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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Riflemen of the Miami, by Edward S. Ellis
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Riflemen of the Miami
+
+Author: Edward S. Ellis
+
+Release Date: November 11, 2008 [EBook #27231]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIFLEMEN OF THE MIAMI ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Garcia and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Kentuckiana Digital Library)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE RIFLEMEN
+
+OF THE
+
+Miami.
+
+
+
+BY EDWARD S. ELLIS
+
+
+
+BEADLE AND COMPANY,
+NEW YORK: 141 WILLIAM STREET.
+LONDON: 44 PATERNOSTER ROW.
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1862, by
+BEADLE AND COMPANY,
+In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
+Southern District of New York.
+
+
+
+
+THE RIFLEMEN OF THE MIAMI.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE RESCUE.
+
+    If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well
+    It were done quickly.--MACBETH.
+
+
+"Quick, boys, and be careful that they don't see your heads."
+
+Four men were moving along under the bank of the Miami, with their
+bodies bent, at a gait that was almost rapid enough to be called a run.
+They were constantly raising their heads and peering over the bank, as
+though watching something in the wood, which in this section was quite
+open. All four were attired in the garb of hunters, and were evidently
+men whose homes were in the great wilderness. They had embrowned faces,
+and sinewy limbs, and the _personnel_ of the woodman--of the men who
+hovered only upon the confines of civilization, rarely, if ever,
+venturing within the crowded city or village. It is hardly necessary to
+say that each carried his rifle and his hunting-knife.
+
+Between the three foremost was a striking resemblance; it appeared
+impossible that more than five years divided them in age. Two were
+brothers, George and Lewis Dernor, while the third answered to the
+_sobriquet_ of Dick--his real name being Richard Allmat. The fourth--he
+who brought up the rear--possessed an individuality which must have
+marked him in any situation. Barely more than five feet in height, and
+with bowed legs, instead of owning a jovial temper, as one would have a
+right to expect from his jolly-looking face, he was, in reality, a most
+irascible fellow. Never known to express satisfaction at any
+occurrence, gift or suggestion, he was constantly finding fault, and
+threatening dire vengeance upon those who surrounded him. These threats
+never being carried out, attracted little attention. "Tom" (as he was
+called) was considered a privileged individual, and, in spite of his
+disposition, was a favorite with those who knew him. This may seem
+strange when we add that, in addition to his sour temper, the natural
+defect of his legs prevented him from placing any dependence upon them.
+At his best speed he was but an ordinary runner. A stranger well might
+wonder that he should adopt a life where fleetness of foot was so
+necessary--in fact, so almost indispensable. Tom O'Hara turned ranger
+from pure love for the wild, adventurous life; and, despite the natural
+defects to which we have referred, possessed accomplishments that
+rendered him a most valuable ally and companion. He never had met his
+superior with the rifle, and his knowledge of woodcraft was such that,
+although he had spent ten years on the border, his slowness of foot had
+never operated against him; nor once had he been outwitted by the
+red-men of the woods. Besides this, he had the enviable reputation of
+being a _lucky individual_--one whose rifle never missed fire, or sped
+wide of its mark--one to whom no unfortunate accident over occurred; so
+that, take him all in all, few hunters were safer in the wood than this
+same Tom O'Hara.
+
+These four were known as the _Riflemen of the Miami_, of whom Lewis
+Dernor was the leader. Another member, then a long way off, will be
+referred to hereafter.
+
+"Quick, boys, and be careful that they don't see your heads,"
+admonished Lewis, ducking his own and gesticulating to those behind
+him. "_Sh!_ look quick! there they go!"
+
+The four stretched their necks, glancing over the bank, out into a
+small clearing in the wood.
+
+"They'll cross that in a minute," whispered the first speaker. "Don't
+raise your heads too high or you'll be seen."
+
+"You don't appear to think nobody knows nothing but you," growled Tom,
+with a savage look.
+
+"_Quiet!_ There they go!"
+
+One Indian strode into the clearing, followed by another, then by two
+abreast, between whom a woman was walking, her head bent as if in
+despair, with steps painful and labored. Behind these came three other
+savages. They passed across the clearing--the whole seven, with their
+captive like the moving figures in a panorama, and entered the wood
+upon the opposite side.
+
+"Every mother's son of them is in his war-paint," said Lewis--who, by
+the way, divided his words with Tom, the other two rarely speaking
+except when directly appealed to.
+
+"Who said they wasn't?" demanded Tom. "And what difference does it
+make? They've got somebody's gal there, hain't they? eh? Say. And
+what's the odds whether they've daubed themselves up with their stuff
+or not?"
+
+"Well, what's the next move? To set up a yell and pitch after them?"
+
+"None but a fool would want to do that."
+
+"But don't you notice the bank gets so low down yonder that it won't
+hide us, and we'll have to show ourselves?"
+
+"It'll hide us as long as we want to be hid. Come, don't squat here, or
+we'll let the rascals slip, after all."
+
+Again the three moved down the bank, as rapidly, silently and
+cautiously as spirits, ever and anon raising their heads as they gained
+a glimpse of the Indians passing through the wood. The latter were
+following a course parallel with the Miami, so that the relative
+distance between the two parties remained nearly the same. It was
+manifest to the hunters that the Indians intended crossing the river
+with their captive at some point lower down, and were making toward
+that point. It was further evident from the deliberation in their
+movements, and from the fact that they were not proceeding in "Indian
+file," that as yet they had no suspicion of being pursued, although
+every one of their number knew of the existence of the Riflemen of the
+Miami--that formidable confederation whose very name was a word of
+terror even to their savage hearts. Entirely unsuspicious of the danger
+which menaced them, every thing was in favor of the hunters.
+
+For several hundred yards further, the two parties maintained their
+relative distance, the Indians proceeding at a usual walk, and the
+whites at a very irregular one--now running rapidly a few steps, and
+then halting and gazing over the bank to ascertain the precise
+whereabouts of their enemies; then skulking a few yards further, and
+halting as before, remaining all the time nearly opposite the "braves."
+Suddenly the latter came to a stand.
+
+"Now for a confab," said Lewis, as his companions gathered about him.
+"I wonder what they are going to jabber about?"
+
+"What do you want to know for, eh?" asked Tom.
+
+"It's pretty plain they're going to cross the river, but, confound it,
+how can we tell where it's going to be done? I've told you that the
+bank gets so low, just yonder, that it won't hide us any longer."
+
+"Who wants it to hide us? They intend to cross the river _here_, and in
+about ten minutes, too. Just watch their actions, if you can do it
+without showing your head."
+
+The Indians stood together, conversing upon some point about which
+there seemed a variance of opinion. Their deep, guttural, ejaculatory
+words were plainly audible to the hunters, and their gleaming, bedaubed
+visages were seen in all their hideous repulsiveness. They gesticulated
+continually, pointing behind them in the direction of their trail, and
+across the river, over the heads of the crouching Riflemen, who were
+watching every motion. Nothing would have been easier for the latter
+than to have sent four of these savages into eternity without a
+moment's warning; yet, nothing was further from their intentions, for,
+of all things, this would have been the surest to defeat their chief
+object. The captive would have been brained the instant the savages saw
+they could not hold her. The great point was to surprise them so
+suddenly and completely as to prevent this.
+
+From the present appearance of matters, this seemed not very difficult
+of accomplishment, as it was a foregone conclusion upon the part of the
+hunters that the savages would endeavor to ford the river at the point
+where they lay in ambush for them. It only remained for the Riflemen to
+bide their time, and, at the proper moment, rush upon and scatter them,
+and rescue the captive from their hands.
+
+"I wonder whether they're going to talk all day," remarked Tom,
+impatiently, after they had conversed some twenty or thirty minutes.
+
+"They're in a dispute about something. It won't take them long to get
+through with it."
+
+"How do you know that, I should like to know? Like enough they'll talk
+till dark, and keep us waiting. Confound 'em, what's the use?"
+
+No one ventured to reply to Tom's sulky observation, and, after several
+impatient exclamations, he added:
+
+"The longer they talk the louder they get, which is a sure sign the
+dispute is getting hotter, which is another sign it'll be considerable
+time before they get through."
+
+"I am sure we can wait as long as they can," said Dick, mildly.
+
+"My heavens! who said we couldn't? Just hear 'em jabber!"
+
+The conversation of the Indians had now become so earnest, that every
+word spoken was distinctly heard by the Riflemen. The latter, from the
+dress and actions of the savages, understood they had no chief with
+them, but were merely seven warriors, who had been out on this
+barbarous expedition, and were returning to their town with the booty
+and the captive they had secured.
+
+"They're talking in the Shawnee tongue," said Lewis. "Can't you
+understand what they're driving at?"
+
+"If you only keep your jaws shut a minute or two, I could; but if you
+three fellers mean to talk all the time, I should like to know how I am
+going to understand any thing they say. See whether you can keep quiet
+a minute, just."
+
+Tom's companions did as requested, while he bent his head forward, and
+seemed to concentrate all his faculties into the one of listening. Upon
+the part of the Riflemen all was still as death. After several minutes
+of the acutest attention, Tom raised his head, and said, with a glowing
+expression:
+
+"They're talking about _us_."
+
+"The deuce! what are they saying?"
+
+"Don't you see they're pointing up the river and across it? Well, the
+meaning of all that is, that they're wondering which way we'll come
+from."
+
+"What seems to be the general expectation?"
+
+"The trouble is just there--the expectation is altogether too general.
+Some think we're on their trail, others that we're following the other
+side the river down, and waiting for the chance to let drive at 'em,
+while one, at least, feels certain we're _coming up_ the stream to meet
+'em."
+
+"Is that their dispute?"
+
+"A part of it, of course, but the trouble is--what to do. Some want to
+strike off in the woods and take a roundabout way to reach home; but
+the greatest number want to cross the stream at this point."
+
+"They'll probably do it then."
+
+"Of course they will--no; I'll be shot if they ain't going further into
+the woods!" suddenly exclaimed Tom.
+
+"They're going to start in a minute, too. Get ready, boys, for a
+rush--it's all we can do."
+
+"Hold still a minute," commanded Tom, excitedly.
+
+Then dropping his rifle, he ran down to the river's edge, and picked up
+several large pebbles, one of which he placed in his right hand as if
+about to throw it.
+
+"What are you going to do with that?" asked Dick.
+
+"That's none of your business; you've only to wait and see. Just keep
+your heads down now, if you don't want them knocked off."
+
+Tom, drawing his hand back, struck it quickly against his thigh,
+accomplishing what is generally termed "jerking" the stone. The latter
+went circling high over the heads of the disputing Indians, and came
+down upon the other side of them, cutting its way through the dry
+leaves of the trees with a peculiar _zip-zip_, which was distinctly
+heard by the Riflemen themselves.
+
+The unusual sound could not fail instantly to attract the attention of
+the Indians. They paused in their conversation, and turned their
+alarmed gaze toward it, as if in expectation of some danger. With their
+instinctive caution, they separated, and partially protecting
+themselves behind the trees, prepared to receive what they supposed to
+be their enemies. A noticeable fact did not escape the eyes of the
+Riflemen. The captive, a weak, defenseless girl, was not allowed to
+screen herself, as did her captors, but was compelled by them to stand
+out in full view, as an additional safeguard against their bullets.
+
+It was at this moment that Tom hurled the second stone over the heads
+of the Indians, it descending with the same sharp, cutting sound, and
+resolving their suspicions into a certainty that their white enemies
+were indeed at hand. Lewis Dernor, now that the moment of action had
+arrived, was as shrewd and far-sighted as either Tom or any of the
+others. It was these very qualities, coolness and self-reliance in the
+crisis of danger, that made him nominally the leader of the Riflemen of
+the Miami. He saw the great advantage gained by O'Hara's artifice in
+attracting the attention of the Indians to the point opposite to that
+from which the peril threatened; but, at the same time, he well knew
+that those same Shawnees were too well skilled in woodcraft to suffer
+their gaze to be diverted for any length of time from the river-bank.
+
+As matters now stood, the captive herself was the only one who was
+looking in the direction of the latter, while her gaze was a mere
+mechanical one, wandering hither and thither without resting for a
+moment upon any particular object. Lewis felt that the all-important
+point was to make her aware of the vicinity of friends. She being a
+total stranger to them, and evidently with no hope of any immediate
+rescue, made this a matter of considerable difficulty; but, without
+hesitating a moment, Lewis suddenly arose to the upright position,
+thereby exposing his head and shoulders, and beckoned to the girl to
+approach him. The instant he had done this, he dropped on his face and
+disappeared.
+
+The attempt was only a partial success. At the moment of rising, the
+gaze of the captive was toward a point further down-stream; but the
+figure of the hunter, as it rose and sunk from view, was in her field
+of vision and did not entirely escape her notice. The unusual
+occurrence drew her look thither, making it certain that a second
+attempt, could it be made, would succeed far better than the first. All
+this Lewis comprehended, and as quick as possible repeated his movement
+precisely as before.
+
+This time the girl saw him and perfectly understood his meaning; but,
+with a precipitancy that filled the hunters with the greatest alarm,
+she started directly toward them, with outstretched arms, as if
+imploring assistance. It was at this instant that Lewis discovered a
+quickness of perception, coolness and promptness of action that was
+absolutely wonderful. Looking out upon the exciting drama being enacted
+before him, he saw with unerring certainty how far the girl could run
+before being fired at by the savages. Waiting until she had gone the
+distance, he raised his head and shoulders to view, and called out in a
+voice of thunder:
+
+"I say, gal, drop flat on your face and stay there."
+
+The quickness with which this command was obeyed, and the almost
+simultaneous crack of two rifles, might well have caused the belief
+that she had fallen because shot through the heart; but such was not
+the case. The command of Lewis broke upon her like a thunder-peal, and
+as quick as a flash of lightning did she comprehend the fearfully
+imminent peril in which she was placed. So marvelously close had been
+the calculation of the hunter, that at the very instant she obeyed him,
+the rifle of the nearest Indian was pointed full at her. This did not
+escape the eagle eye of O'Hara, who, with the same coolness that
+characterized the action of his leader, discharged his piece at the
+bronzed head of the Shawnee, his aim scarcely occupying a second. The
+bullet sped sure, striking the savage at the very moment his own weapon
+was fired, and his death-yell mingled with the whistle of his own
+harmless rifle-ball.
+
+Even in this moment of terrible danger, the manner in which the Indians
+shifted to the opposite side of the trees could but attract the notice
+of the hunters. It was simultaneous on the part of all, and resembled
+that of automata, moved by machinery. First, every copper-colored body
+was exposed to full view; and the next minute six gleaming
+rifle-barrels only showed where they had sheltered themselves from the
+fire of the whites. They no longer doubted the point from which their
+danger threatened, and a genuine strategic Indian fight now commenced.
+
+Had the captive, who was now literally between two fires, done nothing
+but merely fall upon her face, her situation could not have been
+improved in the least thereby. But the nature of the ground near her
+was such that, by lying perfectly motionless, the bullets of the
+Shawnees could not strike her, unless they could gain a position nearer
+to the hunters. As matters stood, she was safe only so long as her
+captors could be kept from changing their places.
+
+This was manifest to both the whites and the Indians; and while the
+latter were now actuated by the desire to slay the girl, the efforts of
+the former were turned toward her salvation. It was further evident
+that the Shawnees were aware that they were now opposed to the Riflemen
+of the Miami, and were nothing loth for a trial of skill. The loss of
+one of their number was such a matter of course, that it operated only
+as an incentive for exertion and skill upon their part.
+
+A portion of the dress of the girl, as she lay upon the ground, could
+be seen by several of the Indians, and they fired numerous shots at it.
+Finding this accomplished nothing, they resorted to a far more
+dangerous expedient--that of shooting away enough earth in front of her
+to allow the free passage of one of their bullets to her body. It will
+be seen that great skill was required to do this, but the expertness of
+the Shawnee marksmen was equal to the task. They commenced their work
+by sending a ball so as to strike the earth immediately before her, and
+a few inches below the surface. The instant this was done, another
+fired his bullet directly after, with such skill that it varied but the
+fraction of an inch from following directly in its path. The force with
+which these balls were discharged was such that the twelfth one would
+most assuredly take the life of the girl.
+
+None knew this better than Lewis Dernor, who, in the same trumpet-like
+tone that had characterized his former command, called out:
+
+"Young gal, clean away the dirt in front of you and hide yourself
+better, or the imps will riddle you."
+
+It required no more incentive to do this, and she used her hands with
+such vigor that a few moments accomplished all she could wish. The
+ground, being soft and moist, favored her, and when she dragged herself
+a few feet forward, all of her dress disappeared from the view of the
+Indians, and she was as safe from their bullets as if behind the
+river-bank itself.
+
+A few more shots convinced the Shawnees of this, and they now sent
+several bullets whistling over the heads of the Riflemen as if to
+remind them that they were to receive attention. So long as the members
+of the two parties maintained their respective positions, this affray
+could amount to nothing; accordingly, several of the savages made an
+effort to change their posts in such a manner as to outflank the
+whites. Despite the admirable skill with which this attempt was made,
+the deadly rifle of George Dernor brought down a warrior as he flitted
+from tree to tree. This, for the present, put a stop to the movement
+and turned the efforts of the savages in another direction.
+
+Two brawny Shawnees, convinced that nothing could be done against the
+Riflemen, renewed their attempts to secure a shot at the girl, who all
+this time lay as motionless as if dead. They commenced working their
+way slowly but surely toward the river, while she, unconscious of the
+murderous stratagem, patiently awaited the turn of affairs which would
+free her from her terrible thralldom. Finally, an Indian, who was
+squatted behind a tree, gained a view of a tuft of her hair and brought
+his rifle to his shoulder. The sunlight that scintillated along the
+barrel of his weapon made it resemble a burnished spear, poised in his
+hand, while following it up to the stock, not only his crooked arm
+which supported the gun, but his entire profile was visible. Forgetting
+his own peril in his anxiety to slay the helpless girl, the Shawnee
+leaned several inches further forward, thereby discovering one-half of
+his shaven head. Ere he could draw it back, the whip-like crack of
+another rifle broke the stillness, and he fell forward on his face,
+pierced through and through the brain.
+
+"I've a great notion to break your head for you!" exclaimed Tom, in an
+excited whisper to Dick, for it was the latter who had fired the fatal
+shot.
+
+"Why, what's up now?"
+
+"I'd just got that Shawnee sure when you picked him off. Don't you
+serve me that trick again."
+
+With this ebullition, Tom subsided, and turned his attention once more
+toward their common enemy.
+
+The shot of Dick really decided the affray. It convinced the Indians
+that not only were they unable to shoot the girl or avenge themselves
+upon the Riflemen, but the latter had so much the advantage of them,
+that to prolong the contest would only be to insure their own
+annihilation. Three of their number were already slain, and the
+remaining four, from their respective positions, had not the shadow of
+a chance to pick off any of the whites. What might naturally be
+expected under the circumstances occurred. The savages commenced a
+retreat, conducting it with such caution that the whites could not gain
+another shot. The last seen of them was a shadowy glimpse in a distant
+part of the wood, as the four fled, thereby doing only what the
+Riflemen of the Miami had before compelled many a body of Indians to
+do.
+
+A few minutes later, Lewis rose up and said:
+
+"This way, gal; there's none of the imps left."
+
+The girl, timidly raising her head, glanced about her, and then, Lewis'
+invitation being repeated, she arose and walked toward him, looking
+furtively backward as though still fearful of her late captors.
+
+"Bless your dear soul," said Lewis, warmly welcoming her, "you've had a
+skeery time with them Shawnees, but you're safe for the present. You
+may set that down as a question that needn't be argued."
+
+"Oh! how can I thank you for rescuing me! I can never, never repay
+you," said she, with streaming eyes.
+
+"Who the deuce wants you to pay us?" asked Tom, gruffly.
+
+"Come, come, Tom, see whether you can't be civil once, even if you've
+got to be sick for it. Don't mind him, little gal; he loves you all the
+more for what he said."
+
+"I know he does, or he would never have risked his life to save a
+stranger as he has just done."
+
+Tom, from some cause or other, was obliged to gouge his eye several
+times with his crooked finger. One might have suspected that they were
+more moist than usual, had he not looked particularly savage at that
+moment. Dick, who, by the merest accident, glanced in his face was
+nearly startled off his feet by the irascible fellow shouting:
+
+"What you looking at? Say! Can't a chap rub his eyes without your
+gaping at him that way?"
+
+Dick meekly removed his gaze, while Tom looked ferocious enough to
+annihilate the whole party.
+
+The girl, just rescued from the Shawnees, was a comely maiden. Though
+attired in the homespun garb of the backwoods, she would have attracted
+attention in any society. If not beautiful, she certainly was handsome,
+being possessed of a countenance rich with expression, and a form of
+perfect grace. Blue eyes, golden hair, a well-turned head, small nose
+and a health-tinted complexion, were characteristics to arrest the eye
+of the most ordinary observer. Even under disadvantageous circumstances
+like the present, these were so striking that they could but make an
+impression, and a skillful reader of human nature would have seen that
+Lewis had been _touched_--that, in short, the leader of the Riflemen of
+the Miami had reached the incipient stages of the passion of passions,
+in the short interview to which we have referred. That he would rather
+have been scalped than have been suspected of it by his companions, was
+very true.
+
+Taking the small hands which were confidingly placed in his own, he
+said;
+
+"Let us hear all about this scrape, my little one."
+
+"My home is, or was until night before last, many miles from here. On
+that evening, I was left alone by my dearest friend, who little dreamed
+of the danger which hovered over our house. The Indians must have been
+aware of his absence, for, before it was fairly dark, three of them
+stalked in the door without saying a word, and led me away. They have
+traveled constantly ever since, and I was almost wearied to death, when
+you came up, and by the assistance of kind Heaven, saved me. How came
+you to be so interested in a stranger?"
+
+"As for that matter," replied Lewis, "it ain't the first time, my
+little one, that _we've_ been interested in strangers. I might say
+we've a particular interest in all the whites and reds of this region.
+The Riflemen of the Miami----"
+
+"Are you the men who are known by that name?" asked the girl, with a
+glowing countenance.
+
+"At your service," replied Lewis, with a modest blush.
+
+"Indeed, I have heard of you, and have heard your name blessed again
+and again by the settlers further east."
+
+"Which certainly is pleasant to us. As I was going to say, we were
+coming down the Miami, this morning, when we chanced to strike the
+trail of these identical Indians. It was easy enough to see that it was
+but a short time since they had gone along, and, as it was in our line,
+of course we jogged on after them. The red imps were taking it coolly,
+and in a couple of hours or so we got sight of them going down the
+river. Well, we followed on after them till they made their halt out
+here, when--well, you know the rest."
+
+"Of course she does," said Tom, "so what's the use of talking? What's
+the gal want to do? Go back to her friends, I s'pose?"
+
+"If you could take me there, I could not express my thankfulness."
+
+"Where is it you belong?"
+
+The girl gave the name of a settlement nearly a hundred miles distant.
+Lewis bent his head a moment, as if deliberating something, and then
+said:
+
+"We've got a job on our hands that _must be done_ this very night, and
+it is going to be such a lively one that it won't do to have you in the
+vicinity. Consequently, although there isn't one of us but what would
+risk his life to take you back to your friends, it can't be done _just
+now_."
+
+"You will not leave me?" plead the girl.
+
+"Leave you? that's something the _Riflemen_, I make bold to say, never
+did yet. No; of course we'll not _leave_ you. I'll tell you the plan.
+About five miles off from the river, lives old Caleb Smith and his two
+big sons, all as clever and kind as so many babies. We've got to be
+back at our rendezvous to-night, where the other member of our company
+is to meet us; and on our way there, we'll leave you at Old Smith's and
+return for you in a few days. Won't that be the best we can do, Tom?"
+
+"S'pose so."
+
+The girl herself expressed great satisfaction at this conclusion; and,
+as it was getting well along in the day, the Riflemen set out with
+their charge. In due time they reached "Old Smith's house," who was
+well known to them, and who received them with the most hearty
+cordiality. He gladly took charge of the rescued girl, promising that
+she should be guarded as much as if his own child. Just as the shadows
+of evening were closing over the wood, the Riflemen took their
+departure.
+
+Three days later they returned to fulfill their promise to the girl,
+when old Smith told them that, fearing some unexpected occurrence had
+detained them, he had sent his two sons to conduct her to her home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE SETTLERS.
+
+    We will rear new trees under homes that glow
+    As if gems were the frontage of every bough;
+    O'er our white walls we will train the vine,
+    And sit in its shadow at day's decline,
+    And watch our herds as they range at will
+    Through the green savannas, all bright and still.
+
+                                              MRS. HEMANS.
+
+
+The incident narrated in the preceding chapter occurred one autumn,
+many years ago. In the spring succeeding this autumn, a company of
+settlers, with their loaded teams, and unwieldy baggage, were making
+their slow way through the labyrinths of an Ohio forest to a sparse
+settlement buried many miles further in the wilderness.
+
+At that day, so comparatively recent, such a sight was rarely witnessed
+in this section, as a deep-rooted hostility existed between the
+settlers and Indians, and an undertaking like the present was attended
+with too great danger for it to be often repeated. The rut of a single
+wagon, half obliterated by accumulated leaves and rankly-growing grass,
+showed that this route had been traveled over but once before, and that
+on the preceding season. At regular intervals, trees were passed with
+chips hacked from their sides, the track having first been "blazed"
+before being passed over.
+
+Like the emigrant-party which had preceded it, the present one
+possessed but a single wagon, drawn by two pair of slow but powerful
+oxen. It had a substantial cover, beneath which were stowed an immense
+quantity of baggage and some six or eight children, including also four
+women, two of whom were married and two unmarried. At the side of the
+front oxen walked the driver, whose whole attention was devoted to
+their direction. Several yards in advance rode two horsemen, and beside
+them three men plodded forward on foot. In the rear, scarcely a yard
+behind the lumbering wagon, walked "old Caleb Smith," and his two
+overgrown sons, as proud of them as was any monarch of his favorite
+generals. In addition to the men enumerated, there were three more--who
+may properly be called the scouts of the party. One of these was a
+couple of hundred yards in advance, stealing his way along, as
+carefully as if pursued by an unrelenting foe, his whole soul occupied
+in watching for signs of the dusky red-men of the woods. At a somewhat
+less distance on either side of the road, and in such a position as to
+be opposite the wagon, was one of the remaining scouts, as watchful,
+vigilant and skillful as the one referred to. Thus the party
+progressed, neglecting no precaution that could make their safety more
+secure, and although numerically small, still far more powerful than
+were many emigrant-parties who had preceded them in penetrating other
+portions of the Great West.
+
+One of the young women, that we have mentioned as being in the wagon,
+was Edith Sudbury, the heroine of the preceding chapter. She had not a
+single relation among all those around her, and it was certainly
+singular that she should have united her destinies with those who,
+several months before, were entirely unknown to her. But, though not
+related, every one was her friend. Her amiable disposition, her grace
+and beauty of manners, her own prepossessing appearance, and above all,
+her unremitting kindness to every one with whom she came in contact,
+had won upon the hearts of all. Old Smith's two sons, Jim and Harry,
+one eighteen the other twenty, both over six feet in height, looked
+upon "little Edith" as nothing more than a baby, and woe betide the one
+who dared to offer her harm or insult in their presence!
+
+"I say, father, how much further ahead is that creek we've got to
+cross?" asked Jim, in a free and easy manner, as he would have spoken
+to an equal.
+
+"Well, sonny, it must be nigh on to ten mile."
+
+"Won't get over afore morning then?"
+
+"Don't expect to, as you see it's well along in the after noon."
+
+"Let's see--we've come over forty mile, hain't we?"
+
+"Yes, Jim, nearer fifty."
+
+"Well, we're that much nearer the settlement, _that's_ certain. If we
+get over the creek without much trouble with the oxen, we may fetch up
+there by sundown, eh?"
+
+"That's the expectation, I believe."
+
+"Provided, of course, _the Injins don't make trouble_."
+
+"Sh! not so loud, Jim," continued Harry. "They might hear us in the
+wagon, and I don't s'pose you'd want to scare Edith, when there's no
+need of it."
+
+"I should like to see any one try that same thing on 'em. They'd be
+somebody else scared, I reckon. But, father," asked Jim, in an earnest
+whisper, "how is it about the Injins? We haven't seen a sign of one
+yet, and that's what gets me."
+
+The parent and his children fell a few yards further behind, and
+commenced conversing together in suppressed voices.
+
+"I tell you what, boys," said the father, "it won't do to expect to get
+through without hot work. I've been talking with the scouts, and they
+think the same. I believe a number are following us, and waiting only
+for the proper place to come in upon us."
+
+"Where do you suppose that will be?"
+
+"_The creek!_"
+
+"Shouldn't wonder if 'twas," said Harry, in a matter-of-fact tone; "if
+we only had the women-folks out the way, we might count on some tall
+fun. I wish Edith was taken care of."
+
+"That's the deuce of it. I should think she got enough of the imps last
+autumn, when the Riflemen left her at our house; but that's the
+_Injin_, especially the Shawnee part of it. If there's any chance to
+get scalps with long hair, they're bound to do it. However, boys, it
+won't do to lose heart."
+
+"That's the fact, father, and I reckon none of this crowd intend to do
+that thing just now. Sam, in front, isn't likely to get asleep, is he?"
+
+"No danger of him. They say he never shuts both eyes at the same time."
+
+"I'll answer for them on the sides of the road," added Harry. "If
+there's a greasy Shawnee in a mile, Jake Laughlin will scent him. You
+mind the time, Jim, when he went with us over into Kentucky, and he
+saved us from running into that ambush?"
+
+"'Tain't likely I'll ever forget it, being I got my arm bored with some
+of their lead."
+
+"Well, that affair satisfied me that Jake Laughlin understands as much
+as it is worth while to understand about Injin deviltries, and that he
+ain't likely to be blind when there's so much to practice eyesight on."
+
+"I'd give our yoke of oxen this minute, if I could only set eyes on Lew
+Dernor and his boys, the Riflemen of the Miami," said the parent.
+"They've been long together, as I s'pose, and have been in more Injin
+fights and scrimmages than any men living, and yet not one of them has
+been grazed by a bullet. There's Tom O'Hara, whose legs are so short
+that he's about as tall when he sits down as he is when he stands up,
+and yet, I'll be hanged if he isn't the luckiest one of the lot.
+They're a wonderful set of boys, are those Riflemen."
+
+"Father," said son Jim, with a meaning smile, "you remember the night
+that Lew brought Edith to our house?"
+
+"Of course I do."
+
+"Didn't it strike you that he acted queerly then?"
+
+"What do you mean? I don't understand you. I noticed nothing."
+
+"I did. I saw how he watched Edith, and I made up my mind that he was
+in _love with her_! Since then I've found out it _was_ so!"
+
+"Why, Jim, I never dreamed of such a thing. He hasn't been to our house
+since to see her."
+
+"Just because he _is_ in love! I've met him in the woods a dozen times
+since, and by the way in which he questioned me, I'd been a downright
+fool if I hadn't understood him."
+
+This avowal seemed to trouble the father, as he bent his head; and, for
+a while, nothing further was said. But Jim, who had little reverence
+for sentiment or romance, added, in a meaning voice:
+
+"That isn't all, father."
+
+"What else have you to tell?"
+
+"That Edith loves him!"
+
+"Thunder! I don't believe it."
+
+"Well, I can't say _positively_ that she does; but I know she _likes_
+him, and if Lew Dernor has a mind he can get her. You don't appear to
+like it, father."
+
+"I don't care much, but the gal seems so like my own da'ter, being I
+never had any, that I should hate despritly to lose her."
+
+"Fudge! it's got to come to that sooner or later, and who could she get
+better than Lew Dernor, the leader of the Miami Riflemen?"
+
+"None, that's the fact, but----"
+
+A footstep attracted their attention, and looking up, they saw Jake
+Laughlin step into view. He raised his hand, as if to command silence,
+jerking his thumb at the same time significantly toward the wagon and
+the rest of the settlers. He stepped carefully into the wagon-track,
+and the father and sons halted.
+
+"It's so," said he, nodding his head several times.
+
+"Are you sure?"
+
+"I've seen sign a half-dozen times since noon."
+
+"Shawnees, I s'pose?"
+
+"Yes. There are plenty of them in the woods."
+
+"What are they waiting for?"
+
+"The chance. There ain't enough, and we're too wide awake to allow them
+to attack us at present. They're waiting to take us off our guard or to
+get us at disadvantage. I've an idee where that'll be."
+
+"The creek?"
+
+"Most certainly. There's where the tug of war will come, and I think if
+we should encamp to-night without a guard there would be no danger of
+attack from the Shawnees."
+
+"Are you going to warn others?"
+
+"Not until night, I think, as there is no necessity for it."
+
+"Well, we don't need to tell you to be on the look-out. You know we've
+got a lot of women-folks to take care of."
+
+"Never fear."
+
+With this, Laughlin stole back into the wood, as cautiously as he had
+emerged from it, and the father and his sons quickened their pace in
+order to gain the ground they had lost. As they resumed their places in
+the rear of the wagon, no one would have suspected from their actions
+and appearance, that they had been conversing upon a subject so
+important to all.
+
+It was about the middle of the afternoon, and the emigrant-party
+plodded patiently forward, chatting and conversing upon ordinary topics
+with such pleasantry and zest that no one would have suspected the
+least thought of danger had entered their heads. So long as the silence
+of the scouts continued, the emigrants knew there was no cause for
+alarm. Should danger threaten, they would be warned in time.
+
+An hour later, as they were proceeding quietly along, the near report
+of a rifle broke upon their ears. Every face blanched, and every heart
+beat faster at the startling signal of danger. This it meant, and
+nothing else; and the members of the company instinctively halted, and
+made a partial preparation for an attack. They had scarcely done so,
+when Laughlin, with his cat-like tread, stepped in among them.
+
+"What made you fire, Jake?" asked Dravoond, one of the leaders of the
+party.
+
+"Me fire? I haven't pulled trigger since I shot the wild turkey
+yesterday. It must have been Sam or Myrick."
+
+As he spoke, the latter two, who were the other scouts, also made their
+appearance, when, to the surprise of all, it was discovered that
+neither of them had fired the alarming shot. Consequently, it must have
+been done by a stranger. The moment this fact became known, the scouts
+separated and resumed their duties, while the emigrants, after a short
+consultation, moved on again, more slowly and carefully than before.
+
+On the whole, although the report of the rifle could not be explained
+by any of the emigrants, the majority were disposed to take it rather
+as a favorable sign than otherwise. If made by an Indian, it could not
+have been done accidentally, for such a thing rarely if ever was known
+among them; and, as it could not have been fired by an enemy, with the
+full knowledge of the vicinity of the emigrants, the savages, if
+savages they were, must either be unaware of the latter fact, or else
+the strange shot came from a white man.
+
+If there were lurking Indians in the wood, ignorant of the presence of
+the whites, they were soon apprised, for both of the leading oxen, who
+had not done such a thing for days, now paused and bellowed
+terrifically for several moments. The driver endeavored to check their
+dreadful noise by whacking them over the heads, but it availed nothing.
+They were determined, and continued the clamor, pausing now and then,
+as though pleased with the echo, which could be heard rolling through
+the woods for over a mile distant. Having finished, they resumed their
+progress, as if satisfied with what they had done.
+
+"Father, them's our oxen," said Jim, "and, by thunder, if they bawl out
+that way agin I'll shoot 'em both. How far did you say the settlement
+is off?"
+
+"Forty or fifty miles. Why do you ask again?"
+
+"Nothin', only if they've put any of their babies asleep to-day, them
+oxen have set them all to squalling agin."
+
+The sun was getting well down toward the horizon, and the dim twilight
+was wrapping the woods in its mantle, when the teamster halted the
+oxen, and the emigrants commenced their preparations for the
+encampment. The wagon was left standing in its tracks, the oxen simply
+unfastened, and with their yokes on, led to where some bundles of hay
+were spread upon the ground. A large fire was soon blazing and
+crackling a short distance away, around which the women were engaged in
+preparing the evening meal, while the men, who wandered hither and
+thither apparently without any definite object, neglected no precaution
+which could insure them against attack through the night. The three
+scouts had extended their beats several hundred yards, and completely
+reconnoitered the ground intervening between them and the camp-fire, so
+that they felt some assurance of safety as they joined their friends in
+the evening meal.
+
+Just as they all had finished partaking of this, a second rifle report,
+as near to them as was the first, broke the stillness. The men started
+to their feet and grasped their weapons. They gazed all around them, as
+if expecting the appearance of some one, but failing to see any thing,
+commenced speculating upon the cause of this singular repetition of
+what had puzzled them so at first.
+
+"It beats my larning to explain it," said old Smith.
+
+"I tell you what it is," said son Harry, "that ain't an Injin's piece,
+nohow you can fix it."
+
+"How do you know that?" queried brother Jim.
+
+"It's the same gun we heard this afternoon, and when you see a Shawnee
+do that I'll believe our oxen don't know how to beller."
+
+"We must be ready, my friends, for the worst," said one of the
+emigrants, who, up to this time, had not referred to the danger at all.
+
+Another reconnoissance was made by the scouts, but with no better
+success than before. The darkness of the wood was such that they
+labored at great disadvantage, and it would have been no difficult
+matter for a single person to have remained concealed within a short
+distance of the whites.
+
+As the night progressed, the females and children retired to the wagon,
+and the men chose their stations around it. The oxen, one by one, sunk
+heavily to the earth, contentedly chewing their cuds, and a stillness
+as profound as that of the tomb settled upon the forest. The fire had
+smouldered to a few embers, which glowed with a dim redness through the
+ashes, and occasionally disclosed a shadowy form as it hurried by.
+
+Several of the men were sleeping soundly, for enough were on duty as
+sentinels to make them feel as much ease as it was possible to feel
+where they could never be assured of perfect safety. Two of the most
+faithful sentinels were Jim and Harry Smith, who were stationed within
+a few feet of each other. Now and then they exchanged a word or two,
+but the risk was too great to attempt any thing like a continued
+conversation.
+
+Three separate times Jim was sure he heard a footstep near him, and as
+often did he turn his head and fail to discover the meaning of it.
+Finally, he caught a glimpse of some one as he brushed hurriedly by and
+disappeared in the darkness. He raised his gun, and was on the point of
+firing, when he lowered it again. The thought that probably it was a
+white man, and a dislike to give the camp a groundless alarm, was the
+cause of this failure to fire.
+
+Several times again through the night did he detect a foot-fall, but he
+was not able to catch sight of the stranger. Shortly after midnight the
+evidences of his visit ceased, and Jim concluded that he had withdrawn
+so as to be beyond sight when daylight broke.
+
+What was his surprise, therefore, when he saw, as the gray light of
+morning stole through the wood, the form of a man seated on the ground,
+with his head reclining against a tree and sound asleep. If this
+surprise was great, it became absolute amazement when he examined his
+features, and saw that the man was no other than Lewis Dernor, the
+leader of the Riflemen of the Miami! Jim could scarce believe his
+senses as he walked forward and shook the sleeper by the shoulder.
+
+"I should as soon have expected to see Mad Anthony himself as to see
+you, Lew Dernor, sitting here sound asleep," said he, as the Rifleman
+opened his eyes and looked about him. A smile crossed his handsome
+countenance as he replied:
+
+"I believe I have been sleeping."
+
+"I believe you have, too. Have you been hanging around here all night?"
+
+"Yes, and all day, too."
+
+"And was it you who fired those shots?"
+
+"I fired my rifle once or twice, I believe."
+
+"Good! Well, Lew, we're glad to see you, and we would be a deuced sight
+gladder if we could see the rest of the Riflemen. Where are they?"
+
+"Up the Miami, I suppose. At any rate, that's where I left them."
+
+"Well, I'm afraid we're getting into hot water here, Lew, to tell the
+truth, and there's no one whose face would be more welcome just now
+than yours. I see they are beginning to wake up and show themselves.
+Gavoon has started the fire, so s'pose we go in and you make yourself
+known."
+
+The hunter followed young Smith to the camp, where, in a short time, he
+met and shook hands with most of the settlers, who were indeed glad
+enough to see him; and this gladness was increased to delight when he
+expressed his willingness to accompany them across the dreaded creek.
+In the course of a half-hour the females began to make their
+appearance. Near by was a small stream where they performed their
+ablutions, which finished, they gathered around the camp-fire, and
+busied themselves with preparing the breakfast of the party.
+
+Dernor, the Rifleman, was conversing with one of the settlers, when
+some one touched him on the shoulder. Looking around, he encountered
+his friend, Jim Smith.
+
+"Here's a person I s'pose you've no objection to see," said he, with a
+light laugh.
+
+The bronzed face of the hunter deepened its hue as he saw Edith Sudbury
+approaching, and although gifted with a natural grace of manner, he
+displayed some embarrassment as he advanced to greet her. Her conduct,
+too, was not without its suspicious air. Rosy and fresh as the flowers
+of the green woods around, perhaps the carnation of her cheeks was
+caused only by the morning exercise. Jim noticed these manifestations,
+and quietly smiled, but said nothing.
+
+In regard to the Rifleman, at least, he was right. As that brave and
+gallant-hearted ranger wandered through the grand old forests of Ohio,
+and the cane-brakes of the "Dark and Bloody Ground," a fair face had
+haunted his waking and dreaming hours. As he knelt beside the sparkling
+brook to slake his thirst, he beheld the same features reflected beside
+his own in its mirror-like surface. As alone he threaded his way
+through the labyrinths of those dim solitudes, he had a fairy companion
+as faithful to him as his own shadow. And when with his tried and
+faithful followers, it was the same. Only in the excitement of the
+fight, or the moments when his strategic skill was in rivalry with that
+of his dusky enemies, did this shadowy being cease to haunt him. Night
+and day, it was the same--and now he had met the _reality_, and was
+conversing with her.
+
+The conversation lasted but a few minutes. The services of Edith were
+needed, and she tripped away to assist the others at their duties. As
+she disappeared, Jim came up and laughingly remarked to the Rifleman:
+
+"A fine girl that, Lewis."
+
+"Indeed she is. I never have heard her name--that is, nothing more than
+Edith. What is the rest?"
+
+"Sudbury--Edith Sudbury."
+
+The hunter started, as if bitten by a rattlesnake, and turned as pale
+as death. Young Smith noticed his emotion, and asked, with some alarm:
+
+"What's the matter, Lew? What is there about that name that so troubles
+you?"
+
+"Never mind, Jim. I did not think it was _her_!"
+
+Smith had too much natural kindness of heart to refer to a subject so
+painful to the hunter, although his curiosity was great to know what
+could possibly have affected him so strangely. As nothing further was
+said by Dernor, this curiosity remained unsatisfied for a long time.
+
+The emigrant-party shortly after was under way. When within a mile or
+so of the creek to which we have referred, one of the scouts
+reconnoitered it, and came in with the report that quite a body of
+Shawnees were on its banks, and beyond a doubt were waiting for the
+company to come up. Dernor coincided in this opinion, and held a
+consultation with the male members of the party. The result of this
+consultation was a determination on his part to make all haste to the
+rendezvous of the Riflemen of the Miami, and bring them hither, the
+settlers agreeing to halt and await their arrival. The danger that
+menaced them was certainly great to make this step necessary.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE RIFLEMEN OF THE MIAMI.
+
+    There they sat and chatted gayly, while the flickering of the blaze
+    Led the shadows on their faces in a wild and devious maze;
+    And among them, one I noted, unto whom the rest gave place,
+    Which was token he was foremost in the fight or in the chase.
+
+                                                DR. ENGLISH.
+
+
+One cold, drizzly, sleety day, in a winter toward the latter part of
+the last century, a party of Shawnee Indians crossed from the Kentucky
+cane-brakes into Ohio. Penetrating its deep, labyrinthine forests, they
+came upon a double cabin, where dwelt two widows, with several
+children. These they inhumanly massacred, and burnt their dwellings to
+the ground. Then, laden with their plunder, they set out on their
+return to Kentucky.
+
+It so happened that two brothers, George and Lewis Dernor, who were
+upon a hunting expedition in this section, came upon the burning cabin
+within an hour after the savages had left it. They saw by the numerous
+tracks that the party was too large for them to think of attacking;
+nevertheless, they took the trail with the resolution of ascertaining
+to what tribe the savages belonged; and, if possible, to pick off one
+or two, as a slight payment for the outrage they had committed.
+Following on for several miles, they gained a glimpse of them, as they
+crossed a ridge, and discovered, as they had suspected all along, that
+they were a party of Shawnees returning to Kentucky, although the
+majority of this tribe of Indians at this time had their towns in Ohio.
+A half-hour later, by signs known only to experienced woodmen, they
+became convinced that some one else was also upon the trail of the
+Indians. After a great amount of maneuvering and stratagetic
+reconnoitering, they learned that it was a hunter like themselves, and
+no other but their old friend Dick Allmat. Accompanied by him, they
+continued the pursuit, and a mile further on, discovered that still
+another person was dogging the Shawnees. Pretty certain that this must
+also be a friend, they managed to make themselves known to him without
+the tedious ceremony which had characterized their introduction to
+Allmat. He proved to be Tom O'Hara, whose utmost exertions were
+necessary to keep pace with the retreating savages. He was in a perfect
+fury that they should proceed so fast, when he could see no necessity
+for it, and was half tempted to expend some of his wrath upon those of
+his friends who laughed at his discomfiture.
+
+The party, now numbering four experienced hunters, felt considerable
+confidence in their strength, and the proposition was made to attack
+the Shawnees. The latter numbered seven or eight, and from their
+deliberate and incautious movements, it was manifest, had not learned
+that they were pursued. Perhaps they believed no white man could brave
+the blinding, seething storm then raging, for they neglected those
+precautions which seem to be second nature with the North American
+Indian.
+
+The proposition made by Lewis Dernor was agreed to, and the plan
+matured. The conflict took place in a sort of open hollow, and probably
+was one of the most sanguinary personal conflicts that ever occurred on
+the frontier. The hunters came out of it with no wounds worth
+mentioning, while only two of the savages escaped. These plunged into
+the woods, and disappeared with the speed of the wind, and the whites
+were left undisputed masters of the field.
+
+This was by no means the first outrage which had been committed by
+similar bands of Indians, and just at this particular time the arm of
+the General Government was so weakened from the repeated disastrous
+campaigns against them, that they insulted the whites with impunity,
+and entertained, in reality, no fear at all of punishment or
+retribution. This was the subject of conversation with the hunters, and
+so impressed them, that Lewis Dernor proposed that they should bind
+themselves together for an indefinite period, (which was not intended
+to be over a couple of years or so at the most,) to do their utmost to
+check the monstrous outrages which were becoming so common along the
+border. The four hunters mentioned were well known to each other, and
+had the reputation of being the best riflemen and woodmen of any then
+known. In addition to this, they were all unmarried, and without any
+prospects of changing their condition; consequently they were at
+perfect liberty to wander whither they pleased.
+
+The proposition was considered, and received a unanimous and
+enthusiastic response from all. The brothers Dernor, in their hunting
+expeditions, had spent several nights in a cave along the Miami, which
+they had discovered by accident, and which afforded them not only a
+comfortable, but also a perfect concealment. It was agreed that this
+should be their rendezvous, and in order that all might learn its
+locality, and the manner of approach to it, the following night was
+spent within it.
+
+Now commences the history of the Riflemen of the Miami, as they were
+christened by the settlers, to whom their exploits soon became known,
+and as they were proud to acknowledge themselves. Instead of disbanding
+at the end of two years, as was originally contemplated, this
+confederation had an existence for over a dozen years. They
+participated in Anthony Wayne's great battle with the Indians, in 1794,
+where two of the members fell, and which concluded their history, as
+the surviving members retired to private life, and were too old to
+participate in the Tecumseh's war of 1812.
+
+It would require a volume to detail the exploits of these Riflemen.
+Unlike many other confederations that were formed about this period,
+their only object was that of self-defense, and of offering protection
+to the settlers who were constantly penetrating the Great West. No
+innocent Indians ever suffered at their hands, and many was the one
+they befriended and assisted in his extremity. But woe betide the
+offender that fell into their hands. To the cruel they were unsparing;
+to the merciless they showed no mercy. While their name was loved and
+revered by the whites, it was feared and execrated by the savages. The
+Shawnees were unusually active and vindictive at this time, and it was
+with them that the most frequent encounters took place. The incident
+detailed in the first chapter was but one among many that were
+constantly occurring, and it scarcely equaled in importance numerous
+exploits that they had before performed.
+
+There was a fifth member, who joined the Riflemen only a year or two
+previous to the period in which we design to notice their actions more
+particularly. He was known as Ferdinand Sego, and became a member from
+a part which he performed one night on the Ohio, when the Riflemen were
+attacked by three times their number. He displayed such activity, skill
+and courage, that he was importuned to unite with them, although, up to
+this time, they had refused to receive any accessions to their number.
+He consented, and from that time forward the Riflemen of the Miami
+numbered five hunters.
+
+Sego joined them, however, with the understanding that he should be
+obliged to absent himself from time to time. At regular intervals he
+left them, and was gone sometimes for over a week. As he had no rifle,
+the cause of these excursions remained a mystery to his friends until
+he chose to reveal it himself. It then turned out that it was nothing
+less than a female that exercised such a potent influence upon him.
+Sego, as he became intimately acquainted with his friends, often spoke
+of this girl, and of the great affection he bore her. One day he gave
+her name--Edith Sudbury. This excited no unusual interest, until Lewis
+Dernor learned, on the day that he encountered the emigrants, that he
+and Sego loved the same girl!
+
+This was the cause of his unusual agitation, and the pain he felt at
+hearing her name pronounced. He entertained the strongest friendship
+for Sego, but, until he had met Edith, he had never known any thing, by
+experience, of the divine power of our nature. When he did love,
+therefore, it was with his whole soul and being. His companions, less
+sagacious in sentimental affairs than worldly, failed to divine the
+cause of the singular actions of their leader, who did his utmost to
+conceal it from them. Little did he dream, as he listened to the
+enthusiastic praises of Edith by Sego, that it was the being who
+constantly occupied his thoughts. But the truth had broken upon him
+like a peal of thunder at midday.
+
+On the day succeeding Lewis' departure from the settlers, three of his
+men, O'Hara, Dernor and Allmat, stood on the banks of the Miami,
+several hundred yards above their rendezvous. The sky was clear and
+sunshiny, and they were making ready for a trial of skill with their
+rifles. From where they stood, the most practiced eye would have failed
+to discover any spot which could possibly afford shelter for one of
+their number, much less for them all. But beneath a cluster of bushes,
+projecting from the upper edge of the bank, was an orifice, barely
+sufficient to admit the passage of a man's body. Entering this, on his
+hands and knees, he was ushered into a subterranean cave, dark, but of
+ample dimensions to accommodate a dozen men. It was furnished with
+blankets and the skins of different animals, and each of the Riflemen
+took especial pride in decorating and fixing it up for their
+convenience.
+
+Dick paced off two hundred yards, and then chipped a small piece from
+the trunk of a beech tree along the river-bank, as a target for their
+weapons. As he stepped one side, O'Hara raised his piece, and scarcely
+pausing to take aim, fired. Instead of striking the mark, he missed it
+by fully two inches. When this was announced, he turned round, and with
+an impatient exclamation, demanded:
+
+"Who fired that gun last?"
+
+"I believe I did," replied Dernor.
+
+"You just touch it again, and you'll never touch another rifle. Do you
+know what you have done?"
+
+"Know what I've done? Of course I do. I've fired it."
+
+"_You've put a spell on it._"
+
+"The deuce! Try it again!"
+
+O'Hara shook his head.
+
+"It would never miss such a mark as that unless it was bewitched. I've
+got to melt up that money of mine, or the thing will never be worth a
+half-penny again."
+
+When a Kentuckian's gun is bewitched, or has a "spell upon it," the
+only way in which he can free it of its enchantment, is by firing a
+silver bullet from it. Unless this is done, they steadfastly believe it
+can never be relied upon afterward.
+
+O'Hara, accordingly, produced his bullet-mould, kindled a fire, which
+required much more blowing and care to fuse the metal than it did to
+melt lead or pewter. But he succeeded at last, melting down all his
+spare change to make the small, shining bullet. This was rammed down
+his gun, a deliberate aim taken, and Dick announced that it had struck
+the mark plumb in the center. The charm was gone!
+
+It would be uninteresting to narrate the different methods by which
+each of the three men demonstrated his remarkable skill with his
+favorite weapon. They fired at different distances, at objects in the
+air, and in each others' hands, and then discharged their pieces on a
+run, wheeling as quick as thought. Although the weapon used was the old
+flint-lock rifle, the dexterity exhibited by each could scarcely be
+excelled by that of the most famous sharp-shooters of the present day,
+with their improved guns. The exercise was continued for over two
+hours, when, as O'Hara was reloading his piece, the report of a rifle
+was heard upon the opposite side of the Miami, and the bullet whizzed
+within an inch of O'Hara's face. As all three looked across the river,
+they saw a faint, bluish wreath rising from the shrubbery, but no signs
+of the one who had fired the shot.
+
+"I guess his gun has had a spell put on it," said O'Hara, sneeringly.
+
+"And I guess you'll get a spell put on you, if he tries that again,"
+remarked Dick, carefully scrutinizing the opposite bank.
+
+"Why doesn't he show himself, the coward? Like enough there is a whole
+party of Shawnees----"
+
+"Sh! Something moved over there."
+
+"He's going to cross, I'll be shot if he isn't."
+
+A splash was now heard, as though something had been cast upon the
+surface of the water, and a moment later, a small Indian canoe, in
+which was seated a single person, shot from beneath the shrubbery,
+skimming over the river like a swallow, and headed directly toward the
+spot where the Riflemen were standing. Dick raised his rifle, but
+instantly lowered it with a laugh.
+
+"It's nobody but Lew himself. He just fired to scare us."
+
+Propelled by a single paddle, the frail boat sped onward with great
+celerity, and its prow, in a few moments, grated lightly against the
+shingle at the feet of the hunters, and their leader stepped forth.
+
+"Been practicing, I see," he remarked.
+
+"A little; _you_ tried your hand, also."
+
+Lewis smiled, as he replied:
+
+"A little fun, of course; but we've got better business on hand."
+
+"Let's hear it, for we are ready for any thing."
+
+"A lot of settlers are going through the woods, down below, and they
+need company, for the Shawnees have scented them as sure as the world.
+I've promised them that we will see them through--where's Sego?"
+suddenly asked the leader, looking around, as if searching for the one
+mentioned.
+
+"He went off yesterday."
+
+"That's unlucky, for we shall need him, too. Will he be back to-day?"
+
+"He said he expected to return this afternoon."
+
+"We will wait for him, then, though they need us, most certainly."
+
+"It's the first time Sego has been off in a good while," said Dick,
+"and I don't know what started him this time."
+
+Lewis thought that he would give a good deal if he knew, although he
+chose to say nothing about it. An hour or more was spent in
+conversation, when the four sauntered carelessly toward the cave, the
+canoe first having been pulled high enough upon the bank to make it
+secure against being washed away by the current. They did not enter the
+cave, but passed it, and returned after it was fairly dark, when they
+were certain that no prying eyes had seen them.
+
+When morning dawned, Sego had not returned, and Lewis was undetermined
+whether to wait longer for him, or to go on at once. The case was
+urgent, but the need of Sego's arm was also urgent, and he concluded to
+wait still further. The forenoon, the afternoon, and finally the night
+came and went, without bringing any signs of the absentee, and at
+daylight on this day, Lewis and his men made ready to start, resolved
+not to lose another moment. As they passed down to the river's edge,
+the delinquent made his appearance and joined them. They crossed the
+Miami in the canoe--its lightness rendering it necessary to make the
+passage twice--and plunging in the forest, made all haste toward the
+settlers.
+
+Meanwhile, the prolonged absence of the Riflemen, was the occasion of
+much speculation and anxiety upon the part of the emigrants. When Lewis
+had named the period at which he expected to join them with his men,
+they all knew he had allowed himself the widest limit, and fully
+intended to return within the time specified.
+
+When, therefore, this hour passed, they certainly had sufficient
+grounds for their anxiety and uneasiness, and some of the men did not
+hesitate to express their conviction that the Riflemen would not come
+at all. Not that they would willingly fail to keep their appointment,
+but it was more than probable that circumstances had arisen which
+prevented it.
+
+The settlers remained encamped until thirty hours beyond the time of
+the expected arrival of the Riflemen, when every one had given up all
+hope of seeing them, and it was agreed to move on to the banks of the
+creek. The scouts, who had been constantly busy, reported that no signs
+of Indians were visible in the vicinity, and strong hopes were
+entertained that they would be able to cross without disturbance.
+
+"Before venturing into that same piece of water," said Smith, "I
+propose that another examination of the woods be made, and that some of
+us wade over first to see how deep the stream is."
+
+The latter suggestion had already been acted upon by the scouts several
+times, but, as all shared the feeling of Smith, the scouts, joined this
+time by the old man's two sons, set out to act upon his proposal. After
+examining the bank upon which they stood, with the greatest care, for
+several hundred yards both above and below, they returned with the
+report that no signs of danger had been discovered.
+
+Two of them now entered the creek in front of the oxen, and commenced
+wading across. It would be impossible to depict the anxiety, intense
+apprehension, and almost terror with which they were regarded by their
+friends upon the shore. One was Laughlin and the other Harry Smith, and
+mixed with the parents' natural uneasiness, was a pride which glowed
+upon his face at seeing his son so unhesitatingly facing danger. Had he
+known that the most imminent peril threatened him, the wealth of the
+Indias would not have tempted him to call him back.
+
+Step by step the two men advanced across the creek, the water in no
+place being above their knees, until they stepped upon dry land once
+more. This was the culminating point of anxiety with their friends.
+This apprehension now became so intense as to be painful and almost
+unbearable. Some ten or fifteen minutes (which seemed hours to the
+waiting friends) was spent in reconnoitering the shore, after which the
+two stepped into the station and set out on their return. They had
+taken but a step or two, when they suddenly drew back, and Laughlin
+made a signal of danger to the settlers, the cause of which was
+instantly seen by all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE PASSAGE OF THE CREEK.
+
+    Be set forever in disgrace
+    The glory of the red-man's race,
+    If from the foe we turn our face,
+    Or safety seek in flight!--G. P. MORRIS.
+
+
+Laughlin's signal of danger was accompanied by a meaning motion up the
+creek, intended to direct the attention of the settlers to that point.
+Looking in the direction indicated, they saw what at first appeared
+nothing but a mere log or stump floating on the water, but what, upon a
+closer inspection, it was evident, had a deeper significance than that.
+It was near the center of the current, drifting slowly downward,
+impelled certainly by nothing more than the force of the stream itself.
+As it came nearer, it proved to be three trees, partly trimmed of their
+branches, and secured together, a contrivance in the formation of which
+the hand of man most surely must have been concerned.
+
+"Some Injin deviltry!" muttered the older Smith, as he lay on his face
+with the other settlers. "It'll be dangerous to be too curious. Jest
+keep an eye on the concern, from where you lie, and if you see a
+top-knot, blaze away."
+
+At this moment, a low whistle from the scouts on the opposite bank
+warned all that this was no time for carelessness; and ceasing their
+whispered remarks, the men turned their whole attention toward the
+object in question. The children were all lying down in the wagon, and
+the women crouched so low that no stray shot could reach them. The
+greatest worriment was over the oxen. As they stood, lazily chewing
+their cuds, their horns and eyes could be plainly seen from the creek,
+so that any foes concealed in the raft could shoot one or all of them,
+and thus inflict an irreparable injury upon the whites. Although it was
+possible that such an occurrence might take place, yet it was hardly
+probable the shots would be expended upon such "small" game.
+
+When directly opposite the settlers, the logs in question underwent a
+most searching scrutiny from both shores, the result of which was the
+conviction that no human being was nearer the suspicious object than
+those engaged in scrutinizing it. Whatever had been the intention of
+the Indians--for Indians undoubtedly they were who had formed the
+raft--they had declined to risk their own persons upon it, as it
+drifted down the current. This was so plain, that Laughlin called out:
+
+"You needn't be skeart, boys, there's no Injin _thar_; so jest drive in
+and cross."
+
+"Take another look first," cried out one of the settlers. "There are
+Indians _somewhere_ in these parts, for those trees never grew together
+like that."
+
+The advice of the settler was so sensible and timely, that Laughlin and
+Smith acted upon it at once, withdrawing some yards from the stream and
+proceeding some distance up it, with the same caution that had
+characterized all their movements. The result of this reconnoissance
+was the same as the other. If there were any savages at all in the
+vicinity, they were so carefully concealed that the skill of the two
+whites could avail nothing in discovering them. This being reported,
+preparations were resumed for crossing.
+
+It should be remarked, that the creek, a short distance above the
+fording-place, made a bend, thus limiting the view of the whites
+considerably. This being the case, the other son of Smith stationed
+himself at this curve, to give notice of the approach of any danger.
+Every thing being in readiness, the oxen were driven into the water,
+which was accomplished very easily, as all four were thirsty.
+
+The progress was necessarily slow, the wheels of the wagon sinking so
+deep in the muddy bottom that the united efforts of the four powerful
+oxen were barely able to move it. The deepest portion was passed ere
+one-third of the stream was crossed, the men being compelled to place
+their hands to the wheels to keep them moving.
+
+It was at this moment, and just as the wagon-body raised several inches
+from the water, that an exclamation from young Smith startled all.
+Looking toward him, they saw him raise his rifle and fire at something
+in the creek, and then fall flat on his face. The next moment a raft,
+precisely similar to the first, came in view, floating somewhat nearer
+the left bank, so that it would pass between the shore and the wagon,
+provided the latter remained stationary.
+
+"There are Injins on that," called out Smith from his hiding-place. "I
+seen their top-knots."
+
+The whites understood their peril at once. The oxen were lashed and
+goaded, until they slipped on their faces in their efforts to pull the
+wagon forward, while the men caught the wheels and turned them round
+and round without moving the wagon a particle. All depended upon
+reaching the shore before the Indians could come upon them, for, beyond
+a doubt, there were Indians concealed upon the raft which was so
+rapidly nearing them. For a dozen feet or so the wagon moved readily;
+but at this point it sunk below the hubs, and the united strength of
+men and oxen utterly failed to move it--this, too, occurring when the
+position was such that the approaching raft must pass so close as
+almost to touch it!
+
+"No use, boys," called out Mr. Smith. "Get your rifles ready for the
+imps."
+
+Most of the men had placed their guns in the wagon while toiling at the
+wheels, and they now caught them and stood on the defensive. As yet,
+nothing could be seen of the savages who were concealed upon the raft,
+but a moment later, the logs swerved over toward the shore which the
+settlers had just left. Thus it was plain that the Indians, seeing the
+true state of affairs, were as anxious to avoid the collision as the
+whites had been. The water being shallow, they were able to place their
+feet upon the bottom, and thus move the raft readily. As is generally
+the case, the courage of the whites increased in proportion as they
+discovered that of the Indians diminishing, and the proposal was made
+by one to wade over to the contrivance and demolish it. The better
+sense of the others, however, prevailed, and they maintained the
+defensive only.
+
+As the raft came down-stream, it continued veering over to the shore so
+much, that if it passed the wagon at all, it would do so by a safe
+distance. All at once, as the expectant settlers were looking at it
+with the most acute attention, some one called out:
+
+"Look _under_ the concern."
+
+All, of course, did so, and all distinctly saw in the clear water,
+directly under the raft, some ten or twelve human feet walking along on
+the bottom. Not only the feet themselves, but the legs, as far up as
+the knees, could be seen, and they formed a most curious sight mixing
+promiscuously together, as it seemed, while moving forward. The raft
+thus had the appearance of some great aquatic monster, whose ridged
+back floated on the surface, while his feet traversed the bottom. The
+bodies of the Indians, of course, were above the current; but being
+prone, the logs being arranged for that especial purpose, they were
+effectually concealed from view.
+
+In a moment, the raft floated over that portion of the river which had
+been muddied by the passage of the wagon, and the feet of the Indians
+became invisible. When they had crossed it, they were too far down to
+be seen, and thus the logs went onward, moving so much faster than the
+current that they left a wake behind them.
+
+"All together now--once more!" said the older Smith, catching hold of
+one of the wheels. The others did the same, and the oxen having had
+sufficient rest the combined strength of all started the wagon, and a
+few moments later it went up the bank on dry land and entered the
+woods.
+
+With a want of foresight that was unaccountable, the settlers had
+failed to pay any further attention to the raft after it was fairly
+below them. Perhaps it was the recollection of this that led the elder
+Smith and one of his friends to walk down to the bank and look for it.
+They descried it, lying against their own side of the creek, not more
+than two hundred yards distant, and, at the very moment their eyes
+rested upon it, they caught a shadowy glimpse of an Indian, as he
+flitted noiselessly from it into the wood. As they waited and saw no
+more, they rightly judged that he was the last one, the others having
+landed entirely unobserved.
+
+"That looks bad," said Smith, "we are not done with the rascals yet."
+
+At this moment son Jim, who was still on the other side of the creek,
+called out that eight Indians had landed, and were stealing up the
+river bank to attack the party. His words were heard, and every man
+dropped on his face in the wood, and with loaded rifles waited the
+assault. They had scarcely done so when the sharp explosion of several
+guns broke the stillness, and the two foremost oxen, with a wild bellow
+of agony, sunk to the ground and died. The brutes behind them imitated
+their motion, although operated upon solely by their own sense of
+weariness. They thus unconsciously did the wisest thing possible under
+the circumstances, as the shots that were afterward fired passed
+harmlessly over them.
+
+For the space of twenty minutes after this incident, a perfect silence
+reigned in the wood. These twenty minutes were occupied by the Shawnees
+in getting in a position to pick off the settlers. The latter could see
+them dodging from tree to tree, and coming closer and closer every
+moment. Emboldened by their immunity thus far, they became more
+incautious, until several exposed themselves so plainly that the elder
+Smith and one of the settlers fired precisely at the same moment, each
+one shooting a savage dead. A whole volley was returned, several
+bullets cutting the shrubbery and bushes over the heads of the
+settlers, while others passed through the wagon-covering, evidently
+fired with intent against the women and children in it. These shots
+accomplished nothing, as the latter kept their heads below the top of
+the heavy oaken sides, which were proof against the best rifle ever
+discharged.
+
+The two shots of the settlers for a time created a sort of panic with
+the Indians. They retreated far more rapidly than they had come up, and
+in a few moments were invisible. The whites were too well versed in
+Indian ways and strategy to take this as a genuine retreat, knowing
+that in a few moments they would return more furious than ever.
+
+There was an advantage in favor of the settlers of which, up to this
+moment, they had not been aware. Some fifty yards below them was an
+open space over forty feet in width, across which the Shawnees hurried
+pell mell into the cover beyond. Here they were reinforced by some
+half-dozen Indians of their own tribe, who had been in the vicinity and
+had been attracted by the sound of firing. The assailants now numbered
+about a dozen, and confident in their strength, made ready for the
+final attack.
+
+All this time young Smith, upon the opposite side of the creek, was
+engaged in watching the Shawnees as well as he could from his covert.
+He now called out to the whites that they were about to advance again,
+and that he would pick off one at least as they passed across the open
+space referred to. A moment later, the crack of his rifle showed that
+he had kept his word and that the crisis of the contest was upon them.
+
+Young Smith had fired just at the moment the foremost Indian came in
+view. The other had advanced to a point about half way across the
+opening, when five spouts of flame burst from the thick shrubbery upon
+the opposite side of the creek; there was the simultaneous report of as
+many rifles, and five messengers of death went tearing among the
+Shawnees, mangling, killing and scattering them like chaff in the
+whirlwind.
+
+"_The Riflemen of the Miami!_" shouted Laughlin, in a delirium of joy,
+springing to his feet and swinging his cap over his head. All eyes, in
+a transport of pleasure, were turned toward the spot where the thin,
+blueish smoke of their rifles was rising, but for a few moments nothing
+was seen. At the expiration of that time, the manly form of Lewis
+Dernor rose to view, and, with a nod of recognition, he stepped into
+the stream and commenced wading across, closely followed by young
+Smith, who, up to the moment of the discharge of the rifles, had no
+more suspicion the hunters were in the vicinity than had the Shawnees
+themselves.
+
+It scarcely need be said that the welcome which the settlers extended
+to the hunter was of the most hearty and genuine kind. Through his
+instrumentality they felt they all had been saved from massacre at the
+hands of the Shawnees.
+
+"But where are your men?" asked several.
+
+"Upon the opposite side. They will cross over shortly."
+
+"And will they accompany us?"
+
+"They will not leave you until you have reached your destination."
+
+"The Indians will not trouble us again?"
+
+"No, I think not; but the boys can go with you as well as not, and I
+make this arrangement as a sort of compensation for my failure to keep
+my appointment."
+
+"Your absence did excite much wonder, but you came up in the nick of
+time, most certainly."
+
+"Sego, unconsciously, was the cause of our delay. He was absent at the
+time I reached the Miami. We could have come on without him, of course;
+but, as I was pretty sure a large body of Indians were going to attack
+you, I thought it best not to come until we were all together."
+
+The Rifleman spoke with such sadness that all noticed it and felt great
+curiosity to know the cause. There was but one who dared to question
+him, the elder Smith, and he at once called him aside.
+
+"What's the matter, Lew?" he asked. "I never saw you act so odd. Come,
+out with it."
+
+"Oh, there's nothing the matter with me," replied Dernor, his very
+manner showing an increase of his embarrassment.
+
+"Yes, now, I know there is. Let's hear it."
+
+The bronzed face of the hunter took a deeper hue as he asked:
+
+"Is she--Edith with you?"
+
+"Of course she is," laughed Smith, a dim, vague idea of his meaning
+beginning to make its way through his brain.
+
+"To tell the truth, then, Smith, there is one man of ours that I _must_
+prevent from seeing her."
+
+Smith looked up in amazement. Lewis proceeded:
+
+"The distance from here to the settlement toward which you are
+journeying is not more than forty miles. Let me take Edith and make
+that journey alone. I have traveled the ground often enough, and I will
+lead her through the woods safely and much sooner than you can perform
+the same journey. This is the only favor I have ever asked or expect to
+ask of you. Don't refuse it.
+
+"Why, my heavens! who intended to refuse it? Take her? Of course you
+may, provided she is willing, for where could she be safer than in the
+charge of Lew Dernor? Nowhere, I cac'late."
+
+"You please tell her that it is _necessary_, then, will you?"
+
+Old Smith hastened away, and told Edith Sudbury that her own safety
+demanded that she should place herself under the care of the hunter,
+who would conduct her safely to the settlement. She exhibited some
+natural hesitation at first, but having perfect confidence both in
+Smith, who so long had acted the part of father toward her, and in
+Dernor, who had manifested such interest in her welfare, she made her
+preparations. Smith simply stated to the others that this singular
+proceeding was imperatively necessary, and requested them not to refer
+to it in the presence of the other hunters.
+
+A few minutes later, the four remaining Riflemen stepped into the
+stream, and commenced wading across. As they did so, Edith Sudbury and
+the hunter plunged into the forest, and commenced their eventful
+journey to the settlement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+APPREHENSION.
+
+    They're gone--again the red-men rally
+      With dance and song the woods resound;
+    The hatchet's buried in the valley;
+      No foe profanes our hunting-ground!
+    The green leaves on the blithe boughs quiver,
+      The verdant hills with song-birds ring,
+    While our bark canoes, the river
+      Skim, like swallows on the wing.--G. P. MORRIS.
+
+
+As the Riflemen reached the spot where the settlers were awaiting them,
+the preparations for resuming the journey were instantly made. The dead
+oxen were rolled to one side, and on the hardened ground the wagon was
+easily dragged by the remaining yoke. The hunters and experienced men
+of the party were certain that the Shawnees had fled, and that, for the
+present at least, there was no further danger from them; but, in order
+to quiet the fears of the women, a thorough examination of the
+surrounding woods was made. This search resulted only in the discovery
+of the dead bodies of the Indians. As the Riflemen never scalped a
+savage, the bodies were left undisturbed.
+
+"Where the deuce has Lew gone to?" demanded O'Hara, after several times
+looking around him.
+
+Those who were acquainted with the facts of the case looked in each
+other's face, as if in doubt what to reply.
+
+"Don't anybody know? eh? Say!" he repeated, in an angry voice.
+
+"He's taken a near cut to the settlement," replied the elder Smith.
+
+"_Anybody go with him?_"
+
+"He took a female, believing that her safety demanded such a course."
+
+"Lew never had more sense than he needed, and it's all gone now.
+Cutting across through the woods with a gal," repeated O'Hara, in a
+contemptuous tone. "Just as though she'd be safer with him than with
+us. I hope the Shawnees will get on his trail and catch both."
+
+"What do you want the gal caught for?" demanded Harry Smith, blustering
+up.
+
+"She'd no business to be such a fool as to go with him."
+
+"I never allow any one to say any thing against her," added young
+Smith, growing red in the face.
+
+"If you want your head broke, just say so," said O'Hara, savagely.
+
+"Come, come," interrupted the elder Smith, "boys should be careful not
+to get mad. Shut up, each of you, or I'll whip both of you."
+
+This ended the high words between the two parties, and five minutes
+later they were conversing together on as friendly and good terms as it
+can be possible between two mortals.
+
+All things being in readiness, the party resumed their journey, using
+the same caution that had characterized their march previous to the
+attack of the Indians. The Riflemen themselves performed the part of
+scouts, and the progress was uninterrupted by any incident worth
+mentioning until late in the afternoon.
+
+The sky, which had been of a threatening character for several hours,
+now became overcast, and it was evident that a violent storm was about
+to break upon them. This being the case, there was nothing to be gained
+by pressing onward, and the settlers accordingly halted for the night.
+A sort of barricade was made around the wagon, so that, in case of
+attack, a good resistance could be made, and the oxen were secured fast
+to the wagon. Stakes were cut and driven into the ground, and a strong
+piece of canvas, which had been brought for the purpose, stretched
+across them in such a manner that a comfortable shelter was afforded
+those whose duty did not compel them to brave the storm.
+
+These arrangements were hardly completed, when a dull, roaring sound,
+like that of the ocean, was heard in the woods. It came rapidly nearer,
+and in a few moments the swaying trees showed that it was passing
+onward over the camp. The frightened and bewildered birds circled
+screaming overhead, the rotten limbs and twigs went flying through the
+air, and thick darkness gathered at once over the forest. A moment
+later, several big drops of water pattered through the leaves like so
+many bullets and immediately the rain came down in torrents. The
+thunder booming in the distance, then sharply exploding like a piece of
+ordnance directly overhead, the crack of the solid oak as the
+thunderbolt tore it to splinters, the incessant streaming of the
+lightning across the sky, the soughing of the wind--all these made a
+scene terrifically grand, and would have induced almost any one to have
+sought the shelter offered him, convinced that the only danger at such
+a time was from the elements themselves.
+
+But with the Riflemen the case was far different. They well knew that
+it was just at such times that the wily Indian prowled through the
+woods in quest of his victims, and that at no other period was his
+watchfulness so great as at one like the present. Thus it was that
+three of the Miami Riflemen braved the terrors of the storm on that
+night, and thus it was that all three were witnesses of the occurrences
+we are about to narrate.
+
+The storm continued without intermission almost the entire night. The
+only change perceptible was in the thunder and lightning. The flashes
+of the latter grew less and less, until several minutes frequently
+elapsed between them; but the rain came down as if the "windows of
+heaven were opened," and a minute's exposure was sufficient to drench
+one to the skin, while the wind, soughing through the trees, made the
+hours as dismal and dreary as it was possible for them to be.
+
+The three Riflemen who stood as sentinels, were Dick, George Dernor and
+O'Hara. No changes were made during the night, as the men would have
+looked upon such a proceeding as childish and foolish. O'Hara was
+leaning against a tree, some ten or fifteen yards from the camp,
+watching that portion of the wood which immediately surrounded him, as
+well as the occasional gleams of lightning would permit. While doing
+this, his gaze fell upon a stump, about twenty feet distant. As the
+lightning flamed out, he saw distinctly a bareheaded man seated upon
+it!
+
+At first sight of this singular apparition, O'Hara started, rubbed his
+eyes, fixed his gaze upon the spot, believing that he had been
+deceived. A moment later, as another flash illuminated the wood, he saw
+the man again. He was seated on the edge of the stump, his feet and
+arms hanging down, and, as stated before, without any covering for his
+head. The latter was bullet-shaped, and the view which was afforded of
+him was so perfect, that the hunter saw he had short, curly hair, of a
+reddish color. His eyes were small, but sparkling like an Indian's,
+and, when they could be seen, were fixed with frightful intensity upon
+the Rifleman. The whole expression of his face was forbidding and
+repulsive.
+
+At the first distinct view of this man, came the conviction to O'Hara
+that he had seen him before, and he spent a few minutes in endeavoring
+to remember where and when it was. He was unable to do so, however,
+although he was positive that he was an enemy to him.
+
+"I don't care who he is," muttered O'Hara; "he ought to know better
+than to squat out there when he knows I have seen him. I say, old
+chap," he called, in a louder tone, "come down off that stump, or I'll
+fetch you."
+
+Whoever the person addressed might be, it was evident he cared nothing
+for the command of the hunter, for the latter, the next moment, saw
+him, not only seated as immobile as ever, but with a sneer of contempt
+upon his face. This so exasperated O'Hara that he instantly called out:
+"I'll give you two seconds to get off of that, and if you don't do it
+in that time, I'll tumble you off."
+
+He brought his rifle to his shoulder, so as to be ready to fire if the
+man remained. He held it thus full a minute, at the end of which he
+discerned the foolhardy being who had not changed his position in the
+least. Hesitating no longer, he pointed his piece directly at his
+heart, and discharged it.
+
+"It's your own fault," mused the hunter. "I gave you fair warning and
+plenty time to get out the way, and in such places as we're in just
+now, we can't afford to stand on ceremony. You must be careful----"
+
+Again the red lightning flamed out, and revealed the man, seated as
+before, the sneer on his face having increased, and his eyes flaming
+with more dreadful intensity than ever!
+
+"Man or spirit," said O'Hara, now thoroughly startled, "I'll give you
+another shot at any rate."
+
+He reloaded, and, awaiting his opportunity, fired again full at the
+man's breast. O'Hara's hair nearly lifted the cap from his head, when
+he saw his foe sitting unharmed, and as scornful as though no bullet
+could wound him. The bravest man has his weakness, and the greatest
+weakness of such characters as the man we are dealing with is their
+superstition. O'Hara verily believed the man at whom he had fired
+possessed more than mortal attributes, and, far more frightened than he
+would have been had a score of Shawnees sounded their war-whoop in his
+ears, he made a low whistle as a signal for Dick and Dernor to come up.
+In a moment they were beside him, curious to know the cause of his
+firing.
+
+The next flash of lightning showed three hunters intently staring
+toward a man who was sitting composedly on a stump, and staring back at
+them with equal intensity.
+
+"You all seen him, didn't you?" asked Tom, in a whisper. Receiving an
+affirmative answer, he added:
+
+"Let's all aim square at his breast, and then we'll be sure that one of
+us at least will hit him. If that doesn't finish him, there's no use of
+trying."
+
+For the third time, the mysterious being braved the deadly bullets,
+this time from three separate rifles, and for the third time he was
+seen sitting, unharmed and contemptuous, upon the stump.
+
+"It's all a waste of powder," said O'Hara. "We might pour a broadside
+from a brigade into him without making him wink."
+
+"Let's go up and take him," said Dick.
+
+"He'll take _us_," said O'Hara, who was not ashamed of his fright in
+such a case as this.
+
+"Fudge! don't be frightened; come along. I'll lead."
+
+Thus strengthened, O'Hara moved on behind the two others. Most
+assuredly the mysterious personage would have been captured, had not
+the lightning, which continued to act the part of illuminator,
+discovered their approach to him. His feet were instantly seen to
+twinkle in the air, and he whisked off the stump as quick as thought,
+and disappeared. To make sure, however, the Riflemen passed their hands
+over the stump, but of course found nothing. The booming of the thunder
+had been so continuous, that the reports of the rifles had not awakened
+the settlers, and the three hunters conversed together without fear of
+disturbance.
+
+"I don't care what he is," said O'Hara, "I'm sure I've seen him
+before."
+
+"Just what I am sure of," added Dick. "The very second I laid my eyes
+on him, his face seemed familiar. But it must have been several years
+ago."
+
+"It's queer I can't remember," repeated O'Hara, as if talking with
+himself.
+
+"I remember having seen him, too, I'll be hanged if I don't," added
+George Dernor, with a dogged decision.
+
+O'Hara made a leap fully six feet from the ground, and uttered a
+half-whistle, indicative of some great discovery.
+
+"What's up? what's the matter?" asked Dick, considerably surprised.
+
+"Just one of you break my head, will you, for I'm the greatest fool
+that ever lived. I remember now who that man is."
+
+"Who?"
+
+O'Hara repeated a name that fairly took the breath away from the
+others. They had let one of the most inhuman villains of the day
+escape, and one for whose life either of the Riflemen would have
+undergone any sacrifice. The mention of his name, too, revealed to them
+the reason why he had been unharmed by their shots.
+
+"We fired at his _breast_ every time," said O'Hara. "If we had only
+fired at some other part of his body, he would have been riddled. What
+a precious set of fools we are!"
+
+As no one disputed this exclamation, it may be supposed that all agreed
+to it. At any rate, their vexation was extreme for having failed to
+remember the man who, at that particular time, was probably more
+notorious than any other living being in the West.
+
+"What's done can't be helped," remarked Dick. "If we ever have the
+chance to draw bead on him again, we'll _know where to aim_."
+
+Nothing further was seen of the man who had braved their utmost through
+the night. He had taken his departure, and was fated to play an
+important _rôle_ with a couple of our other friends.
+
+The storm abated toward morning, and the settlers were once more under
+way. Their destination, a small frontier settlement, was reached late
+in the day, without any further incident, and their dangers for the
+present were ended. To the unbounded surprise of all, they learned that
+Lewis Dernor and Edith had not arrived, and there had been nothing
+heard of them.
+
+This caused the most painful apprehension with all, for they knew well
+enough that they would have been in several hours ahead of them, had
+not something unusual prevented. They could imagine but one
+cause--Indians!
+
+The settlers commenced their labors at once. Trees were felled, and the
+foundations of strong, substantial cabins laid, ground was cleared and
+prepared to receive the seed, while the garrison of the block-house was
+strengthened, and the condition of the settlement improved by every
+means at their command.
+
+Lewis had left a request with the emigrants, upon taking Edith from
+them, that the Riflemen should await his return at this settlement, and
+they accordingly remained. Two days passed without his coming in, when
+the anxiety of Edith's friends became so great, that it was determined
+to form a party to go in quest of her; but, upon mentioning the resolve
+to O'Hara, he strenuously opposed it, affirming that a large party
+could accomplish nothing at all, save to get themselves in trouble. In
+this opinion he was joined by several of the more experienced, and as a
+consequence, the scheme was abandoned. O'Hara then expressed the
+intention of taking a companion and going in search of them himself.
+The companion he chose was Dick Allmat.
+
+Sego took an active interest in these proceedings, but as yet had not
+heard the name of Edith Sudbury mentioned. Indeed, none knew that name
+except her immediate friends, who heeded the request which Lewis had
+made, that it should be kept a secret. Thus it happened that he
+entertained not the slightest suspicion of the true state of the case.
+Had he known it, nothing could have hindered him from hurrying forth at
+once to the rescue.
+
+O'Hara and Dick left the settlement one day about noon, and struck off
+in the woods toward the creek where the affray with the Shawnees had
+occurred. It was their design to take the trail, if possible, and
+follow it up until they discovered a clue to the unaccountable state of
+affairs. On reaching the creek, however, they were chagrined to find
+their fears realized. The storm which we have mentioned as succeeding
+the departure of Lewis and Edith, had completely obliterated all traces
+of their footsteps, and the Riflemen were left with no dependence
+except their wood-craft.
+
+This, in the end, answered their purpose. Examining the woods with the
+eye of a true hunter, O'Hara satisfied himself of the course his leader
+would take, and this he pursued with the dogged persistency of the
+Indian himself. He was confident that the trail which he and the girl
+had made subsequent to the storm could be followed without difficulty,
+if he could only strike it. But just here lay the trouble.
+
+"It looks likely," said O'Hara, as he and Dick stood deliberating upon
+the proper course to pursue, "that he would take the nearest cut to the
+settlement, and then again it doesn't look so likely. Lew is such a
+fool, there's no telling what he'd do."
+
+"Why do you think he wouldn't take the shortest way home?"
+
+"'Cause he wouldn't, that's why. You see, Dick," added Tom, in a more
+pleasant voice, "Shawnees are in the woods, and it's no ways unpossible
+that they haven't learned that them two fools are tramping through the
+country. If they do it, why it looks nateral that they'd s'pose they'd
+try to reach home just as soon as they could, and would try to head 'em
+off. Now, if the red-skins know this, Lew knows also that they know it,
+and I hope, for our own credit, he's got too much sense to walk into
+any of their traps. That's the reason why I think he may have took a
+longer way home."
+
+"Just exactly what he has done," said Dick in a glow of admiration.
+
+"How do you know it is, eh?"
+
+"I mean I think so, of course."
+
+"Well, say what you mean, next time. And that is what makes all the
+difficulty. How are we to know where to look for his trail?"
+
+"It's pretty certain we won't find it by standing here all day."
+
+"You go west and I will follow the creek, and when you stumble on any
+thing worth looking at, just give the whistle."
+
+The two did as proposed. Dick ranged backward and forward until
+nightfall, while O'Hara examined the banks of the creek, until the
+gathering darkness made it a hopeless task. Upon coming together, they
+had nothing favorable to report, and thus ended the first day's search.
+
+"You know what I'm certain of?" asked O'Hara, as they were ready to
+resume the hunt upon the next morning.
+
+"No, of course not."
+
+"I'm sure that that red-headed villain that we fired at on the stump is
+mixed up in this affair."
+
+Dick opened his eyes at this startling thought, and replied, in a few
+moments:
+
+"I shouldn't wonder at all if he really was. Hang him! it's just the
+business that suits him. But Lew ought to know enough for him."
+
+"Every man is a fool when he is in love," said O'Hara, contemptuously,
+"and that's the reason why I'm pretty certain both of 'em are in
+trouble. If he wasn't in love with the gal, he might know what to do;
+but--oh! heavens," he added, unable to find words to express his
+disgust at his leader betraying such a weakness.
+
+"I s'pose we'll hunt as we did yesterday?"
+
+"Of course. Let's go at it at once."
+
+O'Hara returned to the creek and resumed his search along the banks,
+while Dick took to the woods as before. A half-hour later, a whistle
+from the former called him to the stream, where he found his friend
+bending over some "sign" that he had discovered in the soft earth of
+the shore.
+
+"It's his," said O'Hara, "as sure as you live. They spent the night on
+the other side of the creek, and he has carried her across the next
+morning, and taken to the woods at this point."
+
+"We can easily tell the direction he has taken, then."
+
+"Not so easy, either; for don't you see he has gone _up_ the creek,
+which ain't toward home. I tell you what it is, Lew has smelled danger,
+and if the red-skins have catched him, there's been some splendid fun
+afore they done it. Lew ain't such a fool, after all."
+
+"Do you think," asked Dick, in a low tone, for he entertained a strong
+affection for his leader, "Do you think it is _certain_ Lew has been
+catched?"
+
+"NO SIR," replied O'Hara, in tones so loud that they woke an echo
+through the woods. "It ain't certain by no means. He may have thought
+it best to make a long circle before reaching home, and like enough he
+is in the settlement this minute, or very near there. But I guess not,"
+he added, after a minute's pause, and in a different voice. "Things
+look dubious, and we may have a big job before us."
+
+"Let's go to work at once."
+
+"The first sensible words you've spoken this morning, when it seems
+we're both doing more talking than is necessary. Come on."
+
+The trail was followed with the greatest difficulty, for the time which
+had elapsed since it was made was almost sufficient to obliterate it
+entirely. Now and then, where the ground was more favorable, it was
+easily discernible. After progressing a mile or so, O'Hara exclaimed,
+with an air of perplexity:
+
+"There is something here that I don't understand. I've seen only _the
+track of one person up to this time_."
+
+"She isn't with him, then?"
+
+"Yes, but he _appears to be carrying her_; and what that means is more
+than I can tell. It can't be she's hurt."
+
+"Maybe, Tom, we ain't on the track of Lew," said Dick, with a hopeful
+gleam.
+
+"Yes, we are. I could tell his track among a thousand. The mistake
+isn't _there_. All we've got to do is to follow it."
+
+The pursuit was renewed and kept up until the bank of a smaller stream
+was reached, where the trail was irrecoverably lost. After leading into
+the water, it failed to come out upon the opposite side, and the utmost
+skill of the hunters was unable to regain it. The entire day was
+consumed by them in the search, when it was given up as hopeless. It
+would have been hard to tell which feeling predominated in the breasts
+of the two Riflemen--an apprehensive anxiety for the fate of their
+leader, or a gratifying pride at this evidence which he had given of
+his consummate knowledge of woodcraft.
+
+These two hunters continued their hunt for two days more, when they
+returned to the settlement and reported their failure to gain any
+definite knowledge of Dernor and Edith. Neither had the settlers gained
+any tidings of them.
+
+Where were they?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A HUNTER'S WOOING.
+
+                                    And we knew
+    That this rare sternness had its softness too,
+    That woman's charm and grace upon his being wrought;
+    That underneath the armor of his breast
+      Were springs of tenderness, all quick to flow
+      In sympathy with childhood's joy or woe;
+    That children climbed his knees, and made his arms their rest.
+
+                                         LONDON CHARIVARI.
+
+
+It was with a heart beating with more than one excessive emotion, that
+Lewis Dernor, the Rifleman, plunged into the forest with Edith Sudbury.
+None knew better than he the perils that threatened them in those dim
+labyrinths, and none was better prepared to encounter them. Were they
+twice as many, he would rather have braved them than allowed Edith and
+Sego to meet before he had declared his love to her.
+
+In taking this step, the Rifleman had more than one twinge of
+conscience, for he could but consider it of questionable propriety in
+acting his part. Beyond a doubt, Sego and Edith were accepted lovers,
+who had been separated for months, and it seemed cruel, to say the
+least, thus to take advantage of their separation. The more he
+reflected upon it, the more guilty did he feel, until he formed the
+resolution to acquaint his fair charge with the presence of her lover
+with the settlers, and then leave her own heart to decide the matter.
+
+The instant this resolve was formed, the honest-hearted hunter felt
+better. What though the judgment should be against him, he had done his
+duty, and this very fact gave him a pleasure which nothing else could
+destroy. His great, all-absorbing love for Edith had led him to use the
+artifice mentioned, in order to defer the interview between her and
+Sego; but, great as was this master-passion, it could lead him no
+further in deception than it had already done. More than once he half
+determined to turn and make his way back to the settlement, and was
+only prevented by a dread of the speculation and remarks that such a
+proceeding would occasion upon their part.
+
+It must not be supposed that Lewis doubted his ability to reach the
+settlement in safety, with Edith. Had he known what danger he was
+doomed to encounter, he would have retraced his steps instantly,
+although he had commenced them with such a strong determination to keep
+her and Sego separate for a time.
+
+For an hour or so the journey progressed in silence upon the part of
+the hunter and his charge. While, as might be expected, his passion
+often led his gaze from the path he was pursuing, still it made him
+doubly alive to the responsibilities resting upon him, and increased
+his vigilance and watchfulness to a degree that would have appeared
+absurd to an ordinary observer. Most of the time, he kept a step or two
+in advance of Edith, trailing his rifle in his left hand, while his
+form was half bent, and his head projected forward, giving him the
+attitude of constant and intense attention. His eyes were flitting
+constantly from tree-top to ground, from side to side, ahead and behind
+him, kindling with admiration and fire as they rested upon the form of
+his companion. The latter was enveloped in a large shawl, a portion of
+which covered her head, while her arms gathered the rest around her
+person. Her face was inclined, so that she was not sensible of the many
+ardent glances to which she was subjected. She stepped lightly forward,
+her beautifully moccasined feet hardly disturbing the leaves, among
+which they twinkled like some forest-flower.
+
+Lewis had proposed to himself, when starting, to take the nearest route
+to the settlement; but his apprehension for the safety of Edith led him
+to change his intention after going a few miles. The Indians which he
+had assisted so signally to repulse, he believed would hover around the
+settlers so long as there remained an opportunity to pick off any of
+them. They would not fail, too, to scour the woods in search of smaller
+parties, and knowing the destination of the emigrants, would select the
+very ground over which they too were journeying. The Rifleman took the
+best course to avoid them. Retracing his steps some distance, he turned
+off toward the creek, he having concluded to ascend this for several
+miles, and then take a circuitous route to the settlement, convinced
+that, in this case, the longest way was the surest.
+
+"Why this change of direction?" asked Edith, looking up in alarm, as he
+turned and commenced retracing his steps.
+
+"I think it best," he replied, with a smile.
+
+"Have you discovered danger? Are we pursued?"
+
+"Not that I know of. But I have been thinking for some time that if
+there _are_ any Injins in this wood, this is the very ground they will
+select to cut us off, because they know that it is the one which we
+would naturally take, in making such a journey as this."
+
+"_I have full faith in you._"
+
+And the gallant Rifleman felt he would die before any act of his should
+cause her to lose this faith in him. As she turned her trusting blue
+eyes up to his, their heavenly light seemed to fill his whole being,
+and he scarcely was conscious of what he did when he reached out his
+hand, and said:
+
+"Edith, let me take your hand."
+
+"Why, what need is there of that?" she coyly asked, with a roguish
+look, as she half complied and half hesitated.
+
+"I shall feel safer--that is, I shall feel more certain of your safety
+if I lead you."
+
+"Oh! well, you may lead me then," and she slid her almost fairy hand
+into his hard, horny palm, with a charming simplicity, which made the
+hunter's heart leap with a painful pleasure. That little, white member,
+as the Rifleman grasped it, was like the poles of a battery. It sent a
+shock through every part of his system, and gave his arm precisely the
+same tremor that takes place when a person is charged through this limb
+with electricity. If Edith had only returned the pressure, Lewis Dernor
+most assuredly would never have been able to stand it, and, therefore,
+it was fortunate that she did not.
+
+It was this pressure, and the looks accompanying it, that made Edith
+Sudbury conscious that the hunter loved her. She would have been an
+exception to her sex had she not suspected this before. The thousand
+and one acts, and little, airy nothings, had given her a suspicion of
+the truth long since, but she had never felt certain of it.
+
+This knowledge, which must ever be pleasant and flattering to the
+maiden, caused no unpleasant feelings on her part. If she did not love
+him, she certainly respected and admired his noble qualities, and the
+difference between the emotions named and love itself is certainly too
+faint for recognition. Under almost any circumstances they will grow
+into the passion, and all be lost in blending. Respect is the scout and
+guide that leads love to the soul.
+
+The tell-tale blush stole on Edith's face, as a realizing sense of her
+situation came upon her, and, for a long time, she dared not look up,
+much less speak. Suddenly the Rifleman made a spring in the air, and
+drew a deep breath, as though seized with a mortal pain.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Edith, in a tremor of apprehension.
+
+"Oh! it nearly killed me!" replied the hunter, in a faint voice.
+
+"What? Do tell me. Are you hurt? What caused it?"
+
+"Why, Edith, _didn't you squeeze my hand_?"
+
+"If I did, it was _certainly unintentional_."
+
+"Never mind. I thought it was on purpose."
+
+The merry, musical laugh of the maiden rung out through the
+forest-arches, and the Rifleman, for the time, lost all thoughts of
+Indians and danger; but this delightful forgetfulness could not last
+long. As the faint rumble of thunder was heard in the distance, he
+started, as though awakened from a dream, and looked furtively around
+him, half expecting to see his dread foes start from behind the trees,
+and rush upon him.
+
+"Are you frightened?" asked Edith.
+
+"Only for you," he replied, with a natural gallantry.
+
+"And why are you alarmed on my account? What has occurred that makes
+you walk faster, and look so constantly about you?"
+
+"Edith," said the hunter, in a low voice of passionate tenderness, "you
+have lived on the frontier long enough to be familiar with its dangers.
+When I first saw you, it was in an awful situation for a gal like
+yourself, but you bore it like a man. I 'spose, therefore, that there's
+no use in keeping any thing back from you."
+
+"Of course not. What good could that possibly do?"
+
+"Well, then, it's my opinion that _some one is following us_."
+
+"What makes you think so?" asked Edith, in genuine alarm; for there is
+something startling in the sudden knowledge that a foe is pursuing us,
+when there is no shelter at hand which can secure us against him.
+
+"I can not give you the reason that makes me positive a foe is behind
+us; but I am so certain of it, that we must hurry forward and take
+measures to hide our trail."
+
+"Why not rejoin our friends?"
+
+"I do not think it can be done, as there are plenty Injin between us,
+and we could not avoid them."
+
+"Do what you think best, for surely none can know better than you."
+
+"Come on, then."
+
+They ascended the creek until the darkening sky, booming thunder, and
+constant flashing of lightning warned them that the storm was at hand.
+The hunter then stooped, and, lifting his companion in his arms with
+the same ease that he would have picked up an infant, stepped into the
+stream, and waded nearly across, going several hundred yards further up
+before stepping upon the land. By this time, the swaying of the trees,
+and the pattering of several large drops of water, told them that they
+had but a few minutes to spare. The hunter was perfectly acquainted
+with this section, and made all haste toward a spot which, more than
+once, had served him as a shelter in such storms as this. It consisted
+of a number of fallen trees, evidently torn up by some tornado, whose
+branches were so interlocked and matted that a slight effort of the
+hand of man had turned into a comfortable security as one need wish who
+was storm-stayed in the forest.
+
+As this was reached, the storm burst upon them in all its grand fury,
+but their refuge answered every purpose, and not a thread of Edith's
+clothes was wetted. Darkness came on prematurely, and, as the reader
+already knows, the storm continued nearly through the entire night.
+Fully, and almost morbidly alive to the danger that ever menaced them,
+Lewis kept his station at the mouth or entrance of their shelter until
+daylight, not willing that for a moment a free entrance to any foe
+should be offered.
+
+When morning dawned, it was clear and beautiful, and the two set out
+immediately upon their journey. As they had partaken of no food for a
+considerable time, the Rifleman was on the alert to procure some. The
+forests of Kentucky and Ohio, at that day, literally swarmed with game,
+and, in less than a half-hour from starting, he had brought down a wild
+turkey, which was dressed and cooked with admirable skill, and which
+afforded them a nourishing and substantial meal.
+
+Lewis was fearful that the late storm would cause such a rise in the
+creek that he would be unable to cross if he waited any longer, and he,
+therefore, attempted it at once. He found it muddy and rapidly rising,
+but he carried Edith over without difficulty, and then resumed his
+journey, taking such a direction that he could only reach the
+settlement by a wide _détour_ from directness.
+
+"At any rate," said Dernor, "if any one attempted to follow us
+yesterday, he is thrown off the track, and has got to commence again."
+
+"Should they accidentally come across our trail, it would be easy
+enough for them to follow it, would it not?"
+
+"Yes, any one could do that, but you see we're so far up the stream
+that there is little likelihood of that."
+
+"I _do_ hope the Indians will not trouble us more," said Edith, in a
+low, earnest voice.
+
+"And so do I," said the Rifleman, in a lower and more earnest voice,
+and venturing at the same time to press the hand that he held within
+his own.
+
+There certainly was something in the situation of these two calculated
+to inspire mutual trust. Edith felt that, under the merciful Being who
+was ever watching her, there was no stronger or more faithful arm upon
+which she could rely than the one beside her--that there was no heart
+truer, and no devotion more trustworthy. Under these circumstances, her
+words were quite unembarrassed and familiar.
+
+"Suppose we _are_ overtaken?" she asked, looking up in his face.
+
+"_You_ will never be captured while _I_ have strength to defend you,"
+was the fervent reply.
+
+"You are too kind and noble."
+
+This time Edith impulsively pressed his hand, and, to his dying day,
+Lewis Dernor affirmed that this was one of the happiest moments of his
+life. Deeply learned as he was in wood-lore, he was a perfect novice in
+the subtle mysteries of the tender passion, and the cause of his
+ecstasy on this occasion was the sudden certainty that his love was
+returned. Had he been less a novice in such matters, he would have
+reflected that this slight evidence of regard most probably was but a
+mere momentary emotion which any man in his situation might have
+inspired. But, "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise;" and
+the happy hunter was all unconscious of this disagreeable possibility.
+
+He felt an unutterable desire to say something--something grand and
+terrible--which would give Edith a faint idea of the strength of the
+passion burning in his breast. Inability to say this something kept him
+silent for a long period. Several times, indeed, he was on the point of
+speaking, but the words that came to him were too commonplace and weak
+to express his tumultuous thoughts. Just as he was on the point of
+deciding upon something, it came to him with startling suddenness that
+he was too careless with his charge. For the last hour he had hardly
+been conscious that he was traveling in the woods, much less that in
+these same woods lurked the deadly Indian, whose thoughts were
+constantly bent upon murder and outrage.
+
+"Edith," said he, "I would do any thing if it would only place us where
+we could talk without fear of being disturbed. But it can't be done
+here. There's Injins in these woods, and I'd never forgive myself if I
+should forget it agin, and I've already done so several times. Just
+stop a minute."
+
+He took her hand, and the two bent forward in the attitude of intense
+listening; and listening thus, they heard faintly in the distance the
+report of a rifle. It was several miles away, and evidently fired by
+some wandering Indian or hunter. Its only effect upon our friends was
+that peculiar one of making them more fully sensible that there were
+other beings in the woods besides themselves.
+
+"It means nothing," said Dernor. "Let's go on, but more careful than
+before."
+
+"Do you think there is any one following us?" asked Edith, for this
+constant renewal of her apprehension made her nervous and unnaturally
+suspicious.
+
+"I have no reason to think so, and I haven't any suspicion that there
+is. So I guess there's no need of being scared."
+
+"I can not help feeling frightened," said Edith, clinging closer to
+him. "I do wish we were at the settlement. How much longer will it take
+us to reach it?"
+
+"To-morrow, at the very furthest, I hope we shall be there, and perhaps
+to-night, if we keep up a brisk walk."
+
+"I see no reason why we should not hurry."
+
+"Nor I, either," laughed Dernor. "So come on."
+
+He struck up a brisk walk as he spoke, and continued it for some twenty
+minutes, when a small creek was reached, the one where O'Hara and
+Allmat lost the trail. Before wading it, the Rifleman paused on its
+banks as if in deep thought. This was so marked that Edith questioned
+him.
+
+"I'm thinking whether it wouldn't be best to put this brook to the same
+use that I did last summer. A half-dozen Miamis got rather closer to me
+than was pleasant, when I jumped in here and threw them off the scent."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I will show you."
+
+He picked her up as he spoke, and stepped carefully into the water. The
+center of the stream was sufficiently deep to hide his trail, even had
+the bottom been less favorable than it was. But this was hard, gravelly
+and pebbly, and he walked close to the edge without fear of betraying
+himself.
+
+Having gone a considerable distance, he approached the bank, and made a
+leap which carried him several feet upon it. He alighted upon the face
+of a large, firmly-fixed stone, where, poising himself for a moment, he
+sprung to another; and then, making a fourth leap, came down upon the
+ground. By this artifice he avoided leaving any visible trail until so
+far from the creek that almost any pursuer would fail to discover it.
+This explains why his two pursuers did fail in pursuing him.
+
+"We're safe again for a while," said the Rifleman. "Any one who comes
+upon our track must do it between us and the creek."
+
+"I feel greatly relieved," said Edith.
+
+"And much more comfortable, I suppose?"
+
+"Why, of course," she replied, half laughing, as she turned her
+gleaming, radiant face up to his.
+
+The Rifleman hardly knew what he did. A mist seemed to come before his
+eyes, and he felt as though floating in space, as, acting under an
+electrifying impulse, he stooped and kissed the warm lips of his fair
+companion. This transport of bliss was changed to the most utter misery
+when she answered, with every appearance of anger:
+
+"You ought to be ashamed of yourself to take advantage of my
+helplessness."
+
+"Are you offended?" he asked, his very voice showing his wretchedness
+of feeling.
+
+Edith looked up with flashing eyes, crimsoned face, and silent voice,
+as if she would annihilate him by her very look. Gradually a change,
+like the sunlight breaking through the storm-clouds, overspread her
+features. The light of her eyes grew softer, and the expression of her
+face more merciful, until, as the hunter had paused and scarcely
+breathed for her reply, she said, with one of her most enchanting
+smiles:
+
+"I am not offended. You may kiss me again if you wish to do so."
+
+"If I wish to," said the Rifleman, drawing her to him. "If I wish
+to----"
+
+Here his words became unintelligible. He continued kissing her until
+she checked him.
+
+"Sh!"
+
+The crackling of some bushes a few yards away showed that they were no
+longer alone. The whole aspect of the Rifleman changed. The lover
+became the ranger instantly. Cocking his rifle, he placed himself in
+front of Edith so as to confront this unexpected danger.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE COUNTRYMAN.
+
+    Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time.
+
+                                                 SHAKSPEARE.
+
+
+The crackling of the bushes continued, while the Rifleman compressed
+his lips and stood like a tiger at bay. In a moment he saw a man making
+his way through the tangled shrubbery, and almost immediately he
+lowered his rifle with an expression of disappointment. The individual
+before him was so different from what he expected, that a fuller notice
+of him is necessary, especially as he now takes his place as one of the
+_dramatis personæ_ of this tale.
+
+He appeared to be an awkward countryman, cowardly, ignorant of
+wood-craft, and completely bewildered by the dangers that beset him.
+His dress was half-savage and half-civilized, torn and disfigured, as
+if he had been running at the top of his speed through a thicket of
+briers and brambles. The only weapon he carried was a large knife
+firmly grasped in his hand. His face was blank and expressionless, save
+that it bore the impress of great animal fear, now mingled with
+surprise at confronting our two friends so unexpectedly. His head was
+round, bullet-like, with sandy hair, while the face seemed stained and
+begrimed with dirt and perspiration. He stood a moment with both hands
+stretched stiffly downward, his mouth wide open, apparently unable to
+find words to express his astonishment.
+
+"Well, young man, good-day to you," said Dernor, advancing toward him.
+
+"Good-day--good-day; fine weather for corn," he repeated, as if anxious
+to gain the good opinion of the hunter.
+
+"How came you in these parts, my friend?"
+
+"Heaven save you, I _run_ here. The Injins have been after me."
+
+"They didn't catch you?"
+
+"No, sir," replied the young man, bursting into a loud guffaw. "I run
+too fast."
+
+"What might be your name?"
+
+"Zeke Hunt, but I'm derned 'fraid it won't be any name at all if I stay
+in these parts much longer. Oh, dear," whined the young man, "I wish I
+was back in Pennsylvany, on the farm."
+
+"What made you leave it?"
+
+"The old man whipped me, and I run away."
+
+"Why don't you go back?"
+
+"I'd rather meet all the painted Injins in the woods than him. He'd
+whip me all through the town."
+
+"No doubt you deserve it."
+
+"Boo-hoo! you ain't going to lick me too, are you?" plead the man,
+gouging one eye with his finger.
+
+"No, no; don't make a fool of yourself. What would I wish to hurt you
+for?"
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. I'm 'fraid of everybody."
+
+"See here, Zeke, was there any Injins chasing you, just now?"
+
+"Yes--no. I've been clear of them a long time, I run so fast; but I'm
+just as afeard, as I s'pose the Injins are all over the woods."
+
+"Not so bad as that, though we'd be willing to get along if there was a
+few less."
+
+"Yes, that's so. Got any thing to eat?"
+
+"No, but we'll soon have something."
+
+"Can I go 'long with you?" asked the frightened fellow.
+
+"If you wish to, provided you do what I want you to."
+
+"Oh, I'll do any thing for you. Who's that with you?" he questioned,
+peering around the hunter, who, although he had advanced a few steps,
+still stood in front of Edith.
+
+"A young friend, Miss Edith Sudbury."
+
+"Glad to see you," said the young man, with an awkward bow.
+
+"But see here," pursued the Rifleman, "how comes it you are in these
+woods at all? You didn't come all the way from Pennsylvany alone?"
+
+"Oh, no--oh, no. I came down the Ohio in a flat-boat."
+
+"How is it that you are here, then?"
+
+"The other day we stopped along the shore a while, and I went off in
+the woods, and got lost. When I found my way back, the flat-boat had
+gone, and I was left alone. I've been wandering around ever since, and
+am nearly starved to death. Be you two hunting?"
+
+"No, we are making our way to a settlement some miles off. Do you wish
+to go with us?"
+
+"Yes, anywhere to get out of these derned woods. Gracious! what a big
+job it'll be to cut all these trees down," said young Hunt, looking
+above and around him, as though absorbed with this new idea.
+
+"A big job, certainly; but there'll be a big lot to do it when the time
+comes. There don't appear to be any reason why we should wait, and so
+we'll move ahead."
+
+"Which way are you going?"
+
+"Right ahead."
+
+"Over the same ground that I come over?"
+
+"I s'pose so."
+
+"Oh, heavens! you are lost if you do. Don't do that."
+
+"What's the matter? Any danger?"
+
+"The woods are chuck full of Injins, I tell you. There must have
+somebody passed that way and they looking for them, there are so many."
+
+Dernor turned and spoke to Edith:
+
+"No doubt he is right. It is but what I suspected. What shall I do?
+Take a longer way home, and a safer one, or the short route?"
+
+"Take the _safest_, whichever that may be."
+
+"That is the longest. Come on, friend."
+
+"I'm follerin'," replied that worthy, striding after him.
+
+It was considerably past the hour of noon, and the brisk walk through
+the woods had given the Rifleman an appetite something akin to that of
+his new-found companion, so that he did not forget the expressed wish
+of the latter. He had no difficulty in bringing down another turkey and
+cooking it. There was one peculiarity which did not escape either
+Dernor or Edith. On the part of the latter it occasioned no concern,
+but it was the subject of considerable wonder and speculation with the
+former. Zeke Hunt, as he called himself, professed to be ravenously
+hungry; but when the tempting, juicy meat of the turkey was placed
+before him, he swallowed but a few mouthfuls. This was a small matter,
+it was true, and with any one except the Rifleman, would have escaped
+notice but this sagacious hunter considered it of so much importance as
+to ask an explanation.
+
+"You appeared to be dying with hunger, and now, when food is offered,
+you hardly touch it. What is the meaning of that?"
+
+"I don't know," said Zeke, wiping his fingers on the hair of his head.
+
+"Yes, you do know. Tell me the meaning of it."
+
+"S'pose I ain't hungry."
+
+"Isn't the bird cooked well enough?"
+
+"Wouldn't hurt if 'twas cooked better."
+
+The Rifleman at first was disposed to resent this insult, but, on
+second thought, he set the man down as a fool, and one unworthy of
+notice. There is no disguising the fact that his action had given the
+hunter an unpleasant suspicion, which, however, was dissipated by the
+perfect coolness with which he met his inquiry.
+
+"I guess yer ain't used to cookin', be you?" he asked, perfectly
+unabashed by the frigid manner of the hunter.
+
+"I've done considerable, sir, in the last few years."
+
+"Don't say so. Shouldn't have thought it, from the way that thing
+looks."
+
+"What is the matter with this cooking, I should like to know; eh?"
+
+"Oh, nothin', as I knows on. The gal appears to like it well enough."
+
+"Indeed I do," said Edith, unable to restrain a laugh at the manner of
+their new companion, who, seeing it, rolled his head back and gave an
+answering "horse-laugh" that could have been heard a half-mile distant.
+
+"Don't let me hear that agin," said the Rifleman, rising to his feet.
+
+"Why don't you want to hear it?" asked Zeke, in blank astonishment.
+
+"It's no wonder the flat-boat left you, if you were in the habit of
+making such noises as that. It's enough to wake every sleeping Injin in
+these woods."
+
+"It'll scare 'em, I guess, won't it?"
+
+"I should think it would, so don't try it agin."
+
+"Done eatin'?"
+
+"Yes, of course."
+
+"Thought it was about time."
+
+"We will not reach home to-night," said the Rifleman, speaking to
+Edith. "I'm sorry, for they'll be worried about us."
+
+"I am sorry, too, for I dislike to remain in the woods so long."
+
+"This fellow will be of little use to us, as he doesn't appear to know
+any thing. I can't understand how he has come this far. He's been
+lucky, I s'pose, but whether we're going to be, with him along, is more
+than I can tell."
+
+"Of course you won't turn him off. It would be cruel," said Edith,
+sincerely commiserating the helpless situation of the young man.
+
+"As long as he behaves himself, and it doesn't make it any more
+dangerous for you, he can stay with us; but he mustn't open that big
+mouth of his as wide as he did just now."
+
+"Hello! how long afore you're goin' to start?" called out Zeke, as our
+two friends stood talking together.
+
+"Follow behind us, and make no noise, if you want to save your
+top-knot."
+
+"Hope there ain't no danger of that happening, after I've come as far
+as this all right."
+
+The three moved forward once again, the movements of the Rifleman
+characterized by his usual caution, while Zeke Hunt straddled along at
+a most awkward gait, kicking up the leaves, and breaking and bending
+the undergrowth in such a manner as to make the care of the hunter
+entirely useless. In this manner they traveled until nightfall, when
+they reached the banks of a small brook, beside which it was decided to
+encamp for the night. During the latter part of the day it had been
+steadily growing colder, so that, after some deliberation, Dernor
+concluded to start a fire.
+
+"You don't s'pose the Injins will see it, do you?" asked Hunt.
+
+"I'm sure I can't tell. Why do you ask?"
+
+"'Cause, if _they_ are goin' to see it, I want to get out the way. I
+don't s'pose you've traveled the woods much, have you?"
+
+"Probably as much as you have."
+
+"You have, eh?"
+
+There was something in the tone in which this was uttered that made the
+hunter turn and look at Zeke Hunt. As he did so, he saw an expression
+of his greenish, gray goggle-eyes that made him feel certain, for the
+minute, that he had seen him before. It may have been a fancy, for the
+expression was gone instantly, and succeeded by the same blank,
+half-idiotic look.
+
+This was the second time the same unpleasant suspicion had entered the
+mind of the Rifleman, and he was resolved, at the least, to keep an eye
+upon Zeke Hunt. While it was not at all impossible that the story he
+had told was true in every particular, still there was an air of
+improbability about it, which could not escape the notice of so
+quick-sighted a man as Dernor, and, from this time forward, every
+action or word of the awkward countryman was watched with a jealous
+eye.
+
+The fire which was kindled was carefully screened, so that it would not
+be apt to catch the eye of any one in the neighborhood. After some
+conversation between the hunter and Edith, the latter wrapped his
+blanket over her own, and, thus protected, lay down upon the ground.
+The weariness and fatigue brought on by the day's travel soon
+manifested itself in a deep, dreamless, refreshing sleep.
+
+"Are you going to stay up all night?" asked Dernor of the countryman.
+
+"I don't know whether I am or not."
+
+"Ain't you sleepy?"
+
+"Don't feel much so jest now; s'pose I mought after a while."
+
+"You have traveled enough. Why don't you feel sleepy?"
+
+"Haw! haw! haw! what a question. How do I know why I ain't sleepy? You
+don't appear so yourself."
+
+"I ain't, either."
+
+"You've done as much tramping as I have."
+
+"That may be; but I'm used to it, and you ain't."
+
+"Don't know 'bout that. Used to do good 'eal of it up on the farm. Say,
+you, did you ever hear of the Riflemen of the Miami?"
+
+"Yes, very often. They are sometimes seen in these parts."
+
+"I'd like to jine them 'ere fellers."
+
+"You jine 'em!" repeated Dernor, contemptuously. "You'd be a pretty
+chap to go with them. Them chaps, sir, is _hunters_!" he added, in a
+triumphant tone.
+
+"Jest what I s'posed, and that's why I wanted to jine 'em."
+
+"Can you shoot?"
+
+"Ef you'll lend me your iron there a minute, I'll show you what I can
+do."
+
+"It is dark now. There is no chance to show your skill. Wait till
+morning."
+
+"Very well, don't forget. I've done some shootin', fur all I ain't used
+to Injins. But, I say, do you know the head feller of them Riflemen?"
+
+"I'm very well acquainted with him."
+
+"What sort of a chap is he?"
+
+"Good deal such a man as I am."
+
+"Haw! haw! great man to be the leader. Hope you're never taken for him,
+be you?"
+
+"Very often--because _I am_ the leader of the Riflemen myself."
+
+"Get out," said the countryman, as if he expected to be bitten. "You
+can't make me believe that."
+
+"It makes no difference to me whether you believe it or not. If you
+make much more noise, like enough you'll find out who I am."
+
+"Be you really the leader of the Riflemen?" queried Zeke Hunt, not
+noticing the warning which had just been uttered.
+
+"I've told you once, so let's hear no more about it."
+
+"My gracious! you don't look much like one. 'Pears to me you and I look
+a good deal alike. Don't you think so?"
+
+"Heaven save me, _I hope_ not."
+
+"Oh, I'm willing that it should be so. I ain't offended."
+
+The impudence of the countryman was so consummate that Dernor could not
+restrain a laugh at it.
+
+"They always considered me good-looking down hum," he added; "and there
+wasn't a gal I wasn't able to get if I wanted her."
+
+"I should think you would be anxious to get back again."
+
+"Would be, if it wasn't for the old man. He was _awful_ on me. Didn't
+appear to be proud of me at all."
+
+"Queer, sure. I don't see how he could help it."
+
+"Me neither. Dad was always mad, though, and used to aboose me
+shameful. The fust thing in my life that I can remember was of gettin'
+a lickin'."
+
+"What was it for?"
+
+"Nothin' worth tellin'. I was a little feller then, and one day heated
+the poker red-hot, and run it down grandmother's back. But there!
+didn't he lam me for that! Always was whippin' me. School-teacher was
+just as bad. Licked me like blazes the fust day."
+
+"Did he lick you for nothin'?"
+
+"Purty near. Didn't do any thing except to put a handful of gunpowder
+in a dry inkstand, and then touch it off under his chair. Haw! haw!
+haw! didn't he jump? and oh gracious!" he added, in a solemn tone,
+"didn't I jump, too, when he fell on me."
+
+"You seem to have been about the biggest scamp in the country. Why did
+he whip you this last time when you run away?"
+
+"Hadn't any more reason than he had at other times. I tried to take Ann
+Parsons home from singing-school, and she wouldn't let me. That was the
+reason."
+
+"He couldn't have whipped you for that."
+
+"Well, it all come from that. I followed her home, and jest give her my
+opinion of her, and when her old man undertook to say any thing, I jest
+pitched in and walloped him."
+
+"You had a sensible father, and it's a pity he hasn't got you now, for
+I don't care any thing about your company."
+
+"You going to turn me off? You said you wouldn't."
+
+"And I shan't, I tell you agin, as long as you behave yourself. If you
+cac'late to go with me to the settlement, you must not have too much to
+say. Remember that we are still in dangerous territory, and a little
+foolishness by either of us may bring a pack of the red-skins upon us."
+
+"Just what I thought. I'm sleepy."
+
+And without further ceremony, he lolled over on the ground, and in a
+few minutes, to all appearances, was sound asleep. Intently watching
+his face for a time, the Rifleman now and then saw his eyelids partly
+unclose, as if he wished to ascertain whether any one was scrutinizing
+him. The somewhat lengthy conversation which we have taken the pains to
+record, had about disarmed the hunter of the suspicions which had been
+lingering with him for a long time. He believed Zeke Hunt an ignorant
+fellow, who had been left along the Ohio river, as he had related, and
+who had not yet learned that trait of civilized society, carefully to
+conceal his thoughts and feelings when in conversation. The impression
+which he first felt, of having met him before, might easily arise from
+his resemblance to some former acquaintance.
+
+Still, the Rifleman was by no means so forgetful of his charge as to
+indulge in slumber, when there was the remotest probability of danger
+threatening her. Inured as he was to all manner of hardships and
+suffering, it was no difficult matter for him to spend several nights
+in succession without sleep. He therefore watched over her through the
+second night, never, for a single moment, allowing himself to become
+unconscious. Several times he saw the countryman raise his head and
+change his position, and when spoken to, heard him mutter something
+about it being "derned hard to sleep with his head on the soft side of
+a stone, and one side toasted and the other froze."
+
+The hours wore away without any incident worth mentioning, and at the
+first appearance of day Edith was astir and ready to resume the
+journey. Enough of the turkey, slain on the day before, remained to
+give each a sufficient meal, and with cheerful spirits upon the part of
+all, the three again took up their march through the wilderness.
+
+The route which the information of the countryman led the hunter to
+adopt was such that he expected to reach the settlement in the course
+of the afternoon. It will thus be seen that it was a very circuitous
+one--they, in fact, being already several miles north of their
+destination. As yet, the eagle eye of the hunter had discovered no
+danger, and their march was continued without interruption until noon,
+when they halted for a few minutes' rest.
+
+"If you haint no 'bjection, I'll try a shot with your gun," said Zeke
+Hunt, "bein' as you thought I couldn't shoot any."
+
+"I'd rather not have my rifle fired at present, youngster, as ears that
+we don't fancy might hear it."
+
+"You're only afeard I might beat you, that's all."
+
+This remark so nettled the hunter that he resolved to gratify his
+disagreeable companion.
+
+"Put up your mark, then," said he, "and as far off as you choose."
+
+The countryman walked to a tree somewhat over a hundred yards distant,
+and with his knife clipped off a small piece of bark, leaving a
+gleaming spot, an inch or two in diameter.
+
+"You fire first," said he, as he came back.
+
+The hunter drew up his rifle, and pausing hardly a second to take aim,
+buried the bullet fairly in the center of the target.
+
+"Whew! that's derned good; don't believe I can beat it much; but I'll
+try."
+
+The gun was quickly reloaded, and, after taking aim and adjusting it
+nearly a dozen times, Zeke Hunt fired, missing the tree altogether. As
+he ran to ascertain the result of his shot, instead of handing the
+rifle to Dernor, he carried it, apparently without thinking, with him.
+When he had carefully examined the mark, he proceeded to reload it,
+before returning. This was so natural an occurrence, that the hunter
+received his weapon without noticing it.
+
+"Want to fire again?" asked the countryman.
+
+"No, it isn't worth while."
+
+"I give in, but think I'll be up to you after a little practice."
+
+About half an hour afterward, as they were walking along, Dernor, by a
+mere accident, happened to look at the pan of his rifle and saw that
+the priming had been removed. A moment's reflection convinced him that
+this had been done by Zeke Hunt, not accidentally, but on purpose. The
+hunter managed to reprime without being noticed, and he made a vow that
+this apparent lubber should henceforth be watched with a lynx-eye.
+
+They had gone scarcely a half-mile further, when the latter came up
+beside Edith, and remarked that he had been taken sick.
+
+"Don't you feel able to walk?" she asked.
+
+"I'm dreadful afeard I shall have to ax you to pause for a while," he
+said, manifesting that peculiar repugnance to receiving kindness,
+which, singularly enough is manifested more or less by every person in
+similar circumstances.
+
+"What's the matter?" gruffly asked Dernor, who was still meditating
+upon the incident we have mentioned above.
+
+"Sick," groaned Zeke Hunt, apparently in great misery.
+
+"What has made you sick?"
+
+"I don't know; allers was considered delicate."
+
+"How do you feel?"
+
+"_Jest as though I wanted to whistle!_" was the curious reply and
+placing his finger in his mouth, the fellow gave a sound that would
+have done credit to an ordinary locomotive.
+
+"If you make that noise again I'll shoot you," said the Rifleman, now
+fairly convinced that mischief was intended. Without heeding his
+threat, the sick man arose to the upright position, and with flashing
+eyes, repeated the sound.
+
+"I gave you warning," said Dernor, raising his gun, pointing it at his
+breast, and pulling the trigger. It missed fire!
+
+"I guess you'll have to fix up that load a little," said Zeke Hunt,
+"and afore you can do that, you're likely to have visitors."
+
+The Rifleman clubbed his gun and advanced toward the man. The latter
+drew his knife, and said:
+
+"Keep off, Lew Dernor; don't you know me?"
+
+"I've been a fool," said the hunter. "Yes, I know you through your
+disguise, _Simon Girty_. I see what you have been trying to do, but you
+will never take one of us alive. I hear the tramp of the coming Indians
+that he has signaled," he added, addressing Edith, "and there is not a
+minute to lose."
+
+So saying, he placed his arm around her waist, and started off at a
+rapid run.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE FLIGHT.
+
+    The pass was steep and rugged,
+      The wolves they howled and whined;
+    But he ran like a whirlwind up the pass,
+      And left the wolves behind.--MACAULAY.
+
+                    Moments like these,
+    Rend men's lives into immortalities.--BYRON.
+
+
+For a few minutes, the Rifleman ran "like a whirlwind," supporting
+entirely the weight of Edith, for none knew better than he the imminent
+peril that menaced both. The wood was quite open, so that his way was
+not much impeded, and he went at a terrific rate, well aware that all
+depended upon gaining an advantage over the Indians at the start.
+
+He had gone but a short distance, when he became convinced that his
+only danger was from falling into the hands of his pursuers, as it was
+their sole object to make him and Edith prisoners; as a consequence,
+there was no danger from being fired at by them. When he deemed it
+prudent, he released his hold upon her, and she, half running and being
+half carried, flew over the ground at a rate as astonishing to herself
+as it was to her pursuers. The latter kept up a series of yells and
+outcries, amid which the discordant screeches of Zeke Hunt, now Simon
+Girty, the renegade, could be plainly distinguished. Several furtive
+glances over the shoulder gave him glimpses of some eight or ten
+savages in pursuit, the renegade being among the foremost.
+
+As Dernor was thus hurrying forward, he recalled that, less than half a
+mile distant, the woods were broken and cut up by ravines and hills, as
+though an earthquake had passed through that section; and, believing
+that this would afford him a better opportunity of eluding his foes, he
+turned in that direction and strained every nerve to reach it. As for
+Edith herself, she seemed fired with supernatural strength, and sped
+with a swiftness of which she never dreamed herself capable. Seeing
+this, the Rifleman attempted to draw the charge out of his gun and
+reload it. It was a work of great difficulty to do this while running,
+but he succeeded in accomplishing it at last.
+
+Constantly glancing behind him, in order to see his chance, he suddenly
+whirled and fired with the rapidity of thought. Without pausing to
+reload, he again placed his arm around Edith, and dashed forward almost
+at the top of his speed.
+
+Finding that the Indians, if gaining at all, were gaining very slowly
+upon him, he half concluded that it was their intention to run his
+companion down, well knowing that, although he was fully competent both
+in speed and in bottom to contest with them, it could not be expected
+that she could continue the rate at which she was going, for any length
+of time.
+
+"Ain't you tired?" he asked, hurriedly.
+
+"Not much; I can run a great deal further," she replied, in the same
+hurried manner.
+
+"Keep your spirits up; we'll soon have different ground to travel
+over."
+
+Almost as he spoke, they came to the edge of a sort of ravine, too
+broad for either to leap, and too precipitous to admit of an immediate
+descent by either. Still retaining his hold upon her, Dernor ran
+rapidly along the edge, until reaching a favorable spot, he lifted her
+bodily from the ground, and bounded down to a rock over a dozen feet
+below, and then leaped from this to the bottom of the ravine, Edith
+sustaining no more of a shock than if she had been a feather.
+
+Being now in the bottom of the ravine, where the ground was
+comparatively even, the hunter placed the girl once more upon her feet,
+and side by side they continued their flight from their merciless
+pursuers. Their loud, exultant yells continued reverberating through
+the woods, and glancing upward, Dernor saw the form of a huge Indian
+suddenly come to view, on the edge of the ravine, some distance ahead
+of him, and make some menacing motion toward him. As the ravine at this
+point was a sheer precipice, the hunter did not believe he would
+attempt to descend it, and feeling there was no danger of being fired
+upon, he kept steadily onward.
+
+But he was mistaken. Before he was opposite the savage, he came sliding
+and tumbling down the ravine, as though some one had pushed him from
+behind. However that may have been, he alighted on his feet without
+injury, and made directly toward the fugitives, with the manifest
+intention of checking their flight.
+
+Lewis Dernor saw that a collision with the Indian was unavoidable, and
+without the least hesitation prepared himself for it. The savage was a
+Miami--a brawny, muscular warrior, fully six feet in height, of
+matchless symmetry and formidable strength. When the combatants were
+perhaps a dozen yards apart, he raised his tomahawk over his head, and
+poising it a moment, hurled it, with a most deadly force, full at the
+head of the hunter. The latter had not expected such a demonstration as
+this, but had detected it in time to avoid it. He dropped his head the
+instant the weapon left the savage's hand, and it whizzed over him,
+going end over end, until it struck the solid rock, where the terrible
+force of the concussion shivered it to atoms. Seeing this, the Miami
+whipped out his knife and stood on the defensive.
+
+"Now, my good friend," muttered Dernor, between his clenched teeth, "it
+is _my_ turn."
+
+He handed his rifle to Edith--who had paused, now that they were so
+close to their enemy--and, drawing his own knife, made a sort of
+running bound, coming upon the Indian with a panther-like spring, that
+nearly drove him backward off his feet. There was a clashing of knives,
+the scintillation of steel against steel, the deadly embrace, and
+hand-to-hand struggle; and, as the Rifleman recoiled clear of his
+fallen adversary, he reached out to Edith for his rifle.
+
+"Come on," said he, in his ordinary voice; "I guess the way is clear."
+
+"I--I am afraid," faltered Edith, "that I can not run much further."
+
+"There ain't any need of it," said the hunter. "Lean on me, and we'll
+walk awhile, if there's a thousand tearing Injins after us."
+
+Edith panted and trembled violently from the exhausting efforts she had
+been compelled to make, while the mortal terror she felt at the Miamis,
+made her nearly wild with excitement. Their chilling yells, so
+different from any thing ever heard among civilized beings, would have
+crazed almost any person, but Dernor listened to them with as much
+composure as he would to the songs of so many birds.
+
+He became aware, shortly after, from the direction of these sounds,
+that the Indians had entered the ravine, and were now coming along
+again, at the top of their speed. He paused a moment, to determine
+precisely the distance of these, and then looked into the gloomy,
+terror-stricken face of Edith.
+
+"I have rested," said he, "and if we don't get over ground faster than
+this, them red-skins will have us both, in less than ten minutes. Let
+me carry you."
+
+She made no resistance, for she was barely able to stand, and
+supporting her in such a manner that her feet hardly touched ground,
+Dernor once more threw all of his astonishing energy into the flight.
+Fully a quarter of a mile he ran directly through the ravine, and then,
+reaching a point that would admit of it, he made a running leap, and
+came up out of it, like a diver emerging from the sea.
+
+He was now in the woods again, after having gained a considerable
+advantage over his pursuers; but the Indians behind him were still
+uncomfortably close, and he could not hope that all would pass the
+point where he had left the ravine, without discovering the signs he
+had left there of his flight. Knowing this, he was aware that the
+golden moment was the present. The Miamis--to whom most of the pursuers
+belonged--were "thrown off the scent" for the time. After having gone a
+considerable distance, and having satisfied himself that they had not
+yet regained it, Dernor determined to take advantage of this to give
+Edith a portion of the rest she needed so much.
+
+"I am not used to running like this," said she, leaning heavily on him,
+"and I am afraid I can not bear it."
+
+"I ought to be shot and scalped, for making you take this journey,"
+said Dernor.
+
+"Why, you did it for the best," she added, in surprise.
+
+"Yes, I thought so--perhaps, the best for myself. I had no idea of
+being pursued in this manner. It seems I have been a fool. I let that
+Simon Girty make me believe he was an awkward countryman, and lead me
+into this muss."
+
+"You think we can keep out of their hands?"
+
+"I trust so; the night ain't many hours away, and if we can only keep
+clear till then, why, all right. I hain't seen the Injin yet, Miami or
+Shawnee, that could foller a track in the night-time."
+
+"They did not see us come out of the ravine. How will they know enough
+of our direction to keep up the pursuit?"
+
+"Injin is Injin, and the dirt I made in scratching out of there will be
+seen by a dozen of their snaky eyes."
+
+"How far, dear friend, did you say it is to the settlement?"
+
+"Full twenty miles."
+
+"We can reach it, then, by traveling all night?"
+
+"Yes, very easy, if you can hold out till the darkness comes on."
+
+"I hope I can, but I am so terribly worn out that I must go very
+slowly. You said it was the best for _you_ that we should undertake
+this journey alone, through the woods. What did you mean by saying
+that?"
+
+"I will tell you some other time," replied the hunter, in great
+embarrassment. "I done so that I might be _alone with you_."
+
+Edith looked earnestly at him, as though she would read his very soul.
+She was about to speak, when the appalling yells of the human
+bloodhounds sounded so fearfully near, that her very blood seemed to
+curdle in her veins.
+
+"Where shall we fly?" she asked, looking up imploringly in the face of
+the hunter.
+
+"Come on as rapidly as you can," he replied, again supporting her.
+
+Great as were the apprehension and terror of Edith, she could but
+notice the singular conduct of her companion. He kept constantly
+looking around, not as though he expected danger, but as if searching
+for something. The cause of this was soon manifest.
+
+"Edith," said he, "it will be full two hours afore there'll be enough
+darkness to do us any good. Can you stand it till then?"
+
+"I can _stand_ it," she answered, with a sad laugh, "but I can not
+_run_ it."
+
+"We must either run or be took. Now, _my dearest_ _one_, you've done
+enough to kill a dozen common women, and you shouldn't try to do more,
+and I don't intend to let you."
+
+"But how can---- Oh, Heavenly Father! hear those shouts--but how can
+you prevent it?"
+
+"I must leave you behind."
+
+Edith's eyes dilated with horror, now doubly intensified.
+
+"Don't think for a minute," the hunter hastened to say, "that I intend
+to desart you. No, no; may the lightning strike me down if I could ever
+do such a thing. What I mean is, that I must hide you till night, when
+I'll come back, and we'll go on, taking things comfortably."
+
+"It must be done quickly. Don't wait a minute."
+
+The Rifleman led the way to some thick, dense bushes and without
+approaching them very closely, signified her to enter them. She did so,
+with considerable difficulty, and when she had entered and covered
+away, he could see nothing of her.
+
+"Stay there till I come," said he, "and be careful and not put your
+head out, if you hear any noise."
+
+"How shall I know whether it is you or not?"
+
+"I'll be around as soon as it is dark enough, and will speak. Don't
+forget what I said. Don't let any noise make you show yourself.
+Good-by."
+
+"Good-by;" and the hunter turned to attend to his own safety.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE RIFLEMAN AND HURON ON THE TRAIL.
+
+    The woodcock, in his moist retreat,
+    Heard not the falling of their feet;
+    On his dark roost the gray owl slept,
+    Time, with his drum the partridge kept;
+    Nor left the deer his watering-place,
+    So hushed, so noiseless was their pace.
+
+                                           W. H. C. HOSMER.
+
+
+On a fine summer day, the one succeeding that upon which occurred the
+incident just related, one of the Riflemen of the Miami, was making his
+way through the dense forests that at that period nearly covered the
+entire portion of Ohio. His short stature, bowed legs, and round,
+shining visage, showed unmistakably that he was Tom O'Hara. His rifle
+was slung over his shoulder, and as he walked leisurely along, he had
+that easy, saucy air which showed him to be totally unmindful of the
+opinion of friend or foe. That he had no fears of disturbance was
+manifest from the carelessness with which he proceeded, constantly
+kicking the leaves before him, and when a limb brushed his face,
+suddenly stopping and spitefully wrenching it off with an expression of
+impatience. He was in a worse temper than usual, and incensed at
+something that continually occupied his mind.
+
+"What can have become of the fools?" he muttered. "He oughter been home
+two, three days ago, and we hain't seen a sign of him yet. Can't be
+Lew's such a dunce as to walk into the red-skins' hands. No, no, no."
+
+He shook his head as if displeased, and for a time continued his
+solitary journey in silence. The great question which he was debating
+was regarding his leader's whereabouts, and his ill-temper arose
+principally from the fact that he was unable to offer a solution
+satisfactory to himself.
+
+"Let me see," he added. "If Lew is took, why the gal's took, and if the
+gal's took, Lew must be too; so that p'int is settled. It _might_ be
+some of the Injins _have_ got him, but somehow or other I can't believe
+it. Don't look reasonable, although Dick 'peared to think so."
+
+Again he bent his head as if in deep thought. Gradually his meditations
+brought him nearer the truth.
+
+"He's found out that the shortest path was the safest one--something a
+man is pretty apt to think when he is with the gal he loves, and so he
+has took the roundabout way home. That's it, sure. But hold on a
+minute," said O'Hara, as a new thought struck him; "I'd like to know
+the route which it would take them so long to travel over. It's queer,
+I'll be hanged if it isn't. That gal will be the death of Lew yet. I'd
+like to see the gal that could pull the wool over _my_ eyes."
+
+And, as if alarmed at the thought, he strode rapidly forward, shaking
+his head, and muttering more savagely than ever to himself. Gradually
+he regained his natural state of semi-composure, and proceeded in his
+audible musings:
+
+"Whatever is up, I'm bound to find out afore I go back. Not that I care
+a cent for Lew--not a bit of it. If he don't know any better than to
+shut his eyes when Injins is about, he oughter suffer. But then I'd
+like to know _how things is_. Hello!"
+
+The Rifleman stopped and commenced snuffing the air, like an animal
+when it scents danger.
+
+"That's smoke, as sure as I live. Who's been kindling a fire at this
+time of day?"
+
+Turning his head in every direction, he, at length, determined the one
+from which the vapor came. There being scarcely any wind at all, he
+rightly judged it must be close at hand. Stealing carefully along from
+tree to tree, he finally detected the faint blue rising through the
+wood, scarcely fifty yards away. Approaching still closer, he gained a
+full view of the fire, and also of him who had kindled it. The latter
+was an Indian warrior, who was seated on the ground with his legs
+gathered under him, and his head bowed forward as if sleeping. The
+hunter saw, from the nodding of his head, that such was the case.
+Occasionally he would incline forward until ready to fall on his face,
+when he would start up with a jerk, rub his eyes, look about him, and
+then go to nodding again.
+
+"It seems that everybody have lost their senses," muttered O'Hara. "Now
+just see that Injin wagging his head at the fire, tryin' to sleep here
+in broad daylight. How easy I could send a bullet through him! But
+there's no danger of that, as we Riflemen don't fight in that style. Be
+careful, my fellow."
+
+Here the Indian fell over on his face and then scrambled to his feet,
+looked around, seeking to appear wondrously awake, and then sat down as
+before.
+
+"A Huron, as I live," said O'Hara, in pleased astonishment. "What can
+_that_ red-skin mean by being in these parts? All alone, too. If he was
+only Oonamoo, now, I'd feel glad to see him."
+
+Oonamoo, to whom the hunter alluded, was a Huron scout, well known
+along the frontier as one of the best friends the whites possessed. He
+had the shrewdness, cunning and skill of his people in an astonishing
+degree, and had many times given evidence of his faithfulness to the
+settlers. He was well known to the Riflemen of the Miami, having guided
+them in several expeditions, and with O'Hara especially he was on good
+terms. The anxiety of the latter, therefore, to meet him can be well
+understood.
+
+"Oonamoo would unravel the whole thing afore noon," said he, "and I'd
+about as lief see him this minute as I would see Lew. Let me get a
+better glimpse of his face. I didn't suspect him being a Huron when he
+jumped up just now, or I'd noticed his features. It don't look like
+Oonamoo, to see him noddin' in that style."
+
+He moved cautiously around, until fairly in front of the savage, when
+he uttered a low, peculiar whistle. The latter instantly raised his
+head, his black eyes open to their fullest extent, and gave a look that
+at once discovered his identity to O'Hara.
+
+"Oonamoo, and no mistake," he muttered; and then repeating the whistle
+as a warning that he was about to approach, he stepped boldly forth and
+revealed himself. The Huron started with surprise, and then advanced
+with an expression of pleasure to greet his white brother.
+
+"Glad to meet," he said, speaking brokenly.
+
+"And I'm derned glad to see you, Oonamoo, for I need your help this
+minute. What are you doing? Out on a scout?"
+
+The Huron shook his head.
+
+"No scout--Oonamoo live in woods--like the deer--can't sleep near white
+men's houses."
+
+"'Pears you can sleep here though, the way your head was bobbin'
+around. Been up late at night, I s'pose?"
+
+"No sleep now--meet 'Hara, white brother," said he, with an expression
+of joy upon his swarthy countenance.
+
+"Yes, I smelt the smoke of your fire, and follerin' it up I cone onto
+you. 'Pears to me it was rather careless kindling your fire here in
+broad daylight. Ain't there any Injins in the neighborhood?"
+
+"Woods full of 'em--Shawnees, Miamis, Delawares, all over, like leaves
+of trees," replied the savage, sweeping his arm around him.
+
+"Ain't you _afeard_ they might come down on you?"
+
+The Rifleman indulged in an inward laugh, for he well knew the reply
+that would be made. The dark face of the Huron assumed an expression of
+withering scorn as he answered:
+
+"Oonamoo don't know _fear_--spit on Shawnee and Miami--he sleeps in
+their hunting-grounds, and by their wigwams, but they don't touch him.
+He scalp their warriors--all he meets, but Oonamoo never lose scalp."
+
+"Don't be too sure of that; that proud top-knot of yours may be yanked
+off yet, Mr. Oonamoo. Many a Shawnee would be proud to have that
+hanging in his lodge."
+
+"He never get him though," replied the Huron, with great readiness.
+
+"I hope not, for I'd feel sorry to see such a good warrior as you go
+under when he is needed so much. You ain't on a scout or hunt just now,
+then?"
+
+The savage shook his head from side to side as quick as lightning.
+
+"Then you'll take a tramp with me?"
+
+It now went up and down with the same celerity.
+
+"To sum up then, Oonamoo, Lew, our leader, is in a bad scrape."
+
+"Shawnee got him? Miami got him?"
+
+"That's what I want to find out. Shouldn't be s'prised if both have
+nabbed him."
+
+"How get him?"
+
+There was something curious in the eagerness with which the Huron asked
+the questions. It was more noticeable from the fact that O'Hara spoke
+slowly and deliberately, so that the short, broken sentences of the
+savage seemed all the more short and broken.
+
+"That I can't tell, Oonamoo," repeated the hunter, who, it will be
+noticed, evinced the remarkable fact of being in a good temper with the
+Indian. "You see, him and the gal----"
+
+"Gal with him?" asked the savage, with amazing quickness.
+
+"Yes; didn't I tell you that?"
+
+"Bad--bad--gal make him blind--see notting, all time--she afore his
+face."
+
+"You've got the idea this time, Oonamoo. Lew's in love, above his head
+and ears, and can't be to blame so much for what he's done," said
+O'Hara, a gleam of pity stealing through his rough nature, like a ray
+of sunshine entering a gloomy cave. "He's made a fool of himself, I'm
+afeard, 'cause there's a female on his hands."
+
+"What want to do? Foller him--catch him?"
+
+"That's it. The first thing to be done is to find the trail."
+
+"Where lost? Where see him last?"
+
+O'Hara proceeded to relate as best he could what is already known to
+the reader, or more properly that portion of it which was known to him.
+He stated that he and Dick Allmat had lost the trail in a small brook,
+and that their most persistent efforts had failed to recover it. Upon
+speculating further, he learned from Oonamoo that they were in the
+vicinity of the ravine where Dernor and Edith had so narrowly escaped
+the Indians, the latter fact of course being unknown to them. The Huron
+added, that there was "much track" in the woods around them, and
+O'Hara, thinking that perhaps his leader's might be among them,
+proposed that they should make an examination of them. To this the
+savage readily agreed, and the two moved forward through the wood for
+that purpose.
+
+In the course of a few minutes they reached the ravine, and the Indian,
+pointing down into it, as they stood upon its bank, said:
+
+"Full of tracks--many Injin pass there."
+
+"Let us go down and take a look at them."
+
+A few minutes later, they were following up the ravine, on a sort of
+half-run, the Huron leading the way, and evincing, at nearly every
+step, that remarkable quickness of sight and comprehension so
+characteristic of his race. Suddenly he paused so abruptly that O'Hara
+ran against him.
+
+"What the deuce is the matter?" he asked, rubbing his nose.
+
+"Look!"
+
+Several dark drops of blood were visible on the ground which was also
+torn up by the feet of the combatants. As the reader probably suspects,
+this was the scene of the conflict between Dernor and the Miami Indian.
+
+"See," said Oonamoo, walking slowly around, and pointing to the ground.
+"Track of Injin--track of white man--tear up ground--fight--till Injin
+killed. White man then run--see him tracks there, there, there," he
+added, pointing further and further from him as he uttered each of the
+last three words.
+
+"But where's the gal?"
+
+The Huron pointed to the spot where Edith had stood spell-bound while
+the contest was going on. O'Hara, although a skillful backwoodsman, was
+not equal to his savage companion; but he saw at once, from the dainty
+impress of the earth, that he was correct in supposing that Edith had
+stood there. They now resumed their pursuit, the hunter bringing all
+his wood-craft into play, in order to keep up with his companion.
+
+"I can't see her tracks to save my life," said the former, after they
+had proceeded some distance.
+
+"Him carry her," replied the savage, without the least hesitation.
+
+"Hang me if you haven't got about as much brains as a person needs in
+these parts," muttered O'Hara, admiringly, as he imitated the
+monotonous trot of the savage. A moment later and he paused again.
+
+"What's up now?" asked the hunter.
+
+"Track gone."
+
+"But I see plenty in front of us."
+
+"White man's not there--gone."
+
+A minute examination revealed the fact that most of the impressions
+were now made by persons passing _backward_ as well as forward, as
+though confusion had arisen from some cause. O'Hara suspected the
+reason of this, but, without venturing an opinion, questioned his dusky
+friend:
+
+"Huntin' for tracks," he answered. "White man gone."
+
+The two now walked slowly backward, their gaze wandering along the
+sides of the ravine instead of the bottom. In a moment the quick eye of
+the Indian discerned the spot where he judged the exit had been made,
+and a short examination proved that he was right. The feet of Dernor
+had sunk deep in the soft earth as he made his Herculean efforts in the
+ascent, while those of his pursuers were so light that they hardly
+disturbed them.
+
+Up out of the ravine came the Huron and hunter, and into the woods they
+plunged, following the trail now with the greatest readiness. A short
+distance further they reached the banks where Edith had concealed
+herself, and here, for a time, even the red-skin was at fault. He saw
+that the shrubbery had been passed by most of the pursuers without
+their having approached closely enough to make an examination. From the
+circuit which Dernor had made to reach these bushes, the quick-witted
+Huron rightly suspected that he had turned them to some account.
+Accordingly, he cautiously parted them and looked in. An immediate
+"Ugh!" showed O'Hara that he had made some discovery.
+
+"Hide gal there--then run on."
+
+"Where is she?"
+
+"Injin didn't git her in bushes," replied the savage, implying that if
+she was captured at all it was not done here.
+
+"Go on, then," added O'Hara.
+
+It was now noticed that the steps of the fugitive had shortened, it
+following, as a natural consequence, that he had slackened his speed at
+this point. Several hundred yards further on, another fact was
+observed. The pursuing Indians, instead of adhering to the trail, as
+they had done heretofore, separated and left it. This, to both Oonamoo
+and O'Hara was evidence that they had either come in sight of Dernor,
+or else were so certain of the direction he was taking that they did
+not deem it necessary to watch his footsteps. The Rifleman could not
+believe the former was the case, inasmuch as it was the very thing,
+above all others, which his leader would seek to avoid; for the most
+requisite condition to the success of his artifice, was that his
+pursuers should still think Edith was with him. Be that as it may, one
+thing was certain. The pursuer and pursued at this point were very
+close together--closer than the safety of the latter could admit for
+any length of time.
+
+A few hundred yards further, the dark face of the Huron lit up with an
+expression of admiring pleasure.
+
+"Him run agin," said he, glancing to O'Hara, who was now beside him.
+
+The steps of the flying Rifleman now lengthened rapidly, as if he had
+traveled at superhuman speed. As O'Hara saw the remarkable leaps which
+he must have taken, he could not help exclaiming, in admiration: "Go
+it, Lew. I'd like to see the red-skin that could overhaul you, when
+you're a mind to bring your pegs down to it."
+
+"Run much--like scar't deer," added Oonamoo.
+
+"Yes, _sir_; Lew has been letting out just along here, and I reckon
+them Injins never seen such steps as he took."
+
+It was very evident that the hunter had "let out" to his utmost
+ability, and with the determination of leaving his pursuers far in the
+rear. Previous to this he had not called his formidable power into
+play; but so rapidly had his gait increased that in many places his
+footsteps were fully ten feet apart!
+
+It had not escaped the notice of Oonamoo and O'Hara, that a white man
+was among the pursuers, and it occasioned considerable speculation upon
+the part of the latter. The trails of the two were distinguishable,
+Dernor having a small, well-shaped foot, inclining outward very
+slightly, while that of the other was large, heavy, turning outward at
+a very large angle.
+
+"Who can this chap be?" asked O'Hara of his companion.
+
+"Renegade--bad white man--Girty--white chief."
+
+"Whew! I see how it is now. That's the dog that hung around the
+settlers on the night of the storm, and got fired at a dozen times."
+
+"Why no killed--no hurt?"
+
+"We didn't know who he was, and all shot at his breast."
+
+"Ugh! no hurt him, then."
+
+"No, for, they say, the dog often wears a bullet-proof plate over his
+breast, and his life has, more than once, been saved by it. He's a
+brave man, for all he's such an inhuman brute; for who would dare to
+sit and let us fire agin and agin at him, when it was just as likely
+we'd fire at his head as at his breast? It was more of an accident than
+any thing else that we didn't kill him."
+
+"Bad man--kill women and children," said Oonamoo.
+
+"No one disputes that. What a pity we didn't know him when we first set
+eyes on him. I shouldn't wonder now if he's been fooling Lew, as well
+as us. My gracious! hasn't the boy used his pegs along here?" exclaimed
+O'Hara, again looking at the ground.
+
+"No catch him," said the Huron. "No Injun run like him. Tracks turn
+round pretty soon."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"Gal bring him back--not leave _her_!"
+
+"You're right. He won't forget she is behind him. But how is he going
+to throw the dogs off the scent?"
+
+"How t'row white men off scent, eh?"
+
+"I understand--by taking to the water."
+
+"Take to water agin."
+
+As the Huron spoke, they came upon the edge of a second brook--one, in
+fact, large enough to be called a creek. The trail led directly into
+this, it being manifest that Dernor had so shaped his flight as to
+reach it.
+
+"I will cross over and examine the opposite side, while you do the same
+along this shore."
+
+"No, won't," replied Oonamoo, with a decided shake of his head. "White
+man no cross--gal behind him--come out on this side agin."
+
+The savage was so certain of this, that he refused even to allow O'Hara
+to enter the stream. A moment's reflection convinced him, also, that
+the supposition was correct, and they commenced their ascent of the
+bank. They had gone scarcely a dozen steps, when they came upon
+numerous moccasin-tracks, showing that, if the pursuers had crossed the
+creek, they had also returned. At this discovery, Oonamoo indulged in a
+characteristic exclamation:
+
+"He hide trail--all safe--no cotch him."
+
+"How are _we_ going to find it?" asked O'Hara.
+
+Marvelous as was the skill of the Huron, he doubted his own ability to
+regain the trail in the ordinary manner, and he accordingly had resort
+to the same means that he used in ascending the ravine. Without
+attempting to search for the trail itself, he carefully examined the
+shore in order to find the point at which the fugitive could safely
+leave the stream. Oonamoo, from his knowledge of the leader of the
+Riflemen, knew that he would walk for miles in the creek, before he
+would leave it without the certainty of deceiving his pursuers. The
+course which Dernor had taken being such that he had entered the water
+at a point considerably _above_ where Edith had concealed herself, the
+savages, in case they were aware that the latter was somewhere on the
+back-trail, would naturally suppose that, if he came out of it on the
+same side in which he had entered, it would be _below_ this point;
+which, all being comprehended by the Huron, satisfied him that the
+fugitive had disappointed these expectations, and gone _up_ the stream.
+
+Two things, therefore, were determined with considerable
+certainty--Dernor had not _crossed_ the creek, but had left at a point
+either near or above where Oonamoo and O'Hara were standing. Satisfied
+of this, the two moved along the bank, taking long, leaping steps,
+treading so lightly as barely to leave the impression of their feet,
+and scrutinizing each bank with the most jealous eye.
+
+They had ascended fully a half-mile without discovering any thing upon
+which "to hang a suspicion," when O'Hara, who had contrived to get in
+advance of the Huron, uttered a suppressed exclamation of surprise.
+
+"Here's where he could have come out," said he.
+
+Oonamoo looked carefully before him, and shook his head. The object in
+question consisted of a fallen tree, the top of which lay in the edge
+of the stream, while the upturned roots were nearly a hundred feet
+distant. It will be seen at once, that the hunter could easily have
+walked along the trunk of this without leaving a visible footprint, and
+leaped off into the woods from the base and continued his flight as
+before. Plain as was this to the Huron, another fact was still
+plainer--the Rifleman had done no such thing.
+
+"Why do you think he hasn't used this tree?" asked O'Hara.
+
+"Too plain--_Injin sure to t'ink he do it._"
+
+Oonamoo had told the exact truth, for Dernor had really approached the
+branches of the tree with the intention of using them as we have
+hinted, when he had seen that his pursuers would be sure to suspect
+such an artifice, from the ready means afforded him; and he had,
+therefore, given over his first resolve, and continued his ascent of
+the creek.
+
+All around the base were the imprints of moccasins, showing where the
+Shawnees and Miamis had searched and failed to find the trail. Oonamoo
+having noticed all this, in far less time than it has taken us to
+relate it, walked out on the tree-trunk as far as it would allow him
+without wetting his feet Standing thus, he leaned over and peered out
+into the water.
+
+"Look dere--knowed it," said he, pointing out a few feet from the
+shore. The water was semi-translucent, so that it required a keen view
+to discover the object of the Huron's gaze; but, following the
+direction of his finger, O'Hara made out to discover on the bottom of
+the creek the _sign_ left by the passage of a human foot. They were not
+_impressions_, because there was not a dent visible, the ground being
+entirely free from any thing like it; but there were two delicate, yet
+perfect _outlines_ of a moccasin. The hunter had stood a few moments on
+this spot, and then stepped into deeper water. The tracks thus left by
+his feet had gradually filled with the muddy sediment composing the
+bottom of the creek, until, as we have said, there were no
+_impressions_ left; but, completely around where they had once been,
+ran a dark line, as if traced by the hand of an artist, a complete
+outline of the hunter's foot. This faint, almost invisible, evidence of
+his passage had entirely escaped the eyes of his pursuers.
+
+"What I t'ought," said Oonamoo; "knowed dey'd t'ink he'd come out
+dere--go in water agin--come out furder up-stream."
+
+"By thunder," said O'Hara, in amazement, "you make me ashamed of
+myself, Oonamoo. I believe you could track the gray eagle through air.
+Come, now, where is Lew? you can tell, if you're a mind to."
+
+This extravagant compliment was entirely lost upon the stolid Huron. He
+appeared not to hear it. He merely repeated, "He come out furder up,"
+and, springing lightly from the tree, continued his cautious ascent of
+the creek, O'Hara following behind, and occasionally muttering his
+unbounded admiration of the Indian's astonishing skill.
+
+The opposite side of the stream was overhung almost entirely with the
+heavy undergrowth so characteristic of the western forests. Beneath
+this it would have been an easy matter for a foe to have concealed
+himself and to fire upon the hunter and Indian; but the latter scarcely
+deigned to look across, well knowing that no such a danger threatened
+them. While the savages were searching for the trail of the fugitive,
+Oonamoo was certain that, as yet, no one knew that any one was upon
+theirs. Even had they known it, they would have cared but little, for
+they were too formidable a body to fear the two men who were following
+them.
+
+All along the shore were numerous moccasin-tracks, showing how
+persistently the Indians had kept up the pursuit. It struck O'Hara that
+his leader must have walked pretty rapidly through the creek to keep
+out of sight of the enemies, for they, being upon the land, had nothing
+to retard their progress. The causes of his success in this matter were
+twofold. In the first place, the extraordinary speed at which he had
+run had placed him far in advance of his pursuers, upon reaching the
+creek, so that he had ascended it a good distance before they reached
+it; and, unlike the shrewd Huron, they were deceived by the artifice he
+had practiced, believing that he had either crossed the stream, or gone
+down it. In this manner he gained a start sufficient to accomplish all
+he desired.
+
+O'Hara was just on the point of framing his mouth to ask a suppressed
+question, when Oonamoo, who was several feet in advance, suddenly
+paused and raised his hand over his head, as a signal that silence and
+caution were now necessary.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE PURSUIT OF THE PURSUERS.
+
+    The red-breast, perched in arbor green,
+    Sad minstrel of the quiet scene,
+    While hymning, for the dying sun,
+    Strains like a broken-hearted one,
+    Raised not her mottled wings to fly,
+    As swept those silent warriors by.--W. H. C. HOSMER.
+
+
+The Huron stood a moment as motionless as a statue; then, bending
+slowly forward, still holding one hand partly raised as a signal for
+the hunter to retain his immobility, he took several steps forward, so
+lightly and cautiously that there was absolutely no sound at all
+produced. He then sunk slowly downward, and seemed to concentrate all
+his faculties into the single one of sight. This lasted but a moment,
+when he arose to the upright position, and, turning his head, signified
+to O'Hara that he might approach. The latter did so, and immediately
+saw the cause of his cautious movements. Drawn up on the bank, so as to
+be entirely free of the water, with the bottom turned upward, lay an
+Indian's canoe. It was made of bark, beautifully shaped, and it was
+evident had not been used for a considerable time.
+
+They silently surveyed this object for some time, when Oonamoo, who had
+also been examining the earth around it gave vent to a chuckling,
+guttural laugh--a sure sign that he had made some discovery which
+delighted him hugely. It would have been an amusing sight for any one
+to have seen this expression of pleasure upon the dark, stoical face of
+the Huron. There was scarcely a change of his features, but such as was
+perceptible would have been mistaken by an ordinary observer as an
+evidence that he was undergoing some physical pain.
+
+"What is the matter? what is it that pleases you, Oonamoo?" asked
+O'Hara, considerably puzzled to understand the cause.
+
+"Shawnee fool--Miami fool--don't know notting."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"_He come out dere!_" he replied, pointing at the end of the canoe
+which lay nearest the water, and then indulging his characteristic
+chuckle again.
+
+As we have hinted in the preceding pages, O'Hara was a most skillful
+backwoodsman, having few superiors among those of his own color. When
+he chose to exercise his wood-craft, the true cause of his being termed
+a lucky hunter was apparent, it being nothing more than his wonderful
+skill and shrewdness. But, remarkable as were those qualities in him,
+he was by no means equal to the Huron. Those signs, invisible in the
+deep labyrinths of the woods to common eyes, were as plain to him as
+the printed pages of the book to the scholar. In the preceding chapter,
+we have endeavored to give some idea of the skill he displayed when
+these qualities were called into requisition. O'Hara, understanding
+perfectly the superior ability of his dusky friend, relied upon him to
+solve all difficulties that might arise, scarcely making any effort
+himself to do so. This will account for his apparent ignorance of the
+secrets of the forest, which, perhaps has been noticed by the reader.
+
+"Shawnee fool--Miami fool--don't know notting," repeated the Huron.
+
+"They don't know as much as you, that's sartin; but I've found more
+than once they knowed enough to satisfy me."
+
+"_He come out dere_," said Oonamoo, again.
+
+Finding there was little chance of gaining what information he wished
+from the Indian, O'Hara set about solving the difficulty himself. The
+former having announced that Dernor had left the creek at this point,
+it now remained for him to determine by what means he had thrown his
+pursuers off the scent, as it was very manifest he had done. The ground
+around the canoe was quite wet and spongy, showing the numerous
+footprints with considerable distinctness. Among these, it was very
+easy to distinguish that of the leader of the Riflemen. The instant
+O'Hara saw this, he became aware of the curious fact that it was more
+_recent than those of the Indian_, proving that Dernor had _followed
+them_, instead of they having followed him! How this was accomplished,
+the hunter was at a loss to determine, although, from the expression of
+the Indian's face, he knew it was all plain to him.
+
+"Lew has gone over this ground last," said O'Hara, "but how he has done
+it, I can't see just now. How was it?"
+
+"_Look under canoe_," said Oonamoo.
+
+O'Hara's eyes opened, as he began to comprehend matters. He carefully
+raised one end of the canoe, and saw at once that his leader had lain
+beneath it, while his enemies were searching for him. A few words more
+from the Huron, and every thing was explained. Believing the reader
+will be interested in the description of the ingenious artifice adopted
+by the hunter, we here give it as briefly as possible.
+
+It may seem incredible that Lewis Dernor should have been concealed
+beneath this Indian canoe, when fully a dozen savages were thirsting
+for his scalp, and when it would have appeared the height of absurdity
+to think that they would fail to look beneath it. Nevertheless, such
+was really the case. It happened in the following manner:
+
+When the Rifleman discovered the canoe lying against the bank, he
+sprung from the water, coming upon the frail barken structure with such
+force that he perceptibly started the bottom. It thus appeared to have
+been deserted for its uselessness. Stepping off of this upon the swampy
+ground, he walked about twenty yards up the bank, when he turned to the
+left, and approached the water again. The trail which he left was so
+distinct that no one could fail to see, he having purposely made it
+thus. Instead of taking to the water again, as it would appear he had
+done, he merely entered its margin, and then walked backward to the
+canoe again, stepping so exactly in his own footsteps, that the wily
+Shawnees and Miamis had no suspicion of the stratagem practiced.
+Reaching the canoe, he managed to lift it, without changing its
+position, when he lowered it again, without making any additional
+footprints. This done, he slipped beneath it, drew up his feet, and
+confidently awaited the approach of the savages.
+
+In about twenty minutes they came up. The foremost paused, upon seeing
+the canoe with its cracked bottom, and were about to overturn it, when
+their eyes rested upon the footprints of the fugitive. There was no
+need of looking beneath it, for they could see the direction he had
+taken. He was going at such speed that they had no time to pause, and
+they immediately dashed off in pursuit, the others following suit, like
+so many hounds. So soon as he was satisfied they were out of sight, the
+Rifleman came from beneath the canoe, carefully setting it back in its
+place again, and struck off in the woods at a more leisurely gait.
+
+"All safe--nebber git on track agin," said Oonamoo.
+
+"Don't believe they will. By gracious! but I should hate to try that
+trick of Lew's. Just s'pose they had looked under! it would have been
+all up with him. I daresn't use such means, 'cause I haven't got legs
+enough, for emergencies. Where does the trail lead to now, Oonamoo?"
+
+"Where gal hid--go get her now--Injin know notting about it."
+
+"I s'pose Lew will take his time now, as he knows he's got the dogs off
+his track."
+
+"Go slow little ways--then run fast--want to see gal."
+
+The Huron certainly displayed some knowledge of the workings of the
+heart when he remarked, in substance, that, although the lover might
+proceed at a moderate gait for some distance, it would not be long
+before the thoughts of Edith would urge him to as great exertions as he
+had displayed during the height of the chase. True to what he had said,
+O'Hara noticed that his footsteps gradually lengthened until it was
+manifest that he had been "letting himself out" again.
+
+It was now getting well along in the afternoon. The Huron struck into a
+sort of a compromise between a walk and a trot, he being anxious to
+make what progress he could before darkness set in. They had come too
+far to overtake Dernor and Edith the next day, and O'Hara began really
+to believe that the two had reached the settlement by this time. Upon
+mentioning this supposition to Oonamoo, the latter shook his
+head--meaning that all danger had not been overcome by the fugitives.
+The woods were too full of Indians, and the settlement was too far away
+for them to accomplish the rest of their journey without danger.
+
+Objects were just growing indistinct, when O'Hara and the Huron came
+upon the bushes where Edith had been concealed. They saw that Dernor
+had approached on the opposite side from which he had left it, and that
+upon being rejoined by his charge, he had once more started northward,
+as if his desire was still to remain above his enemies, and avoid, as
+much as lay in his power, all probabilities of encountering them.
+
+"I s'pose we've got to lay on our oars, as the sailors say, till
+daylight," said O'Hara.
+
+The Huron looked at him, as if he failed to comprehend him, and he
+added, in explanation:
+
+"There being no light, of course we can't see their tracks, and will
+have to wait till morning."
+
+"No wait--go on all night."
+
+"How will you do that?"
+
+"Oonamoo know which way dey go."
+
+"I don't deny that, but, smart as you are, I don't believe you can see
+a trail on such a night as this."
+
+"Don't want to see trail--know which way go--go up, then go off toward
+settlement."
+
+O'Hara understood that the Huron had formed his idea of the general
+direction which the Rifleman had taken, and intended to follow him in
+this manner. Being thoroughly well acquainted with the country, there
+was no difficulty in doing this; and, without pausing to think of drink
+or food, the two resumed their pursuit as hopefully and confidently as
+though the matter were already settled.
+
+To follow up thus persistently one of the most skillful border-men of
+the period, with the desire of assisting him in whatever strait he may
+have gotten himself, would have been the acme of absurdity upon the
+part of those undertaking it, and would have gained for them no thanks
+for attempting it, had the circumstances been difficult. But,
+incommoded as he was by the charge of Edith, and environed by enemies,
+it could hardly be expected that he would come through unscathed. His
+enemies, fully aware of the difficulties of his situation, undoubtedly
+were using every endeavor to thwart him, it being certain that they
+were aware of his identity. To have captured the leader of the Riflemen
+of the Miami would have been a feat of which even a war-party would
+have been proud, and the Huron well knew they would not give over their
+efforts until he was absolutely beyond their reach. This was the reason
+why he was so anxious to press forward as far as it would be prudent to
+venture during the darkness.
+
+By midnight the two had reached a point above which the Huron believed
+the fugitives would not go; and being unable to determine the precise
+course which they had taken after this, they concluded to wait until
+daylight before going further. Accordingly they lay down on the ground,
+both dropping to sleep immediately, and both waking at precisely the
+same moment, just as the light of the day was appearing.
+
+A half-hour's search discovered the trail of their friends within
+several hundred yards of where they had slept--thus close and exact had
+been the calculation of the sagacious Huron. He and O'Hara now began to
+entertain hopes that, after all, the fugitives had succeeded in
+reaching the settlement. The latter, at the most, was not more than
+twenty miles distant; and, had Dernor been allowed the entire night to
+travel, he could have safely reached it. A critical examination of his
+footprints, however, revealed the fact that they had not been made more
+than twenty hours before. If he had reached the settlement, therefore,
+he must have done it in the latter part of the preceding day.
+
+The two now pressed on with all haste. They had gone scarcely a
+half-mile, when both made a startling discovery. Numerous
+moccasin-tracks became suddenly visible, and O'Hara needed no prompting
+to understand that the persistent Indians were again upon the trail of
+the fugitives. How they had succeeded in regaining it, after being so
+cleverly misled, was a mystery. The Huron accounted for it only upon
+the supposition that they had come upon it by accident. A slight
+comparison of the two trails by Oonamoo showed that the savages were
+close behind their friends--so close that they could overtake them ere
+they could reach their destination--the settlement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+AT BAY.
+
+    Like lightning from storm-clouds on high,
+    The hurtling, death-winged arrows fly,
+    And windrows of pale warriors lie!
+    Oh! never has the sun's bright eye
+    Looked from his hill-top in the sky,
+        Upon a field so glorious.--G. P. MORRIS.
+
+
+As Oonamoo and O'Hara pressed forward, they found they were gaining
+very rapidly upon the pursuers and pursued. As for the Huron, he had an
+apprehension amounting almost to a certain conviction that the leader
+of the Riflemen, after all, had committed a sad mistake, in believing
+that he was safe from his enemies, after being rejoined by Edith. This
+belief had led him into some trap, and the faithful Indian felt that
+his services were sorely needed at that very moment.
+
+It was yet early in the day, when he and the hunter ascended a sort of
+ridge, which afforded them quite an extensive view of the surrounding
+wilderness. Here, carefully protecting their persons from observation,
+they looked out over the forest in quest of signs of human beings. The
+unexperienced person might have looked for hours without discovering
+the slightest evidence of animal life in the vast expanse spread out
+before him. He would have seen the dark emerald of these western wilds
+cut by the gleaming silver of many a stream and river; the tree-tops
+gently bowed, like a field of grain, when the breeze rides over it; and
+overhead, perhaps, would have been noted the flocks of birds circling
+in curious figures; but all beneath would have been silent--silent,
+save in that deep, solemn murmur which comes up perpetually like the
+voice of the ocean.
+
+But the Huron had scarcely glanced over the sylvan scene, when his dark
+eye rested upon what, to him, was a most palpable evidence of the
+presence of others in these woods. About a half-mile distant, on the
+edge of a small clearing, stood the remains of a log fort. This was
+subjected to a most searching scrutiny by both, but, for a time, O'Hara
+discovered nothing unusual in its appearance.
+
+"He's dere--he and the gal," said Oonamoo, pointing toward the pile of
+logs.
+
+"How do you know that? Have you seen him?"
+
+"See now what he done--he's dere. Look agin."
+
+"I've looked at them logs ever since we've been standing here, but
+hain't seen Lew or the gal yet."
+
+"Eber seen logs afore?"
+
+"Have I ever seen them logs before? Yes, often."
+
+"How they look when last see him?"
+
+"The same as they do now, I believe."
+
+"Sure?" asked Oonamoo, in a tone that revealed all to O'Hara. He now
+looked again toward the remains of the log-fort, and understood at once
+the meaning of the Huron's question. He had passed by the spot during
+the preceding autumn, and noticed that the logs were scattered and
+thrown down, as if a tornado had passed over the spot. Now, however,
+there was system in their arrangement--proof sure that the hand of man
+had been employed upon them. The Huron had seen them scarcely a week
+before, and knew that all these changes had been made since--that, in
+fact, Lewis Dernor had made them, and at that moment was standing at
+bay behind them.
+
+While yet they were looking, they saw something gleam for an instant in
+the sunlight, and then disappear as if drawn behind the logs.
+
+"That was Lew's rifle," said O'Hara. "He always keeps the barrel
+polished up so that it nearly blinds a person to shoot."
+
+"'Sh! look."
+
+At the point where they had witnessed the movement of this bright
+object, they now saw a red jet of flame spout out, a wreath of blue
+smoke arise, and then came the report of a rifle.
+
+"There's one red-skin the less," said O'Hara. "When Lew pulls trigger,
+_something_ is sure to go under."
+
+"Want us there," said Oonamoo, starting down the ridge on his peculiar
+trot, and moving off toward what may now properly be termed a fort.
+Upon coming in its vicinity, both exercised the greatest caution in
+their movements, knowing, as they did, that it was besieged by their
+deadly enemies. A half-hour's reconnoitering by both showed that there
+were ten Indians, exclusive of one dead one, collected at one end of
+the clearing, where each, safely ensconced behind a tree, was patiently
+waiting for a shot at the Rifleman, whom they now at last believed they
+had fairly cornered.
+
+Upon witnessing this condition of affairs, Oonamoo and O'Hara debated a
+proposition proposed by the latter. It was that the Huron, who was very
+fleet of foot, should instantly make all haste to the settlement, and
+return with the Riflemen and a sufficient force to scatter the
+besieging Indians to the four winds. This undertaking would require
+more than five hours at the utmost to fulfill it, but those five hours
+were so precious, that Oonamoo decided not to make the attempt. He felt
+sure that unless Dernor surrendered, the party of savages would attack
+the place in a body before two hours elapsed; and, brave and determined
+as he knew the Rifleman to be, he could see that a resistance upon his
+part would be useless. He, therefore, acted with his usual wisdom, in
+deciding to remain upon the ground to render assistance when it would
+be needed.
+
+The first plan adopted by O'Hara and the Huron was to keep their
+position, remaining carefully concealed, until the savages should move
+forward to the assault, when, as the former expressed it, they would
+"wade in promiscuously." This project offered to its originators the
+great point of excitement and desperate fighting, but was finally
+rejected by the Huron for the last reason.
+
+It is a very pleasant thing for a nation to think itself invincible and
+able to conquer all others with which it may come in collision. The
+same sensations, in a smaller degree, no doubt are experienced by two
+persons when, in the flush of the moment, they feel able to combat with
+five times their numbers; but, if time be allowed, the "sober second
+thought" will prevail, and action will be guided more by prudence than
+madness. The Huron was as brave a man as ever breathed, but he was also
+as shrewd and cunning. He knew well enough that should he and O'Hara
+rush in upon ten desperate, well-armed warriors, no matter how fiercely
+they might fight, the result would be that both would be killed and no
+one benefited. He, therefore, determined to resort once more to his
+powers of stratagem.
+
+The great point now was to make Dernor aware of the vicinity of his two
+friends. Without this Oonamoo would be more likely to be shot by him
+than by the savages. This part of the stratagem was the most difficult
+to accomplish. The Shawnees and Miamis being collected at one end of
+the clearing, it could not be expected that any signal, however
+skillfully or guardedly made, would attract the notice of Dernor. It
+might possibly be seen by Edith, but would not be understood. This
+means, therefore, was not even attempted.
+
+The besieged Rifleman of course kept himself invisible. He had become
+aware, when within a mile or so of the present spot, that he was again
+pursued by his unrelenting enemies, and making all haste thither, had
+thrown the logs together as compactly and securely as the time allowed
+him would permit. He had brought down one of his assailants, and they
+in turn had buried some twenty balls in the logs around him, without
+inflicting injury upon either Edith or himself.
+
+In the hope of giving his leader an inkling of the condition of
+affairs, O'Hara uttered a whistle, so perfect an imitation of the call
+of a certain bird, that the suspicious Shawnees and Miamis failed to
+notice it. Pausing a few moments, he repeated it, and then awaited the
+action of Oonamoo. Whether Dernor had caught the signal or not, of
+course his friends had no means of judging; but the Huron, knowing that
+if he had not his own death was certain, now coolly made the desperate
+attempt he had decided upon.
+
+Securely sheltered behind his log-fort, Dernor stood with cocked rifle
+awaiting his chance to pick off one of his enemies. Every faculty was
+absorbed in this, and he scarcely removed his eye once from the spot
+where he knew they were collected. He was aware of their exact number,
+as he was also of the fact that Girty, the renegade, was not among
+them. His lips were compressed, a dark scowl had settled upon his face,
+and it would have been easy for any one to have read the iron
+determination of his heart. He was at bay, it was true, and he was not
+ignorant of the desire of the savages to gain possession of him. He
+said nothing to Edith of the resolve he had made, but she needed no
+telling to understand it. So long as life remained, her defender would
+never desert her.
+
+He was standing thus, gazing stealthily out through a loophole, when
+Edith, who was watching every portion of the clearing, placed her hand
+on his shoulder and told him that an Indian was stealing toward them
+from the side opposite to that on which their enemies were collected.
+As quick as thought Dernor wheeled around, pointed his rifle out and
+took aim at the approaching savage. The latter saw the movement,
+understood fully its cause, and yet made no attempt to escape, relying
+entirely upon the chances of the Rifleman discovering his identity
+before firing. His faith was rewarded, although Oonamoo came nigher
+death in that single moment than ever he imagined. Dernor's finger was
+already pressing the trigger, when he saw directly behind the
+approaching Indian the barrel of a rifle project from behind a tree and
+then disappear again. This served to arrest his attention, and before
+he renewed his aim the round face of O'Hara was thrust forth and
+disappeared again. This led him to examine the face of the venturesome
+Indian. A single glance and he recognized Oonamoo, the faithful Huron.
+He instantly drew his rifle in, and the latter, understanding the
+meaning of it, sprung nimbly forward, and with one bound cleared the
+opposing barricades and came down beside the besieged Rifleman. The
+latter grasped his hand and silently pressed it.
+
+"Who is with you?" he asked, after relinquishing it.
+
+"'Hara--short feller--legs like bent Injin's bow."
+
+"Nobody else?"
+
+"Nobody else," replied the Huron.
+
+"You watch that side, then, Oonamoo, and I will attend to this."
+
+"No watch this side--no Injin come here--all on toder side--me watch
+with you--come round this side bime-by."
+
+"Do as you please; you're an Injin and ought to understand them."
+
+Oonamoo had been seen by the besieging savages as he bounded over the
+logs, and, for a few minutes, they were puzzled to understand the
+meaning of so singular an occurrence. Their first impression was that
+one of their number, more daring than the others, had taken this
+desperate means of getting at the Rifleman, and they listened intently
+for sounds of combat and struggles between them; but, as moment after
+moment passed without the silence being disturbed, their eyes were
+opened to the fact that he had been reinforced by a formidable ally;
+and this, too, when a little foresight on their part would have
+prevented it. Having felt certain, previous to this, that the white man
+had no friends in the vicinity, they had neglected to surround his
+fort, so as to prevent their approach. To prevent any thing further
+happening like this, a part of the band now proceeded to get on the
+opposite side of him.
+
+There was but one way in which this could be done without being menaced
+by the rifles of the besieged party. Several of the Indians, being
+careful to keep the protecting trees before them, slowly retreated
+backward until they had gone far enough in the wood to be safe, when
+they passed around and approached the fort from the opposite side. It
+was not long before they became aware that the friend of the Rifleman
+was fully as sagacious as himself, and that, after all, the parties
+were not so unequally matched. The threatening muzzles were constantly
+protruding from behind those logs, and it was absolute suicide for any
+one to attempt to stand before them.
+
+Dernor having caught a glimpse of O'Hara, his companion, wondered
+considerably that he did not follow the example of the Huron, and unite
+with him in the fort. Thus strengthened, his confidence would have been
+restored, and he would bid defiance to the Shawnees and Miamis. But, as
+he waited, and finally saw that a number of Indians had succeeded in
+getting behind him, he was compelled to give up this hope. This excited
+speculation the more upon his part, because he was fully aware of
+O'Hara's defects, and felt that it would have been the most prudent
+course for him to adopt. At length he questioned the Huron:
+
+"Where's Tom?"
+
+"Dunno--gone away."
+
+"Why didn't he do as you did--come over and join me?"
+
+"Tom 'Hara goin' _to do sumkin' else_--_he_ know what."
+
+"I expect he does. He'd better move his carcase from where he was a few
+minutes ago, or them dogs will move it for him."
+
+"He know--_dey_ won't move _him_--he get out way soon enough."
+
+"He's got too short legs," said Dernor, who, aware of the affection the
+Huron bore him, and experiencing a sort of reaction of his spirits
+after their continued depression, was disposed to quiz Oonamoo a
+little.
+
+"Got _long_ eyes, dough," replied he, quickly.
+
+"Got long eyes?" laughed Dernor. "I don't know as they're any longer
+than mine."
+
+"Good 'eal longer. Tom 'Hara neber let Shawnee and Miami get him atween
+the logs--he know too much."
+
+Dernor felt the sarcasm of this remark and took it kindly.
+
+"Neither would they have got me here, had I been alone."
+
+It would be difficult to describe the expression that illuminated the
+Huron's face at this remark. He turned his dark, basilisk orbs (their
+fierceness now subdued into a softer light) full upon Edith, who,
+seated upon a portion of one of the logs, was listening to the
+conversation. The muscles around the corners of his mouth twitched a
+little, a wrinkle or two gathered, his beautiful white teeth became
+visible, but she only half-suspected that he was smiling.
+
+"Nice gal," said he, his voice now as soft as a woman's. "White man
+love her--fight for her--Oonamoo do so too."
+
+She did not know whether to be pleased or frightened at the look of the
+Huron. In her perplexity she turned toward Dernor.
+
+"You needn't be alarmed," said he, understanding her embarrassment.
+"Oonamoo here is an old and tried friend, and will stand by you as long
+as I will, which," he added, in a lower tone, "will be as long as the
+One above gives me breath. He is devoted to me if he doesn't love you."
+
+"Yes, Oonamoo does--he love all white folks--love the gals--clever to
+him and feed him when hungry."
+
+Dernor merely smiled, believing that the remark of the savage fully
+explained his passion without any qualifying observation of his own.
+
+"Oonamoo love white folks--love missionaries--tell him all about God up
+dere"--pointing upward--"spirit land--happy place--Oonamoo don't take
+scalp when Injin sleeping--so he go up dere when he die."
+
+"I believe you will, for if there ever was an honorable savage you are
+one," said Dernor, warmly.
+
+The Huron made no reply to this compliment, evidently thinking enough
+had been said. It must not be supposed that this conversation occurred
+in the connected form in which we have given it. Several moments
+sometimes elapsed between the different remarks, and hardly once during
+its progress did Dernor look at the savage. Once or twice he turned
+toward Edith, as also did Oonamoo, but the danger that menaced him was
+too great for either to be diverted from it.
+
+Some twenty minutes had elapsed, when an exclamation from the Huron
+showed that some new scheme was afoot. Immediately after, a blazing
+arrow came whizzing through the air, and buried itself in the logs. The
+sharp crackling told that the twist of flame had communicated with the
+logs and it was burning.
+
+"My God! are we to be burnt alive?" exclaimed Dernor, losing his
+self-possession for a moment.
+
+"Ugh--can't burn--logs too wet--go out," replied his unmoved companion.
+
+So it proved, although an inch or two of some of the logs were
+sufficiently seasoned to take fire, they were all too damp and soaked
+to burn. Oonamoo had hardly spoken when the blaze went out of itself. A
+perfect storm of arrows, tipped with burning tow, now came sailing in
+upon them, but the only inconvenience they occasioned was a blinding,
+suffocating smoke, which lasted, however, but a few moments.
+
+"Where the deuce did they get their bows and tow from?" asked Dernor.
+"Do they carry such articles with them?"
+
+"Sent for 'em after git here," replied Oonamoo.
+
+"Won't any of these logs burn?"
+
+"Too wet--smoke--but won't blaze."
+
+The Indians soon found that nothing could be accomplished in the way of
+burning out the fugitives, so they ceased the attempt only to devise
+some other expedient. What this was to be, the besieged party for a
+long time were unable to determine. The first warning they had was a
+bullet, which grazed the face of Oonamoo, coming in at the _top_ of the
+fort.
+
+"Ugh! Shawnee climb tree--Oonamoo fetch him out dere," said the latter,
+sheltering himself as quick as lightning, and peering out in the hope
+of gaining a glimpse of the miscreant who had come so near shooting
+him. He was disappointed, however, the savage descending the tree with
+such skill and caution that his person was never once exposed to the
+eagle eye of the Huron.
+
+For an hour succeeding this last attempt nothing further was done by
+the besieging savages. They carefully kept their bodies concealed, so
+that the utmost watchfulness on the part of Oonamoo and Dernor failed
+to get a shot at them. They saw enough, however, to make them certain
+they were surrounded by their enemies, and that for the present, at
+least, under Heaven, they had nothing but their own bravery and good
+rifles to rely upon.
+
+There were several means by which the fugitives could be compelled to
+succumb in the end, if these means were only employed by the savages.
+The first and obviously safest was to keep up the siege until they were
+compelled to come to terms. Dernor had not a drop of water nor a
+particle of food, and consequently this plan on the part of the
+besiegers would have been only a question of time. Again, a rapid and
+determined assault could scarcely fail to take the Rifleman and the
+Huron. There were ten Indians to make the attempt, but those ten knew
+well enough that two of their number would never live to reach the fort
+in case the rush was made and that there would be desperate work before
+the two men could be overcome.
+
+During the hour of silence these plans occurred to Dernor, and he
+mentioned the first to Oonamoo. The cunning savage shook his head.
+
+"Won't do that--_afeard_."
+
+"Afraid of what?"
+
+"Settlement two--t'ree--fifteen mile off--_afeard_ other Long Knives
+come afore we got starve."
+
+"I hope the boys are somewhere in the woods. Why don't the cowardly
+dogs rush in upon us? They could batter these logs down in five
+minutes."
+
+"_Afeard_ we batter _'em_ down," replied the Huron, with a sparkle of
+his black eyes.
+
+"We would surely knock some of them over, but I don't suppose we could
+finish up the whole ten."
+
+"Finish some--don't know which--dat de reason."
+
+"Their heads are so full of their devilish inventions, I should think
+they could get up some way to attack us without getting a shot at
+them."
+
+"Attack purty soon--keep eye peeled--don't see notting?"
+
+"Nothing at all," replied the Rifleman, who, all this time, was peering
+through a chink in the logs and not looking at the Indian.
+
+Taking it for granted that if the Huron saw no danger there could be
+none, Dernor turned toward Edith, and asked, in that low, passionate
+tone which he instinctively assumed in addressing her:
+
+"And how do you feel, dear Edith, all this time?"
+
+"_My_ courage, I think, will bear up as long as _yours_," she answered,
+with a faint smile.
+
+"It will bear up to the end, then," he added. Then looking at her a
+moment, he continued: "Edith, how you must feel toward me for bringing
+you into this trouble! I have been thinking of it for the last day or
+two."
+
+"Did you do it on purpose?" she asked. "That is, did you _know_ we
+should be pursued and persecuted as we have been when we started?"
+
+"Know it? of course not. I would have been shot before I would have
+come."
+
+"Then why do you ask me such a question? No, Lewis, I do not blame you
+in the least. On the contrary, I shall never be able to express the
+gratitude I feel for what you have done."
+
+This was the first time Edith had addressed the Rifleman by his given
+name, and it gave him a peculiar pleasure which it would be difficult
+to describe. He was only restrained from approaching by the reflection
+that he would cut a most ridiculous figure in the presence of the
+Huron. His feelings were now such that, upon his own account alone, he
+would have welcomed several days' siege. In fact, he would have cared
+very little had Oonamoo been a hundred miles distant just then.
+
+But these emotions were only temporary. Five minutes later, he felt
+heartily ashamed that he should have entertained them.
+
+"I am certain, Edith----"
+
+Further utterance was checked by an exclamation from the Huron. Looking
+forth, Dernor saw that the crisis of the contest had arrived!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+They come!--be firm--in silence rally! The Long Knives our retreat have
+found! Hark! their tramp is in the valley, And they hem the forest
+round! The burthened boughs with pale scouts quiver, The echoing hills
+tumultuous ring, While, across the eddying river, Their barks, like
+foaming war-steeds, spring, The bloodhounds darken land and water, They
+come--like buffaloes for slaughter.--G. P. MORRIS.
+
+
+At that point from which the Huron had advanced to the fort, the
+Shawnees and Miamis had now collected, preparatory to their final
+attack upon it. The wood being thick at this spot, they had little
+difficulty in keeping their bodies out of sight, the besieged being
+enabled to judge of their position by the points of their rifles and
+portions of their dress, which they took no pains to conceal.
+
+"That means business," said Dernor, loosening his knife, and examining
+the priming of his rifle. "What's their idea, Oonamoo?"
+
+"Run all togedder--make big rush--all come from one side."
+
+Being satisfied of this, the Huron crossed over to the side of the
+hunter, so as to be ready for the assault. He was as cool as if sitting
+in his own wigwam, although none was more aware than himself of the
+peril that hung over his head. Could the Shawnees or Miamis once obtain
+his person, no species of torment that their fiendish minds could
+invent would be left untried upon him. But he had played hide-and-seek
+too long with death, to be disconcerted in a moment like this.
+
+"What are they waiting for?" asked Dernor, who began to grow impatient
+at the delay.
+
+"Ain't waitin'--here dey come!"
+
+As he spoke, ten Indians suddenly appeared to view, from behind as many
+trees, and, pausing a moment, set up a yell that must have been heard
+miles distant, and rushed with the speed of the whirlwind toward the
+fort. Half-way across the clearing they had come, when the sharp crack
+of two rifles was heard, and the two foremost savages, making a
+tremendous bound in the air, came down to the ground in their
+death-struggles. But the others were not checked in the least. On they
+came, right over the prostrate bodies, and the next minute were tearing
+at the pile of logs, with the fury of madmen.
+
+The Rifleman and the Huron had discharged their rifles together at the
+savages, as they came pouring forward; then drawing their knives, they
+awaited the onset. The logs, loosely thrown together, could not long
+resist the efforts to dislodge them, and, in a few minutes, came
+tumbling to the ground. The first bronzed skull that appeared above
+them was shattered like an egg-shell, by the stock of the Huron's
+rifle; while, as the savages swarmed in, Dernor stooped, and catching
+Edith round the waist, bounded clear of the logs, and dashed at
+headlong speed across the clearing. Right behind, like a pack of
+hounds, poured his relentless enemies, held in check solely by the
+Huron, who, covering the retreat of his white friends, raged like a
+tiger with his clubbed rifle; but, powerful and agile as he was, he was
+finally brought to the earth, and, heedless of him, the savages poured
+onward, intent only on capturing Dernor and Edith.
+
+At this moment the edge of the clearing was reached; the fugitive had
+dashed into the wood, and his enemies were just following, when several
+flashes illuminated the edge of the forest, and simultaneous with the
+report, the remaining Riflemen of the Miami, with one exception, burst
+into the clearing and shot forward like a tornado toward the savages.
+The number of the whites was increased by Harry and Jim Smith, but half
+of the Indians had already gone to the earth, and the remaining ones
+broke and scattered as if a mine had exploded beneath their feet.
+
+"Hello! anybody hurt?" demanded Harry Smith. "Come back here, Lew, and
+let us see you."
+
+The fugitive had run quite a distance; but, recognizing the voice of a
+friend, he halted, looked back, and then returned. In the clearing, he
+saw standing the panting, excited forms of the brothers Smith, Allmat,
+George Dernor and Ferdinand Sego! The latter was leaning on his rifle,
+and looked up as Lewis and Edith came to view. He instantly started, as
+if struck by a bullet, and gazed at her as though he doubted the
+evidence of his own eyes. Edith, on her part, was hardly less agitated.
+She trembled and leaned heavily a moment on the hunter's arm, and then,
+relinquishing her hold, bounded forward and was clasped in the arms of
+Sego. Neither spoke until they had partly recovered from their
+emotions; then they conversed in tones so low, that the bystanders, had
+they wished, could not have overheard the words that were said.
+
+All this time, as may well be supposed, Lewis Dernor was tortured by
+the most agonizing emotions. The beautiful dreams and air-castles which
+he had been continually forming and building during the past few days,
+now dissolved like mist in the air, and left nothing but the cold,
+cheerless reality, far colder and more cheerless than had ever before
+impressed him. Sego and Edith were reunited, and although there
+appeared to have been some mystery and misunderstanding between them,
+it was now cleared up, and their happiness seemed complete. The
+Rifleman drew a deep sigh and looked up.
+
+"I say, Lew," said his brother, "I've asked yer half a dozen times,
+whether there's any thing that need keep us here any longer?"
+
+"The Huron--Oonamoo?" asked the hunter, looking around him.
+
+"Was Oonamoo with you?--I recollect, now, Tom said he was. Well, that
+must be him, then, stretched out yonder."
+
+The two moved toward the prostrate form of the Indian, which lay upon
+its face. They rolled him over on his back, but he was limp and
+nerveless as a rag. His body was still warm, but to all appearance he
+was entirely lifeless--a gash on the side of his face, from which a
+great quantity of blood had streamed over his person, adding to the
+ghastly appearance of the body.
+
+"Poor fellow! he's dead," said Lewis, with a saddened feeling, as he
+looked down upon him. "He was a faithful fellow, and had few equals.
+I'm sorry he's dead."
+
+"Oonamoo ain't dead," said the prostrate individual, opening his eyes,
+and getting upon his feet with some difficulty. "Play 'possum--dat
+all."
+
+"You're a good one," said George Dernor, admiringly, as he supported
+him. "You've had considerable of a hurt though, along side of your
+noddle."
+
+"Hit purty hard--hurt a _leetle_," said the Huron.
+
+"We'll dress your wounds as soon as we reach the brook out in the
+woods. What did you play 'possum for?"
+
+"Fool Shawnee--fool Miami--t'ink dey cotch Lew and gal, den come and
+git Oonamoo scalp. If t'ink he ain't dead, kill him; wait till get out
+of sight, den run."
+
+The meaning of which was, that the Huron, upon being felled to the
+earth, concluded it best to feign death until his enemies were out of
+sight, when he would have risen to his feet and fled. The wound he had
+received was so severe, that he knew his flight would be difficult and
+tardy, and he, therefore, avoided giving any signs of life as long as
+he had reason to believe the savages were in the vicinity. Of course he
+was perfectly conscious when the two Riflemen stood over him, and heard
+their words. Understanding at once from these the changed condition of
+affairs, he arose to his feet, as we have mentioned.
+
+A few minutes later, the party was moving slowly through the wood. The
+brothers Smith led the way; behind them came Sego and Edith far more
+affectionate and loving than she and Dernor had ever been. The latter,
+with his brother, and Allmat and Oonamoo, brought up the rear. In a few
+minutes they reached the brook, where the party halted.
+
+The stoical Huron had borne up like a martyr thus far; but the
+precipitation with which he sought a seat the moment a pause was made,
+showed that he had taxed nature to the utmost. The cool fluid was taken
+from the brook in the canteens of the hunters, all the blood thoroughly
+washed from the Indian, and then the wound was carefully bandaged by
+Edith, from pieces of her own dress. This done, the savage rose to his
+feet--his head being so swathed and bundled up that it was nearly
+thrice its ordinary size--and looked about him with an air that was
+truly amusing.
+
+"You'll be all right agin in a few days," said Harry Smith. "Let's move
+on, as the day is getting well along."
+
+"Oonamoo don't go furder--leave you here," said the savage.
+
+"How is this? Come, go with us to the settlement and stay till your
+wound gets better," said Lewis.
+
+All joined their entreaties, but it availed nothing. The savage had
+made up his mind, and it could not be changed.
+
+"Can't stay--Shawnees, Delawares, all round--git much scalp in woods,"
+and waving them an adieu, he plunged into the forest.
+
+"Injin is Injin!" said Jim Smith; "you can't change his nature. The
+missionaries have had a hold of him, and made him an honorable
+red-skin, but they can't get that hankering after scalps out of him.
+Shall I tell you where he's going? He's going back: to the clearin'
+where them dead Injins are stretched, and intends to get their
+top-knots. I seen him look at 'em very wishful-like when we started
+away. He was too weak, and he didn't want to do it afore Edith, or he'd
+'ve had 'em afore we left that place."
+
+[The next time the Riflemen encountered the Huron, it was upon the
+war-trail, and full a dozen more scalp-locks hung at his girdle!]
+
+Again the party moved forward, now with considerable briskness, there
+being no cause for tardiness or delay. Sego and Edith conversed in low
+tones, every look and action showing their perfect happiness, while the
+hardy leader of the Riflemen was as wretched an object as it is
+possible to imagine. They had progressed several miles, when, as they
+descended a sort of hollow, they encountered O'Hara, hurrying along as
+fast as the shortness of his legs would permit.
+
+"Hello!" he exclaimed, suddenly halting. "Is the row done with?"
+
+"Of course it is," replied Harry Smith.
+
+"Who finished it?"
+
+"We all had a hand in it, I reckon."
+
+"It's an all-fired shame. As soon as--where's Oonamoo?" he abruptly
+demanded, looking around him.
+
+"Gone off in the woods for scalps."
+
+"Didn't lose his?"
+
+"No; although he come mighty nigh losing his head."
+
+"It's an all-fired shame," resumed O'Hara. "As soon as he got inside
+the fort there with Lew, I streaked it for the settlement to get the
+boys. I told you to hurry, but after you got to the clearin', I wanted
+you to wait so that I could jine in the fun, and pitch in
+promiscuously. Why didn't you do it?"
+
+"Matters were mixed up a little too much to allow us to wait," replied
+Lewis Dernor.
+
+"S'pose they was, but I'm mad and want to lick somebody. Won't you
+fight, Lew?"
+
+The latter merely smiled, and the party moved on, O'Hara being forced
+to bottle his wrath, as he could find no one upon whom to expend it.
+Occasionally, however, he and the brothers Smith had a war of words,
+but it amounted to nothing, being attended by no real ill-feeling upon
+either side.
+
+It was just growing dark when the party reached the settlement. The
+delight with which the fugitives were welcomed by the settlers need not
+be described. Many had had the most painful apprehensions regarding
+Edith, and nearly every family felt as if one of its members had been
+restored, upon her return. And the confidence which they reposed in the
+gallant-hearted Rifleman, the reliance which they placed upon his
+prowess and bravery, were such that all felt his death would have been
+a public calamity.
+
+The Riflemen remained several days in the settlement, there being no
+special cause for hurrying their departure. While the members of this
+small party enjoyed themselves to the utmost, the sadness and dejection
+of their leader was remarked by all. He was often seen wandering in the
+woods, silent and moody, resolutely refusing communication with any
+one. He carefully avoided Sego and Edith, until the latter, wondering
+more than the others at the cause of his changed behavior, sent word to
+him that she wished him to spend an evening with her. Dernor's first
+impulse was to refuse the invitation; but, on second thought, he
+concluded to accept it, and he returned a reply promising to call upon
+her on the following evening.
+
+Edith was living with Smith, where Sego was also spending his time,
+and, from the wording of her invitation, he confidently expected to
+meet her alone. He was considerably disappointed and chagrined,
+therefore, on entering the room, to find Sego seated within a few feet
+of her, the expression of both faces showing that each was full of
+happiness and utterly delighted with each other. Both welcomed him, and
+when he had been seated, Edith asked, rather abruptly:
+
+"Now, Lewis, what is the matter with you?"
+
+"Nothing," he replied, looking at the toe of his moccasin, and feeling
+a little stubborn and ugly simply because his fair questioner was just
+the opposite.
+
+"Now you needn't tell me that," she persisted. "What makes you act so
+strangely--and keep away from me as though you hated me?"
+
+"_You_ ought to know," replied the hunter, more sullenly than before.
+
+"I? I am sure I do not. Pray, what is it?"
+
+The hunter, who was acting much like a pouting child, refused to make
+answer. Edith laughingly repeated her question several times, but it
+was not replied to. Still laughing and blushing, she arose, and moved
+her chair close beside him; then, sitting down, placed one of her warm
+hands in his. Gently patting his embrowned cheek with the other hand,
+she asked, in that voice which none but the maiden can assume who is
+conscious of her power:
+
+"_Won't_ you tell Edith what troubles you?"
+
+Matters were getting decidedly dangerous. There sat the sullen hunter,
+his head bent, his lips closed, and his eyes fixed resolutely upon the
+toe of his moccasin. Right before these eyes, so directly before them
+that the view of his foot was almost hid, was the beaming, laughing,
+radiant face of Edith, looking right up in his own, her eyes sparkling,
+and her countenance a thousand times more lovely than ever. Several
+times Dernor felt like catching her to his bosom, and kissing her lips
+again and again; but, as he was on the very point of doing so, he
+remembered that Sego was in the room, and felt more angered than ever,
+and gazed harder than ever at his moccasin.
+
+"Won't you even look at me?" asked Edith, putting her open hand over
+his eyes, as if to pull his gaze down. He instantly looked her steadily
+in the face, without changing a muscle of his countenance, while she,
+folding her hands, returned the gaze with equal steadiness. Her lips,
+too, were resolutely closed, but her eyes fairly scintillated with
+mischief, and she seemed just able to prevent herself from laughing
+outright. How long this _oculistic_ contest would have continued we can
+not pretend to say, but it was ended by Edith asking:
+
+"What makes you look so troubled, Lewis?"
+
+"Because I am," he replied, curtly.
+
+"Tell me the cause, and I will do all I can to help it."
+
+"It's _you_ that have done it!" He spoke with deep feeling.
+
+"I that have done it!" repeated the girl, in consternation. "Why, how
+did I do it?"
+
+"Edith!" His words were ringingly clear. They were winged with reproof.
+"Do you want me to tell you?"
+
+"Of course I do."
+
+"When we were alone, you led me to believe that you loved me. As soon
+as you saw Sego you went right into his arms, and I was forgotten."
+
+The lurking mirth and mischief in her face grew more perceptible each
+moment, while he was certain, although he did not look in that
+direction, that Sego was doing his best to smother a laugh.
+
+"Well, what of that?" she asked, looking down from his face and toying
+with a button at his waist.
+
+"_What of that?_" he exclaimed, indignantly. "It is the meanest thing a
+person could do."
+
+The reader must be indulgent, and consider the circumstances in which
+the hunter was placed. The mischievous Edith was tormenting him. How
+could she, being a woman, help it?
+
+"Don't you believe I love you?" she asked, after a moment's pause.
+
+"Believe it? To my sorrow and mortification, _I know_ you don't."
+
+"Lewis!"
+
+"You love Sego, and I can be nothing to you but one of many friends,"
+he added.
+
+"Yes, dearly do I love Sego!" the maiden replied, with the old
+roguishness in her eyes.
+
+"Fudge!" he exclaimed, impatiently, and making a movement as if to move
+away. "Edith"--he spoke earnestly--"I can not bear this trifling. I am
+sorry you have treated me thus. I must leave you----"
+
+"No, you must not leave me!" she as earnestly answered.
+
+"Do you wish to keep me here longer, to mortify me?"
+
+"I have something more to say to you."
+
+"Say it quickly, then."
+
+"In the first place, look straight into my eyes, as you did a few
+minutes ago."
+
+The hunter did as requested, although it was a harder task than he
+suspected.
+
+"Now," said Edith, "in the first place, _I love you_; and, in the
+second place, I love him (pointing to Sego); but (here a pause) I do
+not feel the same toward each of you."
+
+"I shouldn't think you did, the way things looked in the clearing!"
+
+Edith laughed outright, and then said:
+
+"Lewis, let me tell you something. The man sitting there, whom you know
+as Ferdinand Sego, _is my own father_!"
+
+"Is that so?" demanded Dernor, almost springing off his seat, "Then, by
+thunder, if you ain't the most noble gal in the wide creation, and I
+the biggest fool."
+
+And he embraced her, unmindful of the presence of Sego, who seemed in
+danger of an epileptic fit from his excessive laughter.
+
+"How is this? Let's understand matters," said the Rifleman, a few
+minutes later.
+
+"I can soon explain," said Sego. "To commence at the beginning, my name
+is Ferdinand Sego Sudbury. I emigrated out in this western country some
+years since, with my wife, and only daughter, Edith, here. Shortly
+after, my wife died; and, feeling lonely and dejected, I took to
+wandering in the woods, making long hunts, to while away the time. You
+remember when I encountered you, and received an invitation to make one
+of your number. I accepted it, with the understanding that I could not
+spend my entire time with you. When not with you, I was at my own
+cabin, with my daughter. I joined under the simple name which you have
+known me by, for no reason at all save that it was a mere notion, I
+having used that name in the East on more than one occasion. I kept my
+relations with your band secret from Edith, as I did not wish to alarm
+her by letting her know that I took part in your desperate expeditions.
+
+"It happened on one occasion, when wandering along the Ohio, on my
+return to my cabin, that I encountered a flat-boat, in which were
+several of my acquaintances. At their urgent request, I waded out, was
+taken on board, and accompanied them to their destination, down the
+river. Here I left them, and several days after reached my cabin. I
+found Edith gone. The undisturbed condition of the furniture forbade
+the supposition that she had been carried off by the savages. I
+endeavored to find her trail, but a storm obliterated all traces, and I
+was compelled to give her up as lost.
+
+"It was quite a while before I rejoined you. When I did, I said nothing
+of my loss, not believing that you knew any thing about it. It seems
+singular that I should have omitted to mention it; but, I will not deny
+I had a lingering suspicion that Edith had eloped with some young
+hunter, whose acquaintance she had formed during my absence. After I
+had been with you some time, I mentioned her name, but, you not having
+heard it, I gained no satisfaction by doing so.
+
+"What happened after this is known, perhaps, better to you than to me.
+If you love Edith, as I rather suspect you do, from all I have heard
+and seen, you are welcome to her. I know she has a strong affection for
+you."
+
+It is wonderful how a matter like the one in question will become known
+in a small community. The next day there was not a person in the whole
+settlement who was not aware of what has been related in the last few
+pages, and there was not one who did not rejoice in the happiness of
+the noble-hearted leader of the Riflemen of the Miami.
+
+                         --------------------
+
+As we have hinted in the commencement of this work, the organization
+known by the name last mentioned, kept up its existence several years
+longer. Lewis Dernor remained its nominal leader, but, after his
+marriage, the exploits of its members became less frequent and noted.
+All, however, joined in the great border war which raged for several
+years previous to 1794. In Anthony Wayne's great battle of this year,
+Tom O'Hara and Allmat fell, and, as has been said in another place, the
+organization was broken up, never again to be revived. Lewis Dernor and
+Edith lived to a ripe old age, and their descendants at this day are
+among the most respectable and widely-known of the inhabitants of
+Southern Ohio.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Riflemen of the Miami, by Edward S. Ellis
+
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