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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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