubt of his relish of the incident,
+Deerfoot warmly shook the hand of his friend, whose brave fight had
+increased his admiration of him.</p>
+
+<p>"My brother is brave," said he admiringly; "perhaps he can lay Deerfoot
+on his back; Deerfoot will rejoice if he can do so."</p>
+
+<p>"Be the powers! but that suits me," exclaimed the delighted Terry; "I
+forgot we were to have a wrestling match; Fred, ye will be koind enough
+to sarve as riferee again; we'll take side holts and it'll be the bist
+two out of thraa."</p>
+
+<p>Terry was warranted in feeling more confidence in this test of skill. He
+had failed&mdash;as he knew he would always fail&mdash;in a sparring contest, for
+the reason that Deerfoot was so quick that he could not touch him; but
+one of the necessities of a wrestling match is that the contestants
+shall first seize each other. Terry believed that he had as much
+physical strength<span class="pagenum"><a name="p380" id="p380">380</a></span> as Deerfoot, and if he once got a fair hold, he would
+not let go until he downed him.</p>
+
+<p>Terry being right and Deerfoot left handed, each was able to secure his
+most effective grip. So, standing side by side, in the old fashioned
+style, with a dusky left arm around the white neck and a white arm
+around the dusky neck, they began the struggle.</p>
+
+<p>In this match, as before, Deerfoot allowed his antagonist to dally with
+him awhile before he took the aggressive. Passing him over his hip Terry
+gave Deerfoot such a violent fling that a pang of fear shot through him,
+lest he had broken the Shawanoe's neck; but though he shot headlong out
+of the grasp of the Irish lad, the Shawanoe landed lightly on his feet
+and instantly leaped back and closed with Terry again.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll fetch ye this time," he muttered between his compressed lips; "ye
+shan't git out of me hands till ye's down flat on yer back and mesilf
+layin' a-straddle of ye. There's a difference between boxin' and
+sparrin' and I shall taich ye the same, as me grandmither&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Both went down that instant, but the Shawanoe<span class="pagenum"><a name="p381" id="p381">381</a></span> was on top. His
+antagonist could not have fallen flatter had he been dropped from the
+roof of a house.</p>
+
+<p>"Mark the first fall for Deerfut," called out Terry, hastily clambering
+to his feet, the Shawanoe extending his hand to help.</p>
+
+<p>This result weakened the confidence of the Irish lad in himself, that
+is, so far as concerned his opponent. He reflected that many of the
+Indians are skillful wrestlers, and while Deerfoot had had no training
+in boxing, he had in the other art. Such a cool headed athlete would be
+sure to learn fast. Terry recognized the peculiar flirt by which he had
+been turned off his feet as the very trick he had played successfully on
+his playmates at home, but which he never dreamed was known to Deerfoot.</p>
+
+<p>The Irish lad tried every possible lock, twist and turn upon his rival,
+but he could not get him off his feet. It seemed to Terry that he
+whirled in the air when almost on the ground, and that if he had been
+dropped head downwards from the height of a rod, he would alight on his
+feet.</p>
+
+<p>Fred saw Deerfoot, who was carefully watching<span class="pagenum"><a name="p382" id="p382">382</a></span> his antagonist, smile,
+and he knew what was coming. So deftly that, for the life of him, the
+spectator could not see how it was done, Terry went over again as "flat
+as a flounder." Not only that, but to the astonishment of the victim as
+well as of the witness, the Shawanoe remained erect, so that he
+literally flung his antagonist to the ground and looked smilingly down
+upon him.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye can baat the baaters," exclaimed Terry, rising to his feet, and
+shaking hands with his victor. "I niver met any one who could down me in
+that sthyle. I don't know how ye did the same, but I haven't any doubts
+that ye done it, as me great uncle remarked whin the cannon ball took
+off his head."</p>
+
+<p>With the same shadowy smile Deerfoot looked inquiringly at Fred Linden.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot thinks maybe his brother would be glad to lay him on the
+ground?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be hanged if I don't try it," laughed Fred, springing to his feet,
+and instantly but cautiously closing arms with the graceful warrior.</p>
+
+<p>"My brother can not throw Deerfoot," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="p383" id="p383">383</a></span> the latter; "but the heart of
+Deerfoot would be glad if he would tell him how he would like to
+fall&mdash;on his shoulders, or side, or back."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't like to fall at all; but if you think you can get me on my
+shoulders, just try it; that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"It shall be as my brother wishes."</p>
+
+<p>The words seemed yet in the mouth of Deerfoot when Fred felt himself
+sailing through space, and the next instant he landed on his shoulders
+with a shock that Terry declared made the ground shake.</p>
+
+<p>As before, Deerfoot himself did not fall, but looked smilingly down on
+his prostrate friend as he began climbing to his feet again.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, if my brother wishes to fall on his back, it shall be so."</p>
+
+<p>"I've little doubt that you will not do just as you say you will; I only
+ask that you wait till I say I am ready; you did the last before I had
+time to prepare."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye bitter not ax him to wait," said Terry, who rolled over on the
+ground in the exuberance of his mirth, at the sight of his big<span class="pagenum"><a name="p384" id="p384">384</a></span> friend
+going down before the lithe, willowy Shawanoe; "for since he's bound to
+do what he says, the sooner ye are out of yer suspinse, the sooner ye'll
+be out of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Be kind enough to attend to your own affairs," said Fred stiffly;
+"Deerfoot and I are running this show."</p>
+
+<p>"It looks as if Deerfut had charge of the whole of it," was the comment
+of Terry, who broke into laughter again; "and whin he is done ye'll
+agraa with me."</p>
+
+<p>Once more the arms passed over each other's neck. Fred resolved that
+whatever came, he would not be taken by surprise this time. He was
+stronger than Terry and he had thrown him more than once. He could not
+understand, therefore, why he should not at least give the Shawanoe a
+struggle. He braced his feet, with every muscle strained, and every
+faculty on the alert.</p>
+
+<p>"I am ready," said he; "do your best."</p>
+
+<p>"On which side shall Deerfoot throw his brother?"</p>
+
+<p>"On my right side, and as hard as you can."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p385" id="p385">385</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Now, you will see the difficulty of the task, for Fred had his right arm
+tightly locked over the neck of Deerfoot, so that that side was guarded
+by the body of the warrior himself. It would seem, that if Fred should
+fall on either side it could only be on the left. Manifestly if it
+should be the right, the Shawanoe could not go down with him. He must
+bring him to the ground and escape from beneath him before he fell.</p>
+
+<p>He did it. For a second or two the contestants stood motionless. Then,
+like a flash, Deerfoot slipped from the grasp of his friend, dropped
+down in a stooping posture almost to the earth, holding the right hand
+of Fred firmly with his left (this was to prevent him using that hand to
+save himself), and then by a quick dart to the left, he carried both
+feet of his opponent off the ground, and Fred fell squarely on his right
+side, his conqueror straightening up as he went down.</p>
+
+<p>"I would be obleeged," said Terry, throwing back his head with laughter,
+"if yees will be koind enough to till me who is runnin' the show about
+this time."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p386" id="p386">386</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Fred was chagrined at the ease with which Deerfoot had overthrown him,
+and it was not lessened by the honest compliment which the young warrior
+gave to his skill. Both Fred and Terry had been pretty well jarred, for
+they were downed with such amazing suddenness that it could not be
+otherwise; but neither referred to it and they could only praise the
+wonderful ability of their friend.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you," said Fred, seating himself on the ground beside the other
+two, after the flurry was over, "all this proves that skill is worth
+more than strength. I am quite sure that I am as strong as you,
+Deerfoot, but I don't believe that Terry and I together could lay you on
+your back. When I had my arm around your neck, I suspected you would try
+to slip out, and I squeezed you pretty hard. You slid out so quickly
+that at the moment you were down at my heels, I thought I had you fast."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thinkin' that the nixt thing we should try is a race; Fred can
+outrun me and I'll agraa that he will outrun Deerfut, that is, if ye'll
+allow me to make the conditions."<span class="pagenum"><a name="p387" id="p387">387</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What would they be?" asked Deerfoot, Looking gravely down upon his
+friends.</p>
+
+<p>"The race should be for a hundred yards, and Deerfut must give Fred
+ninety-five yards start, though to make it sure enough, maybe it ought
+to be ninety-six or siven."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you would require about ninety-nine, according to the same
+calculation," said Fred.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye's are right," replied Terry, to whom it seemed that no athletic feat
+was impossible for the Shawanoe; "nayther yersilf nor mesilf have a
+right to be mintioned in the same day with him."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p388" id="p388">388</a></span>
+<a name="THE_LAST_CAMPFIRE_7663" id="THE_LAST_CAMPFIRE_7663"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2>
+<h3>THE LAST CAMP-FIRE.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It seemed to strike all three of the friends at the same moment that
+they had shown a strange forgetfulness of the occasion. A sudden impulse
+had led them into a test of skill, that had continued fully a quarter of
+an hour, during which there was no thought on the part of any one of the
+gravity of their situation.</p>
+
+<p>But a little while before, both Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in
+distress on account of their friends, while their own position
+(believing as they did that there were Winnebagos in front as well as in
+the rear), ought to have driven away all inclination for sport or
+amusement. One of their strongest desires was the presence of Deerfoot,
+that they might have his counsel and help. Here he was, and no reference
+had been made to the subjects uppermost in their minds. Now that he took
+his seat<span class="pagenum"><a name="p389" id="p389">389</a></span> near them by the camp-fire, as if to invite their confidence,
+they quickly returned to the all important business.</p>
+
+<p>First of all, they asked for his experience since their separation the
+night before. He gave only a part of it. He told nothing about his
+conflict with the Wolf and his companion, which resulted in the death of
+both, but said that he had kept watch of the Winnebagos until morning,
+when he saw them start for the camp in the mountains. He learned from
+their signaling that they had other warriors in the neighborhood, and
+there could be no doubt that an attack was intended upon the Hunters of
+the Ozark. Nevertheless the Shawanoe kept in their vicinity, until they
+approached the open prairie of which mention has been make. Then he
+decided to pass them and join his young friends.</p>
+
+<p>Feeling no doubt that the latter were following the right trail (several
+examinations which he made satisfied him that they were doing so), he
+left it altogether, and took a shorter route across the country. He was
+so familiar with it that he could easily do this. His intention<span class="pagenum"><a name="p390" id="p390">390</a></span> was to
+strike the main path again at the crossing, where they had such a narrow
+escape from the cyclone; but he calculated that by nightfall they would
+be a considerable distance beyond, and he wished to test their
+watchfulness when left to themselves. So he came back to the trail about
+half way between that point and the creek which they had crossed by
+means of the canoe. He saw from an examination of the ground that he was
+ahead of them, so he sauntered forward, firing off his gun where a turn
+in the path made it seem to come from one side instead of in front of
+them. He did this as he explained with a view of warning them to keep
+their eyes open. It soon began growing dark and he kept on until he
+reached the stream, where he decided to wait and see what they would do.</p>
+
+<p>He was as surprised as they when they brought forth the little canoe and
+pushed themselves across by means of the pole which Fred Linden himself
+cut. He followed them, easily wading the stream. After that he indulged
+in a little diversion with which you are familiar.<span class="pagenum"><a name="p391" id="p391">391</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Wasn't it strange, Deerfoot," said Fred, "that we should have found
+that canoe?"</p>
+
+<p>He nodded his head to signify that he thought it was.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any idea how it got there?"</p>
+
+<p>"He who owned the boat hid it under the bushes."</p>
+
+<p>"But there are no Indian villages within a great many miles of this
+place&mdash;is that not so?"</p>
+
+<p>He gave another affirmative nod.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any idea of who the owner can be?"</p>
+
+<p>A third affirmative nod followed.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is he?" asked Fred in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot."</p>
+
+<p>"What! Does that little canoe belong to <i>you</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot made it and hid it under the bushes: why did not my brothers
+use the paddle?"</p>
+
+<p>"We hunted all round, but could not find it."</p>
+
+<p>"It was within reach of my brother's hands; it was covered with leaves."</p>
+
+<p>"And so the boat is yer own?" repeated<span class="pagenum"><a name="p392" id="p392">392</a></span> Terry; "why that looks as if ye
+lived somewhere in this neighborhood; is such the case, owld boy?"</p>
+
+<p>The question did not seem to please the Shawanoe. He was sitting
+directly in front of his young friends, who looked earnestly in his
+face. He made no answer to Terry's question, but continued looking among
+the coals, as if he was pondering some other matter that had thus been
+brought to mind. Fred shook his head at Terry as a warning that he
+should not repeat his query, and the latter was wise enough not to do
+so; but the friends concluded from that moment that the wandering young
+Shawanoe made his home at no great distance from where all three were at
+that moment sitting in the wilderness. And they were right.</p>
+
+<p>A minute later, Deerfoot raised his head and signified that he wished to
+know in turn what had befallen them since they parted company
+twenty-four hours before. You will admit that each had a stirring story
+to tell and he told it. The Shawanoe first listened to Terry's account
+of his ride on the back of the wounded buffalo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="p393" id="p393">393</a></span> and, when it was
+finished, he quietly remarked to his young friend that he had done well.</p>
+
+<p>Though he showed no emotion, it was clear to both boys that he felt the
+most concern in the experience of Fred Linden. He said nothing until the
+narrator was through, including the account of the cyclone. Deerfoot had
+heard the noise made by the latter, but he was so far removed from its
+path that he saw none of its fearful effects, and in fact cared little
+about it, for he had seen the same thing more than once before.</p>
+
+<p>But that which interested him was the account of Fred Linden's meeting
+with the Winnebago horse thieves. This was the first knowledge he
+received that any of their enemies were mounted on animals. Deerfoot had
+turned off the main trail so early in the day that he missed them
+altogether. When he came back to the path, near where the three were in
+camp at that moment, and he examined the ground for signs of the
+footprints of the boys, there were none that had been made by the hoofs
+of horses. They had struck the trail further to the north, taking a
+different<span class="pagenum"><a name="p394" id="p394">394</a></span> course from the camp where they had stolen the animals.</p>
+
+<p>Fred blushed under the warm compliments of Deerfoot on his coolness,
+bravery and skill in the presence of the three Winnebagos. You will
+agree that it was a daring exploit indeed, which would have done credit
+to a veteran frontiersman. It could not have been otherwise to draw such
+warm praise from the Shawanoe.</p>
+
+<p>But the compliments could well be deferred to some other season. The
+fact that three Indians had stolen the same number of horses from the
+Hunters of the Ozark, and then had ridden leisurely away to meet their
+friends, showed that they had great confidence in themselves, doubtless
+caused by the belief that they were safe against any attempt to recover
+the property.</p>
+
+<p>"Deerfoot," said Fred, after there had been a full exchange of
+experiences; "we stopped here only because we could not keep to the
+trail in the darkness. Don't you think it best that we should now go on,
+since you will not have the same trouble that we did?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p395" id="p395">395</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He shook his head in the negative.</p>
+
+<p>"It is not far to the camp of my brothers; the Winnebagos are a long
+ways back on the trail; they will not come up with us; my brothers have
+a chance to sleep; they may have no chance when they reach the cabin;
+let them sleep now."</p>
+
+<p>The natural inference from this remark was that he believed nothing more
+was to be apprehended from the Winnebagos, so long as our three friends
+were on their way to the cabin of the Hunters of the Ozark. The danger
+would now be transferred to that point.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it not likely that some of the red men are between us and our
+friends?" asked Fred, as though their guide had not thought of every
+contingency.</p>
+
+<p>"There is none," was the quiet answer, and then he added the
+explanation. The Winnebagos, as soon as they had captured the horses,
+had mounted them and ridden off to meet Black Bear and the rest, so as
+to combine with them in the attack upon the cabin in the mountains.
+Being so few in numbers, they did not dare<span class="pagenum"><a name="p396" id="p396">396</a></span> stay in the neighborhood,
+but were certain to come back with the others.</p>
+
+<p>The theft of the animals was no part of the original plan of the red
+men, and was therefore what may be considered poor generalship, since it
+was likely to draw attention to the presence of hostiles and to put the
+Hunters of the Ozark on their guard.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot made no such remark at the time, but he afterward expressed his
+regret that he had not joined Fred and Terry earlier in the day, so that
+he could have been with them when they met the horse thieves. Had he
+done so, there can be no doubt that they would have recaptured every one
+of the animals, even if they had had to shoot each thief from the back
+of his stolen steed. Such a result would have changed the whole course
+of the events that followed.</p>
+
+<p>Since the Shawanoe advised them to stay where they were until morning,
+the natural query of the lads was as to the degree of danger they ran.
+They had thought there was little to be feared from Indians, but after
+the fire was started, both had misgivings&mdash;afterward intensified<span class="pagenum"><a name="p397" id="p397">397</a></span> no
+doubt by the little trick played upon them by Deerfoot.</p>
+
+<p>He assured them that there was nothing to be feared from Indians. There
+was and would be none near them through the night. They were at a safe
+distance from the trail, so that if any one should pass back or forth he
+could not possibly catch a glimpse of the camp.</p>
+
+<p>"I never dispute a man's sintimints," said Terry, "onless it happens to
+disagraa with me own, so I'll say ye are right because we think the same
+way; but it's within me own ricolliction that whin ye enj'yed the honor
+of our coompany night before last, ye kipt guard all the night;
+Frederick and mesilf will now return the coompliment and take charge of
+the honors oursilves. If ye have any disputation that ye want to inter
+into, we'll sittle it by maans of a wristling match."</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot was inclined at first to act as sentinel, just as he had done
+before, but he had already declared that there was nothing to be feared,
+and his friends were so in earnest that he could not well refuse their
+request. He would have preferred that they should gain all<span class="pagenum"><a name="p398" id="p398">398</a></span> the sleep
+they could, so as to lay up a stock, as may be said, against what was
+likely to come at the cabin, but he yielded. He agreed to their wishes,
+and in doing so, indulged in one of his smiles, the depth of whose
+meaning neither of the youths fully comprehended. In fact it simply
+meant that he understood their ability in that respect better than they
+did themselves.</p>
+
+<p>And so, after reading his Bible, a portion of it aloud, he lay down upon
+the blanket of Terry, as he did two nights before, and soon fell asleep.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to obsarve the same," remarked Terry; "for the good lookin'
+spalpeen must be in naad of slumber. I say, Fred, did ye iver saa the
+loikes of him? We must git him to run a race and jump and swim and stand
+on his head and show jist what he can do. I'm glad as I say to obsarve
+that he is aslaap, for he must naad the same. I say, Fred, let's stay
+awake till daylight, so as to fool him."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad to do that in return for the watch he kept over us the other
+night; but if you and I undertake to sit up at the same time we shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="p399" id="p399">399</a></span>
+fail. So I'll lie down and sleep awhile. When you find yourself getting
+drowsy, wake me up and then I shall be able to keep my eyes open until
+morning. In that way Deerfoot may have a whole night of rest."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm agraaable to the same."</p>
+
+<p>The plan was carried out, that is, a part of it, Fred Linden soon
+dropped asleep, and, within an hour, Terry Clark did the same. When
+Deerfoot threw his blanket off his face and assumed the sitting
+position, he saw just what he expected to see and he allowed them to
+slumber peacefully until daylight.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="p400" id="p400">400</a></span>
+<a name="CONCLUSION_7897" id="CONCLUSION_7897"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2>
+<h3>CONCLUSION.</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The awaking of the boys was of the most pleasant character. The sky had
+cleared and the sunlight penetrated between the branches from which the
+autumn leaves were fast falling. The crispness which is felt at that
+season of the year, stirred the young hearts and enlivened the spirits
+in spite of the serious situation in which all three found themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The odor of broiling fish was snuffed by the lads, and nothing could
+have been more delicious and appetizing. They were very hungry, and the
+night before they supposed they would have to wait indefinitely for
+their morning meal, but they opened their eyes to find that Deerfoot had
+provided the most toothsome breakfast that could be imagined.</p>
+
+<p>In the early morning light, fully two hours before the sun appeared,
+Deerfoot crossed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p401" id="p401">401</a></span> stream in his own canoe, and, taking the trail,
+ran several miles at the highest speed. While he did not go far enough
+to see the camp-fire of the main war party of Winnebagos, he did not
+pause until certain that they had stayed in camp all night and would not
+cross the stream where the boys lay asleep until the forenoon was half
+gone. So the Shawanoe hastened back, and dropped a short distance down
+stream in his canoe, having obtained his paddle, to an eddy where it
+took but a few minutes for him to coax a half dozen fish from the cool,
+clear depths, and these were just browning to a turn when the boys
+opened their eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Fred and Terry looked in each other's faces and laughed. They knew what
+an absurd failure they had made. They had promised to watch while
+Deerfoot slept, and then left him to act as sentinel until morning.</p>
+
+<p>"It was your fault," whispered Fred, hunting in his pocket for the
+package of salt and pepper which survived, despite the wetting it had
+received; "why didn't you wake me up, as I told you to do?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="p402" id="p402">402</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How could I wake ye up when I was aslaap mesilf?" was the pertinent
+query of Terry; "I think I was only a half minute behind yersilf in
+beginning me swate dreams."</p>
+
+<p>"Even if you had roused me," said Fred, "I suppose I would have dropped
+to sleep the same as you; no one can keep awake (unless it is Deerfoot)
+while sitting on the ground. Well, I am sure I shan't say any thing
+about it if <i>he</i> doesn't."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us shake on that," whispered Terry, stealthily extending his hand.</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot acted as though unaware that any such lapse had occurred. The
+browned fish were spread on the green leaves, and Fred sprinkled the
+seasoning upon the portions to be eaten by himself and Terry; the
+Shawanoe preferred none on his.</p>
+
+<p>"If nothing unexpected happens," said Fred, "we will arrive at the cabin
+to-day."</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe inclined his head by way of answer.</p>
+
+<p>"When will the Winnebagos that are following us come to this stream?"</p>
+
+<p>Deerfoot pointed to a portion of the sky<span class="pagenum"><a name="p403" id="p403">403</a></span> which the sun would reach in
+about three hours from that time.</p>
+
+<p>"The Winnebagos are together; there may be a few coming from different
+parts of the wood, but Black Bear has most of his warriors with him, and
+he feels strong enough to destroy the cabin and our brothers who are
+there."</p>
+
+<p>"There are three there now, and when we join them there will be six. If
+father and the rest have fair notice of their coming, they ought to be
+able to put every thing in good shape for a defense. It won't take them
+long to gather enough food to last for weeks, but how about water?"</p>
+
+<p>"They have no water; our brothers know not why they should have it."</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe meant to say that the men, seeing no reason why they should
+collect any store of water within their primitive structure, never did
+so. It was at their door, and, when they wished to drink, they had but
+to stoop down and drink. Believing no such emergency as now threatened
+could arise, they failed to make any provision against it.</p>
+
+<p>"I've been thinkin'," said Terry, "that<span class="pagenum"><a name="p404" id="p404">404</a></span> bein' as how we started from
+Greville to j'in the Hunters of the Ozark, with the idaa of spindin' the
+winter with the same, that from the time we started we were mimbers of
+the same, but timporarily separated by a wide stritch of woods; what are
+yer own idaas?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not sure that I understand what you are trying to get at, but if
+you mean to say that we may call ourselves two of the Hunters of the
+Ozark, I see no objection if we are a few days behind the rest in
+reaching the beaver runs."</p>
+
+<p>"Oblige me by tistifying to the same," said Terry, rather effusively,
+shoving his hand toward his friend, who suspended operations with the
+fish long enough to salute him.</p>
+
+<p>The breakfast was quickly finished, and the boys helped each other with
+their knapsacks, caught up their guns and followed Deerfoot as he led
+the way back to the trail. He did not hint any thing about their failure
+to keep guard for him the night before, though they felt sure that they
+would hear from him at some time not very far distant.</p>
+
+<p>When they found themselves following the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p405" id="p405">405</a></span> path that had become so
+familiar, they glanced furtively behind, half expecting to hear the
+Winnebago war whoop and to see the warriors rushing after them; but not
+a living soul beside themselves was in sight, and the quiet assurance of
+their leader very nearly removed all such fear from them.</p>
+
+<p>"Are there any more streams to cross?" asked Fred, a moment after they
+started along the trail.</p>
+
+<p>"There are none."</p>
+
+<p>"That is good, and since we are several hours in advance of the Indians,
+we ought to be able to reach the cabin in time to give them warning,
+that is, if they are in need of it."</p>
+
+<p>"How can they help being in need?" asked Terry.</p>
+
+<p>"The horses were turned loose to look after themselves, and though I
+can't know for some time how it is, it seems to me that it could well
+happen that they would not miss the animals for several days and
+possibly not for a week or two."</p>
+
+<p>The best ground for doubting that the Hunters of the Ozark were aware of
+the theft of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p406" id="p406">406</a></span> horses was the fact that there had been no pursuit.
+Those men, it is safe to say, would not have stayed idle had they known
+that three vagabond Indians were astride of their property and riding to
+the northward. With the three fleeter animals at command, they would
+have been after them in a twinkling: they would not have been obliged to
+wait till they met Fred Linden before receiving some rifle shots.</p>
+
+<p>Fred was confirmed in this theory by Deerfoot, who declared that such
+was his explanation of the failure of the hunters to pursue the thieves.</p>
+
+<p>For two hours the trail which they were following steadily ascended,
+until they were considerably higher than when they left camp in the
+morning. The undergrowth was abundant, and the wood in some places was
+so dense that they could see only a short distance on either hand. The
+trail was sinuous, winding in and out among the rocks in a way that
+would have bewildered any one not used to such traveling.</p>
+
+<p>At last they reached the ridge of the elevation<span class="pagenum"><a name="p407" id="p407">407</a></span> up which they had been
+climbing, and found themselves on the margin of a plateau or rather
+valley, beyond which rose the rugged, precipitous Ozarks. Since the
+ground sloped away from them, in the direction of the mountains, their
+view was extended over many square miles of forest, stream and natural
+clearing, to the mountain walls beyond, looking dim and soft in the
+distance, with the hazy air between.</p>
+
+<p>"Do my brothers see the gleam of the water yonder?" asked Deerfoot,
+pointing to a winding stream, large enough to be called a river, though
+it was half hidden by the woods. Its course was in the main at right
+angles to the trail which the boys had been following, though, at times
+it seemed to run straight toward and then away from them.</p>
+
+<p>The youths answered that they could not very well look in the direction
+indicated by their friend, without seeing the stream to which he
+directed their attention.</p>
+
+<p>The Shawanoe placed himself so that he stood in front of the two.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said he, "let my brothers follow<span class="pagenum"><a name="p408" id="p408">408</a></span> Deerfoot's finger and tell me
+what they see."</p>
+
+<p>Pointing well to the right, he slowly swung his index finger toward the
+left, until he had described about a quarter of a circle.</p>
+
+<p>Since it was not easy for the two to look exactly at the point meant, at
+the same time, Terry Clark first tried it. Removing his cap, he closed
+one eye and carefully peered along the extended arm of the Shawanoe as
+though it was a rifle which he was about to aim and fire.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" asked Fred, a moment later, with some impatience over the
+plodding deliberation of his companion.</p>
+
+<p>"I obsarve a big lot of traas, some rocks, some water and a claarin'
+where ye could raise a big lot of praties, and&mdash;and&mdash;and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I see what you mean!" exclaimed Fred in some excitement; "right in the
+middle of the clearing stands a large cabin made of logs."</p>
+
+<p>"It's mesilf that obsarves the same," added Terry, replacing his cap and
+looking inquiringly at the Shawanoe, who let his extended<span class="pagenum"><a name="p409" id="p409">409</a></span> arm fall as
+he faced about and said: "That is the home of my brothers; that is the
+cabin of the Hunters of the Ozark."</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah!" called out Terry; "we're purty near there."</p>
+
+<p>"But we don't know how matters stand," said Fred; "even Deerfoot can not
+tell whether they are all alive or dead."</p>
+
+<p>"I know bitter than that," remarked Terry, appealing straight to the
+Shawanoe, who, without directly answering the question, notified them of
+an interesting fact: a thin column of smoke was rising from the cabin.</p>
+
+<p>"That shows that some one is in there," said the Irish lad, "but whither
+he is white or rid, I don't s'pose the Shawanoe, with all his smartness,
+can tell even at this distance."</p>
+
+<p>"My brother speaks truth," said Deerfoot; "our brothers may be well and
+they maybe dead and the Winnebagos may have built the fire to lure us to
+them: we shall soon know."</p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p>Here for the present we must pause, for we have already filled the space
+assigned to us; but we propose soon to tell you all about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="p410" id="p410">410</a></span>
+adventures of Deerfoot, Fred and Terry, and of their friends the Hunters
+of the Ozark, whom they were trying to help. The story in which this
+will be related will appear under the title of</p>
+
+<p class='center'><span class="smcap">"THE CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS.</span>"</p>
+
+<hr class='full' />
+
+<h2>FAMOUS STANDARD<br />JUVENILE LIBRARIES.</h2>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>ANY VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY AT $1.00 PER VOLUME</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>(Except the Sportsman's Club Series, Frank Nelson Series and Jack Hazard
+Series.).</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>Each Volume Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth.</p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p class='center'>HORATIO ALGER, JR.</p>
+
+<p>The enormous sales of the books of Horatio Alger, Jr., show the
+greatness of his popularity among the boys, and prove that he is one of
+their most favored writers. I am told that more than half a million
+copies altogether have been sold, and that all the large circulating
+libraries in the country have several complete sets, of which only two
+or three volumes are ever on the shelves at one time. If this is true,
+what thousands and thousands of boys have read and are reading Mr.
+Alger's books! His peculiar style of stories, often imitated but never
+equaled, have taken a hold upon the young people, and, despite their
+similarity, are eagerly read as soon as they appear.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Alger became famous with the publication of that undying book,
+"Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York." It was his first book for
+young people, and its success was so great that he immediately devoted
+himself to that kind of writing. It was a new and fertile field for a
+writer then, and Mr. Alger's treatment of it at once caught the fancy of
+the boys. "Ragged Dick" first appeared in 1868, and ever since then it
+has been selling steadily, until now it is estimated that about 200,000
+copies of the series have been sold.</p>
+
+<p style='text-align:right'>&mdash;<i>Pleasant Hours for Boys and Girls</i>.</p>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+<h2><a name="HENRY_T_COATES_COS_POPULAR_JUVENILES" id="HENRY_T_COATES_COS_POPULAR_JUVENILES"></a>HENRY T. COATES &amp; CO.'S POPULAR JUVENILES.</h2>
+
+<p>A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy with them. He should
+be able to enter into their plans, hopes, and aspirations. He should
+learn to look upon life as they do. Boys object to be written down to. A
+boy's heart opens to the man or writer who understands him.</p>
+
+<p style='text-align:right'>&mdash;From <i>Writing Stories for Boys</i>, by Horatio Alger, Jr.</p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p class='adtitle'>RAGGED DICK SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>6 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $6.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Ragged Dick.</td><td>Rough and Ready.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Fame and Fortune.</td><td>Ben the Luggage Boy.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Mark the Match Boy.</td><td>Rufus and Rose.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>TATTERED TOM SERIES&mdash;First Series.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>4 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $4.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Tattered Tom.</td><td>Phil the Fiddler.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Paul the Peddler.</td><td>Slow and Sure.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>TATTERED TOM SERIES&mdash;Second Series.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>4 vols. $4.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Julius.</td><td>Sam's Chance.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>The Young Outlaw.</td><td>The Telegraph Boy.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>CAMPAIGN SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Frank's Campaign.</td><td>Charlie Codman's Cruise.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan="2" style='text-align:center'>Paul Prescott's Charge.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES&mdash;First Series.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>4 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $4.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Luck and Pluck.</td><td>Strong and Steady.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Sink or Swim.</td><td>Strive and Succeed.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES&mdash;Second Series.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>4 vols. $4.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Try and Trust.</td><td>Bound to Rise.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Risen from the Ranks.</td><td>Herbert Carter's Legacy.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>4 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. $4.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Brave and Bold.</td><td>Jack's Ward.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Shifting for Himself.</td><td>Wait and Hope.</td></tr>
+</table>
+<p class='adtitle'>NEW WORLD SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $3.00</p>
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Digging for Gold.</td><td>In a New World.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>Facing the World.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>VICTORY SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Only an Irish Boy.</td><td>Victor Vane, or the Young Secretary.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>Adrift in the City.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>FRANK AND FEARLESS SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Frank Hunter's Peril.</td><td>The Young Salesman.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>Frank and Fearless.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>GOOD FORTUNE LIBRARY.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Walter Sherwood's Probation.</td><td>The Young Bank Messenger.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>A Boy's Fortune.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>RUPERT'S AMBITION.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>1 vol. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> $1.00</p>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>JED, THE POOR-HOUSE BOY.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>1 vol. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr.</span>. $1.00</p>
+
+<hr class='dashed' />
+
+<h2><a name="HARRY_CASTLEMON" id="HARRY_CASTLEMON"></a>HARRY CASTLEMON.</h2>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p class='adtitle'>HOW I CAME TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK.</p>
+
+<p>When I was sixteen years old I belonged to a composition class. It was
+our custom to go on the recitation seat every day with clean slates, and
+we were allowed ten minutes to write seventy words on any subject the
+teacher thought suited to our capacity. One day he gave out "What a Man
+Would See if He Went to Greenland." My heart was in the matter, and
+before the ten minutes were up I had one side of my slate filled. The
+teacher listened to the reading of our compositions, and when they were
+all over he simply said: "Some of you will make your living by writing
+one of these days." That gave me something to ponder upon. I did not say
+so out loud, but I knew that my composition was as good as the best of
+them. By the way, there was another thing that came in my way just then.
+I was reading at that time one of Mayne Reid's works which I had drawn
+from the library, and I pondered upon it as much as I did upon what the
+teacher said to me. In introducing Swartboy to his readers he made use
+of this expression: "No visible change was observable in Swartboy's
+countenance." Now, it occurred to me that if a man of his education
+could make such a blunder as that and still write a book, I ought to be
+able to do it, too. I went home that very day and began a story, "The
+Old Guide's Narrative," which was sent to the <i>New York Weekly</i>, and
+came back, respectfully declined. It was written on both sides of the
+sheets but I didn't know that this was against the rules. Nothing
+abashed, I began another, and receiving some instruction, from a friend
+of mine who was a clerk in a book store, I wrote it on only one side of
+the paper. But mind you, he didn't know what I was doing. Nobody knew
+it; but one day, after a hard Saturday's work&mdash;the other boys had been
+out skating on the brick-pond&mdash;I shyly broached the subject to my
+mother. I felt the need of some sympathy. She listened in amazement, and
+then said: "Why, do you think you could write a book like that?" That
+settled the matter, and from that day no one knew what I was up to until
+I sent the first four volumes of Gunboat Series to my father. Was it
+work? Well, yes; it was hard work, but each week I had the satisfaction
+of seeing the manuscript grow until the "Young Naturalist" was all
+complete.</p>
+
+<p style='text-align:right'>
+&mdash;<i>Harry Castlemon in the Writer.</i><br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class='minor' />
+
+<p class='adtitle'>GUNBOAT SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>6 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $6.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Frank the Young Naturalist.</td><td>Frank before Vicksburg.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Frank on a Gunboat.</td><td>Frank on the Lower Mississippi.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Frank in the Woods.</td><td>Frank on the Prairie.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Frank Among the Rancheros.</td><td>Frank in the Mountains.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.75</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle.</td><td>The Sportsman's Club.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>The Sportsman's Club Afloat.</td><td>Among the Trappers.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>FRANK NELSON SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.75</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Snowed up.</td><td>Frank in the Forecastle.</td><td>The Boy Traders.</td>
+    </tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>BOY TRAPPER SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+    <tr>
+        <td>The Buried Treasure.</td><td>The Mail Carrier.</td><td>The Boy Trapper.</td>
+    </tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>ROUGHING IT SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>George in Camp.</td><td>George at the Wheel.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>George at the Fort.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>ROD AND GUN SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Don Gordon's Shooting Box.</td><td>Rod and Gun Club.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>The Young Wild Fowlers.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>GO-AHEAD SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Tom Newcombe.</td><td>No Moss.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>Go-Ahead.</td><td></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>WAR SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>6 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $6.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>True to His Colors.</td><td>Marcy the Refugee.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Marcy the Blockade-Runner.</td><td>Rodney the Overseer.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>Rodney the Partisan.</td><td>Sailor Jack the Trader.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>HOUSEBOAT SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>The Houseboat Boys.</td><td>The Young Game Warden.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>The Mystery of Lost River Ca&ntilde;on.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>AFLOAT AND ASHORE SERIES.</p>
+
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vols. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>Rebellion in Dixie.</td><td>The Ten-Ton Cutter.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>A Sailor in Spite of Himself.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class='adtitle'>THE PONY EXPRESS SERIES.</p>
+
+<p class='adsubtitle'>3 vol. <span class="smcap">By Harry Castlemon.</span> $3.00</p>
+
+<table class='adv' summary='book list'>
+<tr><td>The Pony Express Rider.</td><td>Carl, The Trailer.</td></tr>
+<tr><td colspan='2' style='text-align:center'>The White Beaver.</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis
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+</body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,8653 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Hunters of the Ozark
+
+Author: Edward S. Ellis
+
+Release Date: September 17, 2007 [EBook #22646]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Terry heard distinctly the footsteps of the warrior."]
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+THE
+HUNTERS OF THE OZARK.
+
+BY
+EDWARD S. ELLIS
+
+Author Of "Young Pioneer Series," "Log Cabin Series,"
+"Great River Series," Etc., Etc.
+
+Philadelphia:
+Henry T. Coates & Co.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Copyright, 1887,
+by
+PORTER & COATES.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+CHAPTER. PAGE.
+
+         I.--AN ESTRAY,                                             5
+        II.--THE TINKLE OF A BELL,                                 15
+       III.--AN ABORIGINAL PLOT,                                   25
+        IV.--A PARTY OF THE THIRD PART,                            34
+         V.--A FRIEND IN NEED,                                     44
+        VI.--FRED LINDEN RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE OZARK CAMP,   54
+       VII.--THE HUNTERS OF OZARK,                                 64
+      VIII.--A WELCOME ACQUAINTANCE,                               74
+        IX.--A MISHAP,                                             84
+         X.--A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE,                                  94
+        XI.--TRAMPING SOUTHWARD,                                  104
+       XII.--A STRANGE ANIMAL,                                    114
+      XIII.--A TROUBLESOME VISITOR,                               124
+       XIV.--A WELCOME ALLY,                                      134
+        XV.--"DEERFOOT WILL BE SENTINEL TO-NIGHT,"                144
+       XVI.--AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE,                                154
+      XVII.--A SUSPICIOUS SOUND,                                  164
+     XVIII.--LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT,                           174
+       XIX.--SHAWANOE AND WINNEBAGO,                              185
+        XX.--ANOTHER NIGHT VISITOR,                               195
+       XXI.--THE CAMP OF THE WINNEBAGOS,                          205
+      XXII.--"KEEP TO THE TRAIL,"                                 215
+     XXIII.--AN INFURIATE SHAWANOE,                               225
+      XXIV.--THE DEFIANCE,                                        236
+       XXV.--THE SIGNAL FIRE,                                     245
+      XXVI.--ON THE EDGE OF THE PRAIRIE,                          257
+     XXVII.--A MORNING MEAL,                                      269
+    XXVIII.--A STRANGE RIDE,                                      281
+      XXIX.--A YOUNG HUNTER'S STRATEGY,                           293
+       XXX.--TERRY FINISHES HIS RIDE,                             305
+      XXXI.--THE DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL,                              316
+     XXXII.--THE TERROR IN THE AIR,                               328
+    XXXIII.--FRED LINDEN AWAKENS TO AN ALARMING FACT,             340
+     XXXIV.--THE CANOE,                                           352
+      XXXV.--AMERICA VERSUS IRELAND,                              364
+     XXXVI.--AMERICA VERSUS AMERICA,                              376
+    XXXVII.--THE LAST CAMP-FIRE,                                  388
+   XXXVIII.--CONCLUSION,                                          400
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+
+THE HUNTERS OF THE OZARK.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+AN ESTRAY.
+
+
+One day in the autumn Terence Clark came to the house of Frederick
+Linden and urged him to join in a hunt for a cow that had been missing
+since the night before. The latter got the consent of his mother and the
+two lads started on a search that proved to be the most eventful one
+they had ever known.
+
+A few words in the way of explanation must be given at this point. The
+date of the events I have set out to tell was toward the close of the
+last century, and the scene the south-western part of the present State
+of Missouri, but which was then a part of the vast territory known as
+Louisiana. Though the town of St. Louis had been settled a good many
+years before, there were only a few pioneers scattered through the
+almost limitless region that stretched in every direction from the
+Mississippi. Here and there the hunters and trappers were often absent
+from their homes for months at a time, during which they suffered much
+exposure and hardship. They slept for weeks in the open woods, or when
+the severity of the weather would not allow this, they found refuge in
+caves or hollow trees. Then, when enough skins had been gathered to load
+their pack-horses they started on the long tramps to the French trading
+post on the Mississippi. They followed faintly marked paths or trails
+that converged from a score or hundred different points until they
+reached the Father of Waters, where the peltries were soon sold and the
+proceeds, too often, squandered within the succeeding few hours.
+
+At the date of which I am speaking, a small settlement known as Greville
+stood in the south-western section of the large State of Missouri, as it
+is now known. The first cabins were put up only a few years before, and
+the settlers, including men, women and children, numbered about two
+hundred. Near the center of the straggling settlement stood a rude but
+strong blockhouse to be used for refuge in the event of an attack by
+Indians. As yet this emergency had not arisen, for the red men in that
+section were far less warlike and hostile than those in Ohio and
+Kentucky.
+
+The father of Fred Linden was one of the hunters and trappers who made
+regular visits to the wild section near the Ozark Mountains for the
+purpose of gathering furs. He never had less than two companions, and
+sometimes the number was half a dozen. As you are well aware, the furs
+of all animals are in the finest condition in wintry weather, since
+nature does her best to guard their bodies from the effects of cold.
+Thus it came about that the party of hunters, of whom I shall have more
+to say further on, left Greville in the autumn of the year, and as a
+rule were not seen again until spring. Since they entered a fine,
+fur-bearing country, these trips generally paid well. One convenience
+was that the hunters were not obliged to go to St. Louis to sell them.
+An agent of the great fur company that made its headquarters at that
+post, came regularly to Greville with his pack-horses and gave the same
+price for the peltries that he would have given had they been brought to
+the factory, hundreds of miles away. He was glad to do this, for the
+furs that George Linden and his brother hunters brought in were not
+surpassed in glossiness and fineness by any of the thousands gathered
+from the four points of the compass.
+
+Among the daring little band that made these regular visits to the Ozark
+region was an Irishman named Michael Clark, who had had considerable
+experience in gathering furs along the Mississippi. It was at his
+suggestion that Greville was founded, and one-half of their periodical
+journeys thus cut off. On the year following, Clark was shot and killed
+by a prowling Indian. Since his wife had been dead a long time, the only
+child, Terence, was thus left an orphan. The lad was a bright,
+good-natured fellow, liked by every one, and he made his home with the
+family of one of the other hunters named Rufus MacClaskey. The boy was
+fifteen years old on the very day that he walked over to the cabin of
+Fred Linden and asked him to help him hunt for the missing cow.
+
+The family of George Linden, while he was away, consisted of his wife,
+his daughter Edith, fourteen, and his son Fred, sixteen years old. All
+were ruddy cheeked, strong and vigorous, and among the best to do of the
+thirty-odd families that made up the population of Greville.
+
+"Has the cow ever been lost before?" asked Fred, as he and the Irish lad
+swung along beside each other, neither thinking it worth while to burden
+himself with a rifle.
+
+"Niver that I knows of, and I would know the same if she had been lost;
+we're onaisy about the cow, for you see that if this kaaps on and she
+doesn't come back I'll have to live on something else than bread and
+milk and praties."
+
+"Our cow came back just at sunset last night."
+
+"And so did them all, exciptin' our own, which makes me more onwillin'
+to accipt any excuse she may have to give."
+
+"Let me see, Terry; Brindle wore a bell round her neck, didn't she?"
+
+"That she did, and she seemed quite proud of the same."
+
+"Did you make hunt for her last night?"
+
+"I hunted as long as I could see to hunt; she wasn't missed, that is
+till after they got home. Whin I found that I didn't find her I started
+to find her; but I hadn't time to hunt very long whin it got dark and I
+had to give it up."
+
+"And didn't you hear any thing of the bell?"
+
+"Do ye think that if I heard the bell I wouldn't have found the cow? Why
+was the bell put round her neck if it wasn't to guide friends? I
+listened many a time after it got dark, but niver a tinkle did I hear."
+
+"That is queer," said Fred half to himself; "for, when no wind is
+blowing and it is calm, you can hear that bell a long ways; father has
+caught the sound in the woods, when the Brindle was all of a mile off. I
+wonder whether she could have lost the bell."
+
+"I've thought of that, and said to meself that it might be also that she
+had become lost herself in trying to find it."
+
+Fred laughed.
+
+"She hardly knows enough for _that_; and, if she found the bell she
+wouldn't know what to do with it; but if that leathern string around her
+neck had broken, it may be that she is close by. A cow after losing one
+milking is apt to feel so uncomfortable that she hurries home to be
+relieved; but what's the use of talking?" added Fred, throwing up his
+head and stepping off at a more lively pace; "we've started out to find
+her and that's all we have to do."
+
+Perhaps a dozen acres had been cleared around the little town of
+Greville. This had been planted with corn, potatoes and grain, though
+scores of unsightly stumps were left and interfered with the cultivation
+of the soil. Beyond this clearing or open space extended the immense
+forests which at one time covered almost the entire face of our country.
+On the south side of the town and distant a furlong wound a creek, which
+after many shiftings and turnings found its way into the Mississippi and
+so at last into the Gulf of Mexico. The course of this stream was so
+winding that it extended on two sides of the town and ran in a westerly
+direction, exactly the opposite of that it finally had to take in order
+to reach its outlet.
+
+As a rule, it was about twenty feet wide with a depth of from one or two
+to six feet. It was subject to tremendous overflows which sometimes
+tripled its volume and increased its width to that of a river. At such
+times a series of enormous rocks through which the creek at "low tide"
+lazily wound its way, lashed the turbid current into a fury somewhat
+like that seen in the "whirlpool" below Niagara. Could you have stood on
+the shore and looked at the furiously struggling waters, you would have
+been sure that even if a man were headed up in a barrel, he could not
+have lived to pass through the hundred yards of rapids, though there was
+reason to believe that more than one Indian had shot them in his canoe.
+
+Terry Clark told his friend that his search of the night before and of
+the morning following had been to the north and west of the settlement,
+so that it was hardly worth while to continue the hunt in that
+direction. The cows sometimes stood in the water, where so much
+switching of their tails was not needed to keep away the flies, and,
+though there was quite a growth of succulent grass on the clearing, the
+animals often crossed the creek and browsed through the woods and
+undergrowth on the other side.
+
+The boys were inclined to think that the brindle had taken that course
+during the afternoon and had actually gone astray,--something which a
+quadruped is less likely to do than a biped, though the former will
+sometimes make the blunder. There was nothing unreasonable in the theory
+that the bell had fallen from her neck and that the owner therefore
+might be not far away.
+
+At intervals, Terry shouted "_Bos! bos! bos!_" the Latin call which the
+cow sometimes recognized, though she generally paid no attention to it.
+It was the same now, possibly due to the fact that she did not hear the
+call.
+
+Reaching the edge of the stream, the boys began walking along the bank
+toward the left and scrutinizing the spongy earth close to the water.
+If the missing animal had crossed the creek she could not have failed to
+leave distinct footprints.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE TINKLE OF A BELL.
+
+
+The examination of the shore of the creek had lasted but a few minutes,
+when Terry Clark, pointing to the moist earth at their feet, called out
+in some excitement:
+
+"Do ye mind that now?"
+
+There, sure enough, were the footprints of a cow that had entered the
+stream from the same side on which the boys stood. The impressions could
+be seen for some distance in the clear water, which in the middle of the
+stream was no more than a yard deep, and they were plainly observed
+where the animal had emerged on the other side.
+
+"I don't suppose there is any difference in the tracks of cows, but I
+guess, Terry, that we are safe in making up our minds we are on the
+trail of Brindle."
+
+"I'm thinking the same," replied the other, who was not only looking
+across the creek, but into the woods beyond, as though he expected to
+catch sight of the cow herself; "though it may be the one that crossed
+there isn't the one that we're after."
+
+Fred Linden was asking himself whether there was not some way in which
+they could reach the other side without going to the trouble of removing
+their shoes and leggins, and hunting a shallow portion, or allowing
+their garments to become saturated. He exclaimed: "Why didn't I think of
+it? There's our canoe!"
+
+A number of these frail craft were owned in Greville, and Fred had a
+fine one himself, which was only a short distance off. Three minutes
+later the two reached it.
+
+The barken structure was moored by means of a long rope to a tree a
+considerable distance from the water, so that in case of one of those
+sudden rises that sometimes took place, it would not be carried away by
+the freshet. The boat was quickly launched, and a few strokes of the
+paddle carried the two to the opposite bank of the stream.
+
+"I wonder whether there is any danger of a rise," remarked Fred, as he
+carried the rope to a tree twenty feet distant and made it fast to a
+limb; "there was a good deal of thunder and lightning last night off to
+the east."
+
+"But the creek doesn't come from that way," said the surprised Terry;
+"so what is the odds, as me father said he used to ask when the Injins
+was on all sides of him, and a panther in the tree he wanted to climb,
+and he found himself standing on the head of a rattlesnake."
+
+"The creek winds through every point of the compass, so it doesn't make
+much difference, as you say, where it rains, since it is sure to make a
+rise; the only question is whether the rain was enough to affect the
+creek so that it will trouble us."
+
+"If it was goin' to do that, wouldn't it have done so before this?" was
+the natural question of his companion.
+
+"That depends on how far away the rain was."
+
+The boys were not idle while talking. The canoe was soon made fast, and
+then they resumed their hunt for the estray. They were not skillful
+enough in woodcraft to trace the animal through the forest by the means
+that an Indian would have used, but they were hopeful that by taking a
+general direction they would soon find her. If she still had the bell
+tied around her neck, there was no reason why they should not be
+successful.
+
+But while walking forward, Fred Linden asked a question of himself that
+he did not repeat aloud.
+
+"Has she been stolen?"
+
+This query was naturally followed by others. It certainly was
+unreasonable to think that a cow would leave her companions and
+deliberately wander off, at the time she was milked twice daily. She
+would speedily suffer such distress that she would come bellowing
+homeward for relief. If she really was an estray, she had missed two
+milkings--that of the previous night and the morning that succeeded.
+
+It was certain, therefore, that if she was stolen, the thief had
+attended to her milking. But who could the thief be? That was the
+important question that Fred confessed himself unable to answer.
+
+There had been occasional instances of white men who had stolen horses
+from the frontier settlements, but the lad could recall nothing of the
+kind that had taken place in that neighborhood; all of which might be
+the case without affecting the present loss, since it was evident that
+there must be a first theft of that nature.
+
+But, somehow or other, Fred could not help suspecting that the red men
+had to do with the disappearance of the animal. I have intimated in
+another place that Greville had never been harmed by the Indians, who
+were scattered here and there through the country, for there was no
+comparison between them and the fierce Shawanoes, Wyandottes,
+Pottawatomies and other tribes, whose deeds gave to Kentucky its
+impressive title of the Dark and Bloody Ground; but among the different
+bands of red men who roamed through the great wilderness west of the
+Mississippi, were those who were capable of as atrocious cruelties as
+were ever committed by the fierce warriors further east.
+
+What more likely, therefore, than that a party of these had stolen the
+cow and driven her away?
+
+There were many facts that were in favor of and against the theory; the
+chief one against it was that if a party of Indians had driven off one
+cow, they would have taken more. Then, too, the soft earth that had
+revealed the hoof tracks ought to have shown the imprint of moccasins.
+
+You will see, therefore, that Fred could speculate for hours on the
+question without satisfying himself. He was sorry that he and Terry had
+not brought their guns with them, and was half inclined to go back. It
+was not yet noon, and they had plenty of time in which to do so.
+
+"Terry," said Fred, turning suddenly about and addressing his friend,
+who was walking behind him, "we made a mistake in not bringing our
+guns."
+
+The Irish lad was about to answer when he raised his hand in a warning
+way and said:
+
+"Hist!"
+
+Both stood as motionless as the tree trunks about them, all their
+faculties centered in the one of hearing.
+
+There was the low, deep roar which is always heard in a vast wood, made
+by the soft wind stealing among the multitudinous branches, and which is
+like the voice of silence itself. They were so far from the creek that
+its soft ripple failed to reach them.
+
+"I don't hear any thing," said Fred at the end of a full minute.
+
+"Nor do I," said Terry.
+
+"Why then did you ask me to listen?"
+
+"I was thinkin' be that token that we might hear something."
+
+"What made you think so?"
+
+"The tinkle of a bell."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the amazed Fred, "are you sure?"
+
+"That I am; just as I was about to speak, I caught the faint sound--just
+as we've both heard hundreds of times."
+
+"From what point did it seem to come?"
+
+His friend pointed due south.
+
+"Strange it is that ye didn't catch the same."
+
+"So I think; it may be, Terry, that you are mistaken, and you wanted to
+hear the bell so much that the sound was in your fancy."
+
+The lad, however, would not admit this. He was sure there had been no
+mistake. Fred was about to argue further when all doubt was set at rest
+by the sound of a cow-bell that came faintly but clearly through the
+forest.
+
+"You are right," said Fred, his face brightening up; "we are on the
+track of old Brindle sure enough. It's mighty strange though how she
+came to wander so far from home."
+
+"She got lost I s'pose," replied Terry, repeating the theory that had
+been hit upon some time before.
+
+"It may be, but it is the first instance I ever heard of, where an
+animal lost its way so easily."
+
+The boys were in too high spirits, however, to try to explain that which
+puzzled them. The cow was a valuable creature, being the only one that
+belonged to the family with whom Terence lived, and who therefore could
+ill afford her loss.
+
+The friends had pushed perhaps a couple hundred yards further when
+Terry called to Fred that he was not following the right course.
+
+"Ye're bearing too much to the lift; so much so indaad that if ye kaap
+on ye'll find yersilf lift."
+
+"Why, I was about to turn a little more in that direction," replied the
+astonished Fred; "you are altogether wrong."
+
+But the other sturdily insisted that he was right, and he was so
+positive that he stopped short, and refused to go another step in the
+direction that his friend was following. The latter was just as certain
+that Terry was amiss, and it looked as if they had come to a deadlock.
+
+"There's only one way to settle it," said Fred, "and that is for each of
+us to follow the route he thinks right. The cow can't be far off and we
+shall soon find out who is wrong. The first one that finds Brindle shall
+call to the other, and he'll own up what a stupid blunder he has made."
+
+"Ye are speakin' me own sentiments," replied Terry, who kept looking
+about him and listening as if he expected every moment that the cow
+herself would solve the question. Fred Linden read the meaning of his
+action, and he, too, wondered why it was that when both had plainly
+caught the tinkle of the telltale bell, they should hear it no more.
+Strange that when it had spoken so clearly it should become silent, but
+such was the fact.
+
+Little did either suspect the cause.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+AN ABORIGINAL PLOT.
+
+
+The boys tried the plan of Fred Linden; he swerved slightly to the left,
+while Terry Clark made a sharp angle to the right. They never thought of
+getting beyond hearing of each other, and, but for the plentiful
+undergrowth they would have kept in sight. They had taken but a few
+steps when Fred looked around and found that he was alone. He could hear
+his young friend pushing his way among the trees, and once or twice he
+caught snatches of a tune that he was whistling--that being a favorite
+pastime of the lad when by himself.
+
+"It's curious how he could make such a blunder," thought Fred, with a
+smile to himself; "he will go tramping around the woods only to find
+that he was nowhere in the neighborhood of the cow. Ah, the storm is not
+yet over."
+
+He was looking to the eastward, where the sky, as he caught a glimpse of
+it among the treetops and branches, was as black as if overcast with one
+huge thunder cloud.
+
+"It was there it raged so violently last night, and the rain is falling
+in torrents again. We shall find the creek a river when we go back."
+
+The sturdy youth pressed on fully two hundred yards more, when the old
+suspicion came back to him. There was something wrong. When he could not
+explain some things he was satisfied that it was because there was an
+element of evil in those things--something that boded ill to both him
+and his friend.
+
+"I have traveled far enough since hearing that bell to pass a long ways
+beyond it," he said, compressing his lips and shaking his head; "and if
+that was Brindle that rang it the first time, she would have done it the
+second time."
+
+Twice before Fred fancied he heard something moving among the
+undergrowth a short distance in advance, and a little to one side. The
+noise was now so distinct that he could no longer deceive himself;
+there was some specific cause for it.
+
+"I guess Terry has worked over this way, finding what a mistake he has
+made--no! by gracious! it isn't Terry!"
+
+Fred started in alarm, confident that it was an Indian that was moving
+through the wood. It will be admitted that there was cause for his fear,
+if such should prove to be the case, for he was without any firearms
+with which to defend himself; but while he stood meditating whether he
+should turn and take to his heels, he caught enough of a glimpse of the
+object to make out that it was a quadruped instead of a biped.
+
+This was a great relief, though it did not remove all fear, for he was
+not in form to meet any of the wild beasts that one was liable to run
+against at any time. The next minute, he broke into a hearty laugh, for
+that which he saw was the lost cow, quietly browsing on the tender
+herbs, as though just turned loose by her owner.
+
+"Well, that is funny," said the youth, walking hastily toward her; "this
+proves that I was right. You are a pretty one, old Brindle, to lead us
+on such a chase!"
+
+The cow, hearing the voice and footsteps, stopped cropping, and with her
+motionless jaws dripping with leaves and buds, started at Fred as if she
+wasn't sure of his identity. She knew enough, however, to see that he
+was a friend, and so resumed her feeding.
+
+Assuring himself that she was the estray, Fred looked at her bag to see
+the condition of that. It was only moderately full, proving that she had
+been milked later even than the preceding night.
+
+Fred Linden had approached close enough to place his hand on the
+handsome creature, when he noticed--what indeed he knew before--the bell
+was not fastened to her neck; that explained why, after hearing the
+sound, it was heard no more.
+
+"The cord has broken just after the tinkle, and let the bell fall to the
+ground; no wonder that it was not heard again. Some one has been kind
+enough to give Brindle a milking."
+
+The words were yet in the mouth of Fred when he received a shock that
+for a moment held him speechless; a long distance to the right he
+caught the sound of the cow-bell!
+
+It was precisely the same that he and his friend had noticed, and since
+the bell of Brindle was gone, there could be but one meaning to the
+signal; it was made by some one for the purpose of drawing the boys into
+a trap.
+
+Without pausing to think over the dozen questions that came with this
+conclusion, Fred set off at the most hurried pace possible to warn his
+friend of his peril.
+
+"He has no suspicion of any thing wrong, and is sure to do the very
+thing that he ought not to do."
+
+Fred Linden was right in this conclusion. It can be readily understood,
+why no thought of peril should enter the brain of the Irish lad, who was
+never so sure that he was right and Fred wrong when the two parted to
+take different routes in search of the cow.
+
+"It's a bright lad--is Fred," said Terry, "but there isn't any law that
+I knows of by which he is to be right ivery time and Mr. Terence Clark
+wrong. I'm going straight for the point where the tinkle of the bell
+came from."
+
+The same thought puzzled him that puzzled Fred Linden; after walking
+more than the whole distance that first intervened, the cow was still
+invisible. There was nothing in the fact that when she had strayed so
+far from home, she should keep on in the same direction.
+
+"It may be that she has heard something about the Pacific Ocean, and has
+set out to see for herself whither the reports are correct," was the
+quaint thought of the Irish lad, as he pushed vigorously through the
+undergrowth, which was dense enough to turn him aside more than once and
+compel him to keep his wits about him to prevent going astray
+altogether.
+
+Now and then he paused, naturally expecting (as did Fred), that he would
+hear more of the bell; but it is not necessary to say that, like his
+companion, he was disappointed. He had fixed the point whence came the
+noise so firmly in his mind, that he could not go wrong, though a boy of
+less experience in the woods would have been sure to do so.
+
+Now, if any of you lads have ever driven cows or sheep, around whose
+necks bells were hung, you have noticed the natural fact that they have
+a sound peculiar to themselves. Referring particularly to cows, you may
+have observed the _jangle_, _jangle_, made by the motion of the head in
+cropping the grass, varied now and then by the confused jumble caused by
+the animal flinging her head over the back of her neck or fore part of
+the body to drive away the insects plaguing her. There is a certain
+regularity in all this which will continue for hours, and that may be
+said to be produced by the natural action of the animal, and which is
+altogether different from that made by the swaying motion of the hand.
+
+But Terry Clark inherited a sharpness of wits from his parents, and,
+while pushing forward among the trees and undergrowth, it struck him
+that there were several curious features about the matter.
+
+"It was a mistake, as Fred said," he thought more than once, "that we
+did not bring our guns with us."
+
+Then the second sound of the cow-bell fell upon the ear of Fred Linden;
+Terry was within a hundred feet of the point whence it came, and he
+could not have heard it more distinctly had he been standing on the spot
+himself. The noise was so peculiar that a flood of misgiving overwhelmed
+him. The _tinkle_, _tinkle_, _tinkle_, was so regular that nothing was
+plainer than that no living quadruped could have made the sound.
+
+"That was not the cow," whispered the startled Terry; "she has more
+sinse than to do any thing of the kind, as me uncle used to obsarve whin
+he was accused of kaapin' sober; but I'll find out by the same token
+what it all means."
+
+Since he had no firearms with which to defend himself, and since he was
+sure he was threatened by danger, he ought to have hastened homeward;
+but his curiosity would not permit him to do so.
+
+He advanced with all the caution possible, parting the obstructing
+bushes in front and stepping as lightly on the carpet of leaves as
+though he were a scout entering the camp of an enemy. He often stopped,
+listened and peered, not only in front and the sides, but to the rear.
+Whatever might take place, he did not intend to be surprised.
+
+He had advanced a couple of rods in this manner, when a faint sound from
+the bell caught his ear, but was instantly suppressed, as though some
+one had stopped at the instant he started to sway it. Faint as was the
+tinkle, however, he was able to locate the precise point whence it came,
+and after a little hesitation he moved toward it.
+
+All at once he caught sight of a figure in a crouching position,
+stepping softly among the trees and undergrowth. He stood still, and a
+moment later was able to distinguish the figure of an Indian warrior,
+bending slightly forward, advancing inch by inch and holding the cow-bell
+in his hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+A PARTY OF THE THIRD PART.
+
+
+The Indian warrior whom Terry Clark saw advancing stealthily through the
+undergrowth, cow-bell in hand, was a frightful object. His head and
+shoulders were bent forward, and he was stepping slowly and silently,
+while he glanced from right to left, as if searching for some object, or
+awaiting the occurrence of an expected event. His face was daubed with
+black and red paint, his long hair, as coarse as that of a horse's tail,
+dangled about his shoulders and alongside his neck, so that his eyes,
+when staring through it, seemed to be blazing among so much tangled
+brush. The ordinary hunting shirt, fringed in front, inclosed his chest,
+and was gathered at the waist by a sash or belt into which were thrust
+his hunting knife and tomahawk. The usual breechcloth, leggins and
+moccasins completed his dress.
+
+He carried a fine rifle in his left hand, in a trailing position, while
+a powder horn and bullet pouch were supported by a string passing over
+his shoulder. He was what may be called a thoroughly equipped warrior,
+without taking into account the cow-bell, which was suspended by the
+thumb and fingers of the right hand. It was thus he must have grasped
+the implement when he caused it to give out the sound that caught the
+ear of Fred Linden and Terry Clark. But at the moment the Irish lad saw
+him, and for some minutes after, he held the bell in such careful poise
+that it gave no sound at all.
+
+The Indian probably suspected his imitation of the action of the animal
+was so poor that it was likely to cause distrust, and therefore he was
+sparing in resorting to the stratagem.
+
+Now, nothing can be clearer than that if the warrior was in such a plain
+view of Terry Clark, the latter was equally exposed to his eye. The
+Indian was moving in his guarded fashion over a course at right angles
+to that followed by the lad, who was quick to realize his peril. He knew
+that every second he remained thus exposed he was likely to be seen. He
+had hardly taken a glance of his enemy, when he stooped so that his
+knees almost touched the ground, and moved as noiselessly and quickly as
+he could to the nearest tree, behind which he took shelter.
+
+This tree was an oak, large enough to hide two such boys, standing side
+by side, so that the youth felt secure for the time.
+
+"Ah, if I only had me gun," was the regret that naturally came to him;
+"I would quickly settle with the spalpeen that stole old Brindle, and
+now wants to run away wid me."
+
+It will be admitted that the situation of Terry was peculiar, for he was
+quite close to the warrior, who, there was every reason to believe, was
+hunting for him, and who was so nigh that there was imminent danger of
+discovery. It might be asked why the redskin should have taken this
+course, for in some respects it had more than one absurd feature. If he
+wanted to kill a white person, all this maneuvering with a cow-bell was
+ridiculous, while his conduct from first to last was in some respects
+unreasonable. The best explanation was that which was made sometime
+afterward by a person, who as yet has not been introduced to the reader,
+but who, when he does appear, will be admitted to be the best judge. I
+allude to Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+
+The Indian with the cow-bell was a Winnebago warrior, whose home was a
+long ways to the northward, but who had gone thither in company with
+several others on what may be called a tour of investigation. The
+driving off of the cow was probably an inspiration of the moment. The
+Indians kept her until they had got all the milk they wanted, first
+removing the bell so that her friends could not recover her until they
+were through. The stratagem which I have been describing was an
+afterthought. None of the Winnebagos except the one who tried the plan
+would have any thing to do with it, though they were willing enough that
+every white person in the settlement of Greville should perish, if the
+same could be brought about without risk to them.
+
+Left to himself, the Winnebago decided to make a prisoner of whomsoever
+should be sent to find the cow. He had reason to believe that this
+person would be a youth, and since every thing was so quiet in that
+section, he was not likely to be armed. Hence, it would be an easy
+matter to decoy him a goodly distance from the settlement, when the
+warrior could pounce upon, make him a prisoner and compel him to go with
+him. After the couple were far enough from the settlement the lad could
+be put to death, if his captor or the party to which the captor
+belonged, should so elect.
+
+Terry Clark had stood behind the sheltering tree for perhaps five
+minutes, when he became aware of an alarming fact: the warrior with the
+bell was slowly approaching him. The faint tinkle that it gave out once
+or twice told this, and when finally the lad ventured to peep around the
+side of the tree, the sight was a startling one. The Indian had risen
+almost to the upright posture, and holding the gun and bell as
+described, was moving directly toward the oak behind which the boy
+stood. Moreover at the moment the latter took the cautious look, the
+visage of the Indian showed that he was looking straight at the tree.
+
+"By the powers!" gasped Terry, "but the spalpeen observed me, and I'm
+thinkin' that he saw me before I did him."
+
+It was not at all unlikely that such was the case. The Indian may have
+felt sure of his victim, and so he indulged in a little by-play, as a
+cat often does with a mouse. Such a cruel proceeding was characteristic
+of his race.
+
+The belief that this was the case placed Terry Clark in a most trying
+position. He was without the means with which to defend himself, and in
+fact was hopeless. It was useless to try to run away, for if the warrior
+could not overtake him at once, he could bring him down with his rifle.
+
+You know how rare a thing it is for an Irishman to submit meekly, even
+when there is no hope in resistance. Terry muttered:
+
+"If he lays hands on me, there's going to be a fight; I wish Fred was
+near, that he could see that I git fair play."
+
+No person could have been more in earnest than was the Irish lad.
+
+"I'll wait till his head comes round the corner of that tree and then
+I'll give him a whack that'll tumble him over on his back, afore he
+knows what's the matter wid him; then I'll amuse myself wid hammerin'
+him after he is down till I git tired and then I'll take his gun and
+knife and tomahawk and the bell and make him walk before me to the
+sittlement."
+
+The lad had just gone over in his mind this roseate programme, when a
+soft tinkle told him that the Winnebago was within a few steps of the
+tree; and at the same moment that the youth made this interesting
+discovery, another still more astonishing one broke upon him.
+
+Just fifty feet away and behind a trunk very similar to the one that
+sheltered the lad, stood a second Indian warrior. His position was such
+that he was in plain view of Terry, though the Winnebago could not see
+him except when the latter should approach quite close to the shelter of
+the boy. The strange Indian was closely watching the hostile one, and,
+with that remarkable intuition that sometimes comes to a person in grave
+crises, Terry was convinced that he was an enemy of the Winnebago,
+though whether a friend of the youth was not so certain.
+
+In his amazement, the lad for the moment forgot his own danger and gave
+his attention to the stranger, who was the most striking looking warrior
+he had ever seen. He seemed to be about eighteen or twenty years of age,
+and was the picture of manly grace and beauty.
+
+He had long, luxuriant black hair which hung about his shoulders, being
+gathered by a loose band at the neck, so as to keep it from getting in
+front of his eyes. In the crown of this natural covering were thrust
+three stained eagle feathers, while there were two rows of colored beads
+around the neck. The fringed hunting shirt which reached almost to his
+knees was of a dull, yellow color and the sash or belt around the waist
+was of a dark red. A small but handsome bracelet encircled his left
+wrist, and the fringes of his leggins were of varied and brilliant hues,
+as were the beaded moccasins that incased his shapely feet. A tomahawk
+and knife were in his girdle, while he held a finely ornamented rifle in
+his right hand, the manner in which he manipulated the weapon showing
+that he was left-handed.
+
+The face was strikingly fine, the nose being slightly aquiline, the
+cheek bones less prominent, and the whole contour more symmetrical than
+is generally the case with his race. There was something in the
+situation that evidently amused him, for Terry saw him smile so
+unmistakably that he noticed his small and regular white teeth.
+
+It was plain that he was watching the movements of the Winnebago, though
+he said nothing, and made no gesture to the lad, whose wondering look he
+must have understood. Be that as it may, the sight of the strange
+Indian, and the belief that he was an enemy of the other with the
+cow-bell, inspired the Irish lad with a courage that he would not have
+known had the other warrior been absent.
+
+"He's waiting to see how I condooct mesilf when the spalpeen lays hands
+on me," thought Terence; "he won't have to wait long."
+
+The youth was right. The crouching Winnebago, doubtless feeling that he
+had no immediate use for the bell that had served him so well, dropped
+it to the ground beside him, and holding only his rifle in hand, stepped
+forward with the same cat-like tread that had marked his advance from
+the first. He knew that his victim was shrinking behind the trunk of the
+oak, and he was having his own peculiar sport with him.
+
+So intense was the attention of Terry that he heard distinctly the
+footsteps of the warrior, who a moment later was close enough to touch
+the tree with his hand, had he been so minded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A FRIEND IN NEED.
+
+
+Terry Clark, the Irish lad, placed his right foot behind the left, his
+weight equally supported on both, and stood as rigid as iron, with both
+fists clinched and half raised, in the attitude of one holding himself
+ready to use nature's weapons to his utmost ability.
+
+He heard the soft moccasin press the layer of brown autumn leaves, and
+the next moment the point of a knobby, painted nose came slowly in sight
+around the side of the trunk, followed by the sloping forehead, the
+hideous face and the shoulders of the warrior, whose right hand was held
+so far to the rear with the gun that it was the last to come into view.
+
+As the Winnebago caught sight of the white-faced boy, his countenance
+was disfigured by a grin that made it more repulsive than before.
+
+"Oogh! brudder!--oogh!--Yenghese--"
+
+Just then Terry Clark let fly. He was a lusty lad, and he landed both
+fists, one after another, squarely in the painted face, with such force
+that the warrior was knocked completely off his feet. He went over
+backward as though from the kick of a horse; but, contrary to the hopes
+of his assailant, he did not let go of his gun. Had he done so, the
+youth would have caught it up and shot him before he could regain his
+feet.
+
+The blow was most presumptuous, and would have insured the death of the
+one who gave it but for the intervention of the second Indian, who
+seemed to take but a couple of bounds from the tree near which he was
+standing when he landed on the spot. The infuriated Winnebago was in the
+act of clambering to his feet, when he caught sight of the lithe,
+graceful warrior, standing only a couple of steps away, with loaded
+rifle pointed at him.
+
+"Dog of a Winnebago," he said in a voice slightly above an ordinary
+tone; "if he harms the pale face, he shall die!"
+
+There are some expressions so forcible that they can not be made more
+so. The young Indian spoke in the lingo of the Winnebago, whose totem he
+had recognized, but his posture, erect on his feet, with his cocked
+rifle in such a position that he had only to pull the trigger to send
+the bullet through the bronzed skull before him;--all this required no
+words of explanation. The Winnebago grasped the situation, and, to use
+the homely expression common at this day, he saw that the other "had the
+drop" on him.
+
+The Indian, though larger, older, heavier and stronger, was taken at
+such disadvantage that he ceased his effort to rise, and looked up at
+his conqueror with a helplessness so grotesque that under other
+circumstances it would have caused a smile. Indeed, Terry Clark did
+indulge in a slight laugh, for he saw that it was safe to do so; the
+Winnebago was on the ground before his master.
+
+"If ye want me to ring the old coow-bell, I'll be glad to obleege, for
+the performance looks as if a little moosic would give tone to the same.
+Howsumever, I'll step back and let this good looking young gintleman run
+the show."
+
+Thereupon Terry withdrew several paces and watched the proceedings with
+a depth of interest that can be fully understood.
+
+The look of the Winnebago, who was half reclining on his side,
+supporting his body with the hand that grasped his gun, plainly
+indicated the question that came from his lips.
+
+"Why does my brother look with evil eyes on the Wolf, who has come from
+the lodges of the Winnebagos? Are not all red men brothers?"
+
+"Deerfoot is a Shawanoe, whose warriors have consorted with those of the
+Winnebagos; but Deerfoot has left his lodge beyond the Mississippi and
+lives alone in the woods. He will not hurt the brave Winnebago who
+fights men, but he slays the Wolf that bites the children of the pale
+faces, that have never harmed him."
+
+Possibly the Wolf was inclined to argue the matter with the Shawanoe,
+who had caught him at such disadvantage; but the manner and words of
+Deerfoot showed that he was in no mood for discussion.
+
+"What does my brother want?" asked the Winnebago, in a voice that
+proved all fight had left him. The most, indeed, that he ventured to do
+was gently to rub his forehead and nose, where the fists of the sturdy
+Terry Clark had landed.
+
+"Let the Wolf rise to his feet, but when he does so, his gun must lie on
+the ground."
+
+This was a harsh order, but there was no help for it; the Indian
+hesitated a moment, and then, black and scowling, he slowly assumed the
+upright posture, and, folding his arms across his chest, looked in the
+face of the bright-eyed Deerfoot, to signify that he was awaiting his
+next command.
+
+"The Wolf shall now turn his face away from Deerfoot."
+
+The Winnebago obeyed the order as promptly as if he were a soldier
+undergoing drill.
+
+"Let my brother now raise his eyes, until he sees the beech with the
+white trunk," said Deerfoot, using the word "brother" for the first
+time.
+
+The object to which he alluded was perhaps fifty yards distant, the
+light color of the bark showing only here and there among the branches
+and undergrowth that happened to be less frequent than in other
+directions. The Wolf signified that he recognized the tree to which his
+conqueror referred.
+
+"Now let my brother run; when he reaches the beech he can leap behind
+it, and it will shield his body; if my brother is slow Deerfoot may fire
+his gun and Wolf will never bite again."
+
+The Winnebago wanted no explanation of this threat. It was hard for him
+to depart, leaving his rifle, but it was harder for him to lose his
+life, and he did not hesitate as to the choice. He made one tremendous
+bound that carried him a dozen feet, and then sped through the wood like
+a frightened deer. When he had passed half of the intervening distance,
+he seemed to fancy that he was not making satisfactory time for the
+Shawanoe, who, he doubtless imagined, was standing with leveled gun,
+finger on the trigger. He therefore began leaping from side to side, so
+as to disconcert the aim of the dreaded Deerfoot. In the hope also of
+further confusing him, he emitted several frenzied whoops, which added
+such grotesqueness to the scene that Terry Clark threw back his head
+and made the woods ring with laughter.
+
+"I never saw a frog hop about like that, which beats any show."
+
+Deerfoot did not have his rifle cocked or in position. The moment the
+Wolf started, he saw how great his fright was, and, lowering the flint
+of the weapon, he rested the stock on the ground and watched the antics
+of the fugitive. The Shawanoe, unlike most of his race, had a vein of
+humor in his composition. When Terry broke into mirth, he too laughed,
+but it was simply a smile, accompanied by a sparkle of his bright eyes
+which showed how much he enjoyed the scene.
+
+The moment the Wolf arrived at the beech, he darted behind it, and for
+the first time looked over his shoulder. The sight could not have been
+reassuring, for he continued his frenzied flight until the keen ear of
+the Shawanoe could no longer hear him threshing through the wood.
+
+By this time Terry Clark had made up his mind that whoever the new
+arrival might be, he was a friend. The Irish lad had not been able to
+understand any of the words that passed between the two, though their
+actions were eloquent enough to render much explanation unnecessary. But
+a person who treated the Winnebago in such style could not feel
+otherwise than friendly toward the one in whose behalf the interference
+was made. Terry blushed a little as he walked forward and reached out
+his honest hand.
+
+"If it's all the same to ye, I'll be glad to give that purty hand of
+yours an owld-fashioned shake, such as a fellow sometimes gits when he
+catches the chills an' faver."
+
+Deerfoot looked at the jolly lad with an odd expression, as he gave him
+his hand, which, I need not say, was shaken with enthusiasm. The young
+Shawanoe smiled in his own shadowy way and returned the pressure warmly.
+
+"My brother is happy," said he when the salute was finished; "it makes
+the heart of Deerfoot glad that he could be his friend."
+
+"Ye were a friend indade, though ye'll admit, Deerfut, that I toppled
+over the spalpeen in foine style, now didn't I?"
+
+"The Wolf who is a Winnebago, fell as though the lightning struck him."
+
+"How is it," asked Terry with no little curiosity, "that ye, who are as
+full-blooded an Injin as the Winnebago, can talk the English with almost
+as foine an accint as meself?"
+
+"Deerfoot has lived among the pale faces; when he was a small child he
+went with the Shawanoes to harm the white men, but they took him
+prisoner; they treated him kindly, and told him about God, who loves all
+His children, whether they be white or red, or the color of the night;
+they showed him how to read books, and to make his name and words on
+paper, so that others might read."
+
+"Can ye read and write?" asked the astonished Terry.
+
+Deerfoot smiled and nodded his head.
+
+"Well, well, that bates ivery thing!" said Terry, who instantly repeated
+the absurd belief of many of his race, by adding, "I didn't s'pose that
+an Injin could learn."
+
+Without replying to the last remark, the Shawanoe, looking the lad
+steadily in the eye, said, "Deerfoot has a message for Fred Linden; does
+my brother know him?"
+
+"Do I know him?" repeated Terry; "I know the same better than I know
+mesilf; he started wid me to hunt the coow, and I rickons that he can't
+be very fur away."
+
+"He's coming," quietly said Deerfoot, looking off to the left of Terry,
+as if about to salute a new arrival. The Irish lad wheeled in his quick
+way, but his sharp eyes caught no glimpse of his approaching friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+FRED LINDEN RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE OZARK CAMP.
+
+
+As soon as Fred Linden discovered the deception respecting the cow-bell,
+he made all haste toward the point whence came the sound, in the hope of
+warning Terry in time to save him from treachery. You will understand
+how quickly events passed when told that, although he came almost
+directly to the spot, he did not reach it until Deerfoot the Shawanoe
+asked for him. This wonderful Indian, of whom I shall have considerably
+more to tell, heard the coming of the lad whom he had never seen, before
+either the eye or ear of Terry Clark could detect his approach.
+
+As may well be supposed, Fred Linden was amazed at what met his eyes.
+The sight of Terry in friendly converse with a strange Indian was the
+opposite of what he expected to see. He slackened his hurried walk and
+looked inquiringly at Terry. The latter could talk fast when he chose,
+and the few sentences he rattled off as his companion came up made the
+matter tolerably clear.
+
+While the questioning and talk were going on, Deerfoot stood leaning on
+his long gun and gazing with a certain natural dignity at the two
+friends. He said nothing nor did he appear to show any special
+curiosity, though had any one studied his countenance, he would have
+seen that he was watching Fred Linden. He had said that he carried a
+message to him, and it was no more than natural that he should wish to
+know something about him.
+
+As for Fred himself he did not try to hide his profound interest in the
+remarkable warrior who had appeared at such an opportune time, but of
+whom he had never before heard a word. He knew that the settlers along
+the frontier often found valuable allies in the friendly Indians, and he
+concluded that this red man was one of those who, having been maltreated
+by his own people or kindly used by the whites, had given his loyalty to
+the latter; for in the brief narrative of Terry Clark, he had time only
+to tell the leading facts about the rescue of himself. Just then,
+therefore, the Irish lad knew more about Deerfoot than did the American.
+
+But it takes only a little time for such a group to become acquainted
+with each other. A general handshaking followed, and it happened more
+than once that all three were talking at the same moment. Had any one
+been able to translate the expression of Deerfoot's countenance, he
+would have seen that he was pleased with both the lads whom he now met
+for the first time. There was a rollicking good nature, a cheery courage
+and ever bubbling hopefulness about Terry that were contagious, and like
+so much sunshine that went with him wherever he went.
+
+Fred Linden was of that manly mold and rugged appearance that he would
+have drawn favorable attention wherever he might be.
+
+Such a lad in these days would have been picked out as a born athlete,
+one who was capable, with proper training, to become a first-class ball
+player, oarsman or boxer. He was a swift runner, a strong leaper, an
+expert rifle shot, and his rugged frame and rough, outdoor life gave
+him an endurance that few men could surpass. He was as tall as Deerfoot,
+with broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, clear, keen eyes, a fine
+chest and a symmetrical frame.
+
+The clothes of the two boys, it is hardly necessary to say, were of
+homespun, for a hundred years ago it would have been hard for them to
+procure any other kind of goods. The short coat was somewhat like those
+used to-day by bicyclists, reaching only a short distance below the
+waist, where the girdle was fastened in front. The trowsers, of the same
+material, reached to the knees, below which were the hunting leggins,
+common along the border. Then came the warm, woolen stockings and thick,
+heavy shoes, while the head was surmounted by a woolen cap, made by the
+deft fingers at home, and without any pattern. It was soft, and having
+no forepiece, sat on the head in whichever position it happened to be
+first placed. In this respect it resembled the valuable sealskins of the
+present day. The coats of the lads were open in front, and within were
+the pockets, which they used as required, the trowsers also being
+provided with a couple of these prime necessities.
+
+When the rattling conversation had gone on for several minutes, Terry
+ran a few steps and picked up the bell that the Indian had placed on the
+ground. The string which had held it about the neck of the animal was
+missing, having probably been cut by the knife of the impatient Wolf.
+
+"I'll take the same back home wid me and put it on Brindle if I iver
+maat her; I shouldn't be so 'stonished that I couldn't spake if I should
+find that the spalpeen had killed her."
+
+"No," said Fred, "she isn't harmed; I found her off yonder, cropping the
+buds and leaves, as innocently as though she hadn't done any thing wrong
+in leading us on this long chase. I started her toward home, and if she
+keeps up the gait she must be pretty near there by this time."
+
+This was good news to Terry, for the loss of the animal would have been
+serious to the family of Mr. MacClaskey, her owner. The Irish lad had
+hardly picked up the bell when Deerfoot pointed to the gun lying on the
+ground, where it had been left by the Wolf.
+
+"That belongs to my brother."
+
+The delighted Terry could hardly believe what was told him, and he stood
+looking doubtfully at Deerfoot, as if suspecting he had heard him amiss.
+
+"It was you who captured the gun, Deerfoot, and so, if it belongs to any
+one, ye are the spalpeen."
+
+The Shawanoe looked down at his own handsome weapon and shook his head.
+He had no need of any other weapon. Besides, this singular youth could
+not have conscientiously taken it. He did not feel justified in keeping
+it for his own use, no matter if in sore need of such a weapon; but,
+since the Winnebago had made his demonstration against Terry Clark, and
+was compelled to leave the gun behind, when he was permitted to go, it
+seemed proper that the prize should fall into the hands of the Irish
+lad.
+
+What gave special propriety to the act was the fact that, although Fred
+Linden was the owner of a fine gun, Terry had none. When his father
+lost his life, his rifle was never recovered, and though there was one
+in the family of MacClaskey, the youth had no claim upon it. He longed
+for such a weapon, with a longing that it would be hard to understand.
+The prize, therefore, was appreciated to its full value. He picked it up
+with an embarrassed grin, which quickly became natural when he turned it
+over in his hands and saw what an excellent piece it was.
+
+"More than likely it belonged to a white man in the first place," said
+Fred; "so it is right enough that it should come back to one of his own
+race."
+
+"It's loaded," said Terry, slightly raising the hammer and noticing the
+powder in the pan. Then he brought the gun to his shoulder and pointing
+it at the white trunk of the beech, which partly showed through the
+intervening branches and undergrowth, he said:
+
+"If the spalpeen should peep out from behind that tree, I'm thinkin' I
+could hit him a harder blow than when I landed me two fists on his
+mug."
+
+"The Winnebago is a long ways off," said Deerfoot, with a shake of his
+head; "he may meet my brother some day, but it will not be in this
+place."
+
+The young Shawanoe having learned all that was to be learned about his
+young friends, now reached his hand in the breast of his hunting shirt
+and drew out a small, closely-printed Bible, from between the leaves of
+which he took a piece of paper that had been folded several times. He
+glanced at the superscription, as if to make sure it was right, and then
+handed it to Fred, who, as may be supposed, took it with astonishment.
+He recognized the penciled writing as that of his father.
+
+Parting the folds, he read the following:
+
+     MY DEAR FRED:
+
+     You know that when we left home there were three of us, Hardin,
+     Bowlby and myself. There are three of us still, but Bowlby
+     considers himself of no account for some weeks to come, because of
+     a hurt to his foot which will prevent his getting around for a long
+     time. Such being the case, I have concluded, now that I have the
+     chance, to send for you to join us. You are old enough and strong
+     enough to make a full hand, and you can give us good help. Since we
+     have all the animals, you will come afoot, but you will find no
+     trouble in keeping to the trail, which has been traveled often
+     enough to make it plain. It is no more than a hundred miles from
+     Greville to our camp at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, so you
+     ought to have no difficulty in reaching here in the course of three
+     or four days. Love to your mother and Edith.
+
+     I send this by a young Shawanoe warrior, called Deerfoot. He is the
+     most remarkable Indian I ever knew. I shall have a good deal to
+     tell you about him when you reach here.
+
+                                                            YOUR FATHER.
+
+"Deerfoot bids his brothers good-by," said the young Indian, offering
+his hand, when he saw Fred had finished reading his letter; "he hopes
+that he shall see them again."
+
+"It won't be our fault if he doesn't," was the cordial response of Fred
+Linden, in which Terry heartily joined him. After a few more pleasant
+words they parted, Deerfoot following in the footsteps of the fleeing
+Winnebago, while the others moved to the northward in the direction of
+the creek. They turned aside a little from the direct course so as to
+hunt for Brindle, that Fred had seen, but she was not found. To their
+delight, however, they saw her footprints on the edge of the creek,
+proving that she had gone home with the directness of one who felt
+remorse for wandering from the straight path. She had swum the stream,
+and was doubtless before the MacClaskey cabin at that moment.
+
+But standing close to the edge of the creek, the boys became aware of a
+hard fact: it had not only risen with great rapidity during the last
+half hour, so as to become a rushing torrent, but it was still rising so
+fast that it was extremely dangerous for the boys to try to cross it in
+the canoe. Indeed, they hesitated to make the attempt, but finally
+concluded to do so.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE HUNTERS OF OZARK.
+
+
+I must tell you how it was that Deerfoot the Shawanoe came to bring the
+important letter of George Linden to his son Frederick.
+
+It has already been stated that it was the custom of a party of hunters
+and trappers to leave the settlement of Greville in the autumn of each
+year and spend most of the cold weather among the streams at the foot of
+a certain part of the Ozark Mountains. At that period, the fur bearing
+animals abounded in the section, as they were found in hundreds of other
+portions of the vast area known under the general name of the Louisiana
+Territory. You must bear in mind that there were thousands of square
+miles that had not been trodden by a white man, and so sparse were the
+Indian villages that large portions of the country remained to be
+visited even by them.
+
+Beaver, otter, foxes, bears, and buffaloes were the chief animals that
+were afterward driven west by the advancing tide of civilization, until
+the agents of the Missouri and Western Fur Companies were forced to do
+most of their work in the far west and north-west, where they came in
+collision with that vast monopoly known as the Hudson Bay Company,
+which, until recent years, not only trapped and hunted throughout
+Oregon, but along the Pacific coast as far south as California.
+
+George Linden, Rufus Hardin and James Bowlby composed the party who, in
+the autumn of the year of which I am writing, rode each a horse a
+hundred miles to the south of the frontier settlement of Greville, and
+pitched their tent at the foot of the Ozark range. Beside the animals
+ridden, each hunter took a pack-horse to help bring back the peltries
+that were to be gathered during the cold weather. As a matter of course,
+they were provided with guns and plenty of munitions, and indeed with
+every necessity for their limited wants. They had spent several winters
+there and knew what was before them. They had hunted and trapped for
+years in other parts of the great west, and more than once had made the
+long journey to the post of St. Louis to dispose of their furs, a
+necessity that, as I have explained, was removed by the annual visit of
+the agents with their long train of pack-horses to gather up the
+peltries.
+
+And so, without giving any of the interesting particulars of the ride
+southward from Greville, let us take a look at the little party gathered
+at their primitive camp in the wild Ozark region.
+
+The six horses had been relieved of their burdens on reaching the place,
+and were turned loose to crop the grass that was plentiful in many
+places. Although there was snow now and then through the winter, there
+was hardly enough to cause any suffering on the part of the animals.
+When the storms, however, were violent or prolonged, the hardy beasts
+were provided with some of the stores of dried grass that was kept in
+stock, as may be said. In case that gave out they could make shift with
+the cottonwood and other trees, whose bark was not lacking in succulent
+qualities.
+
+Although a tolerable shelter could have been found in any one of the
+numerous caves within reach, the hunters preferred to erect a rough
+cabin, that was almost strong enough to withstand a cyclone. The keen
+axes enabled them to trim off the interfering limbs, and they were
+joined at the corners so well that very little, if any, rain or snow
+could force its way through. Other logs and branches were laid across
+the top and ends fastened to the logs beneath by means of withes, so
+that the roof was not likely to be carried away unless the cabin itself
+went with it.
+
+On the top of the roof was a thick layer of branches and leaves, packed
+so closely that little moisture could find its way through. There were
+no windows, for none was needed. The single door in front was large
+enough to allow free egress and ingress. At night, when there was a
+possibility that some curious wild animal might come snuffing around,
+the door was closed by means of a framework of thick limbs, also
+fastened together with withes, swinging on leathern hinges, and made
+secure by a brace leaning against it from the inside.
+
+Within this structure were stored their supplies, and the blankets on
+which they slept were spread upon the bare ground. Their slumber was
+sweeter, too, than it would have been had they stretched themselves on
+"downy beds of ease," for health and weariness are two soporifics which
+art can never supplant.
+
+The traps and appurtenances used in their toil were never taken away
+from the place, for there was no call to do so. Such repairs as were
+needed from time to time were made in the cabin or on the spot, as the
+necessity arose. The rifles, of course, furnished the food needed, while
+an abundance of fish could be taken at any time from the streams in the
+neighborhood.
+
+A diet solely of flesh and fish is not acceptable to any one. Therefore,
+among the supplies annually brought to the cabin, were a quantity of
+coarse flour, meal, sugar, coffee, salt and tea. It may be said, that in
+one respect they were like modern campers out, except that they took the
+wrong season of the year for what so many boys consider the acme of
+enjoyment.
+
+There was little in the appearance of the three men to call for special
+description. All were in middle life, strong, rugged, and inured to
+hardship. Linden was rather tall, his face covered by a heavy beard in
+which not a gray hair had yet appeared. Hardin was fully as tall, with
+shoulders somewhat bent, and his scant, dark beard was plentifully
+sprinkled with gray. Bowlby was short and stocky in appearance. When in
+the woods he allowed his black beard to grow all over his face, but at
+home he was always smooth-shaven. He was of a swarthy complexion,
+inclined to be silent, and often moody, but like his companions he was
+brave, industrious and patient, holding a strong dislike of all Indians,
+though not inclined to go to any unjustifiable length in his feelings.
+
+The dress of the three men was similar to that of Fred and Terry, which
+has already been described. No one of them knew any thing about the
+modern overcoat or cloak. If there should come a spell of unusually
+severe weather, they had only to wrap a blanket or buffalo robe about
+the shoulders when compelled to visit the traps or remain long
+outdoors. Should it become necessary to kindle a fire within the cabin
+for the sake of warmth, a broad, flat stone was removed from an opening
+in the roof directly over the blaze, and the smoke, if so inclined,
+found its way to the clear air outside. The cooking was done under the
+adjoining trees. Of course it was of the most primitive character, but
+it suited, and that is all that is necessary.
+
+The hunters reached their cabin about the middle of the forenoon of an
+autumn day. They had eaten their regular morning meal, and they got to
+work without delay. The horses were unloaded and turned adrift, the
+stores safely housed, the blankets spread on the floor of simple earth
+in the cabin, and then the men scattered to look after their traps. This
+was a large job, for the implements had to be examined and many of them
+slightly repaired, after which they must be carried long distances and
+set.
+
+These traps were of the ordinary pattern, such as have been in general
+use for hundreds of years. The iron jaws was forced wide apart and kept
+in place by a catch, which was sprung by a slight pressure on the broad,
+flat portion in the middle. The trap being carefully hidden from sight,
+the unsuspecting animal had hardly time to rest one paw on this plate,
+when the fierce jaws, impelled by steel springs of prodigious strength,
+came together with the suddenness of lightning, and the animal, whatever
+he be, was in a grip from which there was no escape.
+
+You can understand the care required to set these traps so that they
+would do their work. The beaver is highly intelligent, and quick to
+detect the signs of man's presence. Nothing can tempt him to venture
+where he sees that his worst enemy has been before him. The fox is the
+synonym of cunning, and will often outwit the shrewdest trapper. He will
+walk around the trap and stealthily secure the bait without harm to
+himself. One of those animals has been known to reach forward and spring
+the implement, jerking back his paw quickly enough to escape the sharp
+teeth. A fox, too, when caught in a steel trap will sometimes gnaw off
+the leg just above where it is imprisoned, and afterward go through
+life with little inconvenience on three legs. You may be sure that he is
+never caught again in that fashion.
+
+It was easy to see where the sagacious beavers were in the habit of
+leaving the water and climbing the bank. The trap was carefully placed
+below the surface out of sight, and often it had no bait at all, for it
+would seem that the bait itself was liable to awaken the suspicion of
+the beavers. Occasionally, however, when it was desirable to attract
+them to the spot, an oily odoriferous substance obtained from the animal
+itself was smeared over the ground near the bank.
+
+The otters were scarcer than the beavers, but were hunted much in the
+same manner. For foxes and fur-bearing animals that roamed the the
+woods, the steel trap was baited with such food as they were fond of
+(which was about every thing), and they were so numerous through that
+part of the territory that the hunters had little difficulty in securing
+what was wanted.
+
+At the end of the second day all the traps were in position, and the
+three friends were grouped on the outside of the cabin smoking their
+pipes and talking over the outlook for the winter, which all agreed was
+favorable.
+
+The bison or buffaloes, of which mention has been made, were found in
+the open spaces or prairies where there was plenty of grass. No such
+multitudinous herds were seen as have been gathered in later years on
+the western prairies, but there were enough to make very lively hunting
+for the trio, who had shot and skinned several while on their way to the
+beaver runs.
+
+Within a half hour's walk of the camp was a beaver dam fully half a mile
+wide, built with astonishing skill and strength. The backwater flooded
+the country for many square miles, and gave the remarkable animals just
+the place they wanted for their curious huts, of which I shall have
+something to tell you further on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A WELCOME ACQUAINTANCE.
+
+
+On the fourth day after the arrival of the hunters at their cabin, the
+accident of which Mr. Linden made mention befell Bowlby. It was early in
+the morning, when the three were making their round of visits to the
+traps. Since no two inspected the same ones, they were quite widely
+separated from each other. Bowlby was walking over a rocky stretch of
+land alongside the creek when a loose stone turned under his foot,
+giving his ankle such a wrench that when he tried to stand he found he
+could not bear the least weight on it. It was one of those hurts that
+are more painful and troublesome than a fractured limb.
+
+"Here's a pretty go," he growled, as he sat down on the ground, his face
+contorted with pain; "it'll be a long time before I'll be able to stand,
+and the boys will have to bring one of the hosses here or else carry me
+home. _Hello!_"
+
+He shouted at the top of his voice, feeling no alarm, for he knew that
+his friends would come to his relief before long, even if they did not
+hear his voice; but then he reflected, as he sat on the ground beside
+the two beavers that he had killed and was carrying to his home, that he
+was in bad form if a wild animal should assail him, or there should
+happen to be a hostile Indian prowling in the vicinity. He had left his
+gun at the cabin, as was his practice, since he needed all his strength
+to bring in the products of the traps.
+
+He was startled, therefore, after his third shout; an Indian warrior,
+fully armed, walked out of the wood and came toward him; but his signs
+of peace, and more than all, the words he uttered, removed his fears.
+
+"My brother suffers; Deerfoot will help him to his cabin."
+
+"If that's so," said the greatly relieved Bowlby, "you're just the chap
+I'm waiting for. We'll leave these beavers here for the others to come
+after, and if you'll let me lean on your shoulder I guess I can hobble
+back; but I'll have to lean heavy," he added, looking doubtfully at the
+Indian, "and you ain't much more than a likely lad."
+
+"Let my brother try me," said Deerfoot, with a smile.
+
+The disabled hunter did try him, often compelled, as he was, to bear to
+such an extent upon his new friend that it may be said the latter
+sustained half his weight. The progress was slow, and when they reached
+a small stream of water, Bowlby sat down and allowed the young Shawanoe
+to bathe the inflamed limb. Great relief was felt.
+
+During this labored walk homeward, the two naturally talked a good deal
+together and learned much about each other. Deerfoot said that he had
+often hunted through the surrounding country, and he told why it was he
+had found it necessary to leave his tribe on the other side of the
+Mississippi. He said that he had spent more than one night in the
+deserted cabin of Bowlby and his friends during the summer months, when
+he found himself belated in the vicinity, and he once shot a wolf that
+was resolved on entering against his protest. It was his intention to
+make a call upon the hunters, and if they needed his aid, he was glad to
+give it in the way of helping trap or shoot game. You need not be told
+that though James Bowlby felt an innate dislike of the American race,
+there was now one exception: henceforth he was the sworn friend of
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+
+Linden and Hardin had got back from making their rounds, and were
+wondering what could have delayed their friend, when they saw him
+limping painfully on one foot, and supported by a fine looking young
+Indian warrior. Their astonishment was great, for they could not
+understand what it meant. Linden hastened to the help of Bowlby, but he
+waved him aside and said no one could do as well as Deerfoot.
+
+While Hardin went out to bring in the two beavers that had been taken
+from the traps by Bowlby, the latter was assisted to a seat on the log
+in front of the cabin. Then Deerfoot insisted on giving attention to the
+injured limb. It had swollen a great deal since he bathed it. There was
+nothing in the cabin in the way of ointment or liniment, but Deerfoot
+hastened into the wood and soon came back with the leaves of some plant
+whose virtues seemed to be well known to him. These were wrapped in a
+piece of linen, which the establishment managed to afford, and pounded
+to a pulp, and then the poultice was gently applied to the inflamed
+ankle. Bowlby declared that it felt better at once, but his face
+lengthened when Deerfoot told him that it would be a moon, or several
+weeks, before he would fully recover the use of his limb.
+
+"That will make us short-handed, and we need every one," said Mr.
+Linden; "I wish Fred was here to give us help."
+
+"I think I can ride my hoss to Greville," said Bowlby, "and bring him
+back with me."
+
+"That is hardly worth while."
+
+"Where is the home of my brother?" gently asked Deerfoot.
+
+"At the settlement of Greville, about a hundred miles to the north."
+
+"Deerfoot knows where it is," he replied; "he will take a message for
+his brother, for his footsteps lead him that way."
+
+"You're a mighty clever Indian; I will be ever so much obliged to you,"
+said Linden; "I will write a few lines to my boy, which will explain our
+trouble, though I have no doubt you could take the message just as well;
+but it is such an unexpected one that the boy might doubt it unless it
+was in my own writing. See?"
+
+The Shawanoe nodded his head to signify that it was all clear to him.
+Linden passed within the cabin, where he hurriedly wrote the few lines
+that are already known to the reader, folded the paper, and wrote on the
+outside:
+
+                           "FREDERICK LINDEN,
+                                       Grevil."
+
+He then handed it to Deerfoot, saying:
+
+"There is no special hurry, and if you are in the neighborhood of
+Greville, and can make it convenient to leave that at my house, it will
+be a great kindness to me."
+
+"If the Great Spirit does not will different it shall be in his hands
+before the setting of three more suns, but," added Deerfoot, looking at
+the superscription on the back of the paper, "has not my brother made a
+mistake?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"When Deerfoot writes the word 'Greville,' he adds two letters more than
+does my brother; perhaps, though, Deerfoot is wrong."
+
+No pen can describe the amazement that appeared on the faces of Linden
+and Bowlby. Here was a young Indian teaching a white man old enough to
+be his father how to spell in the English language! Was the like ever
+known?
+
+For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke. They were sitting on the
+log, while Deerfoot was standing in front of them. He held his rifle in
+his right hand and the folded piece of paper in his left, while he
+looked inquiringly down in the faces of the two men, whose mouths and
+eyes were open, as though they could not believe the evidence of their
+own senses. Finally, with a deep sigh, Linden slowly rose to his feet--
+
+"Well, by gracious! if that don't beat every thing! Do you mean to say
+that you can read _writing_? Impossible!"
+
+[Illustration: "For a full minute neither of the hunters spoke."]
+
+Then, as if still in doubt, he reached out and took the paper. Drawing a
+stump of a lead pencil from his pocket he completed the word properly,
+opened the paper, and handing it back to the Indian, said:
+
+"Let's hear you read _that_."
+
+"My brother writes so that any one can read his words," observed the
+young Shawanoe by way of introduction, and then in a low, soft voice he
+read the brief note from beginning to end.
+
+Bowlby, who had not yet spoken, seemed unable to express his emotions.
+Unable himself to read, the attainment of the Indian was almost past
+belief. As the best thing, therefore, that he could do, he solemnly
+reached out his hand to Linden and shook it with great earnestness.
+Settling painfully back on the log, he nodded his head several times as
+if he was almost overcome, as indeed was the case.
+
+I should state at this point that although Linden had not seen fit to
+make it known, he had heard of Deerfoot the Shawanoe long before. He
+knew of some of his exploits in Kentucky, as well as those of later
+years on the western bank of the Mississippi (which are told in the
+"Young Pioneer" and the "Log Cabin Series"), but he had never met the
+youth, nor had he ever heard or suspected that he knew how to read and
+write. Taking hold of his arm, he asked:
+
+"Where in the name of all that is wonderful did you learn that? When I
+wrote to Fred that I would tell him some things about you I did not know
+of the most extraordinary of all--that which I have just seen. Sit right
+down here, between me and Jim, and let us know all about it."
+
+Deerfoot held back, but yielded, and finally answered in his modest way
+the numerous questions with which he was plied. Bowlby had managed to
+find his tongue, and his queries were about twice as numerous as those
+of his companion. By the time that Deerfoot had time to rest, Hardin
+came back, and there was little left to tell.
+
+The Shawanoe had captured the Hunters of the Ozark. They insisted that
+he should stay to dinner with them, and he did so. Then he was badgered
+to enter into a shooting match. All were fine marksmen, and Linden was
+the best shot in Greville. Using his own rifle, Deerfoot beat every one
+of them. Then he exchanged weapons and allowed the crippled Bowlby to
+rest his piece, and the Shawanoe beat all three just as badly as before.
+They were delighted, and slapping him on the back, asked him to spend a
+week with them, but he shook his head.
+
+The sun was already beyond the meridian, and there were reasons for his
+departure which he could not explain. They liked him too well to insist,
+though they made him promise that on the first chance he would make them
+a visit. Then Deerfoot gravely pressed hands with all and quickly
+disappeared in the woods, taking the trail that led toward Greville. You
+have already learned about his meeting with Terry Clark and Fred
+Linden.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+A MISHAP.
+
+
+Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they
+came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time
+before. It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely
+an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume
+was increasing with great rapidity. The sinuosities of the creek had
+caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some
+miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
+
+It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a
+distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been
+swept away like an egg shell. As it was, the water had reached the base
+of the tree, while the boat was bobbing up and down almost in a straight
+line with the course of the creek, as though it was tugging to get
+loose.
+
+"My gracious, Terry!" said Fred, "this is a little worse than I
+expected; it is going to be hard work to get across."
+
+"Ye are right for once," added the other, gravely shaking his head;
+"them rapids are a little closer than I loike."
+
+"It seems to me," added Fred, who was unwilling to admit that he was
+afraid to try the task, "that I have gone over the creek when it was
+just as high and rapid, and have crossed at this place, too."
+
+"Who swung the paddle?"
+
+"Father did once and Mr. Bowlby at another time."
+
+"Did ye iver manage the paddle yersilf when the creek got onto one of
+its tears?"
+
+"I don't remember that I have, but that has been only because the need
+did not arise; I am not afraid to try it, even if you are."
+
+"Who said I was afraid?" demanded Terry; "I'm riddy to hop into the boat
+and sway the paddle mesilf, and I'll do it, too."
+
+He stepped into the water, which was up to his shoe tops, and began
+drawing in the rawhide rope which held the frail boat from breaking
+away. His companion laughed and said nothing until the canoe was at
+their feet and drawn up on the land away from the rushing current.
+
+"Don't be quite so touchy, Terry; that boat belongs to me and I can
+handle the paddle better than you; anyway I shall try to take us to the
+other side, and all that you have to do is to keep those limbs and trees
+from capsizing us."
+
+The time occupied in pulling the boat to the spot had given the Irish
+lad a chance to regain his usual good nature, and he made no protest
+against the decision of his companion, though Terry was no unskillful
+handler of the paddle himself.
+
+The creek was probably over a hundred feet wide, and the roiled current
+abounded with limbs and trees that swung up and down, sometimes out of
+sight and then popping up again, as though they were frolicking in the
+swift waters. It would require a strong arm and a cool head to force the
+birchen craft through these obstacles to the shore on the other side.
+It must be admitted, too, that it was a piece of imprudence on the part
+of the lads, who would have been wiser had they quietly waited where
+they were until the overflow exhausted itself. A stream that rises so
+fast subsides with the same quickness, and long before nightfall the
+creek would shrink to proportions that would take away all peril to any
+one in paddling across.
+
+They would have been compelled to go a long distance up stream before
+finding a place where the crossing was easier, and it would have been
+almost impossible to drag the canoe thither. They would have held fast
+to one end of the rope and allowed it to dance through the rapids, so as
+to allow them to make the passage below, where the great peril was
+removed, had they not known that the chances were ten to one that it
+would be snatched from their grasp, thus shutting them out altogether.
+
+Looking up and across the sloping clearing, the cabins forming the
+settlement of Greville could be seen at no great distance. From several
+of the stone chimneys the smoke was curling lazily upward, and now and
+then glimpses could be caught of persons moving hither and thither, but
+no one appeared to be looking in the direction of the creek, or if any
+one was doing so, he saw nothing of the two boys standing on the further
+shore and debating with themselves the best course to follow. At any
+rate no one would think they were unable to take care of themselves.
+
+Both Fred and Terry knew that there was but one prudent plan to follow;
+that was quietly to wait where they were until near night, by which time
+all danger would be gone. But neither proposed the course nor made
+mention of it. It is natural for youth to be rash, and there was a
+semblance of timidity in such a shrinking back that was repellent to
+American and Irish lad alike. And so you will understand how it was that
+each showed an eagerness to enter into the contest with the angry
+current.
+
+You will see, too, how foolish they were, when I tell you that during
+the few minutes they stood by the tree to which the rope had been tied
+discussing the situation, they saw the proof that the creek was
+subsiding. There was a perceptible lowering of the surface, as was shown
+by the soiled line against the trunk of the tree. Even Terry, when he
+looked down, observed that he was not standing in quite as deep water as
+he was a few minutes before. No danger, however, of his making mention
+of it.
+
+It took but a minute or so to untie the long thong that was wrapped
+about the limb, and then, as Fred was on the point of flinging the coil
+into the bottom of the boat, the end of which was drawn up on the bank,
+and to take up the paddle and push off, Terry, with some excitement,
+caught his arm and said:
+
+"Plase wait a minute, will ye?"
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll not be gone long; howld the boat only for a twinkling."
+
+He ran a dozen steps or so from shore to where was the stump of a tree
+that had probably been splintered by a thunder-bolt, and around which
+sprouted a number of bushes that were dense enough to hide a large
+object within. Carefully parting these, Terry laid down his rifle and
+the bell, and then as carefully smoothed the undergrowth in place. Then
+he hurried back.
+
+"There are plinty of lads about me own size," said he, "but there's only
+one gun that belongs to me, and if the canoe should upsit and both of us
+get drowned I want to be sure and save me gun."
+
+Fred smiled at this Irish-like explanation, but he was glad that Terry
+had left the gun on shore. It was safely hidden until he should wish to
+get it again, while its presence in the canoe would be the worst kind of
+encumbrance. The new owner was so charmed with his prize that he would
+think more of saving that than of saving the boat. It was clear that the
+task of Terry in fighting off the rushing timber would be almost as
+difficult as that of guiding it across the swift stream.
+
+"In with you!" said Fred to Terry, who carefully seated himself near the
+bow of the canoe and took up the long pole that lay in the bottom and
+projected some distance over the end of the boat. Fred Linden gave it a
+vigorous shove, landed in the stern, caught up the paddle, and
+instantly began his struggle.
+
+You will see the difficulty and danger of his task, and must therefore
+join with me in condemning the lack of judgment showed by both. They had
+to paddle more than a hundred feet across a furious torrent in which
+were scores of uprooted trees, wrenched-off limbs, and craggy stumps,
+all speeding downward with great swiftness and force. The course of the
+boat being at right angles to these objects, must bring it in collision
+with some of them, at the great risk of overturning or shattering the
+canoe, that was not calculated to withstand any such blows.
+
+And yet, though the task was a hard one, there was little doubt that the
+two lads could make their way across, provided they were given enough
+time in which to do so; but there were the rapids, so near that their
+roar was plainly heard. In case of an overturn or accident, the two
+would be swept among them. It was the same, on a smaller scale, as if a
+person should start to row across Niagara River, just above the falls,
+where by vigorous work he could make the passage, provided he did not
+drop a stroke on the way. You will say that any one making such an
+attempt placed little value on his own life.
+
+Fred Linden used his paddle after the manner of an Indian--that is, he
+dipped the broad end first on one side of the boat and then on the
+other. The paddle was not widened at each end, as is sometimes the case,
+the one who wields it using the sides alternately and with great
+rapidity. In calm water such a light structure as an Indian canoe can be
+driven with great speed, and I have no doubt that the youths would have
+made a speedy passage had it not been for the interference of the
+floating objects to which I have referred.
+
+Ten feet from land Fred was forced to back water suddenly to avoid a
+jagged stump that danced in front like a bull getting ready to charge,
+and finally did strike the bow with a thump that startled both the
+occupants.
+
+"Me pole slipped off the side of that," Terry explained, as he
+brandished the stick in front on the lookout for the threatening
+waste-wood; "have a care that ye don't drive the boat agin something
+that is stronger than the boat itsilf."
+
+By coolness, alertness and strength, Fred fought his way in safety until
+probably one-third of the distance was passed. Then he saw the great
+blunder he had made in trying to cross while the current was so high.
+The constant fighting with the floating stumps and trees caused them to
+lose so much ground--or rather water--that they were drifting
+frightfully close to the rapids, whose roar grew plainer every moment.
+But he had gone so far that it was as safe to keep on as to turn back,
+and so he dipped the paddle and swung it with renewed vigor.
+
+"Look out!" he called to Terry, who in parrying the rush of a stump a
+couple of yards in advance, did not notice one that was coming broadside
+on, its presence betrayed by a tiny branch that protruded a few inches
+above the surface like the fin of a shark. Fred did his utmost to avoid
+it, but he was too slow, and a second later the pointed log not only
+struck the side of the canoe, but capsized it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
+
+
+The partly sunken log crashed into the side of the canoe with such
+suddenness that the craft was overturned and ruined, and the occupants
+struggling in the water, before either had time to utter more than a
+single exclamation.
+
+But they were powerful swimmers, and, but for the nearness of the
+rapids, they could have afforded to laugh at their mishap. As it was,
+Terry Clark shouted, as he blew the muddy water from his mouth:
+
+"What a sinsible young gintleman I was to lave me gun on the other
+side."
+
+"We both would have been much more sensible had we left ourselves
+there," rejoined Fred, who was struggling with might and main for the
+land in front; "there's no time, Terry, to waste in talk; we've got to
+swim as never before, for nothing else will save us."
+
+The other seemed to rouse to his peril, for he made the only wise
+response he could--which was putting forth every atom of strength and
+skill that he possessed in the effort to breast the furious torrent.
+
+It is singular how often the slightest advantage turns the scale for
+life or death. At the moment the canoe was smashed and capsized Terry
+Clark was seated some six or eight feet nearer the shore toward which
+they were paddling than was Fred Linden, and this difference remained
+when the two went into the water and began swimming. The Irish lad was
+fully as skillful as the other, and he did not lose an inch of the gain
+thus given him.
+
+They were near the middle of the stream when the catastrophe took place.
+Of course they would have done better had they been without any
+clothing, but there was no time to remove any of that, and beyond
+question the two made the most gallant kind of a fight for life.
+
+Fully aroused to his peril, Terry swam with amazing power, his lips
+compressed and his eyes fixed on the land in front, which seemed quite
+near, and yet was never so hard to reach. The lad had proven by repeated
+tests that he could swim faster on his left side then in any other
+position. He quickly flung himself over and used his arms and legs like
+one who knew fully the stake for which he was contending.
+
+By this recourse he actually gained on Fred, who continued to breast the
+water with all the strength at his command. Terry was hopeful, and now
+that he was fully roused, he did not waste his strength in shouting to
+his companion. As he advanced in his crab-like fashion, he frequently
+flirted his face around so as to look in front, and thus to keep aware
+of his progress.
+
+"I'm doing well, and will make it," was his thought; "I hope Fred will
+be as fortynate as mesilf."
+
+An important point was gained by swimming on his left side; his face was
+turned up stream, and he caught sight of the floating timber quicker
+than when advancing with his face toward the land. Thus it came about
+that he saw a plunging tree, or log, similar to that which had
+destroyed the canoe, and when it was fully as close to him.
+
+Like a flash, Terry dove, intending to pass clean under it. He could not
+know any thing about the portion beneath the surface, and was a little
+startled when he found himself among leaves and a lot of small branches;
+but he swam with the same vigor and skill when below as when above the
+surface, and quickly fought his way through, rising on the other side a
+considerable distance nearer land.
+
+But he gasped with terror, for during the brief period he lost a great
+deal more than he gained. A furtive glance to the left showed him the
+mist and spray flying high in air, as the muddy waters were tossed to
+and fro by the rocks below: he was fearfully close to them.
+
+But he was also close to land, and he saw his chance; indeed, his only
+one. A tree growing out toward the creek curved downward so that the
+lower part of the trunk was within a few inches of the water. A short
+time before the current had washed against it, but was now falling away
+from it.
+
+The portion which inclined downward like a bow was several feet from
+shore, and some distance below him. It will be seen, therefore, that the
+thing for him to do was to bend all his efforts toward reaching that. If
+he could advance far enough to allow the current to sweep him beneath,
+or quite close to the tree, he could grasp it and save himself.
+
+"That's what's got to be done," was his conclusion the instant he saw
+the crooked tree; "or it's good-by to Terry Clark and his rifle."
+
+He would succeed; he saw it the next moment. The curving tree seemed to
+be sweeping up stream with frightful swiftness, but at the right second
+Terry, by a supreme effort, threw himself partly out of the water, and
+flinging both arms around the trunk, which was no more than six inches
+in diameter, he held fast.
+
+The strain was great, and he felt his fingers slipping over the shaggy
+bark, but he held on like grim death, and by a skillful upward hitch of
+his body, locked his fingers above the trunk, and was safe; he was then
+able to hold double his own weight.
+
+His next move was to throw his feet around the trunk, when it was an
+easy matter for him to twist himself over on top, where he was as secure
+as lying on his own trundle bed in the cabin at home.
+
+The instant his own safety was secured his whole soul was stirred by
+anxiety for Fred Linden, who, he knew, was placed at more disadvantage
+than he. Since he was further from shore than was he, and since the
+latter had been able to save himself only by a hair's breadth, it was
+clearly beyond the power of Fred to escape in the same manner--though it
+might be that there was some other remote chance for him.
+
+The first glance that Terry cast over the muddy waters showed him his
+friend, swimming manfully for shore, but so far out in the stream that
+it was impossible for him to reach it before passing into the grip of
+the rapids.
+
+"It's no use," called out Fred, in a voice in which there was no tremor
+or shrinking; "I'm bound for the rapids, and here goes."
+
+And deliberately facing about, he swam coolly in the direction of the
+boiling waters as though he were bathing in a still lake.
+
+"Be the powers, but he is plucky," muttered Terence, thrilled by the
+sight; "if he can get through there alive, I'll be proud of him!"
+
+The rapids, of which I have made mention several times, were caused by a
+series of irregular rocks, extending a hundred yards, in the space of
+which the stream made a descent of a dozen or twenty feet. At ordinary
+times the creek wound languidly around these obstructions, forming many
+deep, clear pools of water, that afforded the best kind of fishing.
+There was so much room for the current that there was no call for it to
+make haste.
+
+But you can understand how different it was when the creek was swollen
+by violent rains. It then dashed against the rocks, was thrown back,
+plunged against others, whirled about and charged upon still others, by
+which time it was a mass of seething foam, with the spray flying high in
+air, and a faint rainbow showing through the mist when the sun was
+shining. After fighting its way between and around and over these
+obstructions, the current emerged at the bottom one mass of boiling foam
+and dancing bubbles, which continued for several hundred feet before
+the effects of the savage churning that the water had received could be
+shaken off.
+
+Now, it would be idle to say that these rapids were as dangerous as the
+famous whirlpool below Niagara Falls; for it would not only be untrue,
+but it would shut me out from taking Fred Linden safely through them:
+for I am bound to do that, since he is too good a fellow to sacrifice at
+this early stage of my story, and you would not forgive me for doing so.
+
+But all the same the danger was great, and was enough to cause the
+bravest man to shrink from attempting the passage. Fred would have been
+glad to shrink from going through, but since that was beyond his power
+he did the wisest course--faced about and kept his wits with him.
+
+There was one consolation--the suspense could last but a few moments; he
+was sure to emerge from the lower falls within the space of a minute,
+whether alive or dead.
+
+The first object that caught his eye was his broken canoe. Naturally it
+was but a short distance below him, though it had gained a little while
+he was struggling so hard to make land. It was turned on its side,
+spinning sometimes one way and then whirling the other, according to the
+whim of the current; then sea-sawing up and down, until all at once it
+shot upward like a huge sturgeon, which sometimes flings its whole
+length out of the water.
+
+Another point must be named that was gained by this facing about of Fred
+Linden. Since he was going with the current he kept pace with every
+thing else that was afloat, and he was therefore in no danger from the
+trees and branches that had caused him so much, and, in fact, nearly all
+his trouble.
+
+At the moment he was about to enter the boiling rapids he found himself
+partly entangled in the branches of a large uprooted tree that was
+dancing about in a crazy fashion.
+
+"This may help to shield me from being dashed against the rocks," was
+his thought, as he seized hold of a thick limb close to the point where
+it put out from the trunk; "at any rate I don't see that it can make
+matters any worse."
+
+The act of Fred Linden in grasping the limb saved his life. The next
+moment he was whirled hither and thither, half strangled with foam, head
+now in air, now beneath the surface, his body grazing the jagged rocks
+by the closest possible shave, and all the time shooting forward with
+dizzying rapidity, until at last he emerged into the calmer water below
+as well and hearty as he ever was in all his life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+TRAMPING SOUTHWARD.
+
+
+An ejaculation of thankfulness escaped Fred Linden when he found himself
+floating in the comparatively still water below the rapids, and he knew
+that although he was pretty well bruised, none of his bones was broken.
+He let go of the limb of the tree that had served him so well, and
+flirting the water from his eyes, struck out with his old time vigor for
+the shore, toward which he had started in the canoe.
+
+When Terry Clark saw his friend go spinning into the whirlpool, he
+scrambled back from the trunk of the tree, on which he had found refuge,
+and ran at full speed down the bank. Fast as he went, he was just in
+time to see Fred swimming through the foaming waters toward the land.
+
+"Give me yer hand!" called out the delighted youngster; "there isn't
+any body in the wide wurruld that could bate that onless it is mesilf,
+and I couldn't do it."
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Fred, as he laboriously clambered up the steep bank;
+"that was the biggest lot of swimming and diving crowded into the space
+of a minute or two that I ever knew; I wouldn't like to take such a trip
+each day."
+
+"And I'm thinkin' that it'll be a few days after this whin we try it
+agin," added Terry, delighted to see his loved comrade before him
+unharmed; "I jist give up when I seen you plunge in among the rocks, and
+was wonderin' how your father and mother and sister Edith would faal
+when I should be luggin' your dead body home."
+
+"I'm thankful that you haven't _that_ to do," said Fred with an
+earnestness that could not be mistaken; "but come, the clothes of us
+both are dripping, and we can't get away any too soon."
+
+It was not far to walk, and a few minutes later they reached the other
+side of the clearing, where the cluster of cabins stood. The first
+living object on which their eyes rested was Brindle, lying on the
+ground and chewing her cud with an air of contentment which belongs
+exclusively to her kind, or rather kine.
+
+The boys laughed and Terry said:
+
+"If she had such a thing as conscience she wouldn't be takin' things in
+that aisy style, after givin' us a duckin' that come nigh bein' our last
+one."
+
+"You are right, Terry, but what did you do with that bell that Deerfoot
+took away from the Winnebago?"
+
+"I lift it wid my gun on the other side of the creek; I didn't want it
+tollin' our funeral knell all the time we was goin' through the rapids
+and splittin' the rocks to pieces by bangin' our heads agin them."
+
+"It is just as well, for the creek will be so low that there will be no
+danger in crossing it to-morrow, and you can get the bell again; well,
+here we are at home."
+
+The boys separated, and at the same moment, each entered the cabin where
+he lived. They were only a short distance apart. Several men and a
+number of the lads, some older and some younger than the two in whom we
+are interested, were moving about, and looked curiously at the dripping
+figures. A couple asked an explanation of Fred, but he laughingly
+answered that he would tell them after he had got dry, and immediately
+disappeared in his own house.
+
+Mrs. Linden and Edith, her daughter, who was two years younger than
+Fred, looked up in surprise when they saw the state of the lad.
+
+"Terry and I started to paddle across the creek, that is higher than
+usual, and were overturned by a tree that stove in the side of the boat
+and gave us a ducking."
+
+Having heard this explanation his folks seemed to feel no more curiosity
+about it. The lad passed into his room, he being one of those fortunate
+ones who had two complete suits of clothing, with the exception of cap
+and shoes. It took him but a short time to effect the change, when he
+reappeared, placing his foot and head gear near the fire, where they
+would soon dry.
+
+The home of Fred Linden may be taken as a type of the best that were
+found on the frontier. As a matter of course, it was made of logs, with
+a stone chimney so huge that it projected like an irregular bay window
+from the rear. The fire-place took up the greater part of one side of
+the house, where the immense blocks of oak and hickory not only diffused
+a cheery warmth through the lower portion, but sent fully one-half the
+heat up the enormous throat of the chimney.
+
+The large room, which served for parlor, sitting and dining room, was
+furnished simply, but comfortably, with plain chairs, a bench,
+spinning-wheel, a rocking-chair, table, a few cheap pictures and the
+indispensable cooking utensils. There was no stove, every thing being
+prepared in the fire-place. At that day, as you well know, no one had
+ever dreamed of using coal as an article of fuel, and the old-fashioned
+stoves were exceedingly few in number. Carpets, of course, were not
+thought of, though the rough floor was kept clean enough to serve as a
+table for food.
+
+A rifle rested on two deer prongs over the mantel-piece, and there
+seemed to be any number of knick-knacks about the room, though it would
+have been found that nearly every one had a distinct use in the
+household.
+
+Two rooms were connected on the same floor with the larger apartment.
+One of these served as the sleeping quarters for the parents when Mr.
+Linden was at home, and the other for Edith, while Fred occupied the
+loft, which had the rafters for a ceiling, and extended over half the
+lower floor. During the absence of the father, Edith and her mother used
+one room, while Fred had the other.
+
+Noon had passed when the son came home, and his substantial dinner of
+venison--procured some days before by Fred himself--brown bread,
+potatoes, butter and milk, were awaiting him. Taking his place at the
+table, he ate as only a rugged, growing boy of sixteen can eat.
+
+He made no further mention of the dangerous adventure that had just
+befallen him, but gave the full particulars of Terry Clark's encounter
+with the Winnebago Indian, who stole the bell from the cow, and tried to
+have a little sport at the expense of the boy. It was an interesting
+story, and mother and daughter listened with rapt attention. Edith, who
+was a bright girl, and very fond of her brother, asked many questions
+as to how the Winnebago looked, what he said, and whether he really
+meant to kill poor Terry. Then her interest suddenly transferred itself
+to Deerfoot, and she plied Fred with all sorts of queries, until he
+laughingly told her that she was asking them two and three times over,
+and really he had nothing more to tell.
+
+Then Fred drew out the moist and soiled bit of paper that he had taken
+from his other clothes, and which contained the message of his father.
+This, of course, caused a sensation, for it made known the fact that the
+son was to join his parent for several months. It would be supposed that
+this would cause some inconvenience, but in such a primitive community
+all were neighbors, and the chores and work that would have been done by
+Fred Linden would be cheerfully attended to by others. It was not until
+many years afterward, when the settlements became towns, that the social
+distinctions between families were formed.
+
+During all the conversation, after it had been agreed that Fred should
+start alone on a hundred mile journey through the wild forest, nothing
+was said about such a thing as the personal danger attending it. And
+that, too, directly on the heels of the Winnebago's attempt on Terry
+Clark. The habit of self-reliance was taught to the children of the
+pioneers at such an early age, that their parents felt no solicitude,
+where in these times they would have been tortured by anxiety, and, no
+doubt, with abundant reason.
+
+Mrs. Bowlby was told of the mishap that had befallen her absent lord,
+when she was asked by Edith to come over in the evening, but she was
+assured that there was no cause for alarm, and so she felt none. She
+wrote a letter to her husband, as did the wife of Hardin, and Fred's own
+mother. These constituted all the extra luggage that he was to take, for
+it would have been oppressive to load him with any thing in the nature
+of a burden when the hunters had been absent only a few days.
+
+The decision was that Fred should make his start at early dawn the next
+day. It was his purpose to reach camp on the fourth day; that would be
+only an ordinary tramp for a rugged youngster like him, and he was
+confident that he would have no trouble in keeping to the trail that had
+been ridden over so recently by his friends.
+
+The little personal articles, as they may be called, which the lad would
+require, were mostly the same as those of his father, and could be
+utilized by the son. Such, as from the nature of things, could not
+answer for both were tied into a compact package with his linen and
+strapped over his shoulders with a thick blanket. His powder horn and
+bullet pouch were not forgotten. An extra flint for his rifle was placed
+in his pocket, and the weapon, which belonged to the lad himself, was
+slung over his shoulder after the manner of a professional hunter. Then
+making sure that nothing had been left behind, Fred gave his sister and
+mother a warm hug and kiss apiece, called to them a jaunty good-by, and
+set his face toward the Ozark mountains.
+
+It had become known that he was to start on quite a lengthy journey, and
+those who were astir at that early hour called their hearty good wishes
+to the lad, who was popular with all. Fred looked for Terry, and seeing
+nothing of him, shouted his name as he passed by his door, but receiving
+no response, concluded that he was still asleep.
+
+The heart of the boy was light as he strode at a rapid pace across the
+clearing. He felt no inconvenience from the bruises received the day
+before, during the passage of the rapids, and his natural buoyancy
+caused him to look upon the tramp through the woods as a school boy
+views his long expected vacation. There was no fear of any peril in the
+stretch of unbroken forest that opened before him. It was fortunate
+indeed for his peace of mind that he did not know what was awaiting him
+in the dark arches and labyrinths of the almost interminable
+wilderness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+A STRANGE ANIMAL.
+
+
+When Fred Linden reached the creek where he had met with his stirring
+adventure the day before, he could not help smiling. It had shrunk to
+its usual volume, and was winding along as lazily as usual, the only
+sign of the violent freshet being the _debris_ left along the bank and
+the slightly roiled appearance of the current.
+
+The pioneers had so many occasions to cross this stream of water that
+they had made several attempts to put up a rude but strong bridge; but
+no matter what pains they took, they could never erect a structure
+strong enough to withstand the furious freshets which, as you can well
+understand, were often resistless.
+
+The result, therefore, was a reliance upon the canoes, some of which lay
+on one side of the stream and some on the other; but a surprise awaited
+young Linden. Seeing no boat in sight, he walked along the shore in
+quest of one, for he was resolved to keep out of the water as long as he
+could, though a lad on the frontier makes far less ado about dripping
+garments than you or I.
+
+That which surprised him was the sight of a long, uprooted tree which,
+coming down the creek, when the water was rapidly falling, had swung
+around in such position that the roots caught fast in the clayey soil on
+the bank, and the limbs were imbedded in the sand and mud on the other
+shore. The result was as good a bridge as a foot traveler could want.
+
+"That will do until there comes another rise," he said, as he carefully
+stepped upon the limbs, using them to reach the trunk, along which he
+walked across the water, leaping to the ground on the other side.
+
+He stepped off with his elastic gait, keeping so close to the path that
+he and Terry had taken the day before that he caught sight of the bushes
+around the splintered trunk of the tree where the rifle captured from
+the Winnebago had been hidden.
+
+"He'll be over early to get his prize," thought Fred; "for it is beyond
+all worth to him. If it wouldn't make him feel so bad I would plague him
+a little by hiding it."
+
+He parted the bushes and peered within. The first object on which his
+eye fell was the battered old cow-bell that had played such a curious
+part the day before, but he saw nothing of the gun itself; a brief but
+hurried search convinced him that it was gone.
+
+"That will break Terry's heart," said he to himself; "he never owned a
+gun, and now, to lose such a handsome one when it has been in his
+possession only a brief while, will grieve him as much as the loss of a
+dear friend."
+
+Just then young Linden caught the faint but clear notes of some one
+whistling. He had but to listen a second or two, when he recognized it,
+as he did the hearty laugh that followed. Looking to his right, he saw
+Terry himself standing but a few paces away, and, so to speak, in his
+"war paint." Bullet pouch, powder-horn, bundle on his back, and, more
+than all, the splendid rifle was there. The round, chubby face, clear
+eyes, and pug nose of the Irish lad seemed to radiate delight as he
+made an elaborate salute to his friend, and, with mock gravity, doffed
+his hat and scraped his foot along the ground. "Why, Terry," said the
+delighted Fred, asking the useless question, "what is the meaning of
+this?"
+
+"I'm going wid ye to the camp in the Ozark Mountains; do ye think I
+could rist aisy, knowin' that ye had to travel such a long distance wid
+no one to take care of ye?"
+
+"Well, now, that just pleases me more than I can tell you," said the
+overjoyed Fred, slapping him on the shoulder; "there isn't any one in
+the wide world whose company I want as bad as yours; I lay awake half of
+last night trying to get up some plan by which I could have you with me,
+but I couldn't think of any, and had to give it up. Father sent only for
+me, and I didn't suppose that Mr. MacClaskey would spare you. Tell me
+how you managed it."
+
+A quizzical expression came upon the face of the Irish lad, who, leaning
+on his rifle, took off his hat and scratched his head for a few seconds
+before answering.
+
+"Wal, bein' it's yersilf, Fred, I don't mind sayin' that it took some
+strategy, as I suppose Deerfut would call it. Last night, after we had
+eat our supper, and the chores were done wid, and Mr. MacClaskey had
+took his seat by the fire and lit his pipe, and Mrs. MacClaskey had
+started her spinning-wheel a-hummin', and the children had been packed
+off to bed, I told the folks the whole story. I managed it in such a
+style that the owld gentleman, who, you know, has spint two winters in
+the mountains, said it would make the folks out there desprit short of
+hands. I observed, in me careless way, that such was the case, and that
+Mr. Linden had sent word to ye that he wanted ye to come, and, from
+things that I knew, me own prisence would give great satisfaction to
+sartin parties. Ye understand that I had yersilf in me eye, though I
+didn't think there was nade of making it all plain how it was.
+
+"Wai, the owld gintleman wouldn't listen to me goin' away, but I managed
+it so well that after awhile he kind of remarked that if the folks
+wanted me, he'd no objection to me goin', as he belaved that I would
+make more there than I would at home.
+
+"_That_ was the p'int," added Terry, with a wink, as he replaced his
+cap; "and there was where me genius showed itself; I spoke about the big
+lot of furs that had to be gathered, and how much money the hunters
+would make, and what a chance there was for a risin' young man of
+industrious habits. The owld gintleman took it in, and at last said,
+bein' as I had the new gun, why he didn't know but what I might give it
+a trial.
+
+"Wal, that was all I wanted. I started to run over last night to tell
+ye, but afore I got to yer house I thought of this 'cute plan of
+s'prisin' ye. I got all ready last night, ate breakfast airly, and was
+down here and had me gun just as I observed ye makin' yer way across the
+clearin' toward this spot."
+
+And so it came about that on this beautiful sunshiny day in autumn, Fred
+Linden and Terry Clark set out, each with ammunition and loaded rifle,
+for a hundred mile tramp toward the wild region of the Ozark Mountains.
+The air was crisp and cool, and every thing joined to give them a
+buoyancy of spirits such as falls to the lot only of rugged, growing
+boys in bounding health.
+
+The two, however, had seen enough of life in the woods to know that the
+sunshine and clear air would not last. They might continue until they
+reached camp, but more than likely clouds, rain, chilly weather and
+possibly a flurry of snow would overtake them. Winter was at hand, and
+though, as I have shown, they were in quite a temperate clime, it was
+subject to violent changes, as trying as those in a much more northern
+latitude.
+
+Besides, the trail, although distinctly marked, did not lead over any
+thing like even ground all the way. Long before they could reach the
+vicinity of the camp the character of the country told of the wild,
+rocky region, covering thousands of square miles, and known as the Ozark
+Mountains. No route could lead to such a distance through an unsettled
+country without crossing a number of streams, and passing through
+regions that were any thing but attractive to the traveler.
+
+All this, however, gave just the element of danger and difficulty to the
+enterprise that was one of the most delightful features to the young
+lads, who stepped off with swinging gait to the southward. Had the
+journey been smooth and even, it would have lost the major part of its
+charms.
+
+The boys carried enough with them to give them all they were likely to
+need in the way of food for twenty-four hours. It would have been little
+trouble to take enough to last through the four days; but there was
+something unprofessional in such a course which caused their souls to
+rebel. The magnificent forest contained plenty of game, and they would
+have been poor sportsmen, indeed, had they confessed by their action
+that they distrusted their ability to procure it.
+
+The trail over which the two walked, Fred slightly in advance, was
+marked with such distinctness by the hoofs of the six horses that had
+passed along it in Indian file but a short time before that it was no
+trouble for the boys to recognize it, nor were they likely to have any
+difficulty in keeping to it throughout the whole distance.
+
+It was a little past noon, when they reached a small brook whose
+current was so cold and clear that they took a long draught from it, and
+then sat down and ate their simple lunch. They felt little fatigue, and
+as a goodly number of miles remained to be traveled, according to the
+schedule of Fred Linden, they leaped lightly across the waste and were
+soon under way again.
+
+"Do you know," said Fred, later in the afternoon, "that I've been
+thinking we have not paid enough attention to one or two important
+matters."
+
+"What are they?"
+
+"I don't know what has become of Deerfoot, and we may not see him again;
+but we know enough of him to understand that whatever he says is worth
+remembering. Now, he told us yesterday that that Winnebago, from whom he
+took that rifle, belonged to a party of those warriors, and it seems to
+me that if they are anywhere, it is between us and the camp, and we are
+likely to see more of them."
+
+"I'm of the same opinion with yersilf, but jest now there is somethin'
+else that gives me concern."
+
+"What is that?" asked the surprised Fred, stopping and turning around.
+
+"Some person or animal has been followin' us for the last half hour.
+I've heard it more than once, and it ain't fur off this very minute."
+
+The two boys stood still and looked over the trail along which they had
+been traveling. Fred Linden's fear was that Terry had discovered the
+presence of some of the very Winnebagos whom he dreaded, but he was
+mistaken. That which they saw was not a person, but a strange animal of
+such fierce mien and hostile intent that they instantly looked to their
+rifles, knowing that a savage fight was inevitable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+A TROUBLESOME VISITOR.
+
+
+There is no reason to discredit the truth of the accounts given by
+hunters in the west of wild beasts of prodigious activity, strength and
+ferocity, and that, belonging to no distinct class of animals, are a
+mixture of the fiercest. Trappers and explorers in the wild regions of
+the Rocky Mountains, sometimes meet a beast to which they have given the
+expressive name of "Indian devil," whose power and daring are such that
+a party of veteran hunters have been known to withdraw from a section
+frequented by him, simply to avoid a fight. While the stories about them
+may be exaggerated at times, there is no doubt that such animals exist,
+and there is good reason to hold them in dread.
+
+The beast that Fred Linden and Terry Clark saw in the path before them
+resembled a panther more than any animal they could call to mind. It
+might have been described as a cross between a tiger and panther, had
+that been possible. Fred had heard his father speak of those creatures
+that were detested and feared, and he was sure that they were going to
+have trouble with this one. How fortunate that each boy held a loaded
+gun in his grasp!
+
+The action of the hybrid was as peculiar as his appearance. He seemed to
+have been trotting quietly along the trail with his nose down, as though
+following the scent, when he became aware that his game had stopped, and
+were surveying him with some interest. The beast also came to an abrupt
+halt and threw up his head, as though he was equally curious to learn
+something about the party of the first part.
+
+Standing thus, with his nose quite high in the air, it struck both boys
+that he showed a resemblance to a wolf as well as a panther. He was
+larger than either, and there could be no doubt that he was amazingly
+muscular, active and courageous.
+
+Thus stood the opposing parties, as they may be called, for a full
+minute. Each looked steadily at the other, the space between them being
+no more than fifty yards. Had it been less, both boys would have fired
+at him, but they were afraid that such wounds as they could inflict
+would only rouse his fury. One of the most marked peculiarities of the
+"Indian devil" is his toughness, some of the stories in this respect
+being almost incredible.
+
+All at once the beast seemed to be overcome with disgust for the two
+youngsters. He whisked squarely about and trotted away, showing a bushy
+fox-like tail that almost swept the ground.
+
+"I call that an insoolt!" exclaimed Terence Clark, bringing his gun to
+his shoulder, taking quick aim and letting fly, before his companion
+could object. He insisted that he had hit the animal, but it is likely
+he was mistaken, for it gave no sign of being touched, trotting with the
+same even step until it passed from sight around a bend in the path.
+
+"I hit him hard," insisted Terry, who proceeded to reload his piece;
+"there's no doubt of the same."
+
+"If you had done so, he would have given some evidence of it, but there
+was not the slightest."
+
+"Ye know that such creatures are tough," coolly remarked Terry; "and the
+bullet has glanced off his side as from a rock."
+
+"If I could believe that," said the other, "I would hide somewhere until
+he went away, for it would be only a waste of powder and ball to shoot
+at him."
+
+"Hasn't he gone off? What are ye talking about?"
+
+"Gone away? Yes; for awhile, but we are not done with that beast yet; we
+shall have trouble with him."
+
+"If we keep our guns loaded and our powder dry, we'll open on him, and
+if we can't kill him we'll fill him with so much lead that he won't be
+able to travel fast, and we'll bid him good-by and walk from him."
+
+The boys waited a few minutes, thinking possibly that the strange
+creature would show himself again, but he did not appear, and they
+turned about and resumed their journey.
+
+They were now on one of the best stretches of the trail. The ground was
+even, there were no bowlders or rocks in the path to make walking
+difficult, and the undergrowth, which in some places was quite an
+obstruction, did not interfere. By the middle of the afternoon, Fred was
+confident they were twenty miles at least on the road, and he said that
+if they came upon an inviting place, they would go into camp for the
+night. The package which each carried on his back was wrapped in a
+blanket that could be used to lie upon by the fire, or in severe
+weather, though they would have cared little had they owned nothing of
+the kind.
+
+Their good spirits continued, and they were walking at a leisurely pace,
+when a rustling in the bushes on the left caused them to look in that
+direction. There stood the strange beast, not fifty feet away, head
+erect, and staring at them with the same inquiring look that he showed
+some time before.
+
+"I wonder how he likes a side view of us," said Terry, partly amused,
+but somewhat frightened; "I think he is close enough for us to fetch him
+this time."
+
+Fred was inclined to give him a shot, but he felt some doubt, and while
+he was considering the question, the beast whisked about and vanished
+like a flash.
+
+"He is a strange animal," said Fred, lowering his gun, which he was in
+the act of raising; "and I am more satisfied now than ever that we shall
+have trouble with him. The first time that we gain a fair shot, that is,
+like we had just now, let's tumble him over. He may be as daring and
+tough as the hunters say, but there isn't any animal tough enough to
+withstand a couple of well-aimed bullets."
+
+"I agree wid ye--that is, after one was fired. That shot of mine was
+well aimed and struck, but it takes somethin' more to bring him down, as
+a colored friend of mine once said when a house tumbled over on his
+head."
+
+"You saw how spry a creature he is, and if he should happen to drop down
+upon us from the branch of a tree, those sharp claws of his would play
+the mischief with us."
+
+Since there was no place in sight that suited for camping, Terry
+reloaded, and they kept on. After the fright they had received, you may
+be sure they maintained a close watch of the wood in every direction. As
+yet they had seen no game from which to procure food, but they wanted
+to go into camp near a spring or stream of water. The latter is
+generally looked upon as one of the indispensables by a party of
+campers, and it was not likely that the youths would have to travel far
+before finding what they wanted.
+
+The sun had not yet dropped below the horizon when they struck the very
+spot. There were the bubbling brook, lined by mossy banks, the small
+open space, the tall column-like trunks; and the heavy overhanging
+boughs, which, late though it was in the season, would allow but few
+drops of a shower to find their way through. The air was cool, but there
+were no signs of a storm.
+
+"There couldn't be a better place," said Fred, when he had noted all the
+points; "here is every thing that a party can want, except it be supper,
+which they ought to bring with them."
+
+"And somebody has been here ahead of us," added Terry, kicking apart the
+ashes at the base of a large tree; "there's where the fire was
+kindled."
+
+"No doubt it is where father and the rest of them spent the first night
+after leaving home: that shows that we have made good progress, and, if
+no accident happens, we shall arrive on time."
+
+"There is no need of our hurryin', as I understood that a gintleman once
+obsarved whin they were goin' to hang him; if we are two or three days
+late in gettin' there, what's the odds?"
+
+"None--though this fine weather can not last long, and when it is over,
+I should like to be at the end of our journey, where we shall have good
+shelter. I wonder what has become of the wild beast?"
+
+"Be the powers! but there he comes!"
+
+The words had hardly passed the lips of the startled Terry Clark, when
+the strange animal was seen in the path in front of them, in precisely
+the same position as when first noticed. He had evidently passed around
+to the front, as though determined to study the boys from every point of
+view. He seemed to have been standing for some minutes before discovered
+by the boys, and was now observed approaching, as the Irish lad had
+announced.
+
+He did not gallop or trot, but walked slowly, just as though having made
+up his mind to take a select meal off the youngsters, he was going to do
+so with the deliberation of an epicure that extracts the fullest
+enjoyment from his delicacies.
+
+There was something unnerving in the sight of the frightful animal
+approaching in this noiseless fashion, his jaws parted just enough to
+show his long, white teeth, but giving utterance to no growl, or
+threatening act, beyond the mere advance itself. His large, round eyes
+had a phosphorescent glow, and the long, sinewy body and limbs were the
+repository of a strength and activity that might well make a veteran
+hunter timid about encountering him.
+
+"By gracious!" said Fred Linden; "we're in for it now; he doesn't mean
+to wait for us to attack him, but is coming for us."
+
+"If I was called on to make a wager," said Terry, as cool as ever, "that
+would be the view that I would take of the same."
+
+"You fire first and I will follow; take good aim, and send your bullet
+right between the eyes."
+
+There was no time to spare, for the beast at that instant was within a
+dozen yards. Terry Clark brought his rifle to his shoulder, sighted
+quickly, and pulled the trigger.
+
+That he struck the creature was proven by his snarling growl and slight
+upward leap; but instead of stopping, he broke into a gallop and came
+straight on.
+
+Then Fred Linden aimed and fired, but he also failed to check the
+advance of the animal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+A WELCOME ALLY.
+
+
+Fred Linden, like his companion, aimed directly between the eyes of the
+strange beast, and, like him, he struck the mark; but both shots only
+served to awake the irrestrainable ferocity of the animal, which, with
+another rasping howl and parted jaws, bounded toward them. Since both
+weapons were discharged, and they had no other firearms, the boys were
+almost helpless, and it may be said their enemy was upon them.
+
+"Run!" called out Fred, wheeling about and leaping toward a tree, behind
+which he took refuge; but sturdy Terry had no thought of turning away
+from such a foe. Throwing one foot back so as to steady himself, he
+seized his fine rifle with both hands, near to the muzzle, and held it
+so as to use it as a club or shillaleh.
+
+The brute was so close that he had no more than time to gather his
+strength, and swing the heavy stock with might and main, when the animal
+bounded at him straight from the ground.
+
+There was a "dull thud," as it may be called, and the stock crashed
+against the side of the beast's head, knocking him a couple of yards to
+the left, and almost at the feet of Fred Linden; but in point of fact
+the blow did no harm except to thwart the creature for a second or two.
+
+He was now snarling, and gave utterance to one or two peculiar barking
+sounds like a dog or wolf. His eyes were ablaze, and there could be no
+doubt that his fury was at white heat. Crouching for an instant, he made
+a bound for Terry, before he had time to balance himself to deliver his
+second blow with the same power as the first.
+
+Fred Linden could not stand still and see his companion torn to shreds
+in that fashion. He leaped from behind the tree, with his gun also
+clubbed, and hastened to strike with all his might; but he was too
+late.
+
+It was a curious fact, not understood at the moment, that the savage
+creature, although he leaped straight at Terry, passed fully two feet
+over his head, and that, too, when the lad was standing erect, and
+braced to deliver his second blow.
+
+Striking on his belly, several paces beyond, the beast rolled over and
+over, clawing, snapping, snarling, and beating the air, with
+lightning-like blows. The leaves and dust flew in all directions, and
+the foam which he spat from his jaws was flecked with blood.
+
+He continued rolling and struggling until he was a rod distant, and then
+suddenly stopped, stone dead.
+
+In the excitement and swirl of the moment both Fred and Terry were
+conscious that their guns were not the only ones that were fired. At the
+instant the brute was in the act of rising from the ground a second time
+for his leap, the sharp report of another rifle was heard. The peril was
+so imminent that the lads could give no attention just then to any thing
+but the immediate business in hand; but now, seeing their fearful foe
+was dead, they knew that it was the third bullet that had done it, and
+they glanced around to see who their friend was.
+
+No one was in sight, and they advanced to the carcass, which they were
+somewhat timid about touching, even though convinced that it was beyond
+the power of doing any more harm. They saw that both of their bullets
+had struck the skull, though not at the precise points at which they
+aimed. One had passed near the right eye of the nondescript, and must
+have inflicted serious injury, but its toughness would have enabled it
+to keep up the fight, and to have slain both of the boys before they
+could have reloaded and fired a second time.
+
+A little search showed where the fatal wound had been given. Just in
+front of the fore leg the lead had entered and gone through the heart.
+No animal, so far as known, amounts to any thing after his heart has
+been torn in twain, though he may live and move for a time.
+
+"I tell you, Terry, that I don't believe there is another beast in the
+country that, after receiving two bullets in the head, like that, could
+make such a fight."
+
+"I begs to corrict ye," said the other; "it was three shots, for do ye
+not mind that I bored a hole through him when we first made his
+acquaintance?"
+
+"So you claimed, but you haven't explained how it was that such a shot
+could be made without leaving any wound?"
+
+"It may have healed up since then," suggested the Irish lad, who knew as
+well as his companion that the first bullet did not touch the beast.
+
+"I hadn't thought of that," meekly observed Fred; "but there is one
+thing certain, that if that last shot hadn't been fired, it would have
+been the last of us: where could it have come from?" he asked, looking
+around and finding the answer to his question in the sight of Deerfoot
+the Shawanoe, who came from behind a clump of bushes on the other side
+of the small stream.
+
+Fred uttered an exclamation of delight when he recognized the graceful
+young warrior, who was holding the stock of his gun in his left hand,
+with the barrel resting idly in the hollow of his right arm. Fred
+jumped across the brook, with hand extended to greet him.
+
+"I'd rather see you than any person in the world," was the truthful
+exclamation of the youth: "when you gave me the letter yesterday I
+thought what a splendid trip this would be if Terry would go with me,
+and behold, he has come! I would have liked to have you too but I didn't
+dare say so, for I didn't think it was possible: but ever since we
+started I have felt that we only lacked _you_ to make the party
+complete. Now, ain't I glad to see you, and how are you, old fellow?"
+
+The lad in his boisterous way wrung the hand of Deerfoot and slapped him
+on the shoulder; then laughed, and shook hands again with an enthusiasm
+that left no doubt of the cordiality of his welcome.
+
+As for Deerfoot, he showed a gentle dignity that was never absent. His
+faint smile lit up his handsome face, and he was pleased with the
+pleasure of the others.
+
+"Deerfoot has seen the faces of his brothers not many times, but it
+brings sunshine to his heart to meet them again."
+
+Then his countenance was crossed by an expression of gravity like an
+eclipse passing over the face of the sun.
+
+"Is my brother ill, that he suffers so much?"
+
+This question referred to Terry Clark, Deerfoot looking over the
+shoulder of Fred at the Irish lad behind him. Fred heard a curious
+noise, and turned to learn what it meant. His friend had leaned his gun
+against the nearest tree, so as to give his limbs free play, and was
+flinging his arms aloft, and dancing a jig with a vigor that made it
+look as if his legs were shot out, and back and forth, by some high
+pressure engine. Now and then he flung his cap aloft, and, as it came
+down, ducked his head under and dexterously caught it. His mouth was
+puckered up most of the time, while he whistled with might and main,
+though the energy of his general movements shut out all resemblance to a
+tune. Occasionally he stopped whistling and broke into snatches of song
+which, from the same cause, could not be identified.
+
+Fred Linden laughed. He was demonstrative, but not so much so as Terry.
+Looking sideways at Deerfoot, he saw his eyes sparkling and the corners
+of his mouth twitching. Rarely had he been amused as much as he now was
+by the extravagant manifestations of the Irish lad, for whom he had
+formed a strong regard.
+
+Deerfoot and Fred having turned their glances toward Terry, the latter
+appeared to catch sight of them for the first time. With a whoop he
+flung his hat higher than ever in the air, caught it with right side up
+on his crown as it came down, and then shouted:
+
+"How are yees, me friends?" and made a dash for them.
+
+In his enthusiasm he forgot the brook running through a small hollow
+between them. His feet went down in the depression without any knowledge
+on his part, and he sprawled headlong, his cap rolling at the feet of
+Deerfoot, who pushed the toe of his moccasin under the edge, and flung
+it to him as he rose to his feet.
+
+"It's all the same, and a part of the show," laughed Terry, "as the wife
+of the bear-keeper obsarved when the bear ate him up, and it's how are
+ye, and how do ye ixpect to be, and what have ye to say for yersilf, and
+why are ye so long answerin' me quistion?"
+
+Deerfoot simply smiled, and made no reply until Terry had replaced his
+cap, and was done with his noisy greeting. Then he pointed to his gun
+leaning against the tree, and said:
+
+"When my brother is in the woods, he should keep his gun within reach of
+his arm."
+
+"Yer moral sentiments are corrict," remarked Terry, hurrying back--this
+time without falling--to regain his piece. When he once more stood
+beside the laughing Fred, the Shawanoe addressed both:
+
+"Are the guns of my brothers loaded?"
+
+Both felt the rebuke; they had violated one of the elementary rules of
+the hunter's life, which is that the first thing to be done after
+discharging a weapon is to reload it. Fred flushed, for he did not
+remember that he had ever forgotten it before.
+
+"It was a piece of forgetfulness of which Terry and I ought to be
+ashamed, but it was the first time we had ever had a fight with such a
+beast as that: what do you call it, Deerfoot?"
+
+The Shawanoe shook his head to signify that he knew of no distinct name
+for the animal, but he explained to the boys, what they already knew,
+that it was a cross of some kind, concentrating in itself, as it seemed,
+all the power, activity, daring and ferocity of the most dreaded animals
+of the woods. Deerfoot could not deny that his shot had saved the boys
+from being torn to shreds by the brute. Had it been a few seconds later,
+or differently aimed, nothing could have saved them from its fury.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+"DEERFOOT WILL BE SENTINEL TO-NIGHT."
+
+
+"We are on our way to the camp in the Ozarks," said Fred Linden; "and am
+I mistaken in believing that you will go with us all the way?"
+
+"Such is the wish of Deerfoot," replied the Shawanoe, whereat Terry
+Clark gave signs of breaking out again; but at a warning look from Fred
+he restrained himself.
+
+"Deerfoot loves the Hunters of the Ozark; he has promised to make them a
+visit; he will do so with his friends that he has found in the woods,
+and who forget to keep their guns loaded."
+
+"No use!" exclaimed Terry, bounding in the air, striking his heels
+together, and flinging his hat aloft with a loud whoop; "I must give
+gintle exprission to me emotions, even though it makes a war with
+England."
+
+The others showed no objection to this harmless ebullition, and he
+speedily became quiet again.
+
+Had Fred Linden been intimately acquainted with Deerfoot, he would have
+noticed that he was not entirely at ease. Now and then he darted glances
+about him, as though he half expected the appearance of some unwelcome
+person. The glances were so quick and furtive that neither Fred nor
+Terry noticed them.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred, the three still standing; "we have concluded that
+there isn't a better place along the trail for a camp."
+
+To the surprise of the boys, he shook his head in dissent.
+
+"Why, this is where father and the rest spent the night when they last
+went this way."
+
+He nodded to signify that he agreed with them.
+
+"There were three of them, and they had their horses, that could not be
+well hid; when my brothers go into camp for the night, they should take
+a place where all who went by would not see them."
+
+It struck the others as curious that the Shawanoe should talk in that
+fashion, when they could not see any cause for alarm; but they had
+enough faith in him to accept his judgment on such an important matter.
+He added:
+
+"Come with Deerfoot and he will show his brothers where they may slumber
+in peace."
+
+Without any more explanation the Shawanoe moved down the bank of the
+brook, following a course parallel to the flow of the water, the other
+two keeping at his heels. He did not look around until he had gone more
+than a hundred yards. Then it was that the little party found itself in
+a rocky section, with a rough cavern on their right--that is, the
+bowlders and rocks were jumbled together in such a fashion that there
+was some resemblance to a cave. The chief merit of the place, however,
+was the privacy that it afforded, rather than the strength as a means of
+defense against an enemy.
+
+"This suits very well," said Fred, taking in all the points at a glance;
+"here is a rocky bed on which we can start a fire, and the other rocks
+and bowlders will keep off the wind, if there happens to be any; the
+water is handy, if we should need it, and it is certain that we are not
+as likely to be seen here as where we first selected."
+
+"Deerfut," said Terry, who was nosing about, "I obsarve ashes here, as
+though somebody had been ahead of us."
+
+"Deerfoot built a fire but a few moons ago, and staid over night."
+
+"If it was good enough for ye, I can stand it," said Terry, "which is
+the remark me uncle made when the Duke of Argyle asked him to stay to
+dinner."
+
+The boys unfastened the bundles from their backs and prepared to spend
+the night where they were. The blankets were spread on the flinty floor,
+and Deerfoot, setting down his gun beside theirs, helped to gather the
+wood with which to keep a fire burning. The three were so active that it
+took but a short time to collect all that was needed. This was thrown
+into one pile, from which it could be withdrawn as wanted.
+
+I must give you a better idea of the spot where the three decided to
+spend their first night in the woods together. They had walked northward
+from the trail, and, so far as they could see, the country was of the
+most broken nature, though the abundance of trees and undergrowth did
+not permit an extended view. Two masses of stone rose to the height of a
+dozen feet, and were separated by about the same distance. These rough
+walls extended back to a distance of three or four yards, where they
+came against a similar formation. Thus, as may be said, there were three
+sides to an inclosure, that part facing the brook being entirely open.
+On top of these supports were tumbled an irregular mass of bowlders and
+rocks which formed the roof. The latter had so many openings that it was
+as well ventilated as the roof of the house about which the Arkansas
+Traveler tells us.
+
+The rear part of the cavern, if it may be allowed that name, was stone,
+while the front was earth. Near the center, Deerfoot had kindled his
+fire when he staid there, the smoke finding ready escape through the
+openings above. Such a fire might give some warmth were it needed, but
+the blaze was so well hidden by the surrounding walls that it was not
+likely to be seen by any one passing no nigher than fifty feet: therein
+lay the reason why it was selected by Deerfoot.
+
+After piling up the fuel for the night, the youths threw some branches
+on the ground, near the rear of the cavern, and then spread their
+blankets over them. The Shawanoe carried no blanket with him, so it was
+expected that he would share the couch of his friends.
+
+While the three were busying themselves in this manner, Fred Linden was
+disturbed by a suspicion that had been growing from the moment Deerfoot
+expressed dissatisfaction with the spot selected for their camp. This
+suspicion was that the young Indian had a fear of something to which, as
+yet, he had made no reference.
+
+I have already shown that it was not generally considered a dangerous
+business in which the hunters of Ozark engaged. The rough, outdoor life
+sometimes brought with it hardships, and occasionally sufferings, but
+chief among the dangers was not that from Indians. It was known that
+now and then the red men fired spiteful shots at the invaders of their
+hunting grounds (as was the case with Michael Clark, the father of
+Terence), but in this section of the west that particular peril was
+deemed less than that which threatened from wild beasts. There was no
+instance of the hunters having been molested on their way to and from
+the trapping regions: why then this special caution of Deerfoot?
+
+Fred Linden, while turning these thoughts over in his mind, gave but the
+one answer--_the Winnebago_. He was an intruder in that part of
+Louisiana, and he had shown by his acts how ready he was to shed the
+blood of innocent white persons. It was not a supposition merely that
+this fierce warrior had companions. The keen eyes of Deerfoot had
+discovered the proofs that there were a half dozen, at least, with him,
+and from whom he separated for a short time while he entered into the
+"side speculation" with Brindle and her bell; so it will be seen that
+Fred Linden was not only right in his suspicion that the Wolf had to do
+with the unrest of Deerfoot, but that the latter possessed good cause
+for his misgiving.
+
+The Winnebagos, having drifted so far away from their own hunting
+grounds into this part of the world, were either going further from
+home, or were on their way back. Had the Wolf behaved himself, the band
+would have gone and come without the knowledge of any of the pioneers,
+unless there was a chance meeting in the wood, when it is not likely
+that any harm would have resulted.
+
+But one of the Winnebagos was struck in the face by a white boy, while a
+young Indian, a friend of the latter, having "got the drop" on the Wolf,
+had taken his gun from him. In other words, the crime of assault and
+robbery had been committed.
+
+Would the rest of the Winnebagos pocket the outrage and meekly withdraw
+from the country?
+
+That, it would be seen, was the all important question, upon which great
+events, as affecting the friends in whom we are interested, hinged.
+
+It was in violation of the nature of the American race that any member
+thereof should refuse to resent an indignity, when there was a chance
+of doing so. The Winnebagos had the best of reasons for believing that,
+by prowling around the settlement, or along the trail leading thereto,
+they would soon gain an opportunity to wipe out the disgrace put upon
+the Wolf, and, if not able to get back the gun that had been taken from
+him, would be able to procure another.
+
+The fact that this valuable weapon was carried in the hands of a boy,
+who had started to tramp through the woods to a point a hundred miles
+off, and that it was not at all impossible that the Winnebagos found, or
+would find it out, gave emphasis to the cause of Deerfoot's uneasiness.
+
+It is worthy of note that, while Terry Clark never once took this view
+of the situation, it occurred to his friend Fred, who waited for the
+Shawanoe to make some reference to it.
+
+"He knows best, and if he doesn't choose to say any thing about it,
+there is no call for me to do so."
+
+The shadows of night were creeping through the wood when the fire was
+started, and the smoke began stealing upward through the openings in
+the rocky roof.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred, when the fire crackled brightly, "the rule is,
+that a party in camp like this, must have some one on guard while the
+others sleep. I don't know as there is any need now, but if you think
+so, let Terry and me do it, for we are not in need of sleep."
+
+The Shawanoe looked at him intently for a moment as though he would read
+his thoughts, and then quietly said:
+
+"Deerfoot will be sentinel to-night!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE.
+
+
+Inasmuch as Terry and Fred had enough lunch left to furnish all that was
+wanted, Deerfoot decided not to hunt for any thing else. At that hour,
+when it was growing dark, it would have been hard to find any game; but
+he told them that at no great distance above, the tiny brook issued from
+a small lake, where he could easily get all the fish he wanted.
+
+Accordingly, the fire having been started at the rear of the cavern,
+where the smoke found free vent, the three sat within a circle of light,
+and partook of the coarse bread and cold venison. The latter was tough,
+but it could not withstand the teeth of the two youths, whose appetites
+were such as wait on high health.
+
+It was noticeable that the young Shawanoe ate no more than half as much
+as each of the others. Then saying that he wished to view the camp from
+the outside, he went out in front of the cavern. He remarked that he
+would be gone only a few minutes, but he took his gun with him.
+
+When Deerfoot emerged from the rude shelter it was fully dark. There was
+a moon in the sky, but the density of the surrounding forest kept out
+the rays, so that the gloom could not be penetrated to any distance.
+
+He stood still and listened. His sense of hearing, like that of sight,
+was trained to a wonderfully fine point, as you have learned in the
+incidents previously related, so that faint noises, such as you or I
+could not have detected, would have told their full story to him.
+
+But nothing more than what may be called the natural sounds of the wood
+fell on his ear. Then the young Indian leaped lightly across the small
+brook in front of the cavern and walked some two rods beyond, where he
+paused and listened again. After this he made a complete circuit of the
+cavern. This compelled him to cross the little stream once more,
+brought him back to the mouth of the retreat, and caused him also to
+climb over a great deal of broken ground, but a shadow could not have
+made the circuit more noiselessly. He stopped several times and listened
+with the same profound attention, occasionally looking toward the cavern
+within which his friends were eating their supper and talking together
+in low, guarded tones. He caught the murmur of their voices, which would
+have been audible to no one else beyond a dozen feet. Just above the
+large opening in the cavern, through which most of the smoke found its
+way, a faint, dull glow showed that the camp-fire was burning below.
+
+The inspection made by Deerfoot was satisfactory; he had discovered no
+sign of any prowling enemy, and the party could not have found a place
+where there was less likelihood of disturbance by any foes who were in
+the neighborhood. It would seem indeed that nothing short of a most
+exceptional mishap could bring any danger near. So he once more entered
+the cavern, and seated himself by the fire, upon which Fred Linden had
+just thrown a bundle of sticks that filled the cavern with a light like
+that of noonday.
+
+Terry insisted that Deerfoot should take his blanket, because the
+Shawanoe had none, and the one belonging to Fred Linden was enough for
+the others. Deerfoot at first declined, but his young friend persevered,
+so the half-dozen yards of heavy stuff were spread on the rock and earth
+floor of the cabin, and then Deerfoot disposed of himself in a lolling
+attitude, reclining on his left elbow, while he looked across and
+through the blaze at his two friends, who were stretched out in almost a
+similar attitude. It will be borne in mind that he was nearer the mouth
+of the cavern than were the others: in fact he was about half-way
+between where they were stretched and the open air. Fred and Terry did
+not notice this, or, if they did, they supposed it was accidental,
+though it was done with forethought by the sagacious young Shawanoe.
+
+The evening was yet young, and the circumstances were such as to make
+the boys talk at a rate that almost overwhelmed Deerfoot, who always
+showed a deliberation in his speech, as if he weighed each word before
+allowing it to fall from his lips.
+
+Fred and Terry had formed a strong liking for the young Shawanoe, and
+since he seemed to be in fine spirits, they plied him with questions
+until they learned the chief facts in his history. When the long
+conversation ended they knew that Deerfoot was the son of a Shawanoe
+chief, and that he was born in the Dark and Bloody Ground. When but a
+small boy he was like a spitting wildcat in his hatred of the white
+people, and it was not until he was wounded and nearly beaten to death,
+that he could be taken prisoner on one of the excursions of his people
+against the white settlements.
+
+He fell into goods hands and was nursed back to strength. Not only that,
+but those that had him in direct charge told him about God, who made the
+world, who loved His creatures, and who sorrowed to see them trying to
+harm each other, and who had sent His only Son to die for His lost
+children. It was a wonderful story to which Deerfoot listened with rapt
+attention, and all in time (as you have been told in another place),
+the extraordinary young Shawanoe became a devout follower of the meek
+and lowly One. He felt that he could never repay the whites for showing
+him the way to eternal life. Thenceforward he became their friend, and
+devoted his life to protecting them against the enmity of the red men.
+
+Deerfoot told Fred and Terry something about his stirring experiences
+with Ned Preston and Wildblossom Brown, and afterward with Jack Carleton
+and Otto Relstaub, but did not hint at one-tenth the services he had
+rendered the white people. Of all the fierce tribes that made portions
+of Ohio and Kentucky like sheol on earth, the Shawanoes were the worst:
+they were the Apaches of the last century. Deerfoot had fallen into
+their hands and many of his most desperate encounters were with them.
+Finally the efforts to take him prisoner became so far reaching that he
+saw that his usefulness as a friend of the settlements was at end. The
+rage of the Shawanoes was such that it may be said that some of their
+campaigns were planned with the sole purpose of capturing the young
+renegade, whom they hated with a hatred like that of the tigers of the
+jungle.
+
+You will see, therefore, that not only was the usefulness of Deerfoot as
+an ally of the whites ended, but he became even an element of danger to
+them. He had been urged to make his home with those who held him in such
+high regard, but he could not do so. He quietly withdrew from the
+country and crossed the Mississippi into the vast Louisiana Territory.
+There he had lived for a couple of years, and there he expected to end
+his days.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred Linden, when his remarkable narration had ended,
+"Terry and I are not new hands in the woods, and we would be much better
+satisfied if you would allow us to share the night in watching with
+you."
+
+"Why does my brother think of danger?"
+
+"Because _you_ do; I know it by your actions."
+
+The quickness of this reply struck Deerfoot favorably. He did not think
+that his conduct had been noticed, and he was gratified that his friend
+was so observant. That there should be no mistake about his suspicions,
+Fred added:
+
+"I don't know whether you have seen that Winnebago or not since you
+started him on the run yesterday; he may be still running, but I am
+quite sure, from the way you have behaved, that you suspect that he and
+the rest of his companions are prowling through the woods, on the
+lookout for a chance to revenge themselves."
+
+Deerfoot's face glowed. Fred Linden had hit the nail on the head.
+
+"My brother speaks the words of truth; his thoughts are the thoughts of
+Deerfoot."
+
+Terry Clark looked at his companion in astonishment.
+
+"How come ye to know all that, Fred?"
+
+"I see nothing remarkable about it; all I had to do was to observe the
+actions of Deerfoot since he joined us to-day. In the first place, he
+wouldn't have made us change our camping place if he hadn't had some
+misgiving, and then the way he has been mousing around the outside, and
+his decision to keep watch to-night: why what could tell the story more
+plainly?"
+
+"Begorrah," said the admiring Terry, "ye are not such a big fool as you
+look to be; I never thought of that."
+
+"Which looks as if you are a bigger dunce than you seem; but," added
+Fred, turning toward the Shawanoe, "have you seen any thing of the
+Winnebagos?"
+
+"Deerfoot has seen their footprints in the woods; they are on the watch
+for his white brothers that they may gain their scalps, because the gun
+of the Wolf was taken from him."
+
+"They seem to have hard work in finding us: where do those Winnebagos
+come from?"
+
+Deerfoot pointed to the northward, or rather to a little east of north.
+
+"Their hunting grounds are many suns' travel that way."
+
+"Why do the spalpeens come down in this part of the world, and why don't
+they behave thimselves whin they do?" demanded Terry, with some
+indignation.
+
+Deerfoot shook his head, as though the question was more than he could
+answer.
+
+"Deerfoot has met Shawanoes and Sacs and Wyandottes and Pawnees far away
+from their villages and hunting grounds, besides the strange Indians
+who come much further from the setting sun. The red men travel whither
+they will. Why the Winnebagos passed near the home of my brothers only
+they can tell."
+
+"Well, they're a bad lot," said Terry, "to try the mean trick they did
+on me; though," he added the next moment, "I'm glad they done the same,
+for if they hadn't, how would I've got hold of this lovely gun? Do ye
+think we shall have any more trouble with them?"
+
+"Deerfoot believes there will be trouble, and it will come soon!"
+
+"Well, if it does, all ye have to do is to take away the rist of their
+guns and set 'em on the run home agin."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+A SUSPICIOUS SOUND.
+
+
+By and by Fred Linden and Terry Clark became drowsy. Devoutly kneeling,
+they spent several minutes in prayer, and then stretched out on a single
+blanket, with their backs toward each other, and the face of Fred in
+such a position that he could look across the blaze at Deerfoot on the
+other side. The latter had remained still and motionless, while the
+lads, remembering the lesson they had learned at their mothers' knee,
+asked their Heavenly Father to hold them in His keeping. The young
+Shawanoe, who spent many an hour in communion with his Maker, was
+touched to see that his friends did not forget their duty.
+
+Deerfoot stirred the burning wood so that it threw out more light, and
+then, reclining on his left elbow, so that the illumination came
+directly in his face (the worst direction possible), he drew from
+beneath his hunting-shirt the small Bible, that had been presented to
+him by the Preston family, and began reading it.
+
+Fred Linden, who had his eyes fixed upon him, was so interested that his
+drowsiness departed. Without moving he watched him closely. He saw him
+turning the leaves back and forth, as if looking for some place he had
+in mind. It took him but a minute to find it, when, still leaning on his
+elbow, and with the light striking his face and the printed page, he
+seemed to become so absorbed as to lose all consciousness of his
+surroundings.
+
+Fred Linden, without betraying that he was awake, surveyed this
+remarkable performance with an admiration that for the moment made his
+eyes misty with emotion.
+
+The eyes of Deerfoot were downcast, as he read the page, so that they
+could not be seen but the handsome oval face; the luxuriant black hair,
+with the eagle feathers thrust into the crown; the rows of gleaming
+beads around the neck; the deerskin shirt that covered the breast and
+arms to the wrists, on the left one of which shone the golden bracelet;
+the red sash, behind which were shoved the knife and tomahawk; the
+brilliant fringes of the hunting-shirt and leggins; the small,
+ornamented moccasins; all these of themselves made a striking figure;
+but Fred, handsome and rugged himself, who was not accustomed to see any
+thing like beauty in the human form, was struck with the symmetry of the
+figure before him. He particularly noticed the tapering legs, and could
+not help saying to himself:
+
+"There is no Indian or white man that can run as fast as he."
+
+And the mental declaration of the lad was truth. The fleetness of the
+young warrior had never been equaled, and he had never yet met the
+person whom he could not outrun with ease and without putting forth his
+whole speed.
+
+"He don't look strong, but he is the last person that I would want to
+meet in a fight; I'll bet he is so quick that he could dodge the bullet
+fired at him."
+
+I must draw the line here: Deerfoot could not do any thing of the kind.
+
+"And he is reading his Bible! I never in all my life saw an Indian who
+could read a word of print, or do more than sign his name with a cross
+or some figure like a bug: I wonder whether we couldn't hire him to
+teach school for us at Greville."
+
+Fred thought a great many queer things about his new friend, but lay
+watching him fully ten minutes before he spoke. Then, when he saw him
+turn a leaf, he said in a low voice:
+
+"Deerfoot, will you please read aloud?"
+
+Fred expected that the Shawanoe would start and look up in surprise; but
+he never raised his eyes, or gave the least sign that these words of his
+were unexpected. He knew that Fred was watching him from the first, and
+so, before the words were more than fairly out of his mouth, Deerfoot
+began reading in a low, impressive monotone, as though he had merely
+resumed, after turning over the leaf.
+
+"After this I beheld, and lo! a great multitude, which no man could
+number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood
+before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
+palms in their hands;
+
+"And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders,
+and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces and
+worshiped God.
+
+"Singing, Amen; blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor
+and power and might be unto our God for ever and for ever, Amen.
+
+"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these which are
+arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
+
+"And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, these are
+they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes
+and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
+
+"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and
+night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among
+them.
+
+"They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more; neither
+shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
+
+"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
+shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe
+away all tears from their eyes."
+
+Deerfoot read a few minutes longer from his favorite part in the New
+Testament and then ceased. He had not lifted his eyes from the page, but
+he knew that Fred Linden was asleep. He observed it in his breathing,
+which was as soft as that of an infant.
+
+The rocky cavern, the smoldering camp-fire, the two sleeping boys, the
+motionless Indian stretched out and reading his Bible by the faint
+light, the great, solemn forest walling them in, the profound stillness
+that reigned everywhere: these were elements in a picture the like of
+which it may be said (except where Deerfoot was one of the figures), had
+never been seen anywhere else, and was not likely ever to be seen again.
+
+The fire sank lower and the light on the printed page became so dim that
+even the keen eyes of the young Shawanoe could not trace the words. He
+looked at the embers as if asking himself whether he should renew the
+blaze and continue reading. But the hour for meditation had come, and he
+closed the book. Looking fondly at the stiff, wooden cover, he touched
+his lips with infinite tenderness to it, and carefully placed it in the
+inner receptacle of his hunting-shirt, murmuring as he did so:
+
+"The best friend that Deerfoot ever knew!"
+
+O light of life! Comforter of the sorrowing heart! Consoler of the
+stricken soul!
+
+In the flush of bounding health, when the passions throb high, we may
+not heed thy blessed teachings, but when man's promises prove false, and
+the head bows before the endless strife, and woes overwhelm us like a
+flood, there is relief, there is light, there is life in Thee. The
+wicked may jeer, the learned may scoff, the powerful may despise, the
+favored may turn away, but there comes the time when learning, gifts,
+wealth, power, beauty and all the world can give turn to ashes, and they
+have no boon compared to Thine. "And God shall wipe away all tears from
+their eyes." The pampered monarch, the dying beggar, the statesman, the
+slave, the mother bowed with woe, the father shaken with grief,
+childhood in its innocence, man in his strength, beauty in its scorn,
+trembling old age, can find no balm but in Thee. Better that the sun
+should be blotted from the heavens and the earth left a trackless void
+than that Thy light should be denied the world.
+
+Deerfoot lay flat on his face, his arms crossed so that his head and
+shoulders were held a few inches above the flinty floor, and his dark
+eyes were fixed on the embers in front. It was his favorite enjoyment,
+when the stirring incidents of the day were done, and he had read from
+the only Book he ever wanted to read, to spend a time in meditating on
+the truths that it may be said had become a part of his very being.
+
+Many a time had he lain thus, as motionless as if dead, while the
+wonderful brain was busy with thoughts that stirred the profoundest
+depths of his nature. There are beliefs that come to us at which reason
+may laugh, but which it can not shake or disturb. There are questions
+that the glib unbeliever may ask that we can not answer. But away down
+in our hearts is a faith which the whole world can not remove, and which
+can be uprooted only by ourselves. Woe to him who dares lay violent
+hands upon it!
+
+Deerfoot no more doubted that he and every one was in the direct keeping
+of God than he doubted that he breathed and moved. He knew that the
+Great Spirit had caused him to be made a prisoner by whites so that he
+might learn the way of life; he knew that He had given him an insight
+into the mysteries of His word that was denied to many others. A deep,
+outstretching sympathy for those less favored than he suffused his whole
+being. Gladly would he have given up his life in pain and torture and
+agony, as did One in the dim long ago, if by so doing he could earn the
+smile of his Heavenly Father.
+
+But this remarkable young Christian felt that he was doing the work
+appointed for him to do. Here and there he dropped a word that proved to
+be seed sown upon good ground, and which had borne its fruit. He had met
+his enemies in fair combat and had never taken wrong advantage of them:
+his marvelous bow and arrow, and his still more effective rifle, had
+brought many a dusky miscreant low, but he had used his amazing gifts in
+the line of duty, and for the good of others. Would that he could have
+won them by love, but it was not in the nature of things that he should
+do so. He had "broken the Bread of Life" to more than one, and he hoped
+that ere he should be called home, he should point the way to others.
+
+Suddenly he raised his chin from his hands and turned his head slightly
+to one side. His ear, whose acuteness was almost beyond belief, had
+caught a suspicious sound. Profound as might be the meditation of the
+Shawanoe, he could never forget his surroundings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.
+
+
+The crisp autumn night had not reached its turn when the full moon
+climbed from behind the straggling clouds obscuring her face, into the
+clear air above, and shone down on the wilderness, with the same calm
+splendor with which it had shone during the ages before the foot of a
+white man had rested on the soil of our country. Here and there, at
+widely-separated points, as the orb moved toward the zenith, could be
+seen the star-like twinkles of light which showed where the sparse
+settlements had been planted by the pioneers. At intervals, too, miles
+away from the clearings, could be distinguished the glimmer of the
+hunters' camp-fires, where the hardy men had lain down wrapped in their
+blankets, and to sleep the sleep of health. Still further away, by the
+side of some calmly flowing river or creek, were the ragged tepees of
+the wild Indians. Mountain, forest and stream made up the landscape,
+that was illuminated by the moon on the night when Fred Linden and Terry
+Clark lay down in slumber by the fire in the cavern, and Deerfoot the
+Shawanoe took upon himself the duty of acting as a sentinel over them.
+
+It was not yet midnight when the figure of a crouching Indian emerged
+like a shadow from the little gully which marked the course of the tiny
+stream in front of the camp. Just at the point where he appeared, a few
+rays of the moonlight found their way among the limbs, and added
+impressiveness to his appearance. A glance would have told that he had
+approached at the most stealthy gait of which he was capable, and was
+still using all the skill at his command.
+
+Finding himself within the faint light of the moon, he straightened up,
+like one who is not certain of his surroundings and is using his eyes
+and ears to their utmost. Standing erect in this manner he showed
+himself to be a full-grown warrior in middle life, of strong limbs and
+frame, and attired in the usual dress of his people.
+
+The long, coarse hair dangled about the shoulders, some of the strands
+having fallen forward in front of the chest, at the time his head drew
+it over while in a crouching posture. It grew so low on his forehead
+that no more than an inch was between the roots and shaggy eyebrows.
+Beneath these the eyes glittered like those of a snake. The ugly
+features were made more ugly by the different colored paints--most of it
+black--that was daubed over them, and the countenance was distorted by a
+swelling recently produced.
+
+The breast and arms were covered by deerskin, a fringe running down in
+front to the belt, which held his tomahawk. The frightful horn-handled
+knife was tightly grasped in his right hand. Below the belt was
+breechcloth, followed by leggins and moccasins, but it was noticeable
+that he carried no rifle with him.
+
+Perhaps you have guessed the reason; he had none to carry, for he was
+the Wolf who had been deprived of his valuable weapon on the day before
+by Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+
+As was learned in due time, the Winnebago, after being despoiled by
+Deerfoot, had made all haste to rejoin his band, that were encamped at
+no great distance from Greville. When he told his brother warriors of
+the indignity to which he had been subjected, they were as rampart as he
+for revenge. They were on the point of starting for a settlement,
+intending to await the chance to shoot down some of the unsuspecting
+people, when the leader, a man of iron will, interposed.
+
+He said that according to the story of the Wolf himself, his gun had
+been taken from him by a single warrior. A Winnebago ought to be ashamed
+to confess such a thing, and the only way by which the Wolf could redeem
+himself was to recover his gun unaided by any of his people. Let him
+come back to the party with his rifle and then they would risk their
+lives a dozen times over to repay the young Shawanoe and his youthful
+friend (they knew nothing about Fred Linden) for the insult they had put
+upon one of the leading warriors of the Winnebago tribe.
+
+You can well understand how displeasing this decision was to the Wolf,
+but there was no help for it. The warrior who gave the order was not
+only the leader of the company, but the principal chief of the tribe. No
+one dared to dispute his command, and he intimated that it was not only
+necessary for the Wolf to recover his gun in order to enlist the
+services of the rest, but his standing at home would be compromised if
+he went back without his rifle and the story that it had been taken from
+him by a single warrior of another tribe.
+
+From this you will understand the eagerness with which the Wolf set out
+to regain the weapon.
+
+The fact that Fred Linden and Terry Clark left Greville the next morning
+after the affair, mixed matters to that extent that, for a time, the
+Winnebago was at fault. It was his intention to prowl around the
+settlement, awaiting his chance, for he suspected that Deerfoot had gone
+thither with the lad who had given the Wolf such a blow in the face; but
+the discovery of the footprints of the two boys leading to the southward
+mystified the Indian. He was quite close to the creek, and the sun had
+crossed the meridian at the time this discovery was made. It was natural
+that he should look for the trail of the Shawanoe, but he could not find
+it.
+
+Finally, with a half-suspicion of the truth, the Wolf went into the
+settlement to make inquiries. He could speak enough broken English to
+make himself understood, and, as it so happened, it was Mr. MacClaskey
+himself whom he accosted. He told the inquirer the truth, adding that
+Terry took with him a gun that was captured from a vagabond Indian. But
+for that he would not have been allowed to go, for there was but one
+rifle in the family, which the settler would trust in no hands but his
+own for any length of time.
+
+The Winnebago was shrewd enough to disarm any doubt that might have been
+felt about himself. It was the rule in the settlement to show kindness
+to every wandering Indian that visited them, and no one dreamed that any
+thing was to be feared from the Wolf. But his heart was full of exulting
+malignancy. He knew who had the gun, and aware that the two boys had
+started for the camp of the Ozarks, he understood where to look for it.
+The fact that the Winnebago had no gun with him would have caused the
+belief that he was the vagabond Indian, had he not explained that he
+left it in the woods as a token of comity.
+
+The Wolf sauntered back until he was across the stream and out of sight.
+Then he sped along the trail, with a long, loping trot, which his race
+can maintain for hours without fatigue. He had a long distance to
+travel, but he reached the scene of the encounter with the strange
+animal, just as it was growing dark.
+
+At this point, he showed admirable woodcraft. The signs on the ground
+puzzled him for a time, but there was the carcass of the animal, and by
+and by he found the imprints of the small moccasins, which told him that
+the young Shawanoe had rejoined the others at this point.
+
+As you can well believe, this was any thing but a pleasant discovery,
+for, superior as was the strength of the Winnebago, he would have
+preferred to meet the two boys, even though both were armed, than to
+find himself face to face again with the remarkable Indian youth.
+
+But there was no help for it, and the dusky Winnebago compressed his
+coppery lips with the resolve that the gun should be in his hands before
+the rising of the morrow's sun.
+
+The light was rapidly fading among the trees and he improved what was
+left of it. Prowling around the spot in a circle, with his nose close to
+the ground, he discovered that the three youths had started along the
+bank of the brook toward its head.
+
+Thereupon the Winnebago formed the correct conclusion; they had moved
+from the main trail (doubtless on the suggestion of the young Shawanoe),
+in search of some place to encamp where there would be less danger of
+detection.
+
+By the time the Wolf had satisfied himself on this point, it had become
+too dark among the trees for his eyes to detect the trail, which at
+mid-day would have been as distinct as a beaten path. He therefore
+adopted the plan of which I have made mention elsewhere: he followed a
+general rule.
+
+The conclusion being that the parties for whom he was searching had
+located themselves somewhere along the creek, it was useless to try and
+follow the footprints, though there were points here and there where the
+sense of touch might have helped him. He decided to creep stealthily up
+stream until he found the camp, and then bide his time.
+
+It is hard to form an idea of the extreme care with which this was done.
+Had the Winnebago not known of the presence of Deerfoot, he would not
+have taken half the time consumed, but he had seen enough of that
+wonderful youth to know that it would require more than a child to
+outwit him.
+
+At a point about half way between the trail and the camp among the
+rocks, the Wolf thought his hands touched some imprints in the earth
+which showed that the three had turned to the right and gone deeper into
+the woods. It required reconnoitering before he discovered his mistake.
+
+With the same amazing patience he renewed his stealthy progress up the
+stream, until at last he emerged into the moonlight and found that at
+last he had reached the spot for which he had hunted so long.
+
+It so happened that as he straightened up, he looked directly into the
+mouth of the cave and saw the dull glow of the camp-fire, like the open
+eye of some monster. Not only that, but he observed the three forms
+stretched out by it. The heart of the savage throbbed with pleasure, for
+he felt that success had come at last.
+
+With the same absolute noiselessness he began creeping into the mouth of
+the cavern. One of the embers fell apart with a soft rustle, which
+caused him to stop and hold his breath lest the sleepers should awake.
+But they did not stir, and in a minute he resumed his advance.
+
+The two white lads had flung the blankets from their faces, so that he
+saw Fred Linden plainly, and enough of the other to identify him as the
+one who had smitten him. Nearer to the Winnebago than they was the third
+form, which he knew equally well.
+
+"It is the Shawanoe," was his thought; "I will bury my knife in his
+heart and then slay the others."
+
+A minute later he reached forward his upraised right hand and suddenly
+brought it down with a force that pinned the blanket to the earth. But
+to his unspeakable disgust Deerfoot was not within it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+SHAWANOE AND WINNEBAGO.
+
+
+While Fred Linden and Terry Clark lay in that part of the cavern where
+the floor was of rock, the blanket of Deerfoot was spread on the earth.
+Consequently when the Winnebago brought down his knife with such vicious
+spitefulness, it went through the folds of the blanket and was buried to
+the hilt in the ground underneath.
+
+You know that, despite the marvelous quiet with which the Winnebago
+approached the cavern, he was heard by Deerfoot, who, pausing only long
+enough to make sure that an enemy was approaching, whisked outside.
+There he stood in the impenetrable shadow under the trees, and saw the
+Winnebago at the moment he emerged into the faint moonlight and stood
+upright.
+
+The first look confirmed his suspicion that it was the Winnebago, who
+had come back to avenge himself for the affair of the preceding day.
+Deerfoot smiled to himself, for there was a tinge of absurdity about the
+whole business that was sure to become still more so.
+
+The Shawanoe paused a few seconds before darting out of the cavern,
+until he could arrange his blanket, so that it would appear as if it
+infolded his sleeping form, and then he quietly awaited events.
+
+It must be admitted that it looked like leaving Fred and Terry in great
+peril to permit such a savage enemy to creep so close to them while they
+were sound asleep; but Deerfoot knew that the first thing that the Wolf
+would do would be to attempt his life, precisely as he did attempt it.
+Before he could do any thing more, the Shawanoe concluded to impress his
+presence upon the visitor.
+
+At the moment, therefore, that the Winnebago stopped his advance and
+slowly raised his knife, as he supposed over the breast of Deerfoot,
+that gentleman, kneeling on one knee, brought his rifle to bear upon the
+Winnebago, the dull light from the fire shining along the barrel, whose
+muzzle was within a yard of the unsuspicious Wolf.
+
+The blanket through which the keen-pointed knife had been driven was no
+more firmly transfixed for the moment than was the Wolf when a slight
+hissing noise caused him to turn his head, and he saw the dreaded
+Shawanoe in a kneeling position with his gun leveled at him, the finger
+on the trigger, and the bright eye glancing along the barrel.
+
+The Winnebago was literally unable to move or speak, and Deerfoot,
+motionless himself, held him thus for several seconds. Then with the gun
+still pointed, he said in a low voice:
+
+"Dog of a Winnebago! Deerfoot has spared the life of the Wolf, and he
+now seeks to strike him in the dark."
+
+This address loosened the tongue of the terrified warrior, who, seeing
+his captor raise his head from sighting along the barrel, though he
+kept the weapon leveled, obeyed the beckoning motion of Deerfoot, and
+crept noiselessly out of the cavern. On the alert for any chance, he was
+ready to seize it, but the first object on which his eye rested in the
+dim moonlight was the figure of the young Shawanoe holding his gun in
+such a position, that, should it be necessary, he could fire like a
+flash.
+
+Deerfoot would not have hesitated to lay his gun aside, and, drawing his
+knife, give the Winnebago the same chance with himself; but the Wolf had
+left his weapon where he forced it through the blanket into the ground,
+so that he had none except his tomahawk, and he was not likely to
+attempt any thing with that.
+
+Besides, while Deerfoot had not the least fear of his enemy, he did not
+wish to fight with him. He did not engage in his many desperate
+encounters through love of victory, but because it had seemed to him
+that it was his duty, and there was no other way out of the trouble.
+
+It must be said, too, that at this hour the Shawanoe happened to be in a
+mood which rendered such encounters more than usually distasteful to
+him. After he had closed his Bible and lay on his face, looking into the
+embers and meditating, the same thought that had stirred him many a time
+before filled his mind again.
+
+Why do men strive to kill each other?
+
+It was a question which has puzzled many a wise man in the past and has
+not yet been answered. Thousands of affectionate husbands unlock the
+white arms of the loving little children from their necks, kiss the
+heartbroken wife good-by, and then rush out to try to murder one whom
+they have never seen, who has also just torn himself loose from his
+family. There is something in the thought that mystifies beyond all
+explanation.
+
+The problem which directly interested Deerfoot was whether the day would
+not come when the red men of every tribe could meet the pale faces in
+friendship instead of hatred. Why should they always be at war? Could he
+do a little to bring about that day of universal peace? Was there not
+some work which the Great Spirit had laid out for him by which he could
+help to soften the feeling of the two peoples toward each other?
+
+But Deerfoot had asked himself the same question many a time before, and
+the only answer was that the most he could do was to follow the light
+within him: that is, aid to remove a part of the antagonism between the
+two races.
+
+Alas, too, that while he was considering the question, his ear caught
+the soft rustle that told him one of his own race was seeking his life.
+Deerfoot was sorrowed more than angered. He wished that the Winnebago
+had taken some other time to make his stealthy attack.
+
+Joined to this emotion was that of another akin to sympathy for the
+Winnebago in his complete discomfiture. He had come back to regain his
+rifle, but not only had failed, but had lost his knife, and now was
+standing at the mercy of a Shawanoe young enough to be his son. The
+latter resolved that, though the Wolf had earned death, he would not
+harm him, unless forced to do so in self-defense.
+
+For half a minute the warriors, with ten feet separating them, looked
+straight at each other in silence. Fred Linden and Terry Clark slept
+soundly, for as yet there had been no noise sufficient to awake a light
+sleeper.
+
+"Why does the Wolf seek the life of Deerfoot?" asked the latter, willing
+to relieve the embarrassment of the other.
+
+"The Wolf sought the gun that had been stolen from him."
+
+"But it was not hidden in the blanket, that he should drive his knife
+through it."
+
+"The Wolf believed it was," was the curt response.
+
+"Does the Wolf strike with his knife at his own gun?" asked the
+Shawanoe, without betraying any emotion.
+
+"He would rather do so than that it should stay in the hands of an
+enemy."
+
+"It never would have been in the hands of an enemy had the Wolf acted as
+a brave warrior; but he sought the life of the young pale face who had
+never done him harm."
+
+"Has not his people stolen the hunting grounds of the red man?" demanded
+the Winnebago, who, seeing that some grace was to be allowed him, burst
+into the argument that multitudes of his people have used before and
+since. Before he could proceed further, Deerfoot asked: "Are these the
+hunting grounds of the Winnebagos?"
+
+"They are the hunting grounds of his race, though they may not be of his
+totem; Deerfoot should join with his brother the Wolf in driving the
+white men into the sea."
+
+"There was a day when that might have been done," replied Deerfoot, who
+felt that faint throb and thrill which sometimes came to him, as if to
+tell him that his Indian nature was not yet entirely dead within him;
+"once the pale faces were but a handful, and the red men hunted over all
+the ground that lies between the great waters. They could have swept the
+pale faces into the sea, but they would not be brothers with themselves;
+they fought each other. So the pale faces grew, and the day will never
+come when they need fear the red men."
+
+"The brave warrior does not ask what can be done, but does with all his
+might that which he knows the Great Spirit wishes him to do."
+
+"The Great Spirit does not tell him to kill his pale face brother; for
+they are all His children and He loves them. The Great Spirit has spoken
+to Deerfoot and told him that all His children should love one another."
+
+"Does Deerfoot do so?"
+
+"He does; he never strikes but when the Great Spirit tells him to do so;
+if he was the Wolf and the Wolf was Deerfoot, he would have slain the
+Shawanoe long ago."
+
+The Winnebago would have denied this had he not seen that it was idle to
+do so. What would he not have given at that moment could he have
+exchanged places with the handsome and triumphant young warrior?
+
+"The _true_ Great Spirit loves all His children, whether they be pale or
+red or of the color of night; He smiles when they meet each other as
+friends, and He will reward in the spirit land those who do His will on
+the earth. Let the Wolf bury the words of Deerfoot in his heart, for
+they are the words of truth, and if they are heeded he will be
+happy--Go!"
+
+The amazed Winnebago doubted for a moment that he had heard the command
+aright; but the wave of the hand which accompanied it, and the fact that
+it was in perfect consonance with the words he had just heard, satisfied
+him there was no mistake about it.
+
+"The Wolf thanks his brother for what he has done."
+
+The heart of the Winnebago forced the words between his lips as he
+turned his face away and walked down the bank of the stream in the
+direction whence he came. He vanished the next instant in the darkness.
+
+Deerfoot did not stir until every sound of the soft footsteps had died
+out. Then he lowered the hammer of his gun, bent his shoulders slightly
+forward, so as to walk freely, and entered the cavern where his friends
+were still sleeping.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+ANOTHER NIGHT VISITOR.
+
+
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe was convinced of one thing--the Wolf would trouble
+him no further that night. What he might do in the future must be left
+for the future to tell. Whether the few words that he had dropped should
+prove the good seed of which I have spoken, or whether they should be
+choked up by thorns, not even the Wolf himself could tell.
+
+The young warrior showed his convictions by flinging some wood on the
+fire, so that its blaze filled the cavern, and preparing for sleep. He
+first sat down and pulled out the knife of the Wolf, whose blade took on
+an additional gleam from the cleansing it had received in being forced
+into the flinty earth. He examined it with no little curiosity, though
+it was similar to his own.
+
+A glance, however, showed that it was an inch or two longer. It was
+straight and oval-shaped, the blade not quite two inches wide, with a
+handle that had been cut from a deer's horn and fitted with no slight
+skill. Whether it was the product of aboriginal ingenuity or was the
+work of some cutler of the Caucasian race could only be guessed, the
+matter really not being worth the trouble of guessing. Its two edges and
+the point were very sharp. Deerfoot having laid aside his gun, grasped
+the blade in his left hand and circled it through the air like a
+swordsman at play. He was so pleased with it that he decided to keep it.
+He would not throw away the one that had served him so well, but would
+present it to Fred Linden, while he retained the one with which he was
+sure he could do better work.
+
+It was singular that while the Shawanoe was turning the weapon over in
+his hand, and examining it with so much interest, that the occasion for
+its immediate use should come, but so it was.
+
+He was on the point of shoving it in behind his belt and lying down to
+sleep, when a movement of the bushes outside was heard. It was so
+distinct indeed that he knew it was not caused by a person.
+
+The rustling was accompanied by a scratching sound and low growl.
+Turning his head, he saw an immense wolf standing at the entrance of the
+cavern, his whole figure revealed in the firelight. With his jaws parted
+and his form erect, he was a formidable creature, before which almost
+any one would have recoiled. He would have advanced straight to an
+attack upon the young warrior but for the fire which partly interposed.
+Even as it was, he seemed making ready to leap at the throat of the
+youth, who was sitting on the blanket, looking coolly at him.
+
+It would have been the easiest matter in the world for Deerfoot to catch
+up his gun and shoot him dead, but he chose to do otherwise. Drawing one
+of the embers forth by the end that was not burning, he held it before
+him in his right hand, and, grasping the knife in his left, ran lightly
+toward him, as though he meant to jam it into his eyes.
+
+The bravest animal can not stand unmoved before such an attack, and the
+namesake of the human enemy whisked about and darted out of the cavern
+with the Shawanoe close behind him. The former bounded a half dozen
+steps, pausing on the very spot where the hostile warrior was first
+seen, and facing about, as if to observe whether his foe dare follow him
+any further. But Deerfoot had him now where he wished, and he flung the
+torch aside among the undergrowth, where it lay smoking for a few
+minutes before it went out.
+
+The fierce animal must have been of the opinion that he too had his
+antagonist where he wanted him, for, without the least hesitation, he
+uttered a snarling growl and made two leaps straight at him. The first
+carried him a little more than half the intervening distance, and the
+second was meant to bear Deerfoot to the earth.
+
+The young warrior, however, stepped lightly to one side, so that the
+wolf missed him altogether, and would have been forced to wheel about
+and make a second attack had the chance been given him, but at the
+instant it landed, the left hand, grasping the long, keen knife, shot
+forward with great force and lightning-like swiftness, and was buried to
+the hilt in the throat of the brute.
+
+It was a blow as effective as a cannon ball could have been, for the
+knife clove the seat of life in twain, and the beast rolled over on the
+earth dead, almost before it could emit a single yelp of agony.
+
+Deerfoot stood a moment surveying the carcass before him, and then, with
+no more excitement than he would have shown in speaking to Fred or
+Terry, he said: "'Tis a good weapon, and will serve Deerfoot well."
+
+Then he walked to the tiny brook, carefully washed the gleaming blade,
+shoved it behind his belt, where it was held in place without the sheath
+that clasped the other, and walked back to the cavern. The boys had not
+been disturbed by the outcry of the wolf, and Deerfoot, throwing some
+more wood on the flames, lay down on the blanket, drew it partly about
+him, and in ten minutes was asleep, not opening his eyes again until the
+light of morning streamed into the cavern and only a few smoldering
+embers were left of the camp-fire.
+
+He smiled when he looked upon the two youths, who were still soundly
+sleeping, all unconscious of the stirring events that had taken place
+during the darkness. There was no call for a renewal of the fire, and,
+after spending a few minutes in communion with the Great Spirit, he
+passed outside the cavern, drank from the clear water in the brook, and
+laved his face and hands.
+
+Just as he finished, Fred Linden emerged, rubbing his eyes and yawning,
+while Terry Clark was close behind him.
+
+"Good morning, Deerfoot!" called the former; "it was just like you to
+let us sleep all night while you kept watch: to-night you must let us
+take our turn."
+
+"Fred has exprissed me own sintimints," added Terry; "we have had so
+much slumber that we can kaap awake for a month. Helloa!"
+
+The gaze of the boys at that moment fell on the body of the wolf,
+stiffened in death.
+
+"You have had visitors," said Fred; "my gracious, but he's a big fellow!
+Killed by a knife thrust too, that looks as if it had gone half way
+through his body; how was it, Deerfoot?"
+
+The Shawanoe waited until they had finished bathing their hands and
+faces, and then he quietly told them the story, including the account of
+the warrior's visit. As you may well suppose, the boys opened their
+eyes, and Terry, running inside, brought out the blanket, which had been
+folded in such a manner that the knife of the Winnebago passed through
+three thicknesses of the cloth.
+
+"And to think that we slept through it all!"
+
+"Begorrah, but wasn't it lucky that we didn't have the blanket wrapped
+about us?" gasped Terry, who was in earnest in his momentary belief of
+the narrow escape of himself and companion.
+
+"It is well that you kept guard last night; neither of us would have
+heard the approach of the Winnebago; and wouldn't have known any thing
+about the other wolf until he lit on our shoulders."
+
+"My brother is mistaken," said Deerfoot; "he is like the rattlesnake; he
+gives warning before he strikes; I heard him growl, and he stopped at
+the entrance to the cavern, afraid of the fire."
+
+"Why didn't you shoot him?"
+
+"Would he have died more quietly, or with less pain than from the knife?
+It is the knife that the Winnebago left; Deerfoot wanted to learn
+whether it would serve him well."
+
+"And I should think ye ought to be satisfied, as a cousin of me own once
+remarked after working five years for a man without any pay excipt
+starvation and kicks."
+
+"The knife proved itself a good one," said Fred; "but the poorest knife
+would be just as effective in your hands."
+
+Deerfoot withdrew his own weapon from its skin sheath, and handed it to
+Fred.
+
+"Let my brother carry that, for the hour may come sooner than he thinks
+when it will be of use to him."
+
+Fred accepted it gratefully, saying, as he managed to find place for it
+somewhat after the manner of Deerfoot:
+
+"If I can handle it with half of your skill, it will serve me well
+indeed, but that can never be."
+
+Deerfoot placed the larger weapon within the sheath from which he had
+withdrawn his own and made no reply to the compliments of his friends.
+He had heard many such before, but he placed no value upon them. He
+regarded himself as simply trying to use in the best way the gifts of
+the Great Spirit. His many escapes from death and injury were due solely
+to God's protecting care, and he could never take to himself any credit
+for what he did.
+
+The excitement of the boys having subsided, the three sat down in front
+of the cavern to eat their breakfast. Enough of the food brought by Fred
+was left to give each and all the meal needed, but when they were
+through, not a particle was left; henceforth they must depend upon what
+their rifles brought them for support while on the way to the camp in
+the Ozarks.
+
+"We have two or three days' travel yet before we can reach camp," said
+Fred, while they were making ready to resume their journey; "but I don't
+think we shall want for food. What troubles me the most is that scamp of
+a Winnebago. You have spared him twice, but I don't believe it will
+make a friend of him."
+
+"He was so boilin' mad," added Terry, "because he lost his gun that now
+that he has also lost his knife he may get so much madder that he'll
+flop over and become pleased again."
+
+This, however, was a kind of philosophy to which the others could not
+agree. Deerfoot owned that he was in doubt; the sentiment of gratitude
+is not one of the chief virtues of the American race, though many
+story-tellers would have us believe that it is. There have been
+instances known where a red man has shown something of the kind, but as
+a rule they have no more of it than had the frozen serpent that was
+warmed in the bosom of him who proved his foolishness by making the
+experiment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+THE CAMP OF THE WINNEBAGOS.
+
+
+Now that the little party had started once more toward the camp in the
+Ozark Mountains, they moved at a brisk pace. It took them but a short
+time to reach the main trail, where there was a short pause while
+Deerfoot made what may be called a microscopic scrutiny of the ground.
+
+The result did not please him, for he saw the proof that the Wolf had
+turned to the right, and had preceded them over the route which they
+were to follow. He would have been better satisfied had he crossed the
+trail or turned the other way. The fact that he had gone southward meant
+that the main party which he was seeking to join were in that direction,
+though the keen eyes of the Shawanoe could detect no signs that they had
+trodden the same ground. That signified nothing, however, as they might
+have pursued a slightly different route, falling back upon the main path
+further on.
+
+Deerfoot, in telling his young friends what he had learned, added that
+he had no doubt that they would hear from the Winnebagos again, and
+possibly at an hour when least expected. Fred Linden was disturbed more
+by the knowledge that the party were approaching the camp where his
+father and his companions were unsuspicious of the danger. They could
+easily steal close enough to the cabin to shoot down all three without
+warning.
+
+When he mentioned his fear to Deerfoot, that sagacious young warrior
+told him that he saw no cause for anxiety, though he could not deny that
+something of the kind might take place. His theory was that the
+Winnebagos were not disposed to attack any party of whites in mere
+wantonness, the act of the Wolf being the whim of a single
+gnarly-brained warrior.
+
+Be that as it may, our young friends were anxious to make the best
+progress they could, and, for fully a dozen miles, they kept up their
+brisk gait. At the end of that time, the sun was overhead, and they
+were obliged to stop on the bank of a broad, swiftly-flowing stream. The
+prints made by the hoofs of the horses that had passed that way some
+days before were plainly seen, though there had been a fall of rain
+since. A glance at the water showed that it was so deep that the hunters
+must have swam their animals across.
+
+It would have been an easy matter for the boys to swim also, but they
+preferred to use a raft. Accordingly, they set to work, and it did not
+take them long to gather enough logs and driftwood to float all three.
+These were deftly fastened together by Deerfoot, who used hickory withes
+for that purpose, and, then, with a long pole which he cut and trimmed
+with his tomahawk, he pushed from shore.
+
+The propelling pole was fully fifteen feet long, and in the middle of
+the stream, the boys were surprised to see that when one end was pressed
+against the bottom, no more than two feet were above the surface: the
+depth was much greater than they had suspected.
+
+It was hard work to keep the clumsy raft moving at such disadvantage,
+but Deerfoot would not yield the pole to either of his companions, and,
+after awhile, he drove it against the shore, and all stepped upon dry
+land, without so much as their feet having become moistened.
+
+They had been carried some distance below the trail by the current, but
+they quickly regained it, and pushed on. Having eaten nothing since
+morning, all three were ahungered, but Fred and Terry grimly determined
+to wait for Deerfoot to suggest a stop before they asked for it. Had
+they but known that many a time, when on the tramp, he had gone two days
+and nights without taking a mouthful, they would not have been so
+willing to await his pleasure.
+
+But though he would not have thought of stopping before nightfall had he
+been alone, he was too considerate to subject them to discomfort; but it
+was useless to stop, since as yet they had seen nothing in the way of
+game to shoot.
+
+Terry and Fred were beginning to feel impatient with each other because
+of their mutual stubbornness when the Shawanoe, who had been walking
+quite fast, slackened his pace and turning his head, said:
+
+"My brothers are hungry, and they shall have to eat."
+
+"Ye couldn't tell us better news," replied the grateful Terry, "though I
+would be obliged to ye if ye would impart the information where there is
+any chance of our gettin' any such thing, as the people used to say whin
+me uncle on me mother's side offered to bet a sixpence on anythin'."
+
+Deerfoot made no answer, but walking still more slowly, he was seen to
+raise his hand to his mouth. Then followed the peculiar cry that a wild
+turkey makes when it is lost from its companions. The Shawanoe knew that
+the birds were in the surrounding woods, though none had shown itself.
+
+By and by there was an answer to the call from a point ahead. Asking the
+boys to wait where they were, he trotted lightly forward, and was not
+absent ten minutes when he came back with a plump turkey, whose neck he
+had wrung.
+
+Since the lads had heard no report of a gun, they wanted to know by what
+means he had secured it. He replied that he had stood behind a tree and
+repeated the call until a group of the birds approached within a few
+rods, when he made a dash among them, and seized his prize before she
+could spread her wings and fly--all of which told of a dexterity that
+few others possessed.
+
+In a brief while, a good dinner was boiled over the coals, a short rest
+taken, and the three were on the road again, it being their wish to
+travel further than on the day before. Had Deerfoot been alone he would
+have broken into a trot that would have doubled the distance before the
+set of sun.
+
+But the trail over which they were walking grew rougher. It was so rocky
+in some places that it must have tried the endurance of the horses
+ridden by the hunters. Instead of being direct, it grew very sinuous,
+made so by the efforts to avoid many formidable obstacles that rose in
+front. All this was of little account to the dusky leader, though of
+necessity it prolonged the journey, and he was obliged to slacken his
+pace to suit those who were less accustomed to such work.
+
+It was about the middle of the afternoon, when they were checked again
+by coming abreast of a stream that was too broad and deep to be forded.
+The trail, however, instead of entering the water, turned up the bank,
+and the three, under the leadership of Deerfoot, did the same.
+
+This diversion continued for fully two hundred yards, when the path
+struck the water, the point on the other side where the horsemen had
+emerged being in plain sight. The former method was resorted to, and in
+less than an hour after reaching the creek the three had safely ferried
+themselves across. It was neither so broad nor so deep as the other, but
+it delayed them fully as much.
+
+Within a half mile from the stream last crossed they came upon the trail
+of the whole Winnebago party. Just as Deerfoot suspected, they had taken
+another route, and had come back to the main path a good many miles away
+from where the Wolf left it the night before.
+
+His experienced eye told him that they were close upon the company, who
+numbered precisely twelve--several more than he supposed. Whether the
+Wolf was with them could not of course be learned until a glimpse of the
+party themselves was obtained.
+
+Matters had now taken such a shape that the Shawanoe told his companions
+that the utmost care must be used, since they were liable to stumble on
+the very ones whom they were anxious to avoid. He instructed them to
+allow him to keep fully a hundred feet in advance, and never to diminish
+the distance without orders from him.
+
+This was a prudent step, and Fred and Terry did their best to carry out
+the wishes of their guide, who walked on at a moderate pace, without
+once glancing back at his friends, who he knew would respect what he had
+said to them.
+
+Bear in mind that this arrangement was made toward the close of the
+afternoon of an autumn day. The three had not traveled more than two
+miles, with the leader so far in advance, when the gathering gloom
+became such that he would not have been visible to his followers had he
+not fallen back so as to keep in sight.
+
+Finally, when less than a dozen yards separated them, and the graceful
+figure of the young Shawanoe looked like a shadow gliding in advance, he
+suddenly halted. The eyes of the boys were upon him, and they saw him
+raise his hand as a signal to stop; they obeyed without so much as a
+whisper.
+
+He stood like a statue for two or three minutes, and then, turning his
+head without moving his body, beckoned them to approach. They could
+barely see the motion of his arm, as they stepped softly to his side;
+but before reaching him, they caught the glimmer of a light among the
+trees, somewhat in front and to the right. When they stood near him,
+they saw it more distinctly.
+
+In a partly open space, near the invariable stream of water, were a
+group of Indians, some stretched lazily on the ground, some squatted
+like tailors, two busy cooking something over the fire, and nearly every
+one smoking long-stemmed, stone pipes. They were a sturdy set of
+warriors, who were likely to give a good account of themselves in a
+hunt or fight, and both Fred and Terry knew who they were before
+Deerfoot, with his arm extended and his finger pointing toward them,
+said:
+
+"It is the camp of the Winnebagos!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+"KEEP TO THE TRAIL"
+
+
+It was an interesting scene on which the three youths looked. There were
+a dozen Winnebago warriors lolling and smoking in camp, while two of
+their number were preparing their supper, by half-broiling it over the
+blaze and coals. Fred and Terry stood in silence by the side of
+Deerfoot, gazing upon the strangers with a curiosity such as no other
+sight could have inspired.
+
+A small tree interfered somewhat with the view of Fred, and he took a
+step forward. Immediately the Shawanoe put out his arm and shook his
+head to signify that that would not do; they were as close as was safe.
+Then Fred shifted his position a little to one side, as you feel like
+doing in a public hall when a column is in front of you. To this
+Deerfoot offered no objection, and the lad was satisfied.
+
+"Begorrah, but there's the spalpeen!" whispered Terry, in some
+excitement, pointing his finger toward the camp, and with no thought of
+the uselessness of such an act.
+
+The others knew that he referred to the Wolf, who had caused them so
+much trouble, but they had already seen him. He was standing at one end
+of the group, with folded arms, while he scowled, and the firelight
+fell upon his features with such directness that the scowl could be
+plainly seen. He appeared to be looking at the two warriors busy with
+the fire, though more than likely his gaze fell indifferently upon them
+and the rest, all of whom were in his field of vision.
+
+The tomahawk showed in his girdle, but of course he was without any
+other weapon, and Terry could not avoid a smile when he noted it and he
+had to say something despite the displeasure of Deerfoot.
+
+"Do ye observe his left eye and the end of his nose where one of me
+blows landed? What could be foiner than the swell that ye see there? He
+will naad to use no black paint for siveral days, as me grandfather--"
+
+At this point Deerfoot deliberately placed his hand over the mouth of
+the speaker, abruptly ending what he proposed to say.
+
+Now, nothing could be clearer than that if the Winnebago party were in
+such plain view of the three youths, the latter in turn were liable to
+be discovered by them. They were standing beyond the circle of
+firelight, where the darkness screened them from sight, and, if one of
+the red men should look in that direction, he could not have seen them;
+but there was the probability that any moment one of the warriors might
+start out to reconnoiter their surroundings, in which event, discovery
+was almost certain. Besides, the exuberant spirits of Terry Clark taught
+Deerfoot that it was unwise to trust him in such a delicate position.
+
+Altogether, the time spent in watching the Winnebagos was barely ten
+minutes. During that period, some of those reclining on the leaves got
+up, walked about and sat down again; others kept their feet, and one
+stepped to where the two were busy with a steak of some kind that they
+were broiling over the coals, as though his hunger was making him
+impatient.
+
+But the Wolf never stirred a muscle, and Terry afterward insisted that
+he did not wink his eyes, so motionless was he. The same scowl added
+hideousness to the painted face, and it was easy to understand that his
+meditations were of any thing but a pleasant nature.
+
+Turning his back upon the camp, Deerfoot motioned for them to go back.
+They did so, he following on their heels until not the faintest glimmer
+of the fire could be seen. Then he led them by a round-about course to
+the trail beyond the camp, and explained his wishes.
+
+He was now free to admit that there was reason to believe the Winnebagos
+intended an assault upon the three hunters among the foothills of the
+Ozark, and who were unsuspicious of such danger. Of course the Shawanoe
+had no direct knowledge that such was their purpose, but he was so
+convinced that he meant to take the utmost precautions against it.
+
+He therefore proposed that he should linger near the camp until he could
+learn of a verity what their intentions were. If they meant to attack
+the Hunters of the Ozark, then he would hasten to give warning to
+Linden, Hardin and Bowlby, who, re-enforced by the three youths, would
+be strong enough to beat off an Indian party twice as strong.
+
+In the meantime, Deerfoot wished Terry and Fred to push toward the camp
+with all the speed of which they were capable, he promising to follow as
+soon as he could. They had walked almost the entire day with scarcely a
+halt on the road, but he wished them to keep on into the night so long
+as they could. They would need nothing to eat before morning and between
+sundown and sunup they ought to make a long advance on their journey.
+
+You will probably wonder why (the situation being such as was explained
+by Deerfoot), he did not keep company with the lads and help them in
+their forced march to the mountains. One reason was that he was
+convinced in the first place that a demonstration would be made by the
+Winnebagos against the Hunters of the Ozark, and he wanted to get both
+boys--especially Terry--out of the neighborhood as soon as he could; for
+their presence hampered his own actions. The safest place for them was
+in the strong cabin to the southward, and they could not get there too
+soon.
+
+Yet they would certainly travel as fast in his company as by themselves,
+and Fred and Terry, therefore, could not see why he should stay behind
+instead of going with them; yet Deerfoot the Shawanoe never took a step
+of that kind without the best reason for it, as you will admit when it
+is made clear to you. To give this explanation would require such a long
+diversion from the thread of my story that you would be impatient.
+Before I am through with the history of Deerfoot, you shall know not
+only the reason for his course but for several other things that have
+been referred to in the stories told about him.
+
+The confidence of Fred Lincoln and Terry Clark in the wonderful young
+Shawanoe was so perfect that they did not question any decision, no
+matter how little they failed to see its reason. If what he asked was in
+their power, they would bound at the chance of doing it, just as they
+did now.
+
+He had a parting warning to give.
+
+"Let my brothers make sure that they do not lose the trail; they must
+look at the ground often: when they do not see the path they must stop
+and await the rising of the sun; they can not reach the cabin too soon,
+but they can never reach it by going wrong; _keep to the trail_!"
+
+The circuitous route which they had taken under the guidance of
+Deerfoot, had brought them back to the path at a point fully a hundred
+yards beyond the camp-fire, which had been started in the small open
+space only a few rods from the path. So far as they knew there was
+nothing now between them in the way of a direct advance to the cabin of
+their hunters.
+
+"Fred," said Terry, after they were fairly under way, and while he
+almost stepped on the heels of his friend; "Deerfoot thinks we won't go
+more than five or six miles; let's show him that we ain't such babies as
+he thinks."
+
+"I feel as you do; I propose that we keep it up all night."
+
+"Will ye be kind enough to raich yer right hand over your lift shoulder
+and shake wid me on the same?"
+
+Instead of doing precisely as asked, Fred laughingly turned about and
+shook hands with his friend, whom he loved and for whom he was ready at
+any time to risk his life. They were on their mettle and they meant to
+show the young Shawanoe that they were capable of doing much more than
+he seemed to believe. They intended that when, after a few hours, he
+started to overtake them, he would find that he had a good many miles
+further to travel than he supposed.
+
+Had Deerfoot known of their thoughts he would have smiled and been
+pleased. He wanted them to do their best and he was willing, should it
+prove to be safe, to allow them to keep up the delusion that their gait
+could bear any comparison with the speed of which he was capable.
+
+Meanwhile, the boys started in earnest to carry out their intention.
+Their only fear was that they might be hindered by the difficulty in
+keeping to the trail; for though the full moon was again overhead, and
+though many of the leaves had fallen from the trees, little light was
+there to help them.
+
+But for a time, at least, the difficulty was much less than they
+expected. The path, though it continued to lead over rough places and
+around obstructions, sometimes up-hill and sometimes down, was still so
+clearly marked that Fred Linden went forward with scarcely a halt or any
+hesitation.
+
+Though there are men who have walked their five and six hundred miles
+with little rest on the road, it is a severe task for any one to keep it
+up through an entire day and night, as you can soon become convinced by
+making the experiment; but Fred and Terry were sturdy, strong-limbed
+fellows, born and bred on the frontier, who were capable of standing a
+great deal. When, therefore, they meant to astonish Deerfoot by their
+progress during the night, they felt no distrust of their ability in
+that direction.
+
+There was no reason why they should put any restraint on themselves, and
+they talked quite cheerily, Terry indulging now and then in some of his
+quaint remarks. But a tired boy does not feel like keeping up a lively
+conversation for any length of time, and so it came about that after
+awhile they walked steadily forward, for miles at a time, without
+exchanging more than a few syllables. Terry could see the figure of his
+friend with his rifle over his shoulder always a few feet in front,
+there being just enough light in the gloom to keep his form in sight,
+while Fred heard the steady tramp, tramp behind him, sometimes keeping
+pace with his own and sometimes falling "out of step."
+
+"Helloa! this is too bad!" suddenly exclaimed Fred, coming to an abrupt
+halt; "I guess this ends our tramp for to-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+AN INFURIATE SHAWANOE.
+
+
+WITH the departure of Fred and Terry, Deerfoot felt as though he had
+flung off a blanket that had been wrapped about his shoulders: his arms
+were now free and he could use them at will.
+
+He shrewdly suspected that his young friends would fancy they had been
+put upon their mettle, and would, therefore, exert themselves to their
+fullest to meet his expectations. He was glad it was so, and he would
+have been much better pleased could he have known they were in the cabin
+at the foot of the mountains, or, better still, safe at their home in
+Greville.
+
+Deerfoot now stealthily approached as close to the camp-fire as was
+safe. He screened his body behind a tree, but he was nigh enough to
+catch every word that was said in an ordinary tone, and he understood
+the Winnebago tongue well enough to want no interpreter.
+
+The Shawanoe had hardly taken his position to act as cowen, when the
+venison steaks were about one-fourth broiled, which was enough to
+satisfy the parties interested. Those who had charge of the culinary
+operations divided the meat into a dozen slices, so that each warrior
+was provided for, and the feast opened. The strong animal appetites, and
+teeth like those of the steel traps that were set at the foot of the
+Ozarks, soon brought the feast to a close, after which the feasters
+walked the few steps necessary to the brook near at hand, and lying down
+on their faces drank their fill, just as so many pigs would have done,
+grunting with satisfaction as they came back and resumed their pipes.
+
+All this Deerfoot had seen so often that it had no interest to him. He
+kept his eyes on two warriors--the Wolf and one whom he had never seen
+before. These two sat near each other on the ground while eating, and
+they talked together in low tones. Since none of those around could
+overhear the words, it was impossible for Deerfoot, with all his
+wonderful acuteness, to catch a syllable. He would have given a great
+deal could he have done so, for he suspected the dark plot that was
+taking shape in their dusky brains. There was a dangerous flash in the
+black eyes of the young Shawanoe while he watched their movements.
+
+It was clear to him that the Wolf had lost prestige, instead of gaining
+sympathy by his last misfortune. Having gone out to gather wool he had
+come back shorn, to go out a second time and to come back shorn to a
+still more ludicrous degree. The manner in which the Wolf kept apart
+from the rest, affiliating only with the single warrior at his side,
+showed the feeling in the party.
+
+It was easy to recognize the leader or chieftain, though his dress was
+precisely like the rest, but his air of authority told the story plainly
+enough. The Winnebagos were a fine set of men in their war paint, and,
+as I have said, were able to give a good account of themselves in any
+scrimmage in which they might become engaged.
+
+As unexpectedly to the warriors as to Deerfoot himself, the Winnebago
+chieftain, who was standing on one side of the fire where his rifle with
+several others leaned against a tree, took his pipe from between his
+lips and spoke to the Wolf in tones which caused that redskin to look up
+in wonder. Seeing that the sachem hesitated, as if waiting for him to
+rise, the Wolf came nimbly to his feet, as did his friend at his elbow.
+The majority of the rest, however, sat still and showed no special
+interest in what was going on.
+
+"The Wolf was the bravest of the Winnebagos," remarked the chief, "when
+our war parties met those of the Sauks and Foxes and Pottawatomies who
+dared to come into our country; the heart of the Wolf bounded with
+delight and no tomahawk was hurled with such swiftness as his: no gun
+was fired more often; no scalping knife took back more scalps to hang
+upon the ridge-pole of his wigwam.
+
+"But the Wolf came across the Big Water and his heart longed for the
+scalp of the pale face; he went out to hunt for it; he came back; the
+tongue of the Wolf is not double and tells no lies; the Wolf met a
+Shawanoe warrior who took his gun from him.
+
+"It was the young Shawanoe called Deerfoot; the Winnebagos have been
+told about Deerfoot, the friend of the white man; the heart of Black
+Bear (meaning himself) was angry; he was chief of the Winnebagos; he
+told the Wolf that he must go forth and bring back his rifle; the Wolf
+went; he did not bring back his rifle, but left his knife behind;
+Deerfoot saw him and took it away from him.
+
+"Deerfoot is but a youth; he is not a mighty warrior; the Wolf must get
+his gun and knife; he must bring back the scalp of the Shawanoe, he
+shall take Wau-ko-mia-tan with him; each shall have his gun; let them
+bring back the scalps of Deerfoot and the two pale faces with him; then
+will Black Bear forget that the Wolf was not always a great warrior.
+
+"Let the Wolf and Wau-ko-mia-tan make haste; the Winnebagos are on the
+war path; they will carry back with them the scalps of the pale faces
+who are gathering the skins of the beaver and otter and foxes by the
+base of the mountain."
+
+It may be said that this little speech developed the plan of the
+Winnebago campaign. The Wolf had fallen so low in the opinion of his
+chieftain and brother warriors, that it was necessary for him to take
+heroic measures to restore himself. Seeing this, the sachem had just
+notified him that he must secure the scalps of Deerfoot and the two
+white boys with him. Wau-ko-mia-tan (who was the warrior that sat at the
+elbow of the Wolf), was to be his companion. The chieftain knew how
+closely the two were allied, and he indulged in the little fiction of
+allowing one to keep company with the other, when the truth was he was
+afraid to let the Wolf go alone. Since on each of the two former
+excursions he had lost something, the probabilities were that if he came
+back again, it would be without his scalp.
+
+The eagerness with which the Wolf accepted this task, the moment he
+found that he was to have a companion, showed that he was an admirable
+representative of the average Indian: gratitude to him was a vice rather
+than a virtue.
+
+The expression on the face of Deerfoot showed that all forbearance was
+ended. He had twice spared the ingrate: he would do so no more.
+
+Had the Wolf told his leader that the mercy of Deerfoot had touched his
+heart, so that his arm could never more be raised in anger against him,
+but that he would seek the scalps of the hunters at the base of the
+mountains, the Shawanoe would have felt an admiration for him. Had he
+sought out Deerfoot and asked for the return of his weapons (though that
+would have been very unlike his race), Deerfoot would have restored them
+to him. But now, as it was, when they should meet it would be as mortal
+enemies.
+
+Nothing showed the vicious ingratitude of the Wolf more vividly than the
+fact that instead of waiting for the morning before entering upon his
+wicked enterprise, he started within three minutes after Black Bear, the
+chieftain, finished his little speech. The sachem picked up his own
+rifle from where it leaned against the tree and handed it to him, while
+Wau-ko-mia-tan stood at the other end of the group, until the warrior,
+his ugly face glowing like that of a demon, stepped to his side. Then
+the two, without a word or motion like a farewell, turned away and
+vanished in the gloom of the wood.
+
+They had not taken a dozen steps, when Deerfoot glided from behind the
+tree and passed after them, as if he were the shadow thrown out by the
+light of the camp-fire. The expression on his face was such as would
+have hushed Fred Linden and Terry Clark to awed silence could they have
+seen it.
+
+The two Winnebagos did not come directly back to the trail, but fell
+into it at almost the precise point where Deerfoot had led his two
+friends. They stopped a few minutes and talked in their low, guttural
+tones, none of which was understood by the Shawanoe, who listened with
+the closest attention.
+
+There was considerable distance at that time between the warriors and
+Fred and Terry, who had set out with the ambition to keep up their
+traveling through the entire night. The Winnebagos did not wait long,
+when they moved on at their usual pace.
+
+Less than a mile from the camp, the warriors again came to a halt and as
+before talked in a low voice. The point was where the wood was more
+open, so that the moonlight which found its way among the limbs above
+showed their forms quite plainly. More than that, enough of their words
+were audible to enable the listening Shawanoe, who had crept dangerously
+near, to catch their meaning.
+
+The Winnebagos turned off at almost a right angle and left the trail
+behind them. The ground was broken, but they had not gone far, when it
+became evident that they were following another path, though it was so
+faintly marked that no eye except that of an American Indian could have
+discovered it in such an uncertain light.
+
+As they advanced, the surface became not only rougher, but the grade
+which they ascended was so steep that it would have been tiresome to an
+ordinary traveler.
+
+Suddenly Deerfoot himself wheeled aside from the indistinct path to
+which the Winnebagos clung and passed lightly and with great speed
+through the wood where no one had walked before. So swiftly did he make
+his way, that, though he crossed a deep ravine and went a considerable
+distance, it was less than live minutes before he came back to the
+shadowy trail.
+
+Instead of keeping along this path, in the same direction as that of his
+enemies, he turned about and advanced to meet the red men who had dared
+to come that way. He walked with his usual noiseless step, and stopped
+on reaching the edge of the ravine over which he had leaped when it
+crossed his path only a few minutes before.
+
+This gully was more than twenty feet in depth, and about half as wide.
+The trail led to the edge on one side, continuing on the margin directly
+opposite, so that any one who wished to keep to it was perforce
+compelled to leap the chasm--a slight task for any Indian, though it
+would have been easy to make a bridge by means of a fallen tree.
+
+The moon was now directly overhead, so that a flood of light fell into
+the craggy ravine, lighting up the gray rocks and bowlders, the
+prostrate trees that had fallen from the sides, the vegetation along the
+slopes and the mossy grass that had been watered by the torrents when
+they roared through. The trees grew rank and close to the edge at the
+top--so close that some of them had slidden off and fallen part way
+below, carrying the gravel, sand and earth with the prong-like roots
+part way to the bottom.
+
+So faint was the mark of the trail opposite that even with the help of
+the moonbeams, it took an eye as keen as that of Deerfoot to tell where
+his enemies would appear. But he coolly awaited them, though his
+calmness was the fearful calm of a fury such as even he rarely knew.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+THE DEFIANCE.
+
+
+The expression of the face of Deerfoot was terrible. The whole fury of
+his nature was at white heat. He knew that the two Winnebagos had set
+out to commit a fearful crime, and it was his work to stay their hands.
+There was but the single way in which they could be stayed.
+
+The young Shawanoe kept back a couple of paces from the edge of the
+ravine, where the shadow of the stunted trees above would hide him from
+his foes when they should come in sight. He held his gun pointed and
+cocked. Though his passion had the glow of the furnace, he was as calm
+as death.
+
+[Illustration: "There was a fierce whizz like the rush of an eagle's
+wing."]
+
+He had not long to wait. By and by a low guttural exclamation struck his
+ear, and his hearing, strung to a marvelously fine point, caught the
+sound of the soft moccasins on the hard earth. Less than a minute later
+the form of the Wolf came into the moonlight, as a bather emerges from
+the side of a lake. Seeing the open ravine at his feet, he stopped, and
+instantly his companion, Wau-ko-mia-tan, appeared at his side.
+
+They quickly saw that the leap was an easy one.
+
+"Wau-ko-mia-tan will leap across," said that warrior, "then the Wolf
+will follow; let us lose no time, for the Shawanoe may be gone."
+
+The speaker recoiled a single pace and gathered his muscles for the
+leap. He took one quick step and made a terrific bound upward and
+outward, straight for the rocky brink whereon Deerfoot the Shawanoe
+instantly stepped into the moonlight.
+
+The Winnebago was in mid-air, crouching like a leaper, with his legs
+gathered under him and his arms at his side, when there was a fierce
+whiz, like the rush of an eagle's wing, something flashed in the
+moonlight, and the tomahawk, driven by a lightning-like sweep of the
+Shawanoe's arm, was buried in the chest of the Winnebago as it would
+have sunk in so much sodden earth.
+
+An ear-splitting screech burst from the throat of the smitten warrior,
+who struck the edge of the ravine like a bundle of rags flung thither,
+and then tumbled to the bottom as dead as the jagged rock on which he
+lay.
+
+The Wolf stood transfixed, unable to understand what had taken place.
+Then he saw the figure of the youthful warrior on the other side and
+heard his voice.
+
+"Rattlesnake of a Winnebago! Die the death of the rattlesnake!"
+
+The wretch was given no time to protest again, for the words were yet in
+the mouth of Deerfoot when the flash of his rifle lit up the partial
+gloom, and the crack of the weapon mingled with the death shriek of the
+redskin, who slumped end over end down the ravine and lay beside the
+body of Wau-ko-mia-tan as dead as he.
+
+"Thus shall die all that seek to follow your footsteps," muttered the
+Shawanoe, who, standing where he stood when he slew both, proceeded to
+reload his rifle with as much coolness as though he had just fired at a
+target on a tree.
+
+This finished, he let himself over the edge of the ravine, holding fast
+a moment by one hand, and then letting go, dropped lightly beside the
+two bodies that lay below. His face showed no excitement now, and he
+moved with his usual care and deliberation. Drawing the hunting-knife
+which he had taken from the Wolf, he partly bent over, but straightened
+up again, saying to himself:
+
+"Deerfoot is a Christian Indian and can not scalp a foe though as base
+as they."
+
+Picking up each rifle (that of Wau-ko-mia-tan being still clutched by
+his nerveless fingers while the Wolf's had fallen from his grasp), he
+deliberately broke the locks of each by striking them on the stones. He
+then recovered his own tomahawk, and carried off the useless weapons
+with him.
+
+He passed down the ravine until he reached a point where the sides were
+not so high. There he clambered out, still keeping the two broken guns.
+He had reached high ground on the side from which had come the
+Winnebagos, and he walked grimly forward, until in a brief while he
+reached the main trail over which he and the boys had passed a brief
+while before.
+
+He turned toward the left, which led him in the direction of the camp of
+the Ozarks as well as toward the camp of Black Bear and his Winnebagos.
+He took longer steps than usual, but did not trot or run.
+
+When he once more caught the glimmer of the camp-fire among the trees,
+he slackened his pace and drew nigh with the caution that had become a
+second nature to him. He quickly saw that the Winnebagos had disposed of
+themselves for the night. The fire was burning as brightly as ever,
+because of the attention it received from the two warriors who were
+standing on guard.
+
+The party were in a portion of the country where they knew there was
+scarcely a possibility of their being molested by any one; but the
+American Indian loves nothing like laziness and war; and, treacherous by
+nature himself, he expects treachery at all times in others. And so,
+although they knew of no enemies within miles of them (unless it was
+Deerfoot, whom they did not fear) they had two vigilant sentinels on
+duty. The rest were stretched out on their blankets with their feet
+turned toward the blaze, sleeping like so many tired animals.
+
+At the moment of Deerfoot's approach, the Winnebagos on guard were
+standing some twenty feet apart, with the fire burning between them.
+Each held a loaded gun in hand and cast his keen glance hither and
+thither in the gloom, eyes and ears alert for the first suspicious sight
+or sound.
+
+The sentinel nearer Deerfoot was Black Bear himself. The chieftain
+evidently believed that the best way to instruct his warriors in their
+duty was to set the example. His attitude showed that something had
+arrested his attention. Deerfoot knew that the sound had been made by
+his moccasin, for he purposely rustled the leaves.
+
+Black Bear looked intently off in the gloom, but seeing nothing, turned
+his head and told the other guard to fling more wood upon the fire. He
+obeyed, and the circle of light quickly extended out among the trees.
+
+It would have been an easy matter for the Shawanoe to slay both, but he
+had no thought of doing so. That would have been killing without
+justification.
+
+The Winnebago chieftain was gazing intently into the night, when from
+behind a tree, no more than a dozen steps distant, softly stepped the
+young Shawanoe.
+
+"Listen, Black Bear," said he, "to the words of Deerfoot the Shawanoe.
+Twice did he spare the life of the Wolf and the Wolf thanked him, but he
+went out a third time to take his life; he was a rattlesnake, but he had
+not the courage of the rattlesnake, for he took with him Wau-ko-mia-tan,
+whose heart was that of a rattlesnake also; they bent their steps where
+none but Deerfoot has the right to go; therefore Deerfoot killed them
+and took away their guns. _There they are!_"
+
+In the same minute that Deerfoot began speaking, the second sentinel
+stepped forward and took his place beside his chief. That both were
+amazed need not be said. Each stood with the muzzle of his gun lowered,
+neither dreaming that the youth thought of assailing them.
+
+Deerfoot spoke in the slow but impressive voice natural to his race. But
+the last exclamation escaped him like the discharge from a Leyden jar.
+So quickly that neither saw a movement, he hurled the broken gun of the
+chief straight at him, following it with the second gun driven at his
+companion.
+
+Both hit their mark. Black Bear was struck in the chest with such force,
+that he was carried off his feet and knocked half fainting to the earth.
+The other was hit and compelled to recoil a step, but the weapon struck
+him lengthwise, and he was not harmed. He rallied and brought his gun to
+his shoulder, but by the time it was leveled, the Shawanoe had vanished.
+
+Such an exploit, as you may well suppose, caused consternation among the
+Winnebagos for the space of several minutes. No gun had been fired, but
+the American Indian is a light sleeper, and slight as was the
+disturbance, it aroused every one. There was a gathering about the
+fallen chieftain, who, however, came to his feet without help, though he
+gasped and was weak for a few moments. The explanation given by the
+other sentinel removed the general fear of an attack, but three of the
+warriors scattered through the wood to make sure that no surprise
+overtook them, while the others with an agitation rare among red men
+talked over the astounding occurrence.
+
+The broken rifles lying on the ground left no doubt that when the
+Shawanoe declared he had slain both the Wolf and Wau-ko-mia-tan he spoke
+the truth. Else, how could their shattered guns be in his possession?
+
+And this same youth, with an audacity beyond comprehension, had flung
+the two guns at the chieftain and his brother warrior and defied them.
+It seemed as though he must be more than a human being, to be capable of
+such deeds. Legends had reached them of some of the exploits of the
+wonderful young Shawanoe, but this surpassed them all.
+
+The Winnebagos, however, were among the bravest tribes in the west, and
+when they broke camp at early dawn, Deerfoot, who was on the watch, knew
+that it was their determination to slay every one of the three hunters
+in the camp at the foot of the Ozarks, as soon as they could reach
+them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE SIGNAL FIRE.
+
+
+Deerfoot the Shawanoe remained in the vicinity of the Winnebago camp
+until the warriors made their start at an early hour the following
+morning. He took more than one survey of the red men, who gathered about
+the blazing fire and talked over the remarkable events of the night. He
+could easily have slain every one of the scouts whom they kept moving
+through the wood, but he had no wish to do so.
+
+He heard and saw enough to convince him that they intended to make an
+attack on the camp in the mountains, but he did not feel absolutely sure
+that they would not turn aside and follow in the path of the Wolf and
+Wau-ko-mia-tan, until the party had advanced several miles to the
+southward along the Ozark trail.
+
+It seemed strange that the Winnebagos paid no attention to the two
+missing warriors, and yet, after all, it was not singular. They knew
+they were dead and it was therefore a waste of time to give heed to
+them. If by any possibility they were alive, they must take care of
+themselves, just as all brave Indians did: if unable to do so, the
+consequences must be on their own heads.
+
+So the ten Winnebagos, under the lead of the famous chieftain Black
+Bear, moved along the trail in the direction of the camp of the Hunters
+of the Ozark, and the expressions and words that had been overheard by
+the watchful Shawanoe, left no doubt that by way of revenge they meant
+to slay the three trappers who had located there for the winter.
+
+The Winnebagos came from the north-east. Their lodges, villages and
+hunting grounds were many moons' travel away, and the section of country
+through which they were journeying was so sparsely settled that they had
+no fear of pursuit. Now, when you give an American Indian the chance to
+commit some vicious mischief with no fear of being made to pay
+therefor, you may set it down as a truth that nine hundred and
+ninety-nine out of every one thousand will commit that crime. It was a
+matter of indifference, in the first place, whether they harmed the
+hunters or not. Since the latter were removed some distance from their
+path, it is probable that they would not at that time have taken the
+trouble to go in quest of them: it was the feeling of revenge that was
+the deciding weight in the scale.
+
+Let us recall the situation as it was on the second morning after Fred
+Linden and Terry Clark left their homes in Greville. The boys themselves
+were the furthest advanced along the trail to the mountains, while at a
+considerable distance behind, filed the ten Winnebago warriors, and
+hovering in the vicinity was Deerfoot the Shawanoe, watching every
+movement with the vigilance of a lynx.
+
+Whenever he chose he could make a circuit around the Winnebagos, and
+joining the boys beyond, hasten to the hunters' camp and apprise them of
+their danger; but there remained an abundance of time in which to do
+that, and he did not wish to leave the vicinity of the enemies until he
+saw a little more of them.
+
+It was evident that the Winnebagos were in no hurry. They must have
+known that two of the youths were following the trail in advance, for
+the heavy shoes of the lads could not fail to leave their imprints in
+many places; but, such being the case, the red men might ask in what
+manner they could know that a party of Winnebagos were following them,
+unless such knowledge came through Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who, wherever
+he might be, certainly was not in front of them.
+
+When the Indians came to a stream of water, they did not rush in and
+wade or swim to the other side, as they would have done had there been
+any call for haste, but like those who had gone before, they stopped
+long enough to make a raft on which they could float across. The
+American Indian is not as fond of water as he should be, and though the
+Winnebagos would have cared little for the chill of the stream, it was
+more pleasant for them to pass over dry shod; so they made their several
+rafts and poled themselves to the opposite bank.
+
+You would not look for humor under such circumstances, and yet on one of
+the three rafts there was so much of it shown that even the grim
+Shawanoe smiled.
+
+The structures on which the red men floated were, as a matter of course,
+of the frailest nature, intended as they were to last only long enough
+to bear them to the other shore. With proper management, all would have
+done this, but on one of the rafts holding four of the warriors, there
+was an aboriginal wag. A single Indian managed the pole, while the
+others squatted carefully in their respective positions and were
+expected to keep quiet, so as not to disintegrate the frail structure.
+
+The wag to whom I have referred, while sitting with an innocent
+expression on his painted countenance, quietly loosened the two or three
+withes, and gave the logs such an impetus that they separated like two
+bodies positively charged with electricity, when brought together. The
+warrior who handled the pole was standing with legs somewhat apart,
+resting on a different log, when they suddenly separated still more, and
+he sat down with a splash in the water. Another log revolved backwards,
+as did the savage who was sitting on it, while the others were also
+plashing in the stream, which was not deep enough to make them swim,
+though it came to the neck of the shortest one. The four warriors waded
+to shore amid the grins of the others, and with no suspicion of the
+criminal that had played the trick upon them.
+
+The next stream was reached by the Indians a couple of hours later. This
+was not as deep as the other and they did not stop to make rafts. After
+a little searching, they found a portion where the current did not come
+above their knees and they waded.
+
+In doing so, Black Bear took the lead, and, in accordance with a custom
+universal among Indians, each warrior carefully stepped into the
+footprints in front of him. The water was so limpid that the impression
+made by the chieftain's moccasin was plainly shown, so that there was no
+difficulty in this respect. Had a person been trailing them, he would
+have seen before him what seemed to be the footprints of a single man.
+There was but a slight variation near the further shore, where the
+moccasin of one of the Winnebagos had slid from a stone on which, like
+all the others, it was placed. The brown stone was slippery with a faint
+coating of slime, and the scrape of the deerskin down the side gave it a
+white gleam like the belly of a fish. It was a "slip" in every sense,
+and, when the slight splash announced it, Black Bear at the head of the
+procession turned about with his most impressive scowl.
+
+The party made a halt on the other bank. It was considerably past noon,
+and, while some busied themselves in starting a fire, and a couple began
+fishing in the stream, two others going into the woods with their guns,
+Deerfoot was quite sure that they had decided to spend an hour or so for
+dinner. He concluded, however, to follow the two who went into the
+woods, and it was fortunate that he did so.
+
+The first surprise that came to him was when the Winnebagos had gone
+nearly an eighth of a mile from camp. All this time they were making
+their way up quite a steep slope, so that they were close to the top of
+a high, wooded ridge.
+
+The Shawanoe might well wonder why they had taken such a course, but
+when two frightened deer burst through the undergrowth and dashed by at
+full speed, within easy gun shot, and the Winnebagos looked at them
+without raising their guns to fire, then it was that Deerfoot was
+genuinely astonished.
+
+The conclusion was inevitable that these red men were not looking for
+game.
+
+With a suspicion of their real errand (and that caused another
+surprise), Deerfoot stealthily followed the Winnebagos until they paused
+on the highest part of the ridge. He was not long kept in doubt as to
+their business.
+
+The top of the ridge was almost bare. There were a few stunted trees, a
+number of bowlders and rocks, and here and there, patches of scraggly
+grass. From this elevation, however, a magnificent view opened out on
+every hand before the spectator. To the north stretched the undulating
+country covered with prairie, stream, valley and forest, the last
+brilliant with all the gorgeous hues that come with the frosts of
+autumn.
+
+These flaming colors were visible in whatever direction the eye turned,
+and the same varied surface was seen everywhere, but to the southward,
+the Ozark Mountains had a faint bluish tinge, like a mass of clouds
+resting in the horizon. It was in that direction that the camp of the
+hunters lay, and thither the footsteps of pale face and redskin were
+directed.
+
+The two Winnebagos spent only a minute or so in scanning the surrounding
+country, when they began gathering wood, until they had quite a pile. A
+quantity of leaves, some of which were damp, was mixed among the twigs,
+so that when with a little trouble they were fired by means of the flint
+and steel in the hands of one of the red men, the fuel did not burn
+clearly but gave off considerable dark smoke, which was what the
+Winnebagos wanted.
+
+As soon as the fire was fairly burning, one of the Indians flung his
+blanket over it, his friend seizing the other part, while both held it
+thus until it was in danger of taking fire or smothering the flames. Had
+the coarse cloth been a little more cleanly it is likely that it would
+have been burned, but as it was it strangled the blaze until it may be
+said there were several bushels of smoke gathered beneath and the embers
+were at their last gasp.
+
+At that moment, the Indians raised the blanket so that they stood
+upright, and plenty of fresh air was allowed to feed the blaze. Then
+they slowly waved the blanket between them, sometimes lowering it until
+it was scorched by the sleepy flames, and then elevating it above their
+heads. All the time, they manipulated the blanket, sometimes straight up
+and down, sometimes diagonally, and indeed, in every possible way.
+
+The result of all this varied swinging was that the black column of
+vapor which slowly climbed the sky, was broken into circles, spiral
+curves, and all sorts of odd-shaped figures, which did not dissolve for
+several minutes in the clear air above.
+
+I need not tell you what this meant, for in another place I have
+described the same thing. It was a signal fire intended by the
+Winnebagos for the eyes of a party of friends who were too far off to be
+reached in any other way. Deerfoot had seen such telegraphy many a time
+and oft, and more than once he had used it. He could interpret such a
+signal when made by a Shawanoe, Wyandotte, Sauk or Fox, but he had never
+learned the code in use by the Winnebago military authorities.
+
+However, it was not possible that there was any very fine shade of
+meaning in the various manipulations of the two warriors. Keen brained
+as is the American Indian, he is unable to do a great many things with
+which he is credited: one of these is to do more than telegraph the
+simplest messages by means of fire, though it is beyond question that
+important tidings has been flashed hundreds of miles in a single night,
+from mountain top to mountain top, by means of the signal fires of the
+Indians.
+
+What disturbed Deerfoot was this proof that there was a second party of
+Winnebagos in that section of the country. He had not dreamed of such a
+thing, and it might well cause him alarm, that is, for the three men who
+were so intent on gathering their furs comparatively a short distance
+away.
+
+Carefully screening himself from observation, the Shawanoe looked
+intently in the direction of the gaze of the Winnebagos. He saw that
+they were not peering at any other ridge, but at the broad low valley to
+the north-west. They had not long to look when they detected a thin
+bluish column of smoke creeping upward among the tree tops and
+dissolving in the clear air above.
+
+Deerfoot also saw it, and he knew that it was a reply to the first
+signal. There was another party of Winnebagos in the neighborhood; they
+would soon join Black Bear's party, and there was no time for delay.
+Indeed, but for the discovery he had made, the Shawanoe would have felt
+that he had tarried too long already.
+
+It was not far now to the camp of the Hunters of the Ozark, and it was
+perilous to wait to warn them. Every hour counted. Not only that, but,
+as you can readily see, Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in still
+greater danger.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+ON THE EDGE OF THE PRAIRIE.
+
+
+The night was far advanced when Fred Linden and Terry Clark reached the
+stream, where the former remarked that their progress was stopped. Of
+course he meant that they could continue if they chose to make another
+raft or they could wade, but they had journeyed so far since dusk, and
+the trouble of constructing a float was such that he thought it best to
+wait where they were until daylight. They were pretty well fagged out,
+and nothing could have been more grateful than to throw themselves on
+the ground and sleep for several hours.
+
+Terry was as tired as his companion, but he stood irresolute, inclined
+to think it best that they should push on.
+
+"The stream doesn't look very deep," said he, "and if ye agraas wid me
+that we can wade, it'll be wiser if we make tother side and then
+journey to the nixt straam."
+
+"But that may be a good many miles further on."
+
+"Thin all we have to do is to travel a good many miles," said the plucky
+Irish lad, sitting down to take off his shoes.
+
+"I shall never give in to _you_," remarked Fred, also seating himself
+and beginning to remove his foot-gear.
+
+Before any thing more could be done, however, both were startled by the
+discovery that some one was on the other side of the stream. First they
+heard the guttural exclamations which they knew were made by Indians,
+and then they saw one of the red men come out into full view in the
+moonlight.
+
+Without a word, the boys hastily moved back under the shadow of the
+trees, making sure that they also placed several rods between them and
+the trail which they had followed to the edge of the water. Secure from
+observation, they fastened their eyes on the other bank, where they saw
+an interesting sight.
+
+Three Indian warriors stood for fully five minutes in plain sight,
+while they discussed the same question that had engaged the lads--that
+is, in what manner the stream should be crossed.
+
+It did not take them long to decide. The foremost stepped into the
+water, followed by the other two, none removing his moccasins or
+leg-gear, and in a brief while they came out upon dry land again, within
+fifty feet of where the lads were crouching under shelter.
+
+The boys trembled as they realized how narrow their escape had been. Had
+they not paused for a few minutes, they would have been in the middle of
+the stream, just as the others came down to the edge of the water. In
+the light of their recent experience with the Winnebagos, they had not a
+particle of doubt that the three belonged to the same tribe and that
+they were fierce enemies. Had they not slain the boys, they would have
+made captives of both and conducted them to the main party. Then when it
+should have been found that one of the prisoners had the gun that once
+belonged to the Wolf, their fate would have been sealed.
+
+The incident drove from the mind of Fred all wish to tarry on the road.
+He wished that they were many miles on their way to the camp in the
+Ozarks. They considered themselves members of the little party of
+hunters whom they could not reach any too soon.
+
+"I obsarved while the spalpeens were wadin'," said Terry, "that none of
+them wint lower in the water than their knees. Why didn't they take off
+their shoes like dacent gintlemen, and cross as they should; but bein'
+as they didn't do the same, why, we'll sit them the example."
+
+A minute later, the boys stepped into the stream, and, by using care,
+reached the other side, with all their garments dry. Their shoes were
+quickly replaced, and the two were off again, so moved by what they had
+seen, that for the time they forgot fatigue and every thing else.
+
+"I tell you, Terry, that matters are beginning to look worse than even
+Deerfoot thought, and you know that when he left us he didn't feel
+satisfied, by any means."
+
+"Could it be," asked his companion, "that these spalpeens don't belong
+to the same crowd that we saw?"
+
+"I am quite sure they do; these three would not have been so separated
+from the others."
+
+"Where could they have come from?" asked the puzzled Terry.
+
+"Where all the Indians come from--the woods. I suppose a large party of
+Winnebagos have been off on a tramp, and they are coming together with a
+view of going home or of making an attack on some place or persons."
+
+A random guess, like this, sometimes comes closer to the truth than a
+labored theory. The three Indians whom they had so narrowly escaped were
+members of Black Bear's party and were on their way to meet him.
+Furthermore, there were more of them at no great distance.
+
+"Me father lost his life by the Indians," said Terry, in a soft voice;
+"but though it was not known what tribe the same belonged to, I don't
+think they were Winnebagos; but Indians are Indians and are always ready
+to kill white people whiniver the chance comes along."
+
+"You are right; father doesn't think there is the least danger or he
+wouldn't have sent for me. He has hunted several seasons without any
+trouble with them, but he ought to have learned long ago to be forever
+on the watch."
+
+"Fred," said the other, stopping short in his excitement; "do ye think
+they are goin' to attack the _sittlement_?"
+
+"Impossible! There's the blockhouse and plenty of men to defend it
+against a thousand savages."
+
+"But the woods saam to be full of thim; there may be some kind of an
+Indian war that has broke out and these are the first part of the rid
+army that is to coom down and swaap us over the Rocky Mountains."
+
+But Fred could not share in this prodigious fear. He faced to the front
+again and laughed, as he resumed his walk.
+
+"There couldn't be any thing like _that_ without warning reaching us;
+some of the runners would have come to Greville with the news; besides,
+Deerfoot would have been certain to know something about it."
+
+"_That_ sittles it!" exclaimed Terry, with a sigh of relief; "ye are
+right in sayin' the Shawanoe would have knowed about it; he would have
+larned it before the spalpeens that started out on the war path, and,
+bein' as he didn't say any thin', I'm sure ye are right; but all the
+same, it looks bad for the Hunters of the Ozark, which maans oursilves
+as well as the men in the mountains."
+
+"There's no use of denying that there is enough to make all of us
+anxious, but when I remember that father and Mr. Hardin and Bowlby have
+spent so many years in the Indian country, I can not help feeling hope
+that they will be able to take care of themselves. You know they are all
+good shots and they have a cabin strong enough to stand a rough siege."
+
+"I don't forgit the same; but there's a good many more rid than white
+men and Mr. Bowlby is lame."
+
+"What of that? He doesn't expect to fight with his feet."
+
+"There are many scrimmages in which it's handy to use yer faat. If
+Deerfut hadn't popped along just as I keeled over the Wolf I'd jumped
+on him; then, do ye not mind that the men may take it into their heads
+to run away."
+
+"They have their horses," said Fred, foreseeing and agreeing with the
+response that his young friend would make.
+
+"Not one of 'em is worth a cint at such a time; a one-legged Indian
+could outrun the fastest; they would have to stick fast to the trail
+while the spalpeens would walk all around 'em."
+
+"All that is true, but if they could get a good start, it would be very
+handy for Mr. Bowlby to have one of the horses to ride."
+
+"I don't see much chance of the same," was the sensible comment of
+Terry; "but, me boy, have ye any idaa of what time it is?"
+
+"It must be far beyond midnight: surely we are a long ways in advance of
+the Winnebago camp where we left Deerfoot."
+
+"They are not meaning to make a start to-night?"
+
+"Of course not; they will not move until morning."
+
+"Thin I'm in favor of an adjournment _sine die_, at once and without
+waitin' any longer."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the puzzled Fred, stopping and looking around
+at his companion.
+
+"I'm tired out."
+
+"So am I, but I made up my mind to keep walking till I dropped, before I
+would give in to you. It will be a sensible thing for us to rest, but we
+must get far enough from the trail, so that if any more stragglers come
+along this way, they won't stumble over us."
+
+This was only simple prudence. They groped along for several rods,
+through the undergrowth and among the limbs, and were still walking,
+when Terry's foot struck some obstruction and he fell flat.
+
+"Are you hurt?" asked Fred.
+
+"Hurt? No; that's the way I always lay down, as me uncle obsarved whin
+he fell off the roof--call me early, Fred, and be sure ye don't take up
+more of the bed--than--a--gintleman----"
+
+The poor wearied fellow was asleep.
+
+Fred smiled, as he lay down beside him The air was quite brisk, so he
+unstrapped his blanket and flung part of it over his friend and the rest
+over himself, the two lying back to back as they lay the night before in
+the cavern. The dried leaves made as soft a couch as they could want and
+Fred had only time to murmur a prayer to heaven, when he too became
+unconscious.
+
+They slumbered for four full hours, when both awoke at the same moment,
+refreshed and strengthened. The sun was well up in the sky, and
+fortunately the weather continued clear, crisp and bracing. Indeed it
+could not have been more nearly perfect.
+
+They laughed when they saw where they had made their bed, right in the
+open wood, just as any wild animal would have done when overcome by
+fatigue. There was no water within sight and no food at command. The
+blanket was quickly folded up into a neat parcel and strapped to the
+back of Fred and the two retraced their steps to the trail, which they
+hoped to follow until it took them to the camp at the foot of the
+Ozarks.
+
+"I have found out one thing, that have I," remarked Terry, with the air
+of one announcing a great discovery.
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"The hungriest young gintleman on the western side of the Mississippi is
+the handsome youth whom ye have the honor of walkin' with this very
+minute."
+
+"I can feel for you on _that_ question," added Fred; "for it seems to me
+that I never wanted food so bad in all my life; we must be on the
+lookout for game. Do you know how to make that call that Deerfoot used
+to bring the turkey to him?"
+
+"No, but I know how to use the turkey after the same is brought to me.
+If I should try the signal, it would scare all the turkeys and deer and
+foxes and bears and wolves and beavers out of the country, which bein'
+the same, I won't try it, principally because I don't know how to begin
+to try it."
+
+"My gracious, Terry; if you could shoot like you can talk, we wouldn't
+have to wait long for something to eat."
+
+"Whisht, Fred," whispered Terry, in some excitement; "the wood just
+beyanst ye looks as if it wasn't any wood at all."
+
+Fred Linden had noticed the peculiarity. The trees were becoming so
+scarce and far apart that it was evident they were approaching some
+extensive clearing where no trees grew at all. The next minute the two
+stood on the edge of an immense prairie, which revealed a sight that
+profoundly interested them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+A MORNING MEAL.
+
+
+The two boys stood on the edge of a prairie which had a varying width of
+from one to three miles. Looking to the right and the left, neither end
+could be seen, so that there was no means of judging its length.
+
+The trail led straight across to the wilderness on the other side, which
+at that point was all of two miles distant. You can understand that
+walking was so much easier on the open ground that any party of
+travelers would hasten to take advantage of such a chance. The hoofs of
+the half dozen horses had left such a distinct impression that the eye
+could follow the trail a long ways from the margin of the woods.
+
+This prairie was entirely covered with a growth of succulent grass. The
+season was so late that it had lost most of its verdancy, but there was
+an abundance of nutriment in the blades and it was splendid
+feeding-ground--one of those breaks in the almost limitless forest of
+which grazing animals were sure to take advantage.
+
+The boys had paused only a minute or two, gazing out on the almost level
+expanse, when Terry uttered an exclamation of delight and pointed to the
+right. Looking in that direction (as Fred had done at the moment his
+companion spoke), he saw a welcome sight indeed. A herd of buffaloes
+were cropping the grass within gunshot of the young hunters.
+
+As I have said in another place, there were no such droves as have
+sometimes been seen on the vast prairies of the far west, numbering
+fully a hundred thousand, though a century ago some amazing collections
+of animals were met within sight of the Mississippi.
+
+The herd upon which our friends looked with so much interest numbered
+little more than a hundred, and they were ruminating along the side of
+the prairie instead of cropping the grass in the middle of the plain.
+Some of them seemed to be browsing among the trees and undergrowth, but
+the major part were scattered over the prairie to a distance of two
+hundred yards, while they were strung to a still greater extent parallel
+with the course of the prairie itself. From this you will see they were
+much dispersed, none of them being close to another, except he may have
+brushed against him now and then.
+
+The front of the drove was not less than two hundred feet away and
+others could be heard ruminating among the trees, where their huge bushy
+heads and big round eyes were often thrust into view. Some of them may
+have caught sight of the lads, but if so, they did not consider them
+worth attention, for they continued browsing and grazing, advancing step
+by step toward the spot where our young friends stood.
+
+"Frederick," said Terry, laying his hand on the arm of his companion,
+and speaking with the gravity of a judge, "whin ye swoop yer gaze on
+thim playthings out there, bear in mind that there's our breakfast, as
+me grandmither obsarved whin the dinner table upsit and ivery thing
+rolled down cellar."
+
+"Our opinion is unanimous on that point; I have already selected my
+victim, and if you will go away and start a fire, it will hurry matters
+along."
+
+"It ain't as bad as that," said Terry in some surprise, "I'm not so near
+dead that I'm goin' to die in ten minutes if I don't git somethin' to
+ate: I will stay and superintind the operations of shootin' one of them
+little pets out there."
+
+"It isn't the first buffalo I have killed--"
+
+"I'm not aware that ye have killed that yit," interrupted the Irish lad
+in his quizzical fashion.
+
+"You soon will be, but I have been out with father before to-day and
+shot buffaloes: have you?"
+
+"No; whin I goes out huntin' yer fither has't the proud distinction of
+bein' taken along. Lucky for the buffaloes I niver took a notion to go
+out and kill siveral thousand: for that raison we find the drove out
+there so innocent and confidin' that they don't know enough to be afeard
+of us."
+
+"Maybe they have no cause to be."
+
+"But they can't know that _I'm_ not goin' to shoot among them,--so why
+shouldn't they be scared out of their siven sinses? Howsumiver, ye have
+me permission to show the animals that ye are actin' under me own eye
+and orders and it will be an incouragement to yersilf to know the same."
+
+From what has been said, it will be understood that Fred Linden knew
+much more about buffaloes than did his companion. [The proper name is
+_bison_: the genuine buffalo is not found in America.] As he had said,
+this was not the first time he had hunted them, but with Terry Clark it
+was different. He had spent a good deal of his time in the woods and had
+gone in quest of wolves, bears and deer, but he had never brought down
+one of the lumbering animals for whose flesh he now yearned with a
+yearning that only the most ravening hunger can inspire.
+
+Terry had formed a deep plot during the short conversation. He did not
+know the best manner in which to shoot a buffalo and he was too proud to
+ask instruction. He encouraged the scheme, therefore, of Fred making the
+first shot. That would give him a chance to see how it was done, so
+that when he came to exhibit _his_ skill, he would make no mistake.
+
+Although up to this time the animals had not shown that they cared a
+straw for the two beings who stood so near and were looking at them with
+loaded guns in their hands, yet they were liable to become stampeded at
+any moment. A snort and jump by a single animal were likely to set the
+whole drove on a dead run, in which all hope of a breakfast on buffalo
+steaks would be gone for that morning at least.
+
+So, as a matter of prudence, Terry stayed where he was, but partly
+sheltered himself, so as not to startle any one of the animals that
+might come upon him suddenly. At the same time, Fred bent low and with
+loaded and cocked rifle began stealing toward the nearest buffalo.
+
+As it happened this was a cow in fine condition. She was plucking a
+ribbon of grass that followed the edge of prairie. By some chemistry of
+shadow and sunshine, there was this little strip of unusually tender
+herbage, which the cow was eating in her quick, vigorous way, as though
+afraid that some of her companions would find and take it from her.
+
+Fred singled out this one as his prize. Being so close to the wood, he
+could not have wanted a better chance to steal up to her. Indeed he had
+but to stand still, for she was coming a regular half step at a time as
+she clipped the grass in front of her; but the youth's hunger would not
+allow him to wait the few minutes that would have been required.
+
+When within fifty feet of the cow, Fred knelt on one knee and brought
+his rifle to a level. The cow was still advancing, "head on," when he
+made a noise similar to that which comes natural to you when you wish to
+drive the hens out of your garden-patch. The cow stopped abruptly, threw
+up her head and stared at the hunter. The sight of the crouching figure
+must have suggested to the stupid animal that every thing was not right,
+for with a frightened whiff, she bounded short around with the intention
+of joining the other animals.
+
+At the very moment she turned, Fred Linden fired, sending the bullet
+directly back of her fore leg, where it tore its way through flesh,
+muscles, bones and the heart, the battered bullet humming off through
+the air on the other side.
+
+No shot could have been more effective. The cow made a couple of wild
+leaps and then lunged forward, her nose striking the earth with such
+force that her head doubled under her and she swung over on her back and
+side with a violence that made it seem as if she had fallen down a high
+precipice.
+
+Following his old rule, Fred loaded his gun where he stood, before
+moving out to examine his prize. It was at this juncture that a stampede
+of the whole drove was due. Now that the boys had secured their
+breakfast they would not have cared had the animals thundered off out of
+sight.
+
+But the terror of the smitten creature was too brief to affect the rest,
+even though several were quite close to her at the time she gave the
+snort and rolled over on the ground. A cow grazing near did raise her
+head for a moment and look at her fallen friend as though she hardly
+understood it. She seemed to meditate plunging into the rest of the
+drove with head down and with tidings of the disaster, but she must
+have concluded that since the other cow was dead, it wasn't worth while
+to make any fuss over it; for she dropped her head and resumed her
+grazing as though she had no further interest in the matter.
+
+Even when Fred ran out, and, stooping down, began cutting a large slice
+from the shoulder of the victim, none of the others paid any attention
+to him. Close behind him came Terry, who was so desirous of examining
+the prize, that he postponed starting the fire.
+
+"Terry, how will that do for a shot?" asked Fred, with some pride, as he
+plied his knife.
+
+"Where did ye land the shot?"
+
+"Right there, behind the fore leg; you can see the hole where it
+entered."
+
+Terry turned his head to one side, closed an eye and surveyed it as
+though he was measuring the height of a wall: then he shook his head.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" asked the impatient Fred.
+
+"Ye are a sixteenth of an inch too far forward, be the token of which
+the ball wint through the upper part of the heart: whin ye kill a
+buffalo coow ye should always sind the ball through the lower instead of
+the upper part of the heart. Ye surprise me so much that I am graved
+with ye, me own Fred."
+
+The latter laughed.
+
+"I suppose it would have done as well had I sent the bullet through her
+brain; but that takes the finest kind of marksmanship."
+
+"Av course, which explains why ye didn't dare attimpt it: whin we have
+finished our dinner, supper and breakfast all in one, I'll step out on
+the perarie, strike an impressive attitude and drop the biggest bull in
+the drove, just to tach ye the gintaal way of doin' that same thing."
+
+"Well, I shall be glad to learn the best style of bringing down the
+creatures."
+
+By this time, Fred had severed a piece of meat from the shoulder of the
+buffalo. It weighed several pounds, but Terry broke in with the
+wondering inquiry:
+
+"What are ye goin' to do with _that_?"
+
+"That's for our dinner; what would you suppose?"
+
+"I thought that was the part of the coow that ye were goin' to be
+sinsible enough to lave behind while we built a fire around the rist and
+had enough of a maal to stay the pangs of hunger."
+
+Without waiting to hear the response of his companion, Terry ran among
+the trees and began gathering wood with which to start a blaze. Both
+boys were such experts at this that only a brief time was necessary.
+Fred laid the buffalo steak on the leaves and took part, striking the
+flame with his own flint and tinder. There was no water within reach and
+this was quite a deprivation, but the boys were hungry enough to wait
+for that. From his scant store of mixed salt and sugar, Fred drew forth
+enough to season the enormous slice and it was speedily half broiled.
+
+Two such hungry youngsters are not likely to be particular about their
+dinner being done to a turn, and they were eager to eat it when it was
+exceedingly rare. Leaving Terry to make known when it was ready for the
+palate, Fred walked to the edge of the prairie to take a survey.
+
+He could not forget that they had serious business before them, and,
+though he was warranted in believing that there was nothing to fear from
+the Winnebagos who had caused so much trouble, he was too wise to take
+any thing for granted.
+
+He saw the buffaloes cropping the grass with the same vigorous
+persistency which they will show for hours, while the prairie, extending
+far to the right and left, failed to show any other living creature upon
+it. So far as he could tell, there was no cause for fear.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+A STRANGE RIDE.
+
+
+When the boys had eaten their fill, there was a quantity of meat left.
+This was cooked still more over the coals, wrapped about with the
+greenest leaves that could be got, and then packed in the bundle which
+Terry Clark strapped to his back.
+
+"There's enough of the same," he explained, "to presarve us from pinin'
+away with starvation, which reminds me now that I promised ye that I'd
+show ye the properest way in which to bring down a buffalo."
+
+"I'm willing to wait until some other time," said Fred, who feared there
+would be dangerous delay; "I am more anxious to get forward than I am to
+see you make an exhibition of yourself."
+
+"It will not take me long," replied Terry, who was sure there could be
+no miss where the animals were so plentiful, while of course the delay
+ought to be slight.
+
+"If thim Winnebagos that we obsarved last night have started this way,
+they ain' t any more than fairly goin', which puts thim at the laast
+calculation a dozen good miles behind us; they won't walk any faster
+than we do, so we'll git to the camp a long ways ahead of 'em."
+
+"All this sounds reasonable, but you know we have learned that they are
+not the only Winnebagos in these parts; but then they are under the eye
+of Deerfoot and he would give us warning."
+
+"That sittles it, as I previously remarked some time ago, in token of
+which we will shake hands on the same."
+
+The Irish lad had made such an enjoyable meal that he was in the highest
+spirits. He extended his hand to his friend and shook it warmly, as he
+was inclined to do for slight cause.
+
+"Now stand still, obsarve, admire and remimber."
+
+And with this high flown counsel, Terry with his gun in position began
+moving toward an enormous bull. The latter really was not so close to
+him as was a cow, but he thought it beneath his dignity to spend his
+ammunition on such game as had served for their dinner.
+
+Although Terry Clark's natural love of humor often led him to assume
+what he failed to feel, he was hopeful in the present instance that he
+would be able to carry out the little scheme in mind. He knew that the
+weapon in his hand was a good one, and he was already so close to the
+buffalo that he was sure of bringing it down at the first fire.
+
+While he was willing to admit that Fred's shot could not have been
+improved, so far as effectiveness was concerned, yet he was in earnest
+in his intention of firing at the head. He knew that no animal is of any
+account after its brain has been perforated, and it seemed to him that
+it was more appropriate for a true sportsman to bring down his game by
+that means instead of firing at its body.
+
+Terry made a mistake from which his experience on the border ought to
+have saved him. Had he driven his bullet into the eye of the buffalo, he
+could have slain him, but he was almost certain to fail by firing
+simply at the head. It would have been far better had he followed the
+example that his companion set.
+
+The bull upon which he had cast his eyes was about twenty yards from the
+wood. He did not raise his head until this distance was diminished by
+one half. Just then a cow showed some alarm of the approaching figure
+and walked hastily away. This caused the bull to throw up his head and
+stare at Terry.
+
+"Obsarve!" called the latter to his friend, who began to feel uneasy
+over the appearance of things.
+
+A dozen spears of grass seemed to be dripping from the mouth of the
+magnificent bull, who glared at the figure of the young man in the act
+of leveling his gun as though he had some curiosity to know what was
+going on.
+
+Terry aimed at the head, making the part between and above the eyes his
+target. This was probably the most invulnerable spot of the animal.
+
+The bull was still staring at the intruder, when the latter, aiming at
+the point named, fired. The bullet struck the bony ridge at the upper
+part of the head and glanced off into space, inflicting no more real
+injury than a paper wad.
+
+But the impingement of the lead must have given the stupid brute an idea
+that harm was meant. His anger was roused, and, dropping his head with a
+savage bellow, he charged the young hunter at full speed.
+
+This was giving the matter an unpleasant turn, but there was no time to
+argue, and flinging his gun aside, Terry gave the finest exhibition of
+running he had ever shown. No one could have realized better than did he
+that the bull "meant business" and it would never do to allow himself to
+be caught.
+
+Fred Linden himself was so startled by the sudden onslaught of the
+animal that he was flurried and fired without taking proper aim. He
+struck him, but he was unable to check his charge: indeed he rather
+added to his fury. Stepping back, so as to shield himself as much as he
+could behind the nearest tree, he began reloading his weapon with the
+utmost haste.
+
+Meantime Terry, by desperate running, reached the tree at which he aimed
+a few steps in advance of his formidable foe. He had no time to climb
+the trunk, but believing the lowermost limb was within reach, he made a
+leap, seized it with both hands and swung himself out of reach, just as
+the bull thundered beneath like a runaway engine.
+
+Finding he had missed his victim, the savage beast snorted with rage,
+wheeled about, came back a few paces and was passing beneath the limb
+again, when a singular accident gave an astonishing turn to the whole
+business.
+
+The limb which afforded Terry Clark his temporary safety was unable to
+bear his weight, and, while he was struggling to raise himself to the
+upper side and it was bending low with him, it broke like a pipe stem
+close to the body of the tree.
+
+This took place so suddenly that the youth had not the slightest
+warning. Indeed it would not have availed him had he known what was
+coming, for the time was too brief in which to help himself.
+
+Down he came with the limb grasped in both hands and fell squarely on
+the back of the buffalo bull. Fortunately the bewildered animal had
+just shifted his position, so that the lad fell with his face turned
+toward the head instead of in "reverse order."
+
+Even in that exciting moment Terry saw the grotesqueness of the
+situation. His legs were stretched apart so as to span the animal just
+back of his enormous neck. Letting go of the branch that had played him
+the trick, he grasped the bushy mane with both hands and yelled in a
+voice that might have been heard a mile away:
+
+"_All aboard! off wid ye!_"
+
+So far as a bull is capable of feeling emotion, that particular specimen
+must have been in a peculiar frame of mind. He glared about him, here
+and there, turned part way round, as if the whole thing was more than he
+could understand, and then as his bulging eyes caught sight of the
+remarkable load on his back and he felt the weight of the burden, he was
+seized with a panic.
+
+He emitted a single whiffing snort, and flinging his tail high in air,
+made for the other side of the prairie as if Death himself was racing at
+his heels. His actions were of that pronounced character that his
+fright communicated itself to the rest of the herd. There was a general
+uplifting of heads, and then, as the bulls and cows saw their most
+eminent leader tearing across the prairie with a live boy astride of his
+back, the sight was too much for them. A wholesale series of snorts and
+bellows followed, tails were flirted aloft, and away the whole herd
+went, fairly making the ground tremble beneath their tread.
+
+By the time the alarmed Fred Linden had his rifle reloaded there was not
+a buffalo within a hundred yards of him. The one that bore his friend on
+his back was making as good time as the fleetest and was well toward the
+head of the drove. The panic began like an eddy of the sea; there was a
+surging of the animals toward the other side of the prairie and away
+they went, as I have said, with their tails and heels in the air, as if
+they meant to keep up their headlong flight for twenty miles, as is
+sometimes the case, when an immense drove become stampeded on the great
+plains of the west.
+
+Whatever feelings of amusement might have been first aroused by the
+figure that Terry cut on the back of the terrified bull were lost in the
+dreadful fear of Fred that it would prove a fatal ride for his friend.
+
+He could see him plainly for a fourth of a mile, but by that time the
+trampling hoofs raised a dust in the dry grass which partly obscured the
+herd and made it impossible to distinguish the figure of the lad
+clinging to the mane of his novel charger.
+
+"He will fall off," was the exclamation of Fred, "and will be trampled
+to death by the others."
+
+He recalled that the bull must have been wounded by his own shot, but
+that knowledge gave him concern instead of relief; for if the bull
+should give out, he would be trampled by those who were thundering so
+close at his heels.
+
+The buffaloes did not preserve the open order which marked them when
+they were grazing, but crowded together, so that their backs looked like
+brown dusty waves, rising and falling rapidly from the motions of their
+bodies.
+
+Fred quickly recovered from his astonishment. He had reloaded his gun,
+but when ready to fire, was afraid to do so. Too many other buffaloes
+interposed between him and the bull, and had he discharged his weapon,
+he would have been as likely to hit Terry as to wound the brute that was
+carrying him away with such speed.
+
+Running to where the rifle of the boy lay, Fred picked it up, hastily
+reloaded it, and started after the herd. He broke into a loping trot
+such as an Indian shows when hurriedly following a trail. He kept his
+eyes on the fast receding animals, his interest being now centered on
+the moment when they should reach the wood on the other side of the
+prairie.
+
+"It will be the death of him if they dash among the trees," he thought;
+"for he will be struck by some limb and have his brains dashed out."
+
+But such a catastrophe did not take place. The fleeing animals must have
+known that their headlong speed could not be kept up among the trees and
+undergrowth; so, when those at the head of the drove were close to the
+edge of the wood they swerved to the left, and the others followed with
+the same furious swiftness with which they had sped across the open.
+
+Fred Linden at this time was not a third of the way across the prairie,
+and he stopped and viewed the sight. He could distinguish the animals
+much better than when they were tearing straight away from him. They
+ran, so to speak, from under the cloud of dust that had obscured his
+vision, which, sweeping backward, left all in plain view.
+
+What he saw, too, showed that the buffaloes possessed varying rates of
+speed. A dozen were well to the front, still crowding close together,
+while the rest, also in close order, were strung along at different
+distances. Still, they were so far from Fred that his view was any thing
+but satisfactory. Shading his eyes with his hand, he peered through the
+autumn air in the search for his friend.
+
+"There he is!" he exclaimed, but the words were hardly out of his mouth
+when he saw he was mistaken. The distance was too great for him to see
+clearly.
+
+"How long will this keep up?" was the question which he would have been
+glad to answer, for it included the fate of Terence Clark. If his steed
+should grow weary and fall behind the others, possibly he would give his
+rider a chance to leap to the ground and make off; but the likelihood of
+that taking place was so remote that Fred could feel no hope.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+A YOUNG HUNTER'S STRATEGY.
+
+
+Fred Linden walked rapidly forward until he reached the middle of the
+prairie, when he paused and bent his eyes on the swiftly vanishing drove
+of buffaloes. They were speeding at right angles to the course he had
+been following, and, so far as he could judge at the distance, were on
+the same dead run with which they started.
+
+He was convinced that he was mistaken a brief while before, when, for a
+moment, he thought he caught a glimpse of Terry on the back of the
+terrified bull. He was unable to distinguish any thing that looked like
+him. He might--and it was not at all improbable--be still clinging to
+his steed, but he was too far off and too mixed up with the others for
+even the keen eyes of Fred Linden to identify him.
+
+There seemed but the one thing to do: that was to follow the drove
+until he learned the fate of his friend. Certain that he would find him
+sooner or later, Fred resorted again to his loping trot, which he could
+keep up for several hours without great fatigue.
+
+But he had not gone twenty steps at this gait, when, to his astonishment
+and alarm, he observed three Indian warriors, each mounted on a horse,
+issue from the wood at the point where the buffaloes would have entered
+it had they not turned to the left. The red men headed their animals
+directly toward Fred, and advanced at a moderate gallop.
+
+The sight was enough to make the bravest person thoughtful; for you will
+readily see the critical situation of the boy. It was useless to turn
+and run, for they would overhaul him before he could get half way to
+cover. He was in the middle of a grassy prairie, where there was not the
+slightest object which could be used as a screen in a fight with them.
+He glanced quickly about, but did not see a stone as large as his hand.
+Except so far as his weapons were concerned, he was absolutely
+helpless.
+
+Never did Fred Linden display more coolness and knowledge of Indian
+character than he did at this time when caught at such fearful
+disadvantage. He knew that if he showed any timidity, the red men would
+attack him at once, while, if he could deceive them, as he hoped, there
+was a possibility that he would escape.
+
+Two hundred yards away, the Indians drew their cantering horses down to
+a walk: they evidently saw there was no call for haste and they could
+afford to take all the time they wished. They were riding beside each
+other, instead of in Indian file, and being nigh enough to be observed
+distinctly, showed that they were dressed precisely like the Winnebagos
+whom he had noticed the night before around their camp-fire. This might
+have been, had they belonged to another totem, for there is a similarity
+in the dress of different tribes, but Fred had no doubt that these were
+Winnebagos. It began to look indeed as if there was an irruption of them
+into that section of the Louisiana Territory.
+
+During those trying moments, when Fred calmly watched the approach of
+the dusky horsemen, he was observant of the smallest things. He recalled
+that they were the same in number as the party which he and Terry so
+narrowly missed the night before on the edge of the stream and he half
+suspected they were the same, though such supposition did not correspond
+with the theories formed and accepted at the time.
+
+He saw the middle horse, which was darker in color than the others,
+slightly stumble; then the rider turned his head and said something to
+the warrior on his left, who made answer without taking his eyes from
+Fred; then the one on the right said something, his painted features
+relaxing into a frightful grin, the guttural words being plainly
+audible: all these points being noticed, as I have said, by the young
+hunter who had so much more important matters to engage his thoughts.
+
+He recalled with relief that on picking up the gun of Terry he had
+reloaded it, so that he now had two weapons ready for use. With these he
+could make a brave resistance, and you may depend upon it that the last
+thing he thought of doing was to surrender. He might easily be shot
+down where he stood, but he would die fighting.
+
+The three horsemen advanced with the same deliberate pace, their black
+eyes fixed upon Fred, who stood erect, looking straight at them. When
+they were within twenty yards, he quietly turned so as to face the other
+way, and waved his cap several times over his head. At the same moment
+he uttered a resounding whoop, replaced his cap, laid Terry's rifle at
+his feet and leveled his own at the amazed savages, who could not have
+suspected what was coming.
+
+You understand that the purpose of Fred was to make the Winnebagos
+believe that he had friends on the edge of the wood behind him to whom
+he had signaled. The act of laying down his gun was to give the
+impression that he was so sure of support that he was ready to fight
+until it should appear.
+
+Now, the red men might have been deceived by this to as full an extent
+as the youth desired, but the fact remained that, even if there were
+re-enforcements on the margin of the prairie, they were so far off that
+they could give no help if the Indians chose to assail the boy. I am
+inclined to think that had the Winnebagos believed that a dozen white
+hunters were encamped there, they would not have been restrained from
+carrying out their design by such fact: but when the cool defiance of
+the youth was added to the same, there was enough to make them pause.
+
+They might shoot him down, wheel and dash for the woods from which they
+had emerged but a short time before; but they would be liable to
+pursuit, and, when a white borderer takes to the trail, he can be as
+persistent as the red man himself, though, as I have said, had they been
+eager to shoot the boy, they would not have been stopped by that
+knowledge. But they saw that he had his loaded rifle leveled at them:
+each Winnebago probably imagined he would be the special target. Their
+guns were still in their hands and no doubt the moment any one attempted
+to raise his weapon the white boy would fire.
+
+The distance was so short that there could be no miss. It followed
+therefore that the cost of an assault upon the lad would be the death
+of one of the Winnebagos, and none of the three could know that he would
+not be the victim.
+
+The cost was more than they were willing to pay, for it must be borne in
+mind that not only was the death of one of their number considered
+assured, but it was not at all unlikely that such a daring youngster
+would be able to do something with the gun at his feet before
+succumbing.
+
+But it is not to be supposed that three mounted Indians would
+deliberately ride away from a single youth through fear alone,--that is,
+not until they had tried to circumvent him by strategy. And so it came
+to pass that within the same minute that Fred raised his rifle, the
+Winnebago who sat in the middle waved his hand toward him as a sign of
+comity. At the same time he called out: "Yenghese! Long Knife!
+Friend--friend--friend!"
+
+But Fred knew too much to be deceived. He was the master of more
+vigorous English, and, without lowering his gun, he called out:
+
+"Keep off or I'll fire! If you ride another step, I'll let daylight
+through you!"
+
+As if to add emphasis to his words, he gently swayed his rifle from
+right to left, so that it covered each warrior in turn. There was an
+involuntary ducking of the heads, and the Indians, seeing that nothing
+was to be done without large risk, opened out--two riding to the right
+and one to the left. Thus they passed by Fred without lessening the
+space between him and them.
+
+After all, this was the most trying moment to the youth, for it diverted
+his attention in the most exasperating manner. The three horsemen were
+in his field of vision, but it was hard to keep watch upon each. He
+suspected the maneuver was for the purpose of taking him off his guard,
+but it is doubtful whether such was the case, for there was something in
+the grim pose of the youthful hunter which warned them that it was
+unsafe to trifle with him.
+
+When the horsemen were opposite each other and on a line with Fred, he
+suddenly wheeled with great quickness and held his piece still leveled
+so that he could shift it from one to the other the moment needed. On
+their part, the Winnebagos watched him with cat-like vigilance, keeping
+their heads turned until they came together a hundred feet beyond, and
+between him and the wood which he had just left. There they stopped,
+their position such that the sides of their animals were turned toward
+the lad, whom they continued to view with an interest that it is safe to
+say they had never felt in any other of his race.
+
+It was tiresome to hold his heavy rifle leveled, but Fred stuck to it,
+for he knew how much depended on the next minute or two.
+
+It looked for a time as though the Winnebagos had decided not to leave
+without a demonstration, but finally they moved off with their backs
+toward Fred, and their horses on a walk.
+
+"How nicely I could pick one of them off," said he to himself, as the
+broad shoulders, with the black hair streaming over them, moved gently
+up and down with the motion of the animals, and ranged themselves beside
+each other like three dusky targets. "I could hit _him_ or _him_ or
+_him_" he added, shifting his aim from one to the other in turn, "and
+it's because they know it that they are afraid to risk a shot. If one
+of them had made a motion to take aim, I would have let fly, and I
+wouldn't have missed either. Then I would have done something with
+Terry's gun."
+
+These thoughts had hardly found expression, when the middle Winnebago
+suddenly turned on his horse, raised his gun and discharged it at Fred
+Linden. The instant he did so, he and his two companions threw
+themselves forward on their animals and dashed off on a dead run for the
+wood.
+
+Had the warrior been less hurried, it is probable he would have struck
+the astonished youth, who plainly heard the _pinge_ of the bullet as it
+almost touched his ear. His own arms were beginning to ache because of
+their constrained position, but he took as careful aim as possible and
+fired at the savage who fired at him.
+
+More than that, he hit him. A screeching yawp broke the stillness, the
+warrior half straightened up on his steed, seemed to sway, and would
+have fallen had not one of his companions caught his shoulder and
+supported him for a minute or two. The horses were brought down to a
+walk, and finally came to a standstill, though they halted at a point
+beyond rifle shot.
+
+"I hope I finished him," muttered Fred Linden, with a snap of his eyes;
+"they are seeking my life, and, if I could have my way, I would tumble
+every one of them off his horse."
+
+Never was the value of two rifles shown more strikingly than at this
+time. The moment his gun was discharged--had he possessed no other--Fred
+would have been helpless, and the Winnebagos would have been upon him
+before he could reload his piece; for that was in the days of
+flint-locks, when the charge had to be rammed down and the powder poured
+into the pan before the weapon was ready for use. It may be said,
+however, that under such circumstances he would not have fired.
+
+But before the horsemen could wheel about, they would have found the
+youth standing at "present arms" precisely as before, and the situation
+unchanged, except that one of their own number had been disabled, and to
+that extent (which was considerable) the gain was on the side of the
+lad.
+
+There could be little doubt that the stricken Winnebago was hit hard,
+though after some attention from his companions, he was able to sit his
+horse. The three warriors seemed to have lost all interest in Fred, for
+a few minutes later they rode off at a walk, without, so far as he could
+judge, once bestowing a look upon him.
+
+It struck him as singular that after his stratagem, by which he believed
+he gave the impression that he had a party of friends on the margin of
+the wood, that the Winnebagos should guide their horses to the very
+point. After all, it began to look as though he was not so successful in
+that respect as he imagined, and that it was his own courageous demeanor
+that for the time had saved his life.
+
+"I am glad they have ridden off in that direction," said the youth to
+himself, as he saw them carefully enter the wood, where they were lost
+from sight; "for if they had ridden the other way they would have
+bothered me in my hunt for Terry."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+TERRY FINISHES HIS RIDE.
+
+
+That ride of Terry Clark on the back of the buffalo bull was one which
+he could never forget had he wished to do so, which of course he did
+not. The first thrill, when the beast dashed off on a dead run, and the
+wind began blowing by the ears of the lad, was that of pleasure. He was
+having an exciting ride, and, as good fortune would have it, the animal
+was bearing him straight along the trail toward the camp in the Ozarks.
+
+"If the baste will show enough consideration for me," thought the lad,
+"to kape up his coorse for twinty miles or so, he will give me a good
+lift toward raichin' the folks, though sorry I am that I haven't Fred
+alongside or rather behind me."
+
+The bull being on a run, his progress consisted of a series of quick
+jumps, which jarred the rider so much that had he not kept a good grip
+upon the shaggy mane, he would have been unseated. The hair of the
+animal was so long that he was able to make his hold secure, though he
+had a constant fear that he would stumble, in which case the rider was
+sure to take a tremendous header that was likely to break his neck.
+
+Terry could feel the throb, as it may be called, of the engine. His
+position was such that his heels touched the body close to the shoulders
+of the bull. At that point there was an alternate swelling and sinking
+of the muscles, as the animal alighted on his feet and leaped away
+again, which Terry felt as plainly as if he had held his open hand on
+the shoulder. Then, too, the bull had a peculiar sidelong motion, as
+though some of his muscles occasionally got out of "gear," and the
+action of the hind legs did not "dovetail," so to speak, with that of
+the fore legs.
+
+Nothing escaped the eye of Terry during those exciting minutes. He
+thought the head of the bull was held unusually low, but he noticed the
+short, thick horns, curving outward and then coming over until they
+ended within a few inches of each other, and he was sure that amid the
+dusty frontispiece of the immense area of skull bone he could see where
+his useless bullet had struck and glanced off; once or twice he caught a
+whiff of the breath of the buffalo, redolent with the not unpleasant
+odor of grass, and now and then he could hear his fierce snort. It
+seemed to Terry that the animal turned his head partly to one side as if
+to get a view of the strange creature on his back. Doubtless such was
+the fact, and, after each sight, it seemed that he bounded away with
+more terror than before.
+
+Brief as was the time taken by the bull in galloping across the prairie,
+it allowed Terry to see every thing. As soon as he felt sure of
+retaining his seat, he glanced at the other animals, all of which were
+galloping in the same direction as the bull. Some of them were so fleet
+that they passed him, but he retained his place near the middle of the
+herd.
+
+The buffalo, or properly the bison, is a stupid animal, but a peculiar
+fact about the small drove amid which Terry Clark was riding was that a
+number noticed him and in their way tried to push him off. They would
+dash up beside the bull with head lowered, and rub their horns against
+him in the effort to reach the rider and unseat him.
+
+"The only way in which ye can do that," said Terry, when he saw what
+they were trying to do, "is to climb up and take a saat behind me. Thin,
+if ye'll lock yer arms about me nick ye may persuade me to stip down,
+but ye can't do much while on the ground."
+
+The buffaloes were too dull of intellect to realize their helplessness
+in this respect, and they continued crowding close to the bull until
+they must have caused him some discomfort. This crowding was of such a
+marked character that, as you will remember, it was noticed by Fred
+Linden as far off as he stood.
+
+Once or twice the rider had one of his feet slightly jammed, but he was
+able to lift it out of danger without imperiling his position. The dust
+caused by the hoofs of the animals did not rise until his steed had
+passed beyond, so that he suffered nothing therefrom and every thing in
+front was in plain view. The speed of the beast, however, caused some
+inconvenience, for the wind made him blink, and it was only by half
+closing his eyes that he could peer out between the lids and see
+clearly.
+
+Before the other side of the prairie was reached, Terry Clark began
+asking himself the natural and important question,--How is this to end?
+
+The same theories that I have mentioned as occurring to Fred Linden
+passed through his brain also. If the bull should dash among the trees
+at that headlong pace, the rider could not retain his place for more
+than a minute or two; if he was wounded enough to cause him to give out
+and fall to the ground, he would be trampled upon by those behind and
+Terry of course would share his fate.
+
+Brief as was the time given for thought, the youth considered a half
+dozen plans. He glanced over his shoulder and was alarmed to see how
+many animals were in the rear of him. He asked himself whether he could
+not slip backward, grasp the swinging tail, and dropping to the ground,
+keep his feet while he held fast to the caudal appendage, and pulling
+the other way, act as a brake upon the progress of the animal until all
+the others had passed on. Then he would "release brakes," and allow the
+bull to continue his career as suited himself.
+
+But he was compelled to admit that the plan was not feasible. The bull
+was going at such a pace that the rider would be sure to lose his
+balance the moment he struck the ground, and, though he might still hold
+fast to the tail and retard the progress of the beast, he was sure of
+getting in the way of his heels.
+
+"If his tail was a little longer," reflected Terry, "I would try the
+same, but I'm afeard I would git mixed up with his hind hoofs and things
+wouldn't be agraaable."
+
+So that plan was abandoned.
+
+"If he goes in among the trees, I'll lean forward on me face until he
+knocks out his brains--that is, if he has any--whin I'll dismount."
+
+That was all well enough if the bull should happen to follow the
+programme, but the prospect of his doing so was too remote to afford
+much comfort to the youth.
+
+"I guess I'll kaap erict like a gintleman," he concluded, "and as soon
+as a chance comes for me to jump off, I'll go."
+
+Terry had no thought but that the buffaloes would dash among the trees
+and continue their flight in the same headlong fashion, as long as they
+could; but, to his amazement, the head of the drove suddenly swerved to
+the left and the bull followed.
+
+"Be the powers, but this will never do," was his conclusion; "this
+perarie may raach all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and the bull
+doesn't act as if he meant to stop before he raaches there; I'm goin' to
+make other arrangements."
+
+He kept his seat until the drove had gone several hundred yards with
+unabated speed. So far as he could judge, the bull was holding his own
+with the rest: whatever wound he had received was of no account, so far
+as its immediate effect was seen. The others continued crowding up as
+before, but Terry did not mind them. He yelled and shook his head in the
+hope of frightening them off so as to give him the room he wished in
+order to make his venture, but they did not mind him. The odd crackling
+of their hoofs, the rattling of their horns as they struck together, and
+their occasional bellowing, made a din amid which no shout that he could
+raise would gain any consideration whatever.
+
+"There's one thing sartin," said Terry, compressing his lips and showing
+by his action that he had made up his mind to end the business one way
+or the other. "I'm tired of this crowd, and I ain't goin' to spind any
+more time with it."
+
+Between him and the wood were seven or eight buffaloes, crowding close
+in their idiotic fashion, as though to push off the rider. Terry
+recalled the day, early in spring, when he ran rapidly across the creek
+near his home, by stepping upon the surging masses of ice, one after the
+other, and leaping off again before they had time to respond to his
+weight. He resolved to try something of the kind.
+
+Holding fast to the wiry mane with his hands, he drew his feet up under
+him, balanced himself a moment, then straightened up, and, turning
+quickly, stepped upon the back of the bull that was immediately
+alongside. Before that creature could know what had been done, the
+pressure was removed and the weight of the lad was borne by a cow which
+was his next neighbor.
+
+Terry Clark ran as nimbly as a monkey across the backs of the
+intervening buffaloes, until his foot rested on the one nearest the
+wood. A slight slip at the moment of stepping upon his back disconcerted
+him so that he could not recover himself. His intention was to land on
+the ground with his face in the same direction he was going. Then, even
+if he could not keep his feet, he could run with such speed that his
+fall would not hurt him; but unfortunately as he struck the ground he
+faced the other way, and before he could check himself, he went over
+backward with such force that he was knocked senseless.
+
+After all, the fall may be considered a fortunate one, for he was not
+seriously hurt and soon recovered himself. He had received a severe
+shock, but in a short time he sat up and stared about him. Recalling
+what had taken place, he looked in the direction of the herd of
+buffaloes. None of them was in sight, but a dark heap a short distance
+away showed where the bull on which he had ridden had given out and
+fallen to the ground. He was wounded more seriously than at first seemed
+to be the case. Had Terry stayed on his back a few brief minutes longer,
+he would have gone down with him and been trampled to death by the hoofs
+of those in the rear.
+
+"I think I'm all here, as me cousin used to remark after he had enj'yed
+himself at Donnybrook Fair," said Terry, rising carefully to his feet,
+swinging his arms and kicking out his legs. He had been violently
+jarred, and he was alarmed by a dizziness that caused him to sit down
+again. But he recovered quickly, and soon was as well as ever. He turned
+to the left and passed among the trees, where, despite the coolness of
+the day, he felt the relief of the shade thus afforded him.
+
+"I s'pose Fred will be jealous whin he finds out what a foine ride I
+have had," he added, his old sense of humor coming back; "but all he has
+to do is to catch a buffalo bull and git on his back: but I don't think
+he'll forgit the same right away."
+
+Looking over the prairie, he saw the figure of his friend walking in
+almost a direct line toward him, though he was so far off that he was
+not distinctly visible, partly because of the dust which still lingered
+in the air.
+
+Fred's encounter with the Winnebago horsemen had taken place and ended
+while Terry lay senseless on the ground, so that the latter had no
+suspicion of the exciting occurrence.
+
+Terry ought to have walked out on the plain, swung his hat and cheered
+his friend; but that would have been contrary to his nature. He kept out
+of sight among the trees, until Fred was quite close, when he broke into
+vigorous whistling.
+
+Fred heard the familiar sound, stopped short, looked about him and then
+burst into laughter as he saw his comrade. The next moment they ran
+together, shook hands and mutually congratulated each other, as you will
+admit they had full warrant in doing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+THE DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL.
+
+
+It was a thrilling story which Terry Clark had to tell about his ride on
+the back of the buffalo, but, after all, it was not so stirring as the
+experience which befell Fred Linden, and the Irish lad declared that it
+surpassed his own in every respect.
+
+"Thim Winnebagos are gittin' altogether too plintiful," said he; "whin
+they come on horseback as will as on foot, there must be more than we
+can take care of, though you managed the three as well as I could have
+done the same mesilf. And so ye hit one of 'em whin ye touched off yer
+gun, did ye?"
+
+"There is no doubt of it, though I am sorry to say that it did not end
+his career right away."
+
+"It'll sarve him the good turn of givin' him time to think what a maan
+spalpeen he is any way, and that's a good deal. And so ye say they was
+mounted on horseback: what has become of thim?"
+
+"They rode in among the trees over yonder, near where we kindled the
+fire and cooked the buffalo steak."
+
+Terry walked out to the edge of the prairie, and shading his eyes,
+peered in that direction.
+
+"I can see nuthin' of thim; they must have found out that ye hadn't any
+frinds there after all the fuss ye made, and it may be they will come
+back to sittle with ye."
+
+"If I alone could attend to them, do you think we together have any
+thing to fear?"
+
+"Of course not, if it's only thim three, but we have seen so many of the
+spalpeens that they won't be loikely to foind much trouble in scarin' up
+a few hundred more and makin' it uncomfortable for us."
+
+"Well," replied Fred, with a sigh, "I am so relieved and thankful to
+know how well we got through it all, that I am hopeful we shall have no
+great trouble during the rest of the way. We ought to be able to reach
+the camp by to-morrow night if we don't have any interruption."
+
+The young friends surely had good reason to feel grateful for their
+deliverance from the perils of the morning, and with hopeful hearts they
+walked along the margin of the wood until they came to the point where
+the trail turned to the left. Over this they started at a brisk pace,
+Fred slightly in advance of his companion, for the path was not broad
+enough for them to walk any other way with freedom.
+
+"Terry," said the elder, "do you think it possible that the three
+Winnebagos with whom I had the trouble could be the three that we met
+last night, when we were about to cross the stream?"
+
+"Niver," was the emphatic reply; "how could they have got around so far
+in front? It was a good many miles the ither way that we saw the same!"
+
+"I have thought of that, but, you know, we spent several hours in sleep,
+during which they might have turned back."
+
+"But where could they have got their horses?"
+
+"They may have had them within easy reach?"
+
+"It couldn't be."
+
+"I guess you are right; we hadn't a very good view of them last night,
+though the moon shone on them when they were wading the stream and I had
+a fancy that one of them looked like the fellow I hit when I fired."
+
+"All a fancy," insisted Terry.
+
+"Well, there's no use of guessing, for any way it must be only a guess;
+but where do you suppose Deerfoot is?"
+
+"I've been thinkin' of the fellow and it saams to me that it's time he
+showed up."
+
+"I wonder whether he could have passed us in the night."
+
+"That couldn't be, for he meant to stay near the camp-fire where we lift
+him till he found out what the spalpeens were goin' to do, and he
+couldn't have got that chance till mornin'."
+
+"Unless they made a start last night."
+
+"Which the same they didn't do."
+
+The boys were more in want of water than food, and fortunately they had
+not gone far when they struck another stream, narrow enough for them to
+leap across, and which afforded them a draught with which to quench
+their thirst.
+
+"Now," said Fred, "since we have had such a good breakfast, we will
+think of nothing more to eat until night."
+
+"I don't know about not _thinkin'_ of the same," said Terry doubtfully,
+"but I am with ye in agraain' that we won't go out of the path to hunt
+any of the same onless--that is, onless we should think what I've
+brought along isn't aqual to our appetites."
+
+"We must have passed considerably more than half the distance between
+home and the camp in the mountains," added the elder, some minutes
+later; "so, if all goes well, we ought to be with our friends some time
+to-morrow afternoon."
+
+"I'm of the opinion," remarked the sagacious Terry, "that Deerfut sint
+us on ahead last night so as to git us out uv the way; thim pritty legs
+of his can travel so fast that he wanted a chance to stritch the same
+without waitin' fur us."
+
+"More than likely you are right; whenever he thinks it necessary, he
+will branch out ahead of the Winnebagos and overhaul us; so even though
+we see nothing of him, we ought not to feel much concern."
+
+"How about the wither, me lad?"
+
+Fred had noticed since resuming their journey, that the sky, which was
+clear and sunshiny in the morning, had become overcast. The sun was no
+longer visible, and a chilliness in the air warned them that the fine
+weather could not last much longer. They had not only been favored in
+this respect, but for several days before leaving home equally charming
+skies had spanned them. And so, in accordance with the laws of our
+changeable climate, a disagreeable turn was to be expected.
+
+"I was hopeful that it would keep off until we reached camp," said Fred,
+looking up through the tree tops at the darkening sky; "but that is too
+much, and we must take it as it comes."
+
+"Push on as fast as ye choose."
+
+Taking his friend at his word, Fred broke into a slow, easy trot, not
+much more rapid than an ordinary walking gait, but one which they could
+keep up a long time, where the ground was not too rough. Terry of course
+did the same, and they covered fully two miles in that manner, when they
+slackened their pace before an extensive rise of the ground. But for
+that, they would have gone much further at the same speed.
+
+Some fifteen minutes were spent in clambering up the stony incline, when
+they descended into a broad valley, the path still rough and difficult
+of passage. They recognized a dull but increasing roar as made by a
+rapid torrent, and ere long stopped on the edge of a stream fifty feet
+wide, which dashed and foamed over the rocks, breaking into eddies, and
+agitated pools, falling in foamy cataracts and splashing forward again
+with a rollicking freedom that formed one of the prettiest and most
+romantic sights on which they had ever looked.
+
+Directly at their feet was a curious formation. By some means at a
+remote day, a number of hard stones had been flung downward and given a
+spinning motion, which, acting on the softer sandstone beneath, had
+begun hollowing it out, as if by the chisel of an engraver. This
+strange operation had gone on for years, until a bowl a dozen feet
+across and half as deep had been formed. It was almost mathematically
+round, very smooth and with a tapering shape to the bottom that made the
+resemblance to an enormous punch bowl strikingly accurate.
+
+This formation (which in accordance with the taste prevailing in all
+parts of our country, should be christened the "Devil's Punch Bowl"),
+was full of limpid water, fed by a slight overflow from above and
+overrunning and flowing calmly over the lower rim. In the bottom lay
+three stones, looking like cannon balls. These were the tools with which
+the stream had carved the Devil's Punch Bowl. Having done their work,
+they were resting in the bottom, where they had lain for a period that
+could not be guessed.
+
+Out beyond, a thin sheet of the water hung like a transparent curtain
+over the edge of the rocks. It was so smooth and unruffled that it
+seemed stationary, like a film of glass, but, after striking the stones
+below, it broke into foam, whirlpools and eddies, which helped to form
+as lovely and picturesque a scene as the most devoted lover of nature
+could long to see.
+
+The picture was so pretty indeed that the boys stood for several minutes
+lost in admiration. They had never viewed any thing of the kind, and it
+was something that would always be a pleasant memory to them.
+
+But, great as was their admiration, there was a startling question that
+came to them: how was this interesting stream to be crossed?
+
+In front and up and down the bank, the eyes searched in vain for a ford.
+It was idle to think of ferrying themselves over, while the cascades,
+pools, eddies and general "upsetting" of a broad deep stream, made its
+passage as perilous as that of the rapids nearer home in which the two
+had come so near losing their lives.
+
+"There is no possible way by which we can reach the other side," said
+Fred, after they had walked a few rods up and down the stream.
+
+"I don't obsarve any way mesilf," was the response of Terry.
+
+"But there _must_ be, for how could father and the rest have crossed?"
+
+"They may have put up a bridge."
+
+"But where is the bridge? There are no signs of any thing of the kind,"
+said the bewildered Fred; "they couldn't have made a bridge without
+leaving it behind."
+
+"The high water has swipt it away."
+
+Fred stood surveying the stream and the banks, for several minutes,
+during which he once more walked back and forth, but he was right when
+he said that the place had never been spanned by even the simplest
+structure, for it could not have been done without leaving some traces
+behind.
+
+This being the case, the mystery was greater than ever; for it was
+certain that at that hour their friends were many miles distant on the
+other side.
+
+"This is a little ahead of any thing I ever heard tell of," remarked
+Fred, taking off his cap and scratching his head, after the fashion of
+Terry when he was puzzled.
+
+"It couldn't be," ventured the latter, who also had his cap in his hand
+and was stirring up his flaxen locks, "that they carried a bridge along
+with 'em."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"That's what I thought, as me sicond cousin remarked whin they told him
+his uncle carried his shillaleh a half mile and passed two persons
+without beltin' 'em over the head."
+
+"There's something about this which I can not understand."
+
+Terry turned and looked at him in his quizzical way and solemnly
+extended his hand. Fred shook it as he wished, though he was far from
+feeling in a sportive mood.
+
+"They _must_ have crossed," he added, replacing his cap with some
+violence, compressing his lips and shaking his head in a determined way;
+"do you walk up the bank, while I make a search in the other direction;
+we _must_ find the explanation."
+
+The proposition was acted upon, Terry clambering carefully along the
+slippery bank and over the rocks, until he was fully a hundred yards
+from his friend, who busied himself in doing the same thing in the
+opposite direction.
+
+All at once the Irish lad shouted. Looking up to him, Fred saw that he
+was beckoning him to approach.
+
+"I knew there must be something of the kind," thought Fred, who after
+much labor placed himself beside his friend.
+
+To his disappointment, Terry had paused before the worst part of the
+series of cascades. It was at the broadest portion of the stream, where
+the falls, whirlpools, eddies and deep water would have turned back the
+most skillful swimmer.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked the astonished Fred.
+
+"I thought I'd show you the place where they _didn't_ cross," was his
+reply, and then he broke into the merriest laughter, as well he might,
+for he had solved the mystery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+THE TERROR IN THE AIR.
+
+
+"Do obsarve where the trail comes down to that big bowl?" asked Terry,
+pointing to the huge, circular cavity below them.
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Well, that's a mistake; _that isn't the right trail_."
+
+Fred turned about, and jumped and ran back to the Devil's Punch Bowl, at
+a rate that threatened his neck. Stooping over, he carefully examined
+the path. He saw that his companion was right; the trail which they had
+followed to the edge of the stream was one that had been worn by animals
+in coming to and going from the Punch Bowl. You will admit that no
+better punch in the wide world could be furnished the dumb beasts than
+that which was thus freely given to them.
+
+As if to confirm that which did not need confirming, a large buck at
+that moment appeared in the path, within a hundred feet of where Fred
+had straightened up, after examining the trail. He threw up his head on
+catching sight of the young hunter, gave one quick, inquiring stare and
+then whirled about and was off like a flash.
+
+Fred Linden could have brought him down at the moment he wheeled had he
+chosen to do so, but he recalled his own proposition to Terry some time
+before, about firing such a shot. Indeed, since they had some of the
+cooked buffalo steak left, there was no call to use any more ammunition
+for game.
+
+Terry Clark came laughing down the rocks, looking upon the whole
+business as one of the funniest of incidents, but to Fred it was any
+thing but a laughing matter. Time was becoming of the utmost value, and
+this divergence from the trail meant delay--a delay, too, whose length
+could not be guessed. If they had turned aside several miles back, it
+was more than likely that they would lose all the advantage gained by
+the laborious travel of the night before.
+
+"How could we have made such a blunder?" asked Fred, his eyes wandering
+back over the path, as though searching for an explanation of the
+mistake; "I suppose at the point where the trails cross the direction
+isn't changed much and this is more distinct than the other. Terry, I
+can't see any thing about this to laugh at."
+
+"I don't obsarve much of the same mesilf," said the other, whose face
+nevertheless was on abroad grin; "I wasn't laughing at yersilf, or the
+mistake we made."
+
+"What was it then that amused you so much?"
+
+"I was thinkin' how funny it looked to see the deer and bears and
+buffaloes and foxes and panthers all standing round that big bowl and
+winkin' at each ither while they drank their health."
+
+"Terry, there's going to be trouble because of this blunder."
+
+"What do ye signify be the same?"
+
+"I believe that all the advantage we gained by traveling so hard last
+night is lost. When we follow this trail back until it reaches the main
+one, more than likely we shall meet the Winnebagos at that point, if
+they will not actually be between us and the camp in the Ozarks."
+
+"I'm afeard it's not all a falsehood that ye are telling me," said
+Terry, with an expression in which there was nothing like a jest.
+
+"Let's be off then."
+
+At this juncture the Irish lad made a proposition which his companion
+accepted, for he thought it promised them much saving in time and
+travel.
+
+It was quite certain that the false trail followed pretty much the same
+direction as the true one: at any rate there could be no doubt that it
+crossed the stream which had stopped them, so instead of picking their
+way back for several miles, they decided to keep along the edge of the
+water itself until they struck the path.
+
+To make sure of avoiding another blunder, one should have gone up and
+the other down stream, for manifestly they could not be certain they
+were above or below the true path; but each felt too strong a misgiving
+about such a course. Their surroundings required mutual support.
+
+Beside this, they were convinced that the trail which they wished to
+recover lay above instead of below, so that, when making their way they
+were not held back by any doubt, though each could not fail to see that
+it was only a piece of guess-work.
+
+Fortunately for their peace of mind, they were right, and the plan saved
+them much time and travel. They had not gone very far, when they came
+upon the path, marked so distinctly that there could be no possible
+mistake.
+
+The width of the stream was about the same as below. The water was
+smooth, deep, clear and sluggish. The bank sloped gently down from each
+side and on the other shore were plainly seen the prints of the hoofs
+where the animals had left the water. It was so deep that whoever went
+over there had done so by floating or swimming.
+
+The crossing was so far above the point where the cascades began, that
+nothing was to be feared from them. The clumsiest raft could be ferried
+over by a child before it would drift into danger, while in case of
+swimming, the peril was still less.
+
+"If it wasn't so chilly," said Fred, "I would propose that we swim the
+stream."
+
+Terry shivered and shook his head.
+
+"We must go over on a raft; it is not only cowld, but is gittin'
+cowlder."
+
+"There's a storm brewing; it looks as black as ink off yonder."
+
+At this moment the boys made a discovery which both pleased and alarmed
+them. Such a float as they needed was at their call. There lay a half
+dozen logs and trees fastened together by several withes, and with
+enough buoyancy to bear them to the other side. Even the pole to be used
+in propulsion lay upon the heavy timbers that were pulled just far
+enough against the bank to prevent them floating off with the current.
+
+While it was pleasant to know that they would not have to go through the
+labor of constructing any thing of the kind, yet there was a cause for
+fear in the presence of the structure which led them to hesitate several
+minutes before using it.
+
+It proved that some one had crossed from the other side upon it, while
+the withes were so white and fresh at the angles, where they were
+twisted open, as to show that the raft had been made but a short time.
+
+The natural question was as to who could have been coming from the other
+way.
+
+"I know," said Terry, compressing his lips and shaking his head.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Winnebagos; they're so plintiful that it couldn't have been any one
+ilse, for they wouldn't have had a chance."
+
+"I suppose you are right," remarked Fred thoughtfully, "for they do seem
+to be almost everywhere, though I can't understand why they should be
+coming this way."
+
+"Suppose there was but one of the spalpeens, and he'd been out on a
+scout, and was on his way back to the rist of the spalpeens with the
+news, would it be onraisonable to think he would take a little pains to
+kaap his leggins and moccasins from gittin' damp enough to give him
+cowld?"
+
+"Well, I can think of no better reason than that, and am willing to
+believe it is correct, but don't you see, Terry, that all this goes to
+prove that we have lost a dangerous amount of time? We ought to have
+been many miles further on the road than we are."
+
+"The buffalo bull had a good deal to do with our impolite tarryin', and
+as he is slaapin' with his four mithers, I maan his forefathers, let him
+rist in pace."
+
+The boys did not allow their words to delay their hands. The raft was
+shoved clear, and the two took their positions upon it, Fred holding the
+pole, while his companion looked after the guns. They were astonished to
+find, directly after leaving land, that the pole, which was nearly
+twenty feet in length, would not reach bottom.
+
+This compelled them to use it as a paddle. The progress was slow, but
+the distance was so slight that it did not take them long to reach the
+other bank, where they set the structure adrift, so that it could not be
+used by any one else.
+
+Looking directly up stream, where the sky was in plain sight, its
+blackness startled even the boys, who were used to seeing the most
+violent changes of temperature. The hue was not of the dark blue which
+often gives warning of the coming tempest, but there was a greenish
+tinge to the blackness that would have awed any one.
+
+While they looked, a zigzag ribbon of flame fluttered across the
+darkened portion, accompanied by a crash that seemed to shiver the
+earth. Fred Linden, who happened to be staring straight at the fiery
+burst, saw the upper part of a large cypress that leaned over the water,
+leap from the trunk as though it had been sawn short off and flung into
+the water.
+
+It was all ablaze, and, falling upright into the current, kept its
+equilibrium, that is, it did not fall to any side, but swept slowly
+downward as upright as when on the tree, and suggested that some giant
+as big as the Statue of Liberty was walking beneath, with an enormous
+torch held above his head to light his path.
+
+"Did ye iver see the like?" asked Terry.
+
+"No; it is wonderful."
+
+[Illustration: "Did ye iver see the like?" asked Terry.]
+
+Although it was about mid-day, the heavens were so overcast that the
+gloom was like night itself. At the same time the darkness had a ghastly
+tinge which made the faces of the boys, when they looked at each other,
+livid and unearthly.
+
+The scene was so impressive that they stood motionless, watching the
+flaming tree and the inky heavens beyond. Suddenly in the sky they saw a
+figure that resembled a vast balloon slightly inclined to one side, and
+spinning on its axis with inconceivable swiftness.
+
+At the bottom the snout-like appendage wavered off to one side as though
+the amazing velocity of the upper part was twisting it loose. A similar
+formation appeared a few minutes after a short distance behind.
+
+And now began the most extraordinary exhibition of all. Imagine two
+whirling balloons, a hundred feet in height, and so black that they
+stood out from the surrounding gloom, showing like pitch against the
+dimly lit sky behind. They began a witches' waltz in the firmament,
+sometimes leaning far backward, then dancing forward, as if saluting
+each other, then "balancing," then dancing up and down, then so far away
+from each other that one would pass out of the field of vision, soon to
+reappear, however. At times they seemed as if about to rush into each
+other's arms, and then they coquetted away again and resumed the weird
+dance in the skies.
+
+You understand that I am trying to describe one of those terrible
+visitations of the west known as a cyclone. Little was heard of them a
+century ago, and the balloon to which I have compared the form of the
+ghostly dancers, was unknown to the lads, who watched the exhibition
+with an interest that was not turned into terror, as it would have been
+to-day, by the knowledge of the awful power for death and destruction
+that lies within that concentration of electricity in its most fateful
+form.
+
+It seemed a long time that this strange scene lasted, though it could
+not have been many seconds. Suddenly, while the balloon-like forms were
+saluting each other, they rushed together. There was no shock
+perceivable when they met, but there were vivid flashes from within the
+murky folds, as the heat lightning sometimes plays among the clouds at
+the close of a warm day.
+
+Having met, the forms engaged in a wrestling bout. Round and round they
+spun with the same bewildering swiftness, leaning far to one side, as
+though about to fall, and all the time whirling with such speed on the
+one spiral leg that it seemed unable to keep pace with the bulkier part
+above.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+FRED LINDEN AWAKENS TO AN ALARMING FACT.
+
+
+The approach of the cyclone was attended by an appalling roar, and a
+mass of branches and trees flying through the air, which warned the boys
+of their danger.
+
+"Terry, it won't do to stay here," shouted Fred, casting about for some
+place of refuge; "where shall we go?"
+
+Quite close to the stream which they had just crossed was an enormous
+rock. Its irregular surface, a dozen feet in extent each way, must have
+reached far down in the ground, so that nothing could have been more
+immovable. It was not the refuge that the boys would have taken, had
+they been given time to hunt for one, but surely they could not have
+found a better.
+
+A couple of leaps took Terry to the place, and, as he threw himself on
+his face, Fred was directly behind him. As they lay, the shelving rock
+was less than two feet above their heads. Though they could hear, they
+could not see what was coming. They could look to the right and left,
+but only for a few seconds in front.
+
+Using their eyes as best they could, they saw the air filled with
+leaves, twigs, branches, huge limbs and trunks, which spun forward and
+over and over, like so many feathers in a tornado.
+
+The first shock that came to the boys crouching behind the rock was a
+dead thump near their heads. An uprooted tree had been hurled from some
+point above, like an enormous spear, and, striking the rock at a slant,
+slid over the rough surface like the finger of a player over the face of
+a tambourine and out beyond, hunting for some spot where it could
+penetrate. It found it on the ground, but it was instantly wrenched
+loose by the resistless power that had first thrown it forward, and went
+end over end into the general wreck and ruin beyond.
+
+The next sight which startled the boys was on their left, directly over
+the stream. The air was filled apparently with snow, as if a violent
+squall had suddenly sprung up. It was accompanied by a hissing noise,
+which mingled with the fearful roar that had not stopped and was like
+that of the stormy Atlantic beating upon the rock-bound coast.
+
+Striking the stream, the cyclone whirled most of the water from its bed,
+scattered the mist and foam among the trees, and saturated the boys
+where they lay. The huge torch was quenched as suddenly as it was
+lighted.
+
+The most terrifying moment to Fred and Terry was when they felt the rock
+in front of them move. It was turned several inches to one side, and for
+one frightful moment, they believed that that too would be sent skimming
+through the air, or whirled over upon them. But there was no other
+refuge to which they could fly; had they attempted to rise to their
+feet, they would have been snatched up and dashed to death. So they
+flattened themselves as much as they could on their faces, and the
+terrific outburst could not reach them.
+
+Such an elemental fury can not last long. Having torn up the ponderous
+trees, overturned rocks, and cleaned out the stream, the cyclone seemed
+to mount upward and leave the earth entirely, probably to descend some
+miles away and continue its work of destruction.
+
+Fred lay still several minutes after it had passed, and then turned to
+look at his companion. He had unrolled the package and taken therefrom
+the cooked buffalo steak, which had been so roughly handled during his
+ride on the bull.
+
+"Well, well," said the astonished Fred, "I believe you are the only
+person in the world who could eat his dinner in the middle of such a
+storm as this."
+
+"I was thinkin', bein' as we are in so much of a hurry, that I would
+save some toime by dinin' without delay, though ye do me an injoostice
+by sayin' I'm through the same; I'm jist about to begin and I'll be
+plaised to have yer company."
+
+Terry may not have had much sentiment, but he was sensible. Fred sat up,
+his head just rising above the rock, and, for a few minutes, they gave
+their attention to their meal. There was enough for a fair lunch, but no
+more. A gentle wind blew against them, being the remnant left by the
+cyclone, and while they ate, you need not be told they used their eyes.
+
+The sight was a striking one: the trees lay across each other, many with
+their prong-like roots pointing toward the sky, limbs and trunks having
+been tossed about in the most bewildering confusion. The water that had
+been lifted from the creek rendered not only their clothing wet, but
+every thing around them was saturated. Walking to the side of the
+stream, they looked down at the sloping banks, wet and muddy, but with
+little water except in the bottom. The current, however, was pouring so
+swiftly from above that this was rapidly filling up, and before long
+would reach its former level.
+
+Now that the cyclone had passed, the sky rapidly cleared. There was a
+chilliness in the air, and the sun did not show itself.
+
+The boys took but a short time to view the destruction, great as it was,
+when they faced about in the direction of the camp which was their
+destination from the first. It looked as though they were finally
+separated from the trail, for since it was so covered by fallen trees
+and limbs, not the slightest trace of it was seen. They were filled with
+dismay, and indeed would have been at their wits' end had not the
+cyclone confined its fury to exceedingly narrow limits. All its
+prodigious force was spent in and directly along the stream. Twenty
+yards away, the forest was undisturbed, so that the elemental scythe had
+made a clean swath as it sped along.
+
+"Hurrah!" called out Terry, "here's the path; I follyed a straight line
+as I could from the water here, so I'm sure I couldn't coom out very far
+from the right place."
+
+Fred hurried over the ruins to his side, and a glance at the ground
+showed that his friend was right: there was the trail at their feet.
+
+"Now," said Terry, recovering his spirits, "if we had only knowed that
+that storm was coomin', we could have fastened our guns to our backs and
+swum across, without waitin' to build the raft, and saved all the time
+that we lost."
+
+"But we would have been wetted all the same, had we done so."
+
+"And gained that much time; do ye know," added Terry, in a half
+frightened voice, "what I obsarved?"
+
+"I suppose you saw what I did,--the air full of water, trees, limbs,
+stones and lightning."
+
+"While we were peepin' over the edge of the rock, ye moind that the wind
+cut our faces so we had to lower 'em to keep our heads flyin' off where
+we couldn't find 'em agin. It was yersilf that stuck yer nose in the
+ground, but I took a paap off beyanst the creek and I saan one of the
+Winnebagos."
+
+"Can it be possible! what was he doin'?"
+
+"Turnin' summersets at the rate of twinty to the second and about a
+dozen faat above the ground; I had only the one glimpse of him, but whin
+I obsarved him it looked to me as if his head and one leg wint off in
+different directions; I s'pose he's lookin' for the same."
+
+Fred Linden could hardly believe that Terry had seen one of their
+enemies, though, as you can well understand, from what cyclones have
+done in recent years, it was not at all impossible. The youth insisted
+so strongly on the first part of his statement, that Fred decided that
+at the time the storm burst, one at least of their foes was on the bank
+behind them.
+
+All this confirmed the belief he had expressed that they had lost
+invaluable time by wandering from the trail, and that they would have
+hard work to keep far enough in advance to reach the camp before the
+Winnebagos. The proof that they had received too of some of the
+Winnebagos being in front complicated the situation and added to the
+mental discomfort of both.
+
+The sky which, as you will remember, had become overcast sometime before
+the bursting of the cyclone, continued to clear, and to the surprise of
+the young hunters, about the middle of the afternoon the sun showed
+itself. The chilliness, however, remained, though the two walked so
+briskly that they could have well stood a still lower temperature.
+
+Fortunately for them (though it also operated in favor of their enemies)
+the trail was traveled without difficulty. The ground was uneven,
+sometimes up and sometimes down, but it was not hard for the feet and
+they made good progress. The distance they had to go was too great for
+them to hope to reach the end of the journey before the morrow, even if
+they traveled most of the night. They had already proven their pluck and
+resolution, and you may be sure, now that they were on the right path,
+that they did not throw away any minutes.
+
+They had eaten the extra buffalo steak sooner than was intended, but
+they could afford to wait until the morrow before partaking of any more
+food.
+
+The afternoon was far along and they were pushing forward in their usual
+vigor, talking in a hopeful strain now and then, when both were startled
+by the report of a rifle. It did not sound in front nor to the rear, but
+only a moderate distance to the left. The boys stopped and looked in
+each other's face.
+
+"Anither of the spalpeens," whispered Terry; "now there ought to be a
+gun fired on tother side of us and one in front and one behind us."
+
+"They may be there, all the same," replied Fred, staring in the
+direction whence came the report, as though he expected the appearance
+of the one who had caused it. They looked and listened for several
+minutes, but saw and heard nothing more, and resumed their hurried pace,
+frequently glancing behind, for they were in that distrustful state of
+mind which comes to one who has a strong suspicion that an enemy is
+trying to steal behind him unawares. The actual presence of such an
+enemy is no more trying than the suspense itself.
+
+The shot might have been innocent--that is, fired by some wandering
+white man or Indian who had not the remotest thought that any other
+person was within hearing. Probably such was the fact, though there was
+enough uncertainty about it to prevent the theory affording the youth
+the comfort it otherwise would have done.
+
+The lads, as you may well believe, did not stop to look into the matter,
+but pressed on at a gait which they were confident would prevent any of
+their enemies overtaking them, unless they broke into their loping trot,
+which was hardly likely.
+
+Somehow or other, Terry seemed to be thinking more about the three
+Winnebago horsemen with whom Fred Linden had had his encounter than he
+did about his own experience.
+
+"How thim spalpeens could be ridin', whin all the rist are afoot, is
+somethin' that puzzles me," said he, after they had walked some distance
+further; "can't ye give some explanation that will relaave me mind,
+Fred?"
+
+"I can certainly know no more about it than you do."
+
+"Didn't ye obsarve them with particularity?"
+
+"I can't say that I did; they were rather small, tough-looking; two were
+bay in color, while one was black: I noticed the black one more than the
+others, because the Indian that I hit was riding on him; I remember that
+he had a star in his forehead."
+
+"Who? The Winnebago?"
+
+"You know well enough that I meant the horse----"
+
+Fred Linden stopped short, and turned his white, scared face upon his
+friend. He had just awakened to an astounding fact.
+
+"What's the matter, Fred? Are ye ill?"
+
+"My gracious! why didn't I think of that before? Those three horses
+belong to father, Mr. Hardin and Mr. Bowlby."
+
+"Are ye sure of the same?"
+
+"Why, of course; I can't understand why I did not notice it the moment I
+saw them!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+THE CANOE.
+
+
+It certainly was remarkable that when Fred Linden was watching the three
+Winnebagos so closely, and when, as I have said, he noticed more than
+one trifling matter, that he failed to recognize the animals they were
+riding. All three were familiar to him, and the one he had spoken of as
+being darker in color than the others, and as having a star in his
+forehead, was the identical animal owned by his father. Fred, himself,
+had ridden him more than once.
+
+It should be said, however, that they were the pack-horses, which even
+when put to their best paces, could not make good speed. Nevertheless,
+they were of great value to the hunters.
+
+The first conviction of the lad on awaking to the alarming fact, was
+that his father and the other two men had been killed by the
+Winnebagos. The thought overcame him so that he leaned against the
+nearest tree and was on the point of fainting.
+
+"They are all dead, Terry--I know it--we may as well give up, and try to
+reach home."
+
+Terry was agitated, but not so much so as his friend.
+
+"Why, my dear boy, it's not so bad as _that_," he said feelingly; "do ye
+not moind that whin the gintlemen go to trappin' and huntin' they turn
+the horses loose to graze? The spalpeens have coom along and run off
+with the same."
+
+"Do you think so?" asked Fred, looking up yearningly for the grain of
+comfort that his companion was able to give.
+
+"I don't _think_ so; I know so; if the gintlemen took the bastes into
+the cabin and slipt with the same ivery night, as me rilatives do with
+their pigs in Ireland, why ye might think that they had suffered before
+the Winnebagos tuk thim away; but they have snaaked up where the animals
+was grazin', jumped onto their backs and rid off."
+
+This view of the case was so reasonable, that Fred rallied and half
+smiled at his own faintheartedness. He stood erect and drew a deep
+breath of satisfaction.
+
+"I believe you are right, but it strikes me that such thieves would have
+stolen all instead of half the horses."
+
+"They've lift the ither three for their frinds that I make no doubt will
+be along to take thim, if they haven't done so now."
+
+"You know that the loss of a horse is considered almost as bad as the
+loss of a man in this part of the world."
+
+"Sometimes he amounts to a good deal more, as me mither--"
+
+Terry paused in his remarks, for just then Fred uttered a
+warning--"_Sh!_" to signify that something was in the path in front. The
+next moment, he ran several paces to the right and sheltered himself
+behind a tree, Terry being only a few seconds behind him.
+
+Both had discovered what it was. A brown bear of moderate size was
+waddling along toward them. He had probably struck the trail, and
+finding it easier walking than among the trees and undergrowth, was
+swinging forward in the direction of the stream that had received such a
+visit from the cyclone.
+
+The boys could not know for a minute or two whether the beast had seen
+them, but they felt no alarm. As I have said, he was not very large nor
+formidable looking, and, if he chose to turn aside to attack them, they
+were more than his equal. As it was, their own eagerness to get forward
+was all that prevented them from shooting him.
+
+Bruin lumbered ahead in his awkward way, and, as the boys peeped forth,
+they fancied that his big brown eyes glanced mischievously at them; but
+they were mistaken. He did not see nor scent them, but went by, and, in
+a few minutes, disappeared from sight among the trees.
+
+Hardly waiting till he had vanished, the youths stepped back into the
+path and resumed the rapid pace at which they had been traveling. The
+sun, that had been partly shining from behind the clouds, was low in the
+sky, and it was not long before they were journeying in the twilight.
+The moon rose early, but its light was so much obscured by the mists
+that it gave little if any help, and the friends were disappointed to
+find it difficult to make any progress at all.
+
+At this trying juncture, they found themselves once more on the bank of
+a stream that had to be crossed before they could go any further. It was
+fully double the width of the one last passed, but did not look as if it
+was deep.
+
+"My clothes ain't all dry yit," said Terry, "and I'm in favor of wadin'
+if we can."
+
+"I am afraid it is too deep for that, and with our guns and bundles and
+thick clothes it isn't an easy thing to swim. Besides it's colder than
+it was last night and it won't be pleasant to spend a few more hours in
+wet clothing: mine is about dry."
+
+Fred added that if they should decide to push on, the only way of doing
+so was by the usual means of a raft. It would take considerable time to
+build one, and probably still longer to work their way to the other
+side.
+
+"No use of waitin'," said Terry; "let's take hold; I've an idaa that we
+ain't far from the cabin and ivery mile that we can make now counts."
+
+Fred started to give his help, when to his unbounded amazement, he
+narrowly missed going headlong over a small Indian canoe that lay at
+their feet. They would not have been more surprised had they come upon
+Deerfoot himself in a sound slumber, and not until they had stooped down
+and examined it closely were they certain that it was not some log
+fantastically shaped by nature that had floated thither.
+
+But an Indian canoe it was beyond all mistake, though after searching
+all around it, they failed to find the paddle so necessary for its
+propulsion. The boat had been drawn up the bank, underneath some bushes
+and undergrowth, where it would not have been seen by any one further
+off than six feet. It was so far back too from the stream that it would
+require an unusual overflow to carry it away.
+
+It was not so dark that the lads could not see that it was of beautiful
+pattern and fine make--one of those delicate vessels which under the
+skillful guidance of its owner skim like a swallow over the water. It
+was a prize indeed.
+
+Now, as you very well know, there is nothing wonderful about an Indian
+canoe, but the astonishment of the boys came from the fact that they
+found it in this place. Fred Linden, in listening to the accounts given
+by his father on his return in the spring from his trapping expeditions,
+had heard him say more than once that there was no Indian village
+between Greville and the camp at the foot of the Ozarks, and that,
+according to the friendly red men who occasionally visited them, he
+believed that the nearest lodge lay nearly two hundred miles to the
+north-west of Greville. It was this fact that gave the Hunters of the
+Ozark so much confidence in themselves when they went on their long
+hunts, though, as you have learned, danger did sometimes come from the
+wandering Indians, the father of Terry Clark having lost his life at
+their hands.
+
+All this being known to the boys, they had cause to wonder how it was
+that an Indian canoe lay hidden under the bushes on the shore. None of
+those people would go to the trouble of making such a boat, unless he
+expected to use it many times. It would be the same as if you had a
+costly rowboat constructed with which to cross only once a canal or
+small stream of water.
+
+But, as in many other cases, it was idle to speculate, and the boys did
+not allow any feeling of surprise to rob them of the valuable minutes.
+Finding no paddle with which to manage the boat, Fred cut a small
+sapling and trimmed it so that he had a pole fully twenty feet long.
+Then the guns were laid in the bottom, Terry took his seat, and they
+carefully pushed from shore, Fred managing the pole.
+
+As they suspected, the water was quite shallow, the depth nowhere being
+more than three or four feet; but the current was rapid, and in some
+places the bottom of the canoe grated over the gravel. Both had to move
+well to the stern to raise the bow, so as to allow them to reach land
+with dry feet.
+
+"It's a pity to allow this to float off and be lost," said Fred; "let's
+draw it up the bank where the owner won't have any trouble in finding
+it."
+
+"I would give a good deal if I could be introduced to that same
+gintleman," remarked Terry, who took off his cap and scratched his head
+as he added:
+
+"I wonder whither that is one of the canoes from near home?"
+
+"What are you talking about? How could it get _here_?"
+
+"By some subterranean communication, the same as we boys used to sind
+notes to the gurls whin I was laarnin' the higher mathematics in
+college."
+
+Fred made no comment upon the remark of his friend. The canoe, when
+relieved of their weight, was so light that the bow was pulled to the
+shore by means of the pole. Then Fred alone drew it up beyond the reach
+of the water, and it was left until the owner should come forward to
+claim it.
+
+The two now set out to hunt for the trail, with a view of making eight
+or ten miles more before they stopped to rest; but the result was
+discouraging. It took more than a half hour to make sure they had found
+it, and then they had not gone twenty yards, when Fred said he could
+not tell whether he was in the path or not.
+
+"It's no use," he added; "we may as well stop, for we are sure to repeat
+the mistake of to-day: we'll get so far wrong that it'll take many hours
+to find our way back again, and we shall lose far more than we gain."
+
+"That bein' the same--and I'm willin' to agraa that ye are now strivin'
+to till the truth--let's turn off from the trail, go back so far that
+there isn't any chance for any one to saa us and slaap till mornin'."
+
+Since there was nothing else to do, the boys did as Terry proposed. They
+were not so tired as they were the night before, and they did not dare
+to lie down on the leaves and sleep as they did then. There were wild
+animals prowling through the woods, and the fact that the lads escaped
+once could be no guaranty that they would have equally good fortune a
+second time.
+
+Terry proposed that they should climb a tree and make a bed among the
+branches; but that was hardly feasible. It is not often that the limbs
+of a tree are accommodating enough to allow any one to rest with
+comfort. The branches may be pleasant for a time, but the limbs soon
+become like iron rods and the position so cramped as to drive away all
+comfort. In addition, there was the danger of a fatal fall during sleep.
+
+So it was decided to hunt out the most secluded place possible and start
+a fire. That would keep off the wild animals, and the boys were not in
+such need of sleep that they could not afford to take turns with each
+other in watching through the night.
+
+While hunting a suitable spot, they moved down the river bank for fully
+a hundred yards, and then entered some dense undergrowth which they
+penetrated until they were sure that no safer place could be found. So
+they began gathering twigs, leaves and branches, and piling them against
+the shaggy bark of a tree, and soon had all they wanted. This was fired
+by means of the flint and steel, and a roaring, crackling blaze made
+every thing look cheerful.
+
+"Let's walk off a little ways," said Fred, "and see whether the light
+can be noticed very far; you know that we can not be too careful."
+
+Terry liked the proposal, and rose to act upon it. They moved in
+opposite directions, walking several rods, and then carefully passing
+entirely around the camp-fire. The result was satisfactory, for the
+undergrowth in all directions was so thick that they felt as secure from
+discovery as if the fire had been kindled within an impenetrable cave.
+
+And yet they were woefully mistaken, as they were destined to learn in a
+brief while.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+AMERICA VERSUS IRELAND.
+
+
+Having satisfied themselves that they could not have fallen upon a safer
+place, the boys came back to their camp, as it may be called, and sat
+down in front of the blaze. Their knapsacks were unstrapped from their
+backs and the blankets spread upon the leaves. There was some moisture
+in the thick cloth, but not enough to deter them from using them as
+couches. Their own clothing had become dry, and, under the warm glow of
+the fire, the blankets would soon be the same.
+
+In spite of the reconnoissance just made, both felt some uneasiness over
+their own situation. They were confident that no one further away than
+two or three rods would observe the fire, but the possibility remained
+that some enemy might pass within that space, brief as it was. Their
+experience since leaving Greville taught them that a large number of
+Winnebagos were in the wilderness, and, as Terry remarked, the nearer
+they approached camp, the more plentiful did they seem to become.
+
+It was this feeling which caused them to let the fire sink to half its
+first size and led them to keep far back within the circle of light
+thrown into the surrounding gloom. They talked in low voices, often
+listening and looking around, and were in any thing but a comfortable
+frame of mind. The feeling with them was that if any enemy should happen
+to be lurking in the vicinity, every possible advantage would be on his
+side.
+
+"I feel, Terry, as though all this is wasted time. I know it is more
+than likely that the Winnebagos are doing the same as we, that is,
+nothing at all; but that makes me more anxious to push on."
+
+"I've an idaa," remarked the Irish lad, who was stretched out in a lazy
+posture, with his cap in hand, while, as was his custom, he scratched
+his pate with the other; "I'm thinkin' why couldn't we aich take a torch
+in hand and walk along over the path with the same?"
+
+Fred was half inclined to try the experiment, but fear prevented. They
+had learned that the Winnebagos were not only in the rear but in front.
+No more conspicuous target can be given than that of a person carrying a
+lighted torch: it was the same as when a man with a candle in his hand
+starts out to explore his house for burglars. So that plan was not
+adopted.
+
+Terry was about to speak to his companion, when the latter saw him
+start, and, rising quickly to the sitting position, stare at a point
+beyond Fred. He had seen something that terrified him.
+
+With his big round eyes still fixed on the gloom behind young Linden,
+Terry stealthily reached for his gun, which lay on the leaves close by,
+and softly drew back the flint. Fred, as may be supposed, was alarmed,
+and starting half to his feet, glanced nervously around.
+
+He saw nothing.
+
+"What's the matter?" he asked in an undertone, as he also laid his hand
+upon his weapon.
+
+"Whin I was lookin' at ye," said Terry in a husky whisper, "I obsarved
+one of the spalpeens standin' right behind ye and close enough to touch
+ye with his hand. Before I could spake, he slipped out of sight like a
+shadder."
+
+Fred did not ask his companion whether he was sure of what he said, for
+he knew he was not mistaken.
+
+"That shows we shouldn't have started the fire; it has caught the eye of
+some of the Indians, who will be here in a few minutes; let's slip back
+in the darkness and get as far off as we can; it don't make much
+difference what course we take, but it will never do to stay here."
+
+Fred Linden had no more than completed his guarded remark, when he too
+caught sight of a warrior standing on the very edge of the circle of
+light and looking straight at him. The view of the dusky intruder was
+faint but unmistakable.
+
+The outlines and figure received enough of the firelight to cause him to
+look like a dim painting against a dark background. He was holding a
+rifle in one hand and appeared to be contemplating the lads, as if
+seeking to learn their identity before he advanced or performed some
+action.
+
+"_Sh!_ don't stir," whispered Fred, softly raising the hammer of his
+gun, "I see him,--I'll drop him!"
+
+With the utmost caution he brought the gun around in front until it was
+almost to his breast. Then as quickly as he could he raised it to his
+shoulder and aimed at the daring redskin.
+
+But the latter was invisible, he had vanished like the picture on the
+slide of a magic lantern.
+
+As you may suppose, the boys began to feel queer. There was something so
+peculiar about this business that, as Terry expressed it, he was "crawly
+all over." What they might have done can only be guessed, for before
+they could move away from the fire, Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who had been
+having a little amusement at their expense, advanced from the gloom and
+addressed them.
+
+"The heart of Deerfoot is glad when he sees his brothers do not sleep;
+he has watched them, but their eyes are open."
+
+"Wal, be the powers!" muttered Terry Clark, hastily rising to his feet,
+as did Fred; "the spalpeen that plays that trick on me has got to fight
+it out."
+
+And he began taking off his coat and spitting on his hands, to show that
+the matter could only be settled by a bout at fisticuffs. Deerfoot had
+extended his hand to Fred and he smiled at the combative Irish lad, who
+put up his fists and began dancing about him in the most belligerent
+fashion.
+
+"Give him a trial," whispered Fred, with a laugh.
+
+"Deerfoot loves his brothers; he can not hurt them."
+
+"If ye can git the bist of mesilf," said Terry, who was still sawing the
+air and hopping about as though the ground had become hot; "I'll think
+more of ye than iver before, bein' that I think more of ye now than I
+ever can, and I defy ye to sit your gun aside and git the bist of me in
+any way."
+
+"Go for him," urged Fred, knowing that the Irish boy, strong and active
+as he was, had no chance with the Shawanoe; "he thinks he is your
+master when you don't use your weapons. If you will give him a lesson,
+it will do him good."
+
+"Deerfoot will try to be a teacher to my brother," said the Shawanoe
+gravely, handing his gun to Fred, and following with his knife and
+tomahawk, that he might have no weapons except such as nature gave him.
+Then he threw some wood on the fire, so that the space immediately
+surrounding them was as light as noonday. Finally, every thing being
+ready, he proceeded to "go for" Mr. Terence Clark in a truly aboriginal
+fashion.
+
+Now, it must be borne in mind that, though there was and could not be
+the least ill feeling between the youths, yet each was resolutely
+resolved to overcome the other in the most emphatic manner at his
+command. Terry did not mean to batter the handsome face of his dusky
+friend, but to tap it so smartly that he would feel it. The naturally
+combative lad was an adept with his fists, and he meant to strike
+Deerfoot often enough to convince him of his inferiority. Then he would
+rush in, seize the young warrior and throw him to the ground, repeating
+it several times, until his antagonist cried, "Hold! Enough!" Fred
+Linden was to play the part of referee, and decide which was the better
+man. Thus you see the match bore some similarity to those of the present
+day, in which the victor is declared to be the one who in a certain
+number of rounds gains the advantage of the other.
+
+"As I am to be the boss of this business," sald Fred, with the keenest
+zest, "let me explain the terms: Each one is to strike the other as
+often as he can, the blows to be sharp enough to be felt pretty plainly,
+but not enough to cause any injury. I will let this go on until one of
+you has enough, or until I am satisfied of the superiority of one over
+the other. After that you are to have a wrestling match. When I call for
+you to stop, you must do so, no matter how anxious you may be to go on.
+Is that understood?"
+
+"The terms are agraaable to mesilf," said Terry; "it is sittled that
+there's to be no bettin' on the match."
+
+"I have no objection to your betting if you wish, but inasmuch as you
+haven't a cent and Deerfoot never did such a thing as bet in all his
+life, I don't think there will be any trouble about holding the stakes."
+
+"There ain't to be any foul blows in this," added Terry, who showed that
+he knew more than most of his friends about the "Irish champions" and
+the cause that made them champions of England and Ireland.
+
+"What do you mean by foul blows?" asked the puzzled Fred.
+
+"Hits below the belt. What I wished to observe, howiver, is that we
+ain't to recognize such things as foul blows in this fight for the
+championship of Louisiana. Aich one is to git the bist of the ither in
+the bist way he can. The rule, Deerfut, is for such pugilists to shake
+hands before beginnin' to try to knock aich ither out."
+
+And Terry extended his hand, which the young warrior gravely shook, for,
+as you can well understand, this was something to which he was
+altogether unaccustomed. He knew, however, the nature of the contest
+between himself and his doughty Irish friend, and he entered into it
+with the calm confidence with which he would have engaged Tecumseh
+himself in a fight to the death with knives.
+
+Deerfoot did not put up his hands after the manner of a pugilist, nor
+did he even close them, but fixing his eyes on those of Terry (just as
+he always did in his deadly fights with his antagonists), he began
+softly circling about him, like a cat searching for a chance to leap
+upon his prey.
+
+This did not disconcert Terry, whose pose would have been pronounced
+excellent by any one competent to judge. The left arm and foot were
+advanced, the right fist being held across and just in front of the
+breast, ready to take advantage of the first opening that presented
+itself.
+
+As Deerfoot circled around Terry, the latter moved around him, each on
+the alert for a chance.
+
+"Moind yer eye," Terry was kind enough to say; "it's a pity to sp'il
+such a handsome face, but a sinse of dooty will not allow me to thrifle,
+and so here goes!"
+
+With that he made a creditable lunge with his left, instantly following
+it with his right hand, and leaping back to avoid a counter. He did not
+strike Deerfoot nor did he receive a blow in return.
+
+"Ye are quick on yer faat and very good at dodgin', but it is an
+obligation ye owe to yersilf and to America to show whither thim foin
+purty hands can hit----"
+
+_Rap, whack, spat!_ The Shawanoe smote one cheek of Terry, then the
+other, and then his mouth, the blows being so quick that they seemed to
+be simultaneous. At the moment they were delivered, the Irish lad could
+not see that the young warrior had stirred. He appeared to be moving in
+his cat-like way around him, but beyond reach of Terry's own tough
+fists. Seeing that he must force matters, he made a furious rush for his
+antagonist.
+
+You must not set down Terry Clark as an awkward fellow who went into the
+contest without any skill. His father in his younger days was one of the
+best fighters in the north of Ireland, and he had taught considerable of
+his science to his only son, who gave an exhibition of what he could do
+when he smote the Winnebago that was swinging the cow-bell. There was
+not a lad anywhere near his years in Greville whom he could not master.
+
+Deerfoot knew nothing of the modern rules of self-defense. His
+superiority lay in his unequaled dexterity and quickness. It was that,
+as you will recall, which enabled him to win so many victories over foes
+who were his superior in every other respect.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+AMERICA VERSUS AMERICA.
+
+
+Terence Clark gathered himself for another rush and blow at the
+Shawanoe, when the latter with a quickness which the eye of Fred Linden
+could hardly follow, ducked under the arm of the Irish lad and again
+struck him a resounding blow with the flat of the hand, first on one
+side of the face and then on the other. Terry wheeled and returned the
+blows with skill. Once his hand grazed the black hair that was dangling
+about Deerfoot's head, and several times he touched the nodding
+feathers, but strive as much as he might, he could not reach the fellow
+himself.
+
+Now that the combat may be said to have opened, it went through to the
+end without halt or break. Here, there, everywhere dodged and struck the
+Shawanoe, while Terry was always just too late to catch him. Deerfoot
+might have inflicted considerable injury upon his plucky antagonist, had
+he struck him with his closed hand, but he always used his open palm.
+Some of the blows resounded like pistol shots. Having delivered all that
+he wished, Deerfoot doubled up his left hand so that only the index
+finger was extended. With this he punched the right and left ribs of
+Terry, then his chest, and then actually flipped each side of his nose,
+easily dodging the blows which the half angered Irish lad aimed at him
+in return.
+
+Suddenly Terry turned his back on his foe and deliberately struck
+several times at vacancy. Then he dropped his hands and walked back by
+the fire, saying, with a shake of his head:
+
+"I've enough! ye could bate the divil and his uncle."
+
+Fred Linden was sitting on the ground shaking with laughter. He had not
+seen any thing for a long time that pleased him so much. He had observed
+Terry in more than one fight with the boys at home and he knew he was an
+ugly customer, as full of grit as a bull dog, but the Shawanoe struck
+him fully a dozen times, while the Irish lad with all his skill
+desperately put forth never once touched him. The discomfiture of the
+brave Irish lad was complete.
+
+No witness of the bout, however, could have failed to admire the skill
+and pluck of Terry. He acquitted himself well and kept up the struggle,
+even after he was convinced that he could do nothing with his alert
+antagonist. Then, when Deerfoot began to trifle with him, he turned
+around as I have shown and struck the empty air.
+
+"Why did you do that?" asked Fred, as the three stood by the fire
+discussing the incident.
+
+Terry passed his open hand over his cheeks, which were red and smarting
+from the sharp taps of Deerfoot, and closing one eye and scratching his
+head, made answer:
+
+"I had been sthrikin' at Deerfut until I obsarved that ivery time I
+sthruck _at_ him I didn't hit him; so thinks I to mesilf, I will see
+whither I can hit him by tryin' not to hit him; so I sthruck where I
+knowed he wasn't, thinkin' he was there."
+
+"Well, I must declare Deerfoot the winner."
+
+"I can't deny that he is; I throw up the sponge and extind to him the
+best wishes for himself and family."
+
+Smiling in a way that left no doubt of his relish of the incident,
+Deerfoot warmly shook the hand of his friend, whose brave fight had
+increased his admiration of him.
+
+"My brother is brave," said he admiringly; "perhaps he can lay Deerfoot
+on his back; Deerfoot will rejoice if he can do so."
+
+"Be the powers! but that suits me," exclaimed the delighted Terry; "I
+forgot we were to have a wrestling match; Fred, ye will be koind enough
+to sarve as riferee again; we'll take side holts and it'll be the bist
+two out of thraa."
+
+Terry was warranted in feeling more confidence in this test of skill. He
+had failed--as he knew he would always fail--in a sparring contest, for
+the reason that Deerfoot was so quick that he could not touch him; but
+one of the necessities of a wrestling match is that the contestants
+shall first seize each other. Terry believed that he had as much
+physical strength as Deerfoot, and if he once got a fair hold, he would
+not let go until he downed him.
+
+Terry being right and Deerfoot left handed, each was able to secure his
+most effective grip. So, standing side by side, in the old fashioned
+style, with a dusky left arm around the white neck and a white arm
+around the dusky neck, they began the struggle.
+
+In this match, as before, Deerfoot allowed his antagonist to dally with
+him awhile before he took the aggressive. Passing him over his hip Terry
+gave Deerfoot such a violent fling that a pang of fear shot through him,
+lest he had broken the Shawanoe's neck; but though he shot headlong out
+of the grasp of the Irish lad, the Shawanoe landed lightly on his feet
+and instantly leaped back and closed with Terry again.
+
+"I'll fetch ye this time," he muttered between his compressed lips; "ye
+shan't git out of me hands till ye's down flat on yer back and mesilf
+layin' a-straddle of ye. There's a difference between boxin' and
+sparrin' and I shall taich ye the same, as me grandmither--"
+
+Both went down that instant, but the Shawanoe was on top. His
+antagonist could not have fallen flatter had he been dropped from the
+roof of a house.
+
+"Mark the first fall for Deerfut," called out Terry, hastily clambering
+to his feet, the Shawanoe extending his hand to help.
+
+This result weakened the confidence of the Irish lad in himself, that
+is, so far as concerned his opponent. He reflected that many of the
+Indians are skillful wrestlers, and while Deerfoot had had no training
+in boxing, he had in the other art. Such a cool headed athlete would be
+sure to learn fast. Terry recognized the peculiar flirt by which he had
+been turned off his feet as the very trick he had played successfully on
+his playmates at home, but which he never dreamed was known to Deerfoot.
+
+The Irish lad tried every possible lock, twist and turn upon his rival,
+but he could not get him off his feet. It seemed to Terry that he
+whirled in the air when almost on the ground, and that if he had been
+dropped head downwards from the height of a rod, he would alight on his
+feet.
+
+Fred saw Deerfoot, who was carefully watching his antagonist, smile,
+and he knew what was coming. So deftly that, for the life of him, the
+spectator could not see how it was done, Terry went over again as "flat
+as a flounder." Not only that, but to the astonishment of the victim as
+well as of the witness, the Shawanoe remained erect, so that he
+literally flung his antagonist to the ground and looked smilingly down
+upon him.
+
+"Ye can baat the baaters," exclaimed Terry, rising to his feet, and
+shaking hands with his victor. "I niver met any one who could down me in
+that sthyle. I don't know how ye did the same, but I haven't any doubts
+that ye done it, as me great uncle remarked whin the cannon ball took
+off his head."
+
+With the same shadowy smile Deerfoot looked inquiringly at Fred Linden.
+
+"Deerfoot thinks maybe his brother would be glad to lay him on the
+ground?"
+
+"I'll be hanged if I don't try it," laughed Fred, springing to his feet,
+and instantly but cautiously closing arms with the graceful warrior.
+
+"My brother can not throw Deerfoot," said the latter; "but the heart of
+Deerfoot would be glad if he would tell him how he would like to
+fall--on his shoulders, or side, or back."
+
+"I wouldn't like to fall at all; but if you think you can get me on my
+shoulders, just try it; that's all."
+
+"It shall be as my brother wishes."
+
+The words seemed yet in the mouth of Deerfoot when Fred felt himself
+sailing through space, and the next instant he landed on his shoulders
+with a shock that Terry declared made the ground shake.
+
+As before, Deerfoot himself did not fall, but looked smilingly down on
+his prostrate friend as he began climbing to his feet again.
+
+"Now, if my brother wishes to fall on his back, it shall be so."
+
+"I've little doubt that you will not do just as you say you will; I only
+ask that you wait till I say I am ready; you did the last before I had
+time to prepare."
+
+"Ye bitter not ax him to wait," said Terry, who rolled over on the
+ground in the exuberance of his mirth, at the sight of his big friend
+going down before the lithe, willowy Shawanoe; "for since he's bound to
+do what he says, the sooner ye are out of yer suspinse, the sooner ye'll
+be out of it."
+
+"Be kind enough to attend to your own affairs," said Fred stiffly;
+"Deerfoot and I are running this show."
+
+"It looks as if Deerfut had charge of the whole of it," was the comment
+of Terry, who broke into laughter again; "and whin he is done ye'll
+agraa with me."
+
+Once more the arms passed over each other's neck. Fred resolved that
+whatever came, he would not be taken by surprise this time. He was
+stronger than Terry and he had thrown him more than once. He could not
+understand, therefore, why he should not at least give the Shawanoe a
+struggle. He braced his feet, with every muscle strained, and every
+faculty on the alert.
+
+"I am ready," said he; "do your best."
+
+"On which side shall Deerfoot throw his brother?"
+
+"On my right side, and as hard as you can."
+
+Now, you will see the difficulty of the task, for Fred had his right arm
+tightly locked over the neck of Deerfoot, so that that side was guarded
+by the body of the warrior himself. It would seem, that if Fred should
+fall on either side it could only be on the left. Manifestly if it
+should be the right, the Shawanoe could not go down with him. He must
+bring him to the ground and escape from beneath him before he fell.
+
+He did it. For a second or two the contestants stood motionless. Then,
+like a flash, Deerfoot slipped from the grasp of his friend, dropped
+down in a stooping posture almost to the earth, holding the right hand
+of Fred firmly with his left (this was to prevent him using that hand to
+save himself), and then by a quick dart to the left, he carried both
+feet of his opponent off the ground, and Fred fell squarely on his right
+side, his conqueror straightening up as he went down.
+
+"I would be obleeged," said Terry, throwing back his head with laughter,
+"if yees will be koind enough to till me who is runnin' the show about
+this time."
+
+Fred was chagrined at the ease with which Deerfoot had overthrown him,
+and it was not lessened by the honest compliment which the young warrior
+gave to his skill. Both Fred and Terry had been pretty well jarred, for
+they were downed with such amazing suddenness that it could not be
+otherwise; but neither referred to it and they could only praise the
+wonderful ability of their friend.
+
+"I tell you," said Fred, seating himself on the ground beside the other
+two, after the flurry was over, "all this proves that skill is worth
+more than strength. I am quite sure that I am as strong as you,
+Deerfoot, but I don't believe that Terry and I together could lay you on
+your back. When I had my arm around your neck, I suspected you would try
+to slip out, and I squeezed you pretty hard. You slid out so quickly
+that at the moment you were down at my heels, I thought I had you fast."
+
+"I'm thinkin' that the nixt thing we should try is a race; Fred can
+outrun me and I'll agraa that he will outrun Deerfut, that is, if ye'll
+allow me to make the conditions."
+
+"What would they be?" asked Deerfoot, Looking gravely down upon his
+friends.
+
+"The race should be for a hundred yards, and Deerfut must give Fred
+ninety-five yards start, though to make it sure enough, maybe it ought
+to be ninety-six or siven."
+
+"Then you would require about ninety-nine, according to the same
+calculation," said Fred.
+
+"Ye's are right," replied Terry, to whom it seemed that no athletic feat
+was impossible for the Shawanoe; "nayther yersilf nor mesilf have a
+right to be mintioned in the same day with him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+THE LAST CAMP-FIRE.
+
+
+It seemed to strike all three of the friends at the same moment that
+they had shown a strange forgetfulness of the occasion. A sudden impulse
+had led them into a test of skill, that had continued fully a quarter of
+an hour, during which there was no thought on the part of any one of the
+gravity of their situation.
+
+But a little while before, both Fred Linden and Terry Clark were in
+distress on account of their friends, while their own position
+(believing as they did that there were Winnebagos in front as well as in
+the rear), ought to have driven away all inclination for sport or
+amusement. One of their strongest desires was the presence of Deerfoot,
+that they might have his counsel and help. Here he was, and no reference
+had been made to the subjects uppermost in their minds. Now that he took
+his seat near them by the camp-fire, as if to invite their confidence,
+they quickly returned to the all important business.
+
+First of all, they asked for his experience since their separation the
+night before. He gave only a part of it. He told nothing about his
+conflict with the Wolf and his companion, which resulted in the death of
+both, but said that he had kept watch of the Winnebagos until morning,
+when he saw them start for the camp in the mountains. He learned from
+their signaling that they had other warriors in the neighborhood, and
+there could be no doubt that an attack was intended upon the Hunters of
+the Ozark. Nevertheless the Shawanoe kept in their vicinity, until they
+approached the open prairie of which mention has been make. Then he
+decided to pass them and join his young friends.
+
+Feeling no doubt that the latter were following the right trail (several
+examinations which he made satisfied him that they were doing so), he
+left it altogether, and took a shorter route across the country. He was
+so familiar with it that he could easily do this. His intention was to
+strike the main path again at the crossing, where they had such a narrow
+escape from the cyclone; but he calculated that by nightfall they would
+be a considerable distance beyond, and he wished to test their
+watchfulness when left to themselves. So he came back to the trail about
+half way between that point and the creek which they had crossed by
+means of the canoe. He saw from an examination of the ground that he was
+ahead of them, so he sauntered forward, firing off his gun where a turn
+in the path made it seem to come from one side instead of in front of
+them. He did this as he explained with a view of warning them to keep
+their eyes open. It soon began growing dark and he kept on until he
+reached the stream, where he decided to wait and see what they would do.
+
+He was as surprised as they when they brought forth the little canoe and
+pushed themselves across by means of the pole which Fred Linden himself
+cut. He followed them, easily wading the stream. After that he indulged
+in a little diversion with which you are familiar.
+
+"Wasn't it strange, Deerfoot," said Fred, "that we should have found
+that canoe?"
+
+He nodded his head to signify that he thought it was.
+
+"Have you any idea how it got there?"
+
+"He who owned the boat hid it under the bushes."
+
+"But there are no Indian villages within a great many miles of this
+place--is that not so?"
+
+He gave another affirmative nod.
+
+"Have you any idea of who the owner can be?"
+
+A third affirmative nod followed.
+
+"Who is he?" asked Fred in astonishment.
+
+"Deerfoot."
+
+"What! Does that little canoe belong to _you_?"
+
+"Deerfoot made it and hid it under the bushes: why did not my brothers
+use the paddle?"
+
+"We hunted all round, but could not find it."
+
+"It was within reach of my brother's hands; it was covered with leaves."
+
+"And so the boat is yer own?" repeated Terry; "why that looks as if ye
+lived somewhere in this neighborhood; is such the case, owld boy?"
+
+The question did not seem to please the Shawanoe. He was sitting
+directly in front of his young friends, who looked earnestly in his
+face. He made no answer to Terry's question, but continued looking among
+the coals, as if he was pondering some other matter that had thus been
+brought to mind. Fred shook his head at Terry as a warning that he
+should not repeat his query, and the latter was wise enough not to do
+so; but the friends concluded from that moment that the wandering young
+Shawanoe made his home at no great distance from where all three were at
+that moment sitting in the wilderness. And they were right.
+
+A minute later, Deerfoot raised his head and signified that he wished to
+know in turn what had befallen them since they parted company
+twenty-four hours before. You will admit that each had a stirring story
+to tell and he told it. The Shawanoe first listened to Terry's account
+of his ride on the back of the wounded buffalo, and, when it was
+finished, he quietly remarked to his young friend that he had done well.
+
+Though he showed no emotion, it was clear to both boys that he felt the
+most concern in the experience of Fred Linden. He said nothing until the
+narrator was through, including the account of the cyclone. Deerfoot had
+heard the noise made by the latter, but he was so far removed from its
+path that he saw none of its fearful effects, and in fact cared little
+about it, for he had seen the same thing more than once before.
+
+But that which interested him was the account of Fred Linden's meeting
+with the Winnebago horse thieves. This was the first knowledge he
+received that any of their enemies were mounted on animals. Deerfoot had
+turned off the main trail so early in the day that he missed them
+altogether. When he came back to the path, near where the three were in
+camp at that moment, and he examined the ground for signs of the
+footprints of the boys, there were none that had been made by the hoofs
+of horses. They had struck the trail further to the north, taking a
+different course from the camp where they had stolen the animals.
+
+Fred blushed under the warm compliments of Deerfoot on his coolness,
+bravery and skill in the presence of the three Winnebagos. You will
+agree that it was a daring exploit indeed, which would have done credit
+to a veteran frontiersman. It could not have been otherwise to draw such
+warm praise from the Shawanoe.
+
+But the compliments could well be deferred to some other season. The
+fact that three Indians had stolen the same number of horses from the
+Hunters of the Ozark, and then had ridden leisurely away to meet their
+friends, showed that they had great confidence in themselves, doubtless
+caused by the belief that they were safe against any attempt to recover
+the property.
+
+"Deerfoot," said Fred, after there had been a full exchange of
+experiences; "we stopped here only because we could not keep to the
+trail in the darkness. Don't you think it best that we should now go on,
+since you will not have the same trouble that we did?"
+
+He shook his head in the negative.
+
+"It is not far to the camp of my brothers; the Winnebagos are a long
+ways back on the trail; they will not come up with us; my brothers have
+a chance to sleep; they may have no chance when they reach the cabin;
+let them sleep now."
+
+The natural inference from this remark was that he believed nothing more
+was to be apprehended from the Winnebagos, so long as our three friends
+were on their way to the cabin of the Hunters of the Ozark. The danger
+would now be transferred to that point.
+
+"Is it not likely that some of the red men are between us and our
+friends?" asked Fred, as though their guide had not thought of every
+contingency.
+
+"There is none," was the quiet answer, and then he added the
+explanation. The Winnebagos, as soon as they had captured the horses,
+had mounted them and ridden off to meet Black Bear and the rest, so as
+to combine with them in the attack upon the cabin in the mountains.
+Being so few in numbers, they did not dare stay in the neighborhood,
+but were certain to come back with the others.
+
+The theft of the animals was no part of the original plan of the red
+men, and was therefore what may be considered poor generalship, since it
+was likely to draw attention to the presence of hostiles and to put the
+Hunters of the Ozark on their guard.
+
+Deerfoot made no such remark at the time, but he afterward expressed his
+regret that he had not joined Fred and Terry earlier in the day, so that
+he could have been with them when they met the horse thieves. Had he
+done so, there can be no doubt that they would have recaptured every one
+of the animals, even if they had had to shoot each thief from the back
+of his stolen steed. Such a result would have changed the whole course
+of the events that followed.
+
+Since the Shawanoe advised them to stay where they were until morning,
+the natural query of the lads was as to the degree of danger they ran.
+They had thought there was little to be feared from Indians, but after
+the fire was started, both had misgivings--afterward intensified no
+doubt by the little trick played upon them by Deerfoot.
+
+He assured them that there was nothing to be feared from Indians. There
+was and would be none near them through the night. They were at a safe
+distance from the trail, so that if any one should pass back or forth he
+could not possibly catch a glimpse of the camp.
+
+"I never dispute a man's sintimints," said Terry, "onless it happens to
+disagraa with me own, so I'll say ye are right because we think the same
+way; but it's within me own ricolliction that whin ye enj'yed the honor
+of our coompany night before last, ye kipt guard all the night;
+Frederick and mesilf will now return the coompliment and take charge of
+the honors oursilves. If ye have any disputation that ye want to inter
+into, we'll sittle it by maans of a wristling match."
+
+Deerfoot was inclined at first to act as sentinel, just as he had done
+before, but he had already declared that there was nothing to be feared,
+and his friends were so in earnest that he could not well refuse their
+request. He would have preferred that they should gain all the sleep
+they could, so as to lay up a stock, as may be said, against what was
+likely to come at the cabin, but he yielded. He agreed to their wishes,
+and in doing so, indulged in one of his smiles, the depth of whose
+meaning neither of the youths fully comprehended. In fact it simply
+meant that he understood their ability in that respect better than they
+did themselves.
+
+And so, after reading his Bible, a portion of it aloud, he lay down upon
+the blanket of Terry, as he did two nights before, and soon fell asleep.
+
+"I'm glad to obsarve the same," remarked Terry; "for the good lookin'
+spalpeen must be in naad of slumber. I say, Fred, did ye iver saa the
+loikes of him? We must git him to run a race and jump and swim and stand
+on his head and show jist what he can do. I'm glad as I say to obsarve
+that he is aslaap, for he must naad the same. I say, Fred, let's stay
+awake till daylight, so as to fool him."
+
+"I am glad to do that in return for the watch he kept over us the other
+night; but if you and I undertake to sit up at the same time we shall
+fail. So I'll lie down and sleep awhile. When you find yourself getting
+drowsy, wake me up and then I shall be able to keep my eyes open until
+morning. In that way Deerfoot may have a whole night of rest."
+
+"I'm agraaable to the same."
+
+The plan was carried out, that is, a part of it, Fred Linden soon
+dropped asleep, and, within an hour, Terry Clark did the same. When
+Deerfoot threw his blanket off his face and assumed the sitting
+position, he saw just what he expected to see and he allowed them to
+slumber peacefully until daylight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+
+The awaking of the boys was of the most pleasant character. The sky had
+cleared and the sunlight penetrated between the branches from which the
+autumn leaves were fast falling. The crispness which is felt at that
+season of the year, stirred the young hearts and enlivened the spirits
+in spite of the serious situation in which all three found themselves.
+
+The odor of broiling fish was snuffed by the lads, and nothing could
+have been more delicious and appetizing. They were very hungry, and the
+night before they supposed they would have to wait indefinitely for
+their morning meal, but they opened their eyes to find that Deerfoot had
+provided the most toothsome breakfast that could be imagined.
+
+In the early morning light, fully two hours before the sun appeared,
+Deerfoot crossed the stream in his own canoe, and, taking the trail,
+ran several miles at the highest speed. While he did not go far enough
+to see the camp-fire of the main war party of Winnebagos, he did not
+pause until certain that they had stayed in camp all night and would not
+cross the stream where the boys lay asleep until the forenoon was half
+gone. So the Shawanoe hastened back, and dropped a short distance down
+stream in his canoe, having obtained his paddle, to an eddy where it
+took but a few minutes for him to coax a half dozen fish from the cool,
+clear depths, and these were just browning to a turn when the boys
+opened their eyes.
+
+Fred and Terry looked in each other's faces and laughed. They knew what
+an absurd failure they had made. They had promised to watch while
+Deerfoot slept, and then left him to act as sentinel until morning.
+
+"It was your fault," whispered Fred, hunting in his pocket for the
+package of salt and pepper which survived, despite the wetting it had
+received; "why didn't you wake me up, as I told you to do?"
+
+"How could I wake ye up when I was aslaap mesilf?" was the pertinent
+query of Terry; "I think I was only a half minute behind yersilf in
+beginning me swate dreams."
+
+"Even if you had roused me," said Fred, "I suppose I would have dropped
+to sleep the same as you; no one can keep awake (unless it is Deerfoot)
+while sitting on the ground. Well, I am sure I shan't say any thing
+about it if _he_ doesn't."
+
+"Let us shake on that," whispered Terry, stealthily extending his hand.
+
+Deerfoot acted as though unaware that any such lapse had occurred. The
+browned fish were spread on the green leaves, and Fred sprinkled the
+seasoning upon the portions to be eaten by himself and Terry; the
+Shawanoe preferred none on his.
+
+"If nothing unexpected happens," said Fred, "we will arrive at the cabin
+to-day."
+
+The Shawanoe inclined his head by way of answer.
+
+"When will the Winnebagos that are following us come to this stream?"
+
+Deerfoot pointed to a portion of the sky which the sun would reach in
+about three hours from that time.
+
+"The Winnebagos are together; there may be a few coming from different
+parts of the wood, but Black Bear has most of his warriors with him, and
+he feels strong enough to destroy the cabin and our brothers who are
+there."
+
+"There are three there now, and when we join them there will be six. If
+father and the rest have fair notice of their coming, they ought to be
+able to put every thing in good shape for a defense. It won't take them
+long to gather enough food to last for weeks, but how about water?"
+
+"They have no water; our brothers know not why they should have it."
+
+The Shawanoe meant to say that the men, seeing no reason why they should
+collect any store of water within their primitive structure, never did
+so. It was at their door, and, when they wished to drink, they had but
+to stoop down and drink. Believing no such emergency as now threatened
+could arise, they failed to make any provision against it.
+
+"I've been thinkin'," said Terry, "that bein' as how we started from
+Greville to j'in the Hunters of the Ozark, with the idaa of spindin' the
+winter with the same, that from the time we started we were mimbers of
+the same, but timporarily separated by a wide stritch of woods; what are
+yer own idaas?"
+
+"I am not sure that I understand what you are trying to get at, but if
+you mean to say that we may call ourselves two of the Hunters of the
+Ozark, I see no objection if we are a few days behind the rest in
+reaching the beaver runs."
+
+"Oblige me by tistifying to the same," said Terry, rather effusively,
+shoving his hand toward his friend, who suspended operations with the
+fish long enough to salute him.
+
+The breakfast was quickly finished, and the boys helped each other with
+their knapsacks, caught up their guns and followed Deerfoot as he led
+the way back to the trail. He did not hint any thing about their failure
+to keep guard for him the night before, though they felt sure that they
+would hear from him at some time not very far distant.
+
+When they found themselves following the path that had become so
+familiar, they glanced furtively behind, half expecting to hear the
+Winnebago war whoop and to see the warriors rushing after them; but not
+a living soul beside themselves was in sight, and the quiet assurance of
+their leader very nearly removed all such fear from them.
+
+"Are there any more streams to cross?" asked Fred, a moment after they
+started along the trail.
+
+"There are none."
+
+"That is good, and since we are several hours in advance of the Indians,
+we ought to be able to reach the cabin in time to give them warning,
+that is, if they are in need of it."
+
+"How can they help being in need?" asked Terry.
+
+"The horses were turned loose to look after themselves, and though I
+can't know for some time how it is, it seems to me that it could well
+happen that they would not miss the animals for several days and
+possibly not for a week or two."
+
+The best ground for doubting that the Hunters of the Ozark were aware of
+the theft of the horses was the fact that there had been no pursuit.
+Those men, it is safe to say, would not have stayed idle had they known
+that three vagabond Indians were astride of their property and riding to
+the northward. With the three fleeter animals at command, they would
+have been after them in a twinkling: they would not have been obliged to
+wait till they met Fred Linden before receiving some rifle shots.
+
+Fred was confirmed in this theory by Deerfoot, who declared that such
+was his explanation of the failure of the hunters to pursue the thieves.
+
+For two hours the trail which they were following steadily ascended,
+until they were considerably higher than when they left camp in the
+morning. The undergrowth was abundant, and the wood in some places was
+so dense that they could see only a short distance on either hand. The
+trail was sinuous, winding in and out among the rocks in a way that
+would have bewildered any one not used to such traveling.
+
+At last they reached the ridge of the elevation up which they had been
+climbing, and found themselves on the margin of a plateau or rather
+valley, beyond which rose the rugged, precipitous Ozarks. Since the
+ground sloped away from them, in the direction of the mountains, their
+view was extended over many square miles of forest, stream and natural
+clearing, to the mountain walls beyond, looking dim and soft in the
+distance, with the hazy air between.
+
+"Do my brothers see the gleam of the water yonder?" asked Deerfoot,
+pointing to a winding stream, large enough to be called a river, though
+it was half hidden by the woods. Its course was in the main at right
+angles to the trail which the boys had been following, though, at times
+it seemed to run straight toward and then away from them.
+
+The youths answered that they could not very well look in the direction
+indicated by their friend, without seeing the stream to which he
+directed their attention.
+
+The Shawanoe placed himself so that he stood in front of the two.
+
+"Now," said he, "let my brothers follow Deerfoot's finger and tell me
+what they see."
+
+Pointing well to the right, he slowly swung his index finger toward the
+left, until he had described about a quarter of a circle.
+
+Since it was not easy for the two to look exactly at the point meant, at
+the same time, Terry Clark first tried it. Removing his cap, he closed
+one eye and carefully peered along the extended arm of the Shawanoe as
+though it was a rifle which he was about to aim and fire.
+
+"What is it?" asked Fred, a moment later, with some impatience over the
+plodding deliberation of his companion.
+
+"I obsarve a big lot of traas, some rocks, some water and a claarin'
+where ye could raise a big lot of praties, and--and--and--"
+
+"I see what you mean!" exclaimed Fred in some excitement; "right in the
+middle of the clearing stands a large cabin made of logs."
+
+"It's mesilf that obsarves the same," added Terry, replacing his cap and
+looking inquiringly at the Shawanoe, who let his extended arm fall as
+he faced about and said: "That is the home of my brothers; that is the
+cabin of the Hunters of the Ozark."
+
+"Hurrah!" called out Terry; "we're purty near there."
+
+"But we don't know how matters stand," said Fred; "even Deerfoot can not
+tell whether they are all alive or dead."
+
+"I know bitter than that," remarked Terry, appealing straight to the
+Shawanoe, who, without directly answering the question, notified them of
+an interesting fact: a thin column of smoke was rising from the cabin.
+
+"That shows that some one is in there," said the Irish lad, "but whither
+he is white or rid, I don't s'pose the Shawanoe, with all his smartness,
+can tell even at this distance."
+
+"My brother speaks truth," said Deerfoot; "our brothers may be well and
+they maybe dead and the Winnebagos may have built the fire to lure us to
+them: we shall soon know."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Here for the present we must pause, for we have already filled the space
+assigned to us; but we propose soon to tell you all about the
+adventures of Deerfoot, Fred and Terry, and of their friends the Hunters
+of the Ozark, whom they were trying to help. The story in which this
+will be related will appear under the title of
+
+"THE CAMP IN THE MOUNTAINS."
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+                    FAMOUS STANDARD JUVENILE LIBRARIES.
+
+               ANY VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY AT $1.00 PER VOLUME
+
+     (Except the Sportsman's Club Series, Frank Nelson Series and Jack
+                              Hazard Series.).
+
+                   Each Volume Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth.
+
+                             HORATIO ALGER, JR.
+
+The enormous sales of the books of Horatio Alger, Jr., show the
+greatness of his popularity among the boys, and prove that he is one
+of their most favored writers. I am told that more than half a million
+copies altogether have been sold, and that all the large circulating
+libraries in the country have several complete sets, of which only two
+or three volumes are ever on the shelves at one time. If this is true,
+what thousands and thousands of boys have read and are reading Mr.
+Alger's books! His peculiar style of stories, often imitated but never
+equaled, have taken a hold upon the young people, and, despite their
+similarity, are eagerly read as soon as they appear.
+
+Mr. Alger became famous with the publication of that undying book,
+"Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York." It was his first book for
+young people, and its success was so great that he immediately devoted
+himself to that kind of writing. It was a new and fertile field for a
+writer then, and Mr. Alger's treatment of it at once caught the fancy
+of the boys. "Ragged Dick" first appeared in 1868, and ever since then
+it has been selling steadily, until now it is estimated that about
+200,000 copies of the series have been sold.
+
+                                    --Pleasant Hours for Boys and Girls.
+
+A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy with them. He
+should be able to enter into their plans, hopes, and aspirations. He
+should learn to look upon life as they do. Boys object to be written
+down to. A boy's heart opens to the man or writer who understands him.
+
+                  --From Writing Stories for Boys, by Horatio Alger, Jr.
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+RAGGED DICK SERIES.
+6 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $6.00
+Ragged Dick. Rough and Ready.
+Fame and Fortune. Ben the Luggage Boy.
+Mark the Match Boy. Rufus and Rose.
+
+TATTERED TOM SERIES--First Series.
+4 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $4.00
+Tattered Tom. Phil the Fiddler.
+Paul the Peddler. Slow and Sure.
+
+TATTERED TOM SERIES--Second Series.
+4 vols. $4.00
+Julius. Sam's Chance.
+The Young Outlaw. The Telegraph Boy.
+
+CAMPAIGN SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Frank's Campaign. Charlie Codman's Cruise.
+Paul Prescott's Charge.
+
+LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--First Series.
+4 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $4.00
+Luck and Pluck. Strong and Steady.
+Sink or Swim. Strive and Succeed.
+
+LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--Second Series.
+4 vols. $4.00
+Try and Trust. Risen from the Ranks.
+Bound to Rise. Herbert Carter's Legacy.
+
+BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.
+4 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $4.00
+Brave and Bold. Shifting for Himself.
+Jack's Ward. Wait and Hope.
+
+NEW WORLD SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Digging for Gold. Facing the World.
+In a New World.
+
+VICTORY SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Only an Irish Boy. Adrift in the City.
+Victor Vane, or the Young Secretary.
+
+FRANK AND FEARLESS SERIES.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Frank Hunter's Peril. Frank and Fearless.
+The Young Salesman.
+
+GOOD FORTUNE LIBRARY.
+3 vols. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $3.00
+Walter Sherwood's Probation. A Boy's Fortune.
+The Young Bank Messenger.
+
+RUPERT'S AMBITION.
+1 vol. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $1.00
+
+JED, THE POOR-HOUSE BOY.
+1 vol. By Horatio Alger, Jr. $1.00
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+                           HARRY CASTLEMON.
+
+                  HOW I CAME TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK.
+
+When I was sixteen years old I belonged to a composition class. It was
+our custom to go on the recitation seat every day with clean slates, and
+we were allowed ten minutes to write seventy words on any subject the
+teacher thought suited to our capacity. One day he gave out "What a Man
+Would See if He Went to Greenland." My heart was in the matter, and
+before the ten minutes were up I had one side of my slate filled. The
+teacher listened to the reading of our compositions, and when they were
+all over he simply said: "Some of you will make your living by writing
+one of these days." That gave me something to ponder upon. I did not say
+so out loud, but I knew that my composition was as good as the best of
+them. By the way, there was another thing that came in my way just then.
+I was reading at that time one of Mayne Reid's works which I had drawn
+from the library, and I pondered upon it as much as I did upon what the
+teacher said to me. In introducing Swartboy to his readers he made use
+of this expression: "No visible change was observable in Swartboy's
+countenance." Now, it occurred to me that if a man of his education
+could make such a blunder as that and still write a book, I ought to be
+able to do it, too. I went home that very day and began a story, "The
+Old Guide's Narrative," which was sent to the _New York Weekly_, and
+came back, respectfully declined. It was written on both sides of the
+sheets but I didn't know that this was against the rules. Nothing
+abashed, I began another, and receiving some instruction, from a friend
+of mine who was a clerk in a book store, I wrote it on only one side of
+the paper. But mind you, he didn't know what I was doing. Nobody knew
+it; but one day, after a hard Saturday's work--the other boys had been
+out skating on the brick-pond--I shyly broached the subject to my
+mother. I felt the need of some sympathy. She listened in amazement, and
+then said: "Why, do you think you could write a book like that?" That
+settled the matter, and from that day no one knew what I was up to until
+I sent the first four volumes of Gunboat Series to my father. Was it
+work? Well, yes; it was hard work, but each week I had the satisfaction
+of seeing the manuscript grow until the "Young Naturalist" was all
+complete.
+
+                                        --Harry Castlemon in the Writer.
+
+GUNBOAT SERIES.
+6 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $6.00
+Frank the Young Naturalist. Frank before Vicksburg.
+Frank on a Gunboat. Frank on the Lower Mississippi.
+Frank in the Woods. Frank on the Prairie.
+
+ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Frank Among the Rancheros. Frank in the Mountains.
+Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho.
+
+SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.75
+The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle.
+The Sportsman's Club The Sportsman's Club Afloat.
+Among the Trappers.
+
+FRANK NELSON SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.75
+Snowed up. Frank in the Forecastle. The Boy Traders.
+
+BOY TRAPPER SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+The Buried Treasure. The Boy Trapper.
+The Mail Carrier.
+
+ROUGHING IT SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+George in Camp. George at the Fort.
+George at the Wheel.
+
+ROD AND GUN SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Don Gordon's Shooting Box. The Young Wild Fowlers.
+Rod and Gun Club.
+
+GO-AHEAD SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Tom Newcombe. Go-Ahead. No Moss.
+
+WAR SERIES.
+6 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $6.00
+True to His Colors. Marcy the Blockade-Runner.
+Rodney the Partisan. Marcy the Refugee.
+Rodney the Overseer. Sailor Jack the Trader.
+
+HOUSEBOAT SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+The Houseboat Boys. The Mystery of Lost River Canon.
+The Young Game Warden.
+
+AFLOAT AND ASHORE SERIES.
+3 vols. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+Rebellion in Dixie. A Sailor in Spite of Himself.
+The Ten-Ton Cutter.
+
+THE PONY EXPRESS SERIES.
+3 vol. By Harry Castlemon. $3.00
+The Pony Express Rider. The White Beaver.
+Carl, The Trailer.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Hunters of the Ozark, by Edward S. Ellis
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