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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:21:49 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:21:49 -0700 |
| commit | 870a63a40c262c44e8c1df0405669b6866470c1f (patch) | |
| tree | 68d21cf8f510c418fe880e07b459e11d907a0c9c | |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26234-h.zip b/26234-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1530774 --- /dev/null +++ b/26234-h.zip diff --git a/26234-h/26234-h.htm b/26234-h/26234-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ccf4d52 --- /dev/null +++ b/26234-h/26234-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6919 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Far Past the Frontier, by James A. Braden. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.2em} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.tb {width: 35%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.4em} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Far Past the Frontier, by James A. Braden + +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: Far Past the Frontier + +Author: James A. Braden + +Illustrator: W. H. Fry + +Release Date: August 9, 2008 [EBook #26234] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAR PAST THE FRONTIER *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 328px; height: 471px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 328px;'> +He met the hot-mouthed, vicious brute, his rude spear<br /> +clasped in both hands<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:2em; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Far Past the Frontier</p> +<p style=' font-size:em; margin-bottom:.5em; font-style:italic;'>By</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>JAMES A. BRADEN</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>Illustrated</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>by</p> +<p style=' font-size:1em;'>W. H. FRY</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:2em;'>C</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; font-style:italic;'>AKRON, OHIO</p> +<p style=' font-size:1em; font-style:italic;'>THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; font-style:italic;'>NEW YORK CHICAGO</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:2em; font-style:italic;'>MADE IN U. S. A.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-size:0.8em;'> +<p>COPYRIGHT, 1902</p> +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Contents</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Flight of Big Pete Ellis. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_THE_FLIGHT_OF_BIG_PETE_ELLIS'>5</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Bound Boy’s Story. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_A_BOUND_BOY_S_STORY'>19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Beginning of a Perilous Journey. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THE_BEGINNING_OF_A_PERILOUS_JOURNEY'>32</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Man Under the Bed. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_THE_MAN_UNDER_THE_BED'>47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Mysterious Shot in the Darkness. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_A_MYSTERIOUS_SHOT_IN_THE_DARKNESS'>62</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>On Lonely Mountain Roads. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_ON_LONELY_MOUNTAIN_ROADS'>76</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>On Into the Wilderness. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_ON_INTO_THE_WILDERNESS'>91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Friends or Foes? </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_FRIENDS_OR_FOES'>105</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Scalp at Big Buffalo’s Belt. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_THE_SCALP_AT_BIG_BUFFALO_S_BELT'>121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Night With the Indians. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_A_NIGHT_WITH_THE_INDIANS'>134</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Again a Hidden Enemy. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_AGAIN_A_HIDDEN_ENEMY'>150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Building a Cabin. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_BUILDING_A_CABIN'>164</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Strange Story of Arthur Bridges. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_THE_STRANGE_STORY_OF_ARTHUR_BRIDGES'>179</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Treed by Wolves. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_TREED_BY_WOLVES'>192</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Maple Sugar Camp in the Wilderness. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_A_MAPLE_SUGAR_CAMP_IN_THE_WILDERNESS'>206</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Hatred of Big Buffalo. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_THE_HATRED_OF_BIG_BUFFALO'>219</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Danger. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_DANGER'>232</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-top:2em;'>Far Past The Frontier.</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I_THE_FLIGHT_OF_BIG_PETE_ELLIS' id='I_THE_FLIGHT_OF_BIG_PETE_ELLIS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3><i>The Flight of Big Pete Ellis.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>“Look out thar!”</p> +<p>A young, red-bearded man of herculean +frame fiercely jerked the words between his teeth +as he leaped between two boys who were about to +enter the country store, from the door of which he +sprang.</p> +<p>Diving aside, but quickly turning, the lads +saw the cause of their sudden movement bound +into a wagon standing near, and with a furious +cry to the horses, whip them to such instant, +rapid speed that the strap with which the animals +were tied, snapped like a bit of string. With a +clatter and rumbling roar the team and wagon +dashed around a corner, the clumsy vehicle all +but upsetting, as the wheels on one side flew +clear of the ground.</p> +<p>Running forward, the boys were in time to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +see, fast disappearing down the road toward +where the September sun was setting, the reckless +driver bending over, lashing the horses to a +frantic gallop. The wagon swayed and jolted +over the ruts and holes, threatening momentarily +to throw the fellow headlong. An empty barrel +in the box bounced up and down and from side to +side like a thing alive.</p> +<p>“Something has happened! Big Pete isn’t +doing that for fun!” the larger of the boys exclaimed.</p> +<p>“Run for Dr. Cartwright, quick! Big Pete +has killed Jim Huson, I’m afraid!”</p> +<p>The speaker was Marvel Rice, proprietor of +the store in which Huson was a clerk. “Tell +him to hurry—hurry!” the merchant cried again, +as without a second’s hesitation the two boys +sped away along the tan-bark path.</p> +<p>“Are you coming, Ree?” asked the more +slender lad, glancing over his shoulder with a +droll smile. He was a wiry chap of sixteen and +ran like a grey hound, easily taking the lead.</p> +<p>His companion made no reply, but his spirit +fired by the sarcastic question, he forged ahead, +and the other found it necessary to waste no more +breath in humor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span></p> +<p>An admirer of youthful strength and development +would have clapped his hands with delight +to have seen the boys’ close race. Return +Kingdom, whom the slender lad had called +“Ree,” was a tall, strongly built, muscular fellow +of seventeen. His fine black hair waved under +the brim of a dilapidated beaver as he ran. +His brown eyes were serious and keen and his +mouth and chin emphasized the determination +expressed in them. Though his clothes were of +rough home-spun stuff, and his feet were encased +in coarse boots, an observing person would have +seen that he was possessed of the decision and +strength in both mind and body which go to make +leaders among men.</p> +<p>The smaller boy was John Jerome—quick, +vigorous, brown-haired, blue-eyed, freckled, and +his attire was like that of his companion whose +follower he was in everything save foot-racing. +In that he would give way to no one, not excluding +the trained Indian runners who sometimes +came to the neighboring village.</p> +<p>“Easy, easy!” Dr. Cartwright sang out, the +boys nearly colliding with him as he was driving +from his dooryard. “Somebody dying?” he +asked as the runners halted. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span></p> +<p>“Jim Huson’s been hurt; they want you at +the store, quick,” Ree Kingdom breathlessly explained.</p> +<p>“Badly?” asked the doctor with provoking +deliberation, drawing on his gloves.</p> +<p>“Pretty nigh killed, I guess; Big Pete Ellis +did it,” put in John Jerome, amazed that the +physician did not at once drive off at lightning +speed.</p> +<p>“And they want me to finish the job do +they?” smiled Dr. Cartwright, who was never +known to become excited. “Well, I’ll see what +I can do. Daisy, get up.”</p> +<p>The latter words were for the faithful mare +that had drawn the doctor’s chaise, or two-wheeled +carriage, summer and winter for so +many years that she was as well known as the +physician himself. The horse set off at a leisurely +jog, but the master’s second “Get up Daisy,” +though drawled out as if haste were the last thing +to be thought of, quickened the animal’s speed to +a lively trot.</p> +<p>The boys started back at a walk, speculating +on what could have provoked Big Pete’s assault +and how serious Jim Huson’s injury might be.</p> +<p>“It upsets all our plans,” said John; “for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +Jim was just the fellow to tell us the price of +everything and just what western emigrants +should take along. We can’t talk to Mr. Rice +about our going, as we could talk to Jim.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Rice is so excitable he may have +thought Huson worse hurt than he is,” Ree answered. +“Anyway, we are not to start for three +weeks, and Jim may be up and around long before +we go. So don’t be blue. There is more +than one way to skin a cat. If we can’t have +Jim’s advice we can talk with some one else, or +use our own judgment as to what we must buy. +In the end we will have to depend entirely on ourselves +as to what we should or should not do, anyway; +but come what may, three weeks from this +very Monday, we shall go, if we live and have our +health.”</p> +<p>“Bully for you, Ree! In three weeks our +faces will be turned toward the setting sun!”</p> +<p>“Our backs will be toward the rising sun in +three weeks, less one day,” Ree answered. “But +scamper along; let’s get back to the store and +find out first how Jim was hurt and how badly. +It will be a sorry job for Pete Ellis, if they +catch him.”</p> +<p>The assault on the clerk at the Corners’ store +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +had aroused the neighborhood. Coming at the +hour of sundown when the day’s work was nearly +over, it found people with leisure to hurry to +the scene to learn all about the affair. A dozen +men and boys and a few women and children were +gathered near when Return Kingdom and John +Jerome arrived. The boys found that their injured +friend had been carried to the inn across +the street, where Dr. Cartwright was attending +him, and all were anxiously waiting that good +man’s opinion.</p> +<p>The story of the assault as it was told, over +and over again, as the crowd about the store increased, +was that Big Pete had attempted to pass +counterfeit money on Jim Huson. The latter refused +it, accusing Ellis of having brought spurious +coin to him at other times as well, and threatening +to cause his arrest. Without warning Big +Pete seized a heavy butter firkin and threw it +squarely at the clerk’s head.</p> +<p>Huson dropped unconscious to the floor, and +Mr. Rice, who ran to his aid, received a similar +blow. Ellis lost no time in dashing through the +open door, then adding to his other crimes the +theft of horses and wagon to assist in his escape.</p> +<p>“Well, there is no great loss without some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +small gain,” said one man. “We are quit of +Big Pete, that’s certain, and it is a good riddance +of bad rubbish. He was the worst man in this +bailiwick, and I am thinking that more than one +job of pilfering might safely be laid at his door.”</p> +<p>It was, indeed, true. Big Pete was not +looked upon as a desirable citizen. So bad had +his name become that he could scarcely find employment +where he was known. The honest people +of old Connecticut had little liking for dishonesty, +notwithstanding the stories of the +money-making ingenuity of that state’s inhabitants.</p> +<p>Leaning against a post, apart from the other +men, Ree Kingdom presently noticed an aged +farmer, alternately wringing his hands and burying +his face in them. He was the owner of the +team which had been stolen, and, heedless of all +else idly lamented his loss, complaining that no +one went in pursuit of the thief to secure his +horses, but wholly forgetful of the best of scriptural +proverbs that God helps those who help +themselves. The boy was about to speak to him, +when two men dashed up on horseback.</p> +<p>“There’s the constable,” John Jerome exclaimed—“The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +constable and his brother, and +they are going after Big Pete.”</p> +<p>Before Ree could answer, the officer called +for volunteers to assist in his undertaking, for +Ellis was known to be a dangerous man.</p> +<p>“Here, some of you young bucks that can +ride bare-back, strip the harness off my team +an’ help ketch that murderous heathen! Only +wish’t I wasn’t all crippled up with rheumatics, +I’d show him!”</p> +<p>The speaker was Captain William Bowen, +who had fought in the Revolutionary War, ending +seven years earlier, (1783) and was proud of +it; and who, though really sadly crippled by +rheumatism, was still a sure shot and not the man +to be trifled with by law-breakers. He would +permit no one to call him anything but “Captain.” +His old rifle was always within reach +and two big pistols were ever his companions.</p> +<p>For a minute no one made a move to accept +the captain’s offer, and then with: “Come on, +John,” Ree Kingdom waited no longer. In a +twinkling the boys unharnessed the horses, leaving +only the bridles on them, and were mounted. +Tom Huson, the blacksmith and Peter Piper, +a half-breed Indian, a sort of roustabout in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +neighborhood, had also hurriedly prepared to +join in the chase.</p> +<p>“Take my twins, lads, they bite as hard as +they bark,” called Captain Bowen, passing his +brace of pistols up to Ree and John, and in another +moment the party was galloping in pursuit +of the big fellow whose crime might yet be murder, +Dr. Cartwright having reported that only +time could tell.</p> +<p>“Who-ho-ho-ho-ho!” John Jerome could +not resist the temptation to give an Indian war-whoop. +There is an exhilaration in a rapid ride +by moonlight at any time, and with the clatter +of the hoofs of a half dozen horses upon the beaten +road, the forms of other riders, shadowy and +ghost-like on either side to lend a feeling of companionship, +and a knowledge of danger’s presence +to make every sense the more alert, there is +no finer excitement. Little wonder is it that +John could not repress a yell, and though of a +much quieter disposition, Ree felt like shouting, +also.</p> +<p>“Who-ho-ho-ho!” John yelled again, a half +hour later, and the women and children ran to +the door of a house they were passing to see who +it might be that was dashing by at such breakneck +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +speed. The air came soft and cool to the +riders half hidden in the shadows of the trees +which bordered the road, though the moon was +shining gloriously.</p> +<p>“We will send you on ahead to tell Pete we +are coming, if you are so fond of making it +known, youngster,” exclaimed the constable as +John gave still another whoop.</p> +<p>“He’d have a cat fit if he knew you were +after him, I’ll wager,” the boy answered, nettled +by the man’s sarcasm. “Suppose I do ride +on and let him know.”</p> +<p>John leaned back and slapped his horse’s +flank. The animal, scarcely more than a colt, +sprang forward at great speed. At the same +time the young rider raised up on his knees, then +on his feet and keeping his balance with seeming +ease, standing nearly erect, the horse running its +fastest, he held the reins in one hand, waved his +hat in the other, and again yelled like an Indian.</p> +<p>“That young dare-devil will kill himself one +of these days,” said the blacksmith. “That colt +of Captain Bowen’s is likely to take it into her +head to bring up short at any minute. Better +call him back, Kingdom.”</p> +<p>Ree had no fear that his friend could not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +take care of himself, but in answer to the suggestion, +he gave a shrill, peculiar whistle which +made the woodland ring. Like a shot John dropped +to a sitting posture as he heard the call, and +in another minute Ree had ridden up beside him. +Before either could speak, a black object loomed +up in the narrow road and they had barely time +to rein their horses in before they were upon it, +the animals leaping sidewise to avoid a collision.</p> +<p>“Big Pete’s wagon, sure as shooting! It’s +broken down!” ejaculated Ree.</p> +<p>“Scotland! Where would I have landed if I +had been standing up and this colt had run into +it?” John exclaimed. As he spoke the others of +their party came up.</p> +<p>“Here’s the wagon, but Pete and the horses +are gone,” called Ree. “He can’t be far ahead.”</p> +<p>“There’s no telling. Hurry on,” answered +the constable who had hastily sprung off his +horse to examine the wreck. “Here are the harnesses, +but Pete is trying to get away with both +horses. Keep your wits about you, boys, there is +likely to be some shooting!”</p> +<p>Ree had been the first to start forward, and +was one hundred yards in advance of the others +when his quick eye detected the dim outlines of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +a man on horseback in the shadow of a low +branching oak just before him at the roadside. +He recognized the huge figure of Big Pete and +without a word guided his horse straight toward +the fellow. The criminal saw him and with +a yell started off.</p> +<p>Ree’s horse with a splendid bound cleared +the ditch beside the highway, and in another +moment the boy had seized the bridle of the +horse Big Pete was leading, just as the fellow +was getting the animal he bestrode under rapid +way for a race for his liberty. It was clear +that he had been delayed by the breaking down +of the wagon, and had hidden at the roadside +hoping his pursuers would pass him by. With +a determined grip Ree clung to the bridle of the +lead horse, though he was nearly jerked to the +ground. With his other hand he sought to check +his own animal, but the skittish young thing had +taken fright and was now running ahead of the +flying criminal’s horses.</p> +<p>A great out-cry came from the constable and +his party as they saw what had happened and +dug spurs into their mounts. Down the road the +pursued and pursuers raced, Ree Kingdom wholly +unable to retard Big Pete’s progress but still +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +clinging to the bridle of the horse between them, +the constable and his men trying their best to +overtake the fugitive, but unable to gain on him.</p> +<p>“Shoot! why don’t you shoot?” yelled Ree +to his friends at last, and a pair of pistols cracked +simultaneously, a third and fourth rapidly following.</p> +<p>Ree heard the bullets whistle near his head +and realized that he was in almost as much danger +of being hit, as Big Pete. But again he +cried:</p> +<p>“Shoot!”</p> +<p>The pursuers were slowly but surely falling +behind in the race. The burly Ellis, glancing +back, was quick to see that fortune favored him. +He leaned far over from his horse and before Ree +Kingdom could detect his purpose in the dusky +light, seized the boy by the neck. With a giant’s +strength he pulled the lad partially from his +seat, endeavoring to hurl him to the ground. +Failing, he relinquished his hold on the reins, +and using both hands, succeeded in drawing +Kingdom over the unridden horse between them +to the shoulders of his own horse. And then +with herculean efforts he tried to throw the boy +to the earth. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p> +<p>But Ree held to his own horse’s reins with +bull dog ferocity, and with all his strength resisted +the other’s effort. As he was jerked from +his seat, however, the strain on the reins caused +his horse to sharply swerve inward, crowding +against the other animals, and in a twinkling +the three of them, already frantic with the fury +of their wild race, left the course and sped across +a woodland at the unfenced roadside.</p> +<p>Gasping an oath, the enraged giant tried +again to push Ree to the ground, and this time he +succeeded; but he himself went off head-foremost +with the boy, who held to his arm with a grip +of steel, dragging him suddenly down. Freed +of their burden, the horses ran on, Big Pete +cursing frightfully as he sprang to his feet to +find them far beyond his reach.</p> +<p>Lying still, bruised but not seriously hurt by +his fall, Ree Kingdom was thinking fast. He felt +for his pistol inspired by the thought that he +would capture the criminal yet, and wishing he +had used it earlier. But the weapon was gone—lost +in the wild ride, no doubt. The next instant +Ellis swiftly turned and seized him by the +throat; and he knew that his life was in the +giant’s hands.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II_A_BOUND_BOY_S_STORY' id='II_A_BOUND_BOY_S_STORY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3><i>A Bound Boy’s Story.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>With the horses gone beyond recapture, Big +Pete must needs depend on his own legs if he +meant to escape. The constable’s party could not +be far behind, and with the boy, whose throat he +clutched, to point the way in which he had gone, +when the officer came up, his chance of getting +away was much less than it would be should that +boy be powerless to give any information.</p> +<p>Ree Kingdom thought of this and lay perfectly +still, feigning insensibility but keenly +wondering what disposition would be made of +him, and resolved to fight to the last breath if his +pretense of unconsciousness were discovered. +Then the giant’s grip about his throat grew +tighter, and he felt that a terrible struggle and +perhaps death were just at hand. Between his +almost closed eyelids he saw the man’s big frame +bending silently over him and thus moments +which seemed like hours passed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>The slow-thinking fugitive could not at once +decide what he should do. He was hoping Ree +would spring to his feet and run. Then, pretending +to try to catch him, he would escape among +the darker shadows before the boy could see in +which direction he had gone. He was not deceived +by the pretense of unconsciousness, as Ree +thought, and really hoped to be saved the necessity +of killing the lad or of knocking him senseless, +to a certainty, lest such a blow might produce +death. He shuddered as he remembered +that his hands were probably already stained +with blood.</p> +<p>If Ellis had but known it, flight was far from +Kingdom’s thoughts. He was steadfast in his +every purpose, to a fault, and having set out to +capture Big Pete, the idea of running away just +as he was face to face with the giant fellow, did +not so much as occur to him, though he well +knew his peril.</p> +<p>“Scoot!” With sudden fury Ellis dragged +Ree to his feet and violently pushed him as he +spoke, expecting to see the boy dash away.</p> +<p>Ree could not prevent a grim smile from +crossing his lips as he turned quickly toward the +giant again, realizing that the fellow had intended +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +to frighten him. Each moment, however, he +looked for a deadly conflict to begin, and as he +stood in quiet defiance, trying to determine what +the fugitive’s next move would be, and momentarily +expecting a struggle, there was in the background +of his thoughts a vision of an unmarked, +flower-strewn grave in a quiet church-yard. +Strongly intertwined with it was memory of his +past life. But hark!</p> +<p>“Clockety-clack-clockety-clack!” It was the +sound of horses’ hoofs close by. The constable +had discovered them at last. Big Pete heard the +hoof-beats and knew he had paused too long.</p> +<p>“Death to ye!” he cried with an oath, and +lodged a hammer-like blow on Kingdom’s head, +sending the lad staggering, while he swiftly took +to his heels.</p> +<p>Dazed, but still conscious, Ree sprang after +him, shouting “Come on!” to the party of horsemen +now but a few rods distant, “Ellis has just +this minute run into the woods!”</p> +<p>For an hour the men searched for the fugitive, +but in vain. He had disappeared completely +and in the deep darkness pervading the thickly-grown +brush and trees of the forest he eluded his +pursuers with ease. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span></p> +<p>In disappointment the chase was abandoned +and attention given to capturing the escaped +horses. This was at last accomplished, and as +the early moon was waning, the constable and his +volunteers turned homeward. One source of satisfaction +was theirs—they had, at least, recovered +the stolen team and wagon, though the latter +would need many repairs before again being fit +for service.</p> +<p>Ree briefly told of his adventure as the party +rode along. John Jerome could not withhold his +words of regret that his horse had been too slow +for the race, nor could he quite understand how +the stolen team had been able to outstrip the others.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you how that was,” said the constable’s +brother. “The nags Big Pete had was +really runnin’ away. I guess you know how +much faster a dog will run when he has a rattle +tied to his tail, than when he’s jest runnin’ for +the fun on it! Wall, this here’s a parallel case.”</p> +<p>Although it was nearly midnight, a small +crowd of curious ones was found still lingering +about Mr. Rice’s store, anxious to learn all that +had been done. Ree Kingdom received a large +share of the praise for the return of the stolen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +horses. Captain Bowen was delighted over his +behavior and would not listen to one word about +the lost pistol.</p> +<p>“I’ll drive over that way an’ pick it up along +the road somewheres in the mornin’,” he said. +“An’ to-morrow night I want you to come an’ try +some o’ the new cider. You come too, son,” he +added, turning to John.</p> +<p>The boys thanked him heartily, for well they +might esteem it a great favor and an honor to +receive this invitation from the warlike old veteran. +Again they inquired for the latest news of +Jim Huson, and learning that he was likely to +recover, set out for their homes.</p> +<p>“I have a presentiment that we shall see Big +Pete again,” said Ree thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Are you afraid of him?” John quietly +asked.</p> +<p>“No, I am not afraid of him, yet I would +rather we should never meet again. But I think +he will go west and though it is a big country, we +might find him there. By the way, John, Capt. +Bowen is just the man to give us advice about +our expedition. Meet me about sundown at the +old place. We will have a lot to talk about as we +are on the way to make our call.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></p> +<p>A few minutes later the boys separated. +John going to the overcrowded little house of his +parents; Ree to the Henry Catesby farm, which +was the only home he had known since childhood. +As he crept into bed in his attic room, and +stretched his full length restfully on the straw-filled +tick, again there came to him a vision of an +unmarked grave in the quiet burying-ground, +bringing an influence of sadness to all his +thoughts.</p> +<p>“Oh, mother, my memory of you is the dearest +thing in life,” he softly whispered to himself, +and his mind turned fondly to his childhood. +Faintly he remembered his father. More vividly +he recalled the coming of a neighbor with the +news of his father’s death—killed by Gen. +Howe’s troops as they advanced on Philadelphia, +after succeeding in defeating the American soldiers +at Wilmington, because Gen. Washington +was misled by false information.</p> +<p>Poor Ree! How well did he remember his +mother’s grief, though he was too young to understand—too +care-free to grieve long or deeply +himself. Many times he had heard the story in +after days, how his father and two companions +were fired upon as they were hurrying forward +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +to give notice of the enemy’s coming; and one of +the three being wounded, his father would not +leave him, though in trying to save him, his own +life was sacrificed. It was the third man, who +escaped, who spread the news of the bravery and +death of the elder Return Kingdom.</p> +<p>Ree did not know how long a time had +elapsed, but it seemed a very little while after +this sad story reached his mother that she removed +with him to a newer part of Connecticut, +where she earned a living for them both by weaving +and spinning. A happy year or two slipped +by and then—ah, well, he remembered the dreary +day when some neighbors had taken him to see +her whom he loved so well, buried beneath the +elm trees, and he knew he was left alone.</p> +<p>Memory of the bitter tears he shed came +freshly to the boy as he recalled it all—how, in +but a few days, he was “bound out” to Henry +Catesby with the promise that he should have a +home and want for nothing.</p> +<p>Had he been in want? Oh, he had been supplied +with food and clothing and a roof over his +head. Could he ask more? Yes, a thousand +times, yes! He wanted friends, companionship, +love. He remembered no one who had cared for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +him in those early days, except—Mary Catesby, +his hard master’s little daughter. And she was +still but a child when she was told to have no +association with the “bound boy;” learning of +which, he had steeled his proud young heart and +had spoken to her only when necessary.</p> +<p>So with work, day in and day out, save for a +few winter weeks in school, the years had passed, +until he made the acquaintance of John Jerome, +the son of a distant neighbor. Too poverty-distressed +to be proud, he had known little happiness +except a sort of sad pleasure he found in visiting +the church-yard, where in summer he placed +great bunches of wild flowers on the mound to +him most sacred.</p> +<p>For two years he and John had been intimate +friends. The latter being sometimes employed +by Mr. Catesby, gave the boys additional +opportunities of being with one another. Late +at night after a long, hard day in the harvest +fields, they had gone swimming together. They +had borrowed a gun, and John’s money bought +the ammunition they used in learning to shoot, +to practice which they had risen before sunrise; +for at Old Sol’s first peep the day’s work must be +begun. Many a time they had labored all day, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +then tramped the woods all night, hunting ’coons, +coming home in time only to catch a wink of sleep +before jumping into their clothes and away to +work again.</p> +<p>Sometimes in winter when, by reason of +John helping him with his work, Ree was able +to secure a half-day off, the boys had sought other +game, and shared the profits arising from their +hunting and trapping. What with the knowledge +they thus picked up themselves, and the instruction +given them by Peter Piper and others, there +were no two boys in Connecticut better versed in +woodcraft.</p> +<p>Ree thought of all these things as he lay +awake looking out through his window at the +stars in the western sky. And as his thoughts +ran on, he reflected on the death of Mr. Catesby a +short eight months ago, and the great change it +had brought into his life. From the moment Mrs. +Catesby had called him to go for the doctor when +her husband was taken ill, she had depended on +him in nearly everything. It was he who took +charge of all the farm work of the spring and +summer, and the neighbors had said the Catesby +place never produced better crops. With scarcely +a pause except on Sundays, he had toiled early +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +and late to accomplish this. Only within the past +few weeks when the rush of the harvest was over, +had he allowed himself any time for recreation. +Yet it had been a happy summer, he thought. +Mrs. Catesby, appreciative of his splendid services, +had been all kindness; Mary Catesby had +been agreeable as his own sister might have been. +Both had forgotten, or at least no longer observed, +the bar of social inequality which Mr. +Catesby had set up against the “bound boy.”</p> +<p>Then in August had come Mrs. Catesby’s decision +to remove to the city that her daughter +might have educational advantages. It was with +genuine regret that Ree had learned her plans. +He would never have admitted even to himself +that he had, in a certain boyish, vague way, +dreamed of a dim, distant time when he and Mary +might be more than friends; but maybe some such +thought had been in his mind at some time. +Strange it would be had nothing of the kind occurred +to him.</p> +<p>Thus as he lay awake still pondering on the +past, the present and the future, in the depths +of Ree’s heart of hearts there may have been a +wish that he should become a successful man, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +wealthy perhaps, well-to-do certainly; but in any +event, looked up to and respected.</p> +<p>But, oh!—What obstacles confronted him! +How could he ever be more than a rough, uneducated +“bound boy” that he was! The subject +was not a pleasant one, but he gave it most serious +thought, and determined for the hundredth +time, that, come what might, he would make the +most of his opportunities and ever be able to hold +up his head in any company.</p> +<p>So his reflections passed to the future. He +was to receive $100 for his summer’s work. He +also had some money which he had secured in +odd sums from time to time, safely put away in +the chest beneath his bed.</p> +<p>John Jerome had a hoard of savings, too. +How should they best invest their joint capital +for their proposed journey to the western wilderness, +where, they planned, they would make +homes and secure farms for themselves amid savages +and wild beasts! They must be obtaining +this and other information at once. They would +have learned much that very evening had not the +man to whom they were going in quest of advice, +been assaulted by Big Pete Ellis. And what of +that burly giant, by the way? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“But this will never do. I must be getting +to sleep,” Ree said to himself.</p> +<p>Going to sleep just when one wishes, however, +is not always easy. Ree found it the very +opposite. Tired as he was, his mind went over +the adventure of the night, and in a round-about +way to his future home in the wilderness, again, +before his eyes closed. At last dreams came to +him, and in one of them he saw Big Pete waving +a white handkerchief as a flag of truce. He could +not make out for whom the sign of peace was +meant; for a war party of Indians seemed to be +hot on the giant’s trail, and it was in the opposite +direction that Pete waved the handkerchief.</p> +<p>Ree recalled the dream when pulling on his +boots in the morning, and pondered over the possibility +of its having some significance.</p> +<p>Many times during that day the young man +had occasion to remember the incidents of the +night preceding. Everyone he met, it seemed, +had heard of his adventure with Big Pete and +they all congratulated him. More than one, too, +warned him against the giant Ellis, saying the +fellow would surely seek revenge.</p> +<p>Ree gave but little heed to this talk. Big +Pete had had the chance to kill him, or at least to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +attempt it, and had not done so, evidently wishing +to avoid blood-shed. But Peter Piper came along +during the afternoon with a story which he had +heard in the adjacent village, that gave the boy +some uneasiness. Big Pete had sent word by a +farmer he had seen at daybreak, that he would +return to his old haunts and that not a man would +dare to touch him; that he would not be driven +off, though he had killed both Jim Huson and +Marvel Rice, and that those who had interfered +with him would suffer for it.</p> +<p>“He’s a braggart,” said Ree contemptuously.</p> +<p>“Jes’ what he says, he will do. He’s bad, +bad, bad,” said Peter Piper in his simple, earnest +way.</p> +<p>So Ree came to look upon the matter with +much seriousness. Somehow it occurred to him +that the giant might seek revenge by burning the +barn or poisoning the horses, or some such cowardly +thing—he knew not what. For himself he +was not afraid, and it is not strange that in the +wildest flights of his lively fancy he did not for a +moment imagine under what startling circumstances +he was destined to next behold the fugitive +criminal.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III_THE_BEGINNING_OF_A_PERILOUS_JOURNEY' id='III_THE_BEGINNING_OF_A_PERILOUS_JOURNEY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3><i>The Beginning of a Perilous Journey.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>“Hitch yer cheers up t’ the blaze; it’s a +cool night fer September,” said Captain Bowen, +drawing his own splint-bottom chair toward the +great fire-place of his homely but thoroughly comfortable +home, and slowly sipping new cider, just +old enough to sparkle, from the bright pewter +mug containing it.</p> +<p>“An’ help yerselves to some more cider, +naow dew; I like a man to feel at home,” he went +on as Return Kingdom and John Jerome gave +heed to his kindly bidding.</p> +<p>“Naow as I was a sayin’,” Captain Bowen +continued, “I r’ally kent advise yeu youngsters +t’ undertake these plans yer minds air set on. +The Injuns hev hated us whites worse than ever +sence the British turned their back to ’em after +the war was over, an’ comin’ so soon after their +hevin’ helped the pestiferous Redcoats so much—they +fit fer ’em tooth an’ toe-nail as the sayin’ is, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +ye know—as I was sayin’ it rankles in their +in’ards. General Washington—peace to him—he’s +did all he kin toward pacifyin’ ’em, an’ it +ain’t no wonder they call him the ‘Great Father’; +but so many other men hev cheated ’em, an’ so +many settlers air crowdin’ into their huntin’ +graounds thet they air jist ready to lift the hair +of any white man they catch sight on, a’most. Ye +air takin’ long chances, boys, I do tell ye.”</p> +<p>“We want to hear both sides of the matter,” +Ree answered, and Captain Bowen resumed, saying +in his own slow, homely but kindly way, that +it was into the very thick of the savages that the +boys were planning to go. He reminded them of +the barbarous cruelties the Indians had practiced +as allies of the King’s troops in the war, and told +them briefly the story of the battle Col. Crawford +had fought with the savages in the Ohio country, +ending with the burning of Col. Crawford at the +stake.</p> +<p>He cautioned his young friends further of +the hazardous nature of the journey through an +unsettled country, a long part of the way lying +over the Allegheny mountains. He told them of +the cutthroats they would be likely to encounter—rough +men, who, for adventure’s sake, had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +gone into the war, and had never been satisfied +to settle down to lives of peace and respectability +after the close of the Revolution. As he paused +at last, there was quiet for a minute or two. Then +Return Kingdom said:</p> +<p>“We have thought of these things, Captain, +and maybe we are head-strong, but we are bent +on going. There is little future for a young man +here. I will soon have no home, and John can +well be spared from his. All we can do, if we do +not emigrate and secure homes of our own, is to +hire out as farm hands, and, as you know, labor +is not greatly in demand. And as we have said, +we expect to go among the Indians partly as traders. +The land we shall settle upon, we expect to +buy from them.</p> +<p>“Traders who have behaved themselves +have not had much trouble, and we hope to make +peace with every tribe we fall in with. The truth +is, Captain, we really have more fear of finding +ourselves in the woods with a lot of stuff we do +not need, taking up the room in our cart and adding +to our load, while that which we should have +will not be within reach, than we have of trouble +with the Indians.”</p> +<p>“People say it will be only a few years until +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +all the country about the Ohio river will be settled,” +put in John Jerome.</p> +<p>“Y-a-as, land agents say that,” smiled Captain +Bowen, “but I ain’t so sure on it. Folks kin +still find plenty of hardships right here in Connecticut +‘thout pokin’ off t’ the Ohio Valley or +the northwest kentry. But I tell you what, +youngsters,” he exclaimed with sudden enthusiasm, +“I wish I was ten years younger, I’d go +with ye, bless me if I wouldn’t! They do bring +tales of a marvelous kentry from the valley where +my ol’ friend General Putnam an’ his colony settled!”</p> +<p>From that moment Ree and John had smooth +sailing so far as getting advice and information +from Captain Bowen was concerned. Then and +there, however, the Captain had to tell them all +he knew about the colony of brave men who had +founded Marietta on the Ohio river, nearly three +years earlier. “An’ they do tell that game is +thick there as fleas on a homeless, yaller dog,” he +said.</p> +<p>Though he knew that his wish that he might +accompany the boys could never be gratified, +Captain Bowen entered into the spirit of their +plans and hopes with whole-souled ardor. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +took great delight in telling the boys of his own +youth and his adventures. He seemed to grow +young again in their presence. Many times, too, +he told them of sixteen-year-old Jervis Cutler, +who, as a member of General Putnam’s party, +was the first to leap ashore and the first to cut +down a tree in the new country whose settlement +their enterprise had started.</p> +<p>Throughout, the boys found Captain Bowen’s +assistance of the greatest value. He went to +town with them and helped them make their purchases, +which he took into his own home, as a central +point of assembling, the articles bought for +the expedition, and helped to pack them in the +handiest and most compact manner; and many a +thing of value and use which he paid for with his +own money, found its way at his hands into the +outfit the lads were getting together.</p> +<p>The route of the journey Captain Bowen also +aided the boys in planning, and his knowledge of +the country stood them in excellent stead. He +prepared maps for them—home-made affairs it is +true, and not absolutely accurate, but yet worth +much to those who planned to cross a thinly settled +country to the wilderness beyond. It was +by the way of Braddock’s road that he advised +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +the boys to go, following for the most part the +course Gen. Putnam’s party had taken after leaving +Hartford in 1788. This party had made the +trip in three months, including a long wait while +boats were built in which to float down the Ohio +river.</p> +<p>Captain Bowen figured that Ree and John +could make better time and reach Fort Pitt +(Pittsburg) before November first. There they +could probably secure passage down the river +without difficulty. In many other ways the genial +old man lent his aid, and the boys never went to +him that they did not find him brimming over +with ideas for their benefit.</p> +<p>The news that Ree and John were going to +the Ohio wilderness, and alone—soon spread +through the surrounding country. Men who +hitherto had scarcely noticed them, now came up +to shake hands and advise the lads as to this or +that, whenever they chanced to meet them. Others +shook their heads gloomily and lost no opportunity +to throw cold water on the project. The +young people of the community talked more of +Ree Kingdom and John Jerome going west than +of anything else. There were envious ones who +predicted that the boys would return a great deal +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +faster than they went, or that they would not live +to return at all. There were those of better dispositions, +however, who, while recognizing the +peril of the proposed venture, hoped and promised +for the chums, all success.</p> +<p>It was with one of the former that John had +an encounter which was talked about for weeks +afterward. Jason Hard, the cobbler, a stocky +Englishman, thirty years old perhaps, had been +making slighting remarks about both John and +Ree and their plans in the presence of a small +company of men who were at the tavern awaiting +the coming of the stage. As John approached +the inn someone said:</p> +<p>“Now here’s young Jerome himself, just say +to his face what you were saying behind his back, +Jason Hard!”</p> +<p>“I was sayin’ that if his father wasn’t shiftless, +the young ’un wouldn’t need to be leavin’ +’ome, an’ I say it again,” ejaculated the cobbler, +with arms akimbo, standing directly in front of +John in an insolent manner.</p> +<p>“Look here! Take that back, you son of a +Tory; my father has worked too hard to help his +son get a start in life, for me to stand by and hear +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +such talk! I say, take it back!” John bristled up +like a porcupine.</p> +<p>The insolent Englishman sprang toward him +as though to strike him, paused a moment, then +suddenly let fly a blow straight for the boy’s jaw. +Most luckily John dodged in time, then with the +agility of a cat he jumped toward the fellow and +planted one fist just below his ear and the other +squarely on his chin tumbling him to the ground.</p> +<p>Captain Bowen, who drove up just in time +to see the encounter, was tickled amazingly. Others +enjoyed the exhibition almost as much, and +gave a cheer for the boy, while the badly bruised +cobbler stood by rubbing his head, as though he +wondered what had occurred.</p> +<p>Captain Bowen cautioned John against being +too prone to take offense, especially as he +would soon have Indians to deal with, but he +secretly rejoiced in the lad’s spunk. The Captain +drove out of his way to take John home in his +light wagon, while he was thus advising him.</p> +<p>The day of their separation was drawing +quickly nearer, and John was spending as much +time with his parents, brothers and sisters as he +conveniently could. Often they urged him to +abandon his preparations, but as it was with Return +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +Kingdom that he was going, neither the +father nor mother was willing to say he must not +go. Both felt that he would be in good hands and +in good company.</p> +<p>And Mrs. Catesby and Mary more than once, +also, sought to dissuade Ree from emigrating. It +was kind of them and their words of sympathy +did Ree good, but he smiled at their fears and +promised that he would return to assist in welcoming +them home from the city, if they should +be returning when Mary’s education was completed.</p> +<p>How often Ree had cause to remember these +promises so light-heartedly made, and the comforts +he was leaving behind, within a few short +months—when days of danger and sleepless +nights of peril came!</p> +<p>There was so much to be done that time +passed quickly. The Sunday preceding the Monday +morning on which they were to start, Ree and +John went to church together, and heard the good +old preacher make special reference to them in +his prayer—that God would guide and protect +the young wayfarers and that they would not forget +His mercy and wisdom. Every eye in the +church was turned toward the boys, embarrassing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +them more than a little and making them wish +they were safely started and well away from their +excellent but altogether too curious friends.</p> +<p>Ree went home to dinner with John, and on +his way to the Catesby farm in the evening he +went across the fields to the quiet church-yard. +Under the clear, cold stars he sat beside a grassy +mound and for an hour was quiet as the grave itself. +Many tender memories crept through his +heart and in his thoughts was an unspoken +prayer. Thus he took leave of the spot to him +most sacred—his angel mother’s grave.</p> +<p>To his surprise Ree found Mrs. Catesby and +Mary waiting for him in the combined sitting-room +and kitchen, when he entered the house.</p> +<p>“As you will be leaving so very early, sir, +we thought to say good-bye to you to-night,” said +Mary with feigned solemnity. And a little later +she said as they were talking, “I do hope you will +be as good as your name and will bring your +scalp safely home with you when you do ‘return’.”</p> +<p>Ree laughed and promised he would do so, +but he blushed, and seeing which, Mary Catesby +did the same, and looked her very prettiest.</p> +<p>“We shall think of you often, Return, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +maybe you will be able sometimes to send us a +letter. We shall be glad to hear from you, and +oh, my boy, be careful—careful in all things,” +Mrs. Catesby said.</p> +<p>There were more teasing words from Mary, +and more advice and real tears, from Mrs. Catesby +and her daughter, too, before the final good-byes +were said at last.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>The late September sun spread a soft, warm +haze over old Connecticut. A great, two-wheeled, +canvas-covered cart lumbered slowly along the +country road. Walking beside the one large horse +which drew the vehicle, was Return Kingdom, +his battered beaver hat on the back of his head, a +smile of buoyant hope upon his lips. Sitting on +a chest, his feet hanging over the front of the +wagon box, his back against a bundle of blankets +which made a fine cushion, was John Jerome. +Joy in living and satisfaction with himself and +all mankind were written in every line of his +face. It was eight o’clock of a Monday morning. +Two hours earlier the long journey toward the +unknown Northwest had begun.</p> +<p>“Why, ye’r in a terrible hurry, youngsters! +Thought I’d never ketch ye!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span></p> +<p>It was Captain Bowen who called out, driving +his spirited team alongside of the emigrant +wagon as he did so.</p> +<p>“After ye’d gone, it come to me all of a sudden +that ye’d stand a chance of meetin’ an old +friend of mine. He is an Iroquois Injun of the +Mohawk tribe an’ his name is High Horse. General +Putnam gave him this knife fer doin’ some +thin’ or other one time, an’ High Horse gave it +to me ’cause I shared powder an’ bullets with +him when he was out, an’ durin’ the war at that. +Seems t’ me naow, tew, that I pulled him +through some sick spell or somethin’. Any haow +he give me the knife. If ye see him tell him ye +know me. I heerd that he was livin’ up some +crick emptyin’ into the Ohio.”</p> +<p>Almost before the boys could thank the Captain +he had turned and was gone, having thrown +a long-bladed knife with a curiously carved ivory +handle—a relic of some Dutch trader perhaps—to Ree.</p> +<p>“I say! Maybe ye didn’t hear as haow Jim +Huson was able to git about t’day! Ye’ll be hungry +enough fer news I was thinkin’, before ye air +back agin!”</p> +<p>John waved his old cap and Ree shouted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +their thanks again, but if Captain Bowen heard +he gave no heed; at least he did not look back.</p> +<p>At noon a halt was made at the roadside, +close to a running brook, while the horse was fed +and watered and the boys ate their lunch. They +would not have exchanged places with a prince, +now that they felt themselves fairly launched +upon their long-talked-of enterprise. Their +hopes were unblemished by any unhappy circumstance +and the fine weather was as a tonic to their +already lively spirits. They carefully examined +their goods and wagon to see that all was in +proper order before starting on, resolving to be +attentive to every detail and let no mishap come +to them through carelessness. On the road, too, +they exercised care, remembering that a steady +gait and not too fast, was necessary. And so the +first day of their journey was passed most pleasantly.</p> +<p>For the novelty of it the boys camped out +the first night, beneath a clump of beech trees, +and no two young men ever more fully enjoyed a +campfire’s cheerful blaze.</p> +<p>Another and another day passed. It was in +the afternoon of the fourth day of the journey +that John stopped whistling “Yankee Doodle” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +to inquire of his companion who was taking his +turn riding on the box:</p> +<p>“Ree, do you know much about this Eagle +tavern where we are to stop to-night? I just happened +to remember a story that was told in war +time, that the house was haunted.”</p> +<p>“Haunted by Redcoat spies, I guess,” Ree +answered. “The whole kit of them there at that +time were the worst kind of Tories at heart, I +have heard folks say, and Captain Bowen said +something about it, too, you remember? But I +guess they are all right now—got on the right +side of the fence after the war was over.”</p> +<p>“I don’t mind Indians or wild animals—fact +is, I’m just hankering to kill a bear, but I +don’t want anything to do with spooks or witches +or anything of that sort,” returned John. “I’ll +keep my eyes wide open for ghosts and robbers +if we stay at the Eagle, at any rate.”</p> +<p>“There is probably more reason to be afraid +of bed-bugs,” laughed Ree. “I don’t believe +the Eagle is so very bad a place or Captain +Bowen would not have marked it as a stopping +place. There was a man robbed and murdered +there, it is true; but that was years ago, and +needn’t worry us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p> +<p>So with talk of their journey and the progress +they hoped to make in view of the necessity +of reaching the wilderness before winter set in +severely, the lads whiled away the time. It was +nearly sundown when, passing through a woods +which skirted both sides of the road, they found +the Eagle tavern in view.</p> +<p>“See any spooks about?” asked Ree with a +smile.</p> +<p>“No,” said John quite seriously, “but I did +see a mighty wicked looking man peeking out of +the window of the barn across the road from the +tavern there, just now. He seemed to be wanting +to find out who we were and what sort of an +outfit we had, without being seen by us. Without +joking, Ree, I tell you I don’t like it!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV_THE_MAN_UNDER_THE_BED' id='IV_THE_MAN_UNDER_THE_BED'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3><i>The Man Under the Bed.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>The Eagle tavern was a long, low structure +and stood close beside the highway, on the opposite +side of which was the weather-beaten log and +frame barn to which John had referred. Near +the tavern was a well and an old-fashioned sweep +towering above it. At the roadside there was +a moss-covered log trough at which horses were +watered. An air of loneliness, such as is +noticed about old, deserted houses, whose door-yards +have grown up to rank weeds and briars, +hung over the tavern, and the deep shadows +cast by the setting sun heightened this effect. +Little wonder is it that a feeling of depression +came over the young travelers as they approached.</p> +<p>No other houses were near the tavern and +guests were evidently few. The road which +passed it was not a main thoroughfare, and no +stage-coach made the Eagle a regular stopping-place. +It may have been a handsome; much-frequented +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +place at one time, but those days had +long since departed.</p> +<p>Up to the watering-trough Ree drove, however, +and unreined the horse, that it might drink.</p> +<p>“It does look kind of creepy around here,” +he remarked in an undertone; “but put on a bold +front, John, we are going to stay, just to prove +to ourselves that we are not afraid.”</p> +<p>“I would a great deal rather camp out,” +John frankly confessed, “but you are the captain, +Ree. I can stand it if you can.”</p> +<p>A skulking fellow of about thirty years, none +the handsomer for having lost nearly all his front +teeth, came to help put up their horse when the +boys had made their wants known inside the +tavern. No unusual thing occurred, however, +and the young travelers had shaken off the +gloomy feelings which the lonely place inspired +by the time their supper was ready. As they +were by themselves at the table, a man whom Ree +had not seen before approached and took a chair +nearby, tilting back against the wall and calmly +surveying them.</p> +<p>John kicked Ree’s shins under the table. It +was not, perhaps, a polite way of imparting the +information that this was the fellow he had seen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +peering out of the barn, but Ree understood perfectly.</p> +<p>Having eyed the boys for a minute or two, +the stranger said, in a gruff, indifferent tone:</p> +<p>“Good evenin’.”</p> +<p>“Good evening, sir,” spoke Ree, and John’s +voice repeated the words like an echo.</p> +<p>“Traveled far?” growled the stranger.</p> +<p>“Far enough for one day,” Ree answered, +little inclined to engage in conversation with the +man, for the fellow’s appearance was far from +favorable. The sneaking glance of his eyes, his +unshaved face and uncouth dress, half civilized, +half barbarian, gave him an air of lawlessness, +though except for these things he might have +been considered handsome.</p> +<p>For a minute the stranger did not speak, and +John suppressed a laugh as he saw with what +cool unconcern Ree returned the fellow’s stare +whenever he looked at them.</p> +<p>“Don’t show off your smartness, bub,” +sharply spoke the man at last, as he fully comprehended +that Ree had purposely given him +an evasive answer, “I asked a civil enough question.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></p> +<p>“And got a civil answer,” Ree quickly replied.</p> +<p>“I see you are emigrating,” the stranger +went on, trying to make his coarse voice sound +friendly. “I just had in mind puttin’ a flea in +your ear. Because it is the wrong time of year +to be goin’ west, in the first place, and the woods +are full of Indians and the roads alive with cutthroats, +in the second place. If I was you young +shavers I’d sell out and wait a year or two, or till +next spring anyhow, before goin’ any further. I +s’pose you have a lot of goods in your cart; goin’ +to do some tradin’ with the Mingoes, maybe.”</p> +<p>John pricked up his ears at this reference to +the nature of their cart’s contents, but waited for +Ree to speak. This the latter did at once, respectfully +but firmly.</p> +<p>“We are much obliged for your advice and +the interest you take in us, but we expect to be +able to take care of ourselves both on the road +and in the woods. Aren’t you the man we saw +in the barn as we were coming up?”</p> +<p>The question was an experimental thrust. +Ree wished to learn whether the fellow would +give a reason for having spied upon them. The +man looked at him searchingly before replying. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>“I never clapped eyes on you till you come +into this room,” he coolly said, however. “What +do you take me for? I was only goin’ to tell you +that I know a man that will buy your outfit if +you want to sell!”</p> +<p>“Which we do not,” said Ree with moderate +emphasis.</p> +<p>“You would find a little ready money +mighty handy; I don’t s’pose you have any too +much,” the stranger replied with assumed carelessness.</p> +<p>“Say; tell us what you are trying to get at, +will you!” John spoke up, with a show of spirit.</p> +<p>“Hold your horses, sonny!” the fellow +growled. “You are almost too big for your +breeches!”</p> +<p>“Well what do you take us for! Maybe +you have some more questions to ask!” John +exclaimed, and Ree smiled to see how heated he +had become.</p> +<p>The stranger relapsed into silence, and presently +arose and strolled away.</p> +<p>Having finished their supper, the boys went +into the general sitting-room of the tavern, a long +room in one end of which there was a bar, and +sat down by themselves to talk. As their conversation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +flagged, Ree drew from his belt beneath +his coat, the ivory handled knife Captain +Bowen had been at such pains to give them. In +an idle, listless way he began stropping the blade +on his boot-leg.</p> +<p>A tall, lank man of fifty, with a thin, sharp +face and nose, whom the lads had noticed sitting +opposite them, reading a pamphlet of some kind, +came nearer and seemed to take an unusual interest +in the sharpening of the knife. His keen +eyes watched every movement the blade made. +Coming close up, he quietly said:</p> +<p>“If that ar ain’t Cap. Bowen’s knife over +to Bruceville, he hes the mate to it! His’n is +the only knife I ever see with a handle like +that.”</p> +<p>“Do you know Captain Bowen?” asked Ree, +and as the man said he did, and told them who +he was, both lads held out their hands which the +newcomer shook cordially. It was like meeting +someone from home; for the lanky individual +was a peddler who had often visited at Captain +Bowen’s house and knew many of their friends.</p> +<p>As they talked further the peddler said, +sinking his voice to an undertone, “I want yeow +youngsters to hev some advice; it won’t cost ye +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +nothin’, an’ it may save ye a heap of trouble. +There’s a bad ’un stayin’ at this old tavern, an’ +he’s likely to want yeow boys to pay fer his rum. +Naow, he won’t ask ye fer money, but be all-fired +keerful that he don’t git it from ye anyhow. +Jes sleep with one eye open, an’ hev a hick’ry +club handy t’ yer bed.”</p> +<p>Ree told the peddler of their conversation +with the stranger at the table, and as he described +the fellow, their new friend said:</p> +<p>“He ar the one, an’ him an’ the hos’ler here +are bad ’uns.”</p> +<p>As the hour grew late Ree and John went to +the barn to see that their cart and horse had been +properly cared for, and returning, went immediately +to bed. For half an hour they lay awake +talking of their journey. Their money was between +them in the big four-poster and each had +a pistol within reach. At last they said “Good +night” to one another, and settling themselves +in comfortable positions, composed themselves to +sleep.</p> +<p>All had grown quiet about the old tavern. +The ticking of the big clock down stairs, and the +baying of a hound off in the woods somewhere, +were the only sounds which reached the ears of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +the young emigrants. And thus they forgot +their travels and where they were, and the danger +which hovered near.</p> +<p>It was sometime after midnight when Ree +was suddenly awakened. He had heard no +sound, nor could he tell what had disturbed his +slumber; but he had instantly found himself, +eyes wide open, every sense alert. Without the +slightest noise or movement he lay listening. A +minute later he felt for just an instant the touch +of something cold against his skin.</p> +<p>“A snake,” was his first thought, and a little +thrill of horror crossed him as the idea of a +reptile being in their bed, flashed over his brain. +Again he felt the touch, cold and clammy against +his side; and, intending to grab the serpent, if +such it was, and hurl it from the bed, with a +quick movement of his arm he made a desperate +grab. He caught and for but an instant held a +human hand, large and coarse.</p> +<p>“John!” Ree spoke the name with startled +emphasis, and its owner rose up in bed like a +flash.</p> +<p>“What? What is it?”</p> +<p>“There is some one in this room! He has +been reaching into the bed, trying to rob us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p> +<p>As he spoke Ree sprang out upon the floor. +“And here’s the window open! That shows +where he came in. Get your pistol and be ready +to fire if he tries to jump out. I am going to +skirmish for the rascal!”</p> +<p>Faint rays of moonlight made the room not +entirely dark, but Ree could see no sign of the +intruder as he stepped softly to the middle of the +floor. It was a useless action; for, as he was +between the three dark walls and the window in +the outer wall, the robber could easily see him +without being seen himself. It was a fault of +Return Kingdom’s that he did not properly consider +his own safety, and the wonder is that he +did not in this instance become the target for a +bullet.</p> +<p>“I’d better yell for help,” suggested John.</p> +<p>“You’d better not!” said Ree emphatically, +peering into the dark corners. “I cannot be mistaken, +but if I should be—well we don’t care to +be laughed at.”</p> +<p>Not a sound was heard as both boys remained +perfectly quiet. Then on tip-toe Ree +went to all the corners of the room, his left hand +outstretched before him while his right held a +pistol ready for instant use. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>“John, did you sneeze?” he demanded as a +smothered “kerchoo” came from the direction of +his friend.</p> +<p>“He’s under the bed, Ree! He’s under the +bed! Call help!” This was John’s answer and +his tone was sharp with excitement.</p> +<p>In a trice Ree was at the foot of the bed and +looking beneath it. A dark object there moved +slightly.</p> +<p>“Come out of that!” Ree sternly demanded, +and the click of his pistol as he cocked the +weapon sounded loud and clear. At the same +moment the object beneath the four-poster began +to crawl and soon coming forth, stood erect—the +stranger the boys had met at supper.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s you, is it?” ejaculated Ree with +an inflection of contempt in his voice; but the +next instant the intruder’s hands were about his +throat.</p> +<p>“Help! Help!” yelled John Jerome.</p> +<p>Finding the young man he had seized, a +much harder problem than he was prepared to +handle, and frightened by John’s cries, the +stranger gave Ree a shove and sprang toward +the window.</p> +<p>“Help! Robbers!” yelled John again, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +now the stranger had one leg out of the window. +But he got no further. Ree seized him about +the body; the robber seized him in turn, and his +foot striking the ladder by which he had climbed +up, it went tumbling to the ground. With a +frightful oath the fellow endeavored to throw +Ree after it. For a second they both balanced on +the window sill at the very verge of falling. +Then John seized the robber’s hair, and dealt +him a blow with the butt of his pistol. He raised +the weapon to strike again, but Ree had now +secured his release from the villain’s grasp and +fired at him just as the fellow plunged to the +ground, leaving a bunch of his black hair quivering +in John’s hand.</p> +<p>The bullet took effect, for the boys found +blood on the ground beneath the window next +morning; but the robber dashed around a corner +out of range at such speed that there was no opportunity +to fire a second time.</p> +<p>A pounding on the door told the youthful +travelers that the house had been aroused, and +they lost no time in admitting the landlord, accompanied +by the greatly excited peddler.</p> +<p>“What’s all the row about?” demanded the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +tavern-keeper, holding a lighted candle over his +shoulder.</p> +<p>“I want to investigate before I say what it +is <i>all</i> about,” Ree answered, emphasizing the +“all.”</p> +<p>“A pretty sort of a place, this is!” put in +John indignantly. “We might have been murdered +in our beds!”</p> +<p>“How can I help it, boy? Just you keep +your breeches on!”</p> +<p>“I’ll have to put them on first,” John +ejaculated, and forthwith proceeded to do so.</p> +<p>Ree took the landlord’s candle and turned +back the bed clothing. He found the leather +wallet containing their money, undisturbed, but +as he picked it up, he noticed a hole in the sheets +and tick of the bed.</p> +<p>“Look, here,” he exclaimed, “here is where +the row you complain of, began. The man who +has just gone out of the window, evidently +crawled under the bed and having cut a hole +through the tick, reached for our wallet. His +cold hand on my bare skin waked me up. The +question is, how did he know where the money +was?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></p> +<p>“The skunk!” exclaimed the peddler, eyeing +the tavern-keeper sharply.</p> +<p>“How should I know anything about it?” +the landlord hotly responded. “I ain’t responsible +for there being robbers about, am I?”</p> +<p>Ree had joined John in the task of dressing, +while the proprietor of the establishment sat on +the bed, the least concerned of any, over what +had taken place.</p> +<p>“Haow should yeow know anythin’ about +it?” cried the peddler suddenly turning toward +the man. “Why, yeow ain’t even asked who the +thief was! Yeow wouldn’t ’a come up stairs if +I hadn’t ’most dragged ye! It looks consarned +strange, that’s what I say! An’ yeow settin’ +there like a stick, sayin’, ‘Haow kin I help it!’”</p> +<p>The landlord winced and squirmed, and was +glad enough to hurry down stairs when Ree said +authoritatively: “Now let’s have no further talk +about this matter, but get our breakfasts at once, +if you please. It will soon be daylight.”</p> +<p>“Ree Kingdom, you make me mad!” cried +John Jerome, as the landlord disappeared. +“Why didn’t you let me crack that old villain on +the head? If I didn’t know that you are the +only one here who has kept cool, I’d be mad in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +earnest. If any of our goods have been disturbed, +I’ll show the old Tory!”</p> +<p>Ree smiled at his friend’s blustering tone, +but the peddler slapped him on the back and told +him he was a “reg-lar man-o’-war with flags +a-flyin’.”</p> +<p>The gray glimmer of dawn was in sight as +the boys crossed the road to the barn and by the +light of the tallow candle in the old-time lantern, +inspected their cart and horse. All was +secure. Recognizing his young masters by the +fine instinct some animals have, Jerry, their +horse, whinnied loudly, as though saying he was +all right but ready to move as soon as convenient. +Hay and grain were given the faithful animal, +and the boys went in to their own breakfast.</p> +<p>The meal of potatoes and bacon was soon +disposed of, the peddler sitting at the table with +them. He was going in their direction for a +mile or two and would accompany the lads, he +said.</p> +<p>“We’ll be glad to have you,” Ree answered.</p> +<p>“Whatever Ree Kingdom says, I say—only +he always gets the words out first,” said John. +“I am like the old trapper who came hurrying +up to General Washington saying he could lick +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +all the Redcoats on earth with one hand tied +behind his back. But the war was all over then, +though he did not know it, and so he didn’t get +a chance to try. He meant well, you see, but was +a little behind hand.”</p> +<p>“That’s a pert yarn,” smiled the peddler, +“an’ there ain’t nobody gladder than I be tew +see yeow so chipper; but I swan, lads, I only +hope ye’ll be as jolly as ye be naow, come six +months—I only hope ye will be!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V_A_MYSTERIOUS_SHOT_IN_THE_DARKNESS' id='V_A_MYSTERIOUS_SHOT_IN_THE_DARKNESS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3><i>A Mysterious Shot in the Darkness.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>“I am going to keep my eyes open for that +cut-throat that was under the bed. There’s no +telling what he might not do,” said John with +quiet determination, to Ree, when the peddler +had left them and they were fairly under way for +the journey of another day.</p> +<p>“I have thought of that,” Ree answered, +“and you see I have put the rifles where they +will be handy. There is no use of carrying +them, I guess, but the time is coming when they +must always be within reach.”</p> +<p>The peddler had accompanied the boys to a +cross-roads a couple of miles from the Eagle +tavern, enlivening them with many odd tales of +his experiences. Now they were alone again, +and as the country through which they passed +became rougher and wilder, the lads realized +more fully than ever that theirs was a serious +undertaking.</p> +<p>Yet they were happy. The trees were putting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +on bright colors; the air was fragrant with +the odor of autumn vegetation. The water in +every stream they crossed was fresh and clear, +and fall rains had made green the woodland +clearings. Quail called musically from time to +time, and once the “Kee-kee-keow-kee-kee” of a +wild turkey was heard.</p> +<p>At noon, beside a dashing brook which +tumbled itself over a stony bed as though in glee +with its own noisiness, the travelers halted. They +unhitched Jerry that he might graze, and kindled +a fire to boil some eggs. These with brown +bread, a generous supply of which Mrs. Catesby +had given them, and ginger cake which Mary +Catesby had announced she had made with her +own hands, made a meal which anyone might +have relished. To the boys, their appetites +sharpened by the fine air, every morsel they put +between their lips seemed delicious.</p> +<p>“We won’t long have such fare,” they reminded +one another.</p> +<p>“We will have venison three times a day +though,” said John.</p> +<p>“Yes, we will have so much meat we will +be good and tired of it; because we must be saving +of our meal this winter, and until our own +corn grows,” Ree answered thoughtfully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span></p> +<p>“Well, don’t be so melancholy about it, Old +Sobersides,” cried John. “Why, for my part, +I could just yell for the joy of it when I think +how snug we will be in our cabin this winter! +And what a fine time we are going to have choosing +a location and building our log house!”</p> +<p>“That, as I have so often said,” Ree answered, +“is the one thing about our whole venture +that I do not like. We will be ‘squatters.’ +We won’t own the land we settle upon except that +we shall have bought it of the Indians; and that +is a deed which the government will not recognize. +But we will have to take our chances of +making our title good when the time comes, +though we may have to pay a second time to the +men or company, or whoever secures from the +government the territory where we shall be. Or +we might settle near enough to General Putnam’s +colony to be able to buy land of them. We +must wait and see what is best to do.”</p> +<p>“Ree,” said John, earnestly, “I know you +are right; you always are. But I don’t like to +think of those things—only of the hunting and +trapping and fixing up our place, and eating wild +turkey and other good things before our big +fire-place in winter—and all that. You see we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +will have to sort of balance each other. You +furnish the brains, and I’ll do the work.”</p> +<p>“Oh that sounds grand, but—” Ree +laughed and left the sentence unfinished.</p> +<p>When, by the sun, their only time-piece, the +boys judged they had been an hour and a half in +camp, they resumed their journey. They had +secured so early a start that morning, that they +had no doubt they would reach the Three Corners, +the next stopping-place designated on Captain +Bowen’s map, before night; and indeed it +lacked a half hour of sundown when they drove +up to the homely but pleasant tavern at that +point. It was so different a place from the Eagle +tavern that the boys had no fear when they went +to bed, that the unpleasant experience of the +night before would be repeated.</p> +<p>Several days followed unmarked by any +special incident, except that the lads were delayed +and a part of their goods badly shaken up +by their cart upsetting into a little gully. Fortunately, +however, little damage was done.</p> +<p>At the end of two weeks so thinly settled a +country had been reached that nearly every night +was spent in camp. Yet these were not disagreeable +nor was there much danger. Only one man +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +who answered the general description of a “cut-throat” +had been seen, and he seemed inclined to +make little trouble. He rode out on a jet black +horse from a barn, near which a house had at one +time stood, its site still marked by charred logs +and a chimney. Perhaps it had been burned in +the war-time; at any rate the place had a forsaken, +disagreeable appearance, and the rough-looking +stranger emerging suddenly from the +barn, put the young emigrants on their guard at +once.</p> +<p>For two hours the man rode in company +with the boys, and finding out who they were, +proposed to spend the night with them. Ree +would have permitted it, but by his actions John +so plainly gave the fellow to understand what +he thought of him, that the stranger at last rode +back in the direction he had come, cursing John +for the opinions which the latter had expressed. +The boys slept with “one eye open” that night.</p> +<p>Daily the road became worse and worse. +For great distances it was bordered on both sides +by forests and the country was rough and broken. +There were wild animals and, undoubtedly, Indians +not far away, but the settlements were yet +too near for the young travelers to have much +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +fear. So when their camp fire had burned low +in the evening, they piled on large sticks of wood, +put their feet to the blaze, and, wrapped in their +blankets, slept splendidly. One night when it +rained—and the water came down in torrents—they +made their bed inside the cart; but if the +weather was pleasant they preferred to be beside +the glowing coals.</p> +<p>An adventure which had an important bearing +on the future, befell the boys early in the +fourth week of their travels. They had resolved +to be saving of their ammunition, and wasted no +powder in killing game for which they had no +use, though they twice saw wild turkeys and once +a bear, as they left civilization farther and farther +behind. But when provisions from home +began to run low, it happened, as so often it does, +that when they felt the need of game to replenish +their larder they chanced upon scarcely any.</p> +<p>“One of us must go through the woods, keeping +in line with the road, and shoot something +or other this afternoon,” said Ree, at dinner one +day. “The other will not be far away when he +returns to the road again.”</p> +<p>“Which?” John smiled.</p> +<p>“I don’t care. You go this time and I will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +try my luck another day,” Ree answered. “Get +a couple of turkeys, if you can, old boy; or, if you +can get a deer, the weather is cool and the meat +will keep.”</p> +<p>So John set off, planning to work his way +into the woods gradually and then follow the general +direction of the road and come out upon it +sometime before sun-set. He waved his hand to +Ree, a smile on his happy freckled face as he disappeared +amid the timber.</p> +<p>Slowly old Jerry plodded on; slowly the +miles slipped to the rear; slowly the time passed. +Ree thought of many things during the afternoon +and planned how he and John should spend the +winter hunting and trapping and secure, he +hoped, a large quantity of furs. Two chests +they had were filled with goods for trade with the +Indians, also, and they would receive skins in +return. These would add greatly to the store +they themselves accumulated, and they should +realize a considerable sum when they came to +market them. Ree hoped so. It was no part of +his plan to go into the forest fastnesses merely to +hunt and trap and lead a rough life. No, indeed! +He wished to make a home, to grow up +with the country and “be somebody.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span></p> +<p>Lower and lower the sun sank behind the +darkness of the trees which seemed to rise skyward +in the western horizon, and as the early +October twilight approached, Ree began to watch +for John’s coming. He had listened from time +to time but had heard no gun discharged, and he +laughed to himself as he thought what John’s +chagrin would be if he were obliged to come into +camp empty-handed. And when Old Sol, slipped +out of sight and his chum had not appeared, he +inwardly commented: “You went farther into +the woods than was good for you, my boy! I +suspect I have already left you a good ways behind.”</p> +<p>So he drove to a little knoll beneath an old +oak, and unhitched. He kindled a fire, then +busied himself straightening up some of the +boxes and bundles which had slipped from position +during the day, often stopping to look back +along the trail in hope of seeing John; and when +the darkness had become so dense he could see +but a few rods from the camp-fire and still his +chum was missing, alarm invaded Ree’s +thoughts. He could not imagine what detained +the boy. But he toasted some bread and broiled +some bacon for his supper. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p> +<p>A sense of loneliness over his solitary meal +added to Ree’s anxiety, because of John’s non-appearance, +and presently he walked back along +the road a considerable distance, whistling the +call they had adopted years before. The darkness +gave every object an unnatural, lifelike look; +bushes and tree trunks assumed fantastic +shapes. No human habitation was within miles +of the spot, and as the echoes of the whistling +died away and no answer came, Ree was almost +frightened. Not for himself but on John’s account +was he conscious of a gloomy foreboding +in all his thoughts. What should he do if the +boy had fallen a victim of some bear, perhaps, +or lawless men.</p> +<p>Slowly he retraced his steps to the campfire’s +light. Weighing the whole question carefully, +however, as to whether he had not better +go in search of his friend, he decided he could +do no wiser thing than to remain where he was +until daylight; then if John had not arrived, he +would set out to find him.</p> +<p>Piling more wood on the fire that the light +might help to guide John to camp, the lonely boy +wrapped a blanket about his shoulders and sat +down, resolved to remain awake to watch and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +listen. He heard only the soughing wind and +old Jerry nibbling the short grass nearby, and +the hooting of an owl in the forest gloom. Thus +an hour passed, and then suddenly a sound of +soft footsteps broke upon the boy’s ear. Was it +John slipping up stealthily to try to scare him? +Ree thought it was, but in another instant he detected +the foot-falls of more than one person, and +sprang to his feet.</p> +<p>“How!” The word was spoken in a deep +guttural tone almost before Ree had time to face +about. At the same moment he saw two Indians +stalking toward him.</p> +<p>“Howdy!” Ree promptly answered, though +filled with misgiving; for at a glance he saw that +the savages were fully armed. One was of middle +age, tall and stately as a king. The other +was much younger. As they came within reach +Ree held out his hand, but the Indian either did +not see or refused to accept the proffered greeting.</p> +<p>Nevertheless Ree spread a blanket near the +fire and asked the savages to sit down. They +made no reply. The older of them looked at him +intently and gazed around in evident surprise to +see the lad alone. The younger stepped around +the fire and looked inquiringly into the cart. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span></p> +<p>“I am just a trader,” said Ree, with an open +frankness in his tones which even a savage must +have appreciated. “There are two of us, but +my partner went hunting and has not yet come +back. Sit down, brothers; I have no fresh meat +to offer you, but my friend will soon return with +some, I hope.”</p> +<p>The elder Indian seated himself saying: +“White men steal, Indians no steal.”</p> +<p>“There are good Indians and good white +men,” answered Ree, but he was keeping an eye +on the younger savage, who seemed to have found +something in the cart which interested him, for +he slyly put his hand inside.</p> +<p>“Oh, do be seated!” Ree exclaimed as he +noticed this. There was irony in his voice which +made the older Indian shrug his shoulders, but +the young white man led the Indian brave, a +chap but little older than himself, away from the +cart. With some force he drew the buck to a +blanket and motioned to him to sit down.</p> +<p>Appearing to give the matter no further +thought, Ree placed bacon before the Indians +saying simply “Eat.” They drew out their +knives and cut and broiled each a slice of the +meat. This they ate, and it was rather remarkable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +that they did so, for Ree well knew that the +Redskins had no relish for food which had been +freely salted. He therefore judged their eating +to be a sign of friendliness, and seated himself +quietly by the fire.</p> +<p>“White man go far—goes to Ohio? Yes—long +way—far—far. Snow comes; hurry fast,” +said the older Indian.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Ree, guessing at the speaker’s +meaning. “We have a long way to go, and must +be in our cabin before deep snow comes.”</p> +<p>“Delaware country—much game,” the Indian +was saying, Ree having told him whither +they were bound, when suddenly a rifle cracked +behind them and a bullet whistled past Ree’s ear. +The young Indian at the opposite side of the fire, +gasped and fell backward.</p> +<p>Seizing his rifle, Ree instantly sprang away +from the firelight. The elder redskin did likewise +and just as quickly.</p> +<p>Who could have fired the shot? Ree trembled +with dread that it had been John. All was +quiet save for the night wind rustling the leaves +and branches overhead. There came no sound to +indicate whose hand had sped the bullet from out +of the forest gloom. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></p> +<p>A minute passed. It seemed like ten, to +Return Kingdom, and, forgetting prudence, he +stepped from behind the cart’s protection, full +into the campfire’s ruddy glow, making of himself +an easy target. He bent over the wounded +Indian and found the blood flowing from a wound +in the young brave’s neck. Quickly he tied his +handkerchief about the injury, then bathed the +fellow’s forehead and temples with water from +the bucket he had filled at supper time. The +older Indian crept up to watch this operation, but +did not come fully within the lighted circle.</p> +<p>“Who fired that shot, my friend?” Ree +asked, very earnestly.</p> +<p>“White men steal,” the Indian answered, +and shook his head.</p> +<p>It was evident then that the savage suspected +some white person of having made this attack +with intent to commit robbery. Ree hoped this +was the truth of the matter but there was a terrible +suspicion growing in his mind that his own +friend and partner, through some awful mistake, +had fired upon the Indian. He drew the wounded +man to the rear of the cart and placed him on +a blanket beyond the campfire’s light. The other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +savage made no move to help him, but crouched +in the darkness intently listening, watching.</p> +<p>Of a sudden the Indian’s rifle flew like a flash +to his shoulder. At the same instant Ree heard +John Jerome’s familiar whistle, and springing +forward, seized the red man’s weapon in time to +prevent the speeding of a leaden messenger of +death to his friend’s heart. He answered John’s +call as he did this, praying and hoping that it +could not—must not, have been his friend who +had fired the shot which would probably end the +younger Indian’s life.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI_ON_LONELY_MOUNTAIN_ROADS' id='VI_ON_LONELY_MOUNTAIN_ROADS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3><i>On Lonely Mountain Roads.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>“What’s happened, Ree?”</p> +<p>The tone in which John asked the question, +satisfied Kingdom that his friend knew nothing +of the shooting. Better than this, however, it +satisfied the Indian who knelt silently nearby, +still listening, that the boy he had so nearly shot, +knew nothing of the person who had fired from +the darkness.</p> +<p>Quietly, but in tones the Indian could hear, +Ree related what he knew of the mysterious occurrence.</p> +<p>“Who could it have been, Chief!” John +asked, turning to the Redskin and addressing +him with the easy familiarity he used toward +every one.</p> +<p>The Indian shook his head. “Paleface,” he +grunted at last; “no tried to kill Indian; tried +to kill white brother there. Black Eagle thinks +long and knows how bullet flew. Man-that-shoots-from-the-dark +wishes much to steal.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span></p> +<p>Black Eagle’s theory was far from satisfying +Ree, but the Indian’s manner persuaded the +boy that the redskin at least knew nothing of the +attack himself. Yet both boys knew the necessity +of keeping a sharp eye turned in all directions. +They could not tell positively as yet +whether the Indians were friends or foes, nor at +what moment an attack might be made by a hidden +enemy.</p> +<p>“What kept you, John? I was worried,” +Ree said in an undertone, yet taking care that +Black Eagle should hear, lest the savage should +suspect him of plotting. But before John could +answer, the red man, bending low, darted away +in the darkness.</p> +<p>“What’s the old chap up to?” asked John, +startled by the Indian’s sudden movement.</p> +<p>“I think he is only scouting around to see +what he can discover; but keep your eyes and +ears open, it has been mighty ticklish around +here to-night.”</p> +<p>As they watched and listened, John told of +his afternoon’s experience. He had gone a long +way into the woods without seeing any such +game as he wished, and had about decided to content +himself with some squirrels, and return to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +the road, when he came upon a deer-lick—a pool +of salt or brackish water, in a flat, level place, to +which deer and other animals came to drink, or +to lick the earth at the water’s edge to satisfy +the craving which all animals have for salt. As +it was then nearly sundown he determined to +hide nearby, confident he would get a shot at a +deer as soon as darkness came. Concealing himself +in some brush at the north side of the lick, +the wind being from the south, he waited.</p> +<p>Scarcely had the sun set when a fine young +doe approached the brackish pool. One shot +from his rifle brought the pretty animal down, +and in a few more minutes he had secured the +skin and best portions of the meat. Slinging +these over his shoulder, he set out to find the road +and Ree’s camp-fire. But he had been careless in +keeping his bearings, and walked a long way in +the wrong direction. When he did find the road +at last, he knew not which way to go to find the +camp. He secured a light, however, by flashing +powder in his gun, and thus found the tracks of +old Jerry and the cart. He then knew which way +to go, but traveled a couple of miles before coming +within sight of the camp-fire.</p> +<p>He heard a rifle shot but paid little attention +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +to it, and saw nothing of any prowler, though he +came up in the direction from which the mysterious +attack was made. When Ree called to +him, he had dropped the venison and it still lay +at the roadside a hundred yards from camp.</p> +<p>“We must have an understanding with one +another that when either of us leaves camp, he +shall return at a given time unless something +happens to prevent it,” said Ree; “then the +other will know that something has happened +and can act accordingly. I was probably not +more than a mile away when you found that deer-lick. +If you had let me know, it would have saved +a lot of worry on my part. Why, I was just on +the point of going in search of you. And as it +was, old boy, you whistled just in time. That Indian +heard you coming before I did, and a little +more—”</p> +<p>“And he would have sent me to Kingdom +come,” said John, finishing the sentence, very +soberly. “Your watchfulness saved me, and I +can’t—”</p> +<p>“You better get your venison into camp,” +Ree whispered, interrupting John’s thanks, “I’ll +crawl over and see how that young Indian’s getting +along—poor chap.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></p> +<p>The wounded Redskin was conscious as Ree +bent over him.</p> +<p>“Don’t speak if it will hurt you, but if you +can, tell me who fired that shot at you,” Ree +urged.</p> +<p>“Black Eagle come soon,” was the buck’s +only answer; and indeed it was but a few minutes +until the other Indian returned. Ree met him +and inquired calmly. “What luck, Black +Eagle?”</p> +<p>“Gone. Paleface robber gone.”</p> +<p>“Who was it? Where has he gone?”</p> +<p>“Gone,” the savage repeated.</p> +<p>“Turn in and get some sleep, John; Black +Eagle and I will watch a while,” said Ree.</p> +<p>“Gone,” growled the Indian with gruff dignity; +and wrapped himself in a blanket and was +soon asleep.</p> +<p>John likewise lay down, but Ree, resolving +to exercise every care, remained awake through +the whole night. Twice John awoke and wanted +to take a turn at guard duty but each time he was +told to go back and “Cover up his head.” Reluctantly +he did so. He felt that he would do +anything in his power for Ree Kingdom, but he +was far from guessing what Fate had in store for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +him to do in his friend’s behalf before they +should see Connecticut again.</p> +<p>With the first light of morning Ree went reconnoitering +hoping to find the trail of the young +Indian’s mysterious assailant. Scarcely had he +started when Black Eagle joined him, and in the +road three hundred paces from the camp they +came upon the trail together. A single man had +approached the camp on foot—a white man it +was certain, for he wore boots—and from behind +a thick thorn bush had fired the shot. Then the +trail led back along the road, but soon disappeared +in the woods.</p> +<p>“If North Wind die, scalp will hang here,” +said Black Eagle, pointing to his belt. “Black +Eagle follows trail long—even many moons, but +he will get the paleface scalp.”</p> +<p>What to do Ree did not quite know. He disliked +to lose time in helping the Indian to find +the man who had shot his son, yet disliked to +leave the wounded North Wind without doing +something for him.</p> +<p>“White brothers go far; go now,” said +Black Eagle as they returned to the camp. “Go +long way off and never mind. North Wind stays +with Black Eagle,” the Indian added. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></p> +<p>Ree made no objection to this arrangement. +Reaching camp they found that John had some +venison steaks ready. The young Indian arose +and greeted Ree by silently shaking his hand. It +was plain to be seen that he was suffering greatly, +but he said nothing and when the breakfast +was ready he tried to eat.</p> +<p>Thankful that the night of watching was +past, Ree and John prepared to pursue their +journey. They watered Jerry at the little brook +hard by and hitched him to the cart. When they +were ready, Ree took a knife from their stock of +goods and gave it to Black Eagle, who with +North Wind stood looking on, saying:</p> +<p>“Maybe we will never meet again, but here +is a present which we wish you to keep. We do +not know the enemy who fired upon us, but we +were in danger together and whether it was your +foe or ours, who attacked us, we would have +fought together. Good-bye.”</p> +<p>“We journey to the fires of the Mohawks,” +Black Eagle answered. “North Wind now goes +forward but Black Eagle, his father, follows the +trail of snake which shoots from the dark.”</p> +<p>As he spoke the Indian turned and strode +away. North Wind followed, Ree’s handkerchief +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +still about his neck. He was really too sick to +travel, but it is a severe wound, indeed, which +makes an Indian unable to move when necessity +demands it.</p> +<p>For a moment the young travelers looked +after the red men; then a word to their horse and +they were once more upon their way.</p> +<p>It was a glorious morning. Particles of +frost glistened on the leaves and grass and in the +road; a light wind set the trees and brushes rustling, +a rabbit went bouncing across the path, and +still neither boy spoke as they tramped along beside +the cart, Ree in advance, driving.</p> +<p>“Who fired that shot?” John asked at last, +as though speaking to himself.</p> +<p>“May as well ask old Jerry, or the wind,” +Ree answered. “The same question has been on +my mind so long I am trying to think of something +else.”</p> +<p>“But I can’t help wondering,” John persisted, +“if it could have been the lone horseman +we saw the other day. Could it have been Big +Pete Ellis, trying to kill you, Ree? I have been +expecting to meet that fellow.”</p> +<p>“We must keep our eyes about us,” was the +only reply. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></p> +<p>Several days passed and the mystery of the +shot from the darkness was still unsolved. The +boys had now reached the mountainous country +and the nights were often cold. The days, too, +gave promise of winter’s coming, and had it not +been that they were hopeful of Indian summer +weather in November the young travelers would +have been discouraged. Their progress had not +been so rapid as they had planned. The +roads were too bad to permit fast traveling. In +many places they were little better than paths +through the woods, and though there were +stretches of smoother going, occasionally, there +were other spots in which fallen trees or other +obstructions blocked the way.</p> +<p>Old Jerry stood the strain of the journey +well, and that was certainly a consolation; for +some of their friends back in Connecticut had +told the boys they had better stay at home, than +attempt to make the trip with only one horse. +Often, too, it was the case that the lads drove far +out of their course to pass around great obstacles, +and they eventually found that they had gone +miles out of their true course. Many were the +hardships they encountered, and one adventure +which they had must be related here. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>For days at a time no human being was met +on those lonely mountain trails and it was this +fact which gave rise to much uneasiness when +John one day, for just a moment caught sight of +a rough-appearing fellow in their rear. He had +gone back along the road to search for a bolt +which was lost from the cart box, when he chanced +to look up and saw the strange fellow a quarter +of a mile away, coming toward him. The +man raised his rifle and sprang in among some +trees as he caught sight of John, his movement +being so quick that the boy did not get a good +look at him, and neither in going on beyond the +spot where the fellow had been, nor in returning +after he had found the lost bolt, did John see +him again.</p> +<p>“We must be on the watch-out constantly,” +said Ree when told of the incident. “I would +have thought nothing of it, but for the man’s desire +to hide.”</p> +<p>“That is what I can’t understand,” said +John, and as he thought the matter over it added +to a downcast feeling which had seized upon him. +It was by his looks more than by words that he +betrayed his low-spirited condition, then, and at +other times, as day after day nothing save the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +trees, great rocks and wooded hills and frowning +mountain sides were seen.</p> +<p>On the other hand, Ree’s quiet disposition +seemed almost to disappear in the face of hardships +and difficult obstacles. If the cart broke +down he whistled “Yankee Doodle,” while he +managed to mend it. If the road was especially +rough and their progress most unpleasantly slow, +he was certain to sing. Even Jerry could not +fail to catch the spirit of his cheerfulness no matter +what bad luck they had, and from looking +glum, John would change to light-heartedness +every time. Ree’s smile was a never failing remedy +for his blues.</p> +<p>“Time enough to be blue and all put out +when you have utterly failed,” Ree exclaimed +one day. “And if you only make up your mind +to it, it is the simplest thing in the world not to +fail. If I were the general of an army, I +wouldn’t own up that I was whipped as long as I +had a breath left. Now just suppose that Washington +had given up at Valley Forge!”</p> +<p>“Well, I want to say that the chap who +starts out west thinking he is going on a frolic, +will be mighty badly fooled,” John answered. +“I am learning, but it is like the Indian who believed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +powder didn’t amount to much unless it +was in a gun; so he filled his pipe with it. He +learned a heap.”</p> +<p>“Ho, ho, pardners both!”</p> +<p>The voice came so suddenly to the young +travelers, they started and looked around questioningly. +With a flying leap from some brush +which bordered the road, came an odd looking +woodsman.</p> +<p>“Lift my ha’r if ye ain’t the nearest bein’ +kittens of anythin’ I’ve clapped my old goggles +on in the emygrant line in all my born days!” +Putting his hands to his sides the stranger laughed +uproariously.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s funny, ain’t it!” exclaimed John +Jerome, witheringly.</p> +<p>“Age is not always a sign of wisdom,” said +Ree Kingdom in much the same tone.</p> +<p>“Right ye be, lad; right ye be,” said the +woodsman, quieting himself. “But I swan I’m +that glad to see ye so young an’ bloomin’, both, +that it jes does me old eyes good. Where ye +bound fer, anyhow?”</p> +<p>The speaker was tall and rugged, his age +probably fifty years. A grizzled beard clustered +round his face and his unkempt hair hung almost +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +to his shoulders. On his head was a ragged +coon-skin cap. All his dress was made of skin +or furs, in the crudest frontier fashion. He was +not a disagreeable appearing person, nevertheless, +for his eyes twinkled merrily as a boy’s. +Each in his own way, Ree and John noted these +facts.</p> +<p>“I might say that we are going till we stop +and that we came from where we started,” said +John in answer to the stranger’s inquiry.</p> +<p>“What a peart kitten ye be!” smiled the +man, looking at him quizzically.</p> +<p>“To be honest with you, we are going to the +Ohio country,” said Ree Kingdom, satisfied that +the stranger wished to be friendly.</p> +<p>“Ye’ve got spunk, I swan!” the fellow exclaimed. +“Don’t let me be keepin’ ye though; +drive along, we kin swap talk as we’re movin’.”</p> +<p>“How far do you call it to old Fort Pitt?” +asked Ree.</p> +<p>“Well, it ain’t so fer as a bird kin fly, an’ its +ferder than ye want to walk in a day. If ye have +good luck ye’ll come on to Braddock’s road afore +supper time, an’ if ye don’t have good luck, +there’s no tellin’ when ye’ll get thar. It want +such a great ways from here that Braddock had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +<i>his</i> bad luck. If he <i>hadn’t</i> had it—if he’d done as +George Washington wanted him to, he’d ‘a’ got +along like grease on a hot skillet, same as you +youngsters.”</p> +<p>“Hear that John? We will make Fort Pitt +in a day or two,” cried Ree.</p> +<p>“Yaas, it was forty odd years ago that Braddock +had his bad luck when he bumped into a lot +of Injuns in ambush. I was jest a chunk of a +boy then, but I’ve hearn tell on it, many’s the +time, by my old gran’sire who learned me how to +shoot. I was a reg’lar wonder with a gun when +I was your age, kittens. I’ve picked up some +since then though! See the knot-hole in that +beech way over yonder? Waal, I’m going to put +a bullet in the middle of it.”</p> +<p>Taking aim, the stranger fired. “Ye’ll find +the bullet squar’ in the center,” he said, in a +boastful way.</p> +<p>“Shucks!” exclaimed John, who was often +too outspoken for his own good. He raised his +rifle and fired. “There’s another bullet right beside +your own, mister,” he said.</p> +<p>“Well I swan! So there is!” called out the +woodsman in great surprise. “But I’ll bet a +coon-skin my tother kitten can’t do the like.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p> +<p>Like a flash Ree’s rifle flew to his shoulder +and he seemed to take no aim whatever; yet the +bullet flew true. But just an instant after he +fired the crack of another rifle sounded behind +him. A leaden ball shrieked close to his head and +a lock of his hair fell fluttering to the ground.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII_ON_INTO_THE_WILDERNESS' id='VII_ON_INTO_THE_WILDERNESS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3><i>On Into the Wilderness.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>Great as the shock of the sudden attack and +his narrow escape was, Ree gave only a little +yell of surprise and anger, and ran in the direction +from which the shot had come, drawing his +pistol as he went. He found no one. Though utterly +regardless of the danger he might be in by +thus exposing himself, he made a careful search.</p> +<p>“Land o’ livin’, boy, ye’ll be meat for the +redskins before ye’ve crossed the frontier, if ye +don’t be keerful!” cried the woodsman, quickly +coming up, springing from tree to tree, and thus +always keeping their protecting trunks between +himself and the point from which the mysterious +shot had been fired. “What is the varmint pepperin’ +away at ye so, for?”</p> +<p>“I haven’t the least idea, for I don’t know +who it is,” Ree answered.</p> +<p>But he was glad the woodsman’s frank manner +left no room to suspect him of treachery, although +there had been grounds for this suspicion +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +in the circumstance of the shot having been fired +just as his own rifle and that of his friend had +been discharged.</p> +<p>John had remained on guard beside Jerry +and the cart, watchful for any sign of their +strange enemy, completely mystified by the attack. +Presently he joined Ree and the hunter +who were searching for the trail of the would-be +assassin. Tracks were found at last (high up on +the rocky hillside)—those of a white man, for he +wore boots; but they were very faint and Ree declared +he would waste no time in attempting to +follow them.</p> +<p>“But I do believe, John,” he said, “that the +shot which wounded North Wind was intended for +me, and the fellow who shot, then, fired again to-day.”</p> +<p>“You are thinking of Big Pete; I know you +are!” John answered. “But I am sure you are +mistaken, Ree. Why it was miles and miles +away that North Wind was shot, and there hasn’t +been a day since then but what we could have +both been killed, perhaps, by some one hidden +along the road.”</p> +<p>The woodsman, when he had heard the story, +coincided with John’s opinion and Ree said nothing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +more, though he was not convinced that he +was wrong.</p> +<p>The brisk talk of the stranger turned the +boys’ thoughts to other subjects as the journey +was resumed. He was by no means a disagreeable +fellow. His real name was “Thomas Trout,” +he said, but he was everywhere known as “Tom +Fish.” He had tramped over all the hills and +valleys for miles around and seemed to know the +country thoroughly. He accepted the boys’ +invitation to eat dinner with them, and gave +a share of the pounded parched corn he carried +in a pouch at his belt, in return for venison and +coarse corn bread, John having baked the latter +on a flat stone beside their camp-fire, the previous +night.</p> +<p>When in the afternoon, Tom Fish left the +boys he told them they would be likely to see him +at Fort Pitt, and gave them many directions as +to where they had better “put up” while at +Pittsburgh, as he called the place, such being its +new name at that time.</p> +<p>John declared he would not sleep a wink that +night, but remain on guard until morning. “For +we must be prudent,” he said, in a very sober +tone, which from him sounded so funny that Ree +laughed outright. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></p> +<p>And yet John was probably as prudent a +boy as Ree; for the latter was so almost entirely +fearless that he rushed into danger in a way not +prudent at all, and many severe lessons which +he learned afterward did not make him cautious +as he should have been.</p> +<p>The night passed without one disturbing incident +and the rising sun found the boys on their +way once more; before its setting they reached +Pittsburg.</p> +<p>“Fort Pitt,” as they were accustomed to +call the straggling hamlet, stood at the foot of +the hills at the confluence of the Allegheny and +Monongahela rivers. Because of its location it +was an important place and even at the time of +which this is written (1790) was a point much +frequented by traders, trappers and hunters.</p> +<p>It was with a feeling of awe, that Ree and +John drove into the town, and noticed its old fort, +its brick and log buildings and general air of +pioneer hospitality. People stared at them, and +some called to them in the familiar way of the +border; but everyone was good-natured and helpful +and almost before the boys knew it their horse +had been unhitched and fed and they themselves +were eating supper in a long, low brick building +which served as a sort of public house. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>From the first it had been the young travelers’ +intention to sell their horse and cart at Fort +Pitt and secure passage for themselves and goods +on some flat-boat going down the river. They +spoke of the settlement which General Putnam +and others had made at a place they called Marietta +(still known by that name) as their destination, +and gave a general idea of their plans to the +men who talked with them as they gathered about +the big fire-place in the evening. They found +they would probably be able to secure transportation +down the Ohio within a few days, in company +with a party of emigrants who had been +building boats for the trip, expecting to go to +Kentucky.</p> +<p>When the young travelers started out next +morning to find a purchaser for old Jerry, however, +they discovered that at that time of year, +the demand for such property was far from +brisk. As they walked along the main street or +road, they chanced upon Tom Fish, who hailed +them in his rough, but happy way, and they told +him just how they were situated.</p> +<p>“Don’t sell the nag, then; come right along +with me. I’ll show you the way into a country +full of Injuns and game enough to suit ye, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +short order; an’ ye won’t have to pay no passage +down river. Why, there’s jes the spot ye’re lookin’ +for west o’ here—rivers an’ little lakes, an’ +fish an’ game—no end o’ game. Good place for +tradin’ too; Injun towns every forty rods or so.”</p> +<p>The woodsman then went on to tell the boys +that several years earlier, a fort, known as Fort +Laurens, had been erected on the Tuscarawas +river, in the woods beyond Pittsburg. He was +planning to go in that direction, for a purpose +he did not state, and would willingly act as guide. +He cautioned the boys, however, that there was +little sign of a broken road for them to travel +upon and that Fort Laurens had long been abandoned +because of the hostility of the savages. +But the confidence of the young traders that they +could make friends with the Indians, and Tom’s +glowing accounts of the country of which he +spoke, caused them to look with favor upon his +proposition.</p> +<p>“We will think about this matter,” said +Ree, “and let you know. You will be here a day +or two?”</p> +<p>“Yaas, a day or two,” said Tom Fish. “But +don’t let me influence ye; it’s mighty reesky business +you kittens is bent on.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>“It seems to me like a good plan,” Ree reflected +aloud, when he and John were alone. “If +we went to General Putnam’s settlement we +would still feel that we must go up the Muskingum +river to reach the Indians and profitable +trading, and would have to build a raft or buy a +boat to carry our goods. Moreover, people here +say that within a few years the country all about +Pittsburg will be settled up and that land will +become valuable.”</p> +<p>“Whatever you say suits me,” said John +with a laugh; and then and there Ree gave him a +talking to for being so ready to accept the judgment +of another, instead of having thoughts and +opinions of his own.</p> +<p>But one or two ridiculously low offers the +boys received for their horse and cart, and the +discovery that they could not find room on the +boat down the Ohio except at a fancy price, resulted +in their decision to join Tom Fish. They +talked all day of the subject, but when they went +to bed that night, they knew that not for many +months to come would they sleep again within +the borders of civilization.</p> +<p>A frosty November morning ushered in another +day, and early as they were astir Ree and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +John found the little town wide awake. Tom +Fish was sky-larking all about saying good-bye +to friends, and just a little under the influence of +whiskey. It seemed that everybody knew him; +and people having found out from Tom what they +had not already found out from others, about the +venturesome lads from Connecticut, quite an assemblage +gathered to wish the travelers good +luck.</p> +<p>A repeated suggestion which had been made +to the boys was that they should abandon their +cart and take with them only such goods as they +could carry by using old Jerry as a pack-horse. +It was true that for a portion of the distance they +proposed to travel, there was a rough road, but +beyond Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of the +Beaver river, they would have no road but the +rough Indian trail. But Tom Fish said he “reckoned +old Colonel Boquet’s road was still there,” +and that they should take the cart; and they did +so.</p> +<p>Tom had joined the boys as their clumsy vehicle +creaked along a muddy street, a little more +serious than usual, because of some news he had +heard, he said, but boastful as ever.</p> +<p>“I was talkin’ to a big seven-footer in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +tavern last night,” he said—“A feller that had a +grudge ag‘in’ me once. He never liked me till I +threw him over a house one day;—threw him +clean over a house. It makes me larff!”</p> +<p>John laughed, too, at this, but he said: +“Tom Fish, you weigh a good three stone (forty-two) +more than I do, but I believe I could throw +you in a wrestle. When we stop for dinner, I +am going to put you on your back!”</p> +<p>A laugh long and loud came from the +woodsman’s throat. “Why, what a playful kitten +ye be!” he exclaimed. “Why, I could toss +ye up in the air and ketch ye nigh a dozen times +whilst ye were only thinkin’ of throwin’ me.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see you try it,” cried John.</p> +<p>“Put aside your nonsense, you two, until +noon, now do,” Ree laughingly urged, “and tell +us, Tom, of that Colonel Boquet whose road we +are to follow.”</p> +<p>“Waal, that’s quite a yarn,” said Tom Fish. +“But le’ me see now; le’ me see. It was back +when I was jes a young buck, ’long ’bout ’64, +that this Colonel Boquet, who was a mighty decent +citizen for a Frenchman, made up his mind +to get a whack at the pesky Injuns which had +been killin’ an’ scalpin’ an’ burnin’ an’ robbin’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +all along the border of Pennsylvania an’ Virginia +an’ Lord knows where all.</p> +<p>“Waal, the state of Pennsylvania an’ the +state of Virginia helped him with sojers an’ he +mustered scouts enough so that in all he had +nigh onto 2,000 men. He marched ’em straight +into the woods, the whole caboodle on ’em, clearin’ +a road as he went, an’ takin’ along a lot o’ +sheep an’ cows, and provender for the sojers without +end. He went straight along till he come to +the Muskingum river, an’ there he camped out, +makin’ a show with all his men an’ pack-horses +an’ everything, that scared the Mingoes an’ the +Delawares half to death for fear he’d stay right +there an’ build a town amongst ’em.</p> +<p>“They was willin’ to do most anything to +get rid of him, an’ there was only one thing that +he would hear to. He give ’em jes’ ten days to +trot into his camp every prisoner they had in all +their towns far an’ near, an’ told ’em that if +ary a one was held back, he’d march on every +pesky village an’ knock ’em sky high an’ burn +’em down.</p> +<p>“Waal! them Injuns was so scared, they +commenced gettin’ their prisoners together right +off, and they trotted two hundred on ’em up to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +the front door of Colonel Boquet’s tent inside +them ten days. An’ there was doin’s for sartin +then!—Pow wows among the sojers who found +all sorts of relations that the Delawares or the +Wyandots or the pesky Mingoes had carried off, +an’ pow wows among the men, an’ the women an’ +the children that was brought out o’ their captivity +like the Children of Israel.</p> +<p>“Then Colonel Boquet marched ’em all back +to Fort Pitt an’ he sent for me an’ told me what +he’d done, an’ asked me what I thought on it. I +was scoutin’ out of Fort Pitt then, and I jes’ +shook his hand an’ says: ‘Colonel Boquet ye’re +a reg’lar rip-snorter.’”</p> +<p>“Did you ever hear of the terrible Captain +Archer, the outlaw of war times?” asked the fun-loving +John, inventing the name to see what Tom +would say; for he had his own opinion as to Colonel +Boquet having asked Thomas Fish what he +thought of that Indian expedition.</p> +<p>“Cap. Archer? Old Cap. Archer! Well I +rayther guess I knew him, an’ if he ain’t forgot +it, he carries a little lead pill out of my old steel +bottle of Injun medicine, clean to this day. Yaas, +many a scrimmage I had with old Cap. Archer.”</p> +<p>John was for carrying his questioning further, +though he could hardly keep from laughing, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +but Ree shook his head, unwilling to make fun of +one who was so kind to them.</p> +<p>The travelers made excellent progress that +morning, finding a very fair road for that rough +country, along the river. They met occasional +settlers and hunters and whether he knew them or +not, Tom Fish always stopped to talk and always +asked whether everything was quiet along the +border. Many shook their heads, and spoke +gloomily of the outlook for peace with the Indians +remaining long unbroken.</p> +<p>From a couple of friendly Indians they met, +Ree secured a quarter of venison in exchange for +a cheap trinket, and although he accompanied +the performance with a great deal of bragging, +Tom did show the boys that he was a past-master +in the art of broiling venison steaks. The fine +dinner they had as a result, set his tongue wagging +more than ever, however, and John Jerome +was more than anxious to take some of the vanity +out of him.</p> +<p>They had camped upon a hillside sloping +down to the river—the Ohio. The day had come +on bright and warm as Indian summer could be, +and John had thrown off his coat.</p> +<p>“Now, Mr. Fish,” he said with a laugh, +“You see the river down there? I’ve been thinking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +there may be some one of the same name as +yourself in that water, and I’ve a mind to send +you to visit your relations.”</p> +<p>The merry laugh of the hunter rang shrill +and clear.</p> +<p>“Be ye? Oh, be ye?” he cried, jumping to +his feet. “If it wa‘n’t fer hurtin’ ye, I’d throw +ye clean across to yon hillside!” and he pointed +to a spot nearly a mile away, across the river.</p> +<p>“It’s a good thing for you there are so many +leaves on the ground to break your fall,” John +answered, rolling up his sleeves.</p> +<p>“Don’t wrestle so much with your mouths,” +Ree admonished them.</p> +<p>“Why, I could handle both of ye; come on, +the two of ye to onc’t!” the hunter cried.</p> +<p>But the next moment he found in John, +alone, about as much of a task as he cared to undertake. +For two minutes they heaved and +tugged, John’s wiry frame seeming to be all +around the woodsman, who was by no means +clumsy, though he could not put him down. +Then they broke apart and for a minute made +feints at one another, each hoping to secure an +advantage.</p> +<p>At last the hunter’s arms shot out, his hands +seized John’s arms so quickly, and he lifted the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +boy off his feet and keeled him over with such +dexterity, that the lad lay sprawling on his back +almost before he knew what was happening.</p> +<p>The glee of Tom Fish was quite ridiculous. +He danced about and almost screamed with +laughter.</p> +<p>“It is your turn, Ree,” said John good-naturedly.</p> +<p>“Whenever our friend is ready,” Ree responded.</p> +<p>“Come on! Come on!” Tom cried. “Oh, +what frisky kittens ye be!”</p> +<p>Peter Piper, the half-breed, had taught Return +Kingdom a trick or two at wrestling. And +now he allowed the hunter to lift him off the +ground, then he let his muscles relax, his dead +weight falling in his opponent’s arms. Suddenly +getting his feet to the ground in this way, he +sprang against the hunter’s muscular frame with +such rapidity of thought and motion that he was +able by a tremendous lightning-like effort to jerk +one of the man’s legs from under him, sending +him down, while he, himself, came uppermost.</p> +<p>“Ye’re pretty fair,” Tom Fish muttered; +but it was plain to be seen that something he very +little expected had happened to him.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII_FRIENDS_OR_FOES' id='VIII_FRIENDS_OR_FOES'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3><i>Friends or Foes?</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>Tom Fish had a profound respect for Return +Kingdom from the moment the latter threw +him; but he was no less pleasant and agreeable +than before, and he proved himself a valuable +friend then and in days long afterward.</p> +<p>When night came, as the wind was blowing +cold, Tom very deftly built a shelter of branches +and small saplings. His way of bending two little +trees down and fastening them together with +their own branches, making of them the support +of the “shack,” was a method Ree and John had +never seen used and was the secret of his being +able to “build a house” in very little time.</p> +<p>It was very comfortable sitting before the +fire, thus sheltered from the wind. Tom especially +enjoyed it for his tongue ran on at a tremendous +rate as he told stories of extraordinary +adventures.</p> +<p>John urged him to tell more and more, and +he might have gone on talking all night had not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +Ree admonished him and John that they must +turn in promptly in order to make an early start +in the morning. Wolves were howling not far +away, and the plaintive but terrorizing cry of a +panther could be heard in the distance, as the little +party lay down to sleep. No doubt the young +emigrants thought many times before dreams +came to them, of what the depths of the wilderness +must be, if the foreboding sounds which +reached them were a fair example of what the +outer edge of the forest fastnesses afforded; but +they rested well and were early astir.</p> +<p>Crossing a fine, level country, though thickly +grown with great trees, on this day, the boys +saw plainly the evidences of the road made by the +Boquet expedition. There were the stumps of big +and little trees and the half-decayed remnants of +the trees which had been cut down, on both sides +of them. Although so many years had passed +since Col. Boquet had made this trail, the work his +men had done made the progress of the Connecticut +boys and their hunter companion faster than +it would otherwise have been, and three days +passed rapidly without other adventure than the +meeting of a small party of Indians who scowled +and passed on, and the killing of a large panther +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +by Ree, the animal having terribly frightened +old Jerry by dropping from a tree squarely upon +the faithful horse’s back, one night.</p> +<p>On the fifth day after leaving Pittsburg the +travelers crossed a high ridge and obtained a +glorious view of the country toward which they +were pressing on. In the distance rivers of water +and great oceans of tree tops, deep valleys and +wooded hillsides were seen.</p> +<p>“Ye ain’t fer from the ‘Promised Land,’” +said Tom Fish, lightly, much less moved by the +grandeur of nature’s display than were the boys. +Then he indicated the location of a point, far beyond +and out of view, at which the old trail they +were following, turned to the southwest and an +Indian trail turned toward the northwest, leading +on to the “Sandusky Plains” near Lake Erie.</p> +<p>It was apparent that Tom had settled in his +own mind the locality in which the boys should +erect their cabin and make their home. He had +their interest at heart, the lads did not doubt, but +they were unwilling to accept his judgment absolutely. +It was arranged between them, therefore, +that Ree should go ahead and spy out the +lay of the land—and especially investigate the +“lake country” of which Tom had so often +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +spoken. If he should find it all that was represented, +well and good; if not, they knew that +along almost any of the rivers to the south and +west of them, were fertile lands and Indian villages +which would afford that which they sought—crops +and trade.</p> +<p>And so on the morning of the fourth day +after their having taken to the Indian trail toward +the “Sandusky Plains,” the matter having +been explained to Tom Fish, Ree left his +friends behind. It was a perilous undertaking +upon which he set out. They had now reached +a wild and rugged country whose hills and valleys +almost swarmed with game. Deer, bears +and wolves were abundant. Panthers, wildcats +and smaller game were frequently seen, and Indians +were all about, though the party had thus +far met but few.</p> +<p>But Return Kingdom had no fear—that was +something he did not then know. He was only +anxious to quickly find the right place for their +residence and to make no mistake in selecting it. +A light snow had already fallen, making it desirable +that he and John should get themselves +settled without delay. This was his thought as +he hurried on alone. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></p> +<p>Under a big beech tree Ree camped at night, +building no fire lest it draw unwelcome guests +toward him, but wrapping his blanket about himself +and sitting, not lying, on the ground, his rifle +between his knees. Any one passing, even very +near, would have supposed his dark figure to be +that of an old stump, and he spent the night with +a feeling of safety, not entirely comfortable in +his position, but little disturbed by the snapping +of twigs and the rustle of leaves which told that +forest prowlers were near.</p> +<p>Crossing a river at a shallow place next day, +Ree mounted a hill and climbed a tall hickory +whose upper branches rose above all other trees +near it.</p> +<p>The weather had become warm and pleasant +again and he would be able, he knew, to obtain a +fine view. Just what he expected to see, he had +not thought, but the grandeur of the scene he beheld +was magnificent. Far as he could see the +ocean of nearly leafless treetops rose and fell in +giant waves, broken here and there by lakes or +rivers, he knew not which, glimpses of whose +waters and bushy banks, he caught. Here were +lowlands—there highlands, and through the latter +he traced for a long distance the course of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +the river he had crossed earlier in the day. Ree +drew out a chart he had obtained at Pittsburg.</p> +<p>“It must be the Cuyahoga river—or Cayuga +as some call it—and I am right in the heart of +the lake country,” he whispered, as he steadied +himself in the tree top. “We will build our +cabin near the river.”</p> +<p>Without more delay the boy climbed down +and strode forward in the direction of a valley +which he had seen two or three miles to westward. +In time he came to a sloping hillside and +looking beyond he saw a splendid stream of +swiftly flowing water. At the foot of the hill +was a narrow tract of about four acres almost +bare of trees, though deep grass spoke of the +soil’s fertility. Rising above the river was a +large knoll sloping down to the natural clearing.</p> +<p>With every sense delighted by the fine prospect, +Ree ran down the hill, across the clearing +and to the summit of the knoll or bluff. The ripple +and splash of the river, the bright sunshine +and his discovery of this ideal spot delighted +him.</p> +<p>“The very place we are looking for!” he +exclaimed aloud. “Here is grass for Jerry, a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +fine clearing for the beginning of a farm—wood—water—game—everything!”</p> +<p>Anxious to join his friends and tell them of +this good fortune, Ree dashed down the bluff and +ascended the wooded hillside opposite. Panting, +he reached the summit and suddenly,—stopped.</p> +<p>As though they had been waiting for him, +there stood watching him a party of Indians. +They were dressed entirely in savage costume. +Not one wore any garment of civilization as did +many of the savages farther east. With stolid +composure the Redskins looked at the boy, though +they must have wondered what the young Paleface +was doing, alone in the forest’s depths.</p> +<p>Quickly recovering his presence of mind, +Ree coolly stepped toward them, holding out his +hand to one he supposed to be the chief, saying, +“How, brothers?”</p> +<p>The Indian shook his hand but did not +speak. The same second another Indian stepped +up and seizing Ree’s hat, put it on his own bare +head. Another grabbed the boy’s rifle, as though +to take it from him.</p> +<p>Ree smiled, but he held firmly to his gun, +and snatched his hat from the young brave who +had seized it. One of the Indians now ordered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +that Ree be let alone. But this was not the one +the boy had taken to be the chief, and Kingdom +quickly perceived that he had made a rather serious +mistake. But he nodded his thanks to the +Redskin and explained, using signs when words +would not do, that he was a trader and that his +friends and store of goods were not far away.</p> +<p>It caused Ree some alarm, however, when +at a signal from the chief the Indians gathered +about in such a way as to hem him completely in. +And this alarm was decidedly increased as he +noticed at the chief’s belt, a white man’s scalp. +There could be no mistaking it.</p> +<p>The savages made no move to molest the boy +further than to prevent his leaving them, but +gave him to understand that they believed him +to be a spy. Seeing this the boy offered to conduct +them to his friends and merchandise. To +this they agreed after some parleying and placing +Ree between two big, swarthy fellows, they +set off in single file, suspicious, it may be, that +he would lead them into an ambush.</p> +<p>Ree gave little thought to this. He knew +that if John and Tom had made good progress +that he could reach them by nightfall and the suspicions +of the Indians would be allayed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></p> +<p>It was wonderful how easily the savages followed +Ree’s back trail, and they traveled at good +speed. But hours passed and no sign of the +wagon of which the lad had told them was found. +The doubt of the Indians increased and they became +ugly and impatient.</p> +<p>In vain Ree tried to explain that his friends +must have been delayed, but he himself could not +understand why no gleam of light, no smoke of +their camp-fire, even, was visible as the day wore +away, and soon he found that he was indeed a +prisoner; for as the savages presently prepared +to go into camp, their first act was to bind the +white boy’s hands behind him and tie his feet +with strong ropes of bark.</p> +<p>A full sense of his danger came to Ree’s +thoughts, but he put on a bold front and emphatically +objected to being tied, saying he had no +thought of running away and that early the next +day his statement that he was a trader would be +found true.</p> +<p>The Indians gave no heed to his indignant +words. They built a small fire by flashing sparks +with flint and steel, and ate their supper consisting +only of pounded parched corn and dried +meat. This they shared with Ree, and though +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +he ate heartily he was thinking of other things. +Every time he looked across the fire he could see +the gruesome scalp at the belt of the chief of +the party. Little wonder that he became apprehensive +for his safety. It would not do, however, +he thought, to let the Indians see that he was +worried, and he began to whistle. The savages +gazed at him in wonder. Suddenly one young +buck arose, stepped over to the boy and struck +him viciously on the cheek.</p> +<p>His temper instantly fired, Ree shot out his +feet, bound together though they were, striking +the savage full in the stomach and sending him +headlong, partly into the fire.</p> +<p>As a tremendous howl of rage arose, Ree +forgot that he was bound—forgot that his better +plan would have been to keep cool. He sprang +up, breaking the strings of bark which tied him, +with seeming ease, and, as the enraged Indian +rushed toward him, he dodged the club the savage +brandished, and landing a tremendous blow +on the redman’s neck with his fist, grabbed his +rifle from the ground and sped away into the +forest and the darkness.</p> +<p>With terrific yells the Indians took up the +pursuit. On and on Ree dashed among the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +bushes and over brush and logs, springing wildly +aside at times to save himself from dashing +out his brains against a tree—hurrying fast and +faster, he knew not whither, his pursuers crashing +after him.</p> +<p>The pursued nearly always has the advantage +over the pursuer. Ree found himself drawing +slowly away from the Indians, who made so +much noise themselves they could scarcely hear +him, and suddenly halting, he crept softly away +in another direction. Soon the savages went +past, pell mell, certain that the boy was ahead of +them, and the sounds of the chase died away.</p> +<p>Listening intently, to be ready for the +slightest alarm, Ree turned to go back the way +he came. It was difficult in the darkness to do +this, but he believed that if he could return to +the vicinity of the Indians’ camp-fire he could +easily get his bearings and travel without loss of +time in the direction of his friends. The darkness +seemed less intense now that he had become +accustomed to it, but he must exercise every care. +To step on a dry stick or to stumble and fall +might be fatal—might mean his capture and +death.</p> +<p>Fortune favored the brave lad, for presently +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +the dim light of the smoldering camp-fire came +into view. He paused a moment, then turned +confidently in the direction in which he thought +John and Tom Fish must be. He had not taken +forty steps, however, when a dark figure loomed +up suddenly before him, and with exceeding +quickness and quietness glided behind a tree.</p> +<p>It was well indeed for Return Kingdom that +his quick eye saw this movement. Turning +again, he ran, but instantly the dark figure darted +in pursuit. Discovering that he was in danger +of being driven into the very arms of the Indians +he had so recently eluded, Ree changed his tactics. +Certain that but a single savage was behind +him, he wheeled and ran toward the Indian at full +speed.</p> +<p>They were not far apart. Before the Redskin +had made out what the boy was doing, the +latter had hurled himself upon him and thrown +him to the ground.</p> +<p>Fiercely the savage struggled; with tremendous +energy Ree retained the upper hold, his +grip secure on his opponent’s throat. Neither +spoke. The Indian could not, and Ree had no +wish to add to the noise made by their thrashing +about among the leaves and dry twigs. He knew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +that he could kill the savage warrior but he +dreaded to do that. It would mean trouble with +the Indians for a long time to come, upsetting his +most cherished plans. And yet his own life was +in danger, and—he dared not relax his hold.</p> +<p>Yet something must be done, and quickly, +for soon the other Indians would be returning, +and more than this he could not hold out long +against the greater strength of his red antagonist. +Ree resolved, therefore, to make the Indian understand +that he did not wish to kill him, then let +go and take his chances in a foot race.</p> +<p>But at this instant, the Redskin, by a mighty +effort raised himself partially upon his feet, secured +the release of his right arm, on which Ree’s +knee had been, and clutched the boy’s throat with +a vise-like grip. Never had the venturesome +Connecticut lad been so near death as he was at +that moment. Steadily the Indian continued to +gain the upper hand, and as he tightened his +grasp on Ree’s throat the boy’s tongue seemed to +be forced from his mouth.</p> +<p>Then it was that Return Kingdom’s grim, +unyielding determination which meant victory or +death—a determination which, once formed, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +would have stopped for nothing though it swayed +the earth, asserted itself. With the power of an +unbending purpose, Ree raised to his feet, dragging +the savage with him. He grasped the Indian’s +body and with strength most extraordinary, +lifted him from the ground, then suddenly +he cast him violently down as though the brave +were a great stone which he wished to break.</p> +<p>Astonished, bruised, exhausted, the Indian +lay as he had fallen. The whole struggle had occupied +but a minute or two, but it had been furious. +Both the combatants were panting like +dogs. Now was Ree’s opportunity. He stooped +down, grasped the redman’s hand and shook it +gently.</p> +<p>“We should be brothers. I would not try to +kill you,” he spoke in a low, friendly way.</p> +<p>The Indian made no answer. Again Ree +shook his hand, then picked up his rule and +walked rapidly away. Looking back, he saw the +savage rising to his feet and returning to the +camp-fire. He was sure then that he had made +a friend of an enemy. But he lost no time. There +were but a few hours of darkness remaining to +cover his escape while he searched for his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +friends, and with every sense alert he hastened +on, though faint and weary from the violence of +his exertions. He felt the necessity of finding +and giving warning to John and Tom and the +thought kept him going.</p> +<p>At last the morning came—slowly at first +and then with a rush of light which set the crows +a-cawing and wood-birds singing; and still the +worn-out, lonesome boy looked in vain for his +friends. But he wavered not for a moment, +though ready to acknowledge himself completely +lost, and thus, pressing on, he came soon after +sunrise to the bank of a deep, wide ravine. He +remembered having crossed it the day he left +John and Tom, and soon he found a path leading +down into the gully.</p> +<p>Assuring himself by careful scrutiny that +the coast was clear, Ree pushed through the +bushes and trotted down the bank’s steep side; +and in another moment came squarely upon the +cart and the camp of his friends. But where +were John and Tom? Consternation filled the +lad as he wholly failed to find them, and as he +also discovered that the camp-fire was no fire at +all—only a heap of dead ashes. Where was old +Jerry, too? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>A great fear came into Ree’s heart, which +was increased a thousand fold, as in another moment +he saw the faithful horse a few rods away—dead. +There was a bullet hole in the gentle, +patient animal’s head.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX_THE_SCALP_AT_BIG_BUFFALO_S_BELT' id='IX_THE_SCALP_AT_BIG_BUFFALO_S_BELT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3><i>The Scalp at Big Buffalo’s Belt.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>A great lump came in Ree’s throat as he +looked upon the body of honest old Jerry, and +stood for a few seconds watching in a dazed, +helpless way the big blue flies which buzzed +about the lifeless animal in the morning sunlight. +Then he saw for the first time that carion birds, +buzzards, perhaps, had been feeding on the +horse’s flesh.</p> +<p>The oppressive silence and desolation of the +camp were as dead weights on the lad’s spirits, +already burdened with most unhappy thoughts, +and standing as still as the motionless trees about +him, he could not summon back the resolution +and courage which had kept him unfaltering +throughout the night. The snapping of a twig +recalled his scattered senses, however, and his +sudden movement frightened a gaunt wolf which +had crept up almost to the lifeless horse, and +now went skulking away.</p> +<p>“I cannot understand—cannot think, I must +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +get my wits to working, some way!” the boy exclaimed +in a half whisper, “what in the world +can have happened?”</p> +<p>Again Ree’s mind gained the mastery over +his fatigued body and his powerful determination +seemed again to drive the weariness away. +He stooped and stroked but once or twice the +dead horse’s damp foretop, then hastened to the +cart. Nothing in it had been disturbed. He +looked carefully about the shelter of poles and +brush which had been built, and found everything +in comparatively good order. Surely +things would not be in this state if his friends +had been driven off or killed by Indians. It +must be that they were attacked, had repulsed +the enemy and had now gone in pursuit.</p> +<p>But why had they not returned? There was +no doubt but that old Jerry had been dead at +least a day, and John and Tom would, in that +case, have been absent nearly as long.</p> +<p>With feverish anxiety Ree searched for a +trail which would show the direction taken by the +enemy or his friends, or both, but the sound of a +stealthy footstep on the bank above caused him +to spring to the shelter of a tree.</p> +<p>As he watched and listened, he heard voices, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +and quietly stepped into the open; for he would +have known John’s tones among ten thousand. +And at the same minute John and Tom Fish saw +Ree gazing up at them, and both ran toward him, +John crying excitedly: “Return Kingdom! Oh, +but I am glad to see you!”</p> +<p>“Dutch rum an’ fire-water, it’s happy I am +y’er back!” Tom Fish exclaimed.</p> +<p>“What has happened, John?” asked Ree in +his usual quiet way, grasping his friend’s hand.</p> +<p>“What ain’t happened? It beats me as I +ain’t ever been beat yet,” Tom Fish made answer.</p> +<p>“It was another of those mysterious shots, +Ree—the very morning you left us,” said John, +putting his hand affectionately on his chum’s +arm.</p> +<p>“Another?” Ree spoke more to himself +than to either John or Tom, and something made +him think of Big Pete Ellis and the fellow’s +threats.</p> +<p>“It was the same sort of a shot as before, +but in broad daylight,” John answered. “We +had just got the cart down into this gully and +were preparing to get it up the other side, when +we heard a rifle shot and—old Jerry fell dead. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +saw the smoke curling out from the bushes just +half a minute later, and Tom and I both ran back +up the hill. But there was no one near. We did +find a trail but it was mingled with the tracks of +the horse and cart, and the snow being gone, we +could not follow it. For miles around the woods +seemed as quiet as a Sunday at home. We +looked all about but—”</p> +<p>“Only one thing is plain, some Mingo or +somebody has a grudge ag’in ye, or else there’s +been some consarned queer coincidences,” broke +in Tom Fish. “It beats me!”</p> +<p>“I don’t see what we are to do, Ree! Tom +and I decided just to wait here until you came +back. But what have you been doing? Why, +your hands and face are frightfully scratched, +and you look all played out!”</p> +<p>“I guess I’ve had my hands full,” said Ree +with a sad little smile. “But tell me where you +two were. Why is there no fire?”</p> +<p>“Such a time as we have had!” was John’s +sorrowful answer. “Poor old Jerry was scarcely +dead before there were hawks or buzzards circling +around above us, and when night came, +wolves and other animals howled all around us, +and so near we would have been afraid, had we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +not had a big fire. Toward morning it became +quieter and I was asleep, and Tom on watch, +when a bear came poking around.”</p> +<p>“Biggest bear ye ever seen,” interrupted +Thomas Fish.</p> +<p>“Well,” John went on, “we both set out +after that bear, though it was pitch dark. We +had a long chase for nothing, though, for we +caught sight of the big fellow only once, and not +long enough to get a shot at him. Coming back, +it was light, and we stopped to explore the gully. +But we did not expect to find you here, Ree. We +would not have come back when we did, only to +keep the buzzards away from the horse till we +can burn the body. And I don’t see what we are +to do. But you haven’t told a word about yourself.”</p> +<p>Ree was busily thinking, and for a little +time made no answer. Then Tom and John +spoke again, asking where he had been and what +he had found.</p> +<p>“Why, I’ll tell you,” he answered them. “I +came upon a first-class place for a cabin, on a +bluff right at the bank of a splendid little river, +and a little natural clearing around it. About +five minutes later I came upon some Delaware +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +Indians and as they wouldn’t believe me when I +told them who I was, they made me a prisoner. +I got away in the night, and here I am.”</p> +<p>John’s eyes opened wide, and excitedly he +demanded to know all the particulars of Ree’s +adventure. Tom Fish whistled a long, low note +and almost closing his eyes, he looked toward Ree +with a squint which was more expressive of his +astonishment and interest than words could have +been.</p> +<p>As the three of them sat on the thills of the +now useless cart, Ree told them more fully of his +experiences. Many were John’s outbursts of interest, +and Tom whistled in his peculiar way +more than once.</p> +<p>“Can’t more than kill us, and we may as +well die that way as starve to death,” said the +old hunter, as Ree spoke of the probability of the +Indians soon finding their camp, and straightway +he began preparations for breakfast. As they +gathered about the savory meal which soon was +ready, the conversation turned again to the mysterious +attack which had ended the life of their +horse.</p> +<p>John could not be persuaded that it was not +some prowling Indian who had fired the shot, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +but Ree urged both him and Tom to be on their +guard constantly and he would be the same, he +said, for there was no knowing when another +bullet might come whizzing toward them, nor +when one of their own lives might not be thus +snuffed out.</p> +<p>As breakfast was finished, John and Tom +pleaded with Ree that he should lie down and get +some rest, but he took a cold bath in the brook +close by, instead, and would not listen to them +further. All three were keeping their eyes open +to detect the approach of Indians, for they did +not doubt the savages would soon come, especially +since the re-kindling of the fire had sent a +stream of smoke steadily skyward, and now this +signal of their whereabouts was made all the +more plain by the building of a much larger fire +upon and about the body of the unfortunate +horse.</p> +<p>“Let them come,” was the confident declaration +of Return Kingdom, as Tom Fish had suggested +that the savages could not be far away. +“We will meet them as friends,” he went on, +“and I honestly believe that when they find that +we are peaceable traders, there will be no trouble +whatever.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p>Tom whistled and squinted as Ree took this +bold stand, but he had learned that the boy “had +a long head,” and made no further remonstrance +against the plan proposed.</p> +<p>About noon the savages arrived. John discovered +a dark face peering out from some +bushes on the bluff, and waved his hand in that +direction in a friendly way. The searching eyes +instantly disappeared. It required courage to +follow the program Ree had mapped out, now +when it was known that vengeful and cruel Delawares +were lurking so near, themselves fully protected +by the bank and brush, and trees; but +when, a few minutes later Ree saw an Indian +looking down at them, and the fellow put down +his gun as a sign of friendliness, they knew they +had acted wisely.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding the show of friendliness, +however, Tom Fish said: “Keep your wits +about ye, kittens, there ain’t no snake in the +woods as treacherous as them varmints.”</p> +<p>Two savages were soon seen coming down +the path, and Ree and John, laying down their +guns, as the Indians had done, walked forward to +meet them. Thus peace was secured for the time +being, at least, and as the boys shook hands with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +the Redskins, the latter gave them to understand +that their chief was in waiting to be met and conducted +to the camp.</p> +<p>Ree went to the cart and secured from their +stock of merchandise a small hand-mirror in a +round, pewter frame with a pewter lid over it, +and with this for a present to the chief, he and +John were guided to a spot not far away where +the savage warrior and his braves were assembled. +He was a tall muscular young fellow and +would have been handsome had it not been for a +look of malicious cunning and wickedness in his +small dark eyes. But the gift of the mirror +pleased his savage fancy greatly and he accepted +it with a show of friendliness.</p> +<p>There were eleven Indians in the party. +John could not repress a smile when he saw the +singed hair and burned face of the young brave +whom Ree had knocked into the fire, but even +Kingdom failed to recognize the savage with +whom he had battled for his very life alone in +the darkness. By sign or otherwise neither of +the boys made any reference to the adventure of +the day and night before, but with perfect friendliness +conducted the Indians to their camp.</p> +<p>Tom Fish’s spirits had grown lighter when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +he saw that a fight would be avoided and he +greeted each Indian in his happy-go-lucky fashion.</p> +<p>“You’re a good un,” he said to the chief. +“Got a little muscle, too, ain’t ye? Ain’t no religion +in that eye o’ your’n, though!”</p> +<p>And so it went with the whole party. As he +noticed the buck who was burned Tom laughed +aloud. “Pretty near took the hide off, didn’t it, +Smart Alec?” he exclaimed. “Doubled ye up +like a two-bladed jack-knife, I should guess. Oh, +these here boys are frisky! No foolin’ with +them!”</p> +<p>John laughed at this, but no one took heed +of him except Tom, who laughed boisterously, as +he always did when anyone showed an appreciation +of his crude jokes.</p> +<p>Almost immediately upon reaching the camp +the Indians asked for “fire-water,” but Ree +shook his head. It was true that in one of the +several packages of goods there was a large stone +bottle of whiskey which Capt. Bowen had provided +for the boys together with other medicines, +but not for a great deal would Kingdom have let +the Indians know it; and he hoped that Tom +would not find it out, either; for the truth was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +that Fish had drunk more than was good for him +at Pittsburg. But all the savages ate of the meat +which was placed before them, and Tom Fish, +never neglecting an opportunity of this kind, +made out a square meal also. The boys joining +in, too, there was quite a feast.</p> +<p>One of the Indians, a good looking young +buck, showed for Ree a warmer friendship than +any of the others. He was the one whom the boy +had mistaken for the chief of the party the day +before. His name was Fishing Bird and the +chief’s name was Big Buffalo. The latter was +far from showing entire friendship and a dispute +arose between these two savages when Ree told +them that he and John wished to purchase land.</p> +<p>Fishing Bird indicated that the boys must +go to the great chief of their tribe, Hopocon, or +Captain Pipe, as the whites called him, at the +village of the Delawares. Big Buffalo, on the +other hand, contended that he himself had power +to sell land.</p> +<p>Ree rightly judged as he saw an ugly feeling +between these two, that he had made a serious +mistake when he had mistaken Fishing Bird for +the chief the day before, arousing the other’s +jealousy very much. He thought now, that he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +recognized in Fishing Bird the Indian with +whom he had grappled in the forest. If this +were true, it was evident that that Indian, unwilling +to confess how he had been vanquished, +had said nothing to the others of his struggle +with the escaped prisoner.</p> +<p>However, seeing that the land question +might cause trouble, both Ree and John dropped +it, having learned from the savages that a day’s +journey to the south and west would take them to +the Delawares’ town. They determined, therefore, +to visit the village of Captain Pipe and talk +with the great chief himself.</p> +<p>The afternoon was nearly spent before the +Indians departed. They were scarcely gone +when Tom Fish called Ree and John to him and +the boys noticed for the first time that a great +change had come over the old hunter, who for +some time had little or nothing to say.</p> +<p>“Did ye see that fresh scalp hangin’ at that +Buffalo varmint’s belt?” he asked. “That +means blood. It means fightin’! I’ve seen many +a Redskin, but I never seen a wickeder one than +that Buffalo. An’ there’s no more play for +Thomas Trout, which some calls Fish, my kittens, +both! I tell ye now, that from what I seed, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +there was nothin’ kept us out of a fight this day +but the friendliness o’ that chap Fishin’ Bird. If +Big Buffalo had a’ dared, he’d a’ pitched onto us. +Them’s my honest sentiments; an’ more’n that, +did ye see the scalp at that red devil’s belt? +Don’t tell me they ain’t been on the warpath! +Did ye see that scalp, an’ the blood on it hardly +more ’n dry? Oh, sorry day! Oh, sorry day—the +blood on it hardly more’n dry. ’Cause I’m a +plagued sight mistaken, kittens both, if I don’t +know whose scalp that is! Oh, sorry day!”</p> +<p>Tom’s voice had sunk almost to a whisper +and involuntarily John shuddered. The sinking +sun cast thick, dark shadows in the narrow valley, +and a death-like silence was broken only by +the soughing wind and the tinkle of the brook.</p> +<p>These melancholy surroundings and the +gruesome way in which Tom spoke, were enough +to remove all cheerfulness which might have existed, +but Tom said again, slowly and with a +mournful emphasis, “I know—I know whose +scalp it is, lads; an’ the blood on it hardly more’n +dry.”</p> +<p>The rough woodsman put his arm across +his eyes and leaned mournfully on his rifle, as he +spoke.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X_A_NIGHT_WITH_THE_INDIANS' id='X_A_NIGHT_WITH_THE_INDIANS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3><i>A Night With the Indians.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>To shut out from his thoughts the horrid +memory of the bloody scalp at Big Buffalo’s belt, +Ree turned and busied himself with the fire, +which had burned quite low, and soon a roaring +blaze was leaping skyward, shedding good cheer +around.</p> +<p>The woodsman still stood leaning on his rifle, +a look of sadness on his face such as was seldom +seen there. If John had noticed this he might +not have asked in the tone in which he did:</p> +<p>“Well, whose scalp is it?”</p> +<p>“It ain’t your’n, kitten, an’ ye can be glad o’ +that.”</p> +<p>“Shucks! How can you tell whose it might +have been? How could anybody tell?” asked the +boy.</p> +<p>Tom made no reply, and Ree deftly changed +the subject by saying that one of them had better +stand guard that night. He expected no trouble +with the Indians, but he was not willing to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +caught napping by the unknown foe whose work +had now cost the life of their horse.</p> +<p>Tom was gloomy all the evening as they sat +before the fire, but he told the boys of the great +chief of the Delaware’s, Hopocon, or Capt. Pipe, +and reminded them that he was one of the Indians +who were responsible for the burning of +Col. Crawford at the stake eight years earlier.</p> +<p>That and other stories of this noted chief +made the boys curious to see him, and anxious +to put themselves on friendly terms with him. It +was decided that the next day they should visit +the Delaware town and make arrangements for +securing land. Without a horse they could move +their goods only with great labor, and they were +desirous of knowing just where they were taking +their property, therefore, before they undertook +to move it from their present camp.</p> +<p>“Guess I will stay an’ watch here, whilst +you youngsters go to see Capt. Pipe,” said Tom, +as the subject was under discussion. “I might +not be as peaceful as a little lamb—plague take +their greasy skins! Not if I clapped my eyes on +that Buffalo critter ag’in!”</p> +<p>“Look a-here, Tom,” Ree answered, earnestly. +“We boys are on a peaceable mission and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +we don’t want to get into trouble on your account. +We know that the horrible sight of that +scalp, and your belief that you know from where +it came, has made you want revenge, but John +and I have had no special trouble with the Delawares +and it would be very foolish, situated as +we are, for you or any of us to start a fight with +them now.”</p> +<p>“I see all that—I ain’t so blind! But—” +Tom did not finish the sentence. Instead he began +talking of other things and advised the boys +to take every precaution against being treacherously +dealt with when they should find Big Buffalo +at his own home—the Delaware town.</p> +<p>It was a windy, cloudy morning that found +Ree and John tramping through the valleys and +over the hills of a fine, thickly wooded country +toward the Indian village. Early in the afternoon +they came to a sloping hillside beyond +which lay a swampy tract grown up to brush and +rushes. Close by was a beautiful little lake and +at the opposite side the smoke was rising from the +town of the Delaware tribe of Indians.</p> +<p>As the boys approached the water, planning +to walk around the lake, they were discovered by +three Indians in a canoe, which seemed almost +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +to spring out of the water, so quickly did it appear +from around a bushy point. The savages headed +directly toward the boys, without a sound.</p> +<p>The lads laid down their rifles as a sign of +friendliness, and in another minute a swift stroke +of a paddle grounded the Indians’ craft upon the +beach. The Redskins bounded ashore and with +some reluctance shook hands with the boys.</p> +<p>Without loss of time Ree gave them to understand +that he wished them to inform their +chief, Hopocon, or Capt. Pipe, that two young +Palefaces were waiting to call on him, and tell of +their friendly wish to buy some land of the Delawares, +and that they would remain where they +were while he should send a canoe to carry them +over.</p> +<p>None of the three Indians had been in the +party of the previous day, but they seemed readily +to comprehend what was desired of them and +turned to go.</p> +<p>One of the Redskins, quite a young fellow, +lingered behind. After the other two had taken +their places in the canoe he pushed it out into +deep water, then he made a running jump to leap, +aboard. He might have done so very nicely, had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +he not slipped just as he jumped. As it was, he +went sprawling in the water most ridiculously.</p> +<p>The other Indians grunted derisively. John +laughed heartily and Ree smiled, amused to see +the proud young buck get just such a ducking as +he deserved for trying to “show off.”</p> +<p>However, the lithe young fellow seized the +canoe and was safely in it in a very brief space of +time. Soon it was far out on the lake, rocking +and dancing lightly as a feather on the fierce little +waves, which a strong wind was blowing up.</p> +<p>Ree and John made themselves comfortable +on the grassy bank beside the water, and waited. +It seemed a long time until they saw a canoe coming +for them. The fact was, and the boys +shrewdly surmised it, that Capt. Pipe, or Hopocon, +desirous of impressing the strangers with +his greatness, purposely kept them waiting +awhile.</p> +<p>The canoe sent for the boys was manned by +two of the Indians they first met, and the lads +were taken aboard. Although frail in appearance, +the light little craft was capable of carrying +seven or eight persons. It was made of the +bark of a bitter-nut hickory, and was the first of +the kind in which the Connecticut lads had ever +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +ridden. They quickly found that they must aid +in keeping the canoe balanced to prevent its upsetting, +and their efforts to do this, before they +caught the knack of it, rather amused the Indians.</p> +<p>In a short time, however, the canoe touched +shore before the Indian town and the Paleface +visitors were conducted at once to the council +house. This was a long low building, its lower +part being built of logs but its sides and roof +being of bark. It was open at one end, and at +the other end skins were hung up to shut out the +wind. In the center of the rude structure, whose +floor was only the hard-trodden earth, was a fire, +the smoke escaping through a large hole in the +roof.</p> +<p>All these things were observed by the boys +in time, but first to attract their notice as they +entered, were the Indians, especially one of great +size—elderly and very dignified, seated on a bear +skin spread over a mat of bark. He shook hands +with each as they stepped up, saying only +“How.”</p> +<p>Ree answered in the same fashion but John +was so flustrated that he stammered: “How do +you do, sir?” in a manner which bored him a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +great deal, as Ree jokingly recalled the circumstance +long afterward.</p> +<p>But Capt. Pipe knew from the lad’s tone that +he spoke respectfully and it pleased him. Other +Indians seemed to feel the same, and the several +minor chiefs and medicine men who were present, +shook hands with the boys with a great show +of dignity and formality. Then the young traders +stated the object of their visit and were shown +to a seat opposite Capt Pipe and pipes were +brought out. They all smoked, the boys soon discovering +that it was not tobacco but “kinnikinick”—the +inner bark of young willow sprouts +dried and pulverized—which was in the pipes.</p> +<p>Presently the great chief laid aside his pipe, +a long-stemmed affair with a curiously carved +clay bowl, and all others immediately followed +his example. In another minute the speech-making +began.</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe’s was the first address, a brief +preliminary statement. He made a most imposing +appearance as he stood very erect, his arms +folded, his head-dress of feathers reaching half +way to the ground behind him, the fringes of his +shirt-like coat rustled by the movements of his +body, as he talked. Others followed, but the boys +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +understood very little of what was said. As Big +Buffalo arose, however, there was a scowl on his +face which was far from pleasant. His gestures +indicated hostility and the Paleface lads knew +that at heart he hated them. They wished Fishing +Bird were present to say a friendly word.</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe, himself, spoke a second time a +little later, however, and very earnestly Ree and +John studied his grave and stern, but not unkind, +face, to learn how he felt toward them. They +could scarcely believe that he was the savage, +who, only a few years before, had been a leading +spirit in the torture of Colonel Crawford.</p> +<p>Occasionally the chief used a few English +words and the boys gathered from the general +trend of his remarks that they would be welcome +if they came only as traders; but that settlers +were not welcome, and the Indians wished no one +to come among them who would clear land or do +anything which might lead to the establishing of +a settlement of the whites in their country. A +reasonable number of hunters and traders might +come and go unmolested but there must be no +building of permanent cabins; there must be no +different life than that led by the children of the +forest—the Indians themselves. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></p> +<p>A long silence followed this address, and +then Ree arose to speak. His heart beat fast, and +John trembled inwardly as his friend began. +But nervous as he was, there was no weakness in +Ree’s tones. He spoke slowly and distinctly, +using every sign which could be expressed by +look or gesture to make his meaning clear; and +looking the Indians squarely in the eyes they +did not fail to understand as the boy thus told +them in his own way, that he and his friends +hoped to live at peace with them; that there was +but a very small party of them, himself and one +other, besides a woodsman who was temporarily +with them, and that they had journeyed to that +beautiful country of the Delawares to hunt and +trade and make themselves a home.</p> +<p>They had not been taught to live as the Indians +lived, he said, and they could not have a +home without some cleared land about it for the +crops which they would need. For this land, Ree +went on, they were willing to pay a fair price, +and they were desirous of selecting a location +that they might get their cabin built. The spot +they had chosen was where the course of the river +had changed at some time, years before, leaving +a little clearing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p> +<p>As Ree finished speaking he stepped up and +laid his presents—two small mirrors and a handsome +hunting knife—before Capt. Pipe. John +followed his example in this, and there were +grunts of approval from all the Indians except +Big Buffalo, as the boys sat down.</p> +<p>More speech-making followed, however, taking +so much time that John whispered: “If they +don’t stop soon, or ask us to stay all night, we +will have to climb a tree, somewhere.”</p> +<p>At last a decision was reached that the boys +were to have a piece of land including the clearing +to which Ree had referred, and as much of the +river valley and adjacent hillsides as they reasonably +needed, in exchange for articles to be selected +from their stock of goods.</p> +<p>By close attention Ree had been able to understand +the matter fairly well, but as the talk of +the Indians had seemed so monotonous, John had +let his thoughts run to other subjects. He had +been wondering what had become of the scalp they +had seen at Big Buffalo’s belt the day before, and +whether Tom Fish really knew the person whose +death it signified; and if so, who that person +might be. He did not know then, all that he +came to know afterward. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span></p> +<p>With hand-shaking all around the council +was concluded, and Capt. Pipe conducted the +boys to the feast which the squaws had been preparing. +There was broiled venison (without +salt) and a sort of soup containing broken corn +and beans cooked together in a large kettle.</p> +<p>Nearly all of the Indians who had been in the +council partook of these dainties and many others +did likewise. Ree and John ate heartily though +they did not exactly relish the lack of cleanliness +displayed by the savages in their manner of cooking, +and in their eating.</p> +<p>The squaws and Indian boys and girls, and +many a young brave for that matter, watched the +young Palefaces curiously, and their eyes followed +the lads closely as Capt. Pipe led them +away to his own bark cabin. It was then that +John first saw Gentle Maiden, Capt. Pipe’s +daughter. She was truly handsome for one of +her race, but she stepped behind a screen of skins +and was gone before Ree had even noticed her.</p> +<p>The chief of the Delawares told the boys to +make themselves comfortable, and a squaw, who +seemed to be his wife, spread skins for them to +sit upon or lie upon, as they chose. Capt. Pipe +then gave his guests to understand that they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +might come and go as they chose and remain with +him as long as they wished. He then withdrew +and presently the boys did go for a stroll about +the queer town of the Indians. Fortunately they +met Fishing Bird and he walked all about with +them then, leading the way to a fire before which +a game like dice was being played.</p> +<p>The seeds of wild plums, colored black on +one side and scraped white on the other, were +shaken up in a box made of bark and thrown out +upon a smooth spot on the ground. The Indians +endeavored to throw as many as possible of the +seeds with the white sides up, and he who did the +best at this, won the game. It seemed very dull +amusement to John, but Ree watched the game +with much interest, until Fishing Bird beckoned +him away. And then something took place +which made Ree quite certain that this was the +Indian whom he might have killed as they struggled +alone in the forest solitude only the second +night previous.</p> +<p>It was a wrestling match which Fishing +Bird proposed, and he called to a strapping +young savage and challenged him to undertake +to put Ree down. The brave smiled and stepped +up willingly. Ree would have preferred that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +such a contest had not been suggested, but as the +young Indian looked at him in a way which +seemed to say, “It will not take me long to put +you on your back,” he decided to throw the +proud young redskin if he could.</p> +<p>With many manifestations of delight the +Indians gathered around, as they quickly learned +what was taking place; for there was nothing in +which the forest rovers had a greater delight +than trials of strength and endurance.</p> +<p>Ree stipulated but one thing, as he threw off +his coat and made ready, this was that the wrestling +should be “catch-as-catch-can.”</p> +<p>Ready assent was given, a space was cleared +and an Indian clapped his hands as a signal for +the contest to begin. Like a panther the young +brave sprang toward his sturdy white opponent +to catch him “Indian hold.” But he reckoned +without knowledge of his man. Ree had not forgotten +the teachings of Peter Piper, and so cleverly +did he dodge, and so quickly seize the Indian +about the legs, that in a twinkling the proud buck +was stretched upon the earth.</p> +<p>There were expressions of wonderment from +the Indians, but in a second the vanquished redskin +was on his feet, anxious for another trial. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></p> +<p>John, with utter disregard of good manners, +was laughing heartily over his friend’s success, +and as Ree declined to wrestle any more, the Indian +turned to him, and somewhat fiercely demanded +that he should try conclusions with him.</p> +<p>John glanced at Ree and the latter nodded +for him to go ahead. In another minute then, +a match, the closeness and desperation of which +delighted the savages beyond measure, was in +progress.</p> +<p>Tightly clasping each other’s arms, the contestants +strained every muscle and struggled +back and forth and round and round—now slowly, +now with movements most rapid, neither gaining +an advantage. Longer and longer the contest +continued in this way, and Ree saw that John +was becoming worn out. He must act quickly or +succumb to the Indian’s greater weight and power +of endurance.</p> +<p>“You can throw him if you only say to yourself +that you must and that you will, and then +do it,” Ree whispered, as John was pushed near +him, and his advice was taken.</p> +<p>With a show of strength which surprised +them all, John forced his opponent backward, +and tried again to trip the fellow, but could not. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +Then he allowed the savage to try to trip him, +and seizing the opportunity, gave the redskin so +sudden and violent a pull that he was taken off +his feet and fell heavily, dragging John down +with him. Both the Indian’s shoulders touched +the ground, however, and with savage glee the +redskins acknowledged John to be the victor. +To do them justice, they seemed not at all put +out that their man was defeated. Only one who +was present scowled. He was Big Buffalo, and +with an ugly look he strode away from the campfire’s +light.</p> +<p>Ree could not help but notice the savage fellow’s +hostile manner. “We better watch out for +him,” he said to John as they discussed the incident +sometime later, when they had sought rest +for the night on the skins in Capt. Pipe’s house.</p> +<p>“It makes me feel—well, not exactly comfortable, +Ree,” John answered. “Here we are +a hundred miles from civilization sleeping in the +hut of one of the bloodiest Indians of the Northwest +Territory; Indians all around us, and Goodness +knows what else in the woods, on every +side!”</p> +<p>“Why, John,” said Ree, “I believe we are +safer to-night than at any time since we left Fort +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +Pitt. Capt. Pipe may be a bad Indian, but he +would fight for us, if need be, while we are his +guests. He might scalp us to-morrow after we +have said good-bye, but when we are in his house +as friends, we will be protected.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI_AGAIN_A_HIDDEN_ENEMY' id='XI_AGAIN_A_HIDDEN_ENEMY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3><i>Again a Hidden Enemy.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>The boys were early astir the following +morning. As soon as they were up Capt. Pipe’s +wife placed a dish of boiled corn, like hominy, +before them, and this was their breakfast. A +little later, telling Capt. Pipe of the great amount +of work they had to do, the lads bade him good-bye, +the chief giving them each a pouch of +parched corn, and sending an Indian to take +them in a canoe across the lake.</p> +<p>It was two hours past noon when Tom Fish +suddenly started up from the broiled turkey with +which he was regaling himself, as he heard some +one approach, and discovered Ree and John returning. +He greeted them gladly, but not in his +usual hilarious fashion, and they could not but +notice how unlike himself he was as he carved +for them some juicy slices from the fine young +gobbler he had cooked. Yet he listened with interest +to Ree’s account of their trip, John often +breaking in with such jolly comment as: “You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +should have heard those Indians talk! Why they +beat a quilting bee for gabbling, except that they +didn’t all talk at once.”</p> +<p>“But they are real orators,” added Ree quite +soberly. “I’ve heard that an Indian has three +ambitions—to be a mighty hunter, a great warrior +and a grand orator; and there are some +splendid speakers among the Delawares.”</p> +<p>“The’s some red-handed, bloody murderers +among ’em, too, I kin tell ye,” Tom Fish growled. +“I got no rest whilst ye was gone, a thinkin’ of +it.”</p> +<p>“Has anything happened, Tom?” asked +Ree, struck by his friends grave manner.</p> +<p>“Cheer up, Thomas, cheer up!” cried John. +“You’ve been about as cheerful company as a +box of indigo ever since you saw that—that hideous +thing at Big Buffalo’s belt.”</p> +<p>“Well, it’s a wonder the’ didn’t nothing +happen, an’ somethin’s goin’ to happen, I know,” +the hunter replied to Ree’s question, ignoring +John’s bantering, as he often did. “That Buffalo +varmint means harm. I’ve been thinkin’ it +all over an’ the’ ain’t no two ways about it. If +I ain’t a sight mistaken, I seen him peekin’ down +from the hill back there, not a half hour +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +ago—either him or some dirty Mingo; I didn’t exactly +see him, but I heard some one, an’ I’d a’ peppered +away at him if you kittens hadn’ ’a been +gone an’ me not knowin’ just where ye might be. +So I’ve been thinkin’ it all over, an’ mighty sorry +I am I ever piloted ye into this hostyle kentry. +The’s only one thing to do, an’ that’s to take +what stuff ye kin an’ get back to Pittsburg fast +as yer legs kin take ye. Now as fer me, I kin +take care of myself, but I’ll see ye part way anyhow, +an’ I’d go clear back with ye if I didn’t +have somethin’ very important to ’tend to.”</p> +<p>Ree could not help but smile at Tom’s drooping +spirits, though the discouraging talk made it +necessary for him to appear really more cheerful +than he felt, as he realized that Big Buffalo really +seemed anxious to cause trouble. But he shook +his head at John, as he saw the latter about to +scold Tom for bringing them into this part of the +wilderness only to advise them to leave it; for his +chum’s face showed that he was not pleased with +Tom’s manner.</p> +<p>“There is just one thing to be done,” Ree +exclaimed.</p> +<p>“An’ that’s get right back—” Tom Fish +was saying. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span></p> +<p>But the youthful leader of the party interrupted: +“Go back? No, sir! The one thing +to do is to go forward, and take our goods with +us without further loss of time. We will get a +good, stout cabin up and then we’ll be better +prepared for trouble if it comes. And that prowler, +you heard, Tom, must have been the same +cowardly wretch who shot old Jerry. We must +watch for him. We cannot be too careful, but if +he is the same fellow who fired on us and nearly +killed Black Eagle’s son, ’way back on the Pennsylvania +border, I think I can guess who it is, +and I can tell you, he is a coward. But let’s get +to work.”</p> +<p>“I like yer spunk, lad, an’ I like you, but +what I want to say is, that Tom Trout as some +calls Fish, will stick by ye till ye get some sort +of a shack throwed up, anyhow.”</p> +<p>“Bully for you, Tom! And bully for you, +too, Ree,” exclaimed John springing up to begin +whatever task awaited him. “I was beginning +to get away down in the mouth, the way Tom was +talking a minute ago.”</p> +<p>“We must take the goods out of the cart and +pack them in convenient shape for carrying,” +Ree directed, without further ado. “By dragging +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +a few things forward a hundred rods or so, +then coming back for more and so on, we should +reach the river in a couple of days.”</p> +<p>And so all fell to work with a will. The +cart did not contain a heavy load, as it would +have been impossible for old Jerry to have hauled +it through the woods, up hills, across streams +and boggy places. But when it came to carrying +forward everything except the cart, which +must be abandoned, without the aid of a horse, +the task was found to be a most laborious one.</p> +<p>The unpacking and rearranging consumed +so much time that darkness had come on before +the last bundle of the merchandise and provisions +had been carried forward to the first stopping +place, a little way beyond the top of the bluff, in +the valley below which the camp had been.</p> +<p>While John and Tom erected a shelter for +the night, for the wind was cold and raw, Ree +returned to the valley to procure coals with which +to start a fire at the new camp. He found it +necessary to enliven the dying embers with a few +fresh sticks of wood, and as he stooped over to +blow greater life into the struggling blaze which +started up, he heard a rustling in the leaves on +the hill behind him, in the direction opposite that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +in which his friends were. Like a flash he sprang +away from the fire into the half-darkness which +filled the valley. He was in the nick of time. A +rifle cracked and a bullet threw up the ashes and +sent the sparks flying where his head had been +just a second before.</p> +<p>With the speed of the wind Ree ran in the +direction from which the shot had come, his own +rifle cocked and ready. He thought he heard +some one making off in the darkness as he +reached the top of the hill, but whether white man +or Indian—Delaware or Mingo, he could not tell. +He called out a command to halt, but no attention +was given his order for the uncertain sound of +fleeing footsteps continued. He chanced a shot +in the direction of the unknown enemy, although +he realized it would probably do no good.</p> +<p>While he reloaded his rifle Ree stepped behind +a tree, and a few seconds later John came +running up. As it was too dark to continue the +chase, both boys returned to camp, stopping in +the ravine to secure a fire brand to start a blaze +to prepare their supper. In vain did John ask +questions as to whom Ree believed the would-be +murderer was; they could not be answered, for, +as Ree said, he had not seen the person. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span></p> +<p>Tom Fish, disconsolate as he well could be, +sat on a big bundle of merchandise as the boys +rejoined him.</p> +<p>“It’s sure death to stay here, lads,” were the +first words he said, and his tone was not calculated +to make the young travelers comfortable; +but resolving to look on the brighter side, Ree +cheerily answered:</p> +<p>“A man is in some danger wherever he is. +We will all feel better when we smell some venison +on the hot coals. And just wait till we get +our cabin built! We are going to get some beans +and late squashes from the Indians, and bake +some corn bread, and have a regular old-fashioned +Connecticut supper!”</p> +<p>“Did ye hit him, d’ye think, Ree?” asked +Tom, brightening up.</p> +<p>“No, but he scared him into eleven kinds of +fits,” John answered for his friend, catching the +spirit of the latter’s courage and enthusiasm.</p> +<p>“It ain’t that I am caring for myself. Tom +Fish, or Tom Trout didn’t ever lose a wink o’ +sleep bein’ afraid he couldn’t look out for number +one,” the woodsman went on. “But after—after +that—thing we saw the other day—but I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +guess we’ve got our appetites left,” he said, +suddenly changing the subject.</p> +<p>It was not long until the supper was ready +and eaten and all did feel much the better for it, +as Ree had predicted. The ordinary noises of +the forest, the howling of wolves, in pursuit of +some poor deer, perhaps, the far-away shriek of +a panther balked of its prey, it may have been, +gave them little concern. Though the darkness +was intense and enemies might draw very near +without being observed, the boys believed they +had made peace with the Indians and the presence +of four-footed enemies did not worry them.</p> +<p>Tom Fish felt very differently about the +matter of the Indians’ friendship, but he kept +these thoughts to himself for the time being, and +though there are far more comfortable places +than a camp in a great wilderness on a cold November +night, the lads from Connecticut would +have been entirely happy had it not been for the +mystery of the strange prowler, the thought that +several times they had been secretly fired upon, +and that there was no knowing when another attack +might be made in which the aim of the dastardly +assailant need be but a trifle better to end +the life of one or both of them, perhaps. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span></p> +<p>Yet, even these gloomy facts could not dispel +the good spirits which accompany good +health and the hopefulness of youth. Even Tom +seemed to forget his dark forebodings as he was +persuaded to tell a number of stories of his +own adventures. Quite comfortable, therefore, +though on the alert to catch the first sound of +danger’s coming, the little party sat for an hour +or two beneath the rude shelter which had been +erected, while the firelight performed its fantastic +feats around them.</p> +<p>Tom volunteered to remain on guard the +first part of the night, and crept out at the back +of their little house of poles and brush, that he +might not be observed, should anyone be watching. +Then, softly through the darkness he made +his way to a convenient tree against which he +leaned, in the dark shadows. Ree and John, +wrapped in their blankets on their beds of deerskins +spread over the autumn leaves, were soon +asleep.</p> +<p>A heavy snow was sifting through the swaying +branches of the trees when Tom called Ree +and the latter went on watch. This change in the +weather gave the quick-witted sentinel an idea. +With the first streak of dawn he called John to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +prepare breakfast, then hurried back to the valley +where their cart had been left, taking care to +observe that there were no tracks of any human +creature along the way. From the box of the +abandoned two-wheeled wagon he secured two +good sized boards and carried them to camp.</p> +<p>John watched in open-mouthed astonishment +as he saw Ree coming up with the lumber, but +in a minute or two he discovered what his friend +designed to do. With no other tools than an axe +and auger he soon built a sled large and strong +enough to carry all their goods.</p> +<p>Ree’s idea proved an excellent one. The +snow-fall was just enough to make a sled run +smoothly, and by a little after sunrise “all the +property of Kingdom and Jerome, Indian traders +and home-seekers,” as John expressed it, was +piled upon the pair of runners which the senior +member of the firm had contrived, and they and +Tom Fish were steadily drawing it toward their +long-sought destination.</p> +<p>“We must reach the Cuyahoga river by +night,” Ree urged, and his own determination +gave strength to himself and his companions. +Up hill and down hill they hurried, tugging, perspiring, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +making the best speed possible through +the silent forest.</p> +<p>And as the sun burst through a sea of gray-black +clouds, and shone brilliantly just before +night’s coming, it seemed an omen of good to the +little party in the wilderness, for at almost the +same moment, Ree, running on a head a little +way, cried: “Here we are!”</p> +<p>Before the daylight closed, the site of the +cabin, work on which was to begin the next day, +had been selected on the long irregular mound +close to the river, which has already been described.</p> +<p>Ree called attention to the natural advantages +of the place—its sides sloping down in three +directions while on the fourth side and thirty feet +below was the river. It was a point which could +be defended in case of an attack, and the additional +fact of the natural clearing and fertile +lands surrounding it, made the place seem most +desirable.</p> +<p>“The’s only one thing the matter with this +location,” said Tom Fish, surveying the mound +from the semi-circular valley around it, as the +twilight settled down. “The’s likely to be ague +in a place like this, it bein’ so nigh the water. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +It’s a mighty good thing to steer clear of, ague +is.”</p> +<p>“But there are so many natural advantages,” +Ree persisted, “and our cabin will be +well up in the air and the sunlight.”</p> +<p>“That’s a good point, Ree,” John put in, +“but think of it—we will have to carry all our +firewood up that hill.”</p> +<p>“I’ll carry the wood if you play out, old +chap,” was the answer and the matter ended by +Ree having his own way, as was generally the +case, not because he was selfish or obstinate, but +because he was sure he was right before he made +up his mind, and because he had that born spirit +of leadership which gave himself and all others +confidence in his decisions and actions.</p> +<p>Although careful observation during the day +had failed to reveal any sign of their prowling +foe, whoever he might be, Ree and John agreed +to divide the guard duty of the night between +them. Ree took the first watch and reported all +quiet when John relieved him at midnight.</p> +<p>When daylight came John went a little way +up the wooded hillside opposite the mound to +pick up some dry wood for their fire. Suddenly +he stopped and a startled look came upon his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +face. There in the snow were foot-prints made +by moccasined feet. They followed the trail the +sled had made the day before, up to the very edge +of the clearing in which their camp was made.</p> +<p>There, John found, as he guardedly investigated, +they circled off to one side a little way, +hovered about, here and there, then re-crossed +the sled’s track and disappeared in the woods. +What could it mean? Instantly he remembered +that the foot-prints of the person who had several +times fired upon their camp, had been made by +boots. He hurried to the camp mentally ejaculating: +“What will Tom Fish say of this?”</p> +<p>Tom was still asleep, but Ree had commenced +the breakfast. “It is too bad,” he said, +thinking aloud, as he learned of John’s discovery. +“I suppose we ought to follow those tracks +if only for safety’s sake, and find out who made +them, but I do hate to lose the time when we +ought to be getting a cabin built.”</p> +<p>The discovery was pointed out to Tom when +he awoke a little later.</p> +<p>“A prowlin’ Mingo!” the old hunter exclaimed +as he inspected the foot-prints. “Kittens +both, the’s trouble brewin’. It’s a wonder +the varmint didn’t shoot. I don’t see what he’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +up to, always doggin’ us this way! But I’ll tell +ye what I’ll do. You lads get yer axes an’ go to +work, an’ I’ll foller up them tracks. An’ bust +my galluses, kittens both, I’ll give the varmint +a dose as’ll make him think of his pore ol’ granddad, +if I ketch him!”</p> +<p>Tom’s suggestion found favor at once, +though the boys could not explain the varying +moods of their friend, which made him cool and +courageous one day and dejected and fearful another. +But breakfast being over, Tom set out.</p> +<p>“Be careful,” Ree called after him. +“Don’t get yourself or us into any row with the +Delawares, unnecessarily.” The hunter made +no answer.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII_BUILDING_A_CABIN' id='XII_BUILDING_A_CABIN'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3><i>Building a Cabin.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>By reason of having been the first to see the +strange foot-prints, and having come upon them, +too, in the gray light of the early morning, when +alone in the forest solitudes, John found it hard +to shake off the dread with which they filled him. +On the other hand, Ree was bright and chipper +as a squirrel in the nutting season. He reasoned +that the discovery of the tracks was fortunate, +rather than otherwise, for it proved that their +mysterious enemy was still hovering on their trail +and gave them an opportunity of finding out who +the wretch might be. And they now knew that +they must be constantly on their guard, while +except for the discovery, they might have become +careless and fallen easy victims to their +sneaking foe.</p> +<p>So he cheered John up, and loud and clear +the sounds of their axes rang out in the crisp, +delightful air of the woods. Both boys threw off +their coats as the healthful perspiration came to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +their faces and hands, and their vigor and +strength seemed to grow rather than decrease as +they worked. They had been careful to keep +their axes sharp, and the chips flew almost in +showers.</p> +<p>The trees selected for cutting were those +from five to eight inches in diameter, whose +trunks were firm and straight. The lads would +be able to handle logs of this size, while larger +ones would give them trouble, especially as they +no longer had a horse to draw them to the cabin +site. The work would be hard at best, but no +more than the boys had expected, and the hearty +good will with which they set about the task before +them, promised its speedy accomplishment +in spite of obstacles.</p> +<p>For mutual safety the boys remained near +one another as they worked, and timber was so +plentiful that their progress was not interfered +with by this arrangement. Their rifles were +within reach, and their eyes and ears were alert.</p> +<p>The hour of noon brought a brief but pleasant +rest, and the afternoon slipped quickly away. +As supper time drew near, John, having had only +a cold lunch at noon, was becoming very hungry +and was about to mention that fact, when, instead, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +he suddenly seized his rifle and sprang +behind a tree. At the same instant Ree did likewise.</p> +<p>“As sure as shooting I heard some one +cough!” exclaimed John in an undertone.</p> +<p>“I heard a footstep,” Ree quietly answered.</p> +<p>“Ho ho!” It was Tom Fish who called, and +coming forward, he confessed that he had been +trying the boys’ watchfulness by trying to steal +up to them without being discovered. He was +decidedly surprised to find them so quick to detect +his approach, for he had scarcely come within +gun shot.</p> +<p>Tom declared to John, however, that he had +not coughed, saying it must have been John’s +alert instinct which told him that some one was +drawing near, and made him imagine he heard +such a sound. The boys did not agree with him, +however, for he also undertook to say that Ree +had not heard a footstep at all, but being keenly +alive to detect the approach of anyone, had imagined +he heard a noise before he really did, all +through that peculiar sense which he called instinct.</p> +<p>“But anyway it’s a good thing for you, Tom +Fish, that you hollered when you did,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +John. “I was just on the point of giving you a +dose of these lead pills that you are so everlastingly +talking about!”</p> +<p>Tom’s face lengthened. “You don’t want +to be too quick with your pill box, boy,” said he. +“You want to see what an’ who you’re shootin’ +at. Great Snakes, now! What if ye had peppered +away at me?”</p> +<p>“Well, don’t come creeping up like a sneaking +Mingo then,” laughed John, and Ree, who +knew that John had not seen Tom until after he +called, and had been really frightened, joined in +his chum’s merriment.</p> +<p>“But tell us what you found, Tom,” urged +Ree.</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll tell ye,” Tom slowly and very +soberly answered, “I don’t know what to make +of it. Them tracks was made by a redskin an’ +they came straight to the camp along the trail we +made yesterday. Then after leaving here, they +strike off an’ go straight to the little lake across +from the Delaware town, an’ there they stop. It’s +plain as kin be, that some varmint from that +there town has been spyin’ on us. Now was it +the same critter as killed the horse, or wa‘n’t it? +An’ if it was, was that critter the Buffalo chap? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +An’ what was he hangin’ ’round here ag’in for +last night?”</p> +<p>These questions furnished an abundance of +material for conversation during the evening +meal, but no definite answers were agreed upon. +Ree would not admit that they were in danger +from the Delawares, though he agreed that Big +Buffalo was a bad Indian. He was quite sure, +however, that Big Buffalo had not shot old Jerry, +for the Indian was at the head of the party of +savages he had encountered the morning after +the horse was shot, and had plainly been surprised +to see any white person so far west.</p> +<p>But these arguments did not satisfy Tom +Fish, nor was John at all sure that Ree was right.</p> +<p>After supper Tom said he must go back for +a deer which he had killed in the morning, a couple +of miles from camp, and which he had hung +up beyond the reach of the wolves, until his return. +But he had made a short cut in coming +back to camp and so had not secured the venison.</p> +<p>John jokingly cautioned him to let them +know when he approached the camp in returning, +lest he be mistaken for the prowler, and Tom +most soberly promised he would, and was at +great pains to do so; for he was always at a loss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +to understand the younger of the two friends, and +could not be sure whether he was in sober earnest +or only joking, no matter what was said.</p> +<p>The night passed without incident. Tom did +more than his share of guard duty, but it became +apparent next day that he did not like to wield +an axe. He said he would go out for some fresh +“provender” and “sort o’ earn his keep” that +way.</p> +<p>So while Fish went hunting, the boys toiled +away. They could not complain because Tom +helped so little with the cabin, for they had no +right to expect it of him; they were thankful indeed, +to have him keep the larder well supplied +and to let him sleep during the day, for he took +the part of sentinel a large part of every night. +This gave the boys opportunity to secure a good +rest and to rise each morning eager to continue +the task of building.</p> +<p>Their faithful efforts were rapidly being rewarded +and in due time the logs for the cabin +were all ready. These were chopped into lengths +with a view to making their dwelling 12 by 14 +feet—no longer than the average bedroom of +modern houses, but affording all the space necessary, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +and being the easier to keep warm by reason +of being compact.</p> +<p>No time was spent on “fancy work,” as +John called it, at that time. A floor and other improvements +could be added later. For the main +thing to be accomplished was to get a secure +shelter ready as soon as possible.</p> +<p>The Indian summer was long since gone, +and though there were still warm, pleasant days +now and then, cold rains and snow came frequently. +No matter what the weather, however, the +work went on, though hands and faces were cut +and scratched by the brush and chapped by the +raw winds.</p> +<p>“Ree, you are a perfect fright,” said John +with a laugh, one day. “If people from home +were to see you now, they would say you would +be lucky to find a scare-crow which would trade +places with you. And your hair—why, it almost +reaches your shoulders!”</p> +<p>Ree smiled but did not at once reply. Then, +looking up, he said: “Old boy, we are going +back to Connecticut some day, but the time is a +long way off. If we go with whole skins and with +money in our pockets, it will be an easy matter to +get into good clothes and to get our hair cut. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +What you want to do, is to watch out that some +Indian barber does not cut that long hair of +yours, rather closer than you like.”</p> +<p>It was so seldom that Ree joked, and he +spoke now in so droll a way, that Tom Fish +laughed boisterously. It had been long since the +boys had heard him so merry; for, though he +never mentioned that subject, the remembrance +of the scalp Big Buffalo had carried, seemed always +on his spirits, bearing him down to a melancholy, +unnatural mood.</p> +<p>They did not understand it then; they did +not know.</p> +<p>When the time came to raise the cabin—that +is, to fit the logs in place one upon another, +after they had been dragged and rolled to the +summit of the mound, to be in readiness, Tom’s +help was found most valuable, and both Ree and +John appreciated his work. But notwithstanding, +they would have been better pleased had he +not remained with them. He had shown so much +ill-feeling toward the Indians who had come +about from time to time, that there was reason to +believe he would commit some rash act which +would make trouble for all.</p> +<p>They could not tell Tom they did not trust +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +him. They could not tell him to go. Ree’s repeated +cautions that they must avoid getting into +difficulty with the redskins, were the only hints +that could be given.</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe himself and a large number of +his braves visited the camp when the cabin was +nearly finished, to make the settlement for the +land the boys had engaged to buy. The young +pioneers had twice sent word to him by Indians +who were passing, that they wished to make their +payment and enter into a final agreement, and +he had at last sent messengers to say that he +would visit them on a certain day. On the day +before Capt. Pipe’s expected visit Ree and John +went hunting to secure an abundance of meat for +a feast for their guests. It was the first day they +had spent away from the hard work on their +cabin, except for Sundays when they bathed and +gave their clothes needed attention, and no two +boys ever enjoyed a holiday more. There was +some snow—not enough to make walking difficult, +but really an advantage to the young hunters, +for it showed them the numerous tracks of +the game they sought.</p> +<p>To this day, men, who have heard the stories +handed down from generation to generation, of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +the hunters’ paradise in what is now the Northern +part of Ohio, in the years before 1800, delight +to tell of the abundance of choicest game found +in the valley of the Cuyahoga and about the small +lakes in its vicinity, and Ree and John were in +that very locality years before the white man’s +axe had opened up the country to general settlement, +driving the deer, the bear and wolves +and all kindred animals away.</p> +<p>Little wonder is it that these hardy pioneer +boys were constantly reminding themselves that +they must pass by many fine opportunities for a +good shot, because of the necessity of saving their +powder and bullets for actual use; there must be +no shooting except when there was a good chance +of securing game of some value.</p> +<p>Little wonder is it, that, even under these +circumstances, Ree, by the middle of the afternoon, +had secured a deer and three turkeys besides +a big rabbit which he caught in his hands +as it sprang from its burrow beneath a fallen +tree-top. And John had also shot a deer and had +killed their first bear—a half-grown cub which, +late in finding quarters for its long winter’s +sleep, rose on its hind legs, growling savagely, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +the boys came suddenly upon it, in passing +around a great boulder in the river valley.</p> +<p>In good time on a certain Tuesday in December, +Capt. Pipe and his party arrived. Some of +the braves were inclined to be very frolicsome +and it was necessary to watch that they did not +get their hands on property which was not their +own.</p> +<p>But their chief was all dignity. He seemed +to take a fancy to Ree, who was scarcely less dignified +than himself,—being so grave and quiet in +his deportment, indeed, that a doughty warrior +who had made up his mind to challenge him to +wrestle, had not the courage to suggest the contest.</p> +<p>The business of the day sat lightly on John’s +mind, however, and he was full of antics as any +of the redskins. It resulted in his being challenged +to wrestle, and he was laid on his back in +short order. Then he remembered Ree’s advice +at the time he wrestled at the Delaware town, and +making use of it, threw his man after a most +clever and spirited contest.</p> +<p>But the great feature of the day, in John’s +estimation, was the foot race in which he defeated +a young Indian known to be one of the best runners +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +of the tribe, winning a beautiful pair of +leggings which Big Buffalo put up in a wager. +It was a short-distance race and he realized that +in a longer run the Indian would have defeated +him; it made him decide to practice running long +distances. He might wish to outrun the redskins +to save his scalp, some day.</p> +<p>Tom Fish sat silent and alone, a little apart +from all the others, during the whole time. He +eyed Big Buffalo sharply when no one save Ree +observed him, but the gruesome scalp no longer +hung at the Indian’s belt.</p> +<p>Fishing Bird was there and seemed especially +friendly, though, not being a sub-chief, as was +Big Buffalo, he did not pretend to any special +dignity, but enjoyed himself in sports with the +other young Indians and John.</p> +<p>When at last the Delawares settled down to +business, there was a great deal of talk before an +agreement was reached, that the boys should +have a tract embracing about 200 acres, which +the Indians marked off, in exchange for three red +blankets and a bolt of blue cloth. It was a rather +dear price, John thought, but Ree declared it was +a bargain, for they secured just the land they +wanted. Moreover, they retained the friendship +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +of the Indians, and even though they should be +obliged to pay for the land a second time to the +United States government or the State of Connecticut, +they could well afford to do so, under +these circumstances.</p> +<p>There was general hand-shaking as the Delawares +went away, though Tom Fish discreetly +disappeared for the time, vowing he would give +his hand to “no bloody varmint.”</p> +<p>The Indians insisted that the young “Long +Knives” (Ree and John) should return their +visit the second day following, for a ratification +of the bargain they had made. This the boys regretted, +as it would probably delay the completion +of their cabin; but they were obliged to accept +the invitation, and did so.</p> +<p>The next day, Wednesday, however, work +on their rude dwelling was resumed, and Tom +Fish turned in and helped like a good fellow. A +fire-place and chimney had already been built of +flat stones from along the margin of the river, +and this day, so industriously did all apply themselves, +that the roof and door were finished and +the cabin practically completed except for the +improvements to be added from time to time.</p> +<p>Words can hardly express the boys’ pleasure +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +as they built a fire for the first time in the big +fire-place and found that their chimney did its +work admirably. Without loss of time they at +once moved into their new house from the brush +shack in which their home had been; and by the +cheerful fire light, as the night came on, they +placed their things in as orderly a manner as +possible, and found themselves quite comfortable, +though much remained to be done, the chinking +of the walls being the chief task unfinished.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding how the wind crept in at +the open cracks until this work should be done, +the boys were happy as they cooked and ate their +supper in their new home. The ripple and murmur +of the river as it splashed on the shore or +washed over half-hidden stones, rose to them +from the foot of the mound, and was like sweet +music in their ears. The wind gently tossed the +branches of the trees in harmony with the water’s +sound, and the howling of wolves far off somewhere +in the darkness, made the feeling of security +which the stout cabin walls gave all the more +pleasing. Their prowling foe had not been about +since the first night of their arrival, and they felt +entirely safe.</p> +<p>“I guess I’ll turn in, then,” said John, after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +trying in vain to brighten up Tom Fish and get +him to telling stories; and he was soon asleep +on the bed of leaves he had made in a corner.</p> +<p>Ree, having had no chance to read since leaving +home, resolved to improve this opportunity. +He got his “Pilgrim’s Progress” from a chest, +and settled himself before the fire.</p> +<p>All the evening Tom had sat in silence beside +the big chimney, but soon he leaned over, and +placing one big hand on Ree’s knee, said in a +low voice:</p> +<p>“I’ve been wantin’ to tell ye somethin’, +Ree; it’s about that thar scalp that has upset me +so ever since I seen it.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII_THE_STRANGE_STORY_OF_ARTHUR_BRIDGES' id='XIII_THE_STRANGE_STORY_OF_ARTHUR_BRIDGES'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3><i>The Strange Story of Arthur Bridges.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>Putting down his book, Ree looked thoughtfully +into Tom’s face.</p> +<p>“Of course,” said he, “John and I have +wondered about that—that matter—but we have +considered that you had some reason for not +talking of it, or telling us what it meant; and it +was really none of our business. But I want to +say, Tom, that I would rather you would not tell +me anything which I must keep from John. He +and I—well, you know how we have always been +together, and we have no secrets from each +other.”</p> +<p>“Bless ye, Ree, lad,” exclaimed the old +woodsman, “ye kin tell him all ye please of what +I’m goin’ to tell ye. The only reason I don’t +talk before him is—he’s so full o’ fun ye know; +and ain’t always keerful what he says. I don’t +keer when we’re spinnin’ yarns; but this here—it +ain’t no triflin’ thing.”</p> +<p>“It’s John’s way. He would not hurt your +feelings for anything, Tom.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>The hunter did not answer at once, but +buried his face in his hands. Ree could plainly +see that some great trouble was on his mind. +Presently, however, he raised his head, and with +a sigh clasped his hands over his knee.</p> +<p>“Arthur Bridges,” he began, “was as fine +a young feller as ever the Colonies produced; an’ +excep’ for bein’ a little wild, ye wouldn’t a’ +asked to clap yer eyes on a promisin’er chap. +It was odd he made up t’ me the way he did, me +bein’ old enough to be his father, a’most, but ye +see we was both at Valley Forge together, an’ all +men was brothers there. We had jist one pair o’ +shoes betwist us,—Art an’ me—an’ he wore ’em +one day, an’ me the next, an’ so on. When grub +was scant, we shared each with t’other, an’ when +he got down sick I took keer on him.</p> +<p>“Art tol’ me all about himself then, an’ it +was pitiful. His ol’ pap back in Connecticut +was as pesky an’ ol’ Tory as ever did the Continental +troops a bad turn; but his mother was +loyal as anybody could be. She was born an’ +bred in this kentry, an’ her husband had come +from England; that was just the difference betwixt +’em, to start on. The upshot on it was, +that Art believed as his mother did, an’ it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +nat’ral as could be that he should run off an’ +join General Washington’s army. That is what +he did anyhow, an’ his father swore that he hoped +the lad would be killed, though his mother was +prayin’ for his safety night an’ day.</p> +<p>“Once in a long time Art would get some +word from home—always from his mother, tellin’ +him to stick true through thick an’ thin an’ +all would come right by an’ by. I guess maybe +he believed it would, too; but I didn’t ever have +much hope on it myself. Bein’ a little wild, as +ye might say, Art got wilder yet in the army, +though there was always a great love for his +mother in him. But he got so toward the last +that he hated his father—yes, hated him fearful. +Then for a long stretch he didn’t hear nothin’ +from home an’ didn’t see anybody as had heard +anything about his folks.</p> +<p>“That’s how matters stood when the war +was over. He says to me as how he was goin’ +home, anyhow, an’ I tol’ him he better do that +same. As for me, I was always for rovin’ an’ I +lit out for Kaintucky which we was hearin’ was +a great place for fightin’ an’ huntin’. So that’s +how it come about that Art an’ me parted company. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span></p> +<p>“I was in Kaintucky an’ ’round thar for +more’n four years; some o’ the time with Col. +Boone an’ some o’ the time with other chaps. +Then I got to longin’ to go back east an’ I went. +I wasn’t thinkin’ o’ meetin’ up with Art Bridges +again, as I reckoned on him bein’ up in Connecticut +all settled down an’ married, prob’ly. But +who should I meet up with one day but Art himself, +lookin’ wilder an’ more reckless than when +I seen him last. He comes up to me and slaps +me on the shoulder an’ calls me by name a’most +before I knowed him. An’ it did give me a big +surprise to see how he had changed; not so much +in looks as in his ways. He was that rough like. +After a while he tol’ me all about himself, an’ +I could a jist cried tears for him like a baby.</p> +<p>“He had got started home, he tol’ me, after +the fightin’ was over, an’ I don’t know but he +might a’ been pretty near there—I don’t just remember—but +anyhow, who should he meet up +with one day in a tavern, but a cousin o’ his who +looked so much like him they would ’a passed for +twins anywhere. This here cousin’s name was +Ichabod Nesbit, an’ the first thing he did when +he saw Art was to shake hands with him like they +was at a funeral an’ say as how he had some awful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +bad news to tell him. An’ then he went on +to tell him as how his mother had died months +before, an’ his ol’ pap was livin’ on an’ cursin’ +the Colonies with pretty nigh every breath—an’ +cursin’ his own son. This Nesbit feller told Art, +too, as how the ol’ man had run through all his +property an’ was livin’ alone an’ actin’ like a +crazy man.</p> +<p>“Waal, Art was for goin’ back to see the ol’ +man anyhow, to see if he couldn’t do somethin’ +to straighten him up some; but this cousin, Ichabod, +tol’ him as how he hadn’t better do it, sayin’ +as how if he could come home an’ bring a fortune, +folks would say it was all right; but if he +was comin’ home with only the clothes on his +back, why, he had better stay away; because he +couldn’t do nothin’ with his father anyhow. +An’ somehow this is jist the way Art was brought +to look at it, an’ it upset him terrible. For of +course the soldiers didn’t have no pocket full o’ +money an’ it was pretty true, likewise, as how he +didn’t have much more’n the clothes on his back, +jist as Ichabod said. Pretty blue, an’ a’ most +sick from all his plans o’ goin’ home bein’ +spoiled, Art turned back right thar and led a +rovin’ life for years. He was quick an’ sharp, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +an’ picked up a livin’, but that was ’bout all for +he couldn’t settle down no place.</p> +<p>“All this an’ a lot more ’bout what he had +been doin’, Art tol’ me there in Philadelphia, an’ +I was for gettin’ him to go back west with me. +But no, he wouldn’t; an’ me bein’ no hand to +make out around the towns, I jist went back to +the frontier an’ beyond. I was in Kaintucky an’ +in this northwest kentry clean to Detroit. I got +to know Simon Kenton, the Injun fighter, an’ I +made some big huntin’ an’ fightin’ trips with +him an’ other fellers.</p> +<p>“An’ so time run along till this last summer +a year ago, I takes it into my head one day to go +east agin; an’ when I had my mind made up +there was no stoppin’ me. I didn’t go to Philadelphia +right off, but to New York. I wanted to +see the big piles o’ furs that come in thar.</p> +<p>“Now it turned out that one day in New +York who should I meet up with but Joel Downs +who was with us—Art an’ me—in the army. We +was talkin’ away thar, when he asked me did I +know what had ever become o’ Art Bridges? +An’ it turned out that he went on to tell me then +all ’bout how Art’s father was dead, an’ his +mother left alone, workin’ hard to manage the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +farm, though they was well off, because she +wanted Art to have a nice place when he come +home. For she wouldn’t believe the stories that +was told around (by Ichabod Nesbit, I’ve been +thinkin’) that Art was dead. So she was waitin’ +an’ waitin’ for Art to come an’ never knowin’ +how the poor boy had been lied to by his ’ornery +cousin, an’ thinkin’ he’d come some day.</p> +<p>“Waal, ye kin jist guess how I felt when I +heard all this! For I saw through it quicker’n +wink that that ’ornery Ichabod was tryin’ to +make folks think Art was dead, an’ schemin’ to +get hold of the property that would be Art’s if he +ever come home alive. But I never says a word +’bout this to Joel Downs. Not much! I wasn’t +goin’ to have him goin’ back to Connecticut +tellin’ folks as how Art was leadin’ a wild life +an’ goin’ to the dogs.</p> +<p>“No, sir; I jist begun huntin’ for Art +Bridges. I went to Philadelphia first, an’ got +some track on him, findin’ out as how he had +gone off to Kaintucky—lookin’ for me, I guess. +I went off to Kaintucky too, jist as fast as I +could. I got some track on him again, as how he +had gone back to Philadelphia, We must ’a +passed on the road somewheres. Back to Philadelphia +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +I went again, an’ found out as how Art +had gone west to Duquesne—Fort Pitt, or Pittsburgh +they call it now. So I started for Fort +Pitt, an’ on the way I met up with you young +kittens on your way into this red devils’ own kentry.</p> +<p>“An’ I come on into this kentry because I +found out at Fort Pitt that Art had gone on west +intendin’ to make his way to Detroit, huntin’ an’ +trappin’ an’ tradin’. He expected to go on to +Detroit next spring an’ get a place with a big +fur company in charge o’ some tradin’ post or +other, away off somewheres, he didn’t keer where—he +was jist that sick of the kind o’ life he was +leadin’, an’ wanted to get ’way off from everybody.</p> +<p>“But that ain’t all! There was a man thar +as said Ichabod Nesbit had been seen ’round thar, +an’ he was lookin’ for Art Bridges, too. An’ I +know that that ’ornery cousin was lookin’ for +Art to murder him. I felt it in my bones. He +wanted to be sure Art was dead an’ then he would +go back an ’pass himself off as Art Bridges an’ +have the property anyhow. Then when I heard +as how Ichabod had passed himself off as Art in +one place, I was sure I was right. But he didn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +need to do no murder ’nless it was him as hired +the bloody varmints to do it for him,” and the +hunter’s voice grew husky, “for that—that thar +scalp—it was Art Bridges’—an’ oh, if I had been +jist a day sooner! For the blood on it was hardly +more’n dry!”</p> +<p>Tom Fish sunk his face in his hands and a +convulsive half-sob, half-sigh shook his body +from head to foot, as though with ague.</p> +<p>Ree Kingdom drew nearer the sorrow-stricken +man and took his big hand in his own.</p> +<p>“Tom,” he said, “it is a sad, sad story. I +know just what you suffer. But listen, Tom. +It is not absolutely certain that the scalp we saw +was that of your friend. No man could positively +swear to it, just by seeing the color of the hair. +And here is another thing I have been wanting +to tell you, Tom, but I did not like to interrupt +you. I know how Arthur Bridges’ mother has +been waiting and waiting for him to come. I +have heard what she has suffered, for she is a sister +of a Mrs. Catesby at whose home I lived and +who was like a mother to me. But Mrs. Catesby’s +husband, who is now dead, was not an agreeable +man and the sisters hardly ever saw each +other. They lived far apart, but now Mrs. Catesby +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +has moved to town and they will be nearer +one another. Mrs. Catesby was so kind to me, +Tom, that I would be mean indeed if I would not +try to help you find her nephew. But I will help +you, and if he is now in this part of the country +we will hear of him sooner or later through the +Indians.”</p> +<p>“No, there is only one thing to do, an’ it is +for me to do it,” Tom Fish replied without looking +up. “You can’t help, Ree, an’ ye’d only get +into a row an’ spoil all yer own plans. It is fer +me to squar’ accounts—an’ I’ll—do it. For I +tell, ye, Ree, I ain’t mistaken. I’d know that +silky dark ha’r of Art Bridges’ if I seen it in +Jerusalem. Oh, it’s too bad—it’s too bad!”</p> +<p>Ree could make no answer, and in another +minute Tom Fish straightened up and said he +would turn in. He told Ree to do the same, and +as he lay himself down the boy heard him saying:</p> +<p>“We must all die—all die—an’ them that’s +left can only squar’ accounts.”</p> +<p>Never before had the land of friends and +civilization seemed to Ree to be so far away as it +did that night. His busy thoughts kept him +awake until nearly morning. He knew what Tom +Fish meant when he said he would “squar’ accounts.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +In other words he would make the +Delawares pay for Art Bridges’ death. There +would undoubtedly he trouble which would put +an end to their plans for trading and home-making +in this new country. They could not fight +the redskins one day, and be received as peaceable +traders the next.</p> +<p>And on the other hand, if Arthur Bridges, a +peaceable trader, had been murdered, might he +and John not be in greatest danger of the same +fate? Was it not true that the Indians were +treacherous and not to be trusted though they +seemed friendly? Even if Tom began the fight +alone, would not the Indians blame him and John +as being friends of his, and attack them?</p> +<p>At last Ree went to sleep, resolving to persuade +Tom Fish to await developments. He believed +they could find out through Fishing Bird +just where and how the bloody trophy which was +at the root of their difficulty, had been secured. +That might throw great light on the problem.</p> +<p>John was early astir next morning and began +preparations for the visit to the Indian town +for the council meeting at which the bargain for +their land was to be finally confirmed. Ree was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +strangely silent as he also arose and ate the +breakfast which John had ready.</p> +<p>Tom Fish likewise had nothing to say except +that he stated that he would remain at the cabin +while the boys were away, and might be doing +some work at chinking the walls.</p> +<p>It was in the early winter, but the day came +out bright and clear. Greatly the boys enjoyed +the bright sunshine and the bracing air as they +took their way through the woods, crossing the +river at last, and following a much used trail +which took them toward the Delawares’ village. +This was a new route to them, but it was the +course the Indians traveled and they found it better +than the unbroken way they had previously +taken in going to the lake beside which Capt. +Pipe’s people lived. As they walked along Ree +told the story of Arthur Bridges as Tom had told +it to him, and earnestly they discussed their situation.</p> +<p>In three hours the boys came to the Indian +town, and Capt. Pipe called a council to settle +the bargain for the land. There was speech +making as before, but less of it, and then came a +feast. But this too, was less formal than before. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +The Indians seemed about to go on a hunting +expedition and had less time for other matters.</p> +<p>The Delawares promised to do much trading +with the young Palefaces, and the boys would +have considered their prospects very bright had +it not been for the likelihood of trouble arising +through Tom Fish’s desire for revenge.</p> +<p>The little information Ree secured from +Fishing Bird was not at all re-assuring, either. +That agreeable, but none the less wily, savage +would give him no satisfaction when he questioned +him concerning the bloody trophy Big +Buffalo had had, declaring, indeed, that no white +man had been killed by the Delawares for a very +long time.</p> +<p>The boys started on their homeward way in +time to arrive before dark, and reached the clearing +just after sundown. With a hop, step and +jump John ran forward and up the ascent, to the +door.</p> +<p>“Why, where is Tom?” he called as he entered. +“The fire is out and there is no sign of +him anywhere. He said he would stay here all +day.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV_TREED_BY_WOLVES' id='XIV_TREED_BY_WOLVES'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3><i>Treed by Wolves.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>The disappearance of Tom Fish caused +both boys considerable uneasiness. They at first +thought that he might return during the evening, +though the fact that the fire had gone out, indicated +that he had left the cabin early in the day. +As they crept into their rough but comfortable +bunks, however, and no sign of his coming had +been heard, the lads realized the strong probability +that the woodsman had set out by himself +to avenge the death of Arthur Bridges, and that +he had intended going when he told Ree the +strange story of that young man, the night before.</p> +<p>What the consequences of Tom’s undertaking +might be, afforded grave cause for alarm. +By reason of his having been looked upon as a +member of their party, the Indians would consider +the boys equally guilty in any offense which +he might give.</p> +<p>“We will have to make the best of it, though +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +and if it comes to fighting, we will fight like Trojans,” +said Ree, with some cheerfulness as he +saw that John was quite depressed. “But our +best plan will be to say nothing to Capt. Pipe’s +people about Tom. It may be that he left us on +purpose to avoid getting us into trouble.”</p> +<p>John agreed to this way of reasoning, hoping +as Ree did, that it would be only a few days until +they would see Tom and learn what his plans +were. But time passed rapidly and nothing was +seen or heard of the missing man. Had Tom +been anything but a skilled woodsman the lads +might probably have worried for his safety. As +it was, that phase of the situation was scarcely +thought of.</p> +<p>By working early and late, thawing the +frozen clay beside their fire, when the weather +was cold, that they might quickly get all the +cracks in the cabin walls closed up, the boys accomplished +a great deal in a week’s time. Several +times little parties of Indians came to trade +with them, but the savages never mentioned Tom +Fish’s name. Big Buffalo came once and appeared +more hateful than ever, suggesting the unpleasant +thought that perhaps he knew more concerning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +the absent man than he would have been +willing to tell.</p> +<p>The Delawares were not the only Indians +who passed along the river and stopped to exchange +skins for cloth, knives, beads or other +articles. The Wyandots, Chippewas and Senecas +had villages to the west and north and were +coming or going quite frequently. Sometimes +wandering Mingoes came along, and for them it +may be said that they were more disposed to +make trouble than any of the others. The reason +probably lay in the fact that they were still to +some extent influenced by British traders who +retained feelings of hostility toward the colonies, +and used their influence to secretly cause Indian +disturbances along the borders.</p> +<p>At no great distance from the cabin was the +Portage trail referred to in the previous chapter +as passing near the Delaware town. This path +was much used by all the Indians in traveling +between the Great Lakes and the Ohio river, as it +was the only stretch of land they must cross in +making all the remainder of the journey by +water. Thus they willingly carried their canoes +over eight miles or so of land from the Cuyahoga +to the Tuscarawas river, or vice versa, for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +sake of paddling on their way with ease and +rapidity the rest of the way, either north or south.</p> +<p>Thus, as their visitors were many, the loft +the boys had built in their cabin came to contain +a richer and richer store, as they placed there the +furs they secured. Sitting before the fire at +night they would sometimes estimate their probable +profits, and as they discussed this and other +subjects, the lads never forgot that their safety +was the very first thing with which they must +reckon. In this connection they were glad when +they learned that Big Buffalo had gone away on +a hunting trip with a large party of Delawares +and would probably not return until spring.</p> +<p>There was another subject which was sometimes +spoken of—the fact that the prowling +enemy who had killed their horse had not for a +long time given any sign of being in the vicinity. +Out of these talks grew a theory that, perhaps, +that secret foe was Big Pete Ellis, and that having +killed old Jerry he had at last decided that +his revenge was complete.</p> +<p>Their health, too, was a matter for daily +thought with the boys, and remembering that +they must be careful to guard against needless +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +exposure, but both being hardy and robust, they +were little troubled.</p> +<p>So the time passed and all promised well. +They contrived many traps for the capture of +fur-bearing animals, and to catch turkeys and +other game for food. Chief of their traps was +the dead-fall, made by propping up one end of a +short piece of puncheon or hewed plank, in such +a way that it would fall upon the animal which +attempted to secure the bait placed on a trigger +beneath it. This trigger was a part of the prop +under the puncheon and gave way at the slightest +jar. As the plank fell it caught the creature +which had disturbed it, and being weighted down +with stones, held its victim fast.</p> +<p>Wolf pens were also made and very successfully +used. These were built of small logs on the +same principle as a box trap, having a very +heavy lid which fell, shutting inside any animal +which entered and attempted to eat the bait +placed on the spindle, which at the least pull, +gave way, letting the lid fall.</p> +<p>The turkey traps were made in the Indian +fashion. A small, low enclosure was built with +sticks, a small opening or door being made close +to the ground. The pen was then covered with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +brush except for a passage way leading to the +door, and along this path beechnuts or other bait, +were scattered, the trail of nuts extending into +the enclosure. A turkey finding the food would +follow it, its head near the ground, enter the pen, +and having eaten all it could find, would raise its +head and so be unable to see its way out.</p> +<p>The boys did not have so much time for +hunting as they had planned upon, and yet +scarcely a day passed but one of them sallied +forth, nearly always coming home with valued +furs or meat for their table. They found it advisable +that one should remain near the cabin, +both for its protection from Indians who might +steal, and to trade with those who passed. Thus, +while Ree would be spending a day with his axe +clearing the land near their home, John would +be miles away, perhaps, rifle in hand, eyes and +ears alert.</p> +<p>The next day, perhaps, Ree would have his +turn at hunting. Every day, too, they visited +their traps to secure any creatures which had +been captured and to reset the snares or change +their location. Wood for the fire must be gathered, +also, and it was wonderful how great a +quantity of fuel the big fire-place consumed; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +pine knots from the rocky ravine farther up the +river, or hickory bark from the hillsides in the +opposite direction, must be secured every few +days to afford light for the evenings. There +were also furs to be cured, and much else to be +done, all uniting to make the short winter days +very busy ones, and to keep the long winter evenings +from being tedious.</p> +<p>Night was the favorite time for baking and +for the preparation of such dishes as they +thought they would most enjoy. Many were the +feasts the young friends had, though their stock +of supplies included little besides meal and fresh +meat. At first they had occasionally secured +beans and squashes from the Indians, but the improvident +savages soon exhausted their supplies +and were themselves dependent on corn and +game.</p> +<p>December had gone and January was well +under way when there came a great snow storm, +which, at the end of a week left drifts piled high +in all directions. The snow was soft and light +but so deep that it was well nigh impossible for +one to make his way through it, and Ree and +John quickly agreed to occupy themselves with +work in and near the cabin. They set about adding +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +new conveniences to their home, such as +shelves and cupboards, pegs, etc. They hewed +and whittled out long, thin hickory slats, which +they placed lengthwise on the rough bedstead +they had built in one corner, and found them so +springy and comfortable to sleep upon, when a +couple of skins and a blanket had been spread +over them, that they were sorry they had not +sooner thought of this improvement.</p> +<p>John made a broom of hickory splints which +did its work to perfection, and Ree sharpened +up his knife and carved from a whitewood block +several plates and trays to add to their meager +collection of dishes. Both boys improved the +opportunity also, while shut in, to give their +wardrobes attention, making themselves stout +moccasins, coon-skin caps and buckskin breeches.</p> +<p>Ree found time during many evenings to +read again and again the few books he had. John +was less given to reading, but with much care +and diligence he managed to make a fife by boring +a maple stick through from end to end with +a thin piece of iron from their cart, much of +which had been carried piece-meal to the cabin. +Having natural musical talent, he learned to +play the instrument he thus fashioned, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +though Ree had declared, as he practiced, that he +would surely bring the savages down upon them +in war paint, he liked the music as well as its +maker.</p> +<p>So, for a fortnight the boys were scarcely +out of sight of the cabin. The weather was bitter +cold much of that time and no Indians came +near. There at last came a day, however, when +the wind blew steadily from the southwest, +bringing with it at night a cold rain. Changing +to the north, the wind turned the rain to sleet, +followed by cold weather again.</p> +<p>“We must have snow-shoes,” said Ree, +when he saw what was taking place, and +the third day the boys ventured forth on such +contrivances as they had made and did finely +with them on the thick, slippery crust which had +formed. Taking their rifles, they made their +way through the river valley, which, farther up +the stream, became quite narrow, steep, rocky +banks rising on both sides to a height of fifty +feet or more. No sooner had they entered this +canyon than they found evidences of deer and +other animals having taken shelter there.</p> +<p>Going quietly forward, the lads discovered +four of the timid, beautiful creatures huddled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +together. They went quite near before the deer +leaped away through the frozen snow, and Ree +quickly brought one down. John did better—or +worse—killing one and wounding another. They +secured the skins and choice parts of the meat +and hanging these in a tree for safety, pushed on +after the two which had escaped. They especially +desired to capture the doe which had been +wounded, not so much for its value, but because +Ree insisted that it would be downright cruelty +to let the poor creature suffer from its injury for +days, perhaps, then die at last.</p> +<p>But the young hunters traveled far before +again coming upon the animals they sought. +The trail took them out of the narrow valley or +canyon, and a long distance through the woods +to a locality they had never before visited, where +the earth was cut by deep ravines, zig-zagging in +nearly all directions, and great rocks often obstructing +the way. Here the trail of the deer they +were following was lost amid the tracks of others +which had gone into the deep rugged gullies to +escape the stinging wind.</p> +<p>“We may as well give it up, Ree,” said +John, as they sat down to rest.</p> +<p>“Oh no, we mustn’t give up,” Ree answered, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +“but I’ll tell you what we’d better do. It is +more than likely the Indians will be out in snow +shoes the same as we are, and they may want to +swap some dollar furs for penny knick-knacks +this afternoon. One of us should be at the +cabin.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go,” John willingly responded, for he +liked to trade with the Indians, and could make +much better bargains than Ree; not but what he +was honest, but because Ree was so generous that +he was often imposed upon.</p> +<p>“Will you stop for the venison we left in the +tree?” Ree asked.</p> +<p>“I think I’d better; there is no knowing +where you will be when you find that wounded +deer! But don’t stay out all night!”</p> +<p>With this sally John started homeward, and +Ree resumed his search for blood-stains in the +snow which would show him the trail he sought. +Going about among the rocks he discovered an +opening about half the size of a door which seemed +to lead straight back into a rocky cliff.</p> +<p>“Some sort of a cave,” he mused, inspecting +it more closely and looking into it. He saw +nothing, and, stooping down, ventured in a little +way. His eyes accustomed to the bright light of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +the snow, he was unable to see anything in the +darkness, or he might not have been so bold; for +the next moment a chorus of fierce growls caused +him to retreat.</p> +<p>“Bears, or wolves—bears, most likely,” +said Ree to himself. “At least if they are wolves +there should be tracks about the mouth of the +cave. I must remember this place.”</p> +<p>Having first looked about to make sure of the +exact location of the cavern, and resolving to explore +it at some future time, the youthful hunter +hurried on. Under a clump of low pines he presently +discovered a herd of seven deer. One +lagged behind, as they fled at his approach, and +Ree knew at once that it must be the wounded +animal. He followed at the best pace possible, +but the deer was soon lost sight of, though the +poor thing had a difficult time of it to make any +progress through the crusted snow.</p> +<p>However, Ree kept to the trail for he was +sure the doe could not go far; yet hour after hour +passed and he saw no hope of accomplishing his +purpose. Had it not been that the deer was +traversing a circle, the trail now taking him in +the direction of the cabin, he would have been +obliged to give up the pursuit. But now he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +passed through the ravine where the deer had +been wounded and up a steep slope towards home. +By this time the sun was going down, and from +not far ahead of him Ree heard the howling of +wolves. If he could have looked but a little way +into the future, he would have taken the shortest +route to the cabin.</p> +<p>However, wolves had never given much +trouble and Ree had no thought of being afraid, +though the howling sounded nearer and nearer +as he continued on. Soon, however, he guessed +what had happened. The wounded deer, unable +to escape, had been killed by the fierce dogs of the +wilderness which were now devouring it. And +in another minute the boy saw them at their +awful feast. With anger and foolhardy courage +he sprang directly among the struggling beasts, +clubbing them with his rifle.</p> +<p>Mad with starvation and the taste of fresh +blood, one big wolf leaped toward the courageous +boy and others followed. He was barely able +to hold them at bay while he backed away toward +a tree, swinging his rifle right and left with desperate +energy as he went. Closer and closer +still the wolves pressed him, snapping, snarling, +howling—their long sharp teeth and red throats +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +being so near that he could almost feel their hot +breath on his face. But he reached the tree—a +beech, one of whose lower limbs was almost +within reach. He leaped upward to seize it, but +as he did so his rifle caught on a bush and was +jerked from his hand. A great gray foamy-jawed +creature snapped closely at his heels and +by a hair’s breadth he escaped, as he drew himself +quickly upward.</p> +<p>Howling like enraged demons the wolves +gathered about the tree. They seemed to know +that sooner or later they would drink human +blood. Ree thought of this. His only weapon +was the knife Capt. Bowen had given him, which +he always carried. But his active brain was busy +and he determined to take a desperate chance in +an effort to secure his rifle.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XV_A_MAPLE_SUGAR_CAMP_IN_THE_WILDERNESS' id='XV_A_MAPLE_SUGAR_CAMP_IN_THE_WILDERNESS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h3><i>A Maple Sugar Camp in the Wilderness.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>Selecting a stout limb for his purpose, Ree +set to work to cut and trim it, making a short, +heavy club. He believed that if he should jump +suddenly down among the wolves, their surprise +would be so great as to keep them away for perhaps +a second—long enough to permit him to +seize his rifle, and again fight his way into the +tree. As he trimmed the thick branch, however, +an increasing danger presented itself. The unusual +howling of the pack and the scent of blood +were attracting other wolves to the spot. Before +his club was ready, he had counted seven newcomers +galloping through the snow to join their +blood-thirsty brothers.</p> +<p>To put his life in peril by jumping down +among so many of the fierce creatures was to run +a greater risk than Ree thought wise; but his fertile +brain presented a new plan. He partially +split one end of his club and securely bound the +handle of the knife in the opening thus made, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +with strips of buckskin cut from his clothing. In +this way he made a strong but cumbersome spear, +and holding to the lowest branch of the tree, he +leaned far down and stabbed and slashed at every +wolf within reach.</p> +<p>Several were wounded and their yelps of +pain and rage were added to the hideous, hungry +cries of the others. Again and again the bold +boy cut and thrust as the wolves kept coming +within his reach. The snow was dyed with blood. +For half an hour the battle was carried on.</p> +<p>At last by a lucky stroke Ree gave one of the +howling mass beneath him so deep a cut across +the neck, that it sprang but a few yards away and +fell dead, its head half cut off. At once the others +pounced upon the wolf’s body, tearing it to +pieces, scrambling and fighting in a most horrible +manner.</p> +<p>Now was Ree’s chance. He leaped quickly +to the ground and seized his blood-stained rifle; +in another moment he would have been safe. +But he was so chilled—so stiff from the cold, that +he missed his hold when first he sprang to catch +the lowest branch, and before he could try again, +a monstrous gray wolf dashed toward him. With +a hungry howl, its jaws dripping blood, it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +launched itself through the air, straight for Ree’s +throat.</p> +<p>With wonderful nerve the boy stood his +ground. He did not falter, nor hesitate. He met +the hot-mouthed, vicious brute, his rude spear +clasped in both hands, and drove the blade deep +in its shaggy shoulder. With an almost human +shriek and ferocity the wolf sprang sidewise +under the impulse of the steel’s sharp thrust, +and the spear quivering in its flesh, was jerked +from the boys’ hands.</p> +<p>Ree’s first impulse was to run in pursuit, as +the wolf dashed into the woods, to recover his +knife; but in an instant the whole pack was upon +him again, having made short work of their cannibal-like +feast, and only by the greatest dexterity +was he able again to seize his rifle and climb +to safety, ere they reached him.</p> +<p>“Now some of you will smart!” the half-frozen +boy exclaimed, and he clenched his teeth +in righteous anger. Shot after shot he poured +into the blood-thirsty brutes, and watched with +horror as those remaining alive pounced upon +the dying ones. Four wolves he killed and two +he wounded, then sat still awhile to catch his +breath and scrutinize the dozen animals remaining, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +to see whether the one in whose body his +knife had been carried off, was there. He did not +see it, though the twilight gloom was now dispelled +by bright moonlight. So, soon he resumed +the terrible execution he had wrought +among the pack, and was firing as fast as he +could load, when he heard John’s familiar whistle.</p> +<p>“Watch out, John! There are still eight of +the fiercest wolves you ever saw here!” he called +in warning, but almost simultaneously his +chum’s rifle sounded, and but seven wolves remained. +Another and another went down to +death and the five which were left, taking fright +at last, sped away among the timber, howling +dismally.</p> +<p>“You had me scared into fits, almost,” John +cried, as Ree climbed down. “Why, how cold +you are!” he exclaimed, grasping his friend’s +hand. “And your teeth are chattering! How +did it happen any way? Come along home!”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you about it; but we’d better skin +the wolves that have not been half eaten, first. +Bloody as a battle field, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Skin nothing! Come along! It is most +terribly cold and you are half frozen. We can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +get the skins in the morning if there is any thing +left of them.”</p> +<p>For once Ree yielded and when he had recovered +his snow-shoes John marched him off at +a pace which soon put his blood in circulation.</p> +<p>If ever the young pioneers appreciated the +rude comforts of their cabin, they did that night. +It was sweet to feel snug and warm and safe, as +Ree told the story of his adventure more fully +than at first; to stretch their weary legs toward +the crackling fire and lean back in the fur covered +seat they had constructed. It was pleasant +to eat a lunch of nuts secured from the Indians, +and venison steaks cut thin and broiled crisp. It +was comfortable to creep into bed and lie awake +and talk of their plans; of their friends in far +away Connecticut; of incidents of their trip; of +the strange absence of Tom Fish; of the sad story +of Arthur Bridges—of many, many things.</p> +<p>And it was pleasant to watch with half +closed eyes, the firelight dancing on the rough +cabin walls, shining in the little looking glass +near the door, showing the rifles within easy +reach in the corner near the bed; the two sets of +pistols in their hostlers on the table they had +made; the gleaming blades of their axes, beside +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +the fire-place; the books Ree loved so well, arranged +on a board from the old cart, which did +duty as a mantel, and John’s fife beside them; +the frying-pan and their few dishes on and in a +little cupboard in the corner. It was sweet, too, +to fall asleep at last and dream of the present, +past and future—enjoying the perfect rest +which the fatigue of honest, hard work by those +possessed of honest hearts must ever bring.</p> +<p>The boys were very tired this night, partly +from the unusual exercise of walking so far on +snow-shoes, no doubt. But they slept soundly +and were early awake. Directly after breakfast +they visited the scene of the fight with the wolves. +They little expected to find anything left of their +victims, excepting bones, but they greatly desired +to find the knife which had been Capt. Bowen’s +present.</p> +<p>Bones they did find—but nothing else. +There was every evidence of a ghastly feast having +been eaten by the wolves and other animals +during the night. Even the skeletons of those +which had been slaughtered, were torn to pieces, +and for rods around the snow was dyed crimson.</p> +<p>To cry over spilled milk was no part of Ree’s +disposition, and though he deeply regretted the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +loss of his knife, he did not allow himself to be +dispirited, though little he thought how important +a part in their adventures the knife was yet +to play.</p> +<p>In their walks about the woods at different +times, Ree and John had observed that there +were many sugar maples near their cabin and +had agreed that they must make some sugar +when spring came. That very afternoon, therefore, +they began preparations.</p> +<p>Blocks of wood, cut into lengths of about +two feet, they hollowed out with their axes, making +troughs in which to catch the sap of maples. +The work was tedious and many a trough was +split and spoiled when all but completed, before +they caught the knack of avoiding this by striking +curved strokes with their axes, and not letting +the blades cut in deeply, in line with the +grain of the wood.</p> +<p>This work, and the making of spouts by +punching the pith out of sumac branches occupied +several days. Not all their time could be +given to it, however, as traps must be visited and +Indians given attention; for now that the weather +was becoming warm the savages came frequently, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +often with many furs secured during winter +hunting expeditions.</p> +<p>“We have made a pretty good living and a +nice sum of money for each of us, when our furs +shall have been marketed, and have also made +ourselves a home,” said Ree one day, as they +were estimating the probable value of their +stores. “After deducting for all losses, we will +still have done splendidly if we are fortunate in +getting the skins to Pittsburg or Detroit and +working a fair bargain with the buyers.”</p> +<p>“We better get a good canoe Ree, and learn +to use it; then we can take the furs from here to +Detroit by water, traveling along the shore of +Lake Erie,” John suggested. “Capt. Pipe has +a couple of fine, big canoes of his own, buried +for the winter. I believe he would sell us one.”</p> +<p>“We will go and have a talk with him about +it soon,” Ree answered. But it was not for many +days that the lads found time to do this.</p> +<p>Fine weather came sooner than they expected. +The spring of 1791 was one of the earliest +known to the section which is now Northern +Ohio. Even in February the sun came out bright +and warm and the cold winds disappeared.</p> +<p>John and Ree awoke one morning after a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +rainy night to find the water high in the river, +the ice gone and the air as mild as on a day in +May.</p> +<p>“Hooray! I’ve a mind to take a swim!” +John shouted, looking with enthusiasm at the +high water.</p> +<p>“I wish we had our canoe now,” Ree joined +in; “but I’ll tell you, old chap, we must get our +maples tapped, if we are to get any sugar.”</p> +<p>John turned away from watching the swift, +deep current with a sigh. Somehow he did not +feel like working; but under Ree’s influence he +soon forgot his “spring fever” feeling, and with +a small auger bored holes in the trees. Into these +holes Ree drove the spouts, placing a trough beneath +each one, to catch the sap which at once +began to flow.</p> +<p>As all the trees were near the cabin the boys +might have carried the sap to their fire-place for +boiling, but as this would necessitate the carrying +of a great deal of wood, they hung their +largest kettle on a pole laid across two forked +sticks driven in the ground for that purpose, +just at the top of the hill near the edge of the +clearing.</p> +<p>By noon enough sap was collected in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +troughs to make it necessary to begin the boiling, +and from then on through all that day and the +next, one of the boys was constantly busy, keeping +the fire blazing hot and gathering sap to keep +the kettle well filled, as the water was boiled +away, leaving only its sweetness. At last they +added no fresh sap but allowed the syrup in the +kettle to boil down thicker and thicker making +in the end, most delicious molasses.</p> +<p>The boys finished the boiling in the cabin +that night, and when the syrup had become thick +enough, they were able by stirring and cooling it, +to make an excellent quality of sugar. And it +had been so long since either of them had tasted +sweets, that the maple’s fine product was indeed +a treat. The prospect that they would be able +to make enough sugar to last them until another +spring, was highly agreeable, and they were +willing enough to work hard during many days +which followed.</p> +<p>One regret the boys had, was that they possessed +but two kettles, neither of which was very +large; but they boiled sap in both and found +that by greasing the upper edges of the vessels +that they could keep them quite full and still the +sap would not boil over. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span></p> +<p>They also tried the very primitive method +used by the Indians before they had kettles in +which to make sugar. Several large, nearly +round stones were washed clean, then heated +very hot in the fire. With improvised tongs they +were then lifted into a large keg of cold sap. As +this operation was constantly repeated, the sap +was heated and slowly evaporated.</p> +<p>The process proved so very slow and laborious, +however, that the boys soon abandoned it. +But while the experiment was being tried, something +occurred which made John laugh until he +held his sides. The keg of sap had been heated +to almost a boiling point, and putting a couple of +large, hot stones in it both boys left the camp, +John to gather more sap and Ree to chop some +wood.</p> +<p>As John was returning, he discovered a +young bear prowling about the camp. The animal +evidently had not been long out of its winter +quarters and was hungry. It sniffed the sweet +odor which came from the evaporating maple +water, and ambled up to the keg.</p> +<p>Quietly John ran and called Ree, and they +both hurried softly back just as the bear put its +nose deep into the hot sap. A squeal of pain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +followed, and the poor cub nearly turned a backward +somersault, with such sudden energy did it +take its nose out of the keg. Wild with the smarting +burns the creature rushed blindly about, almost +burying its head in the cool leaves and +earth, and missing its footing, somehow, as it +approached a steep part of the hill, fell and +rolled to the bottom, squealing and growling woefully. +Before John could check his laughter, the +bear had picked itself up and trotted swiftly +away, and Ree was willing to let it go unharmed, +though he could have shot it.</p> +<p>This incident set the boys to thinking. +Bruin evidently knew the smell of honey better +than of sap. All bears delight in sweet things, +and Ree said he had no doubt there were bee +trees in the neighborhood. At any rate, the lads +decided, it would be well worth while to be on the +lookout for them as they were about the woods +during the spring and summer.</p> +<p>Continued fine weather put an end to the +maple season. In a fortnight the buds began to +open on the trees and the flow of sap ceased. +About this time, too, the Portage trail, not +far away, was constantly traversed by redskins, +many of them strangers, and there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +were daily calls at the cabin of the young Palefaces. +So there was much to do; the spring crops +must be planted, the pile of furs must be taken +to market and fences must be completed to keep +deer and other animals out of the cornfield they +proposed having.</p> +<p>There was another thing needing early attention, +and that was the securing of land at the +junction of the Portage trail and the river. For +the boys could not but see how advantageous that +place would be as a trading point, and they +wished to build a new and larger cabin there. +Moreover, as the country was opened up and settled, +the land about so favorable a site for a town +would probably become very valuable.</p> +<p>“We will go to see Capt. Pipe to-morrow, +and bargain with him for a canoe, and for some +land where the trail and the river meet,” said +Ree one warm March night as they sat on the +doorstep of their cabin, in the moonlight.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVI_THE_HATRED_OF_BIG_BUFFALO' id='XVI_THE_HATRED_OF_BIG_BUFFALO'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<h3><i>The Hatred of Big Buffalo.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>The last of the sap had been reduced to +sugar and made into a fine solid cake weighing +nearly two pounds, the night that the foregoing +conversation took place. With this as a present +to the chief of the Delawares, Ree and John set +out early the following morning for Capt. Pipe’s +town on the lake.</p> +<p>It was a beautiful day. The red buds on the +trees were bursting into green, in places, and in +many sunny spots the spring plants and flowers +were shooting forth. All nature seemed to feel +the same joy and freedom the young pioneers felt +as they journeyed through the valley and over the +hills toward their destination. Birds were singing +on every hand. Crows were flying here and +there and calling lustily to one another from all +directions.</p> +<p>Once a young deer bounded toward the boys, +then, after standing for a moment, gazing with +great, timid, bright eyes, wheeled and was away +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +again, springing over bushes and logs with a +showy vigor as though it were out only for a +spring frolic. A wild turkey hen, wandering +about in search of a place for nesting, scampered +softly out of sight as it caught sight of the lads. +A big woodchuck, fat and lazy, even after its all-winter +nap, circled around a tree, to whose trunk +it was clinging, thinking, perhaps, that it was always +keeping just out of sight of the human intruders +upon its forest home, though it was badly +fooled if such were its opinion. A dozen times +either boy could have shot it had he been so disposed.</p> +<p>A myriad of ducks flew noisily from a +stream near the lake in which they were feeding +as John threw a stone among them. He and +Ree could have killed a score of the wild fowls +had they wished to do so, but they were in no +mood for it. They had not set out to hunt, and +moreover, the fresh, balmy air and invigorating +sunlight, together with the delightful odors of +the spring-time, put upon them both a spell—a +joy in living which made it seem inhuman to +harm any living creature that day.</p> +<p>This sense of gladness, of friendship with +every thing the woods contained, did not, however, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +prevent the boys from laying plans for the +capture of certain denizens of the forest’s waters—the +fish. They had already noticed that the +lake beside which the Delawares lived, also other +lakes not far away, and their own river, contained +great numbers of the finny tribe, but they +had been too busy with other things to try their +hands at fishing. The opportunity for this fine +sport, however, caused them to deeply regret that +they had brought nothing in the line of fishing +tackle with them.</p> +<p>“The Indians will surely have hooks, and +spears, though,” John suggested.</p> +<p>“If they haven’t, we can make nets and +spears too; I shouldn’t be surprised if we could +contrive hooks as well,” Ree answered.</p> +<p>“I wish we had a big mess of fish for dinner!” +John exclaimed. “I’m hungry as a bear.”</p> +<p>His wish was realized sooner than he expected. +As was their custom, the Indians at once +placed food before their visitors, and the fare +was just what John had wanted. There was one +objection—the savages cooked the fish without +cutting off the heads, but the boys did this for +themselves. That they could not be over-particular +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +in the wilderness, they had long since discovered.</p> +<p>They learned that the Delawares had caught +the fish with hooks made of bones—evidently +small wish-bones, and readily saw how they could +make just such hooks for themselves.</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe himself had received the boys, +and it was in his lodge that they were eating. He +sat nearby gravely smoking his pipe, seldom +speaking except when spoken to. Gentle Maiden, +the chief’s comely daughter, was sitting in a +pleasant, sunny place just outside the bark hut, +sewing with a coarse bone needle, on some sort +of a frock, the cloth for which was from the bolt +her father had secured from the young traders.</p> +<p>“Pretty as a picture, isn’t she?” John whispered, +glancing toward the Indian girl. “Honestly, +I never saw a white person more beautiful.”</p> +<p>Ree made no reply, for at that moment Big +Buffalo put his head into the lodge. The boys +had not seen him since early winter and both +arose to greet him; but he ignored their action, +and pausing only a second, strode haughtily +away. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span></p> +<p>“What does that mean?” John asked in +surprise.</p> +<p>“Has the Big Buffalo cause to be unfriendly?” +inquired Ree of Capt. Pipe, wishing to call +the chief’s attention to the Indian’s apparent +hostility.</p> +<p>“Buffalo heap big fool,” Capt. Pipe grunted, +and then in the Delaware tongue he spoke to +his daughter, and she arose and took a seat inside +the lodge, behind her father.</p> +<p>This incident filled Ree with misgiving +though he was not sure enough that he had +cause for such feeling to mention it at that time. +John was differently impressed.</p> +<p>“Why,” he exclaimed, “Big Buffalo is on +a mighty high horse to-day! He acts like a child +that has been told it must wait till second table +at a dinner! I wonder if there is any love lost +between him and the Gentle Maiden?” he added +in a whisper.</p> +<p>Ree did not answer, but now that they had +finished dinner, signified their wish to talk to +Capt. Pipe about buying a canoe.</p> +<p>The chief said he would make a trade with +them and asked what the boys had to give. In +return they asked to see the craft he proposed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +swapping, and were then conducted to a hillside +where a canoe had but recently been dug out of +the dry muck and earth in which it was buried +over winter to save it from drying, cracking or +warping.</p> +<p>Ree and John examined the frail boat of bitter-nut +hickory bark, with much interest. It was +about eleven feet in length, well constructed, and +water-tight. With it were a couple of light, nicely +carved paddles.</p> +<p>John promptly pronounced the canoe a +“regular macaroni” and laid down a pair of +brass buckles, signifying that he would give them +for the skiff.</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe gravely shook his head.</p> +<p>“I’ll add this,” said Ree, and laid down a +brand new hunting knife, having a leather +sheath.</p> +<p>The chief again shook his head, and a large +number of Indians, who had been lazily basking +in the sun or idly paddling about the lake, and +were now gathered around to see the trade, also +shook their heads.</p> +<p>“The thing isn’t worth as much as we have +offered,” cried John, good humoredly, “but I’ll +put in this,” and he produced a large yellow silk +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +handkerchief, shaking it out, and holding it up to +view in an attractive manner.</p> +<p>Still Capt. Pipe shook his head and all his +braves did the same, though their eyes glistened.</p> +<p>Ree hesitated before adding more to their +offer and while he did so, John picked up the +handkerchief and with no thought but to display +it to good advantage, turned to Gentle Maiden, +who stood at her father’s side. With a quiet +sweep of his hand he draped the bright cloth +over the girl’s shoulder and arm.</p> +<p>The next instant a stinging blow struck him +in the face and he staggered, nearly falling. It +was Big Buffalo’s fist that had shot out at him.</p> +<p>John sprang toward the burly Indian and +they grappled in a terrible struggle. All had +taken place so quickly that before Ree could +reach John’s side, his friend’s throat was in the +redman’s grasp and the breath squeezed nearly +out of him. Capt. Pipe also rushed in, and amid +the yells of the Indians, the chief and Ree soon +separated the combatants.</p> +<p>The incident created so much excitement +that the young Palefaces scarcely knew what to +do. But Ree’s firm voice and quiet dignity, as he +told the chief that his friend had meant no offense, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +and should not have been assaulted, had a +quieting influence on the savages, and although +John could scarcely refrain from speaking the +angry words he thought, he did manage to hold +his tongue, and Capt. Pipe soon restored order.</p> +<p>Big Buffalo slunk away like a whipped dog, +as the chief berated him, and the boys saw no +more of him that day. How much better it +would have been had they never seen him again!</p> +<p>The bargain for the canoe was completed by +Ree adding a second handkerchief to their offer, +as much as a peace offering as anything, and then +as it was growing late, and the disturbance had +made the question of buying more land a dangerous +one to be brought up, at that time, the boys +departed. They shook hands with Capt. Pipe +and the braves standing near, and Fishing Bird +went with them as they carried their canoe down +to the water and launched it.</p> +<p>While pretending to show the lads about +handling the canoe, this friendly Indian warned +them to watch out for Big Buffalo; that he supposed +them to be admirers of Gentle Maiden, +with whom he was in love, and would kill them +if he got a chance. Moreover, that he had set out +to kill them when they first arrived and would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +have done so but through fear of Capt. Pipe with +whom they had made peace.</p> +<p>The information Fishing Bird imparted, with +the exception of the latter part, was no news to +the boys; but it was so disquieting that instead of +paddling about the lake until evening, as they +had intended, they crossed the water, carried +their canoe overland to the river, and went directly +home.</p> +<p>John was very blue over what had occurred, +blaming himself for having caused the trouble. +Ree was not so much depressed. His nature was +not one of extremes; he was never hilariously +merry, never completely dejected.</p> +<p>“It was no more your fault than my own, +John,” said he, as they talked of Big Buffalo’s +display of malice. “You meant no harm, and if +the ugly fellow had not hated us to start with, +he would not have taken offense so easily. We +may have some trouble with him, and again we +may not. Capt. Pipe will be on our side, I’m +sure, for you heard what the chief said about the +rascal. The fact is, that in spite of all the stories +we have heard about Capt. Pipe and his cruelty, +he has certainly been friendly with us, and honest.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span></p> +<p>By talking in this way Ree restored John to +a happier mood, and they were both quite jolly +again as they prepared and ate their supper. +They looked forward to many happy days in +their canoe on the lake and river, and John proposed +to rig up a sail with the canvas which had +been over their cart, and by doing so to give the +Indians quite a surprise.</p> +<p>That evening the boys turned their attention +to making spears for fishing. They used some +seasoned hickory which Ree had put in the loft +during the winter for the making of bows, and +were able to whittle stout, sharp prongs out of +that hard, tough wood. It was too late when the +task was completed, however, to try the spears +that night, but the boys went to bed promising +themselves good sport the next evening.</p> +<p>Although it was still the month of March, +the early spring of that year enabled the young +pioneers to begin at once active preparations +for planting corn, potatoes, beans and squashes. +The brush cut during the winter was so dry that +it burned readily, and the green brush was easily +disposed of also, when piled upon the hot fires the +dry wood made. In this way the natural clearing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +was soon rid of the scattered undergrowth upon +it.</p> +<p>In a week or two the boys were ready to put +the seed into the ground, digging up a space a +foot square wherever they planted a hill of beans, +corn, potatoes or squashes. It was slow work, +nevertheless, and the sturdy, youthful farmers +were obliged to toil early and late.</p> +<p>The coming of Indians frequently interrupted +the boys at their work, and they came at +last to continue their labor after greeting their +visitors, unless the latter wished to trade. This +the redmen liked none too well. They seemed +to think their Paleface neighbors were devoting +too much time to agricultural pursuits, and they +feared and hated any and all things which threatened +to turn their forests into farm lands. But +Ree and John agreed that, since they had bought +the land of the Indians, they might as well give +the former owners to understand, first and last, +that they meant to do with it as they liked.</p> +<p>Big Buffalo was among a party which stopped +at the cabin one day. He refused food and +made himself generally disagreeable. The boys, +however, ignored his ill humor and by paying no +attention to him, showed that they neither cared +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +for his hatred nor feared him, even though they +knew there was murder in his heart.</p> +<p>Frequently strange Indians were among +those who called and they asked the boys to visit +their towns, some of which were not many miles +away, to trade. As all of those Indians traversed +the Portage trail or path, the boys were reminded +almost daily of the desirability of securing land +for a trading post, at the junction of the trail and +the river. As they talked the matter over and +looked into the future, more and more did they +regret that the violent conduct of Big Buffalo +had prevented their prolonging their bargaining +with Capt. Pipe on the occasion of their last visit +to him.</p> +<p>About this time, also, another reason arose +for the two friends wishing to visit Capt. Pipe +again. It was the discovery that he had secured +some horses. During the winter he had had none +of which the boys knew. Now, they reasoned, if +they could buy a horse, they would rig up their +cart and carry their furs to Pittsburg. It would +be a much shorter and safer trip than to undertake +to reach Detroit, and they would require no +assistance. There was some probability, too, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +that among their friends in Pittsburg they might +get some word concerning Tom Fish.</p> +<p>It was one night when they had returned +from fishing, bringing in a great string of rock +bass, that the lads talked this over, and at last +concluded to go again to the Delaware town, even +at the risk of having more trouble with Big Buffalo.</p> +<p>It seemed like a holiday after their hard +work when, next day, the boys found themselves +in their canoe, gliding over the river’s rippling +waters on their way to Capt. Pipe’s home. They +carried the craft overland to the lake and soon +approached the Indian village.</p> +<p>But suddenly as they drew near, the noise +of many voices was borne to them by the breeze. +First loud, then low, the sounds came across the +water. Ree’s face grew grave, and John, who +had been whistling, abruptly paused.</p> +<p>“Ree,” he exclaimed, “that is the song of +the war dance!”</p> +<p>“It means that the Indians are going on the +warpath, as surely as we hear it,” was the answer. +“Be on your guard, John. We will soon +find out just what it means; for we won’t turn +back now, even if we see the whole tribe in war +paint.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVII_DANGER' id='XVII_DANGER'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<h3><i>Danger.</i></h3> +</div> + +<p>As Ree spoke, a war whoop sounded clear +and strong, instantly followed by a weird, chanting +song. In a minute or two this ceased, and +then with fiercer war whoops than before, broke +out afresh. Quickly the young pioneers floated +nearer the scene of these warlike outbursts, and +soon ran the nose of their canoe upon the gravelly +beach. With fast-beating hearts they climbed +the little bank which rose gradually a few feet +back from the shore.</p> +<p>The boys had approached so quietly, and the +Indians were so intent on the war dance that their +coming had not been discovered. And well +might the lads pause in uncertainty as to the +manner of the reception they would receive; for +now they came into full view of the assembled +savages—half-naked warriors in paint and fighting +costume, forming a circle and dancing and +yelling like the wild barbarians they were, while +old men and young braves and squaws and children +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +looked on in savage rapture. Before either +boy could speak Big Buffalo espied them and +leaped forward brandishing a tomahawk.</p> +<p>Instinctively Ree seized his rifle in both +hands, ready for instant action. John did the +same, and with an ugly leer the Indian paused. +His action had attracted attention, however, and +at this critical juncture Capt. Pipe discovered +the presence of the visitors, and called angrily +to Buffalo to put up his weapon.</p> +<p>The chief was in full war costume himself, +making anything but a peaceable appearance as +he met the boys half way, when they obeyed his +signal to approach. But without a word he conducted +them to a place in the circle of spectators +gathered around the forty or fifty warriors, and +at once the dance went on as though there had +been no interruption.</p> +<p>With terrible gestures of their arms and +throwing their bodies into all sorts of warlike +attitudes, the Indians danced about in a circle, +striking their feet down with great force as they +kept time to the beating of two rude drums and +the uncanny song they sang. With a war whoop +a dance was begun and continued for about two +minutes, the outlandish music making the forest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +ring. Then the singing and dancing stopped and +the Indians walked more slowly around the circle.</p> +<p>In a minute or so another war-cry would +sound and the fierce, weird music and dance +would be resumed. Then some old Indian among +the spectators would clap his hands, signifying +that he wished to speak. The dance would cease +and the dancers walk slowly ’round again, while +a speech was made. The address would occupy +only a half minute or a minute perhaps, and then +with another of the horrifying war cries the +dancing and singing were started afresh.</p> +<p>Ree and John might have been a thousand +miles away for all the attention that was given +them at first.</p> +<p>“Perhaps it is merely a festival dance,” +John whispered to his chum.</p> +<p>“No, it would be given in the evening if that +were true,” was the answer. “It means the warpath, +I am sure.”</p> +<p>John was replying that, whether merely for +entertainment or for war, the dance was enough +to scarce a civilized person into a trance, when +Capt. Pipe suddenly clapped his hands and, as +the music ceased, stepped forward and spoke. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +All the other speeches had been made in the Delaware +tongue, but the first man of the tribe now +spoke partly in English. This was for the purpose +of giving them to understand just what was +going on, the boys were quite certain, and frequently +the chief pointed toward them.</p> +<p>In substance Capt. Pipe said that the whites +were encroaching too far upon the lands of the +Indians and preparations were being made for +a great union of tribes to drive the “Long +Knives” back. He promised to lead a large +party of his people to join with other Delawares +and the Wyandots, Shawnees and Miamies in +a war which, he boastfully said, would secure to +the Indians again the forests in which the Palefaces +had already settled. He referred to the +defeat of the whites eight years before and the +burning of Col. Crawford, and said there would +be scalps and plunder for every warrior who accompanied +him.</p> +<p>John found himself wondering whether the +Indians might not undertake to whet their appetites +for blood by killing himself and Ree. It +was of the terrible torture of Col. Crawford +which Ree was thinking, and he found it hard to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +keep from hating the savages before him, horrible +and cruel in their war paint.</p> +<p>And could he have looked but a few months +into the future and have seen the awful carnage +in which Capt. Pipe and his braves had a prominent +part, at the defeat of General St. Clair near +Fort Jefferson, in what is now Mercer County, +Ohio, he could not have restrained his hatred as +he did. He knew in after years what that battle +was, and knew that the Indians boasted that their +arms ached from their work with the scalping +knife.</p> +<p>The frightful dance went on when Capt. +Pipe had finished speaking, his words inspiring +the warriors with new vigor who now whirled +around the circle with great rapidity, going +through all the motions of attacking, vanquishing +and scalping an enemy. At a call from the +chief, other warriors, who were standing by, +sprang into the ring, joining in the singing and +contortions of faces and bodies with furious energy. +More and more followed as from among the +dancers Capt. Pipe called from time to time, +urging all who wished to win renown as warriors, +and to hang scalps of the hated whites at their +belts, to join him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span></p> +<p>Each addition to the whirling, shrieking, +blood-thirsty band was greeted with thunderous +whoops and in the end nearly one hundred and +fifty braves were going through all the barbarous +awe-inspiring motions of the horrid celebration.</p> +<p>Well might Ree and John feel alarm for +their own safety; but they looked upon the terrifying +scene quite calmly, notwithstanding that, +as their passions were kindled and their savage +patriotism aroused by the fervor of the dance, +the Indians gave them many a glance which was +far from friendly.</p> +<p>There were two things which Ree could not +help but notice as the revel continued; one was +that Big Buffalo had not joined the dancers, the +other that Gentle Maiden kept her eyes downcast +or looked away across the lake, not once +turning toward her father’s painted braves. He +could not help thinking it strange that the Buffalo +had not signified his intention of joining the +warriors, and sincerely wished the unfriendly +fellow had done so. There was no other Indian +whom he had so much reason to dislike, nor one +whose absence was so greatly to be desired.</p> +<p>For more than two hours the dance went on, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +interrupted only when some one—usually an old +Indian whose fighting days were past—clapped +his hands as a signal that he wished to make a +speech. But at last Capt. Pipe called a halt and +stepped out from among the dancers. With a +fierce look toward Big Buffalo he demanded to +know of him why he would not join the war +party.</p> +<p>Ree and John could not understand all that +was said, but they saw plainly that the chief was +angry. In substance the reason of Big Buffalo +was that it would not do for all the strong men +to leave the village; that some one must remain +to provide meat for the women and children, and +to protect the town.</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe heard these excuses with a scowl +black as a thunder cloud. His giant frame +stretched itself to its greatest height and his +voice was filled with contempt as he flung forth +but one word:</p> +<p>“Squaw!”</p> +<p>Perhaps the chief thought, as Ree was at +that moment thinking, that the Buffalo’s main +reason for wishing to remain at home, was that +he might be near Gentle Maiden. But had the +truth been made known, it would have been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +shown that the treacherous rascal had other and +more wicked reasons in his heart, as the young +settlers were destined soon to learn.</p> +<p>With a wave of his arm Capt. Pipe dispersed +his followers as Big Buffalo made no reply to his +contemptuous outburst. The Indians threw +themselves on the ground to rest, or went away +to their lodges to more fully prepare for the warpath, +and the chief, turning to Ree and John, +motioned to them to follow. He led the boys to +his cabin and his wife placed food before them. +When they had eaten, Capt. Pipe produced pipes +and all three smoked. It was a silent compact of +peace, and pleased indeed were the Paleface lads +that the Indian showed this disposition.</p> +<p>Though it was not this act of friendship +which made him bold, for he would have spoken +in the same way under other circumstances, Ree +quietly asked Capt. Pipe why he had determined +to go on the warpath.</p> +<p>The chief made no answer.</p> +<p>“It is wrong,” Ree continued gravely. +“You are living here in happiness and security. +No Palefaces have molested you. Your people +are contented; they have but to step into the forests +for an abundance of game; but to approach +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +the waters for all the fish they may desire. The +ground yields rich returns from the labor of the +planting season. The Delawares are well fed and +well clothed. Why, then, should they give up +the hunt and the pleasures of their present pursuits +to take up the hatchet? Why should they +seek the lives of others, whether white men or +redmen? They will only bring sorrow and +weeping to their own villages, and sorrow and +weeping in many a Paleface home for those who +never return. More than this, Chief Hopocon, +the Great Spirit looks with unhappy eyes upon +his children who go on the warpath not in defense +of their own, but to kill and murder those +who have not harmed them.”</p> +<p>Knowing Ree even well as he did, John was +surprised to hear him speak thus fluently and +strongly, but he greatly feared his friend had +been unwise in speaking so boldly.</p> +<p>For a few seconds Capt. Pipe did not answer. +And then he said:</p> +<p>“The young brother speaks well, but he does +not know. His heart is right, but he does not +know. With the young men who have come +among us as traders and hunters we have no +quarrel. They will remain here. They will send +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +no word of the war dance to the forts. Other +Palefaces are crowding further and further. +Faster and faster, they are driving the people of +the forest before them. The young brother does +not know this. The young brother does not +know of the word which every day the runners +bring, which tells of the crowding of the Long +Knives more and more upon the forest. Now +must they be warned to come no further. Now +must they be driven back to the eastward. Else +the setting sun will be the home of the Delawares. +Too long—too long, have the hands of +Hopocon and his warriors been idle; too long—too +long, have the Delawares borne in silence.”</p> +<p>Capt. Pipe spoke with emphasis but not violently. +As he concluded he rose slowly to his +feet. Ree and John followed his example, and +with meaning in his gesture far greater than +words could have expressed, the chieftain motioned +to them to depart.</p> +<p>With shoulders thrown back, head erect as +proud and dignified as the Indians whom he felt +had thus insulted him Ree turned to leave the +cabin. But John had no such feeling, nor was +he so quick to see that Capt. Pipe was offended +by the words of one whom he probably considered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +a mere boy. He saw only that the object of their +visit was not likely to be accomplished and turning +to the Indian said: “Capt. Pipe, we wanted +to buy a little more land, and we need a horse.”</p> +<p>With an impatient, violent sweep of his +right hand, the chief touched John’s shoulder +with his left, and pointed across the lake in the +direction of the cabin by the river.</p> +<p>Even in this brief time Ree’s temper had +cooled, and with proud dignity he turned and +offered Capt. Pipe his hand. The Indian took +it and also shook hands with John. His manner +was haughty but not altogether unfriendly. The +boys still felt that they had nothing to fear from +him as they walked away.</p> +<p>Fishing Bird was near by as usual, as the +lads went down to the water’s edge. He was +naked to the waist and was bedecked with paint +and feathers. He looked really fierce as he strode +up to shove off the canoe, not in his customary +happy mood, but with cool indifference. He +spoke to Ree in an undertone as the canoe glided +free of the beach.</p> +<p>It was late in the day, and this fact taken in +connection with the unpleasant events of the afternoon +caused the boys to decide to go directly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +to their cabin rather than to go on to the Tuscarawas +river upon which the Indians were accustomed +to travel toward the Ohio, and which +the lads had planned to explore.</p> +<p>“What did Fishing Bird say to you, Ree?” +asked John as they reached mid-lake.</p> +<p>“He said we should watch out for Big Buffalo.”</p> +<p>“Thunderation! I wonder if he isn’t jealous +of Big Buffalo that he is always warning us +against him? He must know that we know the +old rogue doesn’t like us, and that is all there is +of it!”</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess Fishing Bird means well; and +I’m sorry enough that Big Buffalo isn’t going +with the war party. It may be that the chief’s +daughter has something to do with his remaining +at home, but I do not think Fishing Bird is +jealous. As for us, why the Buffalo has no reason +to hate us on the girl’s account. We never +even spoke to her.”</p> +<p>“But she has spoken to you, Ree.”</p> +<p>“Never.”</p> +<p>“Yes, she has—with her eyes.”</p> +<p>“What nonsense!” Ree ejaculated. “Big +Buffalo is ugly by disposition and has never forgotten +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +the mistake I made when I overlooked him +and supposed Fishing Bird to be in command of +the hunting party I met that time they made me +prisoner.”</p> +<p>Presently the talk drifted to other subjects, +especially to the disposition of the furs that had +accumulated, and the plan to take them to Detroit +now seemed the best to follow.</p> +<p>“But after all,” Ree suggested, “we may +be able to get a horse from the Delawares when +Capt. Pipe and his men have gone.”</p> +<p>“No, he is going to take all the horses. They +will dance and feast to-night, and to-morrow +they start,” John answered.</p> +<p>“How do you know that?”</p> +<p>For a moment there was no answer; and +then in a hesitating way, “Gentle Maiden told +me,” John confessed.</p> +<p>“Oh, ho! You’ve been making love behind +my back, have you? When did you talk with +her?”</p> +<p>“Why, there was no love about it!” exclaimed +John with some pretense of indignation. +“We were only talking as anybody has a right to +talk. It was while they were dancing. And Ree, +she speaks better English than her father. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +missionaries among the Moravians who were +massacred several years ago, taught her. And +she thinks it was right that Col. Crawford was +burned because of that massacre, too.”</p> +<p>“I guess you have talked to the Indian girl +before to-day, haven’t you? Why didn’t you tell +me?”</p> +<p>“She spoke to me first, and I—I didn’t think +you would be interested.”</p> +<p>Ree smiled but said no more. The canoe +grated on the lake shore toward their home, and +the boys took up their task of carrying it overland +to the river.</p> +<p>“We will write some letters to send home +from Pittsburg; for I still hope we will be able to +take our furs there,” said Ree, as they tramped +along.</p> +<p>But in those days of more than one hundred +years ago, as at the present time, none could tell +what changes another sunrise would bring; and +neither Ree nor John dreamed of the terrible +danger which was closing in around them, the +story of which is told in “<i>Two Boy Pioneers</i>”.</p> +<div class='ce'> +<p>THE END.</p> +<p>W.B.C.</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.18 --> +<!-- timestamp: Fri Aug 08 17:22:21 -0600 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Far Past the Frontier, by James A. 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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Far Past the Frontier, by James A. Braden + +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: Far Past the Frontier + +Author: James A. Braden + +Illustrator: W. H. Fry + +Release Date: August 9, 2008 [EBook #26234] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAR PAST THE FRONTIER *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: He met the hot-mouthed, vicious brute, his rude spear +clasped in both hands] + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +FAR PAST THE FRONTIER + +By +JAMES A. BRADEN + +Illustrated by +W. H. FRY + +C + +Akron, Ohio +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO. +New York--Chicago + +MADE IN U. S. A. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Copyright, 1902 +By +The Saalfield Publishing Company + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I The Flight of Big Pete Ellis. 5 + II A Bound Boy's Story. 19 + III The Beginning of a Perilous Journey. 32 + IV The Man Under the Bed. 47 + V A Mysterious Shot in the Darkness. 62 + VI On Lonely Mountain Roads. 76 + VII On Into the Wilderness. 91 + VIII Friends or Foes? 105 + IX The Scalp at Big Buffalo's Belt. 121 + X A Night With the Indians. 134 + XI Again a Hidden Enemy. 150 + XII Building a Cabin. 164 + XIII The Strange Story of Arthur Bridges. 179 + XIV Treed by Wolves. 192 + XV A Maple Sugar Camp in the Wilderness. 206 + XVI The Hatred of Big Buffalo. 219 + XVII Danger. 232 + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +FAR PAST THE FRONTIER. + +CHAPTER I. + +The Flight of Big Pete Ellis. + + +"Look out thar!" + +A young, red-bearded man of herculean frame fiercely jerked the words +between his teeth as he leaped between two boys who were about to enter +the country store, from the door of which he sprang. + +Diving aside, but quickly turning, the lads saw the cause of their sudden +movement bound into a wagon standing near, and with a furious cry to the +horses, whip them to such instant, rapid speed that the strap with which +the animals were tied, snapped like a bit of string. With a clatter and +rumbling roar the team and wagon dashed around a corner, the clumsy +vehicle all but upsetting, as the wheels on one side flew clear of the +ground. + +Running forward, the boys were in time to see, fast disappearing down the +road toward where the September sun was setting, the reckless driver +bending over, lashing the horses to a frantic gallop. The wagon swayed +and jolted over the ruts and holes, threatening momentarily to throw the +fellow headlong. An empty barrel in the box bounced up and down and from +side to side like a thing alive. + +"Something has happened! Big Pete isn't doing that for fun!" the larger +of the boys exclaimed. + +"Run for Dr. Cartwright, quick! Big Pete has killed Jim Huson, I'm +afraid!" + +The speaker was Marvel Rice, proprietor of the store in which Huson was a +clerk. "Tell him to hurry--hurry!" the merchant cried again, as without a +second's hesitation the two boys sped away along the tan-bark path. + +"Are you coming, Ree?" asked the more slender lad, glancing over his +shoulder with a droll smile. He was a wiry chap of sixteen and ran like a +grey hound, easily taking the lead. + +His companion made no reply, but his spirit fired by the sarcastic +question, he forged ahead, and the other found it necessary to waste no +more breath in humor. + +An admirer of youthful strength and development would have clapped his +hands with delight to have seen the boys' close race. Return Kingdom, +whom the slender lad had called "Ree," was a tall, strongly built, +muscular fellow of seventeen. His fine black hair waved under the brim of +a dilapidated beaver as he ran. His brown eyes were serious and keen and +his mouth and chin emphasized the determination expressed in them. Though +his clothes were of rough home-spun stuff, and his feet were encased in +coarse boots, an observing person would have seen that he was possessed +of the decision and strength in both mind and body which go to make +leaders among men. + +The smaller boy was John Jerome--quick, vigorous, brown-haired, +blue-eyed, freckled, and his attire was like that of his companion whose +follower he was in everything save foot-racing. In that he would give way +to no one, not excluding the trained Indian runners who sometimes came to +the neighboring village. + +"Easy, easy!" Dr. Cartwright sang out, the boys nearly colliding with him +as he was driving from his dooryard. "Somebody dying?" he asked as the +runners halted. + +"Jim Huson's been hurt; they want you at the store, quick," Ree Kingdom +breathlessly explained. + +"Badly?" asked the doctor with provoking deliberation, drawing on his +gloves. + +"Pretty nigh killed, I guess; Big Pete Ellis did it," put in John Jerome, +amazed that the physician did not at once drive off at lightning speed. + +"And they want me to finish the job do they?" smiled Dr. Cartwright, who +was never known to become excited. "Well, I'll see what I can do. Daisy, +get up." + +The latter words were for the faithful mare that had drawn the doctor's +chaise, or two-wheeled carriage, summer and winter for so many years that +she was as well known as the physician himself. The horse set off at a +leisurely jog, but the master's second "Get up Daisy," though drawled out +as if haste were the last thing to be thought of, quickened the animal's +speed to a lively trot. + +The boys started back at a walk, speculating on what could have provoked +Big Pete's assault and how serious Jim Huson's injury might be. + +"It upsets all our plans," said John; "for Jim was just the fellow to +tell us the price of everything and just what western emigrants should +take along. We can't talk to Mr. Rice about our going, as we could talk +to Jim." + +"Mr. Rice is so excitable he may have thought Huson worse hurt than he +is," Ree answered. "Anyway, we are not to start for three weeks, and Jim +may be up and around long before we go. So don't be blue. There is more +than one way to skin a cat. If we can't have Jim's advice we can talk +with some one else, or use our own judgment as to what we must buy. In +the end we will have to depend entirely on ourselves as to what we should +or should not do, anyway; but come what may, three weeks from this very +Monday, we shall go, if we live and have our health." + +"Bully for you, Ree! In three weeks our faces will be turned toward the +setting sun!" + +"Our backs will be toward the rising sun in three weeks, less one day," +Ree answered. "But scamper along; let's get back to the store and find +out first how Jim was hurt and how badly. It will be a sorry job for Pete +Ellis, if they catch him." + +The assault on the clerk at the Corners' store had aroused the +neighborhood. Coming at the hour of sundown when the day's work was +nearly over, it found people with leisure to hurry to the scene to learn +all about the affair. A dozen men and boys and a few women and children +were gathered near when Return Kingdom and John Jerome arrived. The boys +found that their injured friend had been carried to the inn across the +street, where Dr. Cartwright was attending him, and all were anxiously +waiting that good man's opinion. + +The story of the assault as it was told, over and over again, as the +crowd about the store increased, was that Big Pete had attempted to pass +counterfeit money on Jim Huson. The latter refused it, accusing Ellis of +having brought spurious coin to him at other times as well, and +threatening to cause his arrest. Without warning Big Pete seized a heavy +butter firkin and threw it squarely at the clerk's head. + +Huson dropped unconscious to the floor, and Mr. Rice, who ran to his aid, +received a similar blow. Ellis lost no time in dashing through the open +door, then adding to his other crimes the theft of horses and wagon to +assist in his escape. + +"Well, there is no great loss without some small gain," said one man. "We +are quit of Big Pete, that's certain, and it is a good riddance of bad +rubbish. He was the worst man in this bailiwick, and I am thinking that +more than one job of pilfering might safely be laid at his door." + +It was, indeed, true. Big Pete was not looked upon as a desirable +citizen. So bad had his name become that he could scarcely find +employment where he was known. The honest people of old Connecticut had +little liking for dishonesty, notwithstanding the stories of the +money-making ingenuity of that state's inhabitants. + +Leaning against a post, apart from the other men, Ree Kingdom presently +noticed an aged farmer, alternately wringing his hands and burying his +face in them. He was the owner of the team which had been stolen, and, +heedless of all else idly lamented his loss, complaining that no one went +in pursuit of the thief to secure his horses, but wholly forgetful of the +best of scriptural proverbs that God helps those who help themselves. The +boy was about to speak to him, when two men dashed up on horseback. + +"There's the constable," John Jerome exclaimed--"The constable and his +brother, and they are going after Big Pete." + +Before Ree could answer, the officer called for volunteers to assist in +his undertaking, for Ellis was known to be a dangerous man. + +"Here, some of you young bucks that can ride bare-back, strip the harness +off my team an' help ketch that murderous heathen! Only wish't I wasn't +all crippled up with rheumatics, I'd show him!" + +The speaker was Captain William Bowen, who had fought in the +Revolutionary War, ending seven years earlier, (1783) and was proud of +it; and who, though really sadly crippled by rheumatism, was still a sure +shot and not the man to be trifled with by law-breakers. He would permit +no one to call him anything but "Captain." His old rifle was always +within reach and two big pistols were ever his companions. + +For a minute no one made a move to accept the captain's offer, and then +with: "Come on, John," Ree Kingdom waited no longer. In a twinkling the +boys unharnessed the horses, leaving only the bridles on them, and were +mounted. Tom Huson, the blacksmith and Peter Piper, a half-breed Indian, +a sort of roustabout in the neighborhood, had also hurriedly prepared to +join in the chase. + +"Take my twins, lads, they bite as hard as they bark," called Captain +Bowen, passing his brace of pistols up to Ree and John, and in another +moment the party was galloping in pursuit of the big fellow whose crime +might yet be murder, Dr. Cartwright having reported that only time could +tell. + +"Who-ho-ho-ho-ho!" John Jerome could not resist the temptation to give an +Indian war-whoop. There is an exhilaration in a rapid ride by moonlight +at any time, and with the clatter of the hoofs of a half dozen horses +upon the beaten road, the forms of other riders, shadowy and ghost-like +on either side to lend a feeling of companionship, and a knowledge of +danger's presence to make every sense the more alert, there is no finer +excitement. Little wonder is it that John could not repress a yell, and +though of a much quieter disposition, Ree felt like shouting, also. + +"Who-ho-ho-ho!" John yelled again, a half hour later, and the women and +children ran to the door of a house they were passing to see who it might +be that was dashing by at such breakneck speed. The air came soft and +cool to the riders half hidden in the shadows of the trees which bordered +the road, though the moon was shining gloriously. + +"We will send you on ahead to tell Pete we are coming, if you are so fond +of making it known, youngster," exclaimed the constable as John gave +still another whoop. + +"He'd have a cat fit if he knew you were after him, I'll wager," the boy +answered, nettled by the man's sarcasm. "Suppose I do ride on and let him +know." + +John leaned back and slapped his horse's flank. The animal, scarcely more +than a colt, sprang forward at great speed. At the same time the young +rider raised up on his knees, then on his feet and keeping his balance +with seeming ease, standing nearly erect, the horse running its fastest, +he held the reins in one hand, waved his hat in the other, and again +yelled like an Indian. + +"That young dare-devil will kill himself one of these days," said the +blacksmith. "That colt of Captain Bowen's is likely to take it into her +head to bring up short at any minute. Better call him back, Kingdom." + +Ree had no fear that his friend could not take care of himself, but in +answer to the suggestion, he gave a shrill, peculiar whistle which made +the woodland ring. Like a shot John dropped to a sitting posture as he +heard the call, and in another minute Ree had ridden up beside him. +Before either could speak, a black object loomed up in the narrow road +and they had barely time to rein their horses in before they were upon +it, the animals leaping sidewise to avoid a collision. + +"Big Pete's wagon, sure as shooting! It's broken down!" ejaculated Ree. + +"Scotland! Where would I have landed if I had been standing up and this +colt had run into it?" John exclaimed. As he spoke the others of their +party came up. + +"Here's the wagon, but Pete and the horses are gone," called Ree. "He +can't be far ahead." + +"There's no telling. Hurry on," answered the constable who had hastily +sprung off his horse to examine the wreck. "Here are the harnesses, but +Pete is trying to get away with both horses. Keep your wits about you, +boys, there is likely to be some shooting!" + +Ree had been the first to start forward, and was one hundred yards in +advance of the others when his quick eye detected the dim outlines of a +man on horseback in the shadow of a low branching oak just before him at +the roadside. He recognized the huge figure of Big Pete and without a +word guided his horse straight toward the fellow. The criminal saw him +and with a yell started off. + +Ree's horse with a splendid bound cleared the ditch beside the highway, +and in another moment the boy had seized the bridle of the horse Big Pete +was leading, just as the fellow was getting the animal he bestrode under +rapid way for a race for his liberty. It was clear that he had been +delayed by the breaking down of the wagon, and had hidden at the roadside +hoping his pursuers would pass him by. With a determined grip Ree clung +to the bridle of the lead horse, though he was nearly jerked to the +ground. With his other hand he sought to check his own animal, but the +skittish young thing had taken fright and was now running ahead of the +flying criminal's horses. + +A great out-cry came from the constable and his party as they saw what +had happened and dug spurs into their mounts. Down the road the pursued +and pursuers raced, Ree Kingdom wholly unable to retard Big Pete's +progress but still clinging to the bridle of the horse between them, the +constable and his men trying their best to overtake the fugitive, but +unable to gain on him. + +"Shoot! why don't you shoot?" yelled Ree to his friends at last, and a +pair of pistols cracked simultaneously, a third and fourth rapidly +following. + +Ree heard the bullets whistle near his head and realized that he was in +almost as much danger of being hit, as Big Pete. But again he cried: + +"Shoot!" + +The pursuers were slowly but surely falling behind in the race. The burly +Ellis, glancing back, was quick to see that fortune favored him. He +leaned far over from his horse and before Ree Kingdom could detect his +purpose in the dusky light, seized the boy by the neck. With a giant's +strength he pulled the lad partially from his seat, endeavoring to hurl +him to the ground. Failing, he relinquished his hold on the reins, and +using both hands, succeeded in drawing Kingdom over the unridden horse +between them to the shoulders of his own horse. And then with herculean +efforts he tried to throw the boy to the earth. + +But Ree held to his own horse's reins with bull dog ferocity, and with +all his strength resisted the other's effort. As he was jerked from his +seat, however, the strain on the reins caused his horse to sharply swerve +inward, crowding against the other animals, and in a twinkling the three +of them, already frantic with the fury of their wild race, left the +course and sped across a woodland at the unfenced roadside. + +Gasping an oath, the enraged giant tried again to push Ree to the ground, +and this time he succeeded; but he himself went off head-foremost with +the boy, who held to his arm with a grip of steel, dragging him suddenly +down. Freed of their burden, the horses ran on, Big Pete cursing +frightfully as he sprang to his feet to find them far beyond his reach. + +Lying still, bruised but not seriously hurt by his fall, Ree Kingdom was +thinking fast. He felt for his pistol inspired by the thought that he +would capture the criminal yet, and wishing he had used it earlier. But +the weapon was gone--lost in the wild ride, no doubt. The next instant +Ellis swiftly turned and seized him by the throat; and he knew that his +life was in the giant's hands. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A Bound Boy's Story. + + +With the horses gone beyond recapture, Big Pete must needs depend on his +own legs if he meant to escape. The constable's party could not be far +behind, and with the boy, whose throat he clutched, to point the way in +which he had gone, when the officer came up, his chance of getting away +was much less than it would be should that boy be powerless to give any +information. + +Ree Kingdom thought of this and lay perfectly still, feigning +insensibility but keenly wondering what disposition would be made of him, +and resolved to fight to the last breath if his pretense of +unconsciousness were discovered. Then the giant's grip about his throat +grew tighter, and he felt that a terrible struggle and perhaps death were +just at hand. Between his almost closed eyelids he saw the man's big +frame bending silently over him and thus moments which seemed like hours +passed. + +The slow-thinking fugitive could not at once decide what he should do. He +was hoping Ree would spring to his feet and run. Then, pretending to try +to catch him, he would escape among the darker shadows before the boy +could see in which direction he had gone. He was not deceived by the +pretense of unconsciousness, as Ree thought, and really hoped to be saved +the necessity of killing the lad or of knocking him senseless, to a +certainty, lest such a blow might produce death. He shuddered as he +remembered that his hands were probably already stained with blood. + +If Ellis had but known it, flight was far from Kingdom's thoughts. He was +steadfast in his every purpose, to a fault, and having set out to capture +Big Pete, the idea of running away just as he was face to face with the +giant fellow, did not so much as occur to him, though he well knew his +peril. + +"Scoot!" With sudden fury Ellis dragged Ree to his feet and violently +pushed him as he spoke, expecting to see the boy dash away. + +Ree could not prevent a grim smile from crossing his lips as he turned +quickly toward the giant again, realizing that the fellow had intended to +frighten him. Each moment, however, he looked for a deadly conflict to +begin, and as he stood in quiet defiance, trying to determine what the +fugitive's next move would be, and momentarily expecting a struggle, +there was in the background of his thoughts a vision of an unmarked, +flower-strewn grave in a quiet church-yard. Strongly intertwined with it +was memory of his past life. But hark! + +"Clockety-clack-clockety-clack!" It was the sound of horses' hoofs close +by. The constable had discovered them at last. Big Pete heard the +hoof-beats and knew he had paused too long. + +"Death to ye!" he cried with an oath, and lodged a hammer-like blow on +Kingdom's head, sending the lad staggering, while he swiftly took to his +heels. + +Dazed, but still conscious, Ree sprang after him, shouting "Come on!" to +the party of horsemen now but a few rods distant, "Ellis has just this +minute run into the woods!" + +For an hour the men searched for the fugitive, but in vain. He had +disappeared completely and in the deep darkness pervading the +thickly-grown brush and trees of the forest he eluded his pursuers with +ease. + +In disappointment the chase was abandoned and attention given to +capturing the escaped horses. This was at last accomplished, and as the +early moon was waning, the constable and his volunteers turned homeward. +One source of satisfaction was theirs--they had, at least, recovered the +stolen team and wagon, though the latter would need many repairs before +again being fit for service. + +Ree briefly told of his adventure as the party rode along. John Jerome +could not withhold his words of regret that his horse had been too slow +for the race, nor could he quite understand how the stolen team had been +able to outstrip the others. + +"I'll tell you how that was," said the constable's brother. "The nags Big +Pete had was really runnin' away. I guess you know how much faster a dog +will run when he has a rattle tied to his tail, than when he's jest +runnin' for the fun on it! Wall, this here's a parallel case." + +Although it was nearly midnight, a small crowd of curious ones was found +still lingering about Mr. Rice's store, anxious to learn all that had +been done. Ree Kingdom received a large share of the praise for the +return of the stolen horses. Captain Bowen was delighted over his +behavior and would not listen to one word about the lost pistol. + +"I'll drive over that way an' pick it up along the road somewheres in the +mornin'," he said. "An' to-morrow night I want you to come an' try some +o' the new cider. You come too, son," he added, turning to John. + +The boys thanked him heartily, for well they might esteem it a great +favor and an honor to receive this invitation from the warlike old +veteran. Again they inquired for the latest news of Jim Huson, and +learning that he was likely to recover, set out for their homes. + +"I have a presentiment that we shall see Big Pete again," said Ree +thoughtfully. + +"Are you afraid of him?" John quietly asked. + +"No, I am not afraid of him, yet I would rather we should never meet +again. But I think he will go west and though it is a big country, we +might find him there. By the way, John, Capt. Bowen is just the man to +give us advice about our expedition. Meet me about sundown at the old +place. We will have a lot to talk about as we are on the way to make our +call." + +A few minutes later the boys separated. John going to the overcrowded +little house of his parents; Ree to the Henry Catesby farm, which was the +only home he had known since childhood. As he crept into bed in his attic +room, and stretched his full length restfully on the straw-filled tick, +again there came to him a vision of an unmarked grave in the quiet +burying-ground, bringing an influence of sadness to all his thoughts. + +"Oh, mother, my memory of you is the dearest thing in life," he softly +whispered to himself, and his mind turned fondly to his childhood. +Faintly he remembered his father. More vividly he recalled the coming of +a neighbor with the news of his father's death--killed by Gen. Howe's +troops as they advanced on Philadelphia, after succeeding in defeating +the American soldiers at Wilmington, because Gen. Washington was misled +by false information. + +Poor Ree! How well did he remember his mother's grief, though he was too +young to understand--too care-free to grieve long or deeply himself. Many +times he had heard the story in after days, how his father and two +companions were fired upon as they were hurrying forward to give notice +of the enemy's coming; and one of the three being wounded, his father +would not leave him, though in trying to save him, his own life was +sacrificed. It was the third man, who escaped, who spread the news of the +bravery and death of the elder Return Kingdom. + +Ree did not know how long a time had elapsed, but it seemed a very little +while after this sad story reached his mother that she removed with him +to a newer part of Connecticut, where she earned a living for them both +by weaving and spinning. A happy year or two slipped by and then--ah, +well, he remembered the dreary day when some neighbors had taken him to +see her whom he loved so well, buried beneath the elm trees, and he knew +he was left alone. + +Memory of the bitter tears he shed came freshly to the boy as he recalled +it all--how, in but a few days, he was "bound out" to Henry Catesby with +the promise that he should have a home and want for nothing. + +Had he been in want? Oh, he had been supplied with food and clothing and +a roof over his head. Could he ask more? Yes, a thousand times, yes! He +wanted friends, companionship, love. He remembered no one who had cared +for him in those early days, except--Mary Catesby, his hard master's +little daughter. And she was still but a child when she was told to have +no association with the "bound boy;" learning of which, he had steeled +his proud young heart and had spoken to her only when necessary. + +So with work, day in and day out, save for a few winter weeks in school, +the years had passed, until he made the acquaintance of John Jerome, the +son of a distant neighbor. Too poverty-distressed to be proud, he had +known little happiness except a sort of sad pleasure he found in visiting +the church-yard, where in summer he placed great bunches of wild flowers +on the mound to him most sacred. + +For two years he and John had been intimate friends. The latter being +sometimes employed by Mr. Catesby, gave the boys additional opportunities +of being with one another. Late at night after a long, hard day in the +harvest fields, they had gone swimming together. They had borrowed a gun, +and John's money bought the ammunition they used in learning to shoot, to +practice which they had risen before sunrise; for at Old Sol's first peep +the day's work must be begun. Many a time they had labored all day, then +tramped the woods all night, hunting 'coons, coming home in time only to +catch a wink of sleep before jumping into their clothes and away to work +again. + +Sometimes in winter when, by reason of John helping him with his work, +Ree was able to secure a half-day off, the boys had sought other game, +and shared the profits arising from their hunting and trapping. What with +the knowledge they thus picked up themselves, and the instruction given +them by Peter Piper and others, there were no two boys in Connecticut +better versed in woodcraft. + +Ree thought of all these things as he lay awake looking out through his +window at the stars in the western sky. And as his thoughts ran on, he +reflected on the death of Mr. Catesby a short eight months ago, and the +great change it had brought into his life. From the moment Mrs. Catesby +had called him to go for the doctor when her husband was taken ill, she +had depended on him in nearly everything. It was he who took charge of +all the farm work of the spring and summer, and the neighbors had said +the Catesby place never produced better crops. With scarcely a pause +except on Sundays, he had toiled early and late to accomplish this. Only +within the past few weeks when the rush of the harvest was over, had he +allowed himself any time for recreation. Yet it had been a happy summer, +he thought. Mrs. Catesby, appreciative of his splendid services, had been +all kindness; Mary Catesby had been agreeable as his own sister might +have been. Both had forgotten, or at least no longer observed, the bar of +social inequality which Mr. Catesby had set up against the "bound boy." + +Then in August had come Mrs. Catesby's decision to remove to the city +that her daughter might have educational advantages. It was with genuine +regret that Ree had learned her plans. He would never have admitted even +to himself that he had, in a certain boyish, vague way, dreamed of a dim, +distant time when he and Mary might be more than friends; but maybe some +such thought had been in his mind at some time. Strange it would be had +nothing of the kind occurred to him. + +Thus as he lay awake still pondering on the past, the present and the +future, in the depths of Ree's heart of hearts there may have been a wish +that he should become a successful man, wealthy perhaps, well-to-do +certainly; but in any event, looked up to and respected. + +But, oh!--What obstacles confronted him! How could he ever be more than a +rough, uneducated "bound boy" that he was! The subject was not a pleasant +one, but he gave it most serious thought, and determined for the +hundredth time, that, come what might, he would make the most of his +opportunities and ever be able to hold up his head in any company. + +So his reflections passed to the future. He was to receive $100 for his +summer's work. He also had some money which he had secured in odd sums +from time to time, safely put away in the chest beneath his bed. + +John Jerome had a hoard of savings, too. How should they best invest +their joint capital for their proposed journey to the western wilderness, +where, they planned, they would make homes and secure farms for +themselves amid savages and wild beasts! They must be obtaining this and +other information at once. They would have learned much that very evening +had not the man to whom they were going in quest of advice, been +assaulted by Big Pete Ellis. And what of that burly giant, by the way? + +"But this will never do. I must be getting to sleep," Ree said to +himself. + +Going to sleep just when one wishes, however, is not always easy. Ree +found it the very opposite. Tired as he was, his mind went over the +adventure of the night, and in a round-about way to his future home in +the wilderness, again, before his eyes closed. At last dreams came to +him, and in one of them he saw Big Pete waving a white handkerchief as a +flag of truce. He could not make out for whom the sign of peace was +meant; for a war party of Indians seemed to be hot on the giant's trail, +and it was in the opposite direction that Pete waved the handkerchief. + +Ree recalled the dream when pulling on his boots in the morning, and +pondered over the possibility of its having some significance. + +Many times during that day the young man had occasion to remember the +incidents of the night preceding. Everyone he met, it seemed, had heard +of his adventure with Big Pete and they all congratulated him. More than +one, too, warned him against the giant Ellis, saying the fellow would +surely seek revenge. + +Ree gave but little heed to this talk. Big Pete had had the chance to +kill him, or at least to attempt it, and had not done so, evidently +wishing to avoid blood-shed. But Peter Piper came along during the +afternoon with a story which he had heard in the adjacent village, that +gave the boy some uneasiness. Big Pete had sent word by a farmer he had +seen at daybreak, that he would return to his old haunts and that not a +man would dare to touch him; that he would not be driven off, though he +had killed both Jim Huson and Marvel Rice, and that those who had +interfered with him would suffer for it. + +"He's a braggart," said Ree contemptuously. + +"Jes' what he says, he will do. He's bad, bad, bad," said Peter Piper in +his simple, earnest way. + +So Ree came to look upon the matter with much seriousness. Somehow it +occurred to him that the giant might seek revenge by burning the barn or +poisoning the horses, or some such cowardly thing--he knew not what. For +himself he was not afraid, and it is not strange that in the wildest +flights of his lively fancy he did not for a moment imagine under what +startling circumstances he was destined to next behold the fugitive +criminal. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +The Beginning of a Perilous Journey. + + +"Hitch yer cheers up t' the blaze; it's a cool night fer September," said +Captain Bowen, drawing his own splint-bottom chair toward the great +fire-place of his homely but thoroughly comfortable home, and slowly +sipping new cider, just old enough to sparkle, from the bright pewter mug +containing it. + +"An' help yerselves to some more cider, naow dew; I like a man to feel at +home," he went on as Return Kingdom and John Jerome gave heed to his +kindly bidding. + +"Naow as I was a sayin'," Captain Bowen continued, "I r'ally kent advise +yeu youngsters t' undertake these plans yer minds air set on. The Injuns +hev hated us whites worse than ever sence the British turned their back +to 'em after the war was over, an' comin' so soon after their hevin' +helped the pestiferous Redcoats so much--they fit fer 'em tooth an' +toe-nail as the sayin' is, ye know--as I was sayin' it rankles in their +in'ards. General Washington--peace to him--he's did all he kin toward +pacifyin' 'em, an' it ain't no wonder they call him the 'Great Father'; +but so many other men hev cheated 'em, an' so many settlers air crowdin' +into their huntin' graounds thet they air jist ready to lift the hair of +any white man they catch sight on, a'most. Ye air takin' long chances, +boys, I do tell ye." + +"We want to hear both sides of the matter," Ree answered, and Captain +Bowen resumed, saying in his own slow, homely but kindly way, that it was +into the very thick of the savages that the boys were planning to go. He +reminded them of the barbarous cruelties the Indians had practiced as +allies of the King's troops in the war, and told them briefly the story +of the battle Col. Crawford had fought with the savages in the Ohio +country, ending with the burning of Col. Crawford at the stake. + +He cautioned his young friends further of the hazardous nature of the +journey through an unsettled country, a long part of the way lying over +the Allegheny mountains. He told them of the cutthroats they would be +likely to encounter--rough men, who, for adventure's sake, had gone into +the war, and had never been satisfied to settle down to lives of peace +and respectability after the close of the Revolution. As he paused at +last, there was quiet for a minute or two. Then Return Kingdom said: + +"We have thought of these things, Captain, and maybe we are head-strong, +but we are bent on going. There is little future for a young man here. I +will soon have no home, and John can well be spared from his. All we can +do, if we do not emigrate and secure homes of our own, is to hire out as +farm hands, and, as you know, labor is not greatly in demand. And as we +have said, we expect to go among the Indians partly as traders. The land +we shall settle upon, we expect to buy from them. + +"Traders who have behaved themselves have not had much trouble, and we +hope to make peace with every tribe we fall in with. The truth is, +Captain, we really have more fear of finding ourselves in the woods with +a lot of stuff we do not need, taking up the room in our cart and adding +to our load, while that which we should have will not be within reach, +than we have of trouble with the Indians." + +"People say it will be only a few years until all the country about the +Ohio river will be settled," put in John Jerome. + +"Y-a-as, land agents say that," smiled Captain Bowen, "but I ain't so +sure on it. Folks kin still find plenty of hardships right here in +Connecticut 'thout pokin' off t' the Ohio Valley or the northwest kentry. +But I tell you what, youngsters," he exclaimed with sudden enthusiasm, "I +wish I was ten years younger, I'd go with ye, bless me if I wouldn't! +They do bring tales of a marvelous kentry from the valley where my ol' +friend General Putnam an' his colony settled!" + +From that moment Ree and John had smooth sailing so far as getting advice +and information from Captain Bowen was concerned. Then and there, +however, the Captain had to tell them all he knew about the colony of +brave men who had founded Marietta on the Ohio river, nearly three years +earlier. "An' they do tell that game is thick there as fleas on a +homeless, yaller dog," he said. + +Though he knew that his wish that he might accompany the boys could never +be gratified, Captain Bowen entered into the spirit of their plans and +hopes with whole-souled ardor. He took great delight in telling the boys +of his own youth and his adventures. He seemed to grow young again in +their presence. Many times, too, he told them of sixteen-year-old Jervis +Cutler, who, as a member of General Putnam's party, was the first to leap +ashore and the first to cut down a tree in the new country whose +settlement their enterprise had started. + +Throughout, the boys found Captain Bowen's assistance of the greatest +value. He went to town with them and helped them make their purchases, +which he took into his own home, as a central point of assembling, the +articles bought for the expedition, and helped to pack them in the +handiest and most compact manner; and many a thing of value and use which +he paid for with his own money, found its way at his hands into the +outfit the lads were getting together. + +The route of the journey Captain Bowen also aided the boys in planning, +and his knowledge of the country stood them in excellent stead. He +prepared maps for them--home-made affairs it is true, and not absolutely +accurate, but yet worth much to those who planned to cross a thinly +settled country to the wilderness beyond. It was by the way of Braddock's +road that he advised the boys to go, following for the most part the +course Gen. Putnam's party had taken after leaving Hartford in 1788. This +party had made the trip in three months, including a long wait while +boats were built in which to float down the Ohio river. + +Captain Bowen figured that Ree and John could make better time and reach +Fort Pitt (Pittsburg) before November first. There they could probably +secure passage down the river without difficulty. In many other ways the +genial old man lent his aid, and the boys never went to him that they did +not find him brimming over with ideas for their benefit. + +The news that Ree and John were going to the Ohio wilderness, and +alone--soon spread through the surrounding country. Men who hitherto had +scarcely noticed them, now came up to shake hands and advise the lads as +to this or that, whenever they chanced to meet them. Others shook their +heads gloomily and lost no opportunity to throw cold water on the +project. The young people of the community talked more of Ree Kingdom and +John Jerome going west than of anything else. There were envious ones who +predicted that the boys would return a great deal faster than they went, +or that they would not live to return at all. There were those of better +dispositions, however, who, while recognizing the peril of the proposed +venture, hoped and promised for the chums, all success. + +It was with one of the former that John had an encounter which was talked +about for weeks afterward. Jason Hard, the cobbler, a stocky Englishman, +thirty years old perhaps, had been making slighting remarks about both +John and Ree and their plans in the presence of a small company of men +who were at the tavern awaiting the coming of the stage. As John +approached the inn someone said: + +"Now here's young Jerome himself, just say to his face what you were +saying behind his back, Jason Hard!" + +"I was sayin' that if his father wasn't shiftless, the young 'un wouldn't +need to be leavin' 'ome, an' I say it again," ejaculated the cobbler, +with arms akimbo, standing directly in front of John in an insolent +manner. + +"Look here! Take that back, you son of a Tory; my father has worked too +hard to help his son get a start in life, for me to stand by and hear +such talk! I say, take it back!" John bristled up like a porcupine. + +The insolent Englishman sprang toward him as though to strike him, paused +a moment, then suddenly let fly a blow straight for the boy's jaw. Most +luckily John dodged in time, then with the agility of a cat he jumped +toward the fellow and planted one fist just below his ear and the other +squarely on his chin tumbling him to the ground. + +Captain Bowen, who drove up just in time to see the encounter, was +tickled amazingly. Others enjoyed the exhibition almost as much, and gave +a cheer for the boy, while the badly bruised cobbler stood by rubbing his +head, as though he wondered what had occurred. + +Captain Bowen cautioned John against being too prone to take offense, +especially as he would soon have Indians to deal with, but he secretly +rejoiced in the lad's spunk. The Captain drove out of his way to take +John home in his light wagon, while he was thus advising him. + +The day of their separation was drawing quickly nearer, and John was +spending as much time with his parents, brothers and sisters as he +conveniently could. Often they urged him to abandon his preparations, but +as it was with Return Kingdom that he was going, neither the father nor +mother was willing to say he must not go. Both felt that he would be in +good hands and in good company. + +And Mrs. Catesby and Mary more than once, also, sought to dissuade Ree +from emigrating. It was kind of them and their words of sympathy did Ree +good, but he smiled at their fears and promised that he would return to +assist in welcoming them home from the city, if they should be returning +when Mary's education was completed. + +How often Ree had cause to remember these promises so light-heartedly +made, and the comforts he was leaving behind, within a few short +months--when days of danger and sleepless nights of peril came! + +There was so much to be done that time passed quickly. The Sunday +preceding the Monday morning on which they were to start, Ree and John +went to church together, and heard the good old preacher make special +reference to them in his prayer--that God would guide and protect the +young wayfarers and that they would not forget His mercy and wisdom. +Every eye in the church was turned toward the boys, embarrassing them +more than a little and making them wish they were safely started and well +away from their excellent but altogether too curious friends. + +Ree went home to dinner with John, and on his way to the Catesby farm in +the evening he went across the fields to the quiet church-yard. Under the +clear, cold stars he sat beside a grassy mound and for an hour was quiet +as the grave itself. Many tender memories crept through his heart and in +his thoughts was an unspoken prayer. Thus he took leave of the spot to +him most sacred--his angel mother's grave. + +To his surprise Ree found Mrs. Catesby and Mary waiting for him in the +combined sitting-room and kitchen, when he entered the house. + +"As you will be leaving so very early, sir, we thought to say good-bye to +you to-night," said Mary with feigned solemnity. And a little later she +said as they were talking, "I do hope you will be as good as your name +and will bring your scalp safely home with you when you do 'return'." + +Ree laughed and promised he would do so, but he blushed, and seeing +which, Mary Catesby did the same, and looked her very prettiest. + +"We shall think of you often, Return, and maybe you will be able +sometimes to send us a letter. We shall be glad to hear from you, and oh, +my boy, be careful--careful in all things," Mrs. Catesby said. + +There were more teasing words from Mary, and more advice and real tears, +from Mrs. Catesby and her daughter, too, before the final good-byes were +said at last. + + * * * * * + +The late September sun spread a soft, warm haze over old Connecticut. A +great, two-wheeled, canvas-covered cart lumbered slowly along the country +road. Walking beside the one large horse which drew the vehicle, was +Return Kingdom, his battered beaver hat on the back of his head, a smile +of buoyant hope upon his lips. Sitting on a chest, his feet hanging over +the front of the wagon box, his back against a bundle of blankets which +made a fine cushion, was John Jerome. Joy in living and satisfaction with +himself and all mankind were written in every line of his face. It was +eight o'clock of a Monday morning. Two hours earlier the long journey +toward the unknown Northwest had begun. + +"Why, ye'r in a terrible hurry, youngsters! Thought I'd never ketch ye!" + +It was Captain Bowen who called out, driving his spirited team alongside +of the emigrant wagon as he did so. + +"After ye'd gone, it come to me all of a sudden that ye'd stand a chance +of meetin' an old friend of mine. He is an Iroquois Injun of the Mohawk +tribe an' his name is High Horse. General Putnam gave him this knife fer +doin' some thin' or other one time, an' High Horse gave it to me 'cause I +shared powder an' bullets with him when he was out, an' durin' the war at +that. Seems t' me naow, tew, that I pulled him through some sick spell or +somethin'. Any haow he give me the knife. If ye see him tell him ye know +me. I heerd that he was livin' up some crick emptyin' into the Ohio." + +Almost before the boys could thank the Captain he had turned and was +gone, having thrown a long-bladed knife with a curiously carved ivory +handle--a relic of some Dutch trader perhaps--to Ree. + +"I say! Maybe ye didn't hear as haow Jim Huson was able to git about +t'day! Ye'll be hungry enough fer news I was thinkin', before ye air back +agin!" + +John waved his old cap and Ree shouted their thanks again, but if Captain +Bowen heard he gave no heed; at least he did not look back. + +At noon a halt was made at the roadside, close to a running brook, while +the horse was fed and watered and the boys ate their lunch. They would +not have exchanged places with a prince, now that they felt themselves +fairly launched upon their long-talked-of enterprise. Their hopes were +unblemished by any unhappy circumstance and the fine weather was as a +tonic to their already lively spirits. They carefully examined their +goods and wagon to see that all was in proper order before starting on, +resolving to be attentive to every detail and let no mishap come to them +through carelessness. On the road, too, they exercised care, remembering +that a steady gait and not too fast, was necessary. And so the first day +of their journey was passed most pleasantly. + +For the novelty of it the boys camped out the first night, beneath a +clump of beech trees, and no two young men ever more fully enjoyed a +campfire's cheerful blaze. + +Another and another day passed. It was in the afternoon of the fourth day +of the journey that John stopped whistling "Yankee Doodle" to inquire of +his companion who was taking his turn riding on the box: + +"Ree, do you know much about this Eagle tavern where we are to stop +to-night? I just happened to remember a story that was told in war time, +that the house was haunted." + +"Haunted by Redcoat spies, I guess," Ree answered. "The whole kit of them +there at that time were the worst kind of Tories at heart, I have heard +folks say, and Captain Bowen said something about it, too, you remember? +But I guess they are all right now--got on the right side of the fence +after the war was over." + +"I don't mind Indians or wild animals--fact is, I'm just hankering to +kill a bear, but I don't want anything to do with spooks or witches or +anything of that sort," returned John. "I'll keep my eyes wide open for +ghosts and robbers if we stay at the Eagle, at any rate." + +"There is probably more reason to be afraid of bed-bugs," laughed Ree. "I +don't believe the Eagle is so very bad a place or Captain Bowen would not +have marked it as a stopping place. There was a man robbed and murdered +there, it is true; but that was years ago, and needn't worry us." + +So with talk of their journey and the progress they hoped to make in view +of the necessity of reaching the wilderness before winter set in +severely, the lads whiled away the time. It was nearly sundown when, +passing through a woods which skirted both sides of the road, they found +the Eagle tavern in view. + +"See any spooks about?" asked Ree with a smile. + +"No," said John quite seriously, "but I did see a mighty wicked looking +man peeking out of the window of the barn across the road from the tavern +there, just now. He seemed to be wanting to find out who we were and what +sort of an outfit we had, without being seen by us. Without joking, Ree, +I tell you I don't like it!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +The Man Under the Bed. + + +The Eagle tavern was a long, low structure and stood close beside the +highway, on the opposite side of which was the weather-beaten log and +frame barn to which John had referred. Near the tavern was a well and an +old-fashioned sweep towering above it. At the roadside there was a +moss-covered log trough at which horses were watered. An air of +loneliness, such as is noticed about old, deserted houses, whose +door-yards have grown up to rank weeds and briars, hung over the tavern, +and the deep shadows cast by the setting sun heightened this effect. +Little wonder is it that a feeling of depression came over the young +travelers as they approached. + +No other houses were near the tavern and guests were evidently few. The +road which passed it was not a main thoroughfare, and no stage-coach made +the Eagle a regular stopping-place. It may have been a handsome; +much-frequented place at one time, but those days had long since +departed. + +Up to the watering-trough Ree drove, however, and unreined the horse, +that it might drink. + +"It does look kind of creepy around here," he remarked in an undertone; +"but put on a bold front, John, we are going to stay, just to prove to +ourselves that we are not afraid." + +"I would a great deal rather camp out," John frankly confessed, "but you +are the captain, Ree. I can stand it if you can." + +A skulking fellow of about thirty years, none the handsomer for having +lost nearly all his front teeth, came to help put up their horse when the +boys had made their wants known inside the tavern. No unusual thing +occurred, however, and the young travelers had shaken off the gloomy +feelings which the lonely place inspired by the time their supper was +ready. As they were by themselves at the table, a man whom Ree had not +seen before approached and took a chair nearby, tilting back against the +wall and calmly surveying them. + +John kicked Ree's shins under the table. It was not, perhaps, a polite +way of imparting the information that this was the fellow he had seen +peering out of the barn, but Ree understood perfectly. + +Having eyed the boys for a minute or two, the stranger said, in a gruff, +indifferent tone: + +"Good evenin'." + +"Good evening, sir," spoke Ree, and John's voice repeated the words like +an echo. + +"Traveled far?" growled the stranger. + +"Far enough for one day," Ree answered, little inclined to engage in +conversation with the man, for the fellow's appearance was far from +favorable. The sneaking glance of his eyes, his unshaved face and uncouth +dress, half civilized, half barbarian, gave him an air of lawlessness, +though except for these things he might have been considered handsome. + +For a minute the stranger did not speak, and John suppressed a laugh as +he saw with what cool unconcern Ree returned the fellow's stare whenever +he looked at them. + +"Don't show off your smartness, bub," sharply spoke the man at last, as +he fully comprehended that Ree had purposely given him an evasive answer, +"I asked a civil enough question." + +"And got a civil answer," Ree quickly replied. + +"I see you are emigrating," the stranger went on, trying to make his +coarse voice sound friendly. "I just had in mind puttin' a flea in your +ear. Because it is the wrong time of year to be goin' west, in the first +place, and the woods are full of Indians and the roads alive with +cutthroats, in the second place. If I was you young shavers I'd sell out +and wait a year or two, or till next spring anyhow, before goin' any +further. I s'pose you have a lot of goods in your cart; goin' to do some +tradin' with the Mingoes, maybe." + +John pricked up his ears at this reference to the nature of their cart's +contents, but waited for Ree to speak. This the latter did at once, +respectfully but firmly. + +"We are much obliged for your advice and the interest you take in us, but +we expect to be able to take care of ourselves both on the road and in +the woods. Aren't you the man we saw in the barn as we were coming up?" + +The question was an experimental thrust. Ree wished to learn whether the +fellow would give a reason for having spied upon them. The man looked at +him searchingly before replying. + +"I never clapped eyes on you till you come into this room," he coolly +said, however. "What do you take me for? I was only goin' to tell you +that I know a man that will buy your outfit if you want to sell!" + +"Which we do not," said Ree with moderate emphasis. + +"You would find a little ready money mighty handy; I don't s'pose you +have any too much," the stranger replied with assumed carelessness. + +"Say; tell us what you are trying to get at, will you!" John spoke up, +with a show of spirit. + +"Hold your horses, sonny!" the fellow growled. "You are almost too big +for your breeches!" + +"Well what do you take us for! Maybe you have some more questions to +ask!" John exclaimed, and Ree smiled to see how heated he had become. + +The stranger relapsed into silence, and presently arose and strolled +away. + +Having finished their supper, the boys went into the general sitting-room +of the tavern, a long room in one end of which there was a bar, and sat +down by themselves to talk. As their conversation flagged, Ree drew from +his belt beneath his coat, the ivory handled knife Captain Bowen had been +at such pains to give them. In an idle, listless way he began stropping +the blade on his boot-leg. + +A tall, lank man of fifty, with a thin, sharp face and nose, whom the +lads had noticed sitting opposite them, reading a pamphlet of some kind, +came nearer and seemed to take an unusual interest in the sharpening of +the knife. His keen eyes watched every movement the blade made. Coming +close up, he quietly said: + +"If that ar ain't Cap. Bowen's knife over to Bruceville, he hes the mate +to it! His'n is the only knife I ever see with a handle like that." + +"Do you know Captain Bowen?" asked Ree, and as the man said he did, and +told them who he was, both lads held out their hands which the newcomer +shook cordially. It was like meeting someone from home; for the lanky +individual was a peddler who had often visited at Captain Bowen's house +and knew many of their friends. + +As they talked further the peddler said, sinking his voice to an +undertone, "I want yeow youngsters to hev some advice; it won't cost ye +nothin', an' it may save ye a heap of trouble. There's a bad 'un stayin' +at this old tavern, an' he's likely to want yeow boys to pay fer his rum. +Naow, he won't ask ye fer money, but be all-fired keerful that he don't +git it from ye anyhow. Jes sleep with one eye open, an' hev a hick'ry +club handy t' yer bed." + +Ree told the peddler of their conversation with the stranger at the +table, and as he described the fellow, their new friend said: + +"He ar the one, an' him an' the hos'ler here are bad 'uns." + +As the hour grew late Ree and John went to the barn to see that their +cart and horse had been properly cared for, and returning, went +immediately to bed. For half an hour they lay awake talking of their +journey. Their money was between them in the big four-poster and each had +a pistol within reach. At last they said "Good night" to one another, and +settling themselves in comfortable positions, composed themselves to +sleep. + +All had grown quiet about the old tavern. The ticking of the big clock +down stairs, and the baying of a hound off in the woods somewhere, were +the only sounds which reached the ears of the young emigrants. And thus +they forgot their travels and where they were, and the danger which +hovered near. + +It was sometime after midnight when Ree was suddenly awakened. He had +heard no sound, nor could he tell what had disturbed his slumber; but he +had instantly found himself, eyes wide open, every sense alert. Without +the slightest noise or movement he lay listening. A minute later he felt +for just an instant the touch of something cold against his skin. + +"A snake," was his first thought, and a little thrill of horror crossed +him as the idea of a reptile being in their bed, flashed over his brain. +Again he felt the touch, cold and clammy against his side; and, intending +to grab the serpent, if such it was, and hurl it from the bed, with a +quick movement of his arm he made a desperate grab. He caught and for but +an instant held a human hand, large and coarse. + +"John!" Ree spoke the name with startled emphasis, and its owner rose up +in bed like a flash. + +"What? What is it?" + +"There is some one in this room! He has been reaching into the bed, +trying to rob us." + +As he spoke Ree sprang out upon the floor. "And here's the window open! +That shows where he came in. Get your pistol and be ready to fire if he +tries to jump out. I am going to skirmish for the rascal!" + +Faint rays of moonlight made the room not entirely dark, but Ree could +see no sign of the intruder as he stepped softly to the middle of the +floor. It was a useless action; for, as he was between the three dark +walls and the window in the outer wall, the robber could easily see him +without being seen himself. It was a fault of Return Kingdom's that he +did not properly consider his own safety, and the wonder is that he did +not in this instance become the target for a bullet. + +"I'd better yell for help," suggested John. + +"You'd better not!" said Ree emphatically, peering into the dark corners. +"I cannot be mistaken, but if I should be--well we don't care to be +laughed at." + +Not a sound was heard as both boys remained perfectly quiet. Then on +tip-toe Ree went to all the corners of the room, his left hand +outstretched before him while his right held a pistol ready for instant +use. + +"John, did you sneeze?" he demanded as a smothered "kerchoo" came from +the direction of his friend. + +"He's under the bed, Ree! He's under the bed! Call help!" This was John's +answer and his tone was sharp with excitement. + +In a trice Ree was at the foot of the bed and looking beneath it. A dark +object there moved slightly. + +"Come out of that!" Ree sternly demanded, and the click of his pistol as +he cocked the weapon sounded loud and clear. At the same moment the +object beneath the four-poster began to crawl and soon coming forth, +stood erect--the stranger the boys had met at supper. + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" ejaculated Ree with an inflection of contempt in +his voice; but the next instant the intruder's hands were about his +throat. + +"Help! Help!" yelled John Jerome. + +Finding the young man he had seized, a much harder problem than he was +prepared to handle, and frightened by John's cries, the stranger gave Ree +a shove and sprang toward the window. + +"Help! Robbers!" yelled John again, and now the stranger had one leg out +of the window. But he got no further. Ree seized him about the body; the +robber seized him in turn, and his foot striking the ladder by which he +had climbed up, it went tumbling to the ground. With a frightful oath the +fellow endeavored to throw Ree after it. For a second they both balanced +on the window sill at the very verge of falling. Then John seized the +robber's hair, and dealt him a blow with the butt of his pistol. He +raised the weapon to strike again, but Ree had now secured his release +from the villain's grasp and fired at him just as the fellow plunged to +the ground, leaving a bunch of his black hair quivering in John's hand. + +The bullet took effect, for the boys found blood on the ground beneath +the window next morning; but the robber dashed around a corner out of +range at such speed that there was no opportunity to fire a second time. + +A pounding on the door told the youthful travelers that the house had +been aroused, and they lost no time in admitting the landlord, +accompanied by the greatly excited peddler. + +"What's all the row about?" demanded the tavern-keeper, holding a lighted +candle over his shoulder. + +"I want to investigate before I say what it is _all_ about," Ree +answered, emphasizing the "all." + +"A pretty sort of a place, this is!" put in John indignantly. "We might +have been murdered in our beds!" + +"How can I help it, boy? Just you keep your breeches on!" + +"I'll have to put them on first," John ejaculated, and forthwith +proceeded to do so. + +Ree took the landlord's candle and turned back the bed clothing. He found +the leather wallet containing their money, undisturbed, but as he picked +it up, he noticed a hole in the sheets and tick of the bed. + +"Look, here," he exclaimed, "here is where the row you complain of, +began. The man who has just gone out of the window, evidently crawled +under the bed and having cut a hole through the tick, reached for our +wallet. His cold hand on my bare skin waked me up. The question is, how +did he know where the money was?" + +"The skunk!" exclaimed the peddler, eyeing the tavern-keeper sharply. + +"How should I know anything about it?" the landlord hotly responded. "I +ain't responsible for there being robbers about, am I?" + +Ree had joined John in the task of dressing, while the proprietor of the +establishment sat on the bed, the least concerned of any, over what had +taken place. + +"Haow should yeow know anythin' about it?" cried the peddler suddenly +turning toward the man. "Why, yeow ain't even asked who the thief was! +Yeow wouldn't 'a come up stairs if I hadn't 'most dragged ye! It looks +consarned strange, that's what I say! An' yeow settin' there like a +stick, sayin', 'Haow kin I help it!'" + +The landlord winced and squirmed, and was glad enough to hurry down +stairs when Ree said authoritatively: "Now let's have no further talk +about this matter, but get our breakfasts at once, if you please. It will +soon be daylight." + +"Ree Kingdom, you make me mad!" cried John Jerome, as the landlord +disappeared. "Why didn't you let me crack that old villain on the head? +If I didn't know that you are the only one here who has kept cool, I'd be +mad in earnest. If any of our goods have been disturbed, I'll show the +old Tory!" + +Ree smiled at his friend's blustering tone, but the peddler slapped him +on the back and told him he was a "reg-lar man-o'-war with flags +a-flyin'." + +The gray glimmer of dawn was in sight as the boys crossed the road to the +barn and by the light of the tallow candle in the old-time lantern, +inspected their cart and horse. All was secure. Recognizing his young +masters by the fine instinct some animals have, Jerry, their horse, +whinnied loudly, as though saying he was all right but ready to move as +soon as convenient. Hay and grain were given the faithful animal, and the +boys went in to their own breakfast. + +The meal of potatoes and bacon was soon disposed of, the peddler sitting +at the table with them. He was going in their direction for a mile or two +and would accompany the lads, he said. + +"We'll be glad to have you," Ree answered. + +"Whatever Ree Kingdom says, I say--only he always gets the words out +first," said John. "I am like the old trapper who came hurrying up to +General Washington saying he could lick all the Redcoats on earth with +one hand tied behind his back. But the war was all over then, though he +did not know it, and so he didn't get a chance to try. He meant well, you +see, but was a little behind hand." + +"That's a pert yarn," smiled the peddler, "an' there ain't nobody gladder +than I be tew see yeow so chipper; but I swan, lads, I only hope ye'll be +as jolly as ye be naow, come six months--I only hope ye will be!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A Mysterious Shot in the Darkness. + + +"I am going to keep my eyes open for that cut-throat that was under the +bed. There's no telling what he might not do," said John with quiet +determination, to Ree, when the peddler had left them and they were +fairly under way for the journey of another day. + +"I have thought of that," Ree answered, "and you see I have put the +rifles where they will be handy. There is no use of carrying them, I +guess, but the time is coming when they must always be within reach." + +The peddler had accompanied the boys to a cross-roads a couple of miles +from the Eagle tavern, enlivening them with many odd tales of his +experiences. Now they were alone again, and as the country through which +they passed became rougher and wilder, the lads realized more fully than +ever that theirs was a serious undertaking. + +Yet they were happy. The trees were putting on bright colors; the air was +fragrant with the odor of autumn vegetation. The water in every stream +they crossed was fresh and clear, and fall rains had made green the +woodland clearings. Quail called musically from time to time, and once +the "Kee-kee-keow-kee-kee" of a wild turkey was heard. + +At noon, beside a dashing brook which tumbled itself over a stony bed as +though in glee with its own noisiness, the travelers halted. They +unhitched Jerry that he might graze, and kindled a fire to boil some +eggs. These with brown bread, a generous supply of which Mrs. Catesby had +given them, and ginger cake which Mary Catesby had announced she had made +with her own hands, made a meal which anyone might have relished. To the +boys, their appetites sharpened by the fine air, every morsel they put +between their lips seemed delicious. + +"We won't long have such fare," they reminded one another. + +"We will have venison three times a day though," said John. + +"Yes, we will have so much meat we will be good and tired of it; because +we must be saving of our meal this winter, and until our own corn grows," +Ree answered thoughtfully. + +"Well, don't be so melancholy about it, Old Sobersides," cried John. +"Why, for my part, I could just yell for the joy of it when I think how +snug we will be in our cabin this winter! And what a fine time we are +going to have choosing a location and building our log house!" + +"That, as I have so often said," Ree answered, "is the one thing about +our whole venture that I do not like. We will be 'squatters.' We won't +own the land we settle upon except that we shall have bought it of the +Indians; and that is a deed which the government will not recognize. But +we will have to take our chances of making our title good when the time +comes, though we may have to pay a second time to the men or company, or +whoever secures from the government the territory where we shall be. Or +we might settle near enough to General Putnam's colony to be able to buy +land of them. We must wait and see what is best to do." + +"Ree," said John, earnestly, "I know you are right; you always are. But I +don't like to think of those things--only of the hunting and trapping and +fixing up our place, and eating wild turkey and other good things before +our big fire-place in winter--and all that. You see we will have to sort +of balance each other. You furnish the brains, and I'll do the work." + +"Oh that sounds grand, but--" Ree laughed and left the sentence +unfinished. + +When, by the sun, their only time-piece, the boys judged they had been an +hour and a half in camp, they resumed their journey. They had secured so +early a start that morning, that they had no doubt they would reach the +Three Corners, the next stopping-place designated on Captain Bowen's map, +before night; and indeed it lacked a half hour of sundown when they drove +up to the homely but pleasant tavern at that point. It was so different a +place from the Eagle tavern that the boys had no fear when they went to +bed, that the unpleasant experience of the night before would be +repeated. + +Several days followed unmarked by any special incident, except that the +lads were delayed and a part of their goods badly shaken up by their cart +upsetting into a little gully. Fortunately, however, little damage was +done. + +At the end of two weeks so thinly settled a country had been reached that +nearly every night was spent in camp. Yet these were not disagreeable nor +was there much danger. Only one man who answered the general description +of a "cut-throat" had been seen, and he seemed inclined to make little +trouble. He rode out on a jet black horse from a barn, near which a house +had at one time stood, its site still marked by charred logs and a +chimney. Perhaps it had been burned in the war-time; at any rate the +place had a forsaken, disagreeable appearance, and the rough-looking +stranger emerging suddenly from the barn, put the young emigrants on +their guard at once. + +For two hours the man rode in company with the boys, and finding out who +they were, proposed to spend the night with them. Ree would have +permitted it, but by his actions John so plainly gave the fellow to +understand what he thought of him, that the stranger at last rode back in +the direction he had come, cursing John for the opinions which the latter +had expressed. The boys slept with "one eye open" that night. + +Daily the road became worse and worse. For great distances it was +bordered on both sides by forests and the country was rough and broken. +There were wild animals and, undoubtedly, Indians not far away, but the +settlements were yet too near for the young travelers to have much fear. +So when their camp fire had burned low in the evening, they piled on +large sticks of wood, put their feet to the blaze, and, wrapped in their +blankets, slept splendidly. One night when it rained--and the water came +down in torrents--they made their bed inside the cart; but if the weather +was pleasant they preferred to be beside the glowing coals. + +An adventure which had an important bearing on the future, befell the +boys early in the fourth week of their travels. They had resolved to be +saving of their ammunition, and wasted no powder in killing game for +which they had no use, though they twice saw wild turkeys and once a +bear, as they left civilization farther and farther behind. But when +provisions from home began to run low, it happened, as so often it does, +that when they felt the need of game to replenish their larder they +chanced upon scarcely any. + +"One of us must go through the woods, keeping in line with the road, and +shoot something or other this afternoon," said Ree, at dinner one day. +"The other will not be far away when he returns to the road again." + +"Which?" John smiled. + +"I don't care. You go this time and I will try my luck another day," Ree +answered. "Get a couple of turkeys, if you can, old boy; or, if you can +get a deer, the weather is cool and the meat will keep." + +So John set off, planning to work his way into the woods gradually and +then follow the general direction of the road and come out upon it +sometime before sun-set. He waved his hand to Ree, a smile on his happy +freckled face as he disappeared amid the timber. + +Slowly old Jerry plodded on; slowly the miles slipped to the rear; slowly +the time passed. Ree thought of many things during the afternoon and +planned how he and John should spend the winter hunting and trapping and +secure, he hoped, a large quantity of furs. Two chests they had were +filled with goods for trade with the Indians, also, and they would +receive skins in return. These would add greatly to the store they +themselves accumulated, and they should realize a considerable sum when +they came to market them. Ree hoped so. It was no part of his plan to go +into the forest fastnesses merely to hunt and trap and lead a rough life. +No, indeed! He wished to make a home, to grow up with the country and "be +somebody." + +Lower and lower the sun sank behind the darkness of the trees which +seemed to rise skyward in the western horizon, and as the early October +twilight approached, Ree began to watch for John's coming. He had +listened from time to time but had heard no gun discharged, and he +laughed to himself as he thought what John's chagrin would be if he were +obliged to come into camp empty-handed. And when Old Sol, slipped out of +sight and his chum had not appeared, he inwardly commented: "You went +farther into the woods than was good for you, my boy! I suspect I have +already left you a good ways behind." + +So he drove to a little knoll beneath an old oak, and unhitched. He +kindled a fire, then busied himself straightening up some of the boxes +and bundles which had slipped from position during the day, often +stopping to look back along the trail in hope of seeing John; and when +the darkness had become so dense he could see but a few rods from the +camp-fire and still his chum was missing, alarm invaded Ree's thoughts. +He could not imagine what detained the boy. But he toasted some bread and +broiled some bacon for his supper. + +A sense of loneliness over his solitary meal added to Ree's anxiety, +because of John's non-appearance, and presently he walked back along the +road a considerable distance, whistling the call they had adopted years +before. The darkness gave every object an unnatural, lifelike look; +bushes and tree trunks assumed fantastic shapes. No human habitation was +within miles of the spot, and as the echoes of the whistling died away +and no answer came, Ree was almost frightened. Not for himself but on +John's account was he conscious of a gloomy foreboding in all his +thoughts. What should he do if the boy had fallen a victim of some bear, +perhaps, or lawless men. + +Slowly he retraced his steps to the campfire's light. Weighing the whole +question carefully, however, as to whether he had not better go in search +of his friend, he decided he could do no wiser thing than to remain where +he was until daylight; then if John had not arrived, he would set out to +find him. + +Piling more wood on the fire that the light might help to guide John to +camp, the lonely boy wrapped a blanket about his shoulders and sat down, +resolved to remain awake to watch and listen. He heard only the soughing +wind and old Jerry nibbling the short grass nearby, and the hooting of an +owl in the forest gloom. Thus an hour passed, and then suddenly a sound +of soft footsteps broke upon the boy's ear. Was it John slipping up +stealthily to try to scare him? Ree thought it was, but in another +instant he detected the foot-falls of more than one person, and sprang to +his feet. + +"How!" The word was spoken in a deep guttural tone almost before Ree had +time to face about. At the same moment he saw two Indians stalking toward +him. + +"Howdy!" Ree promptly answered, though filled with misgiving; for at a +glance he saw that the savages were fully armed. One was of middle age, +tall and stately as a king. The other was much younger. As they came +within reach Ree held out his hand, but the Indian either did not see or +refused to accept the proffered greeting. + +Nevertheless Ree spread a blanket near the fire and asked the savages to +sit down. They made no reply. The older of them looked at him intently +and gazed around in evident surprise to see the lad alone. The younger +stepped around the fire and looked inquiringly into the cart. + +"I am just a trader," said Ree, with an open frankness in his tones which +even a savage must have appreciated. "There are two of us, but my partner +went hunting and has not yet come back. Sit down, brothers; I have no +fresh meat to offer you, but my friend will soon return with some, I +hope." + +The elder Indian seated himself saying: "White men steal, Indians no +steal." + +"There are good Indians and good white men," answered Ree, but he was +keeping an eye on the younger savage, who seemed to have found something +in the cart which interested him, for he slyly put his hand inside. + +"Oh, do be seated!" Ree exclaimed as he noticed this. There was irony in +his voice which made the older Indian shrug his shoulders, but the young +white man led the Indian brave, a chap but little older than himself, +away from the cart. With some force he drew the buck to a blanket and +motioned to him to sit down. + +Appearing to give the matter no further thought, Ree placed bacon before +the Indians saying simply "Eat." They drew out their knives and cut and +broiled each a slice of the meat. This they ate, and it was rather +remarkable that they did so, for Ree well knew that the Redskins had no +relish for food which had been freely salted. He therefore judged their +eating to be a sign of friendliness, and seated himself quietly by the +fire. + +"White man go far--goes to Ohio? Yes--long way--far--far. Snow comes; +hurry fast," said the older Indian. + +"Yes," said Ree, guessing at the speaker's meaning. "We have a long way +to go, and must be in our cabin before deep snow comes." + +"Delaware country--much game," the Indian was saying, Ree having told him +whither they were bound, when suddenly a rifle cracked behind them and a +bullet whistled past Ree's ear. The young Indian at the opposite side of +the fire, gasped and fell backward. + +Seizing his rifle, Ree instantly sprang away from the firelight. The +elder redskin did likewise and just as quickly. + +Who could have fired the shot? Ree trembled with dread that it had been +John. All was quiet save for the night wind rustling the leaves and +branches overhead. There came no sound to indicate whose hand had sped +the bullet from out of the forest gloom. + +A minute passed. It seemed like ten, to Return Kingdom, and, forgetting +prudence, he stepped from behind the cart's protection, full into the +campfire's ruddy glow, making of himself an easy target. He bent over the +wounded Indian and found the blood flowing from a wound in the young +brave's neck. Quickly he tied his handkerchief about the injury, then +bathed the fellow's forehead and temples with water from the bucket he +had filled at supper time. The older Indian crept up to watch this +operation, but did not come fully within the lighted circle. + +"Who fired that shot, my friend?" Ree asked, very earnestly. + +"White men steal," the Indian answered, and shook his head. + +It was evident then that the savage suspected some white person of having +made this attack with intent to commit robbery. Ree hoped this was the +truth of the matter but there was a terrible suspicion growing in his +mind that his own friend and partner, through some awful mistake, had +fired upon the Indian. He drew the wounded man to the rear of the cart +and placed him on a blanket beyond the campfire's light. The other savage +made no move to help him, but crouched in the darkness intently +listening, watching. + +Of a sudden the Indian's rifle flew like a flash to his shoulder. At the +same instant Ree heard John Jerome's familiar whistle, and springing +forward, seized the red man's weapon in time to prevent the speeding of a +leaden messenger of death to his friend's heart. He answered John's call +as he did this, praying and hoping that it could not--must not, have been +his friend who had fired the shot which would probably end the younger +Indian's life. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +On Lonely Mountain Roads. + + +"What's happened, Ree?" + +The tone in which John asked the question, satisfied Kingdom that his +friend knew nothing of the shooting. Better than this, however, it +satisfied the Indian who knelt silently nearby, still listening, that the +boy he had so nearly shot, knew nothing of the person who had fired from +the darkness. + +Quietly, but in tones the Indian could hear, Ree related what he knew of +the mysterious occurrence. + +"Who could it have been, Chief!" John asked, turning to the Redskin and +addressing him with the easy familiarity he used toward every one. + +The Indian shook his head. "Paleface," he grunted at last; "no tried to +kill Indian; tried to kill white brother there. Black Eagle thinks long +and knows how bullet flew. Man-that-shoots-from-the-dark wishes much to +steal." + +Black Eagle's theory was far from satisfying Ree, but the Indian's manner +persuaded the boy that the redskin at least knew nothing of the attack +himself. Yet both boys knew the necessity of keeping a sharp eye turned +in all directions. They could not tell positively as yet whether the +Indians were friends or foes, nor at what moment an attack might be made +by a hidden enemy. + +"What kept you, John? I was worried," Ree said in an undertone, yet +taking care that Black Eagle should hear, lest the savage should suspect +him of plotting. But before John could answer, the red man, bending low, +darted away in the darkness. + +"What's the old chap up to?" asked John, startled by the Indian's sudden +movement. + +"I think he is only scouting around to see what he can discover; but keep +your eyes and ears open, it has been mighty ticklish around here +to-night." + +As they watched and listened, John told of his afternoon's experience. He +had gone a long way into the woods without seeing any such game as he +wished, and had about decided to content himself with some squirrels, and +return to the road, when he came upon a deer-lick--a pool of salt or +brackish water, in a flat, level place, to which deer and other animals +came to drink, or to lick the earth at the water's edge to satisfy the +craving which all animals have for salt. As it was then nearly sundown he +determined to hide nearby, confident he would get a shot at a deer as +soon as darkness came. Concealing himself in some brush at the north side +of the lick, the wind being from the south, he waited. + +Scarcely had the sun set when a fine young doe approached the brackish +pool. One shot from his rifle brought the pretty animal down, and in a +few more minutes he had secured the skin and best portions of the meat. +Slinging these over his shoulder, he set out to find the road and Ree's +camp-fire. But he had been careless in keeping his bearings, and walked a +long way in the wrong direction. When he did find the road at last, he +knew not which way to go to find the camp. He secured a light, however, +by flashing powder in his gun, and thus found the tracks of old Jerry and +the cart. He then knew which way to go, but traveled a couple of miles +before coming within sight of the camp-fire. + +He heard a rifle shot but paid little attention to it, and saw nothing of +any prowler, though he came up in the direction from which the mysterious +attack was made. When Ree called to him, he had dropped the venison and +it still lay at the roadside a hundred yards from camp. + +"We must have an understanding with one another that when either of us +leaves camp, he shall return at a given time unless something happens to +prevent it," said Ree; "then the other will know that something has +happened and can act accordingly. I was probably not more than a mile +away when you found that deer-lick. If you had let me know, it would have +saved a lot of worry on my part. Why, I was just on the point of going in +search of you. And as it was, old boy, you whistled just in time. That +Indian heard you coming before I did, and a little more--" + +"And he would have sent me to Kingdom come," said John, finishing the +sentence, very soberly. "Your watchfulness saved me, and I can't--" + +"You better get your venison into camp," Ree whispered, interrupting +John's thanks, "I'll crawl over and see how that young Indian's getting +along--poor chap." + +The wounded Redskin was conscious as Ree bent over him. + +"Don't speak if it will hurt you, but if you can, tell me who fired that +shot at you," Ree urged. + +"Black Eagle come soon," was the buck's only answer; and indeed it was +but a few minutes until the other Indian returned. Ree met him and +inquired calmly. "What luck, Black Eagle?" + +"Gone. Paleface robber gone." + +"Who was it? Where has he gone?" + +"Gone," the savage repeated. + +"Turn in and get some sleep, John; Black Eagle and I will watch a while," +said Ree. + +"Gone," growled the Indian with gruff dignity; and wrapped himself in a +blanket and was soon asleep. + +John likewise lay down, but Ree, resolving to exercise every care, +remained awake through the whole night. Twice John awoke and wanted to +take a turn at guard duty but each time he was told to go back and "Cover +up his head." Reluctantly he did so. He felt that he would do anything in +his power for Ree Kingdom, but he was far from guessing what Fate had in +store for him to do in his friend's behalf before they should see +Connecticut again. + +With the first light of morning Ree went reconnoitering hoping to find +the trail of the young Indian's mysterious assailant. Scarcely had he +started when Black Eagle joined him, and in the road three hundred paces +from the camp they came upon the trail together. A single man had +approached the camp on foot--a white man it was certain, for he wore +boots--and from behind a thick thorn bush had fired the shot. Then the +trail led back along the road, but soon disappeared in the woods. + +"If North Wind die, scalp will hang here," said Black Eagle, pointing to +his belt. "Black Eagle follows trail long--even many moons, but he will +get the paleface scalp." + +What to do Ree did not quite know. He disliked to lose time in helping +the Indian to find the man who had shot his son, yet disliked to leave +the wounded North Wind without doing something for him. + +"White brothers go far; go now," said Black Eagle as they returned to the +camp. "Go long way off and never mind. North Wind stays with Black +Eagle," the Indian added. + +Ree made no objection to this arrangement. Reaching camp they found that +John had some venison steaks ready. The young Indian arose and greeted +Ree by silently shaking his hand. It was plain to be seen that he was +suffering greatly, but he said nothing and when the breakfast was ready +he tried to eat. + +Thankful that the night of watching was past, Ree and John prepared to +pursue their journey. They watered Jerry at the little brook hard by and +hitched him to the cart. When they were ready, Ree took a knife from +their stock of goods and gave it to Black Eagle, who with North Wind +stood looking on, saying: + +"Maybe we will never meet again, but here is a present which we wish you +to keep. We do not know the enemy who fired upon us, but we were in +danger together and whether it was your foe or ours, who attacked us, we +would have fought together. Good-bye." + +"We journey to the fires of the Mohawks," Black Eagle answered. "North +Wind now goes forward but Black Eagle, his father, follows the trail of +snake which shoots from the dark." + +As he spoke the Indian turned and strode away. North Wind followed, Ree's +handkerchief still about his neck. He was really too sick to travel, but +it is a severe wound, indeed, which makes an Indian unable to move when +necessity demands it. + +For a moment the young travelers looked after the red men; then a word to +their horse and they were once more upon their way. + +It was a glorious morning. Particles of frost glistened on the leaves and +grass and in the road; a light wind set the trees and brushes rustling, a +rabbit went bouncing across the path, and still neither boy spoke as they +tramped along beside the cart, Ree in advance, driving. + +"Who fired that shot?" John asked at last, as though speaking to +himself. + +"May as well ask old Jerry, or the wind," Ree answered. "The same +question has been on my mind so long I am trying to think of something +else." + +"But I can't help wondering," John persisted, "if it could have been the +lone horseman we saw the other day. Could it have been Big Pete Ellis, +trying to kill you, Ree? I have been expecting to meet that fellow." + +"We must keep our eyes about us," was the only reply. + +Several days passed and the mystery of the shot from the darkness was +still unsolved. The boys had now reached the mountainous country and the +nights were often cold. The days, too, gave promise of winter's coming, +and had it not been that they were hopeful of Indian summer weather in +November the young travelers would have been discouraged. Their progress +had not been so rapid as they had planned. The roads were too bad to +permit fast traveling. In many places they were little better than paths +through the woods, and though there were stretches of smoother going, +occasionally, there were other spots in which fallen trees or other +obstructions blocked the way. + +Old Jerry stood the strain of the journey well, and that was certainly a +consolation; for some of their friends back in Connecticut had told the +boys they had better stay at home, than attempt to make the trip with +only one horse. Often, too, it was the case that the lads drove far out +of their course to pass around great obstacles, and they eventually found +that they had gone miles out of their true course. Many were the +hardships they encountered, and one adventure which they had must be +related here. + +For days at a time no human being was met on those lonely mountain trails +and it was this fact which gave rise to much uneasiness when John one +day, for just a moment caught sight of a rough-appearing fellow in their +rear. He had gone back along the road to search for a bolt which was lost +from the cart box, when he chanced to look up and saw the strange fellow +a quarter of a mile away, coming toward him. The man raised his rifle and +sprang in among some trees as he caught sight of John, his movement being +so quick that the boy did not get a good look at him, and neither in +going on beyond the spot where the fellow had been, nor in returning +after he had found the lost bolt, did John see him again. + +"We must be on the watch-out constantly," said Ree when told of the +incident. "I would have thought nothing of it, but for the man's desire +to hide." + +"That is what I can't understand," said John, and as he thought the +matter over it added to a downcast feeling which had seized upon him. It +was by his looks more than by words that he betrayed his low-spirited +condition, then, and at other times, as day after day nothing save the +trees, great rocks and wooded hills and frowning mountain sides were +seen. + +On the other hand, Ree's quiet disposition seemed almost to disappear in +the face of hardships and difficult obstacles. If the cart broke down he +whistled "Yankee Doodle," while he managed to mend it. If the road was +especially rough and their progress most unpleasantly slow, he was +certain to sing. Even Jerry could not fail to catch the spirit of his +cheerfulness no matter what bad luck they had, and from looking glum, +John would change to light-heartedness every time. Ree's smile was a +never failing remedy for his blues. + +"Time enough to be blue and all put out when you have utterly failed," +Ree exclaimed one day. "And if you only make up your mind to it, it is +the simplest thing in the world not to fail. If I were the general of an +army, I wouldn't own up that I was whipped as long as I had a breath +left. Now just suppose that Washington had given up at Valley Forge!" + +"Well, I want to say that the chap who starts out west thinking he is +going on a frolic, will be mighty badly fooled," John answered. "I am +learning, but it is like the Indian who believed powder didn't amount to +much unless it was in a gun; so he filled his pipe with it. He learned a +heap." + +"Ho, ho, pardners both!" + +The voice came so suddenly to the young travelers, they started and +looked around questioningly. With a flying leap from some brush which +bordered the road, came an odd looking woodsman. + +"Lift my ha'r if ye ain't the nearest bein' kittens of anythin' I've +clapped my old goggles on in the emygrant line in all my born days!" +Putting his hands to his sides the stranger laughed uproariously. + +"Oh, it's funny, ain't it!" exclaimed John Jerome, witheringly. + +"Age is not always a sign of wisdom," said Ree Kingdom in much the same +tone. + +"Right ye be, lad; right ye be," said the woodsman, quieting himself. +"But I swan I'm that glad to see ye so young an' bloomin', both, that it +jes does me old eyes good. Where ye bound fer, anyhow?" + +The speaker was tall and rugged, his age probably fifty years. A grizzled +beard clustered round his face and his unkempt hair hung almost to his +shoulders. On his head was a ragged coon-skin cap. All his dress was made +of skin or furs, in the crudest frontier fashion. He was not a +disagreeable appearing person, nevertheless, for his eyes twinkled +merrily as a boy's. Each in his own way, Ree and John noted these facts. + +"I might say that we are going till we stop and that we came from where +we started," said John in answer to the stranger's inquiry. + +"What a peart kitten ye be!" smiled the man, looking at him quizzically. + +"To be honest with you, we are going to the Ohio country," said Ree +Kingdom, satisfied that the stranger wished to be friendly. + +"Ye've got spunk, I swan!" the fellow exclaimed. "Don't let me be keepin' +ye though; drive along, we kin swap talk as we're movin'." + +"How far do you call it to old Fort Pitt?" asked Ree. + +"Well, it ain't so fer as a bird kin fly, an' its ferder than ye want to +walk in a day. If ye have good luck ye'll come on to Braddock's road +afore supper time, an' if ye don't have good luck, there's no tellin' +when ye'll get thar. It want such a great ways from here that Braddock +had _his_ bad luck. If he _hadn't_ had it--if he'd done as George +Washington wanted him to, he'd 'a' got along like grease on a hot +skillet, same as you youngsters." + +"Hear that John? We will make Fort Pitt in a day or two," cried Ree. + +"Yaas, it was forty odd years ago that Braddock had his bad luck when he +bumped into a lot of Injuns in ambush. I was jest a chunk of a boy then, +but I've hearn tell on it, many's the time, by my old gran'sire who +learned me how to shoot. I was a reg'lar wonder with a gun when I was +your age, kittens. I've picked up some since then though! See the +knot-hole in that beech way over yonder? Waal, I'm going to put a bullet +in the middle of it." + +Taking aim, the stranger fired. "Ye'll find the bullet squar' in the +center," he said, in a boastful way. + +"Shucks!" exclaimed John, who was often too outspoken for his own good. +He raised his rifle and fired. "There's another bullet right beside your +own, mister," he said. + +"Well I swan! So there is!" called out the woodsman in great surprise. +"But I'll bet a coon-skin my tother kitten can't do the like." + +Like a flash Ree's rifle flew to his shoulder and he seemed to take no +aim whatever; yet the bullet flew true. But just an instant after he +fired the crack of another rifle sounded behind him. A leaden ball +shrieked close to his head and a lock of his hair fell fluttering to the +ground. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +On Into the Wilderness. + + +Great as the shock of the sudden attack and his narrow escape was, Ree +gave only a little yell of surprise and anger, and ran in the direction +from which the shot had come, drawing his pistol as he went. He found no +one. Though utterly regardless of the danger he might be in by thus +exposing himself, he made a careful search. + +"Land o' livin', boy, ye'll be meat for the redskins before ye've crossed +the frontier, if ye don't be keerful!" cried the woodsman, quickly coming +up, springing from tree to tree, and thus always keeping their protecting +trunks between himself and the point from which the mysterious shot had +been fired. "What is the varmint pepperin' away at ye so, for?" + +"I haven't the least idea, for I don't know who it is," Ree answered. + +But he was glad the woodsman's frank manner left no room to suspect him +of treachery, although there had been grounds for this suspicion in the +circumstance of the shot having been fired just as his own rifle and that +of his friend had been discharged. + +John had remained on guard beside Jerry and the cart, watchful for any +sign of their strange enemy, completely mystified by the attack. +Presently he joined Ree and the hunter who were searching for the trail +of the would-be assassin. Tracks were found at last (high up on the rocky +hillside)--those of a white man, for he wore boots; but they were very +faint and Ree declared he would waste no time in attempting to follow +them. + +"But I do believe, John," he said, "that the shot which wounded North +Wind was intended for me, and the fellow who shot, then, fired again +to-day." + +"You are thinking of Big Pete; I know you are!" John answered. "But I am +sure you are mistaken, Ree. Why it was miles and miles away that North +Wind was shot, and there hasn't been a day since then but what we could +have both been killed, perhaps, by some one hidden along the road." + +The woodsman, when he had heard the story, coincided with John's opinion +and Ree said nothing more, though he was not convinced that he was +wrong. + +The brisk talk of the stranger turned the boys' thoughts to other +subjects as the journey was resumed. He was by no means a disagreeable +fellow. His real name was "Thomas Trout," he said, but he was everywhere +known as "Tom Fish." He had tramped over all the hills and valleys for +miles around and seemed to know the country thoroughly. He accepted the +boys' invitation to eat dinner with them, and gave a share of the pounded +parched corn he carried in a pouch at his belt, in return for venison and +coarse corn bread, John having baked the latter on a flat stone beside +their camp-fire, the previous night. + +When in the afternoon, Tom Fish left the boys he told them they would be +likely to see him at Fort Pitt, and gave them many directions as to where +they had better "put up" while at Pittsburgh, as he called the place, +such being its new name at that time. + +John declared he would not sleep a wink that night, but remain on guard +until morning. "For we must be prudent," he said, in a very sober tone, +which from him sounded so funny that Ree laughed outright. + +And yet John was probably as prudent a boy as Ree; for the latter was so +almost entirely fearless that he rushed into danger in a way not prudent +at all, and many severe lessons which he learned afterward did not make +him cautious as he should have been. + +The night passed without one disturbing incident and the rising sun found +the boys on their way once more; before its setting they reached +Pittsburg. + +"Fort Pitt," as they were accustomed to call the straggling hamlet, stood +at the foot of the hills at the confluence of the Allegheny and +Monongahela rivers. Because of its location it was an important place and +even at the time of which this is written (1790) was a point much +frequented by traders, trappers and hunters. + +It was with a feeling of awe, that Ree and John drove into the town, and +noticed its old fort, its brick and log buildings and general air of +pioneer hospitality. People stared at them, and some called to them in +the familiar way of the border; but everyone was good-natured and helpful +and almost before the boys knew it their horse had been unhitched and fed +and they themselves were eating supper in a long, low brick building +which served as a sort of public house. + +From the first it had been the young travelers' intention to sell their +horse and cart at Fort Pitt and secure passage for themselves and goods +on some flat-boat going down the river. They spoke of the settlement +which General Putnam and others had made at a place they called Marietta +(still known by that name) as their destination, and gave a general idea +of their plans to the men who talked with them as they gathered about the +big fire-place in the evening. They found they would probably be able to +secure transportation down the Ohio within a few days, in company with a +party of emigrants who had been building boats for the trip, expecting to +go to Kentucky. + +When the young travelers started out next morning to find a purchaser for +old Jerry, however, they discovered that at that time of year, the demand +for such property was far from brisk. As they walked along the main +street or road, they chanced upon Tom Fish, who hailed them in his rough, +but happy way, and they told him just how they were situated. + +"Don't sell the nag, then; come right along with me. I'll show you the +way into a country full of Injuns and game enough to suit ye, in short +order; an' ye won't have to pay no passage down river. Why, there's jes +the spot ye're lookin' for west o' here--rivers an' little lakes, an' +fish an' game--no end o' game. Good place for tradin' too; Injun towns +every forty rods or so." + +The woodsman then went on to tell the boys that several years earlier, a +fort, known as Fort Laurens, had been erected on the Tuscarawas river, in +the woods beyond Pittsburg. He was planning to go in that direction, for +a purpose he did not state, and would willingly act as guide. He +cautioned the boys, however, that there was little sign of a broken road +for them to travel upon and that Fort Laurens had long been abandoned +because of the hostility of the savages. But the confidence of the young +traders that they could make friends with the Indians, and Tom's glowing +accounts of the country of which he spoke, caused them to look with favor +upon his proposition. + +"We will think about this matter," said Ree, "and let you know. You will +be here a day or two?" + +"Yaas, a day or two," said Tom Fish. "But don't let me influence ye; it's +mighty reesky business you kittens is bent on." + +"It seems to me like a good plan," Ree reflected aloud, when he and John +were alone. "If we went to General Putnam's settlement we would still +feel that we must go up the Muskingum river to reach the Indians and +profitable trading, and would have to build a raft or buy a boat to carry +our goods. Moreover, people here say that within a few years the country +all about Pittsburg will be settled up and that land will become +valuable." + +"Whatever you say suits me," said John with a laugh; and then and there +Ree gave him a talking to for being so ready to accept the judgment of +another, instead of having thoughts and opinions of his own. + +But one or two ridiculously low offers the boys received for their horse +and cart, and the discovery that they could not find room on the boat +down the Ohio except at a fancy price, resulted in their decision to join +Tom Fish. They talked all day of the subject, but when they went to bed +that night, they knew that not for many months to come would they sleep +again within the borders of civilization. + +A frosty November morning ushered in another day, and early as they were +astir Ree and John found the little town wide awake. Tom Fish was +sky-larking all about saying good-bye to friends, and just a little under +the influence of whiskey. It seemed that everybody knew him; and people +having found out from Tom what they had not already found out from +others, about the venturesome lads from Connecticut, quite an assemblage +gathered to wish the travelers good luck. + +A repeated suggestion which had been made to the boys was that they +should abandon their cart and take with them only such goods as they +could carry by using old Jerry as a pack-horse. It was true that for a +portion of the distance they proposed to travel, there was a rough road, +but beyond Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of the Beaver river, they would +have no road but the rough Indian trail. But Tom Fish said he "reckoned +old Colonel Boquet's road was still there," and that they should take the +cart; and they did so. + +Tom had joined the boys as their clumsy vehicle creaked along a muddy +street, a little more serious than usual, because of some news he had +heard, he said, but boastful as ever. + +"I was talkin' to a big seven-footer in the tavern last night," he +said--"A feller that had a grudge ag'in' me once. He never liked me till +I threw him over a house one day;--threw him clean over a house. It makes +me larff!" + +John laughed, too, at this, but he said: "Tom Fish, you weigh a good +three stone (forty-two) more than I do, but I believe I could throw you +in a wrestle. When we stop for dinner, I am going to put you on your +back!" + +A laugh long and loud came from the woodsman's throat. "Why, what a +playful kitten ye be!" he exclaimed. "Why, I could toss ye up in the air +and ketch ye nigh a dozen times whilst ye were only thinkin' of throwin' +me." + +"I'd like to see you try it," cried John. + +"Put aside your nonsense, you two, until noon, now do," Ree laughingly +urged, "and tell us, Tom, of that Colonel Boquet whose road we are to +follow." + +"Waal, that's quite a yarn," said Tom Fish. "But le' me see now; le' me +see. It was back when I was jes a young buck, 'long 'bout '64, that this +Colonel Boquet, who was a mighty decent citizen for a Frenchman, made up +his mind to get a whack at the pesky Injuns which had been killin' an' +scalpin' an' burnin' an' robbin' all along the border of Pennsylvania an' +Virginia an' Lord knows where all. + +"Waal, the state of Pennsylvania an' the state of Virginia helped him +with sojers an' he mustered scouts enough so that in all he had nigh onto +2,000 men. He marched 'em straight into the woods, the whole caboodle on +'em, clearin' a road as he went, an' takin' along a lot o' sheep an' +cows, and provender for the sojers without end. He went straight along +till he come to the Muskingum river, an' there he camped out, makin' a +show with all his men an' pack-horses an' everything, that scared the +Mingoes an' the Delawares half to death for fear he'd stay right there +an' build a town amongst 'em. + +"They was willin' to do most anything to get rid of him, an' there was +only one thing that he would hear to. He give 'em jes' ten days to trot +into his camp every prisoner they had in all their towns far an' near, +an' told 'em that if ary a one was held back, he'd march on every pesky +village an' knock 'em sky high an' burn 'em down. + +"Waal! them Injuns was so scared, they commenced gettin' their prisoners +together right off, and they trotted two hundred on 'em up to the front +door of Colonel Boquet's tent inside them ten days. An' there was doin's +for sartin then!--Pow wows among the sojers who found all sorts of +relations that the Delawares or the Wyandots or the pesky Mingoes had +carried off, an' pow wows among the men, an' the women an' the children +that was brought out o' their captivity like the Children of Israel. + +"Then Colonel Boquet marched 'em all back to Fort Pitt an' he sent for me +an' told me what he'd done, an' asked me what I thought on it. I was +scoutin' out of Fort Pitt then, and I jes' shook his hand an' says: +'Colonel Boquet ye're a reg'lar rip-snorter.'" + +"Did you ever hear of the terrible Captain Archer, the outlaw of war +times?" asked the fun-loving John, inventing the name to see what Tom +would say; for he had his own opinion as to Colonel Boquet having asked +Thomas Fish what he thought of that Indian expedition. + +"Cap. Archer? Old Cap. Archer! Well I rayther guess I knew him, an' if he +ain't forgot it, he carries a little lead pill out of my old steel bottle +of Injun medicine, clean to this day. Yaas, many a scrimmage I had with +old Cap. Archer." + +John was for carrying his questioning further, though he could hardly +keep from laughing, but Ree shook his head, unwilling to make fun of one +who was so kind to them. + +The travelers made excellent progress that morning, finding a very fair +road for that rough country, along the river. They met occasional +settlers and hunters and whether he knew them or not, Tom Fish always +stopped to talk and always asked whether everything was quiet along the +border. Many shook their heads, and spoke gloomily of the outlook for +peace with the Indians remaining long unbroken. + +From a couple of friendly Indians they met, Ree secured a quarter of +venison in exchange for a cheap trinket, and although he accompanied the +performance with a great deal of bragging, Tom did show the boys that he +was a past-master in the art of broiling venison steaks. The fine dinner +they had as a result, set his tongue wagging more than ever, however, and +John Jerome was more than anxious to take some of the vanity out of him. + +They had camped upon a hillside sloping down to the river--the Ohio. The +day had come on bright and warm as Indian summer could be, and John had +thrown off his coat. + +"Now, Mr. Fish," he said with a laugh, "You see the river down there? +I've been thinking there may be some one of the same name as yourself in +that water, and I've a mind to send you to visit your relations." + +The merry laugh of the hunter rang shrill and clear. + +"Be ye? Oh, be ye?" he cried, jumping to his feet. "If it wa'n't fer +hurtin' ye, I'd throw ye clean across to yon hillside!" and he pointed to +a spot nearly a mile away, across the river. + +"It's a good thing for you there are so many leaves on the ground to +break your fall," John answered, rolling up his sleeves. + +"Don't wrestle so much with your mouths," Ree admonished them. + +"Why, I could handle both of ye; come on, the two of ye to onc't!" the +hunter cried. + +But the next moment he found in John, alone, about as much of a task as +he cared to undertake. For two minutes they heaved and tugged, John's +wiry frame seeming to be all around the woodsman, who was by no means +clumsy, though he could not put him down. Then they broke apart and for a +minute made feints at one another, each hoping to secure an advantage. + +At last the hunter's arms shot out, his hands seized John's arms so +quickly, and he lifted the boy off his feet and keeled him over with such +dexterity, that the lad lay sprawling on his back almost before he knew +what was happening. + +The glee of Tom Fish was quite ridiculous. He danced about and almost +screamed with laughter. + +"It is your turn, Ree," said John good-naturedly. + +"Whenever our friend is ready," Ree responded. + +"Come on! Come on!" Tom cried. "Oh, what frisky kittens ye be!" + +Peter Piper, the half-breed, had taught Return Kingdom a trick or two at +wrestling. And now he allowed the hunter to lift him off the ground, then +he let his muscles relax, his dead weight falling in his opponent's arms. +Suddenly getting his feet to the ground in this way, he sprang against +the hunter's muscular frame with such rapidity of thought and motion that +he was able by a tremendous lightning-like effort to jerk one of the +man's legs from under him, sending him down, while he, himself, came +uppermost. + +"Ye're pretty fair," Tom Fish muttered; but it was plain to be seen that +something he very little expected had happened to him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Friends or Foes? + + +Tom Fish had a profound respect for Return Kingdom from the moment the +latter threw him; but he was no less pleasant and agreeable than before, +and he proved himself a valuable friend then and in days long afterward. + +When night came, as the wind was blowing cold, Tom very deftly built a +shelter of branches and small saplings. His way of bending two little +trees down and fastening them together with their own branches, making of +them the support of the "shack," was a method Ree and John had never seen +used and was the secret of his being able to "build a house" in very +little time. + +It was very comfortable sitting before the fire, thus sheltered from the +wind. Tom especially enjoyed it for his tongue ran on at a tremendous +rate as he told stories of extraordinary adventures. + +John urged him to tell more and more, and he might have gone on talking +all night had not Ree admonished him and John that they must turn in +promptly in order to make an early start in the morning. Wolves were +howling not far away, and the plaintive but terrorizing cry of a panther +could be heard in the distance, as the little party lay down to sleep. No +doubt the young emigrants thought many times before dreams came to them, +of what the depths of the wilderness must be, if the foreboding sounds +which reached them were a fair example of what the outer edge of the +forest fastnesses afforded; but they rested well and were early astir. + +Crossing a fine, level country, though thickly grown with great trees, on +this day, the boys saw plainly the evidences of the road made by the +Boquet expedition. There were the stumps of big and little trees and the +half-decayed remnants of the trees which had been cut down, on both sides +of them. Although so many years had passed since Col. Boquet had made +this trail, the work his men had done made the progress of the +Connecticut boys and their hunter companion faster than it would +otherwise have been, and three days passed rapidly without other +adventure than the meeting of a small party of Indians who scowled and +passed on, and the killing of a large panther by Ree, the animal having +terribly frightened old Jerry by dropping from a tree squarely upon the +faithful horse's back, one night. + +On the fifth day after leaving Pittsburg the travelers crossed a high +ridge and obtained a glorious view of the country toward which they were +pressing on. In the distance rivers of water and great oceans of tree +tops, deep valleys and wooded hillsides were seen. + +"Ye ain't fer from the 'Promised Land,'" said Tom Fish, lightly, much +less moved by the grandeur of nature's display than were the boys. Then +he indicated the location of a point, far beyond and out of view, at +which the old trail they were following, turned to the southwest and an +Indian trail turned toward the northwest, leading on to the "Sandusky +Plains" near Lake Erie. + +It was apparent that Tom had settled in his own mind the locality in +which the boys should erect their cabin and make their home. He had their +interest at heart, the lads did not doubt, but they were unwilling to +accept his judgment absolutely. It was arranged between them, therefore, +that Ree should go ahead and spy out the lay of the land--and especially +investigate the "lake country" of which Tom had so often spoken. If he +should find it all that was represented, well and good; if not, they knew +that along almost any of the rivers to the south and west of them, were +fertile lands and Indian villages which would afford that which they +sought--crops and trade. + +And so on the morning of the fourth day after their having taken to the +Indian trail toward the "Sandusky Plains," the matter having been +explained to Tom Fish, Ree left his friends behind. It was a perilous +undertaking upon which he set out. They had now reached a wild and rugged +country whose hills and valleys almost swarmed with game. Deer, bears and +wolves were abundant. Panthers, wildcats and smaller game were frequently +seen, and Indians were all about, though the party had thus far met but +few. + +But Return Kingdom had no fear--that was something he did not then know. +He was only anxious to quickly find the right place for their residence +and to make no mistake in selecting it. A light snow had already fallen, +making it desirable that he and John should get themselves settled +without delay. This was his thought as he hurried on alone. + +Under a big beech tree Ree camped at night, building no fire lest it draw +unwelcome guests toward him, but wrapping his blanket about himself and +sitting, not lying, on the ground, his rifle between his knees. Any one +passing, even very near, would have supposed his dark figure to be that +of an old stump, and he spent the night with a feeling of safety, not +entirely comfortable in his position, but little disturbed by the +snapping of twigs and the rustle of leaves which told that forest +prowlers were near. + +Crossing a river at a shallow place next day, Ree mounted a hill and +climbed a tall hickory whose upper branches rose above all other trees +near it. + +The weather had become warm and pleasant again and he would be able, he +knew, to obtain a fine view. Just what he expected to see, he had not +thought, but the grandeur of the scene he beheld was magnificent. Far as +he could see the ocean of nearly leafless treetops rose and fell in giant +waves, broken here and there by lakes or rivers, he knew not which, +glimpses of whose waters and bushy banks, he caught. Here were +lowlands--there highlands, and through the latter he traced for a long +distance the course of the river he had crossed earlier in the day. Ree +drew out a chart he had obtained at Pittsburg. + +"It must be the Cuyahoga river--or Cayuga as some call it--and I am right +in the heart of the lake country," he whispered, as he steadied himself +in the tree top. "We will build our cabin near the river." + +Without more delay the boy climbed down and strode forward in the +direction of a valley which he had seen two or three miles to westward. +In time he came to a sloping hillside and looking beyond he saw a +splendid stream of swiftly flowing water. At the foot of the hill was a +narrow tract of about four acres almost bare of trees, though deep grass +spoke of the soil's fertility. Rising above the river was a large knoll +sloping down to the natural clearing. + +With every sense delighted by the fine prospect, Ree ran down the hill, +across the clearing and to the summit of the knoll or bluff. The ripple +and splash of the river, the bright sunshine and his discovery of this +ideal spot delighted him. + +"The very place we are looking for!" he exclaimed aloud. "Here is grass +for Jerry, a fine clearing for the beginning of a farm--wood--water-- +game--everything!" + +Anxious to join his friends and tell them of this good fortune, Ree +dashed down the bluff and ascended the wooded hillside opposite. Panting, +he reached the summit and suddenly,--stopped. + +As though they had been waiting for him, there stood watching him a party +of Indians. They were dressed entirely in savage costume. Not one wore +any garment of civilization as did many of the savages farther east. With +stolid composure the Redskins looked at the boy, though they must have +wondered what the young Paleface was doing, alone in the forest's +depths. + +Quickly recovering his presence of mind, Ree coolly stepped toward them, +holding out his hand to one he supposed to be the chief, saying, "How, +brothers?" + +The Indian shook his hand but did not speak. The same second another +Indian stepped up and seizing Ree's hat, put it on his own bare head. +Another grabbed the boy's rifle, as though to take it from him. + +Ree smiled, but he held firmly to his gun, and snatched his hat from the +young brave who had seized it. One of the Indians now ordered that Ree be +let alone. But this was not the one the boy had taken to be the chief, +and Kingdom quickly perceived that he had made a rather serious mistake. +But he nodded his thanks to the Redskin and explained, using signs when +words would not do, that he was a trader and that his friends and store +of goods were not far away. + +It caused Ree some alarm, however, when at a signal from the chief the +Indians gathered about in such a way as to hem him completely in. And +this alarm was decidedly increased as he noticed at the chief's belt, a +white man's scalp. There could be no mistaking it. + +The savages made no move to molest the boy further than to prevent his +leaving them, but gave him to understand that they believed him to be a +spy. Seeing this the boy offered to conduct them to his friends and +merchandise. To this they agreed after some parleying and placing Ree +between two big, swarthy fellows, they set off in single file, +suspicious, it may be, that he would lead them into an ambush. + +Ree gave little thought to this. He knew that if John and Tom had made +good progress that he could reach them by nightfall and the suspicions of +the Indians would be allayed. + +It was wonderful how easily the savages followed Ree's back trail, and +they traveled at good speed. But hours passed and no sign of the wagon of +which the lad had told them was found. The doubt of the Indians increased +and they became ugly and impatient. + +In vain Ree tried to explain that his friends must have been delayed, but +he himself could not understand why no gleam of light, no smoke of their +camp-fire, even, was visible as the day wore away, and soon he found that +he was indeed a prisoner; for as the savages presently prepared to go +into camp, their first act was to bind the white boy's hands behind him +and tie his feet with strong ropes of bark. + +A full sense of his danger came to Ree's thoughts, but he put on a bold +front and emphatically objected to being tied, saying he had no thought +of running away and that early the next day his statement that he was a +trader would be found true. + +The Indians gave no heed to his indignant words. They built a small fire +by flashing sparks with flint and steel, and ate their supper consisting +only of pounded parched corn and dried meat. This they shared with Ree, +and though he ate heartily he was thinking of other things. Every time he +looked across the fire he could see the gruesome scalp at the belt of the +chief of the party. Little wonder that he became apprehensive for his +safety. It would not do, however, he thought, to let the Indians see that +he was worried, and he began to whistle. The savages gazed at him in +wonder. Suddenly one young buck arose, stepped over to the boy and struck +him viciously on the cheek. + +His temper instantly fired, Ree shot out his feet, bound together though +they were, striking the savage full in the stomach and sending him +headlong, partly into the fire. + +As a tremendous howl of rage arose, Ree forgot that he was bound--forgot +that his better plan would have been to keep cool. He sprang up, breaking +the strings of bark which tied him, with seeming ease, and, as the +enraged Indian rushed toward him, he dodged the club the savage +brandished, and landing a tremendous blow on the redman's neck with his +fist, grabbed his rifle from the ground and sped away into the forest and +the darkness. + +With terrific yells the Indians took up the pursuit. On and on Ree dashed +among the bushes and over brush and logs, springing wildly aside at times +to save himself from dashing out his brains against a tree--hurrying fast +and faster, he knew not whither, his pursuers crashing after him. + +The pursued nearly always has the advantage over the pursuer. Ree found +himself drawing slowly away from the Indians, who made so much noise +themselves they could scarcely hear him, and suddenly halting, he crept +softly away in another direction. Soon the savages went past, pell mell, +certain that the boy was ahead of them, and the sounds of the chase died +away. + +Listening intently, to be ready for the slightest alarm, Ree turned to go +back the way he came. It was difficult in the darkness to do this, but he +believed that if he could return to the vicinity of the Indians' +camp-fire he could easily get his bearings and travel without loss of +time in the direction of his friends. The darkness seemed less intense +now that he had become accustomed to it, but he must exercise every care. +To step on a dry stick or to stumble and fall might be fatal--might mean +his capture and death. + +Fortune favored the brave lad, for presently the dim light of the +smoldering camp-fire came into view. He paused a moment, then turned +confidently in the direction in which he thought John and Tom Fish must +be. He had not taken forty steps, however, when a dark figure loomed up +suddenly before him, and with exceeding quickness and quietness glided +behind a tree. + +It was well indeed for Return Kingdom that his quick eye saw this +movement. Turning again, he ran, but instantly the dark figure darted in +pursuit. Discovering that he was in danger of being driven into the very +arms of the Indians he had so recently eluded, Ree changed his tactics. +Certain that but a single savage was behind him, he wheeled and ran +toward the Indian at full speed. + +They were not far apart. Before the Redskin had made out what the boy was +doing, the latter had hurled himself upon him and thrown him to the +ground. + +Fiercely the savage struggled; with tremendous energy Ree retained the +upper hold, his grip secure on his opponent's throat. Neither spoke. The +Indian could not, and Ree had no wish to add to the noise made by their +thrashing about among the leaves and dry twigs. He knew that he could +kill the savage warrior but he dreaded to do that. It would mean trouble +with the Indians for a long time to come, upsetting his most cherished +plans. And yet his own life was in danger, and--he dared not relax his +hold. + +Yet something must be done, and quickly, for soon the other Indians would +be returning, and more than this he could not hold out long against the +greater strength of his red antagonist. Ree resolved, therefore, to make +the Indian understand that he did not wish to kill him, then let go and +take his chances in a foot race. + +But at this instant, the Redskin, by a mighty effort raised himself +partially upon his feet, secured the release of his right arm, on which +Ree's knee had been, and clutched the boy's throat with a vise-like grip. +Never had the venturesome Connecticut lad been so near death as he was at +that moment. Steadily the Indian continued to gain the upper hand, and as +he tightened his grasp on Ree's throat the boy's tongue seemed to be +forced from his mouth. + +Then it was that Return Kingdom's grim, unyielding determination which +meant victory or death--a determination which, once formed, would have +stopped for nothing though it swayed the earth, asserted itself. With the +power of an unbending purpose, Ree raised to his feet, dragging the +savage with him. He grasped the Indian's body and with strength most +extraordinary, lifted him from the ground, then suddenly he cast him +violently down as though the brave were a great stone which he wished to +break. + +Astonished, bruised, exhausted, the Indian lay as he had fallen. The +whole struggle had occupied but a minute or two, but it had been furious. +Both the combatants were panting like dogs. Now was Ree's opportunity. He +stooped down, grasped the redman's hand and shook it gently. + +"We should be brothers. I would not try to kill you," he spoke in a low, +friendly way. + +The Indian made no answer. Again Ree shook his hand, then picked up his +rule and walked rapidly away. Looking back, he saw the savage rising to +his feet and returning to the camp-fire. He was sure then that he had +made a friend of an enemy. But he lost no time. There were but a few +hours of darkness remaining to cover his escape while he searched for his +friends, and with every sense alert he hastened on, though faint and +weary from the violence of his exertions. He felt the necessity of +finding and giving warning to John and Tom and the thought kept him +going. + +At last the morning came--slowly at first and then with a rush of light +which set the crows a-cawing and wood-birds singing; and still the +worn-out, lonesome boy looked in vain for his friends. But he wavered not +for a moment, though ready to acknowledge himself completely lost, and +thus, pressing on, he came soon after sunrise to the bank of a deep, wide +ravine. He remembered having crossed it the day he left John and Tom, and +soon he found a path leading down into the gully. + +Assuring himself by careful scrutiny that the coast was clear, Ree pushed +through the bushes and trotted down the bank's steep side; and in another +moment came squarely upon the cart and the camp of his friends. But where +were John and Tom? Consternation filled the lad as he wholly failed to +find them, and as he also discovered that the camp-fire was no fire at +all--only a heap of dead ashes. Where was old Jerry, too? + +A great fear came into Ree's heart, which was increased a thousand fold, +as in another moment he saw the faithful horse a few rods away--dead. +There was a bullet hole in the gentle, patient animal's head. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +The Scalp at Big Buffalo's Belt. + + +A great lump came in Ree's throat as he looked upon the body of honest +old Jerry, and stood for a few seconds watching in a dazed, helpless way +the big blue flies which buzzed about the lifeless animal in the morning +sunlight. Then he saw for the first time that carion birds, buzzards, +perhaps, had been feeding on the horse's flesh. + +The oppressive silence and desolation of the camp were as dead weights on +the lad's spirits, already burdened with most unhappy thoughts, and +standing as still as the motionless trees about him, he could not summon +back the resolution and courage which had kept him unfaltering throughout +the night. The snapping of a twig recalled his scattered senses, however, +and his sudden movement frightened a gaunt wolf which had crept up almost +to the lifeless horse, and now went skulking away. + +"I cannot understand--cannot think, I must get my wits to working, some +way!" the boy exclaimed in a half whisper, "what in the world can have +happened?" + +Again Ree's mind gained the mastery over his fatigued body and his +powerful determination seemed again to drive the weariness away. He +stooped and stroked but once or twice the dead horse's damp foretop, then +hastened to the cart. Nothing in it had been disturbed. He looked +carefully about the shelter of poles and brush which had been built, and +found everything in comparatively good order. Surely things would not be +in this state if his friends had been driven off or killed by Indians. It +must be that they were attacked, had repulsed the enemy and had now gone +in pursuit. + +But why had they not returned? There was no doubt but that old Jerry had +been dead at least a day, and John and Tom would, in that case, have been +absent nearly as long. + +With feverish anxiety Ree searched for a trail which would show the +direction taken by the enemy or his friends, or both, but the sound of a +stealthy footstep on the bank above caused him to spring to the shelter +of a tree. + +As he watched and listened, he heard voices, and quietly stepped into the +open; for he would have known John's tones among ten thousand. And at the +same minute John and Tom Fish saw Ree gazing up at them, and both ran +toward him, John crying excitedly: "Return Kingdom! Oh, but I am glad to +see you!" + +"Dutch rum an' fire-water, it's happy I am y'er back!" Tom Fish +exclaimed. + +"What has happened, John?" asked Ree in his usual quiet way, grasping his +friend's hand. + +"What ain't happened? It beats me as I ain't ever been beat yet," Tom +Fish made answer. + +"It was another of those mysterious shots, Ree--the very morning you left +us," said John, putting his hand affectionately on his chum's arm. + +"Another?" Ree spoke more to himself than to either John or Tom, and +something made him think of Big Pete Ellis and the fellow's threats. + +"It was the same sort of a shot as before, but in broad daylight," John +answered. "We had just got the cart down into this gully and were +preparing to get it up the other side, when we heard a rifle shot +and--old Jerry fell dead. I saw the smoke curling out from the bushes +just half a minute later, and Tom and I both ran back up the hill. But +there was no one near. We did find a trail but it was mingled with the +tracks of the horse and cart, and the snow being gone, we could not +follow it. For miles around the woods seemed as quiet as a Sunday at +home. We looked all about but--" + +"Only one thing is plain, some Mingo or somebody has a grudge ag'in ye, +or else there's been some consarned queer coincidences," broke in Tom +Fish. "It beats me!" + +"I don't see what we are to do, Ree! Tom and I decided just to wait here +until you came back. But what have you been doing? Why, your hands and +face are frightfully scratched, and you look all played out!" + +"I guess I've had my hands full," said Ree with a sad little smile. "But +tell me where you two were. Why is there no fire?" + +"Such a time as we have had!" was John's sorrowful answer. "Poor old +Jerry was scarcely dead before there were hawks or buzzards circling +around above us, and when night came, wolves and other animals howled all +around us, and so near we would have been afraid, had we not had a big +fire. Toward morning it became quieter and I was asleep, and Tom on +watch, when a bear came poking around." + +"Biggest bear ye ever seen," interrupted Thomas Fish. + +"Well," John went on, "we both set out after that bear, though it was +pitch dark. We had a long chase for nothing, though, for we caught sight +of the big fellow only once, and not long enough to get a shot at him. +Coming back, it was light, and we stopped to explore the gully. But we +did not expect to find you here, Ree. We would not have come back when we +did, only to keep the buzzards away from the horse till we can burn the +body. And I don't see what we are to do. But you haven't told a word +about yourself." + +Ree was busily thinking, and for a little time made no answer. Then Tom +and John spoke again, asking where he had been and what he had found. + +"Why, I'll tell you," he answered them. "I came upon a first-class place +for a cabin, on a bluff right at the bank of a splendid little river, and +a little natural clearing around it. About five minutes later I came upon +some Delaware Indians and as they wouldn't believe me when I told them +who I was, they made me a prisoner. I got away in the night, and here I +am." + +John's eyes opened wide, and excitedly he demanded to know all the +particulars of Ree's adventure. Tom Fish whistled a long, low note and +almost closing his eyes, he looked toward Ree with a squint which was +more expressive of his astonishment and interest than words could have +been. + +As the three of them sat on the thills of the now useless cart, Ree told +them more fully of his experiences. Many were John's outbursts of +interest, and Tom whistled in his peculiar way more than once. + +"Can't more than kill us, and we may as well die that way as starve to +death," said the old hunter, as Ree spoke of the probability of the +Indians soon finding their camp, and straightway he began preparations +for breakfast. As they gathered about the savory meal which soon was +ready, the conversation turned again to the mysterious attack which had +ended the life of their horse. + +John could not be persuaded that it was not some prowling Indian who had +fired the shot, but Ree urged both him and Tom to be on their guard +constantly and he would be the same, he said, for there was no knowing +when another bullet might come whizzing toward them, nor when one of +their own lives might not be thus snuffed out. + +As breakfast was finished, John and Tom pleaded with Ree that he should +lie down and get some rest, but he took a cold bath in the brook close +by, instead, and would not listen to them further. All three were keeping +their eyes open to detect the approach of Indians, for they did not doubt +the savages would soon come, especially since the re-kindling of the fire +had sent a stream of smoke steadily skyward, and now this signal of their +whereabouts was made all the more plain by the building of a much larger +fire upon and about the body of the unfortunate horse. + +"Let them come," was the confident declaration of Return Kingdom, as Tom +Fish had suggested that the savages could not be far away. "We will meet +them as friends," he went on, "and I honestly believe that when they find +that we are peaceable traders, there will be no trouble whatever." + +Tom whistled and squinted as Ree took this bold stand, but he had learned +that the boy "had a long head," and made no further remonstrance against +the plan proposed. + +About noon the savages arrived. John discovered a dark face peering out +from some bushes on the bluff, and waved his hand in that direction in a +friendly way. The searching eyes instantly disappeared. It required +courage to follow the program Ree had mapped out, now when it was known +that vengeful and cruel Delawares were lurking so near, themselves fully +protected by the bank and brush, and trees; but when, a few minutes later +Ree saw an Indian looking down at them, and the fellow put down his gun +as a sign of friendliness, they knew they had acted wisely. + +Notwithstanding the show of friendliness, however, Tom Fish said: "Keep +your wits about ye, kittens, there ain't no snake in the woods as +treacherous as them varmints." + +Two savages were soon seen coming down the path, and Ree and John, laying +down their guns, as the Indians had done, walked forward to meet them. +Thus peace was secured for the time being, at least, and as the boys +shook hands with the Redskins, the latter gave them to understand that +their chief was in waiting to be met and conducted to the camp. + +Ree went to the cart and secured from their stock of merchandise a small +hand-mirror in a round, pewter frame with a pewter lid over it, and with +this for a present to the chief, he and John were guided to a spot not +far away where the savage warrior and his braves were assembled. He was a +tall muscular young fellow and would have been handsome had it not been +for a look of malicious cunning and wickedness in his small dark eyes. +But the gift of the mirror pleased his savage fancy greatly and he +accepted it with a show of friendliness. + +There were eleven Indians in the party. John could not repress a smile +when he saw the singed hair and burned face of the young brave whom Ree +had knocked into the fire, but even Kingdom failed to recognize the +savage with whom he had battled for his very life alone in the darkness. +By sign or otherwise neither of the boys made any reference to the +adventure of the day and night before, but with perfect friendliness +conducted the Indians to their camp. + +Tom Fish's spirits had grown lighter when he saw that a fight would be +avoided and he greeted each Indian in his happy-go-lucky fashion. + +"You're a good un," he said to the chief. "Got a little muscle, too, +ain't ye? Ain't no religion in that eye o' your'n, though!" + +And so it went with the whole party. As he noticed the buck who was +burned Tom laughed aloud. "Pretty near took the hide off, didn't it, +Smart Alec?" he exclaimed. "Doubled ye up like a two-bladed jack-knife, I +should guess. Oh, these here boys are frisky! No foolin' with them!" + +John laughed at this, but no one took heed of him except Tom, who laughed +boisterously, as he always did when anyone showed an appreciation of his +crude jokes. + +Almost immediately upon reaching the camp the Indians asked for +"fire-water," but Ree shook his head. It was true that in one of the +several packages of goods there was a large stone bottle of whiskey which +Capt. Bowen had provided for the boys together with other medicines, but +not for a great deal would Kingdom have let the Indians know it; and he +hoped that Tom would not find it out, either; for the truth was that Fish +had drunk more than was good for him at Pittsburg. But all the savages +ate of the meat which was placed before them, and Tom Fish, never +neglecting an opportunity of this kind, made out a square meal also. The +boys joining in, too, there was quite a feast. + +One of the Indians, a good looking young buck, showed for Ree a warmer +friendship than any of the others. He was the one whom the boy had +mistaken for the chief of the party the day before. His name was Fishing +Bird and the chief's name was Big Buffalo. The latter was far from +showing entire friendship and a dispute arose between these two savages +when Ree told them that he and John wished to purchase land. + +Fishing Bird indicated that the boys must go to the great chief of their +tribe, Hopocon, or Captain Pipe, as the whites called him, at the village +of the Delawares. Big Buffalo, on the other hand, contended that he +himself had power to sell land. + +Ree rightly judged as he saw an ugly feeling between these two, that he +had made a serious mistake when he had mistaken Fishing Bird for the +chief the day before, arousing the other's jealousy very much. He thought +now, that he recognized in Fishing Bird the Indian with whom he had +grappled in the forest. If this were true, it was evident that that +Indian, unwilling to confess how he had been vanquished, had said nothing +to the others of his struggle with the escaped prisoner. + +However, seeing that the land question might cause trouble, both Ree and +John dropped it, having learned from the savages that a day's journey to +the south and west would take them to the Delawares' town. They +determined, therefore, to visit the village of Captain Pipe and talk with +the great chief himself. + +The afternoon was nearly spent before the Indians departed. They were +scarcely gone when Tom Fish called Ree and John to him and the boys +noticed for the first time that a great change had come over the old +hunter, who for some time had little or nothing to say. + +"Did ye see that fresh scalp hangin' at that Buffalo varmint's belt?" he +asked. "That means blood. It means fightin'! I've seen many a Redskin, +but I never seen a wickeder one than that Buffalo. An' there's no more +play for Thomas Trout, which some calls Fish, my kittens, both! I tell ye +now, that from what I seed, there was nothin' kept us out of a fight this +day but the friendliness o' that chap Fishin' Bird. If Big Buffalo had a' +dared, he'd a' pitched onto us. Them's my honest sentiments; an' more'n +that, did ye see the scalp at that red devil's belt? Don't tell me they +ain't been on the warpath! Did ye see that scalp, an' the blood on it +hardly more 'n dry? Oh, sorry day! Oh, sorry day--the blood on it hardly +more'n dry. 'Cause I'm a plagued sight mistaken, kittens both, if I don't +know whose scalp that is! Oh, sorry day!" + +Tom's voice had sunk almost to a whisper and involuntarily John +shuddered. The sinking sun cast thick, dark shadows in the narrow valley, +and a death-like silence was broken only by the soughing wind and the +tinkle of the brook. + +These melancholy surroundings and the gruesome way in which Tom spoke, +were enough to remove all cheerfulness which might have existed, but Tom +said again, slowly and with a mournful emphasis, "I know--I know whose +scalp it is, lads; an' the blood on it hardly more'n dry." + +The rough woodsman put his arm across his eyes and leaned mournfully on +his rifle, as he spoke. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A Night With the Indians. + + +To shut out from his thoughts the horrid memory of the bloody scalp at +Big Buffalo's belt, Ree turned and busied himself with the fire, which +had burned quite low, and soon a roaring blaze was leaping skyward, +shedding good cheer around. + +The woodsman still stood leaning on his rifle, a look of sadness on his +face such as was seldom seen there. If John had noticed this he might not +have asked in the tone in which he did: + +"Well, whose scalp is it?" + +"It ain't your'n, kitten, an' ye can be glad o' that." + +"Shucks! How can you tell whose it might have been? How could anybody +tell?" asked the boy. + +Tom made no reply, and Ree deftly changed the subject by saying that one +of them had better stand guard that night. He expected no trouble with +the Indians, but he was not willing to be caught napping by the unknown +foe whose work had now cost the life of their horse. + +Tom was gloomy all the evening as they sat before the fire, but he told +the boys of the great chief of the Delaware's, Hopocon, or Capt. Pipe, +and reminded them that he was one of the Indians who were responsible for +the burning of Col. Crawford at the stake eight years earlier. + +That and other stories of this noted chief made the boys curious to see +him, and anxious to put themselves on friendly terms with him. It was +decided that the next day they should visit the Delaware town and make +arrangements for securing land. Without a horse they could move their +goods only with great labor, and they were desirous of knowing just where +they were taking their property, therefore, before they undertook to move +it from their present camp. + +"Guess I will stay an' watch here, whilst you youngsters go to see Capt. +Pipe," said Tom, as the subject was under discussion. "I might not be as +peaceful as a little lamb--plague take their greasy skins! Not if I +clapped my eyes on that Buffalo critter ag'in!" + +"Look a-here, Tom," Ree answered, earnestly. "We boys are on a peaceable +mission and we don't want to get into trouble on your account. We know +that the horrible sight of that scalp, and your belief that you know from +where it came, has made you want revenge, but John and I have had no +special trouble with the Delawares and it would be very foolish, situated +as we are, for you or any of us to start a fight with them now." + +"I see all that--I ain't so blind! But--" Tom did not finish the +sentence. Instead he began talking of other things and advised the boys +to take every precaution against being treacherously dealt with when they +should find Big Buffalo at his own home--the Delaware town. + +It was a windy, cloudy morning that found Ree and John tramping through +the valleys and over the hills of a fine, thickly wooded country toward +the Indian village. Early in the afternoon they came to a sloping +hillside beyond which lay a swampy tract grown up to brush and rushes. +Close by was a beautiful little lake and at the opposite side the smoke +was rising from the town of the Delaware tribe of Indians. + +As the boys approached the water, planning to walk around the lake, they +were discovered by three Indians in a canoe, which seemed almost to +spring out of the water, so quickly did it appear from around a bushy +point. The savages headed directly toward the boys, without a sound. + +The lads laid down their rifles as a sign of friendliness, and in another +minute a swift stroke of a paddle grounded the Indians' craft upon the +beach. The Redskins bounded ashore and with some reluctance shook hands +with the boys. + +Without loss of time Ree gave them to understand that he wished them to +inform their chief, Hopocon, or Capt. Pipe, that two young Palefaces were +waiting to call on him, and tell of their friendly wish to buy some land +of the Delawares, and that they would remain where they were while he +should send a canoe to carry them over. + +None of the three Indians had been in the party of the previous day, but +they seemed readily to comprehend what was desired of them and turned to +go. + +One of the Redskins, quite a young fellow, lingered behind. After the +other two had taken their places in the canoe he pushed it out into deep +water, then he made a running jump to leap, aboard. He might have done so +very nicely, had he not slipped just as he jumped. As it was, he went +sprawling in the water most ridiculously. + +The other Indians grunted derisively. John laughed heartily and Ree +smiled, amused to see the proud young buck get just such a ducking as he +deserved for trying to "show off." + +However, the lithe young fellow seized the canoe and was safely in it in +a very brief space of time. Soon it was far out on the lake, rocking and +dancing lightly as a feather on the fierce little waves, which a strong +wind was blowing up. + +Ree and John made themselves comfortable on the grassy bank beside the +water, and waited. It seemed a long time until they saw a canoe coming +for them. The fact was, and the boys shrewdly surmised it, that Capt. +Pipe, or Hopocon, desirous of impressing the strangers with his +greatness, purposely kept them waiting awhile. + +The canoe sent for the boys was manned by two of the Indians they first +met, and the lads were taken aboard. Although frail in appearance, the +light little craft was capable of carrying seven or eight persons. It was +made of the bark of a bitter-nut hickory, and was the first of the kind +in which the Connecticut lads had ever ridden. They quickly found that +they must aid in keeping the canoe balanced to prevent its upsetting, and +their efforts to do this, before they caught the knack of it, rather +amused the Indians. + +In a short time, however, the canoe touched shore before the Indian town +and the Paleface visitors were conducted at once to the council house. +This was a long low building, its lower part being built of logs but its +sides and roof being of bark. It was open at one end, and at the other +end skins were hung up to shut out the wind. In the center of the rude +structure, whose floor was only the hard-trodden earth, was a fire, the +smoke escaping through a large hole in the roof. + +All these things were observed by the boys in time, but first to attract +their notice as they entered, were the Indians, especially one of great +size--elderly and very dignified, seated on a bear skin spread over a mat +of bark. He shook hands with each as they stepped up, saying only "How." + +Ree answered in the same fashion but John was so flustrated that he +stammered: "How do you do, sir?" in a manner which bored him a great +deal, as Ree jokingly recalled the circumstance long afterward. + +But Capt. Pipe knew from the lad's tone that he spoke respectfully and it +pleased him. Other Indians seemed to feel the same, and the several minor +chiefs and medicine men who were present, shook hands with the boys with +a great show of dignity and formality. Then the young traders stated the +object of their visit and were shown to a seat opposite Capt Pipe and +pipes were brought out. They all smoked, the boys soon discovering that +it was not tobacco but "kinnikinick"--the inner bark of young willow +sprouts dried and pulverized--which was in the pipes. + +Presently the great chief laid aside his pipe, a long-stemmed affair with +a curiously carved clay bowl, and all others immediately followed his +example. In another minute the speech-making began. + +Capt. Pipe's was the first address, a brief preliminary statement. He +made a most imposing appearance as he stood very erect, his arms folded, +his head-dress of feathers reaching half way to the ground behind him, +the fringes of his shirt-like coat rustled by the movements of his body, +as he talked. Others followed, but the boys understood very little of +what was said. As Big Buffalo arose, however, there was a scowl on his +face which was far from pleasant. His gestures indicated hostility and +the Paleface lads knew that at heart he hated them. They wished Fishing +Bird were present to say a friendly word. + +Capt. Pipe, himself, spoke a second time a little later, however, and +very earnestly Ree and John studied his grave and stern, but not unkind, +face, to learn how he felt toward them. They could scarcely believe that +he was the savage, who, only a few years before, had been a leading +spirit in the torture of Colonel Crawford. + +Occasionally the chief used a few English words and the boys gathered +from the general trend of his remarks that they would be welcome if they +came only as traders; but that settlers were not welcome, and the Indians +wished no one to come among them who would clear land or do anything +which might lead to the establishing of a settlement of the whites in +their country. A reasonable number of hunters and traders might come and +go unmolested but there must be no building of permanent cabins; there +must be no different life than that led by the children of the +forest--the Indians themselves. + +A long silence followed this address, and then Ree arose to speak. His +heart beat fast, and John trembled inwardly as his friend began. But +nervous as he was, there was no weakness in Ree's tones. He spoke slowly +and distinctly, using every sign which could be expressed by look or +gesture to make his meaning clear; and looking the Indians squarely in +the eyes they did not fail to understand as the boy thus told them in his +own way, that he and his friends hoped to live at peace with them; that +there was but a very small party of them, himself and one other, besides +a woodsman who was temporarily with them, and that they had journeyed to +that beautiful country of the Delawares to hunt and trade and make +themselves a home. + +They had not been taught to live as the Indians lived, he said, and they +could not have a home without some cleared land about it for the crops +which they would need. For this land, Ree went on, they were willing to +pay a fair price, and they were desirous of selecting a location that +they might get their cabin built. The spot they had chosen was where the +course of the river had changed at some time, years before, leaving a +little clearing. + +As Ree finished speaking he stepped up and laid his presents--two small +mirrors and a handsome hunting knife--before Capt. Pipe. John followed +his example in this, and there were grunts of approval from all the +Indians except Big Buffalo, as the boys sat down. + +More speech-making followed, however, taking so much time that John +whispered: "If they don't stop soon, or ask us to stay all night, we will +have to climb a tree, somewhere." + +At last a decision was reached that the boys were to have a piece of land +including the clearing to which Ree had referred, and as much of the +river valley and adjacent hillsides as they reasonably needed, in +exchange for articles to be selected from their stock of goods. + +By close attention Ree had been able to understand the matter fairly +well, but as the talk of the Indians had seemed so monotonous, John had +let his thoughts run to other subjects. He had been wondering what had +become of the scalp they had seen at Big Buffalo's belt the day before, +and whether Tom Fish really knew the person whose death it signified; and +if so, who that person might be. He did not know then, all that he came +to know afterward. + +With hand-shaking all around the council was concluded, and Capt. Pipe +conducted the boys to the feast which the squaws had been preparing. +There was broiled venison (without salt) and a sort of soup containing +broken corn and beans cooked together in a large kettle. + +Nearly all of the Indians who had been in the council partook of these +dainties and many others did likewise. Ree and John ate heartily though +they did not exactly relish the lack of cleanliness displayed by the +savages in their manner of cooking, and in their eating. + +The squaws and Indian boys and girls, and many a young brave for that +matter, watched the young Palefaces curiously, and their eyes followed +the lads closely as Capt. Pipe led them away to his own bark cabin. It +was then that John first saw Gentle Maiden, Capt. Pipe's daughter. She +was truly handsome for one of her race, but she stepped behind a screen +of skins and was gone before Ree had even noticed her. + +The chief of the Delawares told the boys to make themselves comfortable, +and a squaw, who seemed to be his wife, spread skins for them to sit upon +or lie upon, as they chose. Capt. Pipe then gave his guests to understand +that they might come and go as they chose and remain with him as long as +they wished. He then withdrew and presently the boys did go for a stroll +about the queer town of the Indians. Fortunately they met Fishing Bird +and he walked all about with them then, leading the way to a fire before +which a game like dice was being played. + +The seeds of wild plums, colored black on one side and scraped white on +the other, were shaken up in a box made of bark and thrown out upon a +smooth spot on the ground. The Indians endeavored to throw as many as +possible of the seeds with the white sides up, and he who did the best at +this, won the game. It seemed very dull amusement to John, but Ree +watched the game with much interest, until Fishing Bird beckoned him +away. And then something took place which made Ree quite certain that +this was the Indian whom he might have killed as they struggled alone in +the forest solitude only the second night previous. + +It was a wrestling match which Fishing Bird proposed, and he called to a +strapping young savage and challenged him to undertake to put Ree down. +The brave smiled and stepped up willingly. Ree would have preferred that +such a contest had not been suggested, but as the young Indian looked at +him in a way which seemed to say, "It will not take me long to put you on +your back," he decided to throw the proud young redskin if he could. + +With many manifestations of delight the Indians gathered around, as they +quickly learned what was taking place; for there was nothing in which the +forest rovers had a greater delight than trials of strength and +endurance. + +Ree stipulated but one thing, as he threw off his coat and made ready, +this was that the wrestling should be "catch-as-catch-can." + +Ready assent was given, a space was cleared and an Indian clapped his +hands as a signal for the contest to begin. Like a panther the young +brave sprang toward his sturdy white opponent to catch him "Indian hold." +But he reckoned without knowledge of his man. Ree had not forgotten the +teachings of Peter Piper, and so cleverly did he dodge, and so quickly +seize the Indian about the legs, that in a twinkling the proud buck was +stretched upon the earth. + +There were expressions of wonderment from the Indians, but in a second +the vanquished redskin was on his feet, anxious for another trial. + +John, with utter disregard of good manners, was laughing heartily over +his friend's success, and as Ree declined to wrestle any more, the Indian +turned to him, and somewhat fiercely demanded that he should try +conclusions with him. + +John glanced at Ree and the latter nodded for him to go ahead. In another +minute then, a match, the closeness and desperation of which delighted +the savages beyond measure, was in progress. + +Tightly clasping each other's arms, the contestants strained every muscle +and struggled back and forth and round and round--now slowly, now with +movements most rapid, neither gaining an advantage. Longer and longer the +contest continued in this way, and Ree saw that John was becoming worn +out. He must act quickly or succumb to the Indian's greater weight and +power of endurance. + +"You can throw him if you only say to yourself that you must and that you +will, and then do it," Ree whispered, as John was pushed near him, and +his advice was taken. + +With a show of strength which surprised them all, John forced his +opponent backward, and tried again to trip the fellow, but could not. +Then he allowed the savage to try to trip him, and seizing the +opportunity, gave the redskin so sudden and violent a pull that he was +taken off his feet and fell heavily, dragging John down with him. Both +the Indian's shoulders touched the ground, however, and with savage glee +the redskins acknowledged John to be the victor. To do them justice, they +seemed not at all put out that their man was defeated. Only one who was +present scowled. He was Big Buffalo, and with an ugly look he strode away +from the campfire's light. + +Ree could not help but notice the savage fellow's hostile manner. "We +better watch out for him," he said to John as they discussed the incident +sometime later, when they had sought rest for the night on the skins in +Capt. Pipe's house. + +"It makes me feel--well, not exactly comfortable, Ree," John answered. +"Here we are a hundred miles from civilization sleeping in the hut of one +of the bloodiest Indians of the Northwest Territory; Indians all around +us, and Goodness knows what else in the woods, on every side!" + +"Why, John," said Ree, "I believe we are safer to-night than at any time +since we left Fort Pitt. Capt. Pipe may be a bad Indian, but he would +fight for us, if need be, while we are his guests. He might scalp us +to-morrow after we have said good-bye, but when we are in his house as +friends, we will be protected." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Again a Hidden Enemy. + + +The boys were early astir the following morning. As soon as they were up +Capt. Pipe's wife placed a dish of boiled corn, like hominy, before them, +and this was their breakfast. A little later, telling Capt. Pipe of the +great amount of work they had to do, the lads bade him good-bye, the +chief giving them each a pouch of parched corn, and sending an Indian to +take them in a canoe across the lake. + +It was two hours past noon when Tom Fish suddenly started up from the +broiled turkey with which he was regaling himself, as he heard some one +approach, and discovered Ree and John returning. He greeted them gladly, +but not in his usual hilarious fashion, and they could not but notice how +unlike himself he was as he carved for them some juicy slices from the +fine young gobbler he had cooked. Yet he listened with interest to Ree's +account of their trip, John often breaking in with such jolly comment as: +"You should have heard those Indians talk! Why they beat a quilting bee +for gabbling, except that they didn't all talk at once." + +"But they are real orators," added Ree quite soberly. "I've heard that an +Indian has three ambitions--to be a mighty hunter, a great warrior and a +grand orator; and there are some splendid speakers among the Delawares." + +"The's some red-handed, bloody murderers among 'em, too, I kin tell ye," +Tom Fish growled. "I got no rest whilst ye was gone, a thinkin' of it." + +"Has anything happened, Tom?" asked Ree, struck by his friends grave +manner. + +"Cheer up, Thomas, cheer up!" cried John. "You've been about as cheerful +company as a box of indigo ever since you saw that--that hideous thing at +Big Buffalo's belt." + +"Well, it's a wonder the' didn't nothing happen, an' somethin's goin' to +happen, I know," the hunter replied to Ree's question, ignoring John's +bantering, as he often did. "That Buffalo varmint means harm. I've been +thinkin' it all over an' the' ain't no two ways about it. If I ain't a +sight mistaken, I seen him peekin' down from the hill back there, not a +half hour ago--either him or some dirty Mingo; I didn't exactly see him, +but I heard some one, an' I'd a' peppered away at him if you kittens +hadn' 'a been gone an' me not knowin' just where ye might be. So I've +been thinkin' it all over, an' mighty sorry I am I ever piloted ye into +this hostyle kentry. The's only one thing to do, an' that's to take what +stuff ye kin an' get back to Pittsburg fast as yer legs kin take ye. Now +as fer me, I kin take care of myself, but I'll see ye part way anyhow, +an' I'd go clear back with ye if I didn't have somethin' very important +to 'tend to." + +Ree could not help but smile at Tom's drooping spirits, though the +discouraging talk made it necessary for him to appear really more +cheerful than he felt, as he realized that Big Buffalo really seemed +anxious to cause trouble. But he shook his head at John, as he saw the +latter about to scold Tom for bringing them into this part of the +wilderness only to advise them to leave it; for his chum's face showed +that he was not pleased with Tom's manner. + +"There is just one thing to be done," Ree exclaimed. + +"An' that's get right back--" Tom Fish was saying. + +But the youthful leader of the party interrupted: "Go back? No, sir! The +one thing to do is to go forward, and take our goods with us without +further loss of time. We will get a good, stout cabin up and then we'll +be better prepared for trouble if it comes. And that prowler, you heard, +Tom, must have been the same cowardly wretch who shot old Jerry. We must +watch for him. We cannot be too careful, but if he is the same fellow who +fired on us and nearly killed Black Eagle's son, 'way back on the +Pennsylvania border, I think I can guess who it is, and I can tell you, +he is a coward. But let's get to work." + +"I like yer spunk, lad, an' I like you, but what I want to say is, that +Tom Trout as some calls Fish, will stick by ye till ye get some sort of a +shack throwed up, anyhow." + +"Bully for you, Tom! And bully for you, too, Ree," exclaimed John +springing up to begin whatever task awaited him. "I was beginning to get +away down in the mouth, the way Tom was talking a minute ago." + +"We must take the goods out of the cart and pack them in convenient shape +for carrying," Ree directed, without further ado. "By dragging a few +things forward a hundred rods or so, then coming back for more and so on, +we should reach the river in a couple of days." + +And so all fell to work with a will. The cart did not contain a heavy +load, as it would have been impossible for old Jerry to have hauled it +through the woods, up hills, across streams and boggy places. But when it +came to carrying forward everything except the cart, which must be +abandoned, without the aid of a horse, the task was found to be a most +laborious one. + +The unpacking and rearranging consumed so much time that darkness had +come on before the last bundle of the merchandise and provisions had been +carried forward to the first stopping place, a little way beyond the top +of the bluff, in the valley below which the camp had been. + +While John and Tom erected a shelter for the night, for the wind was cold +and raw, Ree returned to the valley to procure coals with which to start +a fire at the new camp. He found it necessary to enliven the dying embers +with a few fresh sticks of wood, and as he stooped over to blow greater +life into the struggling blaze which started up, he heard a rustling in +the leaves on the hill behind him, in the direction opposite that in +which his friends were. Like a flash he sprang away from the fire into +the half-darkness which filled the valley. He was in the nick of time. A +rifle cracked and a bullet threw up the ashes and sent the sparks flying +where his head had been just a second before. + +With the speed of the wind Ree ran in the direction from which the shot +had come, his own rifle cocked and ready. He thought he heard some one +making off in the darkness as he reached the top of the hill, but whether +white man or Indian--Delaware or Mingo, he could not tell. He called out +a command to halt, but no attention was given his order for the uncertain +sound of fleeing footsteps continued. He chanced a shot in the direction +of the unknown enemy, although he realized it would probably do no good. + +While he reloaded his rifle Ree stepped behind a tree, and a few seconds +later John came running up. As it was too dark to continue the chase, +both boys returned to camp, stopping in the ravine to secure a fire brand +to start a blaze to prepare their supper. In vain did John ask questions +as to whom Ree believed the would-be murderer was; they could not be +answered, for, as Ree said, he had not seen the person. + +Tom Fish, disconsolate as he well could be, sat on a big bundle of +merchandise as the boys rejoined him. + +"It's sure death to stay here, lads," were the first words he said, and +his tone was not calculated to make the young travelers comfortable; but +resolving to look on the brighter side, Ree cheerily answered: + +"A man is in some danger wherever he is. We will all feel better when we +smell some venison on the hot coals. And just wait till we get our cabin +built! We are going to get some beans and late squashes from the Indians, +and bake some corn bread, and have a regular old-fashioned Connecticut +supper!" + +"Did ye hit him, d'ye think, Ree?" asked Tom, brightening up. + +"No, but he scared him into eleven kinds of fits," John answered for his +friend, catching the spirit of the latter's courage and enthusiasm. + +"It ain't that I am caring for myself. Tom Fish, or Tom Trout didn't ever +lose a wink o' sleep bein' afraid he couldn't look out for number one," +the woodsman went on. "But after--after that--thing we saw the other +day--but I guess we've got our appetites left," he said, suddenly +changing the subject. + +It was not long until the supper was ready and eaten and all did feel +much the better for it, as Ree had predicted. The ordinary noises of the +forest, the howling of wolves, in pursuit of some poor deer, perhaps, the +far-away shriek of a panther balked of its prey, it may have been, gave +them little concern. Though the darkness was intense and enemies might +draw very near without being observed, the boys believed they had made +peace with the Indians and the presence of four-footed enemies did not +worry them. + +Tom Fish felt very differently about the matter of the Indians' +friendship, but he kept these thoughts to himself for the time being, and +though there are far more comfortable places than a camp in a great +wilderness on a cold November night, the lads from Connecticut would have +been entirely happy had it not been for the mystery of the strange +prowler, the thought that several times they had been secretly fired +upon, and that there was no knowing when another attack might be made in +which the aim of the dastardly assailant need be but a trifle better to +end the life of one or both of them, perhaps. + +Yet, even these gloomy facts could not dispel the good spirits which +accompany good health and the hopefulness of youth. Even Tom seemed to +forget his dark forebodings as he was persuaded to tell a number of +stories of his own adventures. Quite comfortable, therefore, though on +the alert to catch the first sound of danger's coming, the little party +sat for an hour or two beneath the rude shelter which had been erected, +while the firelight performed its fantastic feats around them. + +Tom volunteered to remain on guard the first part of the night, and crept +out at the back of their little house of poles and brush, that he might +not be observed, should anyone be watching. Then, softly through the +darkness he made his way to a convenient tree against which he leaned, in +the dark shadows. Ree and John, wrapped in their blankets on their beds +of deerskins spread over the autumn leaves, were soon asleep. + +A heavy snow was sifting through the swaying branches of the trees when +Tom called Ree and the latter went on watch. This change in the weather +gave the quick-witted sentinel an idea. With the first streak of dawn he +called John to prepare breakfast, then hurried back to the valley where +their cart had been left, taking care to observe that there were no +tracks of any human creature along the way. From the box of the abandoned +two-wheeled wagon he secured two good sized boards and carried them to +camp. + +John watched in open-mouthed astonishment as he saw Ree coming up with +the lumber, but in a minute or two he discovered what his friend designed +to do. With no other tools than an axe and auger he soon built a sled +large and strong enough to carry all their goods. + +Ree's idea proved an excellent one. The snow-fall was just enough to make +a sled run smoothly, and by a little after sunrise "all the property of +Kingdom and Jerome, Indian traders and home-seekers," as John expressed +it, was piled upon the pair of runners which the senior member of the +firm had contrived, and they and Tom Fish were steadily drawing it toward +their long-sought destination. + +"We must reach the Cuyahoga river by night," Ree urged, and his own +determination gave strength to himself and his companions. Up hill and +down hill they hurried, tugging, perspiring, making the best speed +possible through the silent forest. + +And as the sun burst through a sea of gray-black clouds, and shone +brilliantly just before night's coming, it seemed an omen of good to the +little party in the wilderness, for at almost the same moment, Ree, +running on a head a little way, cried: "Here we are!" + +Before the daylight closed, the site of the cabin, work on which was to +begin the next day, had been selected on the long irregular mound close +to the river, which has already been described. + +Ree called attention to the natural advantages of the place--its sides +sloping down in three directions while on the fourth side and thirty feet +below was the river. It was a point which could be defended in case of an +attack, and the additional fact of the natural clearing and fertile lands +surrounding it, made the place seem most desirable. + +"The's only one thing the matter with this location," said Tom Fish, +surveying the mound from the semi-circular valley around it, as the +twilight settled down. "The's likely to be ague in a place like this, it +bein' so nigh the water. It's a mighty good thing to steer clear of, ague +is." + +"But there are so many natural advantages," Ree persisted, "and our cabin +will be well up in the air and the sunlight." + +"That's a good point, Ree," John put in, "but think of it--we will have +to carry all our firewood up that hill." + +"I'll carry the wood if you play out, old chap," was the answer and the +matter ended by Ree having his own way, as was generally the case, not +because he was selfish or obstinate, but because he was sure he was right +before he made up his mind, and because he had that born spirit of +leadership which gave himself and all others confidence in his decisions +and actions. + +Although careful observation during the day had failed to reveal any sign +of their prowling foe, whoever he might be, Ree and John agreed to divide +the guard duty of the night between them. Ree took the first watch and +reported all quiet when John relieved him at midnight. + +When daylight came John went a little way up the wooded hillside opposite +the mound to pick up some dry wood for their fire. Suddenly he stopped +and a startled look came upon his face. There in the snow were +foot-prints made by moccasined feet. They followed the trail the sled had +made the day before, up to the very edge of the clearing in which their +camp was made. + +There, John found, as he guardedly investigated, they circled off to one +side a little way, hovered about, here and there, then re-crossed the +sled's track and disappeared in the woods. What could it mean? Instantly +he remembered that the foot-prints of the person who had several times +fired upon their camp, had been made by boots. He hurried to the camp +mentally ejaculating: "What will Tom Fish say of this?" + +Tom was still asleep, but Ree had commenced the breakfast. "It is too +bad," he said, thinking aloud, as he learned of John's discovery. "I +suppose we ought to follow those tracks if only for safety's sake, and +find out who made them, but I do hate to lose the time when we ought to +be getting a cabin built." + +The discovery was pointed out to Tom when he awoke a little later. + +"A prowlin' Mingo!" the old hunter exclaimed as he inspected the +foot-prints. "Kittens both, the's trouble brewin'. It's a wonder the +varmint didn't shoot. I don't see what he's up to, always doggin' us this +way! But I'll tell ye what I'll do. You lads get yer axes an' go to work, +an' I'll foller up them tracks. An' bust my galluses, kittens both, I'll +give the varmint a dose as'll make him think of his pore ol' granddad, if +I ketch him!" + +Tom's suggestion found favor at once, though the boys could not explain +the varying moods of their friend, which made him cool and courageous one +day and dejected and fearful another. But breakfast being over, Tom set +out. + +"Be careful," Ree called after him. "Don't get yourself or us into any +row with the Delawares, unnecessarily." The hunter made no answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Building a Cabin. + + +By reason of having been the first to see the strange foot-prints, and +having come upon them, too, in the gray light of the early morning, when +alone in the forest solitudes, John found it hard to shake off the dread +with which they filled him. On the other hand, Ree was bright and chipper +as a squirrel in the nutting season. He reasoned that the discovery of +the tracks was fortunate, rather than otherwise, for it proved that their +mysterious enemy was still hovering on their trail and gave them an +opportunity of finding out who the wretch might be. And they now knew +that they must be constantly on their guard, while except for the +discovery, they might have become careless and fallen easy victims to +their sneaking foe. + +So he cheered John up, and loud and clear the sounds of their axes rang +out in the crisp, delightful air of the woods. Both boys threw off their +coats as the healthful perspiration came to their faces and hands, and +their vigor and strength seemed to grow rather than decrease as they +worked. They had been careful to keep their axes sharp, and the chips +flew almost in showers. + +The trees selected for cutting were those from five to eight inches in +diameter, whose trunks were firm and straight. The lads would be able to +handle logs of this size, while larger ones would give them trouble, +especially as they no longer had a horse to draw them to the cabin site. +The work would be hard at best, but no more than the boys had expected, +and the hearty good will with which they set about the task before them, +promised its speedy accomplishment in spite of obstacles. + +For mutual safety the boys remained near one another as they worked, and +timber was so plentiful that their progress was not interfered with by +this arrangement. Their rifles were within reach, and their eyes and ears +were alert. + +The hour of noon brought a brief but pleasant rest, and the afternoon +slipped quickly away. As supper time drew near, John, having had only a +cold lunch at noon, was becoming very hungry and was about to mention +that fact, when, instead, he suddenly seized his rifle and sprang behind +a tree. At the same instant Ree did likewise. + +"As sure as shooting I heard some one cough!" exclaimed John in an +undertone. + +"I heard a footstep," Ree quietly answered. + +"Ho ho!" It was Tom Fish who called, and coming forward, he confessed +that he had been trying the boys' watchfulness by trying to steal up to +them without being discovered. He was decidedly surprised to find them so +quick to detect his approach, for he had scarcely come within gun shot. + +Tom declared to John, however, that he had not coughed, saying it must +have been John's alert instinct which told him that some one was drawing +near, and made him imagine he heard such a sound. The boys did not agree +with him, however, for he also undertook to say that Ree had not heard a +footstep at all, but being keenly alive to detect the approach of anyone, +had imagined he heard a noise before he really did, all through that +peculiar sense which he called instinct. + +"But anyway it's a good thing for you, Tom Fish, that you hollered when +you did," said John. "I was just on the point of giving you a dose of +these lead pills that you are so everlastingly talking about!" + +Tom's face lengthened. "You don't want to be too quick with your pill +box, boy," said he. "You want to see what an' who you're shootin' at. +Great Snakes, now! What if ye had peppered away at me?" + +"Well, don't come creeping up like a sneaking Mingo then," laughed John, +and Ree, who knew that John had not seen Tom until after he called, and +had been really frightened, joined in his chum's merriment. + +"But tell us what you found, Tom," urged Ree. + +"Well, I'll tell ye," Tom slowly and very soberly answered, "I don't know +what to make of it. Them tracks was made by a redskin an' they came +straight to the camp along the trail we made yesterday. Then after +leaving here, they strike off an' go straight to the little lake across +from the Delaware town, an' there they stop. It's plain as kin be, that +some varmint from that there town has been spyin' on us. Now was it the +same critter as killed the horse, or wa'n't it? An' if it was, was that +critter the Buffalo chap? An' what was he hangin' 'round here ag'in for +last night?" + +These questions furnished an abundance of material for conversation +during the evening meal, but no definite answers were agreed upon. Ree +would not admit that they were in danger from the Delawares, though he +agreed that Big Buffalo was a bad Indian. He was quite sure, however, +that Big Buffalo had not shot old Jerry, for the Indian was at the head +of the party of savages he had encountered the morning after the horse +was shot, and had plainly been surprised to see any white person so far +west. + +But these arguments did not satisfy Tom Fish, nor was John at all sure +that Ree was right. + +After supper Tom said he must go back for a deer which he had killed in +the morning, a couple of miles from camp, and which he had hung up beyond +the reach of the wolves, until his return. But he had made a short cut in +coming back to camp and so had not secured the venison. + +John jokingly cautioned him to let them know when he approached the camp +in returning, lest he be mistaken for the prowler, and Tom most soberly +promised he would, and was at great pains to do so; for he was always at +a loss to understand the younger of the two friends, and could not be +sure whether he was in sober earnest or only joking, no matter what was +said. + +The night passed without incident. Tom did more than his share of guard +duty, but it became apparent next day that he did not like to wield an +axe. He said he would go out for some fresh "provender" and "sort o' earn +his keep" that way. + +So while Fish went hunting, the boys toiled away. They could not complain +because Tom helped so little with the cabin, for they had no right to +expect it of him; they were thankful indeed, to have him keep the larder +well supplied and to let him sleep during the day, for he took the part +of sentinel a large part of every night. This gave the boys opportunity +to secure a good rest and to rise each morning eager to continue the task +of building. + +Their faithful efforts were rapidly being rewarded and in due time the +logs for the cabin were all ready. These were chopped into lengths with a +view to making their dwelling 12 by 14 feet--no longer than the average +bedroom of modern houses, but affording all the space necessary, and +being the easier to keep warm by reason of being compact. + +No time was spent on "fancy work," as John called it, at that time. A +floor and other improvements could be added later. For the main thing to +be accomplished was to get a secure shelter ready as soon as possible. + +The Indian summer was long since gone, and though there were still warm, +pleasant days now and then, cold rains and snow came frequently. No +matter what the weather, however, the work went on, though hands and +faces were cut and scratched by the brush and chapped by the raw winds. + +"Ree, you are a perfect fright," said John with a laugh, one day. "If +people from home were to see you now, they would say you would be lucky +to find a scare-crow which would trade places with you. And your +hair--why, it almost reaches your shoulders!" + +Ree smiled but did not at once reply. Then, looking up, he said: "Old +boy, we are going back to Connecticut some day, but the time is a long +way off. If we go with whole skins and with money in our pockets, it will +be an easy matter to get into good clothes and to get our hair cut. What +you want to do, is to watch out that some Indian barber does not cut that +long hair of yours, rather closer than you like." + +It was so seldom that Ree joked, and he spoke now in so droll a way, that +Tom Fish laughed boisterously. It had been long since the boys had heard +him so merry; for, though he never mentioned that subject, the +remembrance of the scalp Big Buffalo had carried, seemed always on his +spirits, bearing him down to a melancholy, unnatural mood. + +They did not understand it then; they did not know. + +When the time came to raise the cabin--that is, to fit the logs in place +one upon another, after they had been dragged and rolled to the summit of +the mound, to be in readiness, Tom's help was found most valuable, and +both Ree and John appreciated his work. But notwithstanding, they would +have been better pleased had he not remained with them. He had shown so +much ill-feeling toward the Indians who had come about from time to time, +that there was reason to believe he would commit some rash act which +would make trouble for all. + +They could not tell Tom they did not trust him. They could not tell him +to go. Ree's repeated cautions that they must avoid getting into +difficulty with the redskins, were the only hints that could be given. + +Capt. Pipe himself and a large number of his braves visited the camp when +the cabin was nearly finished, to make the settlement for the land the +boys had engaged to buy. The young pioneers had twice sent word to him by +Indians who were passing, that they wished to make their payment and +enter into a final agreement, and he had at last sent messengers to say +that he would visit them on a certain day. On the day before Capt. Pipe's +expected visit Ree and John went hunting to secure an abundance of meat +for a feast for their guests. It was the first day they had spent away +from the hard work on their cabin, except for Sundays when they bathed +and gave their clothes needed attention, and no two boys ever enjoyed a +holiday more. There was some snow--not enough to make walking difficult, +but really an advantage to the young hunters, for it showed them the +numerous tracks of the game they sought. + +To this day, men, who have heard the stories handed down from generation +to generation, of the hunters' paradise in what is now the Northern part +of Ohio, in the years before 1800, delight to tell of the abundance of +choicest game found in the valley of the Cuyahoga and about the small +lakes in its vicinity, and Ree and John were in that very locality years +before the white man's axe had opened up the country to general +settlement, driving the deer, the bear and wolves and all kindred animals +away. + +Little wonder is it that these hardy pioneer boys were constantly +reminding themselves that they must pass by many fine opportunities for a +good shot, because of the necessity of saving their powder and bullets +for actual use; there must be no shooting except when there was a good +chance of securing game of some value. + +Little wonder is it, that, even under these circumstances, Ree, by the +middle of the afternoon, had secured a deer and three turkeys besides a +big rabbit which he caught in his hands as it sprang from its burrow +beneath a fallen tree-top. And John had also shot a deer and had killed +their first bear--a half-grown cub which, late in finding quarters for +its long winter's sleep, rose on its hind legs, growling savagely, as the +boys came suddenly upon it, in passing around a great boulder in the +river valley. + +In good time on a certain Tuesday in December, Capt. Pipe and his party +arrived. Some of the braves were inclined to be very frolicsome and it +was necessary to watch that they did not get their hands on property +which was not their own. + +But their chief was all dignity. He seemed to take a fancy to Ree, who +was scarcely less dignified than himself,--being so grave and quiet in +his deportment, indeed, that a doughty warrior who had made up his mind +to challenge him to wrestle, had not the courage to suggest the contest. + +The business of the day sat lightly on John's mind, however, and he was +full of antics as any of the redskins. It resulted in his being +challenged to wrestle, and he was laid on his back in short order. Then +he remembered Ree's advice at the time he wrestled at the Delaware town, +and making use of it, threw his man after a most clever and spirited +contest. + +But the great feature of the day, in John's estimation, was the foot race +in which he defeated a young Indian known to be one of the best runners +of the tribe, winning a beautiful pair of leggings which Big Buffalo put +up in a wager. It was a short-distance race and he realized that in a +longer run the Indian would have defeated him; it made him decide to +practice running long distances. He might wish to outrun the redskins to +save his scalp, some day. + +Tom Fish sat silent and alone, a little apart from all the others, during +the whole time. He eyed Big Buffalo sharply when no one save Ree observed +him, but the gruesome scalp no longer hung at the Indian's belt. + +Fishing Bird was there and seemed especially friendly, though, not being +a sub-chief, as was Big Buffalo, he did not pretend to any special +dignity, but enjoyed himself in sports with the other young Indians and +John. + +When at last the Delawares settled down to business, there was a great +deal of talk before an agreement was reached, that the boys should have a +tract embracing about 200 acres, which the Indians marked off, in +exchange for three red blankets and a bolt of blue cloth. It was a rather +dear price, John thought, but Ree declared it was a bargain, for they +secured just the land they wanted. Moreover, they retained the friendship +of the Indians, and even though they should be obliged to pay for the +land a second time to the United States government or the State of +Connecticut, they could well afford to do so, under these circumstances. + +There was general hand-shaking as the Delawares went away, though Tom +Fish discreetly disappeared for the time, vowing he would give his hand +to "no bloody varmint." + +The Indians insisted that the young "Long Knives" (Ree and John) should +return their visit the second day following, for a ratification of the +bargain they had made. This the boys regretted, as it would probably +delay the completion of their cabin; but they were obliged to accept the +invitation, and did so. + +The next day, Wednesday, however, work on their rude dwelling was +resumed, and Tom Fish turned in and helped like a good fellow. A +fire-place and chimney had already been built of flat stones from along +the margin of the river, and this day, so industriously did all apply +themselves, that the roof and door were finished and the cabin +practically completed except for the improvements to be added from time +to time. + +Words can hardly express the boys' pleasure as they built a fire for the +first time in the big fire-place and found that their chimney did its +work admirably. Without loss of time they at once moved into their new +house from the brush shack in which their home had been; and by the +cheerful fire light, as the night came on, they placed their things in as +orderly a manner as possible, and found themselves quite comfortable, +though much remained to be done, the chinking of the walls being the +chief task unfinished. + +Notwithstanding how the wind crept in at the open cracks until this work +should be done, the boys were happy as they cooked and ate their supper +in their new home. The ripple and murmur of the river as it splashed on +the shore or washed over half-hidden stones, rose to them from the foot +of the mound, and was like sweet music in their ears. The wind gently +tossed the branches of the trees in harmony with the water's sound, and +the howling of wolves far off somewhere in the darkness, made the feeling +of security which the stout cabin walls gave all the more pleasing. Their +prowling foe had not been about since the first night of their arrival, +and they felt entirely safe. + +"I guess I'll turn in, then," said John, after trying in vain to brighten +up Tom Fish and get him to telling stories; and he was soon asleep on the +bed of leaves he had made in a corner. + +Ree, having had no chance to read since leaving home, resolved to improve +this opportunity. He got his "Pilgrim's Progress" from a chest, and +settled himself before the fire. + +All the evening Tom had sat in silence beside the big chimney, but soon +he leaned over, and placing one big hand on Ree's knee, said in a low +voice: + +"I've been wantin' to tell ye somethin', Ree; it's about that thar scalp +that has upset me so ever since I seen it." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +The Strange Story of Arthur Bridges. + + +Putting down his book, Ree looked thoughtfully into Tom's face. + +"Of course," said he, "John and I have wondered about that--that +matter--but we have considered that you had some reason for not talking +of it, or telling us what it meant; and it was really none of our +business. But I want to say, Tom, that I would rather you would not tell +me anything which I must keep from John. He and I--well, you know how we +have always been together, and we have no secrets from each other." + +"Bless ye, Ree, lad," exclaimed the old woodsman, "ye kin tell him all ye +please of what I'm goin' to tell ye. The only reason I don't talk before +him is--he's so full o' fun ye know; and ain't always keerful what he +says. I don't keer when we're spinnin' yarns; but this here--it ain't no +triflin' thing." + +"It's John's way. He would not hurt your feelings for anything, Tom." + +The hunter did not answer at once, but buried his face in his hands. Ree +could plainly see that some great trouble was on his mind. Presently, +however, he raised his head, and with a sigh clasped his hands over his +knee. + +"Arthur Bridges," he began, "was as fine a young feller as ever the +Colonies produced; an' excep' for bein' a little wild, ye wouldn't a' +asked to clap yer eyes on a promisin'er chap. It was odd he made up t' me +the way he did, me bein' old enough to be his father, a'most, but ye see +we was both at Valley Forge together, an' all men was brothers there. We +had jist one pair o' shoes betwist us,--Art an' me--an' he wore 'em one +day, an' me the next, an' so on. When grub was scant, we shared each with +t'other, an' when he got down sick I took keer on him. + +"Art tol' me all about himself then, an' it was pitiful. His ol' pap back +in Connecticut was as pesky an' ol' Tory as ever did the Continental +troops a bad turn; but his mother was loyal as anybody could be. She was +born an' bred in this kentry, an' her husband had come from England; that +was just the difference betwixt 'em, to start on. The upshot on it was, +that Art believed as his mother did, an' it was nat'ral as could be that +he should run off an' join General Washington's army. That is what he did +anyhow, an' his father swore that he hoped the lad would be killed, +though his mother was prayin' for his safety night an' day. + +"Once in a long time Art would get some word from home--always from his +mother, tellin' him to stick true through thick an' thin an' all would +come right by an' by. I guess maybe he believed it would, too; but I +didn't ever have much hope on it myself. Bein' a little wild, as ye might +say, Art got wilder yet in the army, though there was always a great love +for his mother in him. But he got so toward the last that he hated his +father--yes, hated him fearful. Then for a long stretch he didn't hear +nothin' from home an' didn't see anybody as had heard anything about his +folks. + +"That's how matters stood when the war was over. He says to me as how he +was goin' home, anyhow, an' I tol' him he better do that same. As for me, +I was always for rovin' an' I lit out for Kaintucky which we was hearin' +was a great place for fightin' an' huntin'. So that's how it come about +that Art an' me parted company. + +"I was in Kaintucky an' 'round thar for more'n four years; some o' the +time with Col. Boone an' some o' the time with other chaps. Then I got to +longin' to go back east an' I went. I wasn't thinkin' o' meetin' up with +Art Bridges again, as I reckoned on him bein' up in Connecticut all +settled down an' married, prob'ly. But who should I meet up with one day +but Art himself, lookin' wilder an' more reckless than when I seen him +last. He comes up to me and slaps me on the shoulder an' calls me by name +a'most before I knowed him. An' it did give me a big surprise to see how +he had changed; not so much in looks as in his ways. He was that rough +like. After a while he tol' me all about himself, an' I could a jist +cried tears for him like a baby. + +"He had got started home, he tol' me, after the fightin' was over, an' I +don't know but he might a' been pretty near there--I don't just +remember--but anyhow, who should he meet up with one day in a tavern, but +a cousin o' his who looked so much like him they would 'a passed for +twins anywhere. This here cousin's name was Ichabod Nesbit, an' the first +thing he did when he saw Art was to shake hands with him like they was at +a funeral an' say as how he had some awful bad news to tell him. An' then +he went on to tell him as how his mother had died months before, an' his +ol' pap was livin' on an' cursin' the Colonies with pretty nigh every +breath--an' cursin' his own son. This Nesbit feller told Art, too, as how +the ol' man had run through all his property an' was livin' alone an' +actin' like a crazy man. + +"Waal, Art was for goin' back to see the ol' man anyhow, to see if he +couldn't do somethin' to straighten him up some; but this cousin, +Ichabod, tol' him as how he hadn't better do it, sayin' as how if he +could come home an' bring a fortune, folks would say it was all right; +but if he was comin' home with only the clothes on his back, why, he had +better stay away; because he couldn't do nothin' with his father anyhow. +An' somehow this is jist the way Art was brought to look at it, an' it +upset him terrible. For of course the soldiers didn't have no pocket full +o' money an' it was pretty true, likewise, as how he didn't have much +more'n the clothes on his back, jist as Ichabod said. Pretty blue, an' a' +most sick from all his plans o' goin' home bein' spoiled, Art turned back +right thar and led a rovin' life for years. He was quick an' sharp, an' +picked up a livin', but that was 'bout all for he couldn't settle down no +place. + +"All this an' a lot more 'bout what he had been doin', Art tol' me there +in Philadelphia, an' I was for gettin' him to go back west with me. But +no, he wouldn't; an' me bein' no hand to make out around the towns, I +jist went back to the frontier an' beyond. I was in Kaintucky an' in this +northwest kentry clean to Detroit. I got to know Simon Kenton, the Injun +fighter, an' I made some big huntin' an' fightin' trips with him an' +other fellers. + +"An' so time run along till this last summer a year ago, I takes it into +my head one day to go east agin; an' when I had my mind made up there was +no stoppin' me. I didn't go to Philadelphia right off, but to New York. I +wanted to see the big piles o' furs that come in thar. + +"Now it turned out that one day in New York who should I meet up with but +Joel Downs who was with us--Art an' me--in the army. We was talkin' away +thar, when he asked me did I know what had ever become o' Art Bridges? +An' it turned out that he went on to tell me then all 'bout how Art's +father was dead, an' his mother left alone, workin' hard to manage the +farm, though they was well off, because she wanted Art to have a nice +place when he come home. For she wouldn't believe the stories that was +told around (by Ichabod Nesbit, I've been thinkin') that Art was dead. So +she was waitin' an' waitin' for Art to come an' never knowin' how the +poor boy had been lied to by his 'ornery cousin, an' thinkin' he'd come +some day. + +"Waal, ye kin jist guess how I felt when I heard all this! For I saw +through it quicker'n wink that that 'ornery Ichabod was tryin' to make +folks think Art was dead, an' schemin' to get hold of the property that +would be Art's if he ever come home alive. But I never says a word 'bout +this to Joel Downs. Not much! I wasn't goin' to have him goin' back to +Connecticut tellin' folks as how Art was leadin' a wild life an' goin' to +the dogs. + +"No, sir; I jist begun huntin' for Art Bridges. I went to Philadelphia +first, an' got some track on him, findin' out as how he had gone off to +Kaintucky--lookin' for me, I guess. I went off to Kaintucky too, jist as +fast as I could. I got some track on him again, as how he had gone back +to Philadelphia, We must 'a passed on the road somewheres. Back to +Philadelphia I went again, an' found out as how Art had gone west to +Duquesne--Fort Pitt, or Pittsburgh they call it now. So I started for +Fort Pitt, an' on the way I met up with you young kittens on your way +into this red devils' own kentry. + +"An' I come on into this kentry because I found out at Fort Pitt that Art +had gone on west intendin' to make his way to Detroit, huntin' an' +trappin' an' tradin'. He expected to go on to Detroit next spring an' get +a place with a big fur company in charge o' some tradin' post or other, +away off somewheres, he didn't keer where--he was jist that sick of the +kind o' life he was leadin', an' wanted to get 'way off from everybody. + +"But that ain't all! There was a man thar as said Ichabod Nesbit had been +seen 'round thar, an' he was lookin' for Art Bridges, too. An' I know +that that 'ornery cousin was lookin' for Art to murder him. I felt it in +my bones. He wanted to be sure Art was dead an' then he would go back an +'pass himself off as Art Bridges an' have the property anyhow. Then when +I heard as how Ichabod had passed himself off as Art in one place, I was +sure I was right. But he didn't need to do no murder 'nless it was him as +hired the bloody varmints to do it for him," and the hunter's voice grew +husky, "for that--that thar scalp--it was Art Bridges'--an' oh, if I had +been jist a day sooner! For the blood on it was hardly more'n dry!" + +Tom Fish sunk his face in his hands and a convulsive half-sob, half-sigh +shook his body from head to foot, as though with ague. + +Ree Kingdom drew nearer the sorrow-stricken man and took his big hand in +his own. + +"Tom," he said, "it is a sad, sad story. I know just what you suffer. But +listen, Tom. It is not absolutely certain that the scalp we saw was that +of your friend. No man could positively swear to it, just by seeing the +color of the hair. And here is another thing I have been wanting to tell +you, Tom, but I did not like to interrupt you. I know how Arthur Bridges' +mother has been waiting and waiting for him to come. I have heard what +she has suffered, for she is a sister of a Mrs. Catesby at whose home I +lived and who was like a mother to me. But Mrs. Catesby's husband, who is +now dead, was not an agreeable man and the sisters hardly ever saw each +other. They lived far apart, but now Mrs. Catesby has moved to town and +they will be nearer one another. Mrs. Catesby was so kind to me, Tom, +that I would be mean indeed if I would not try to help you find her +nephew. But I will help you, and if he is now in this part of the country +we will hear of him sooner or later through the Indians." + +"No, there is only one thing to do, an' it is for me to do it," Tom Fish +replied without looking up. "You can't help, Ree, an' ye'd only get into +a row an' spoil all yer own plans. It is fer me to squar' accounts--an' +I'll--do it. For I tell, ye, Ree, I ain't mistaken. I'd know that silky +dark ha'r of Art Bridges' if I seen it in Jerusalem. Oh, it's too +bad--it's too bad!" + +Ree could make no answer, and in another minute Tom Fish straightened up +and said he would turn in. He told Ree to do the same, and as he lay +himself down the boy heard him saying: + +"We must all die--all die--an' them that's left can only squar' +accounts." + +Never before had the land of friends and civilization seemed to Ree to be +so far away as it did that night. His busy thoughts kept him awake until +nearly morning. He knew what Tom Fish meant when he said he would "squar' +accounts." In other words he would make the Delawares pay for Art +Bridges' death. There would undoubtedly he trouble which would put an end +to their plans for trading and home-making in this new country. They +could not fight the redskins one day, and be received as peaceable +traders the next. + +And on the other hand, if Arthur Bridges, a peaceable trader, had been +murdered, might he and John not be in greatest danger of the same fate? +Was it not true that the Indians were treacherous and not to be trusted +though they seemed friendly? Even if Tom began the fight alone, would not +the Indians blame him and John as being friends of his, and attack them? + +At last Ree went to sleep, resolving to persuade Tom Fish to await +developments. He believed they could find out through Fishing Bird just +where and how the bloody trophy which was at the root of their +difficulty, had been secured. That might throw great light on the +problem. + +John was early astir next morning and began preparations for the visit to +the Indian town for the council meeting at which the bargain for their +land was to be finally confirmed. Ree was strangely silent as he also +arose and ate the breakfast which John had ready. + +Tom Fish likewise had nothing to say except that he stated that he would +remain at the cabin while the boys were away, and might be doing some +work at chinking the walls. + +It was in the early winter, but the day came out bright and clear. +Greatly the boys enjoyed the bright sunshine and the bracing air as they +took their way through the woods, crossing the river at last, and +following a much used trail which took them toward the Delawares' +village. This was a new route to them, but it was the course the Indians +traveled and they found it better than the unbroken way they had +previously taken in going to the lake beside which Capt. Pipe's people +lived. As they walked along Ree told the story of Arthur Bridges as Tom +had told it to him, and earnestly they discussed their situation. + +In three hours the boys came to the Indian town, and Capt. Pipe called a +council to settle the bargain for the land. There was speech making as +before, but less of it, and then came a feast. But this too, was less +formal than before. The Indians seemed about to go on a hunting +expedition and had less time for other matters. + +The Delawares promised to do much trading with the young Palefaces, and +the boys would have considered their prospects very bright had it not +been for the likelihood of trouble arising through Tom Fish's desire for +revenge. + +The little information Ree secured from Fishing Bird was not at all +re-assuring, either. That agreeable, but none the less wily, savage would +give him no satisfaction when he questioned him concerning the bloody +trophy Big Buffalo had had, declaring, indeed, that no white man had been +killed by the Delawares for a very long time. + +The boys started on their homeward way in time to arrive before dark, and +reached the clearing just after sundown. With a hop, step and jump John +ran forward and up the ascent, to the door. + +"Why, where is Tom?" he called as he entered. "The fire is out and there +is no sign of him anywhere. He said he would stay here all day." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Treed by Wolves. + + +The disappearance of Tom Fish caused both boys considerable uneasiness. +They at first thought that he might return during the evening, though the +fact that the fire had gone out, indicated that he had left the cabin +early in the day. As they crept into their rough but comfortable bunks, +however, and no sign of his coming had been heard, the lads realized the +strong probability that the woodsman had set out by himself to avenge the +death of Arthur Bridges, and that he had intended going when he told Ree +the strange story of that young man, the night before. + +What the consequences of Tom's undertaking might be, afforded grave cause +for alarm. By reason of his having been looked upon as a member of their +party, the Indians would consider the boys equally guilty in any offense +which he might give. + +"We will have to make the best of it, though and if it comes to fighting, +we will fight like Trojans," said Ree, with some cheerfulness as he saw +that John was quite depressed. "But our best plan will be to say nothing +to Capt. Pipe's people about Tom. It may be that he left us on purpose to +avoid getting us into trouble." + +John agreed to this way of reasoning, hoping as Ree did, that it would be +only a few days until they would see Tom and learn what his plans were. +But time passed rapidly and nothing was seen or heard of the missing man. +Had Tom been anything but a skilled woodsman the lads might probably have +worried for his safety. As it was, that phase of the situation was +scarcely thought of. + +By working early and late, thawing the frozen clay beside their fire, +when the weather was cold, that they might quickly get all the cracks in +the cabin walls closed up, the boys accomplished a great deal in a week's +time. Several times little parties of Indians came to trade with them, +but the savages never mentioned Tom Fish's name. Big Buffalo came once +and appeared more hateful than ever, suggesting the unpleasant thought +that perhaps he knew more concerning the absent man than he would have +been willing to tell. + +The Delawares were not the only Indians who passed along the river and +stopped to exchange skins for cloth, knives, beads or other articles. The +Wyandots, Chippewas and Senecas had villages to the west and north and +were coming or going quite frequently. Sometimes wandering Mingoes came +along, and for them it may be said that they were more disposed to make +trouble than any of the others. The reason probably lay in the fact that +they were still to some extent influenced by British traders who retained +feelings of hostility toward the colonies, and used their influence to +secretly cause Indian disturbances along the borders. + +At no great distance from the cabin was the Portage trail referred to in +the previous chapter as passing near the Delaware town. This path was +much used by all the Indians in traveling between the Great Lakes and the +Ohio river, as it was the only stretch of land they must cross in making +all the remainder of the journey by water. Thus they willingly carried +their canoes over eight miles or so of land from the Cuyahoga to the +Tuscarawas river, or vice versa, for the sake of paddling on their way +with ease and rapidity the rest of the way, either north or south. + +Thus, as their visitors were many, the loft the boys had built in their +cabin came to contain a richer and richer store, as they placed there the +furs they secured. Sitting before the fire at night they would sometimes +estimate their probable profits, and as they discussed this and other +subjects, the lads never forgot that their safety was the very first +thing with which they must reckon. In this connection they were glad when +they learned that Big Buffalo had gone away on a hunting trip with a +large party of Delawares and would probably not return until spring. + +There was another subject which was sometimes spoken of--the fact that +the prowling enemy who had killed their horse had not for a long time +given any sign of being in the vicinity. Out of these talks grew a theory +that, perhaps, that secret foe was Big Pete Ellis, and that having killed +old Jerry he had at last decided that his revenge was complete. + +Their health, too, was a matter for daily thought with the boys, and +remembering that they must be careful to guard against needless exposure, +but both being hardy and robust, they were little troubled. + +So the time passed and all promised well. They contrived many traps for +the capture of fur-bearing animals, and to catch turkeys and other game +for food. Chief of their traps was the dead-fall, made by propping up one +end of a short piece of puncheon or hewed plank, in such a way that it +would fall upon the animal which attempted to secure the bait placed on a +trigger beneath it. This trigger was a part of the prop under the +puncheon and gave way at the slightest jar. As the plank fell it caught +the creature which had disturbed it, and being weighted down with stones, +held its victim fast. + +Wolf pens were also made and very successfully used. These were built of +small logs on the same principle as a box trap, having a very heavy lid +which fell, shutting inside any animal which entered and attempted to eat +the bait placed on the spindle, which at the least pull, gave way, +letting the lid fall. + +The turkey traps were made in the Indian fashion. A small, low enclosure +was built with sticks, a small opening or door being made close to the +ground. The pen was then covered with brush except for a passage way +leading to the door, and along this path beechnuts or other bait, were +scattered, the trail of nuts extending into the enclosure. A turkey +finding the food would follow it, its head near the ground, enter the +pen, and having eaten all it could find, would raise its head and so be +unable to see its way out. + +The boys did not have so much time for hunting as they had planned upon, +and yet scarcely a day passed but one of them sallied forth, nearly +always coming home with valued furs or meat for their table. They found +it advisable that one should remain near the cabin, both for its +protection from Indians who might steal, and to trade with those who +passed. Thus, while Ree would be spending a day with his axe clearing the +land near their home, John would be miles away, perhaps, rifle in hand, +eyes and ears alert. + +The next day, perhaps, Ree would have his turn at hunting. Every day, +too, they visited their traps to secure any creatures which had been +captured and to reset the snares or change their location. Wood for the +fire must be gathered, also, and it was wonderful how great a quantity of +fuel the big fire-place consumed; and pine knots from the rocky ravine +farther up the river, or hickory bark from the hillsides in the opposite +direction, must be secured every few days to afford light for the +evenings. There were also furs to be cured, and much else to be done, all +uniting to make the short winter days very busy ones, and to keep the +long winter evenings from being tedious. + +Night was the favorite time for baking and for the preparation of such +dishes as they thought they would most enjoy. Many were the feasts the +young friends had, though their stock of supplies included little besides +meal and fresh meat. At first they had occasionally secured beans and +squashes from the Indians, but the improvident savages soon exhausted +their supplies and were themselves dependent on corn and game. + +December had gone and January was well under way when there came a great +snow storm, which, at the end of a week left drifts piled high in all +directions. The snow was soft and light but so deep that it was well nigh +impossible for one to make his way through it, and Ree and John quickly +agreed to occupy themselves with work in and near the cabin. They set +about adding new conveniences to their home, such as shelves and +cupboards, pegs, etc. They hewed and whittled out long, thin hickory +slats, which they placed lengthwise on the rough bedstead they had built +in one corner, and found them so springy and comfortable to sleep upon, +when a couple of skins and a blanket had been spread over them, that they +were sorry they had not sooner thought of this improvement. + +John made a broom of hickory splints which did its work to perfection, +and Ree sharpened up his knife and carved from a whitewood block several +plates and trays to add to their meager collection of dishes. Both boys +improved the opportunity also, while shut in, to give their wardrobes +attention, making themselves stout moccasins, coon-skin caps and buckskin +breeches. + +Ree found time during many evenings to read again and again the few books +he had. John was less given to reading, but with much care and diligence +he managed to make a fife by boring a maple stick through from end to end +with a thin piece of iron from their cart, much of which had been carried +piece-meal to the cabin. Having natural musical talent, he learned to +play the instrument he thus fashioned, and though Ree had declared, as he +practiced, that he would surely bring the savages down upon them in war +paint, he liked the music as well as its maker. + +So, for a fortnight the boys were scarcely out of sight of the cabin. The +weather was bitter cold much of that time and no Indians came near. There +at last came a day, however, when the wind blew steadily from the +southwest, bringing with it at night a cold rain. Changing to the north, +the wind turned the rain to sleet, followed by cold weather again. + +"We must have snow-shoes," said Ree, when he saw what was taking place, +and the third day the boys ventured forth on such contrivances as they +had made and did finely with them on the thick, slippery crust which had +formed. Taking their rifles, they made their way through the river +valley, which, farther up the stream, became quite narrow, steep, rocky +banks rising on both sides to a height of fifty feet or more. No sooner +had they entered this canyon than they found evidences of deer and other +animals having taken shelter there. + +Going quietly forward, the lads discovered four of the timid, beautiful +creatures huddled together. They went quite near before the deer leaped +away through the frozen snow, and Ree quickly brought one down. John did +better--or worse--killing one and wounding another. They secured the +skins and choice parts of the meat and hanging these in a tree for +safety, pushed on after the two which had escaped. They especially +desired to capture the doe which had been wounded, not so much for its +value, but because Ree insisted that it would be downright cruelty to let +the poor creature suffer from its injury for days, perhaps, then die at +last. + +But the young hunters traveled far before again coming upon the animals +they sought. The trail took them out of the narrow valley or canyon, and +a long distance through the woods to a locality they had never before +visited, where the earth was cut by deep ravines, zig-zagging in nearly +all directions, and great rocks often obstructing the way. Here the trail +of the deer they were following was lost amid the tracks of others which +had gone into the deep rugged gullies to escape the stinging wind. + +"We may as well give it up, Ree," said John, as they sat down to rest. + +"Oh no, we mustn't give up," Ree answered, "but I'll tell you what we'd +better do. It is more than likely the Indians will be out in snow shoes +the same as we are, and they may want to swap some dollar furs for penny +knick-knacks this afternoon. One of us should be at the cabin." + +"I'll go," John willingly responded, for he liked to trade with the +Indians, and could make much better bargains than Ree; not but what he +was honest, but because Ree was so generous that he was often imposed +upon. + +"Will you stop for the venison we left in the tree?" Ree asked. + +"I think I'd better; there is no knowing where you will be when you find +that wounded deer! But don't stay out all night!" + +With this sally John started homeward, and Ree resumed his search for +blood-stains in the snow which would show him the trail he sought. Going +about among the rocks he discovered an opening about half the size of a +door which seemed to lead straight back into a rocky cliff. + +"Some sort of a cave," he mused, inspecting it more closely and looking +into it. He saw nothing, and, stooping down, ventured in a little way. +His eyes accustomed to the bright light of the snow, he was unable to see +anything in the darkness, or he might not have been so bold; for the next +moment a chorus of fierce growls caused him to retreat. + +"Bears, or wolves--bears, most likely," said Ree to himself. "At least if +they are wolves there should be tracks about the mouth of the cave. I +must remember this place." + +Having first looked about to make sure of the exact location of the +cavern, and resolving to explore it at some future time, the youthful +hunter hurried on. Under a clump of low pines he presently discovered a +herd of seven deer. One lagged behind, as they fled at his approach, and +Ree knew at once that it must be the wounded animal. He followed at the +best pace possible, but the deer was soon lost sight of, though the poor +thing had a difficult time of it to make any progress through the crusted +snow. + +However, Ree kept to the trail for he was sure the doe could not go far; +yet hour after hour passed and he saw no hope of accomplishing his +purpose. Had it not been that the deer was traversing a circle, the trail +now taking him in the direction of the cabin, he would have been obliged +to give up the pursuit. But now he passed through the ravine where the +deer had been wounded and up a steep slope towards home. By this time the +sun was going down, and from not far ahead of him Ree heard the howling +of wolves. If he could have looked but a little way into the future, he +would have taken the shortest route to the cabin. + +However, wolves had never given much trouble and Ree had no thought of +being afraid, though the howling sounded nearer and nearer as he +continued on. Soon, however, he guessed what had happened. The wounded +deer, unable to escape, had been killed by the fierce dogs of the +wilderness which were now devouring it. And in another minute the boy saw +them at their awful feast. With anger and foolhardy courage he sprang +directly among the struggling beasts, clubbing them with his rifle. + +Mad with starvation and the taste of fresh blood, one big wolf leaped +toward the courageous boy and others followed. He was barely able to hold +them at bay while he backed away toward a tree, swinging his rifle right +and left with desperate energy as he went. Closer and closer still the +wolves pressed him, snapping, snarling, howling--their long sharp teeth +and red throats being so near that he could almost feel their hot breath +on his face. But he reached the tree--a beech, one of whose lower limbs +was almost within reach. He leaped upward to seize it, but as he did so +his rifle caught on a bush and was jerked from his hand. A great gray +foamy-jawed creature snapped closely at his heels and by a hair's breadth +he escaped, as he drew himself quickly upward. + +Howling like enraged demons the wolves gathered about the tree. They +seemed to know that sooner or later they would drink human blood. Ree +thought of this. His only weapon was the knife Capt. Bowen had given him, +which he always carried. But his active brain was busy and he determined +to take a desperate chance in an effort to secure his rifle. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A Maple Sugar Camp in the Wilderness. + + +Selecting a stout limb for his purpose, Ree set to work to cut and trim +it, making a short, heavy club. He believed that if he should jump +suddenly down among the wolves, their surprise would be so great as to +keep them away for perhaps a second--long enough to permit him to seize +his rifle, and again fight his way into the tree. As he trimmed the thick +branch, however, an increasing danger presented itself. The unusual +howling of the pack and the scent of blood were attracting other wolves +to the spot. Before his club was ready, he had counted seven newcomers +galloping through the snow to join their blood-thirsty brothers. + +To put his life in peril by jumping down among so many of the fierce +creatures was to run a greater risk than Ree thought wise; but his +fertile brain presented a new plan. He partially split one end of his +club and securely bound the handle of the knife in the opening thus made, +with strips of buckskin cut from his clothing. In this way he made a +strong but cumbersome spear, and holding to the lowest branch of the +tree, he leaned far down and stabbed and slashed at every wolf within +reach. + +Several were wounded and their yelps of pain and rage were added to the +hideous, hungry cries of the others. Again and again the bold boy cut and +thrust as the wolves kept coming within his reach. The snow was dyed with +blood. For half an hour the battle was carried on. + +At last by a lucky stroke Ree gave one of the howling mass beneath him so +deep a cut across the neck, that it sprang but a few yards away and fell +dead, its head half cut off. At once the others pounced upon the wolf's +body, tearing it to pieces, scrambling and fighting in a most horrible +manner. + +Now was Ree's chance. He leaped quickly to the ground and seized his +blood-stained rifle; in another moment he would have been safe. But he +was so chilled--so stiff from the cold, that he missed his hold when +first he sprang to catch the lowest branch, and before he could try +again, a monstrous gray wolf dashed toward him. With a hungry howl, its +jaws dripping blood, it launched itself through the air, straight for +Ree's throat. + +With wonderful nerve the boy stood his ground. He did not falter, nor +hesitate. He met the hot-mouthed, vicious brute, his rude spear clasped +in both hands, and drove the blade deep in its shaggy shoulder. With an +almost human shriek and ferocity the wolf sprang sidewise under the +impulse of the steel's sharp thrust, and the spear quivering in its +flesh, was jerked from the boys' hands. + +Ree's first impulse was to run in pursuit, as the wolf dashed into the +woods, to recover his knife; but in an instant the whole pack was upon +him again, having made short work of their cannibal-like feast, and only +by the greatest dexterity was he able again to seize his rifle and climb +to safety, ere they reached him. + +"Now some of you will smart!" the half-frozen boy exclaimed, and he +clenched his teeth in righteous anger. Shot after shot he poured into the +blood-thirsty brutes, and watched with horror as those remaining alive +pounced upon the dying ones. Four wolves he killed and two he wounded, +then sat still awhile to catch his breath and scrutinize the dozen +animals remaining, to see whether the one in whose body his knife had +been carried off, was there. He did not see it, though the twilight gloom +was now dispelled by bright moonlight. So, soon he resumed the terrible +execution he had wrought among the pack, and was firing as fast as he +could load, when he heard John's familiar whistle. + +"Watch out, John! There are still eight of the fiercest wolves you ever +saw here!" he called in warning, but almost simultaneously his chum's +rifle sounded, and but seven wolves remained. Another and another went +down to death and the five which were left, taking fright at last, sped +away among the timber, howling dismally. + +"You had me scared into fits, almost," John cried, as Ree climbed down. +"Why, how cold you are!" he exclaimed, grasping his friend's hand. "And +your teeth are chattering! How did it happen any way? Come along home!" + +"I'll tell you about it; but we'd better skin the wolves that have not +been half eaten, first. Bloody as a battle field, isn't it?" + +"Skin nothing! Come along! It is most terribly cold and you are half +frozen. We can get the skins in the morning if there is any thing left of +them." + +For once Ree yielded and when he had recovered his snow-shoes John +marched him off at a pace which soon put his blood in circulation. + +If ever the young pioneers appreciated the rude comforts of their cabin, +they did that night. It was sweet to feel snug and warm and safe, as Ree +told the story of his adventure more fully than at first; to stretch +their weary legs toward the crackling fire and lean back in the fur +covered seat they had constructed. It was pleasant to eat a lunch of nuts +secured from the Indians, and venison steaks cut thin and broiled crisp. +It was comfortable to creep into bed and lie awake and talk of their +plans; of their friends in far away Connecticut; of incidents of their +trip; of the strange absence of Tom Fish; of the sad story of Arthur +Bridges--of many, many things. + +And it was pleasant to watch with half closed eyes, the firelight dancing +on the rough cabin walls, shining in the little looking glass near the +door, showing the rifles within easy reach in the corner near the bed; +the two sets of pistols in their hostlers on the table they had made; the +gleaming blades of their axes, beside the fire-place; the books Ree loved +so well, arranged on a board from the old cart, which did duty as a +mantel, and John's fife beside them; the frying-pan and their few dishes +on and in a little cupboard in the corner. It was sweet, too, to fall +asleep at last and dream of the present, past and future--enjoying the +perfect rest which the fatigue of honest, hard work by those possessed of +honest hearts must ever bring. + +The boys were very tired this night, partly from the unusual exercise of +walking so far on snow-shoes, no doubt. But they slept soundly and were +early awake. Directly after breakfast they visited the scene of the fight +with the wolves. They little expected to find anything left of their +victims, excepting bones, but they greatly desired to find the knife +which had been Capt. Bowen's present. + +Bones they did find--but nothing else. There was every evidence of a +ghastly feast having been eaten by the wolves and other animals during +the night. Even the skeletons of those which had been slaughtered, were +torn to pieces, and for rods around the snow was dyed crimson. + +To cry over spilled milk was no part of Ree's disposition, and though he +deeply regretted the loss of his knife, he did not allow himself to be +dispirited, though little he thought how important a part in their +adventures the knife was yet to play. + +In their walks about the woods at different times, Ree and John had +observed that there were many sugar maples near their cabin and had +agreed that they must make some sugar when spring came. That very +afternoon, therefore, they began preparations. + +Blocks of wood, cut into lengths of about two feet, they hollowed out +with their axes, making troughs in which to catch the sap of maples. The +work was tedious and many a trough was split and spoiled when all but +completed, before they caught the knack of avoiding this by striking +curved strokes with their axes, and not letting the blades cut in deeply, +in line with the grain of the wood. + +This work, and the making of spouts by punching the pith out of sumac +branches occupied several days. Not all their time could be given to it, +however, as traps must be visited and Indians given attention; for now +that the weather was becoming warm the savages came frequently, often +with many furs secured during winter hunting expeditions. + +"We have made a pretty good living and a nice sum of money for each of +us, when our furs shall have been marketed, and have also made ourselves +a home," said Ree one day, as they were estimating the probable value of +their stores. "After deducting for all losses, we will still have done +splendidly if we are fortunate in getting the skins to Pittsburg or +Detroit and working a fair bargain with the buyers." + +"We better get a good canoe Ree, and learn to use it; then we can take +the furs from here to Detroit by water, traveling along the shore of Lake +Erie," John suggested. "Capt. Pipe has a couple of fine, big canoes of +his own, buried for the winter. I believe he would sell us one." + +"We will go and have a talk with him about it soon," Ree answered. But it +was not for many days that the lads found time to do this. + +Fine weather came sooner than they expected. The spring of 1791 was one +of the earliest known to the section which is now Northern Ohio. Even in +February the sun came out bright and warm and the cold winds +disappeared. + +John and Ree awoke one morning after a rainy night to find the water high +in the river, the ice gone and the air as mild as on a day in May. + +"Hooray! I've a mind to take a swim!" John shouted, looking with +enthusiasm at the high water. + +"I wish we had our canoe now," Ree joined in; "but I'll tell you, old +chap, we must get our maples tapped, if we are to get any sugar." + +John turned away from watching the swift, deep current with a sigh. +Somehow he did not feel like working; but under Ree's influence he soon +forgot his "spring fever" feeling, and with a small auger bored holes in +the trees. Into these holes Ree drove the spouts, placing a trough +beneath each one, to catch the sap which at once began to flow. + +As all the trees were near the cabin the boys might have carried the sap +to their fire-place for boiling, but as this would necessitate the +carrying of a great deal of wood, they hung their largest kettle on a +pole laid across two forked sticks driven in the ground for that purpose, +just at the top of the hill near the edge of the clearing. + +By noon enough sap was collected in the troughs to make it necessary to +begin the boiling, and from then on through all that day and the next, +one of the boys was constantly busy, keeping the fire blazing hot and +gathering sap to keep the kettle well filled, as the water was boiled +away, leaving only its sweetness. At last they added no fresh sap but +allowed the syrup in the kettle to boil down thicker and thicker making +in the end, most delicious molasses. + +The boys finished the boiling in the cabin that night, and when the syrup +had become thick enough, they were able by stirring and cooling it, to +make an excellent quality of sugar. And it had been so long since either +of them had tasted sweets, that the maple's fine product was indeed a +treat. The prospect that they would be able to make enough sugar to last +them until another spring, was highly agreeable, and they were willing +enough to work hard during many days which followed. + +One regret the boys had, was that they possessed but two kettles, neither +of which was very large; but they boiled sap in both and found that by +greasing the upper edges of the vessels that they could keep them quite +full and still the sap would not boil over. + +They also tried the very primitive method used by the Indians before they +had kettles in which to make sugar. Several large, nearly round stones +were washed clean, then heated very hot in the fire. With improvised +tongs they were then lifted into a large keg of cold sap. As this +operation was constantly repeated, the sap was heated and slowly +evaporated. + +The process proved so very slow and laborious, however, that the boys +soon abandoned it. But while the experiment was being tried, something +occurred which made John laugh until he held his sides. The keg of sap +had been heated to almost a boiling point, and putting a couple of large, +hot stones in it both boys left the camp, John to gather more sap and Ree +to chop some wood. + +As John was returning, he discovered a young bear prowling about the +camp. The animal evidently had not been long out of its winter quarters +and was hungry. It sniffed the sweet odor which came from the evaporating +maple water, and ambled up to the keg. + +Quietly John ran and called Ree, and they both hurried softly back just +as the bear put its nose deep into the hot sap. A squeal of pain +followed, and the poor cub nearly turned a backward somersault, with such +sudden energy did it take its nose out of the keg. Wild with the smarting +burns the creature rushed blindly about, almost burying its head in the +cool leaves and earth, and missing its footing, somehow, as it approached +a steep part of the hill, fell and rolled to the bottom, squealing and +growling woefully. Before John could check his laughter, the bear had +picked itself up and trotted swiftly away, and Ree was willing to let it +go unharmed, though he could have shot it. + +This incident set the boys to thinking. Bruin evidently knew the smell of +honey better than of sap. All bears delight in sweet things, and Ree said +he had no doubt there were bee trees in the neighborhood. At any rate, +the lads decided, it would be well worth while to be on the lookout for +them as they were about the woods during the spring and summer. + +Continued fine weather put an end to the maple season. In a fortnight the +buds began to open on the trees and the flow of sap ceased. About this +time, too, the Portage trail, not far away, was constantly traversed by +redskins, many of them strangers, and there were daily calls at the cabin +of the young Palefaces. So there was much to do; the spring crops must be +planted, the pile of furs must be taken to market and fences must be +completed to keep deer and other animals out of the cornfield they +proposed having. + +There was another thing needing early attention, and that was the +securing of land at the junction of the Portage trail and the river. For +the boys could not but see how advantageous that place would be as a +trading point, and they wished to build a new and larger cabin there. +Moreover, as the country was opened up and settled, the land about so +favorable a site for a town would probably become very valuable. + +"We will go to see Capt. Pipe to-morrow, and bargain with him for a +canoe, and for some land where the trail and the river meet," said Ree +one warm March night as they sat on the doorstep of their cabin, in the +moonlight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Hatred of Big Buffalo. + + +The last of the sap had been reduced to sugar and made into a fine solid +cake weighing nearly two pounds, the night that the foregoing +conversation took place. With this as a present to the chief of the +Delawares, Ree and John set out early the following morning for Capt. +Pipe's town on the lake. + +It was a beautiful day. The red buds on the trees were bursting into +green, in places, and in many sunny spots the spring plants and flowers +were shooting forth. All nature seemed to feel the same joy and freedom +the young pioneers felt as they journeyed through the valley and over the +hills toward their destination. Birds were singing on every hand. Crows +were flying here and there and calling lustily to one another from all +directions. + +Once a young deer bounded toward the boys, then, after standing for a +moment, gazing with great, timid, bright eyes, wheeled and was away +again, springing over bushes and logs with a showy vigor as though it +were out only for a spring frolic. A wild turkey hen, wandering about in +search of a place for nesting, scampered softly out of sight as it caught +sight of the lads. A big woodchuck, fat and lazy, even after its +all-winter nap, circled around a tree, to whose trunk it was clinging, +thinking, perhaps, that it was always keeping just out of sight of the +human intruders upon its forest home, though it was badly fooled if such +were its opinion. A dozen times either boy could have shot it had he been +so disposed. + +A myriad of ducks flew noisily from a stream near the lake in which they +were feeding as John threw a stone among them. He and Ree could have +killed a score of the wild fowls had they wished to do so, but they were +in no mood for it. They had not set out to hunt, and moreover, the fresh, +balmy air and invigorating sunlight, together with the delightful odors +of the spring-time, put upon them both a spell--a joy in living which +made it seem inhuman to harm any living creature that day. + +This sense of gladness, of friendship with every thing the woods +contained, did not, however, prevent the boys from laying plans for the +capture of certain denizens of the forest's waters--the fish. They had +already noticed that the lake beside which the Delawares lived, also +other lakes not far away, and their own river, contained great numbers of +the finny tribe, but they had been too busy with other things to try +their hands at fishing. The opportunity for this fine sport, however, +caused them to deeply regret that they had brought nothing in the line of +fishing tackle with them. + +"The Indians will surely have hooks, and spears, though," John +suggested. + +"If they haven't, we can make nets and spears too; I shouldn't be +surprised if we could contrive hooks as well," Ree answered. + +"I wish we had a big mess of fish for dinner!" John exclaimed. "I'm +hungry as a bear." + +His wish was realized sooner than he expected. As was their custom, the +Indians at once placed food before their visitors, and the fare was just +what John had wanted. There was one objection--the savages cooked the +fish without cutting off the heads, but the boys did this for themselves. +That they could not be over-particular in the wilderness, they had long +since discovered. + +They learned that the Delawares had caught the fish with hooks made of +bones--evidently small wish-bones, and readily saw how they could make +just such hooks for themselves. + +Capt. Pipe himself had received the boys, and it was in his lodge that +they were eating. He sat nearby gravely smoking his pipe, seldom speaking +except when spoken to. Gentle Maiden, the chief's comely daughter, was +sitting in a pleasant, sunny place just outside the bark hut, sewing with +a coarse bone needle, on some sort of a frock, the cloth for which was +from the bolt her father had secured from the young traders. + +"Pretty as a picture, isn't she?" John whispered, glancing toward the +Indian girl. "Honestly, I never saw a white person more beautiful." + +Ree made no reply, for at that moment Big Buffalo put his head into the +lodge. The boys had not seen him since early winter and both arose to +greet him; but he ignored their action, and pausing only a second, strode +haughtily away. + +"What does that mean?" John asked in surprise. + +"Has the Big Buffalo cause to be unfriendly?" inquired Ree of Capt. Pipe, +wishing to call the chief's attention to the Indian's apparent +hostility. + +"Buffalo heap big fool," Capt. Pipe grunted, and then in the Delaware +tongue he spoke to his daughter, and she arose and took a seat inside the +lodge, behind her father. + +This incident filled Ree with misgiving though he was not sure enough +that he had cause for such feeling to mention it at that time. John was +differently impressed. + +"Why," he exclaimed, "Big Buffalo is on a mighty high horse to-day! He +acts like a child that has been told it must wait till second table at a +dinner! I wonder if there is any love lost between him and the Gentle +Maiden?" he added in a whisper. + +Ree did not answer, but now that they had finished dinner, signified +their wish to talk to Capt. Pipe about buying a canoe. + +The chief said he would make a trade with them and asked what the boys +had to give. In return they asked to see the craft he proposed swapping, +and were then conducted to a hillside where a canoe had but recently been +dug out of the dry muck and earth in which it was buried over winter to +save it from drying, cracking or warping. + +Ree and John examined the frail boat of bitter-nut hickory bark, with +much interest. It was about eleven feet in length, well constructed, and +water-tight. With it were a couple of light, nicely carved paddles. + +John promptly pronounced the canoe a "regular macaroni" and laid down a +pair of brass buckles, signifying that he would give them for the skiff. + +Capt. Pipe gravely shook his head. + +"I'll add this," said Ree, and laid down a brand new hunting knife, +having a leather sheath. + +The chief again shook his head, and a large number of Indians, who had +been lazily basking in the sun or idly paddling about the lake, and were +now gathered around to see the trade, also shook their heads. + +"The thing isn't worth as much as we have offered," cried John, good +humoredly, "but I'll put in this," and he produced a large yellow silk +handkerchief, shaking it out, and holding it up to view in an attractive +manner. + +Still Capt. Pipe shook his head and all his braves did the same, though +their eyes glistened. + +Ree hesitated before adding more to their offer and while he did so, John +picked up the handkerchief and with no thought but to display it to good +advantage, turned to Gentle Maiden, who stood at her father's side. With +a quiet sweep of his hand he draped the bright cloth over the girl's +shoulder and arm. + +The next instant a stinging blow struck him in the face and he staggered, +nearly falling. It was Big Buffalo's fist that had shot out at him. + +John sprang toward the burly Indian and they grappled in a terrible +struggle. All had taken place so quickly that before Ree could reach +John's side, his friend's throat was in the redman's grasp and the breath +squeezed nearly out of him. Capt. Pipe also rushed in, and amid the yells +of the Indians, the chief and Ree soon separated the combatants. + +The incident created so much excitement that the young Palefaces scarcely +knew what to do. But Ree's firm voice and quiet dignity, as he told the +chief that his friend had meant no offense, and should not have been +assaulted, had a quieting influence on the savages, and although John +could scarcely refrain from speaking the angry words he thought, he did +manage to hold his tongue, and Capt. Pipe soon restored order. + +Big Buffalo slunk away like a whipped dog, as the chief berated him, and +the boys saw no more of him that day. How much better it would have been +had they never seen him again! + +The bargain for the canoe was completed by Ree adding a second +handkerchief to their offer, as much as a peace offering as anything, and +then as it was growing late, and the disturbance had made the question of +buying more land a dangerous one to be brought up, at that time, the boys +departed. They shook hands with Capt. Pipe and the braves standing near, +and Fishing Bird went with them as they carried their canoe down to the +water and launched it. + +While pretending to show the lads about handling the canoe, this friendly +Indian warned them to watch out for Big Buffalo; that he supposed them to +be admirers of Gentle Maiden, with whom he was in love, and would kill +them if he got a chance. Moreover, that he had set out to kill them when +they first arrived and would have done so but through fear of Capt. Pipe +with whom they had made peace. + +The information Fishing Bird imparted, with the exception of the latter +part, was no news to the boys; but it was so disquieting that instead of +paddling about the lake until evening, as they had intended, they crossed +the water, carried their canoe overland to the river, and went directly +home. + +John was very blue over what had occurred, blaming himself for having +caused the trouble. Ree was not so much depressed. His nature was not one +of extremes; he was never hilariously merry, never completely dejected. + +"It was no more your fault than my own, John," said he, as they talked of +Big Buffalo's display of malice. "You meant no harm, and if the ugly +fellow had not hated us to start with, he would not have taken offense so +easily. We may have some trouble with him, and again we may not. Capt. +Pipe will be on our side, I'm sure, for you heard what the chief said +about the rascal. The fact is, that in spite of all the stories we have +heard about Capt. Pipe and his cruelty, he has certainly been friendly +with us, and honest." + +By talking in this way Ree restored John to a happier mood, and they were +both quite jolly again as they prepared and ate their supper. They looked +forward to many happy days in their canoe on the lake and river, and John +proposed to rig up a sail with the canvas which had been over their cart, +and by doing so to give the Indians quite a surprise. + +That evening the boys turned their attention to making spears for +fishing. They used some seasoned hickory which Ree had put in the loft +during the winter for the making of bows, and were able to whittle stout, +sharp prongs out of that hard, tough wood. It was too late when the task +was completed, however, to try the spears that night, but the boys went +to bed promising themselves good sport the next evening. + +Although it was still the month of March, the early spring of that year +enabled the young pioneers to begin at once active preparations for +planting corn, potatoes, beans and squashes. The brush cut during the +winter was so dry that it burned readily, and the green brush was easily +disposed of also, when piled upon the hot fires the dry wood made. In +this way the natural clearing was soon rid of the scattered undergrowth +upon it. + +In a week or two the boys were ready to put the seed into the ground, +digging up a space a foot square wherever they planted a hill of beans, +corn, potatoes or squashes. It was slow work, nevertheless, and the +sturdy, youthful farmers were obliged to toil early and late. + +The coming of Indians frequently interrupted the boys at their work, and +they came at last to continue their labor after greeting their visitors, +unless the latter wished to trade. This the redmen liked none too well. +They seemed to think their Paleface neighbors were devoting too much time +to agricultural pursuits, and they feared and hated any and all things +which threatened to turn their forests into farm lands. But Ree and John +agreed that, since they had bought the land of the Indians, they might as +well give the former owners to understand, first and last, that they +meant to do with it as they liked. + +Big Buffalo was among a party which stopped at the cabin one day. He +refused food and made himself generally disagreeable. The boys, however, +ignored his ill humor and by paying no attention to him, showed that they +neither cared for his hatred nor feared him, even though they knew there +was murder in his heart. + +Frequently strange Indians were among those who called and they asked the +boys to visit their towns, some of which were not many miles away, to +trade. As all of those Indians traversed the Portage trail or path, the +boys were reminded almost daily of the desirability of securing land for +a trading post, at the junction of the trail and the river. As they +talked the matter over and looked into the future, more and more did they +regret that the violent conduct of Big Buffalo had prevented their +prolonging their bargaining with Capt. Pipe on the occasion of their last +visit to him. + +About this time, also, another reason arose for the two friends wishing +to visit Capt. Pipe again. It was the discovery that he had secured some +horses. During the winter he had had none of which the boys knew. Now, +they reasoned, if they could buy a horse, they would rig up their cart +and carry their furs to Pittsburg. It would be a much shorter and safer +trip than to undertake to reach Detroit, and they would require no +assistance. There was some probability, too, that among their friends in +Pittsburg they might get some word concerning Tom Fish. + +It was one night when they had returned from fishing, bringing in a great +string of rock bass, that the lads talked this over, and at last +concluded to go again to the Delaware town, even at the risk of having +more trouble with Big Buffalo. + +It seemed like a holiday after their hard work when, next day, the boys +found themselves in their canoe, gliding over the river's rippling waters +on their way to Capt. Pipe's home. They carried the craft overland to the +lake and soon approached the Indian village. + +But suddenly as they drew near, the noise of many voices was borne to +them by the breeze. First loud, then low, the sounds came across the +water. Ree's face grew grave, and John, who had been whistling, abruptly +paused. + +"Ree," he exclaimed, "that is the song of the war dance!" + +"It means that the Indians are going on the warpath, as surely as we hear +it," was the answer. "Be on your guard, John. We will soon find out just +what it means; for we won't turn back now, even if we see the whole tribe +in war paint." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Danger. + + +As Ree spoke, a war whoop sounded clear and strong, instantly followed by +a weird, chanting song. In a minute or two this ceased, and then with +fiercer war whoops than before, broke out afresh. Quickly the young +pioneers floated nearer the scene of these warlike outbursts, and soon +ran the nose of their canoe upon the gravelly beach. With fast-beating +hearts they climbed the little bank which rose gradually a few feet back +from the shore. + +The boys had approached so quietly, and the Indians were so intent on +the war dance that their coming had not been discovered. And well +might the lads pause in uncertainty as to the manner of the reception +they would receive; for now they came into full view of the assembled +savages--half-naked warriors in paint and fighting costume, forming a +circle and dancing and yelling like the wild barbarians they were, while +old men and young braves and squaws and children looked on in savage +rapture. Before either boy could speak Big Buffalo espied them and +leaped forward brandishing a tomahawk. + +Instinctively Ree seized his rifle in both hands, ready for instant +action. John did the same, and with an ugly leer the Indian paused. His +action had attracted attention, however, and at this critical juncture +Capt. Pipe discovered the presence of the visitors, and called angrily to +Buffalo to put up his weapon. + +The chief was in full war costume himself, making anything but a +peaceable appearance as he met the boys half way, when they obeyed his +signal to approach. But without a word he conducted them to a place in +the circle of spectators gathered around the forty or fifty warriors, and +at once the dance went on as though there had been no interruption. + +With terrible gestures of their arms and throwing their bodies into all +sorts of warlike attitudes, the Indians danced about in a circle, +striking their feet down with great force as they kept time to the +beating of two rude drums and the uncanny song they sang. With a war +whoop a dance was begun and continued for about two minutes, the +outlandish music making the forest ring. Then the singing and dancing +stopped and the Indians walked more slowly around the circle. + +In a minute or so another war-cry would sound and the fierce, weird music +and dance would be resumed. Then some old Indian among the spectators +would clap his hands, signifying that he wished to speak. The dance would +cease and the dancers walk slowly 'round again, while a speech was made. +The address would occupy only a half minute or a minute perhaps, and then +with another of the horrifying war cries the dancing and singing were +started afresh. + +Ree and John might have been a thousand miles away for all the attention +that was given them at first. + +"Perhaps it is merely a festival dance," John whispered to his chum. + +"No, it would be given in the evening if that were true," was the answer. +"It means the warpath, I am sure." + +John was replying that, whether merely for entertainment or for war, the +dance was enough to scarce a civilized person into a trance, when Capt. +Pipe suddenly clapped his hands and, as the music ceased, stepped forward +and spoke. All the other speeches had been made in the Delaware tongue, +but the first man of the tribe now spoke partly in English. This was for +the purpose of giving them to understand just what was going on, the boys +were quite certain, and frequently the chief pointed toward them. + +In substance Capt. Pipe said that the whites were encroaching too far +upon the lands of the Indians and preparations were being made for a +great union of tribes to drive the "Long Knives" back. He promised to +lead a large party of his people to join with other Delawares and the +Wyandots, Shawnees and Miamies in a war which, he boastfully said, would +secure to the Indians again the forests in which the Palefaces had +already settled. He referred to the defeat of the whites eight years +before and the burning of Col. Crawford, and said there would be scalps +and plunder for every warrior who accompanied him. + +John found himself wondering whether the Indians might not undertake to +whet their appetites for blood by killing himself and Ree. It was of the +terrible torture of Col. Crawford which Ree was thinking, and he found it +hard to keep from hating the savages before him, horrible and cruel in +their war paint. + +And could he have looked but a few months into the future and have seen +the awful carnage in which Capt. Pipe and his braves had a prominent +part, at the defeat of General St. Clair near Fort Jefferson, in what is +now Mercer County, Ohio, he could not have restrained his hatred as he +did. He knew in after years what that battle was, and knew that the +Indians boasted that their arms ached from their work with the scalping +knife. + +The frightful dance went on when Capt. Pipe had finished speaking, his +words inspiring the warriors with new vigor who now whirled around the +circle with great rapidity, going through all the motions of attacking, +vanquishing and scalping an enemy. At a call from the chief, other +warriors, who were standing by, sprang into the ring, joining in the +singing and contortions of faces and bodies with furious energy. More and +more followed as from among the dancers Capt. Pipe called from time to +time, urging all who wished to win renown as warriors, and to hang scalps +of the hated whites at their belts, to join him. + +Each addition to the whirling, shrieking, blood-thirsty band was greeted +with thunderous whoops and in the end nearly one hundred and fifty braves +were going through all the barbarous awe-inspiring motions of the horrid +celebration. + +Well might Ree and John feel alarm for their own safety; but they looked +upon the terrifying scene quite calmly, notwithstanding that, as their +passions were kindled and their savage patriotism aroused by the fervor +of the dance, the Indians gave them many a glance which was far from +friendly. + +There were two things which Ree could not help but notice as the revel +continued; one was that Big Buffalo had not joined the dancers, the other +that Gentle Maiden kept her eyes downcast or looked away across the lake, +not once turning toward her father's painted braves. He could not help +thinking it strange that the Buffalo had not signified his intention of +joining the warriors, and sincerely wished the unfriendly fellow had done +so. There was no other Indian whom he had so much reason to dislike, nor +one whose absence was so greatly to be desired. + +For more than two hours the dance went on, interrupted only when some +one--usually an old Indian whose fighting days were past--clapped his +hands as a signal that he wished to make a speech. But at last Capt. Pipe +called a halt and stepped out from among the dancers. With a fierce look +toward Big Buffalo he demanded to know of him why he would not join the +war party. + +Ree and John could not understand all that was said, but they saw plainly +that the chief was angry. In substance the reason of Big Buffalo was that +it would not do for all the strong men to leave the village; that some +one must remain to provide meat for the women and children, and to +protect the town. + +Capt. Pipe heard these excuses with a scowl black as a thunder cloud. His +giant frame stretched itself to its greatest height and his voice was +filled with contempt as he flung forth but one word: + +"Squaw!" + +Perhaps the chief thought, as Ree was at that moment thinking, that the +Buffalo's main reason for wishing to remain at home, was that he might be +near Gentle Maiden. But had the truth been made known, it would have been +shown that the treacherous rascal had other and more wicked reasons in +his heart, as the young settlers were destined soon to learn. + +With a wave of his arm Capt. Pipe dispersed his followers as Big Buffalo +made no reply to his contemptuous outburst. The Indians threw themselves +on the ground to rest, or went away to their lodges to more fully prepare +for the warpath, and the chief, turning to Ree and John, motioned to them +to follow. He led the boys to his cabin and his wife placed food before +them. When they had eaten, Capt. Pipe produced pipes and all three +smoked. It was a silent compact of peace, and pleased indeed were the +Paleface lads that the Indian showed this disposition. + +Though it was not this act of friendship which made him bold, for he +would have spoken in the same way under other circumstances, Ree quietly +asked Capt. Pipe why he had determined to go on the warpath. + +The chief made no answer. + +"It is wrong," Ree continued gravely. "You are living here in happiness +and security. No Palefaces have molested you. Your people are contented; +they have but to step into the forests for an abundance of game; but to +approach the waters for all the fish they may desire. The ground yields +rich returns from the labor of the planting season. The Delawares are +well fed and well clothed. Why, then, should they give up the hunt and +the pleasures of their present pursuits to take up the hatchet? Why +should they seek the lives of others, whether white men or redmen? They +will only bring sorrow and weeping to their own villages, and sorrow and +weeping in many a Paleface home for those who never return. More than +this, Chief Hopocon, the Great Spirit looks with unhappy eyes upon his +children who go on the warpath not in defense of their own, but to kill +and murder those who have not harmed them." + +Knowing Ree even well as he did, John was surprised to hear him speak +thus fluently and strongly, but he greatly feared his friend had been +unwise in speaking so boldly. + +For a few seconds Capt. Pipe did not answer. And then he said: + +"The young brother speaks well, but he does not know. His heart is right, +but he does not know. With the young men who have come among us as +traders and hunters we have no quarrel. They will remain here. They will +send no word of the war dance to the forts. Other Palefaces are crowding +further and further. Faster and faster, they are driving the people of +the forest before them. The young brother does not know this. The young +brother does not know of the word which every day the runners bring, +which tells of the crowding of the Long Knives more and more upon the +forest. Now must they be warned to come no further. Now must they be +driven back to the eastward. Else the setting sun will be the home of the +Delawares. Too long--too long, have the hands of Hopocon and his warriors +been idle; too long--too long, have the Delawares borne in silence." + +Capt. Pipe spoke with emphasis but not violently. As he concluded he rose +slowly to his feet. Ree and John followed his example, and with meaning +in his gesture far greater than words could have expressed, the chieftain +motioned to them to depart. + +With shoulders thrown back, head erect as proud and dignified as the +Indians whom he felt had thus insulted him Ree turned to leave the cabin. +But John had no such feeling, nor was he so quick to see that Capt. Pipe +was offended by the words of one whom he probably considered a mere boy. +He saw only that the object of their visit was not likely to be +accomplished and turning to the Indian said: "Capt. Pipe, we wanted to +buy a little more land, and we need a horse." + +With an impatient, violent sweep of his right hand, the chief touched +John's shoulder with his left, and pointed across the lake in the +direction of the cabin by the river. + +Even in this brief time Ree's temper had cooled, and with proud dignity +he turned and offered Capt. Pipe his hand. The Indian took it and also +shook hands with John. His manner was haughty but not altogether +unfriendly. The boys still felt that they had nothing to fear from him as +they walked away. + +Fishing Bird was near by as usual, as the lads went down to the water's +edge. He was naked to the waist and was bedecked with paint and feathers. +He looked really fierce as he strode up to shove off the canoe, not in +his customary happy mood, but with cool indifference. He spoke to Ree in +an undertone as the canoe glided free of the beach. + +It was late in the day, and this fact taken in connection with the +unpleasant events of the afternoon caused the boys to decide to go +directly to their cabin rather than to go on to the Tuscarawas river upon +which the Indians were accustomed to travel toward the Ohio, and which +the lads had planned to explore. + +"What did Fishing Bird say to you, Ree?" asked John as they reached +mid-lake. + +"He said we should watch out for Big Buffalo." + +"Thunderation! I wonder if he isn't jealous of Big Buffalo that he is +always warning us against him? He must know that we know the old rogue +doesn't like us, and that is all there is of it!" + +"Oh, I guess Fishing Bird means well; and I'm sorry enough that Big +Buffalo isn't going with the war party. It may be that the chief's +daughter has something to do with his remaining at home, but I do not +think Fishing Bird is jealous. As for us, why the Buffalo has no reason +to hate us on the girl's account. We never even spoke to her." + +"But she has spoken to you, Ree." + +"Never." + +"Yes, she has--with her eyes." + +"What nonsense!" Ree ejaculated. "Big Buffalo is ugly by disposition and +has never forgotten the mistake I made when I overlooked him and supposed +Fishing Bird to be in command of the hunting party I met that time they +made me prisoner." + +Presently the talk drifted to other subjects, especially to the +disposition of the furs that had accumulated, and the plan to take them +to Detroit now seemed the best to follow. + +"But after all," Ree suggested, "we may be able to get a horse from the +Delawares when Capt. Pipe and his men have gone." + +"No, he is going to take all the horses. They will dance and feast +to-night, and to-morrow they start," John answered. + +"How do you know that?" + +For a moment there was no answer; and then in a hesitating way, "Gentle +Maiden told me," John confessed. + +"Oh, ho! You've been making love behind my back, have you? When did you +talk with her?" + +"Why, there was no love about it!" exclaimed John with some pretense of +indignation. "We were only talking as anybody has a right to talk. It was +while they were dancing. And Ree, she speaks better English than her +father. The missionaries among the Moravians who were massacred several +years ago, taught her. And she thinks it was right that Col. Crawford was +burned because of that massacre, too." + +"I guess you have talked to the Indian girl before to-day, haven't you? +Why didn't you tell me?" + +"She spoke to me first, and I--I didn't think you would be interested." + +Ree smiled but said no more. The canoe grated on the lake shore toward +their home, and the boys took up their task of carrying it overland to +the river. + +"We will write some letters to send home from Pittsburg; for I still hope +we will be able to take our furs there," said Ree, as they tramped +along. + +But in those days of more than one hundred years ago, as at the present +time, none could tell what changes another sunrise would bring; and +neither Ree nor John dreamed of the terrible danger which was closing in +around them, the story of which is told in "Two Boy Pioneers". + +THE END. +W.B.C. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Far Past the Frontier, by James A. 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