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@@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blazing Arrow, 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: Blazing Arrow - A Tale of the Frontier - -Author: Edward S. Ellis - -Release Date: January 4, 2013 [EBook #41777] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLAZING ARROW *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41777 *** WAR CHIEF SERIES, NO. 2. @@ -6303,7 +6268,7 @@ complete. =HOUSEBOAT SERIES.= The Houseboat Boys. - The Mystery of Lost River Canyon. + The Mystery of Lost River Cañon. The Young Game Warden. @@ -6494,361 +6459,4 @@ lists. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blazing Arrow, by Edward S. 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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: Blazing Arrow - A Tale of the Frontier - -Author: Edward S. Ellis - -Release Date: January 4, 2013 [EBook #41777] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLAZING ARROW *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - WAR CHIEF SERIES, NO. 2. - - BLAZING ARROW, - - A TALE OF THE FRONTIER - - BY EDWARD S. ELLIS - - AUTHOR OF "BOY PIONEER SERIES," "DEERFOOT SERIES," - "LOG CABIN SERIES," ETC., ETC. - - - PHILADELPHIA - HENRY T. COATES & CO. - 1900 - - COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY - HENRY T. COATES & CO. - - - - -[Illustration: OVER THE FALLS.] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I. LARRY AND WHARTON 1 - - II. ON THE BRINK 8 - - III. OVER THE FALLS 18 - - IV. BLAZING ARROW 32 - - V. THROUGH THE WOODS 42 - - VI. A MISCALCULATION 52 - - VII. A CHECK 62 - - VIII. A CHAT 69 - - IX. TURNING BACK 76 - - X. GROPING IN THE DARK 83 - - XI. IN A CORNER 96 - - XII. REVERSING POSITIONS 109 - - XIII. A BLUNDER 116 - - XIV. LOOKING ON 123 - - XV. A HAIL AND AN ANSWER 132 - - XVI. THE DETOUR 143 - - XVII. BY THE LAKE 153 - - XVIII. THE STRANGE SIGHT 160 - - XIX. ZANY OR LUNATIC 167 - - XX. ACROSS THE GORGE 176 - - XXI. A STRANGE PURSUIT 183 - - XXII. ARQU-WAO 190 - - XXIII. A SERIOUS QUESTION 199 - - XXIV. THE TRACKS OF HORSES 206 - - XXV. A SINGULAR MEETING 213 - - XXVI. FOOTPRINTS 223 - - XXVII. RED CROW 230 - - XXVIII. GOOD NEWS 240 - - XXIX. RED CROW'S ERRAND 247 - - XXX. ALL TOGETHER 254 - - XXXI. THE NEW ROUTE 261 - - XXXII. THE LAST HALT 271 - - XXXIII. CONCLUSION 278 - - - - -BLAZING ARROW - -A TALE OF THE FRONTIER. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -LARRY AND WHARTON. - - -"I'll follow him to the right, and you, Larry, go to the left; we'll -have him then, sure." - -"All right; it's mesilf that will bate ye, fur all ye're the swiftest -runner in Kintucky." - -"There isn't a minute to lose; move faster, Larry!" - -"Do you attind to your own business, and lave Larry Murphy to himsilf." - -The words were uttered quickly, for the two youths were eager and -excited. They had caught sight of an enormous bear a few minutes before, -as he lumbered into the canebrake in the direction of the torrent which -swept furiously toward the Ohio. The young Irishman happened to be a -few paces in advance of his companion, Wharton Edwards, and took a -flying shot at the brute. Whether he struck him or not was uncertain. -The probabilities were that, despite his skill with the rifle, he only -scratched his bulky body, or missed him altogether. Before Wharton could -bring his weapon to bear, bruin was beyond reach for the time. - -It was at this juncture that the fleet-footed youth bounded to the side -of his Irish friend and urged him to hurry to the left, while he circled -in the other direction. One of them must head off the game, and it -mattered little which did it provided it was done. - -Larry Murphy was as ardent in his pursuit as his comrade, and was -hopeful of getting the prize away from him. Pausing, therefore, only -long enough to exchange the words quoted, he was off like a deer. - -"That young man houlds a high opinion of himsilf," he muttered, as he -crashed forward, "and I've saan worse fellys than Whart Edwards. He can -bate all creation running, but I'm hoping that he may thrip his feet so -as to give mesilf a show----" - -It was poetical justice, perhaps, that the fate which the young Irishman -wished might overtake his friend claimed him for his own, for, while the -words were in his mouth, a wire-like vine on the ground did the -mischief. It wound round his ankle like an angry black snake, and he -sprawled forward on his hands and knees, his gun flying several feet -from his hands. - -"Bad luck to it!" he growled, climbing to his feet; "that's just the -sthyle I used to thrip up the spalpeens. I'm onsartin whether me neck is -broke off or not, but I'll have to lave it to find out till this little -job is over." - -The fall was so violent that he limped for a few paces, and his speed -was lessened; but the stream was not far off, and the rugged lad was -quick to rally from his discomfiture. - -"Begorrah, but I've got the laugh on Whart," he exclaimed, a minute -later, as he caught sight of a dark object among the trees; "that shot -of mine landed the beast, and knowing that it's mesilf that's entitled -to him, he has left Wharton and turned off there to wait for me to -finish him." - -If this quaint faith were genuine, Larry did not trust it farther than -he was compelled to. Instead of waiting till he could draw nearer and -secure a truer shot, he stopped abruptly, brought his heavy rifle to a -level, sighted quickly but carefully, and let fly. - -There was no doubt about his having hit the mark this time. He was a -good shot, and the distance was too slight for him to miss. Forgetting -the law of the hunter, which requires him to reload his discharged gun -before moving from his tracks, Larry lowered his weapon, and driving his -broad honest face through the wreath of smoke before it could lift from -the muzzle of his rifle, he dashed forward toward the game to which he -was sure he had just given the finishing touch. - -In his excitement, and with his partly obscured view, he did not observe -that the bear remained immovable. If he had noticed it, he would have -concluded that the beast had been mortally wounded by the first shot and -had collapsed while on the way to the stream of water. - -"Now Whart will be filled wid jilousy whin he finds that the bear -surrindered to me. Had it been him that come in sight of the beast he -wouldn't have stopped, but obsarving that it was mesilf, he threw up his -hands and----" - -Larry paused in dismay. Crashing through the brush, he stopped close to -his supposed prize, and found that, instead of its being the game he had -in mind, it was the lower portion of an immense tree that had probably -lain for years on the ground. It bore some resemblance to a prostrate -animal, but the youthful hunter never could have made the mistake except -for his flurried condition. - -"Wurrah, wurrah, now, but that was a bad miss," he muttered, grinning at -his own blunder. "I don't see any necessity for acquainting Whart wid -all the sarcumstances, but if the stump doesn't say anything about it, -I'll hold me pace." - -The slip took away from the youth about all the hope he had felt until -then of bagging the bear. He knew at the time that young Edwards gave -him the better chance, for it was just like the magnanimous fellow to -do that thing, and Larry had lost it through his own stupidity. - -He listened for a few moments, uncertain which way to move or turn. -There seemed little use in trying to regain his lost opportunities, but -the doughty fellow mortally hated to give up the peculiar contest -without another effort. - -He could hear the dull roar of the torrent as it poured over the falls -only a short way off, and he fancied once that he detected the rush of -some swiftly-moving body through the wood. Of this, however, he could -not be certain, because of the interfering noise of the stream. - -"Whist, now, but I forgot the same!" he suddenly added, as he recalled -that it was an empty weapon which he held in his hand. - -"S'pose now that that cratur should turn 'round to make my acquaintance; -I would have to ask him to have the kindness to wait awhile until I -could get the gun in shape, and he would be mane 'nough to objict." - -Despite Larry's fondness for talking, either with a companion or -himself, and despite the apparent absurdity of many things he said, he -wasted no time when it was of value, and he committed few errors of -judgment. - -The proper amount of powder was poured from the unstopped horn into the -palm of his hand and sent rattling down the inclined barrel of his heavy -gun. Then a bullet, clasped in a small square of oiled cloth, was rammed -tightly upon the charge; the yellow flint was drawn back and the pan -filled with the black grains; then the hammer was carefully lowered, and -the old-fashioned weapon was ready for use. - -At that moment the report of a rifle broke the stillness, and the -startled Larry, glancing around, exclaimed in a guarded undertone: - -"I b'leave Whart is in trouble." - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -ON THE BRINK. - - -Meanwhile young Edwards found himself a stirring actor in a stirring -series of events. - -He set out with all the ardor of a young hunter to bring down the bear, -which was the most enormous one he had ever seen in the Kentucky wilds. -His fondness for his jovial companion led him to give him what seemed to -be the best chance to secure him; and it may be said that, had the -situations of the youths been reversed, bruin would have quickly fallen -a victim to the prowess of the young Kentuckian. But fate made a turn of -the wheel of fortune of which neither dreamed. - -Wharton Edwards possessed wonderful fleetness of foot, and counted on no -trouble in running down the lumbering beast; but when he struck the -point where he ought to have been visible, he was not in sight. - -The acute hearing of the youth, however, told him where the bear was -plunging through the undergrowth. It was in the direction of the stream, -and fearful that he would escape him altogether, Wharton took up the -pursuit with all the energy at his command. - -The momentary pause had given the bear an advantage which he used with a -sagacity worthy of a more intelligent creature than he. Without turning -to the right or left, he swung ponderously along until he reached the -edge of the torrent, into which he tumbled like a rock falling down the -side of a mountain. - -"I've got you now!" was the exultant exclamation of the youth, who -reached the point where bruin had disappeared within ten seconds -afterwards. - -An exasperating state of affairs confronted him. The high, rocky bluff -on each side of the swift current shut out all view of the water within -two or three yards of the side on which the spectator happened to stand. -Whether instinct led the bear to adopt the course he did is uncertain, -but it is hardly credible, since his species are well known to be -stupid; but, be that as it may, this specimen, instead of making for the -other bank, kept so near to the one from which he had leaped that young -Edwards could not see him. The only way in which he could gain a view of -him was by lying down on his face and peering over. - -He had no time to do this, besides which, under the circumstances, it -was almost impossible to gain a shot at the swimming bear. - -The presumption was that he would make for the other bank in quest of -some opening by which to leave the water, but Wharton, in his eagerness, -was unwilling to count upon that. - -"If I were upon the other side," was his thought, as he hurried -nervously along the bluff, seeking to keep pace with the rushing -current, "I would have him just where I wanted him. But I shall lose -him, for there is no way to get across--yes there is, and I'll do it, -sure as a gun." - -A hundred yards below, and quite near the falls, the bluffs approached -each other so closely that he was sure he could leap from one to the -other. Thus in a bound he could place himself in the best position to -shoot the game against which he began to feel a resentment because of -the manner in which it baffled him. - -Had young Edwards been more familiar with his immediate surroundings, or -less enthusiastic in his pursuit of the prize, he would have hesitated, -and, adopting the good old adage, looked before he leaped; but he was -carried away by the excitement of the moment, and did that which no one -would have been quicker than he, under other circumstances, to condemn. - -Running rapidly along the bluff, and parallel with the course of the -stream, he reached the narrow portion upon which he had fixed his eye, -gave it a glance, and decided that by no great effort he could leap to -the corresponding bluff on the opposite side. - -And beyond a doubt he would have succeeded had he used only ordinary -precaution, but he was in dread lest the bear should escape him. The -falls were but a short way below, and though the raging waters were -likely to finish him, that of itself would spoil everything. No hunter -likes to see another take his game out of his hands, and he viewed such -a loss through the falls in the same light. His blood was up, and he -meant to secure the animal if it was "in the wood." - -Stepping hastily back for a couple of paces, he gathered himself, ran -the distance, and, concentrating his strength in the effort, leaped -toward the opposite bluff. - -The instant he left the ledge he saw to his horror that he was going to -fall. A leaper or runner always feels what is coming before the crisis -is upon him, and Wharton Edwards knew he had made an awful -miscalculation. - -With the desperation of despair he flung his rifle from him at the -instant of leaping, and when it was too late to withdraw. It landed on -the rocks, and the impact of the hammer caused its discharge, the ball, -by a singular concurrence of circumstances, passing within a few inches -of the owner's face. - -It was only for a passing breath that the youth was in the air, but it -seemed to him he was held suspended for several minutes over the raging -waters. He struck only a few inches short, but those few inches were -fatal. His chest and lower part of the body collided violently with the -solid wall, and his hands were thrown over the surface on which he had -hoped and expected to place his feet. - -He clutched fiercely to save himself, and had there been anything to -grasp must have succeeded; but there was nothing, and, rebounding fully -a foot, he went down into the torrent twenty feet below. As if fate -meant to dally with and mock him, he splashed within a few feet of the -bear, who, with a snuff of fear, turned away and began a wild effort to -swim against the current. The brute had become aware of the roaring -falls close at hand, and saw the trap in which he was caught, and from -which it was impossible to extricate himself until, as may be said, he -was almost on the brink of the falls. - -A short distance from the plunge was a gap in the bluff, where the -ground was only a few inches above the surface of the water. If the -brute should hold himself close to the bank on that side until this -favoring point was reached, he could save himself. - -And he did, though little credit belonged to him for the feat. Like the -stupid creature that he was, he continued furiously striving to swim -against the current, and without stemming it in the least; but the same -blind instinct kept him clawing at the rocks on the side from which he -had leaped, and thus held him in the only position which gave the -slightest hope. - -All at once the beam-like claws struck the rocky bottom. The water -quickly shallowed. By a prodigious effort he checked his swift downward -progress--then he secured a foothold--his massive, shaggy body heaved up -from the water--he plunged heavily to one side, and, with another mighty -putting forth of his strength, walked out upon the solid earth and was -safe. - -Beyond peradventure, Wharton Edwards would have done equally well had -the opportunity been given him to study for a few seconds his perilous -surroundings. He would have been quick to see the opening through which -his intended prize escaped, and the gorge was so narrow that he could -readily have swam across to it in the few moments at his command; but -the youth was in a hapless situation. - -He landed against the bluff with such violence that the breath was -driven from his body, and when he struck the water he was senseless. The -rush of the chilling current, as he shot below the surface, partly -revived him, and he made an instinctive effort at self-preservation. The -blow, however, had been severe, and his brain was in a whirl the next -moment, the torrent carrying him with great swiftness toward the falls. - -Larry Murphy was closer to the stream than he had supposed, while -reloading his rifle. The report of his friend's rifle gave him the -necessary guidance, and he dashed over the intervening distance at the -top of his speed. - -A minute later he peered over the bluff, and, without seeing the bear, -which was almost beneath him, saw the head and shoulders of his friend, -who had come to the surface a few seconds before. - -"Ye blundering spalpeen, that's no place to go in swimming!" called the -frightened youth, with no suspicion of the mishap that had occurred. - -Undecided what to do, and yet unable to stand idle, Larry ran along the -edge of the bluff, and a minute later saw to his amazement the bear -emerge and shake his dripping coat. It would have been easy to shoot him -down, for there could not have been a fairer target; but the youth had -no thought of bagging game in those terrible moments, and he bestowed -hardly a glance at the brute. - -A second look at young Edwards told him that something was wrong. - -"Swim toward me!" shouted Larry, loud enough for his clear voice to be -heard above the thunder of the waters. - -He had bounded headlong down the sloping bluff, and then off into the -open low space, which offered the only hope. It was a high leap, but in -his excitement he did not notice it. - -"Swim hard, ould felly, or it'll be too late--hivin save me, but he's -drowning!" - -Wharton's head was dipping below the surface, and his arms had ceased -the feeble struggles they made a short time before. The youth was really -drowning. - -He was now so nearly opposite the opening in the bluff, and so near the -plunge of waters, that had he been in the full possession of his senses -and strength he could have swam the space, brief as it was, only by the -most desperate efforts. In his senseless condition he could not -accomplish it, of course, had he been in water as still as a mill pond. - -Larry Murphy saw and comprehended all this in the twinkling of an eye. -He knew that if he stood where he was it would be to see his loved -friend die, and if he plunged in after him both would go over the falls, -with possibly one chance in a thousand of their escape. - -And did he, while quickly weighing the chances, hesitate? - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -OVER THE FALLS. - - -Not for an instant. He had decided on his course while leaping down into -the opening which had admitted the imperilled bruin into safety. The -moment he landed he flung his gun away, snatched off his hat, doffed his -coat, seemingly with the same movement, and leaped with might and main -into the terrible current. - -The narrow width at this portion caused him to strike within arm's -length of his friend. The left arm of the powerful young Irishman griped -the collar of the sinking youth, and he gave him a shake fierce enough -almost to dislocate his neck. - -"Wake up, Whart, ye spalpeen! What's the matter wid ye?" - -They were now so close to the falls that the voice of Larry was -indistinct, but the violent shaking did just what was needed. The -half-drowned youth was roused, and stared about him in a bewildered way. -He gasped and began struggling. - -"Take it aisy, me boy," added Larry, who could not avoid talking even in -that appalling moment; "ye nadn't try to swim over the falls, for the -water is kind enough to save ye the trouble." - -The knowledge that his friend was alive, when he feared he was not, was -enough to send a thrill of pleasure through him, even though the -awakening, as may be said, was on the brink of death itself. - -Young Edwards was still too bewildered to comprehend matters. His -struggling continued, but it was instinctive and naturally without the -least result. His companion retained his grasp on his collar until he -saw that nothing could be gained by it. Then he let go and gave more -attention to himself. - -By this time they were on the brink of the falls. The torrent moved with -a calm, swift, hurrying impressiveness that was the more appalling -because of its contrast with the churning hades of waters below. It was -as if the volume, gathering itself for the plunge, ran forward with -eager speed and dived off the rocks into the boiling cauldron. - -Larry Murphy was too wise to make any resistance. He drew in his breath, -cast one look at the white face of his friend, uttered a prayer for -both, and then over they went. - -Neither of the youths were ever able to tell clearly what followed -during the few moments, though their experiences must have been quite -similar. Larry Murphy probably kept better track of events than his -companion, because he had not suffered the temporary daze undergone by -him a brief while before. - -It seemed to him that on the very brink of the falls he was thrown -bodily outward and downward by some fearful power independent of the -resistless current. The descent, of necessity, was short, but it -appeared to be tenfold its actual length. Then he went down, down, down, -as though he would never stop, until he fancied that he was driven to -the bottom of a watery cavern of immeasurable depths. - -He instinctively held his breath until he felt that the distended -blood-vessels must burst. He was whirled about and tossed hither and -thither amid spray and foam and more sold water, like an egg-shell in a -maelstrom. Then, when he could hold his breath no longer, he made one -spasmodic inhalation. He was almost strangled, but a part of that which -he drew in was air. The next breath was all air, and then he was -swimming in the comparatively smooth water below the falls. - -As soon as he could clear his eyes and look about him, he saw that he -was borne along by the swift current, which was double the width of the -stream above. Instead of the rocky bluffs which rendered it almost -unapproachable in that portion, the banks were comparatively low and -lined with large trees, some of which leaned out over the water, with -their limbs almost touching it. - -The most pleasing sight that greeted Larry was that of his friend in the -act of lifting himself upon dry land, with the help of one of the -overhanging limbs. He had escaped and was himself again. - -"Are you all right?" he called, in a cheery voice, looking around at -Larry, who was swimming hard toward the same point, but would be unable -to strike it until he passed a few rods below. - -"I'm not sure, but I think I be; I'll report whin I sets fut on dry -land." - -"If you are bruised or hurt, I'll swim out to your help." - -"Stay where ye be till I asks ye to do the same." - -Wharton moved along the bank, so as to keep pace with his friend. When -the shore was reached he extended his hand and helped him out, and, as -may be supposed, the two greeted each other with warmth and gratitude. - -Wharton explained what a woful mistake he made in his eagerness to get a -shot at the bear, but Larry did not refer to the blunder he committed -when he shot at a fallen tree instead of the brute. - -"I wonder where that cratur is?" said he, looking around as if he -expected to see the animal at his elbow. - -"Safe beyond any harm from us," replied Wharton; "he had enough sense -to get out of the water before going over the falls." - -"And it's yersilf that would have done the same, but for the whack ye -got from trying to bust the rocks apart by jumping against them." - -"That was the stupidest thing I ever did in my life. If I had taken ten -seconds more I could have made the leap as easy as you can jump over -your hat." - -"Ye are mighty good at leaping and running, but I wouldn't want to see -ye try that again." - -"Which reminds me, Larry, that it's best to go back and get our guns -before some one else finds them for us." - -The clothing of the youths was drenched, but they cared nothing for -that, for it was the summer time, and the weather was seasonable. So far -as Larry Murphy could tell, he had received no injury whatever. His -companion suffered somewhat from his collision with the rocks, but that -was of a nature that it must soon pass away, and was only felt at -intervals. - -While the couple are making their way to the point above the falls, -where the elder had left his gun and part of his clothing, we will give -a few sentences of explanation. - -Brigham Edwards and his family dwelt in one of the small frontier -settlements of Kentucky. His family consisted of his wife, his only son -Wharton, aged seventeen, and the Irish youth, a year older. They had -lived originally in Western Pennsylvania, where Larry was left to the -care and kindness of the well-to-do settler, who had been one of the -best friends his Irish laboring man ever knew. The mother of Larry died -in his infancy, so that he was an orphan, without any near relatives. - -Mr. Edwards was among the prominent members of the frontier town, where -he had lived for nearly three years, when the incident just described -occurred. The parents took it into their heads a short time before to -make a visit to some old friends that had settled in a larger town about -a hundred miles farther east. In order to do so, they mounted their -ponies and followed a well-marked trail, crossing several streams and -mountainous sections, and incurring considerable danger from the -Indians, who, in those days, were nearly always hostile. - -About half way between the two settlements stood a block-house, which -was a favorite meeting-place for Boone, Kenton, McClelland, Wells, and -the frontier rangers whose names are linked with the early history of -the great West. It was agreed between the parents and the boys that they -should meet on the return of the former at this post, and make the rest -of the journey together. - -Mr. Edwards fixed on the 10th of August as the day he would be at the -block-house. The boys were to arrive no later than that date, and no -sooner than a day before. The parents agreed to wait twenty-four hours -for them if necessary, and then, in case they did not show up, they were -to continue their journey homeward. - -The trail was so plain and the route so well known that it was easy to -make accurate calculations, and to figure the time within a very few -hours when the respective parties would reach the block-house. This -figuring, as in these later days, was based on the supposition that no -accident befell any one concerned. - -Wharton and Larry had walked about two-thirds of the distance between -their home and the block-house, when they had their flurry with the huge -bear, which certainly did not suffer as much as they. It was early in -the afternoon of the mild summer day, and they were in the depths of the -vast Kentucky wilderness through which prowled the wild beasts and -equally wild red men. - -The lads soon reached the spot where Larry had flung his coat and -coonskin cap. The former was picked up, and a short distance off he -found his rifle unharmed. The cap, however, was still missing, after the -two had spent some little time hunting for it. - -"Whart," said Larry, stopping short and staring hard at him, "I know -what's become of that fine hat of me own." - -"Well?" - -"The bear sneaked back here and stole it; he's got the laugh on us so -far, but I'll niver be satisfied till we mate again and adjoost -accounts." - -"More likely you flung it into the water in your excitement, and it went -over the falls with us." - -"Why didn't I think of the same?" asked Larry, with a relieved -expression on his freckled face. "I don't mind its absince, for I'd -rather be widout a hat than to wear one, but the sun harms me -complexion." - -"Come on," laughed Wharton, laboriously climbing his way to the higher -bluffs, whither his companion followed him; "I feel a little uneasy -about leaving my rifle so long." - -"How are ye going to get to the same?" - -"I'll show you." - -It will be understood that they had left the water below the falls on -the side from which they had entered it, so that the weapon lay on the -bluffs just across where the owner had flung it. The athletic youth -intended to repeat the leap he made a short time before, despite the -protests of Larry, who had no wish to make a second descent of the falls -in his effort to help his friend. - -"Go ahead, go ahead," he said, "if ye find any fun in the same; we've -got a half day to spare, and I s'pose we may as well spend it in -turning flip-flaps off the rocks and over the falls as in any other -way." - -"No fear of that," calmly answered his friend, who, having reached the -place, now prepared to make the leap. - -The preparations were simple. There was a run of a couple of rods, all -that he needed. Taking a number of short, quick steps, young Edwards -bounded from the edge of the bluff for the opposite one, whose elevation -was about the same. - -He formed a striking picture, with his fine athletic form crouching in -mid-air, or sustained for an instant over the rushing torrent into which -he was precipitated on his first effort. His feet were partly gathered -under him, and his bent elbows were close at his sides in the approved -attitude. Larry, who knew the marvellous powers of his young friend in -running or leaping, never felt any misgiving as to the result, though he -pretended to be alarmed. - -He saw him alight more than a foot beyond the edge with the grace of an -antelope, taking only a couple of steps forward from the momentum of -his new leap. - -"That's aisy," he muttered, "that is, for him as finds it aisy to do; -I'm sure I could make the leap if they'd move the bluffs about half the -distance nearer to this side than the same is at this moment." - -Larry was indulging in these characteristic expressions, when he thought -his friend was acting as though not fully satisfied with things. He -walked a few steps, as if about to lift his gun from the ground, but -abruptly halted, straightened up, and looked about him in a puzzled way. - -At this point the two were so far above the falls that they could easily -understand each other's words without elevating their voices to an -unusual extent. The Irishman's waggery was irrepressible. - -"I say, Whart, the bear tuk it the same as me cap; he's going off with -both his arms full." - -Young Edwards must have heard the badinage, but he gave no evidence of -it. He stood looking at the ground, but not across the stream, where -his friend was watching him. - -"I say, what's the matter?" called Larry, beginning to feel uneasy at -the peculiar action of his friend. - -In answer, the younger lad turned about and looked hard at him. His face -was pale, as if he were laboring under great excitement; beyond question -he had made some alarming discovery. Glancing to the right and left, -young Edwards now came to the edge of the bluff, and making a funnel of -one of his hands called out: - -"Run, Larry, as quick as you can! don't wait a minute." - -"What is it, owld felly?" - -"Indians!" was the startling reply; "the woods are full of them." - -"Why, then, don't ye run yersilf?" demanded the astounded Larry; "leap -back here, and we'll keep each ither company." - -"Run, run!" called his companion, frantically gesticulating and -motioning him away. "They've got my gun, and if they see you, Larry, -you're lost!" - -The impetuosity of the youth literally forced the Irish lad away from -the stream and among the trees. He retreated a few yards, puzzled beyond -expression. - -"What the mischief can I do?" he asked himself; "I can't jump more'n -half way across the stream, and that won't do me any good. What does -Whart maan by sinding me away while he stays and won't jump? By the -powers! I have it!" he exclaimed, striking his thigh and stopping short. -"It's a maan thrick of his to git me out of the way, where I won't be -harmed, while he rolls up his slaaves and fights a whole tribe of -Injins. That thrick won't work! Larry Murphy must be counted in." - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -BLAZING ARROW. - - -At the moment of flinging his rifle from him, when he made his first -leap, Wharton Edwards noticed where it landed, and of course knew just -where to look for it. When he searched that place for it, and saw -nothing of the weapon, he knew, therefore, that something was wrong. - -A thrill of alarm went through him on realizing the oversight he had -committed, but he met it with the coolness of a veteran. - -He pretended to be still searching for the weapon, and moved back and -forth, and hither and yon, with his head bent, as though his eyes were -fixed on the ground, but the eyebrows were elevated and his vision was -roaming along the edge of the trees only a few rods distant, in quest of -Shawanoes. - -None of them were in sight, but he knew that they were there, and more -than one pair of serpent-like eyes were fixed upon him and watching his -every act. - -Wharton's impulse was to turn back and leap to the other side of the -gorge. The temptation was strong, but he dared not attempt it. He could -not make the jump without a short run, and that would give the Indians -all the chance they could ask to wing him on the fly, as they most -assuredly would do. - -During the few minutes that he pretended to be groping for the missing -gun he did a lot of thinking. He knew he was caught inextricably in a -trap, and for a time saw no possible way out. - -Had there been anything to gain by a sudden leap into the torrent he -would have made it; but that insured another plunge over the falls, with -the chances in favor of drowning. That, however, was as nothing compared -to the fact that he would be at the mercy of the Shawanoes from the -moment he entered the water. - -Hopeless himself, his concern was for the chivalrous Larry, who had -imperilled his life for him. There was hope that his presence on the -other bluff was unknown to the red men, and Wharton felt that if he -could frighten him into getting out of the way he would be comparatively -safe, and would be at liberty to hasten on to the block-house and secure -help for him. - -But Larry seemed to be taken with a spell of obtuseness just then. He -called to Wharton several times in a dangerously loud voice, and -appeared not to see, or at least not to understand, the signals which -were assiduously made to him. The young man became so solicitous for his -companion, who was without comprehension of his danger, that he forgot -everything else, and, advancing to the edge of the ravine, indulged in -the vigorous gestures and words which accomplished what he intended. - -"Now, if he will use sense, he can save himself," was the conclusion of -Wharton, from whose heart a crushing weight was lifted; "he has not been -seen, and only needs to keep out of sight until he can take the trail -again." - -But he was in a dreadful situation himself. Between the ravine and the -woods, from which he knew the Shawanoes were watching him, was an open -space, something more than fifty yards in extent. This narrowed to a -fourth of that width up stream, and disappeared altogether at the brink -of the falls. - -It was useless to pretend longer to hunt for the missing rifle on the -face of the rocks when a minute's scrutiny was sufficient to prove that -it was not there. His actions had already shown that he knew something -was amiss, and the Indians were not likely to allow the farce to -continue much longer. - -To go directly away from the stream and toward the wood was to walk into -the hands of the fierce red men, and the youth was ready to take any -risk before doing that. The frightful contingency he feared was that the -moment he made a break for freedom they would fire, and the distance was -so short that he could not escape their aim. That brief, open space over -which he must run was the gauntlet of certain death. If he were only a -little nearer the trees, he would attempt it. He saw but one possible -thing to do, and he now attempted it. - -Pausing in his groping for the weapon, he raised his head and looked -inquiringly about him. He did not dare let his eyes dwell on the trees -immediately in front, through fear of exciting suspicion, and the quick -glance which he swept along the trees failed to show him so much as a -glimpse of his enemies. But he knew they were there, all the same. - -Fixing his eyes again on the ground, he pretended suddenly to discover -shadowy traces of something in the nature of footprints, but, instead of -leading straight toward the wood, they led up stream, where the open -space rapidly narrowed. - -He walked slowly forward, with his gaze seemingly on the earth, but he -was slyly watching the wood, with the alertness of a weasel, on the -lookout for the first evidence that his action was mistrusted. - -It was a fearful test to the nerves. With every foot's advance his heart -throbbed faster with hope, and his desperate resolve became more fixed. -His greatest task was to restrain himself from bounding forward at the -topmost bent of his speed as he saw the friendly trees drawing near with -each passing moment; and yet he not only forced himself to do that, but -he came to a dead halt, slowly turned around, bent his head down and -scanned the ground behind him. His action was as if he had suddenly come -upon some evidence, but in that sweep of the head he again glanced along -the edge of the wood that confronted him when he leaped the chasm. This -time he saw a movement so faint that he could not identify it, but it -told him the crisis had come. - -He had now gone so far that nothing less than a disabling bullet could -restrain him. He longed more than ever to leap away, but every inch -gained was of incalculable worth, and, repressing his impatience with an -iron will, he continued edging along, his heart throbbing like a -trip-hammer. - -To fail to keep close watch of the wood any longer must defeat his -purpose. With little attempt, therefore, to hide his action, he quickly -turned his head, and, without checking his advance, scanned the margin -of the forest. As he did so, he observed a stir among the trees. The -Shawanoes evidently concluded that the farce had gone too far. Without -another second's hesitation young Edwards made a tremendous bound in the -direction of the trees, and was off like an arrow shot from the bow. - -He expected a rattling volley from the Shawanoes, and few who have not -been through the ordeal can understand the sensation which comes over -one when absolutely certain of a demonstration of that kind. To his -amazement, however, not a shot was fired, and he dodged among the trees -unscathed. Puzzled beyond measure to know what it meant, the fugitive -glanced over his shoulder. That which he saw perplexed him for the -moment as much as his immunity from the part of a target. One solitary -Shawanoe warrior had leaped to his feet and started in pursuit. Like a -flash the whole meaning of this act came to Wharton Edwards. - -When the Indians were not so hostile toward the whites as they were at -the time of which we are writing, they occasionally visited the -block-houses and settlements for purposes of barter, and to engage in -friendly contests of skill in shooting, leaping and running. The red men -were so trained from infancy to this kind of amusement that they were -experts, and held their own well against the pioneers, though it is well -known that the Caucasian race, under similar surroundings and -environments, surpasses all others in physical as well as mental -attainments. - -The champion of the settlement was Wharton Edwards, who, despite his -seventeen years, vanquished all contestants. He received the praise of -Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton, who agreed that there was but one -Shawanoe, outside of the unrivalled Deerfoot, who could hold his own -with him. That was the famous warrior Blazing Arrow, who was about -double the age of Wharton, and who claimed to have beaten every one with -whom he struggled for supremacy. - -Following this declaration from such high authority came the natural -desire to see young Edwards and the Shawanoe runner pitted against each -other, and efforts were made to bring about a contest between these -representatives of their respective races. The great difficulty in the -way was that the Shawanoe was one of the most vicious and treacherous of -his tribe. He had committed so many crimes against the whites that he -feared to trust himself in their power, and stubbornly refused to come -to the settlement, despite the assurances of the leading pioneers. - -He was persuaded, however, to venture out of the woods one day, and the -arrangements were quickly made for a race between him and young Edwards. -Before the trial came off some one gave the Shawanoe a draught of -"fire-water," which roused the sleeping devil in him. Whipping out his -knife, he emitted his war-whoop, and charged upon the astonished youth, -with the intention of slaying him. - -Wharton, who naturally had no weapon with him, succeeded in dodging the -miscreant, and before the wrathful settlers could punish him he darted -into the woods with a defiant shout and disappeared. - -The glance which Wharton Edwards now cast to the rear, as he started to -flee, showed him that his single pursuer was Blazing Arrow. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THROUGH THE WOODS. - - -The race between Wharton Edwards and the famous Shawanoe runner, Blazing -Arrow, was to come off at last, but under far different circumstances -than either had ever anticipated. - -The wretch, while under the influence of liquor, had attempted the life -of the youth, and now, when his own natural self, he was determined to -run him down, and to his death. He hated the whole race with a consuming -hatred, and his wrath against this lad was more intense than against any -human being. It was he that had the audacity to think himself worthy of -running a race with him, who had defeated the most renowned runners of -the Wyandots, Pottawatomies, and the adjoining tribes, to say nothing of -his own people. - -The action of the Shawanoes, when young Edwards made his leap of the -chasm, can be understood. The youth's life was spared, where no other -person would have been permitted to live after placing himself in their -power. Blazing Arrow, as well as several of his associates, recognized -the youth the instant they saw his face, and a hurried consultation took -place as to what should be done. - -But for the presence of their champion they would not have permitted him -his slight advantage; but their faith in Blazing Arrow was as complete -as his own, besides which he was one of their leaders. He ordered them -to remain quiet, or rather to devote themselves to bringing down what -whites were near, while he made a little dash and brought back the -fugitive. - -This was how it came about that Wharton Edwards, instead of being -pursued by a score of Shawanoes, started off with but a single warrior -trailing after him. - -But it is noticeable, further, that the same pursuer carried his rifle, -or rather that of the youth; for, with the characteristic refinement of -cruelty, he meant to add this little triumph to his capture of the lad -when he should run him down and smite him to the earth. - -Wharton had no weapon other than his hunting-knife, while his foe took -good care to see that a weapon was at his own command. He was the one -who, if any accident befell himself, would feel pleasure in shooting -down the lad that had never harmed him. - -The sight of Blazing Arrow gave Wharton a knowledge of the situation, -and during the few minutes that he was dodging through the trees he -tried to decide upon the right course to follow. - -They were but a short way from the main trail. This was clearly marked, -although it was travelled so little that in many places the overhanging -limbs interfered with one's passage. He believed he could dash along -this faster than his pursuer, and but for his anxiety about Larry Murphy -he probably would have attempted to do so, but the report of a rifle -which reached his ears a few minutes later deepened his fears and -increased his anxiety. - -If he should put forth all the speed of which he was capable, it was not -likely to surpass that of the Shawanoe, who was accustomed to dodging -among tree trunks. There was little to be gained by speculating at this -stage of the contest, but he concluded to go ahead until the opportunity -was more favorable for turning his own amazing fleetness to account. - -Besides, it should be stated that Wharton was not yet certain that he -could beat Blazing Arrow in a contest of speed. The Indian was a -wonderful runner, and the youth was not certain by any means that the -red man would not overhaul him when the test should take place. - -"At any rate he has got to do the hardest work of his life before he -captures my scalp," muttered the lad, compressing his lips and ducking -under a limb which would have caught under his chin if he had neglected -the precaution. - -He headed for the trail, darting a look behind him now and then to note -their relative speed. As nearly as he could judge, it was about the -same, but as he could not know whether Blazing Arrow was putting forth -his best efforts or not, the knowledge was of little benefit. At the -moment of striking the path, Wharton recalled a fact that had slipped -his mind until then. Less than an eighth of a mile in advance the trail -crossed a natural clearing where, for fully a fourth of a mile, not a -tree or shrub obtruded. Then the two could do their best, and the -question of supremacy would be decided, providing the red man indulged -in no treachery. Blazing Arrow dropped into the path at a point about a -hundred yards behind the fugitive, which was a little more than the -space separating them at the moment of starting. - -It was necessary to keep the advantage he possessed, and to gain all he -could before the plain was reached. If Wharton should prove himself -superior to the Shawanoe, the latter would resort to his rifle, and -either kill him or wound him so that he could not run. If the fugitive -was the inferior, he must fall into the hands of his enemy; so that, no -matter how it eventuated, the situation of the youth was full of peril. - -"I guess I may as well let myself out while I have the chance," the -latter muttered, a moment after striking the trail. - -And Wharton proceeded to "let himself out," while Blazing Arrow, the -Shawanoe, lost no time in doing likewise. - -Wharton's aim was to increase the distance between himself and Blazing -Arrow as much as he possibly could before reaching the clearing, half a -mile wide, where the way was open and the test of speed would be -decisive. - -Within the same moment that he recalled the existence of the clearing he -was dashing along the trail like a terrified deer. This work proved -harder than he anticipated. The obtruding branches swished his face with -smarting violence, and more than one twig cut his forehead and nose like -the lash of a whip. He thrust out his hands to ward these aside, and -they hurt his hands. - -He kept it up, however, for he was now running for life, and what is to -be compared to such a stake? But these obstructions, despite all he -could do, retarded his progress. The alarming truth quickly became -manifest that instead of gaining ground, as he had hoped, he was losing -it. - -"Suppose he can beat me?" was the terrifying thought that almost -paralyzed him for the moment; "but," he added, "he hasn't done it yet!" - -The Shawanoe did not utter any cry, and he was so far to the rear that -Wharton did not hear him as he came along the trail with the grim -certainty of fate. He was a marvellous runner, and he did not mean to -allow the detested youth, whose beard was not yet grown, to get away -from him. - -More than once, while speeding in this fashion, young Edwards asked -himself whether he could elude his enemy by leaping aside or hiding -among the trees. Possibly he might have done it could he have drawn -beyond sight of him for a few minutes only, so that his divergence would -not be seen. But just there lay the difficulty, and he dared not make -the attempt. - -It was a sight that would have tried the nerves of the bravest man when -he looked back and caught a glimpse of the Indian warrior, partly -hidden by the brushing limbs and vegetation, as he sped forward like a -furious animal, and knew it was a mortal enemy that was after him, -impelled by a hatred which nothing but death could quench. - -The fugitive determined that for the time he would not look behind him. -Almost unconsciously to himself, when he did so, he lost a little -ground. - -The straining vision which was now cast forward saw the light made by -the clearing or opening in front. A few more bounds and he struck the -margin of the space, which for half a mile was as free from trees as a -stretch of Western prairie. Here was the place for the supreme test, and -the youth, with a muttered prayer, bent all his energies to the task, -fully alive to the stake at issue. - -Not a breath of air was stirring on this mild summer afternoon, but the -wind created by his arrowy-speed was like a gale as it rushed by his -face and lifted the short auburn hair about his neck until it floated -straight out. The arms were bent at the elbows, the chest thrown -forward, while the shapely limbs worked with the swiftness and grace of -a piece of perfect machinery. The feet doubled in and over each other -with bewildering quickness, there seeming at times to be half a dozen of -them on the ground, in the air, and to the rear at the same time. - -The stride was tremendous. The handsome face of the youth was pale with -an unshakable resolve, and the thin lips were compressed, his breath -coming thick and fast through the nostrils. The hazel eyes gleamed and -the brows were knitted as with a person who means to do or die. - -Ah, that was a race worth travelling many a mile to see! Had Simon -Kenton, or Daniel Boone, or Anthony McClelland, or the Wetzel brothers, -been in that open clearing, they would have stood like statues, wrapt in -admiration and wonder, for never could they have beheld before such a -magnificent exhibition of prowess in the way of speed. - -Every thrilling element was present, for not far to the rear rushed a -six-foot Shawanoe, who, like the youth in advance, strained every muscle -to the highest tension. And he was a frightful object as he ran, for -his face was that of a race-horse. The long coarse locks streamed behind -him like a whipping pennant in a hurricane; and one of the stained -eagle-feathers in the crown was snatched loose and fluttered backward. -The naturally hideous face was made more so by the red and black patches -daubed in fantastic splashes over it. The sinewy chest was bare, but the -fringes of the parti-colored leggings and moccasins flickered and -twinkled in the sunlight as the Shawanoe thundered across the clearing, -his black eyes fixed on the flying figure in front, and his countenance -distorted by a passion his terrible race is so capable of feeling. - -As Blazing Arrow ran, he carried the youth's rifle in his right hand. It -was grasped just in front of the lock, the muzzle pointing ahead, as -though he had but to press the trigger to bring down the fugitive -without a change of aim. The left hand rested on the knife thrust in his -girdle, the position of the two hands suggesting that he was thirsting -to use both weapons upon the lad whom he sought so desperately to run -down. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -A MISCALCULATION. - - -The Indian was doing his best. Had the whole tribe been assembled on -that clearing, with eyes fixed on him and urging him on, he could have -done no better. He had run many a race, and, since his manhood, had won -them all. Most were gained by no more than half trying, just as he -expected to gain this one when he ordered his companions to remain -behind in the wood, and leave to him the task of bringing back the white -youth who had the effrontery to appear as a contestant in a trial -against him. - -The expectation of Blazing Arrow was that of running down Wharton -Edwards just before or at the time he entered the wood on the opposite -side of the clearing. Stretching forward his massive hand, he meant to -hurl him from his feet, and then drive him back to where the other -warriors were waiting to subject him to their whimsical torture. - -Yes, Wharton Edwards was destined, in Blazing Arrow's mind, for the -torture. This had been the fierce savage's purpose from the outset, and -it remained as such for a few moments after the two had burst into the -opening. Then a doubt arose, and by the time half the clearing was -thrown behind him the despised youth in front was running faster than he -was. - -The soul of Blazing Arrow must have been humiliated beyond expression -when, despite the most strenuous exertions he could put forth, and the -knowledge that never in all his life had he run with greater speed, that -lithe, graceful youth in front began steadily drawing away from him. - -It was an astounding truth. Wharton Edwards could outrun the champion of -the Shawanoes, and he was doing it with such certainty that neither he -nor his pursuer could fail to see the fact. - -The youth waited till a fourth of the distance was passed, so there -could be no mistake as to the actual test. He had gone that far with -all the strength of which he was capable. He knew that his pursuer had -done the same, so that when he glanced around, the truth as to their -relative speed must be established. - -The result was more striking than he had dared to hope. He had widened -perceptibly the space between them, and was still doing so, even though -his venomous enemy was putting forth the utmost exertions of which he -was capable. - -It can be understood how the discovery thrilled the fugitive, and he can -be pardoned if, even in that trying moment, he felt a touch of regret -that the race between him and the Indian did not take place, as it was -arranged, at the settlement. What a triumph he would have won! - -Nor can he be blamed because in the flush of victory, and with the -belief that the real danger was past, he deliberately snatched off his -cap, swung it above his head, and uttered a shout of exultation. It was -only human nature, and you or I would have done the same had we been in -his place. - -The cry was wormwood and gall to Blazing Arrow, and deep must have been -his regret that at the time when, seized with drunken frenzy, he made -for the lad, he did not finish him. Had he done so, the Shawanoe would -have been saved this humiliation. - -Why did not the pursuer stop short and bring his rifle into play? He was -a good marksman, and the distance was not enough to require any special -skill on his part. Doubtless the dusky miscreant was influenced by -several reasons, one of which was the loss of ground he would sustain. -Then, too, a man who has been using his muscles so fiercely is not in -the best condition to aim a rifle accurately. Furthermore, it is not -impossible that the Shawanoe believed that the youth was unable to -maintain his astounding speed. He must soon slacken it, and then the -Indian champion would take revenge for this temporary defeat. Wharton -feared an attempt to shoot him, and he continued his prodigious -exertion, since there was every inducement to increase the gain he had -made, and the sheltering wood was now but a short way in advance. He -glanced back a couple of times, and then threw his thoughts forward, for -he recalled that he was confronted by a peculiar condition of things. - -Immediately after entering the forest again, the trail made what may be -described as a horseshoe curve. A deep, wooded ravine interposing in -front necessitated a looping of the path. The circuit was a furlong in -length, the trail coming back to within a few rods of the first turn. -Standing at this point, one could see the slightly ascending course on -the side of the narrow ravine, and a man or animal walking up the gentle -incline was in view of any one at the beginning of the curve. - -It will be understood, therefore, that if Blazing Arrow should halt at -this point the instant he reached it, and the youth should keep to the -trail, the latter would come directly under the muzzle of his own rifle, -in the hands of his implacable enemy. - -But Wharton Edwards was not the one to throw away an advantage gained by -a display of speed such as it is safe to say no other living person -could have made. It would have been idiotic to do so when no necessity -existed. - -Several ways of escape presented themselves. He could leave the trail at -the lower point of the loop, not returning to it until well beyond sight -of his enemy, or possibly he could leap across the gorge, as he had done -in the case of the torrent, and thus not sacrifice any ground. - -It was this step which he revolved in his mind while dashing across the -last fourth of the narrow plain, but a single fact restrained him; he -doubted his ability to make a successful leap. Although he had been over -the path several times, and might be considered familiar with it, he had -never studied it closely enough to settle the question without another -inspection, and there was not a minute to spare for making that. - -If he could make the leap it would be a great gain; if he should fail, -the disaster would be irreparable, for among the wood, brush and -undergrowth he could neither conceal himself nor travel as fast as the -Shawanoe, who would quickly have him at his mercy. The risk was too -great to incur, and he decided not to take it. He did a thing, on the -contrary, which was like an inspiration. Making the short turn, he ran a -few rods, when he glanced toward the plain. Blazing Arrow was invisible, -and would remain so for several minutes, despite the speed with which he -was approaching. - -The youth made a powerful leap aside from the path, and dodged behind -the trunk of an oak large enough to shelter his body. Then he stood -panting, alert and watchful, awaiting the coming of his enemy. He saw -him a minute later, through the trees, running with undiminished speed, -and like an engine that was absolutely tireless. The Shawanoe was more -familiar with the course of the trail than the youth, and therefore knew -of its looping, which had puzzled the latter for a few brief moments. -The course adopted by the Shawanoe was peculiar, and for a time assumed -an almost ludicrous phase. - -The quick glance which he cast down the path failed to show him the -fugitive, who he must have supposed was still running over it and would -speedily reappear as he rushed up the incline. By leaping the ravine he -would head him off and have him at his mercy. - -The pursuer decided to adopt this course, and with only a slight -slackening of pace he dashed toward the gorge; but when almost on the -brink he must have concluded the chances of success were against him, -and he changed his mind. But he did not succeed in changing the course -of his body, as he meant to do. He would not have failed had the bank of -the ravine been as firm as he supposed it was. He checked himself with -the skill of an experienced runner; but the ground gave way, and despite -everything he could do he went floundering, scrambling and struggling to -the bottom of the ravine, which was almost perpendicular and fully -thirty feet deep. - -Had he given less attention to the effort to save himself and looked -where he was going it would have been better; for, as it was, although -the fall was considerable, it was so broken that it would have amounted -to little had not his head come in collision with the base of one of -the trees growing in the bottom of the gorge. The impact was violent, -and must have jarred the tree. It jarred Blazing Arrow to that extent -that he tumbled over on his back senseless. - -Wharton Edwards was watching matters like a cat waiting for a mouse. -When he saw the Shawanoe disappearing he ran cautiously forward from his -hiding-place, and, not forgetting to screen himself, peeped over the -edge of the ravine. - -"I'm afraid he hasn't broken his neck," he muttered, as he noted the -shock the other had received, "though that crack against the trunk of -the tree was enough to kill anyone." - -This unlooked-for incident insured the safety of the fugitive, who, if -he chose, could have continued his flight to the block-house; but two -considerations led him to take a different course. He could not desert -Larry Murphy, who, beyond all question, was in imminent peril, and he -disliked beyond expression to lose his rifle, which was a birthday gift -from his father, and a superior piece of workmanship. It was this act -that led him to attempt a feat worthy of Simon Kenton himself. - -Leaping lightly from the edge of the ravine, he grasped the branches of -a tree near at hand. It bent low with his weight and broke; but he -seized another, and that also, after dipping downward, gave way and let -him fall. By that time he was so near the ground that he dropped lightly -to his feet. He paused and glanced at Blazing Arrow lying outstretched -on his back, with his face upturned, as if he were dead. But he was not; -he was only senseless. - -"If he will only stay that way for a few minutes I shall be all right; -but if he awakes----" - -Aye, if he awoke, what vengeance he would take on the youth who dared -not only to beat him at running, but to steal like a beast of prey upon -him! - -But young Edwards had determined upon his line of action, and it was now -too late to turn back. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -A CHECK. - - -It was characteristic of Larry Murphy and Wharton Edwards that each -should hasten to risk his own life for the other. - -When the latter made his leap across the chasm, through which the water -rushed, with his rifle that had been left there, he had no thought of -the peril in which he placed himself. Had he turned on the instant, or -sprang back to the bluff he had just left, he would have had a -companion, with a good weapon between them, even though he possessed no -gun himself. - -But that would have placed the Irish lad in the extremity of peril, as -Wharton well knew, and he determined to face the danger alone, reasoning -that it was useless to involve both as long as it could be prevented. - -The earnestness of Wharton caused Larry to withdraw from the gorge -until he was among the trees beyond, when he halted for a moment, and, -reflecting on the situation, read the purpose of his friend. - -"I see through the trick," he muttered, angry with himself that he had -been duped even for a few moments, "and it won't work on me. Larry -Murphy isn't to be left out of this business." - -It was all well enough to form this resolution, but the youth was -confronted by the query as to how his friend was to receive any -practical benefit from his efforts. Peering from the trees in the -direction of the gorge, he saw nothing of him, nor of the Indians who he -was sure were there. - -Nothing would have pleased Larry more that to repeat the performance of -Wharton, and thereby place himself on the other side of the gorge; but -he saw no way of doing it without a fatal delay. It was utterly beyond -his power to make the leap which was so easy for the other. He knew that -if he attempted it he would plump down into the torrent and go over the -falls again, unless he swam out, as did the bear, on the same side from -which he entered. - -There was no break in the bluffs across stream by which one could climb -out above the falls, so that the only feasible way open to him to reach -Wharton was by swimming the torrent below the falls. That, as we have -said, involved a delay which, under the circumstances, was fatal to all -chance of giving his friend any practical help. But Larry could not -stand idle. In the blind hope of doing something, he hurried down stream -and approached it again at the point where he had entered it before, and -whence the bear had emerged. - -It was as he feared. He might as well have tried to climb the smooth -face of a perpendicular wall as to leave the torrent at any point above -the falls, to say nothing of the danger of being swept over the latter. - -A slight bend in the stream enabled him to discern the spot where -Wharton had landed when he made his leap. He was looking fixedly in that -direction, hoping he would reappear, when a Shawanoe Indian came into -view and paused on the brink of the gorge. - -He held his rifle in one hand and was in war paint. He seemed to be -looking at the water and the other bluff, as though measuring the -distance preparatory to leaping the chasm. This indicated that the red -man knew, or suspected, that another was near at hand, and on the other -side of the stream. - -The leap was a good one, even for a trained warrior, and when this one -made up his mind to attempt it, he stepped back several paces in order -to gain the necessary momentum. When he paused, only the top of his head -was visible to the watchful Larry, who knew very well what he intended -to do. - -The Shawanoe suddenly ran the short distance, and made the leap with the -ease shown by Wharton Edwards a short time before. - -At the moment the crouching form was in mid-air, with limbs drawn -together and muscles set, the rifle dropped from his grasp, his arms -went upward with a wild cry that rose above the waters, and his body, -landing on the edge of the bluff, rolled back in the torrent and -instantly sank out of sight. - -"I can jump the stream myself. I don't maan that such spalpeens as ye -shall have the chance of doing the same," muttered Larry, stepping back -several paces and reloading his gun with the utmost haste. - -None knew better than he that the occurrence would stir up matters among -the Indians on the other side, and he would have been a zany to invite a -return shot by remaining a fair view to those who would investigate the -matter offhand. - -Had he possessed one of the modern breech-loaders and repeating rifles, -he might have secured a good position and held half a hundred Indians at -bay; but with his clumsy though excellent weapon he could not hope to -maintain his ground for any length of time. - -The moment his gun was ready he cautiously advanced to the edge of the -stream and peered around the rocks. There was no warrior in sight, but -he was shrewd enough to allow his vision to roam along the bluff on the -other side down to the falls themselves. - -So far as he could judge, no one was near. A dark body, however, caught -his eye in the water itself. It was going over the falls, a limp and -inert mass, which he was quick to recognize, and at which he cast but a -single glance. - -But the youth was not left long in suspense. His keen eyes were roving -along the edge of the other bluff, which was sharply outlined against -the blue sky, when a small protuberance suddenly appeared at the very -point on which his eyes happened to rest. - -"It's anither of 'em," was his thought, as he screened himself so far as -he could behind the ledge of rocks and brought his rifle to a level; -"when his head rises high enough I'll plug him in the eye. Whisht now!" - -The Indian was cunning. Instead of bringing his crown into sight, it -sank out of sight again. - -Larry was standing with his gaze centred on the point where he had just -seen the object, his gun loaded and ready to fire the instant a fair -target was presented, when it shot up like a jack-in-the-box a dozen -feet to one side, immediately dropping out of view again. - -The movement was so quick that the painted face had appeared and -vanished before Larry could shift his aim. - -The Shawanoe must have known that some one was awaiting a favorable -chance to serve him as the warrior was served who attempted to leap the -gorge. - -"It saams to me," growled the disappointed Larry, "that every one I'm -getting acquainted wid is up to some of his tricks. Why couldn't that -spalpeen have showed himself where he made me expect him? It would be -just like some of 'em to sneak across above or below, where I can't head -'em off. I wonder what's become of Whart?" - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A CHAT. - - -It was like approaching a sleeping tiger, likely at any moment to bound -to his feet and rend the helpless victim, and Wharton Edwards, despite -his well-proved courage, felt a misgiving as he drew near the terrible -Shawanoe. - -Blazing Arrow in falling held the rifle fast so long as his senses -remained with him; but when he came near splitting the tree trunk with -his head, the weapon flew several feet away. This happened to be the -side farthest from Wharton, who, therefore, was forced to walk around -him in order to secure the gun. - -Everything depended on promptness; and when Wharton found himself within -a few paces--too close to retreat--he took several quick leaps, and -bending over, snatched up the weapon from where it lay on the ground. - -Words cannot picture the relief that came to him when his hands closed -about his beloved rifle, and he knew that, from fleeing in terror before -the fierce Shawanoe, he was now his master. He could not only defy his -wrath, but Blazing Arrow was at his mercy. - -Quickly as all this took place, Wharton was not a second too soon. At -the moment of stepping back and looking at the Shawanoe, the latter -began rallying from the shock that had held him senseless for a briefer -period than seemed to be the case. Doubtless he suffered a good deal of -pain from the accident, but he was too stoical to show it. He moved -uneasily, muttered something in his own tongue, and then came to a -sitting posture with such suddenness that the startled youth recoiled -several paces and grasped the weapon more firmly than before. - -The painted face was like that of a demon, as the Indian, fully -understanding what had taken place, sat for a few seconds glaring at the -youth, ten feet away, unable to speak, perhaps because of his -overflowing wrath, but emitting a serpent-like hissing between his -teeth, as if in warning of the blow he was about to strike. - -The law of the frontier would have justified young Edwards in sending a -bullet through the one that had sought his life. Perhaps few would have -condemned him if he had fired when Blazing Arrow's face assumed the -expression of hatred which is beyond description; but the lad, despite -his training, could never have condoned such an act, now that his life -was in no danger. - -Recalling that the Shawanoe spoke English tolerably well, Wharton, -holding his rifle ready for instant use, addressed him: - -"Are you much hurt, Blazing Arrow?" - -"Yes--much hurt--can't walk--can't stand." - -Had the wily red man been less prompt with his reply he might have -deceived the youth. The latter could feel no pity for him, even though -he knew he was suffering, but there was an eagerness in his manner which -convinced Wharton that he was shamming, and was not injured to such an -extent as to be unable to help himself. - -Blazing Arrow spoilt everything by adding, before the other could make -response: - -"Help Shawanoe up--maybe he den walk," and he reached out his hand -toward the boy. - -"I rather guess not," replied Wharton, with a faint smile and a meaning -shake of his head; "if you can't rise to your feet you can stay there, -for all I care." - -"Help little bit," persisted the Shawanoe, making what seemed to be a -futile effort, and sinking back with one hand still extended, as though -he were a child. - -"No, sir," replied the youth more emphatically, "I wouldn't trust you, -Shawanoe." - -"No speak lie--Blazing Arrow no double tongue." - -"You have always had a double tongue; you have always spoken lies. Was -it not you who tried to kill me when we were about to run a race?" - -"Shawanoe drink fire-water--didn't know nuffin'." - -"You knew enough to run off in the woods before my friends could punish -you. Why have you chased me so far to-day?" - -"Want to catch you," replied the warrior frankly, evidently perceiving -that this was an occasion in which truth would serve better than -falsehood. - -"What hindered you from catching me?" - -"Brudder run faster dan Shawanoe." - -"Did you run as fast as you could?" - -"Yes--run hard--run like thunder--brudder much run--beat deer--beat -antelope." - -"Then I can beat you?" asked Wharton with a meaning look at the subtle -miscreant, who nodded his head with great vigor as he made reply: - -"Yes--beat Shawanoe--run faster--much more run." - -If Blazing Arrow hoped by "acknowledging the corn" in this fashion to -win the confidence of the youth he was mistaken. He could afford to own -up when the only one that heard him was his conqueror. Little fear of -his ever making the confession to his own people. - -"That's the first truth you have told in a long time. What would you -have done to me if you had outrun and captured me?" - -"Take back to Shawanoes." - -"And what then?" - -"Run race wid me." - -"Suppose I had beaten you?" - -"Den get away--like do now. No hurt brudder." - -Wharton little doubted that such a chase would have been arranged, with -the difference that no possible escape would have been left for him. - -"If I had outrun you would I have been allowed to go free?" - -"Yes--dat so--ugh!--yes." - -"Well, being that I have just outrun you, I will keep a good distance -between you and me." - -And thereupon Wharton turned about and began walking along the ravine -toward the point whence he came. As he did so he partly turned his head, -so as to keep the wretch in his field of vision; he knew better than to -trust him, even to the smallest degree. He half expected to see him leap -to his feet and dash after him, but the wily warrior remained seated -until the intervening trees shut him from sight. Wharton hurried along -the ravine, and curved again and came back before he struck a place -which permitted him to climb out. He did so, however, with little -difficulty, and, reaching the path once more, began retracing his steps -to the clearing, across which he had run with such great speed. - -This brought him to the spot where Blazing Arrow had met with his -mishap. Stealing carefully forward, Wharton peered over. To his -astonishment the Shawanoe was not in sight; he had disappeared as -utterly as though he had never been. At the same moment the youth made -another and more astounding discovery. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -TURNING BACK. - - -It is singular how, in the most critical moments, certain thoughts will -obtrude themselves. While Wharton Edwards was peering over the ravine -and wondering whither Blazing Arrow had vanished, a sudden suspicion -caused him to raise his rifle and examine its lock. - -There was not a grain of powder in the pan and no charge in the barrel. -All the time that it had been in the hands of the Shawanoe and himself -it was as useless as a stick. It seemed incredible that such should have -been the fact, and yet here was the evidence before his own eyes. - -What was equally apparent and more astonishing was that Blazing Arrow -must have been unsuspicious of the truth. The youth had not reloaded the -weapon after firing the last time, and it was, therefore, empty when he -flung it across the ravine preparatory to making his leap. It had been -picked up by the runner, who failed, in the excitement, to notice the -oversight, taking it for granted that it was ready for use. In the rush -of the pursuit he had no chance of examining it, and when he recovered -his senses the gun was in the hands of its owner. - -But had the Shawanoe known the truth, when the lad stood within a few -paces defying him, his pretended weakness would have gone in a flash, -and, bounding to his feet, he would have leaped upon his conqueror like -a panther. - -"That's the strangest thing I ever knew," exclaimed Wharton, with a -shudder at his inexplicable escape; "I can't understand how he and I -missed seeing it." - -When it is remembered that the fact of an old-fashioned flintlock being -unloaded is perceptible at a glance, the feature of the mistake is the -more remarkable. - -The discovery threw the youth into something of a panic. He felt as if -the venomous old man was about to assail him from among the trees, and, -with a quick glance around, made desperate haste to reload the gun. Not -until the ball was rammed down the barrel and the powder was in the pan -did he breathe freely. - -"There!" he exclaimed, drawing a sigh of relief, "when I make that -blunder again I deserve to be shot, but the laugh is on Blazing Arrow -more than on me." - -Now that he had a trusty weapon in his possession, and the Shawanoe had -none, the situation of the latter was like that of a wild beast and a -marksman. Could the beast leap unawares upon the marksman he could -overcome him, but the latter had only to maintain his watchfulness. - -Had Blazing Arrow rushed toward the lad after he had found his gun was -empty, and before he reloaded it, Wharton's only resource would have -been to take again to his heels; for, active and athletic as he was, he -could not possibly be a match for the powerful, full-grown warrior, and -it would have been foolhardy on his part to take any such risk. - -The disappearance of the Shawanoe during the brief absence of Wharton -was proof that the wily wretch was shamming. His fall had given him a -severe shock, but no bones were broken; and had the youth heeded the -request to help him to rise he would have snatched him off his feet in a -twinkling and had him at his mercy. - -Whither had he gone? The dread that he might be stealing among the trees -in the effort to surprise him caused young Edwards to make a hasty -withdrawal from the wood to the open plain which had been the scene of -the severest race of his life. - -When he stood clear of the trees, and beyond reach of any sudden -surprise, he breathed freely for the first time. - -"Now let him come, if he wants to. I can outrun him anyway, but I don't -run any more races," added Wharton, glancing down at his gun. - -The Shawanoe, who was doubtless glaring at him from some point of -concealment, must have relied upon cunning to outwit his victim. - -"I wonder what sort of yarn he will tell his people when he goes back?" -mused Wharton. "How will he account for his failure to capture me, and -what explanation will he give for the loss of my gun? I suppose he will -say he concluded to shoot me, and broke it over my head and flung it -away. But if I come out of this trouble they will learn the truth some -day." - -Not forgetting to be on his guard against his foe, the lad walked slowly -across the clearing, taking the back trail. He was considering the best -thing to do. But for Larry Murphy, he would have made all haste in the -opposite direction. The block-house was almost twenty miles away, and -this flurry had delayed the couple so long that there was no time to -spare. Wharton's parents would become anxious and set out to meet the -boys. If they should become involved with these Indians, direful -consequences were likely to follow. - -But Wharton could not desert his comrade. He was a mile or two away, -near the main party of warriors, and Providence alone could prevent his -falling into their hands. Larry would naturally suppose that his friend -was not far from him, and it would be just like the fellow to run into -the worst sort of peril in the hope of doing him service. - -"I must get back to him as soon as I can. If he could only know how -fortunate I have been it would be easy for him to steal around the whole -party and join me here. Then we could do some fast travelling, and be at -the block-house before sunrise to-morrow." - -Since, however, such a state of affairs was out of the question, Wharton -had only to face matters as they were. - -One ground for hope cheered him. The sultry summer afternoon was drawing -to a close, and night was at hand. He could manoeuvre in the darkness -much better than when the sun was shining. He and the Irish lad had a -system of calls and signals by which they communicated when within -hearing distance of each other. He could fall back on this when darkness -fell. - -With his controlling wish there was but one thing for him to do; that -was to make his way with the utmost care to the region of the falls, -where he had parted from Larry. If his comrade had been wise enough to -keep out of the hands of the Shawanoes he was hopeful of opening -communication with him. A few more hours must decide the question. - -He increased his pace. When he reached the wood on the opposite side of -the plain it was twilight. He walked rapidly, as though in a hurry, but -after going far enough to be beyond sight he came stealthily back and -looked toward the point where he had reloaded his gun. As he did so he -caught the outlines of a figure in the dim light steadily approaching, -and he knew it was Blazing Arrow, the Shawanoe. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -GROPING IN THE DARK. - - -Larry Murphy, after his daring check of the Shawanoes in their attempt -to leap the torrent, was sufficiently wise to see that it would not do -for him to remain where he was. The red men had located the dangerous -marksman, and would soon gain access to him. - -If they chose, they could swim the stream below, as he had done, and -there must be other points above where the walls approached near enough -to allow them to jump across. If two or three succeeded in getting to -the rear of his position (and what was to prevent it?) he would be -caught inextricably in a trap. - -"I wonder what's become of Whart? What could he do without me? He's -always getting into trouble, and it's the bother of me life getting him -out again. I ought to be with him now." - -Nothing was clearer than that before he could do any more service for -his friend, or even learn his situation, he must place himself on the -other side of the torrent. He could do this by swimming, as before, but -he shrank from repeating the performance. The Shawanoes were likely to -watch for such an attempt, and he would be in a bad situation if -discovered in the water. - -He believed, too, that at no distant point up stream there was some -place where the passage could be made quickly and without danger; he -decided to find out if such was the case. - -"I hope Whart won't do anything rash," he mused, picking his way with no -little skill and with the utmost care, "but he needs me with him all the -time. With all the speed he owns, if he only made a break for the -block-house, he'd be there in an hour or two; but it's just like him not -to think of that, and if he did, mor'n likely the Indians would object." - -A hundred yards above the point where young Edwards had leaped the -torrent, Larry began working his way back to it. It would have been a -most fortunate thing had he arrived somewhat sooner, for then he would -have seen his friend starting on his memorable race with Blazing Arrow. -The chance of bringing down the vicious Shawanoe by a shot from the rear -would have been so inviting that it is more than probable that the youth -would have nipped the contest in the bud. But, had he not done so, he -would have gained the information that would have changed his own line -of action, and the whole course of succeeding events. - -But the torrent was wider than below, and not even Wharton Edwards would -have been able to leap it. Larry was careful to keep out of sight, and -withdrawing again from the bank, he cautiously made his way up stream, -on the watch for some place to cross. - -"I wonder whether any of them have got over yet?" he muttered, feeling -each step of the way; "they're sharp enough to follow me tracks where I -haven't stepped on the stones--whisht!" - -He stopped short, for he had heard something moving slowly among the -undergrowth ahead. - -"Some of them have come back----" - -Instead of a Shawanoe warrior, the bulky form of an immense bear came -into sight. - -"And so ye want to mix in this business?" was the thought of the lad on -identifying the animal. "I'm sure neither Whart nor me would have any -objections if you would only turn your attention to them that is making -us so much bother." - -He surveyed the lumbering creature a minute or two, strongly tempted to -give him a shot. He would have fired, but the report of the gun would be -heard by the Shawanoes, some of whom could not be far off. The falls -were so distant that the sound was but a faint roar in his ears. - -The bear did not seem to be looking for large boys just then, and, after -lumbering into sight, disappeared among the vegetation, which was rank -in that section. He showed no sign of suspecting that one of his natural -enemies was so near. Had he known it, doubtless he would have given him -attention. - -In the effort to find a place where the stream could be crossed, Larry -pushed on, never forgetting that he was in continual danger from the -Shawanoes. The day was waning, and night was not far off. - -"If I don't strike the right sort of spot," he concluded, "by the time -night is here, I'll find a place where I can swim from one bank to the -other. Halloo!" A dark object on the ground a short distance in advance -caught his eye. Stooping down, he found to his delight it was his lost -cap, doubtless carried thither by this same bear. - -It will be remembered that the torrent to which we have made reference -so often was not crossed by the trail leading from the settlement to the -block-house, although the two approached quite closely at several -points. The winding course of the path was mainly with the object of -avoiding a passage over the stream. The boys, therefore, knew little -about it, and the slight journey Larry Murphy was making was in the -nature of an exploration. - -When he was about ready to give up hope of finding a method of crossing -other than by swimming, a surprise greeted him. The high banks not only -drew near together, but they were bridged by a fallen tree, whose base -was several feet away from the edge of the other shore. The branches -rested on the ground near the feet of the astonished youth, who felt -like throwing off his hat with delight. - -"If I ever meet the gintleman that felled that tree for me, I'll give -him me heartfilt thanks." - -Larry would have been pleased had the trunk been larger; not that it -lacked strength, but it would have been much easier to walk it, for it -is no light task to pick one's way along a comparative sapling, -especially when a deep, rapid stream is sweeping beneath. - -By this time the sun had set and the light was growing dim in the woods. -He stood back just beyond the dead branches and meditatively scratched -his head. He knew that in all probability the tree had fallen in this -position of its own accord, and perhaps never had served as a bridge; -but, if so, it was because the occasion did not arise, since nothing -could be more opportune. - -"I'm wondering whether I'm equal to the job," he added, still scratching -his scrubby hair. "If I step off I'll have to go over the falls, unless -I crawl out at the one spot, and I'm likely to miss that. If the sun was -shining it would be easy enough, and I guess maybe I can do it as it -is." - -This was a case where it was idle to delay. He therefore fastened his -rifle in the usual way behind his back, so as to leave his arms free, -for more than likely he would need them before reaching the opposite -side. - -"There won't be much use of saving mesilf without the gun, so we'll hang -together or go down, if we must, with our colors flying." - -He placed his foot on the upper part of the trunk, just beyond where the -first branch appeared, and tested it. So far as he could tell, it was -sufficiently strong to bear ten times his weight. - -He now advanced inch by inch, but had gone less than a fourth of the -distance when he found that his rifle was balanced in such a way behind -his shoulder that it was unsteady, and liable to throw him at any -moment. - -It was delicate and dangerous to retreat, but he did it, slowly -struggling until he was so near the shore from which he started that he -was able to turn quickly and leap to the solid ground. - -He took several minutes to adjust his weapon, for the slight trial he -had made taught him it would be exceedingly perilous for him to run any -sort of risk. It would be all he could do to get across under the most -favorable circumstances. - -In the gathering gloom, when everything was in readiness, he placed his -foot on the narrow portion of the trunk and prepared to repeat the -attempt, but at the very moment of doing so he made the discovery that -some one else had started to cross from the other side. - -Larry Murphy learned the truth in the nick of time. Ten seconds later -and he would have been on the trunk at the same moment as the other, and -an advance by both must have caused them to meet over the middle of the -stream. - -As it was, Larry was uncertain whether he had been seen, or whether it -was a man or animal that was approaching. The doubt, however, lasted but -a second, when out from the gloom advanced a Shawanoe warrior, who came -along the narrow bridge with the deliberate certainty of a Blondin. No -fear of _his_ making a misstep. - -This of itself told the youth that the Indian had not seen him, for, if -he had, nothing would have been more foolhardy than thus to place -himself at the mercy of the one who a short time before had shown his -nerve and marksmanship under more difficult circumstances. - -But for the displacement of his rifle, Larry Murphy would have walked -into the arms of the red man. As it was, he had missed doing so, or at -least had missed discovery, by the narrowest margin conceivable. - -With the coolness and cleverness of a veteran the lad moved back among -the denser gloom of the trees, where he was confident no one could see -him unless close enough to touch his person. Then he paused and watched -proceedings. Hardly had the sun sunk below the horizon when the round -full moon gave out its light, flooding wood and stream with radiance. It -was the moonlight that revealed the sinewy figure to the watcher in the -darkness. - -Larry could not but admire the surefootedness of the red man, who never -stepped off the trunk until standing over solid earth. Then he turned -about and faced the side from which he had come. He was so close to the -edge of the gorge that he was still revealed in the moonlight. - -The temptation was strong to give him a quick shove into the water, -leaving him to get out the best way he could; but before the youth could -act upon his mischievous suggestion a second Indian emerged from the -gloom and carefully crossed the primitive bridge used by his -predecessor. - -"What does all this mean?" Larry asked himself. "Is the whole party -coming over one by one? It may be that they will bring Whart with them. -Halloo!" - -A third Shawanoe crossed, but no more. The three stood for several -minutes so close to the youth that but for the noise of the torrent he -would have been sure of betrayal through the throbbing of his heart. - -There was a moment when he believed they had seen him from the first, -and intended to turn like lightning upon him. In case they did so he -meant to make a rush, with the hope of forcing them into the river. - -The red men remained but a few minutes, however, when they disappeared -as silently as phantoms. Whither they had gone, or what their business -was and why three of them had come from the other side, were questions -beyond the solution of the puzzled lad, who was certain that he had -never stumbled into such a mixed condition of affairs. - -He waited a long time, fearful of venturing to walk over the trunk, lest -he might meet others. When that did not take place, the likelihood of -there being more of the Shawanoes in the vicinity, who would be quick to -detect his approach, was not lessened. - -It looked to Larry as though the three had come over to look for him, -though why they should expect to find him in the darkness was hard to -understand. If the sun were in the sky there would be ground for their -hope of outwitting him. The fact remained that, so far as he knew, young -Edwards was still on the other side of the torrent, and his friend could -not hope to do him any service so long as they were thus separated. - -"I must git across and put mesilf in such a position that he can lean on -me, but I'm thinking it won't be the best thing to try it at this place, -where so many may observe me." - -It was only ordinary prudence that led Larry Murphy to make this -decision. Brave as he was, and often so to the verge of recklessness, he -was not the sort of person to run into danger unnecessarily. While it -was not to be expected that he would find any more bridges to use in -crossing the stream, there was reason to look for such a narrowing of -the banks that he could make the leap, and he set out once more to find -the spot. - -To his disappointment the ground over which he was obliged to make his -way changed for the worse. It became so broken that it was impossible in -some places to progress without making detours that led him a -considerable distance from the stream. As there was no saying whether or -not these diversions were not at the very places where the water could -be leaped, he was in anything but an agreeable frame of mind. This was -not decreased when he suddenly tumbled down a cavity deep enough to -bruise him severely. - -His efforts to save himself where his eyes gave no help probably made -the mistake worse. - -"I'm thankful that I'm alive," was his honest thought when able to pull -himself together. "I've had the best luck--whisht!" - -At that moment he became aware that he was not alone. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -IN A CORNER. - - -Larry Murphy's first thought, when he found he had stumbled into -something in the nature of a cave, was that it might serve him as a -refuge or a fort in the impending fight with the Shawanoes, who were -certainly beginning to crowd him hard. - -The night being fully come, his eyes were of little use, but the sense -of feeling told him that he had stumbled down an abrupt incline, perhaps -a rod in length, and into a cavern in the rocks, of whose extent he -could form no idea. It might be only a few feet, or it might extend -backward or to the right or left until its ramifications equalled those -of the Mammoth Cave, afterwards discovered at no great distance from -that very spot. - -He was debating the question with himself when a figure appeared at the -head of the short incline down which he had stumbled. There was just -enough arrowy moonlight reaching that portion of the rocks for him to -identify the huge, lumbering mass as that of an immense bear. - -He had his rifle at his shoulder, with the intention of letting fly at -him as he came head on, when the thought that the Shawanoes were so near -that they would hear the report caused him to hesitate. If they were -near enough to appear before he could get away he would be in a bad fix, -knowing nothing of the cave, and with no chance to get food or water. - -Still, he could not stand still and allow the brute to make a supper -upon him, and, plucky as he was, he had no wish to fight him alone with -his hunting-knife. - -He thought and acted quickly. He resolutely walked backward several -paces in the cave at the risk of breaking his neck. His extended hands -told him that the space was wide, and he moved silently to the right, so -as to be out of the path of the animal, provided he followed anything -like a direct course. - -The enormous beast swung along in his heavy fashion, and was in the act -of entering the cavern, when he stopped, emitting a grunting snort, and -abruptly withdrew. He had scented something wrong, and did not intend to -rush headlong into danger. - -The act of the bear disconcerted Larry for a moment. Standing within the -cavern, he could have fired his gun with little risk of the report being -heard outside. That was one of his motives in retreating, willing to let -the animal alone if he would be equally considerate, but not afraid to -fire the moment it was necessary. - -But bruin not only withdrew from the entrance to the cavern, but -clambered up the incline to a point where he could not be seen by the -youth. The discovery on his part that some intruder was in his home had -doubtless decided him to have it out in the open air rather than in the -dark. - -This was a wise proceeding on the part of the animal, which is rarely -capable of anything of that nature, and it outwitted the Irish lad--an -exploit not often achieved by others. - -He could not leave the cavern without following the bear up the incline -and bringing about a collision, for he was certain the beast was lurking -near, with the intention of attacking him. - -After some delay he moved softly toward the opening of the cavern to -gain a view of the exterior, which was faintly lit up in places by the -moonlight. He could see nothing, and he hesitated to venture out through -fear that, despite its size, the bear would pounce upon him before he -could defend himself. - -The brave youth, however, fully understood his grave situation. So long -as he remained within the cavern he might as well be a thousand miles -away for all the help he could give his friend. Instead of assisting -Wharton Edwards, he was in need of assistance himself. - -Knowing the patience with which most wild animals will await the descent -of treed game, he believed this bear would remain on the outside through -the night, and perhaps a portion of the next day, with the probability -that even then the prisoner would have to make a fight of it before he -could get away. This was more than Larry could stand, and he did not -mean to wait. - -If the bear was really lying on the outside, he was not so near the top -of the incline that the youth did not have some chance of eluding him -without firing a gun. - -Furthermore, if he was obliged to discharge his rifle, it was by no -means likely that any of the Shawanoes were so close that they could -rush to the spot before he would have the opportunity of getting away. -He had already stood within an arm's reach of them, as may be said, -without discovery; and, although that was because they had no suspicion -of the fact, yet the favoring night, it would seem, ought to give him -all the hope he could ask. - -"At any rate," he concluded, "I've stayed here as long as I intend to, -and now I'll take my departure." - -Larry Murphy, having decided on his course of action, followed it out -with his usual promptness. With his rifle grasped in his right hand, and -his body slightly crouching, he began climbing the incline which led to -the level ground above. This was so steep that when he stumbled at the -top in the first place, he rolled all the way to the bottom, but with -care he could go up or down without falling. - -The stillness was profound--the sound of the falls being dull and faint, -as though they were miles distant in the depth of the wilderness. Though -the fierce Shawanoes were prowling in the darkness among the trees, not -a rustling leaf betrayed their presence. - -Near the top of the slope he sank on his hands and knees and advanced -inch by inch. The bear, as we have stated, is not famous for his -sagacity, but at times he shows a remarkable cunning, and this specimen -was not likely to let his supper walk away without causing some trouble. - -As the lad's head came to a level with the surface he crouched still -lower and advanced a little farther. This gave him the "purchase" he -wanted. Then, sitting on his heels, he brought his gun around to the -front, the hammer up, and the weapon held with both hands. In this -position it could be fired the instant needed. - -He now slowly raised his head and peered intently in all directions. His -height was sufficient to allow him to see all about him, but the intense -gloom rendered his eyes almost useless. It was impossible for him to -identify any object. - -Fancying that he might be able to detect bruin's breathing in the -stillness, he listened for a few seconds, but was unable to hear -anything. He was now on the threshold, as may be said, and it was -useless to wait longer. - -He assumed the upright position, stepped away from the incline for -several paces, and then stopped. He meant to do this with a certain -dignity, and fully expected that it would compel the bear to uncover -himself so that he would know where to fire. - -He began his effort well, but in the darkness he could not observe the -obstructions in his way; so, when at his most dignified point, an -obtruding bowlder sent him sprawling over it. - -He was not hurt, and when he pulled himself together, and, with his -weapon ready, stared about in the gloom, he not only saw but heard -nothing. - -And then the odd truth dawned upon him. There was no bear near, and had -not been for some time past. - -The animal, after his hurried retreat up the incline, on discovering the -intruder in his home, had not lain down to pounce upon him as he came -forth, as that intruder suspected, but had lumbered off into the woods, -apparently as anxious to get away from the young hunter as the latter -was too keep out of his reach. - -Larry had waited a long time in the cavern before making this venture, -and naturally he was chagrined on learning the truth. - -"It's a big lot of valuable time wasted," he muttered. - -He was now once more free to do as he chose, but without any clear idea -of what course to take. His whole anxiety was to find his friend, -Wharton Edwards, and give him what help he could, if he stood in need of -it, but where to look for him he knew no more than the earth's -satellite. - -Ah! through the cool hush of the summer night a soft, almost inaudible -sound reached him. It was the faint, tremulous cooing of the wild dove, -but so low, timid, and flute-like, that the bird seemed to mean it -should be heard only in its immediate vicinity. - -The heart of Larry Murphy gave a quick throb. That was the call he and -Wharton Edwards had practiced until they could give it perfectly. Could -it be that his friend was not only free from the Shawanoes, but was so -near? - -It seemed impossible, and yet, when the signal was repeated a minute -later, all doubt was gone, and, hardly unable to repress a shout, the -lad replied with a precisely similar call. - -These signals were of that pure musical quality that, when first made, -neither could tell the point whence the other came. The note was simply -"in the air." Larry, however, suspected that his friend had crossed the -torrent a few minutes before by means of the prostrate tree, and he -began treading his way thither with the utmost caution. - -For several minutes utter stillness reigned. Some cause led the first -one to hold his peace for that time. - -Larry was so near the narrow, moonlit space bordering the torrent that -he halted, deeming it unwise to venture farther. It was evident, despite -the care he used, he had gone away from instead of toward his friend. To -advance any farther was likely to take him beyond reach, and possibly -complicate matters with the Shawanoes, who could not be far off. - -"I wonder where they can be?" he mused, sufficiently prudent to remain -in the shadow among the trees. "He's very careful, which is wise, and -I'll be the same." - -He waited minute after minute, without hearing the expected signal, and -a vague misgiving began to trouble him. - -"It can't be I'm too far off for me to hear him. I'll give him the call -mesilf, and a little louder." - -He was shaping his lips to form the singular cry, when it sounded so -near that he started. With the signal came a thrill of affright, for the -listening ear detected a shade of difference; it was not precisely what -he expected, nor exactly similar to his own. - -At the same moment a crouching figure appeared on the edge of the -moonlit space, and advancing with the slow, noiseless motion of a shadow -across the face of a dial. - -Larry Murphy saw that it was a Shawanoe Indian. As if the red man meant -to reveal himself beyond mistake, he took a single step forward, held -his head bent for a moment in the attitude of intense attention, and -then slowly looked toward every point of the compass in turn. - -At one angle the full moonlight fell upon the painted face, which the -youth recognized as that of the ferocious Blazing Arrow. - -"I'll settle you!" whispered the youth, stealthily raising the hammer of -his gun. "Ye have no business with that signal." - -He tried to present his weapon without any noise, but with all his care -the hammer, as it was drawn back, made two dull clicks, which sounded -startlingly loud in the situation. - -Knowing that the ear of the Indian had caught the noise, Larry brought -his weapon to his shoulder like a flash and pointed the muzzle toward -the spot, less than twenty-five feet away. - -But no Blazing Arrow was there. He had disappeared like the coon at the -flash of the huntsman's rifle. - -Whether his acute sense of hearing had enabled him to locate the point -whence came the double click, Larry did not wait to see. He had no -intention that the miscreant, knife in hand, should come down on him -with the resistless force of an avalanche. - -Lowering his head to help conceal his movements, he drew back several -paces, with a silence and stealth that the Shawanoe himself could not -have surpassed. Then, crouching low on the ground, he waited, watched -and listened. - -His rifle was ready to be fired, and he resolved to let Blazing Arrow -have the charge the instant he caught sight of him. The warrior was -cunning, but he was liable to uncover himself in moving about the youth, -whose precise location he could not know. - -The danger of the latter was that other Shawanoes besides this one were -near, and might close around him in the gloom. He was ready, and would -fight any number of them if they beset him, but there could be but one -result of such a desperate struggle. - -Hearing and seeing nothing of his enemies, he decided to improve his -situation by a further change of base. Inasmuch as the slightest slip -was certain to prove fatal, the work was slow and surpassingly delicate. - -The foot was lifted quickly from the ground and suspended in the air and -lowered slowly, while the body leaned gently forward, waiting a long -while before its weight was allowed to rest on the limb. - -The tedious work was continued until Larry moved fully a dozen yards -from his starting-point. Then, for the first time, he breathed freely -and felt that it was safe to pause. - -Still nothing was seen or heard of Blazing Arrow or his companions, and -the youth, with a shudder, asked himself the startling question: "How -came the Shawanoe to have the signal of Wharton Edwards?" - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -REVERSING POSITIONS. - - -Pausing on the edge of the natural clearing which had been the scene of -the terrific race between himself and Blazing Arrow, Wharton looked -back, and in the gathering darkness saw a flickering figure on the -farther side, where the trail re-entered the wood, and he knew it was -that of the champion runner of his tribe, whom he had not only defeated -in the contest of fleetness, but in the singular battle of wits which -followed. - -"I'd wager a good deal, if I had a chance," muttered the lad, "that he -feels just a little impatient with himself. I am quite sure that matters -haven't gone to suit him." - -It was in the power of the youth to turn the tables still more -completely on the dusky miscreant. He had but to wait where he was until -he was within easy range, and then shoot him down. It need not be said, -however, after what had taken place a short time before, that this was a -crime which nothing could have induced young Edwards to commit, even -though he knew the Shawanoe was as eager as a tiger to secure his life. - -"We're likely to come together again before this business is over," he -reflected, "where I won't feel so much like letting you alone as I do -now." - -There was one uncomfortable proceeding which he did not mean to undergo; -that was to have Blazing Arrow dogging at his heels like a sneaking wolf -awaiting the chance to pounce upon him unawares. It is hard to imagine a -more trying situation than that of knowing an enemy is stealing behind -you in the darkness, on the alert to dart forward when your vigilance is -relaxed, and make his attack with the deadly quickness of the -rattlesnake. - -Walking but a short way, Wharton stepped aside from the trail and stood -motionless among the trees, where an owl would not have noticed him in -flying along the path. He was not kept waiting many minutes. A soft -tap-tap sounded on the ground as Blazing Arrow, in a loping trot, left -the clearing and plunged into the wood, and then a faint, shadowy figure -was dimly seen moving between the trees. - -Directly opposite Wharton it came to a halt. Because of the obscurity he -could not be seen except in motion, but the watcher knew what that -meant. He was listening. He could not be assured what the youth in front -was doing, and since his experience with him, the redskin understood -that he had a young man above the ordinary as his antagonist. - -A minute later Wharton saw something flicker in the gloom. The Shawanoe -had started on again. This time he did not trot, for the protruding -limbs interfered and would have made too much rustling. He walked -rapidly enough, however, to overtake any one going at the usual rate. - -Waiting until he believed he was at a safe distance in advance, the lad -stepped back upon the trail and continued his journey toward the war -party, where he hoped to be of service to his friend. - -Since the white and red men had exchanged situations, Wharton had now to -guard against running into the one in advance. If the Shawanoe should -learn what had been done he would be sure to try some trick on the -youth. By crouching along the path he could leap upon him as he passed -and bear him helplessly to the ground. - -It need not be said that young Edwards was on the alert. He could not -have been more so, frequently pausing to listen, or to use his eyes, so -far as possible, in the darkness. - -Unable to hear anything through the air, he knelt down and pressed his -ear to the ground. That served him no better, and he slowed his -progress, and stopped more frequently. - -"I wonder whether he has any suspicion that I am behind him?" was his -thought. "It may be," he added grimly, "that he is thinking what sort of -yarn to get up to explain why he hasn't brought me with him. If I am not -careful he may nab me after all. I'd like to know whether he still has -the headache, or whether he hasn't set me down as a fool for letting him -off when I had the chance to finish him." - -If it should so prove that Blazing Arrow was not aware that, instead of -following the white youth, the reverse was the case, the space between -them was certainly increasing, for one was going slow and the other -fast. - -When the distance passed became considerable, Wharton began to feel -hope. They were close to where he had already undergone several stirring -adventures, and he was almost certain the savage runner knew nothing of -his whereabouts. Finally he turned off from the trail almost at the -point where he had started to run away from Blazing Arrow and his -companions. - -Attentively listening and watching, he heard nothing, and then began a -guarded examination of the immediate neighborhood. It was there the -Shawanoes had crouched when he bounded across the gorge in quest of his -rifle, but it was not to be expected that they had remained there ever -since. The examination convinced him that all had moved somewhere else. - -Wharton's concern being now for Larry Murphy, he did some close -reasoning. - -"I know he will, risk his life to help me, whom he naturally thinks is -in a bad way, but how is he going to do it, or how has he got across to -this side of the torrent? He can't make the leap that I did, and I am -quite sure he wouldn't try to swim, because that would compel him to go -below the falls. The chances are that he is on the other side." - -This conclusion, it will be perceived, was correct; but had the reasoner -known of that fallen tree spanning the gorge, it is likely his decision -would have been different. - -Before repeating the leap he had already made, Wharton spent more time -in what may be called reconnoitering. - -It was altogether beyond reason that the Shawanoes should be looking for -any such performance, and with little hesitation, therefore, he walked -out from the shadow, ran across the moonlit space of rocks, and, with -the same ease and grace as before, placed himself on the other bank. He -quickly scurried to cover, and then awaited the result. - -It was nothing, so far as he could tell. Still at a loss which way to -turn or what to do, but hoping that Larry might be somewhere within -reach, he made the signal which has been described elsewhere. - -"If he hears that he will know what it means. By gracious, he has heard -it!" - -From a point close at hand, and directly behind him, came the response, -although, as the reader well knows, it was not the lips of Larry Murphy -that made it. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A BLUNDER. - - -Blazing Arrow possessed the subtlety of a serpent and the cunning of a -fox. Underneath his actions lay his unextinguishable hatred of the white -race. His anger against it seemed always to be flaming at white heat. - -But the slyest and wisest of animals and men are liable at times to -overreach themselves. Had the imp been content with what was -unquestionably a remarkable exploit he would have held Wharton Edwards -at his mercy, but he must needs spoil all by his attempt to make -assurance doubly sure. - -He had not seen the youth after he watched him disappear across the -clearing where the back trail entered the woods. He never suspected that -he was not on his front on the return, and failed to see his last leap -across the torrent. Confident, however, that he was not far off, he -began a search for him, with the hope of getting matters in better shape -before rejoining his comrades with an account of his experience. - -It happened, therefore, that when young Edwards made his dove-call to -Larry Murphy, Blazing Arrow was so near that he heard it. He knew that -it came from none of his people, and consequently must be from one of -the whites. - -With extraordinary cleverness he replied by several notes, whose -resemblance to those causing them was so wonderfully close as to be -perfect. Fearful, however, that he might not have hit the exact note, he -repeated the call. - -And in doing so he made the fatal blunder. One of the unchangeable laws -governing Wharton Edwards and Larry Murphy at such times was that under -no circumstances was either to repeat a signal without a minute or two -interval. It was the violation of this rule that apprised the youth of -his peril and gave him time to save himself. - -Suspecting that it was Blazing Arrow who was near, Wharton retreated -farther into the wood. In making the movement he used all the caution he -could, and believed that no one had overheard him. What followed looked -as though he was right in the conclusion, for the Indian, without moving -from his tracks, signalled again, making the same mistake as before by -repeating it, in his effort to repress his impatience at the delay in -the response. - -"I don't think I'll be in a hurry to open a conversation with you," -thought Wharton; "I'm looking for somebody else." - -He was still in a dangerous situation, however, and continued edging -away from the locality where he had come so near falling a victim to the -resentment of the warrior, who was among the most cunning of his tribe. -Wharton's heart sank when, despite the extreme care he used, he caught -his foot in a running vine and narrowly escaped falling. He instantly -straightened up and waited for the attack that he was sure was coming; -but, as the minutes passed, he concluded the Indian was already so far -off that the slight rustling did not reach him. It was probable that -the Shawanoe, in trying to outwit the youth, had moved away from him, -and the two were now separated by a considerable space. - -How was it that this Indian was in possession of the signal which the -two youths used when in danger? - -In the case of Wharton, however, there was little of the anxiety of his -friend. The latter heard the call before emitting it himself, so that it -was impossible that Blazing Arrow should have got it from him; and, -since Wharton Edwards was the only other person that possessed it, the -misgiving of the Irish lad was warranted. - -But with Wharton the case was different. Blazing Arrow's signal -succeeded his, and, therefore, was but a clever imitation. - -"It may be that he got it from Larry," reflected our young friend, "but -the chances are against it. Where can the fellow be?" - -It was an exasperating reflection that for hours the work had been of a -blind nature, as may be said. The youths had been separated, there had -been a fierce race, fighting, and running back and forth, and all -manner of incidents, and yet matters stood as at the beginning. - -While this was a cause for gratification in one respect, inasmuch as the -two were still safe from the most dreaded tribe of Indians in the West, -the disheartening fact was that the boys were just where they were when -the danger broke upon them. They had not advanced a rod along the trail -to the block-house, where Wharton's parents would probably arrive that -evening. The prospect was poor for the boys appearing until long after -the hour they were expected. - -"We ought to have had an understanding before we separated; but then," -added Wharton disgustedly, "I don't see how we could, or what good it -would have done. Larry wouldn't leave as long as he thought I was in -trouble, and I'm sure I wouldn't desert him. I wonder now----" - -A new thought had come into his mind--that of withdrawing from the -neighborhood, making all haste to the block-house, and bringing back -aid. There was always a number of the most skilled rangers of the -frontier at this post, and they were ever ready to respond to any call -for help. Probably Daniel Boone or the great Simon Kenton was at hand, -with unerring rifle and marvellous woodcraft. - -Wharton could reach the block-house before daylight, and be back while -the day was yet young, with his new friends. Learned in the ways of the -woods and the red men, they would quickly become the hunters instead of -the hunted, and teach the marauders a lesson to be remembered forever. - -Had the question presented itself as it did after his vanquishment of -Blazing Arrow, the youth would have continued his flight along the -trail, and been back with his friends before or by the time the sun was -on the horizon. As it was, he debated the question a long time, and then -decided not to continue the journey until he gained some definite -knowledge of Larry; his own movements depended upon that. If the other -had fallen, then Wharton should not lose a moment hurrying away from the -accursed neighborhood. If his comrade was a prisoner of the Shawanoes, -he must be equally prompt in securing assistance, since he unaided could -do no good; but if the other was still his own master, then both would -give an exhibition of rapid travelling toward the block-house. - -"No," said young Edwards, resolutely, "I don't go till I learn something -about Larry. I'll do just as he would do if in my place." - -And he might have added, truthfully, "and just what he is doing at this -moment." - -Manifestly there was but one way to learn the truth, and that was by -investigating, and the only way to investigate was to keep moving, which -he did. - -The night was so far along that the Shawanoes were quite certain to have -kindled a camp-fire somewhere in the woods. This was their custom, and -it was this beacon light, as it may be called, for which young Edwards -now began hunting. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -LOOKING ON. - - -Wharton Edwards was not long finding that for which he was seeking. -While feeling his way among the trees, with all his senses on the alert, -a point of light suddenly flashed out in the gloom. It was directly -ahead, and he had but to penetrate a short distance farther, when he -came in sight of the camp-fire of the Shawanoes. - -He approached with great care, and halted at what he deemed a safe -distance to study the characteristic scene before him. - -Careful counting, repeated several times, showed eleven Indian warriors -gathered together about a mass of burning wood, which was kindled in a -small open space. Upon a fallen tree were seated four of them, while the -rest were lolling on the ground in lazy attitudes. Two seemed to be -examining the locks of their guns, and nearly all were smoking. - -There were no signs of any food, but the lusty youth felt so hungry that -he was sure they must have had something to eat before he came upon -them. Game was so abundant in the country that it was unreasonable to -suppose any one would go hungry unless he happened to be in a situation -similar to that of the youth himself. - -One fact gave Wharton a thrill of gratitude and hope; Larry was not with -the group of Indians, and, therefore, could not be a prisoner. - -Young Edwards had been under the impression that there were about a -score of Shawanoes with which he and Larry Murphy had collided, but -counting those that had fallen by the way, there were less. - -The absence of the youth from the camp could not be a guarantee of his -weal, for he might have been stricken down in the woods, but the sign -had been so favorable that Wharton felt more hopeful than at any time -since their separation. - -He was quick, however, to notice a significant fact: Blazing Arrow was -also absent. - -"I would give anything to know where he is and what he is doing," -thought the youth. "It may be that he is leaning against the tree and -still studying over the yarn that is to prevent the rest knowing I -outran him, but it is more likely he is prowling through the woods after -Larry and me." - -The answer to this conjecture came suddenly and startlingly. Wharton, -not forgetting his caution, kept well back in the gloom, with his body -screened behind the trunk of a tree. He was attentively watching the -group around the camp-fire, when something moved between him and the -light, partly eclipsing it. - -A second look showed the form of the twelfth Shawanoe, walking silently -toward the blaze; and, as he joined the others, and stood so the -firelight revealed his features, Wharton Edwards recognized him as -Blazing Arrow. - -"He has struck it," muttered the youth. "He has got the yarn in shape at -last. I wish I could hear it, and find what sort of a fancy he has." - -The great runner was without any gun, and it was evident that he must -have wrenched his inventive powers to straighten out matters so as to -retain his prestige among these warlike people. His position as a great -warrior and the real leader of the party could not fail to help in the -test to which he was subjected. - -The arrival of the dusky desperado caused a sensation. Every face was -turned, and those who were seated on the tree rose to greet him. The -silence in the wood allowed Wharton to hear their gruff, jerky -sentences, but since he did not understand a word of Shawanoe, his ears -were of no service. - -One of the warriors extended a rifle to Blazing Arrow, who waved it back -until he, standing in the middle of the group, gave his account of -matters. - -Some years later the settlers learned the particulars of this amazing -narrative. The great runner said he allowed the youth to draw away from -him for a time in order to put forth his best efforts. When this had -taken them to the natural clearing, with which all were familiar, he -started to run him down, and would have done so before the open space -was half crossed but for the sudden appearance of five or six white men -coming from the other direction. - -Of course the new comers were fully armed, but, nothing daunted, the -valiant Shawanoe assailed them. He brought down two, and would have had -the others at his mercy had not a shot broken the lock of his gun. He -then threw away the useless weapon, uttered a defiant whoop, and strode -back toward his own party, whither the whites did not dare follow him. - -It was one of the listeners to this stupendous statement who told it to -the pioneers. When asked whether he and the others believed it, a -shadowy smile lit up the dusky face, and he quaintly replied that they -tried to do so. - -Having rendered his account, Blazing Arrow and several of his comrades -seated themselves on the fallen tree and engaged in an animated talk, -which lasted for a quarter of an hour or more. The burden of it was -that one of the whites was still near them, and must not be permitted to -steal along the trail in the direction of the block-house, for if he -succeeded in reaching that point he would be safe against anything the -Shawanoes could do. - -The dusky prevaricator was cunning enough not to claim that he had slain -Wharton Edwards, for the youth, being alive, was liable to turn up in a -way that would throw discredit on his veracity. - -The lad, who was looking on, could only conjecture the meaning of what -passed before his eyes. When he saw a couple of warriors rise to their -feet and come toward him, he supposed it was to make hunt for him and -his friends. He was made to realize, too, the delicately dangerous -position in which he stood. - -When the figures plainly outlined against the illumination of the -camp-fire started, he fervently wished himself elsewhere. He dared not -stir, for, as if fate were dallying with him, a lot of wood, thrown on -the blaze within a few minutes before, threw a circle of light to the -base of the tree from behind which he was cautiously peering. Had he -started to withdraw, the two Shawanoes would have been upon him in a -twinkling. He could only wait where he was, and hope they might pass by -without detecting his presence. - -He hardly breathed as he heard the rustling of their moccasins on the -leaves, and pressed his upright figure against the bark as though he -would force himself into the very structure of the tree itself. - -Fortunately the suspense quickly passed. If the couple were hunting for -him and his companion, they did not expect to find either so near -headquarters, and speedily vanished in the gloom beyond, stepping so -softly that their footfalls became inaudible. - -This incident gave young Edwards a good scare. He felt that he had run -an unnecessary risk, and wasted time in staying so long after learning -that Larry was not with the main party of Indians. More of these were -likely to leave the camp, and the danger of his position must increase. - -Without delay, therefore, he began his retrograde movement. This was -easy, and he soon placed himself where he could feel comparatively -safe. - -His curiosity led him to pick his way back to the torrent that had been -the scene of so many moving incidents of the afternoon. He was somewhat -confused as to the points of the compass, but the faint roar was his -guide, and with little trouble he placed himself quite near the stream, -which coursed between the rocks with such impetuosity. - -The youth was too prudent to advance into the moonlight, where the -prowlers were liable to see him, and so it happened that he approached -the rocks at a point that was new to him. To this fact was due a -surprise. He was just in time to see one Indian following the other -across the foot-bridge made by the prostrate tree. - -"I never suspected that was there," he said to himself when he -comprehended its meaning; "I thought there was no means by which Larry -could make his way back to the trail without swimming below the falls or -fording some place farther up. I wonder whether he knows about that?" - -The action of the Indians gave Wharton a suspicion of the truth. They -had crossed the torrent with the intention of hiding somewhere along the -path leading to the block-house, so as to cut off the flight of one or -both of the boys in that direction. This, seemingly, was an easy thing -to do, provided the fugitives were unsuspicious of what was going on. - -Young Edwards saw no way of breaking through the maze of perplexity that -had closed around him. He had done his utmost without learning where his -friend was. More than that, although he was hopeful, he could feel no -certainty that he was really alive. - -The occasion justified another appeal to the peculiar dove signal, and -he now made it. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -A HAIL AND AN ANSWER. - - -Meanwhile Larry Murphy was not idle. He had never received a more -terrifying shock than that caused by the discovery that the signal which -he was confident was made by Wharton Edwards came from the lips of -Blazing Arrow. - -On the first thought there was but one explanation of this: his friend -had called to him and had been overheard by the Shawanoe, who instantly -caught it up, well knowing its significance, and had deceived Wharton by -his clever imitation. - -This supposition, as the reader knows, was correct; but when Larry went -further, and decided that his comrade had fallen a victim to the -treacherous red man, the reader also knows he made a mistake. - -Firm in the terrible belief for the time, he was so overcome that he -sat down on a bowlder, too faint and weak to stand, until several -minutes had passed. - -"This is a bad go, is this same," he mused with a deep sigh. "If the -Indians had to take one, why didn't they take mesilf? They're likely to -do the same--it's little I care if they do." - -So extreme was his dejection, that had he known that a half dozen -Shawanoes were stealing upon him at that moment he would not have -stirred from his position or attempted to defend himself. - -This intense depression, however, could not last. All strong, rugged -natures are quick to rebound from such pressure and soon reassert -themselves. By and by he felt a grain of hope. The rifle lying across -his knees was clasped more firmly; he raised his head and listened; had -he discovered the approach of a foe he would now have defended himself. - -"I wish that Blazing Arrow would walk out in front of me and dare me to -tackle him," he muttered, gnashing his teeth. "I wonder where he is?" - -He rose to his feet and peeped around in the gloom. A while before he -had shunned the chief, and counted himself fortunate because he was able -to escape a meeting. Now he would have felt doubly fortunate could he -have gained a chance to attack him. - -When the Shawanoe was wanted he was somewhere else. - -"I wonder," continued Larry, as hope grew stronger within him, "whether -Whart wasn't sharp enough to play the trick on Blazing Arrow that he did -on mesilf? He must have heard the call, to larn how to make the same; -but Whart may have give him the slip." - -It was a faint hope, but it did the lad good. He had hunted so much in -the company of his friend that they had not only acquired a good deal of -woodcraft, but were familiar with each other's ways. - -Larry recalled that he had heard no gun fired since the discharge of his -weapon. It was fair to believe, therefore, that whatever the fate of -young Edwards might be, he had not been shot. There were other methods -of putting him out of the way, but the belief to which his friend was -rapidly bringing himself was that the one for whom he was concerned was -a prisoner of the Shawanoes. - -The way to find out was to discover the camp of the red men, which must -be pitched somewhere in the neighborhood. It will thus be seen that the -lads were reasoning along the same lines, to the same conclusion. - -Larry had risen from the bowlder on which he had seated himself, and -decided to move farther back in the woods in search of the camp-fire -that he knew was burning there. In making the search he would have to go -it blind, since there was no means of finding guidance. - -But, as in more than one previous instance, he fortunately discovered -that others were near him before he was observed. He stood motionless, -peering and listening under the trees, where the gloom was so intense -that he might have brushed by a man without either seeing the other. - -They were there, however, and a moment later were seen more plainly in -the moonlight, across which they passed to reach the torrent whither -they were making their way. - -Larry was surprised when he saw two Indians walking with their light, -noiseless tread over the rocks. He had supposed there was but a solitary -warrior. - -"I'm hoping that one of them is Blazing Arrow," was his thought. - -He was resentful to that degree toward this particular Shawanoe that, -despite the danger from his companion, he would have shot him down; and -there can be little question that in doing so he would have rendered a -service to humanity. - -But he could not identify either of the red men in the moonlight, with -their faces turned away from him. He saw them walk to the edge of the -torrent, where the tree lay, and then one followed the other across. - -"I'd like to know the meaning of that; they must be hunting for Whart or -mesilf. I'm pretty sure they won't find mesilf there, and I don't know -about Whart. If they haven't got him already, it may take more than them -to find him." - -As yet he could not know whether the war party were on this or the other -side of the stream. It looked as if the couple were returning to camp. -If this was so, the youth must follow them to obtain the information he -wanted. - -He had reached this conclusion and was about to venture out in the -moonlight, when he was thrilled by the sound of the signal which he -feared he was never to hear again. - -He paused and listened, afraid to reply and yet on the point of doing -so. - -At the proper interval the call was repeated, and then, so certain that -everything was right was he that, instead of making the proper answer, -he called in a guarded undertone: - -"Is that yersilf, Whart?" - -"It is," was the reply of the delighted friend, and the next minute they -were together. - -It was a joyous reunion, even though the shadow of great danger rested -upon the two youths. Wharton Edwards and Larry Murphy had been -separated, seemingly, with slight prospect of ever seeing each other -again; they had gone through many perils during the preceding few -hours, and at the moment when despair had almost taken possession of -both, they clasped hands and stood side by side. - -"Are ye sure it's yersilf, Whart?" asked the elder, squeezing the -fingers of his friend, who fully reciprocated the warmth of feeling. - -"I'm as sure, Larry, as you are that it's you." - -"Then we'll consider it settled; and how are ye?" he asked, shaking -again the hand which he had not yet released. - -"I was never better, and thankful and happy to find you alive when I -feared it was all over with you." - -"The same to yersilf; and have ye suffered no harrum?" - -"None at all, though matters kept moving; I dodged up the trail, and the -only Shawanoe who followed me was Blazing Arrow." - -"And did he catch ye?" - -"Not that I am aware of. You remember the natural clearing, a little way -out toward the block-house?" - -"That I do." - -"Well, when I struck that, Blazing Arrow was not far behind me. He had -my gun and I hadn't any, so that all I could do was to run, and there he -and I had the race that we missed at the settlement." - -"Tell me about it," eagerly asked Larry. - -"There isn't much to tell, except that I did my best, and I suppose he -did the same, Larry; I beat him badly; I must have gained fifty yards on -him." - -"And is that the honest truth now, Whart?" - -"It is." - -"Heaven bless ye!" - -And the enthusiastic fellow struck his friend a resounding whack on the -shoulder. - -"Sh!" warned Wharton, "we must talk low, for some of them may be near -us." - -"Why didn't ye sind word to me, so that I could have stood by ye and -cheered ye on and watched the sight? Wouldn't it have been a treat!" - -"I would have been proud if you and the rest of our friends could have -been there, for I did better than I thought I could." - -The friends told the particulars of what had happened to each other -since their separation. Happy, indeed, were they in their reunion. - -"Whart," said Larry a few minutes later, "I knowed there was something -I'd forgot." - -"What's that?" - -"I'm as hungry as I can be." - -"So am I, and have been for hours; I wish there was some way of getting -supper, but I know of none. There is something else, however, that is -more important than supper." - -"And what is that?" - -"We must get away from here at once. We ought to have left long ago." - -"I'm thinking ye're right, and I'm ready to do your bidding whenever you -are ready. I came near crossing over that tree a good while ago, and I'm -prepared to do it now if you say so." - -"I'm not satisfied that that is the best course." - -"Why not?" - -"From what you have told me and what I have seen, the Shawanoes seem to -be using that to-night as a bridge. I don't know how many have come and -gone over it to-day. Suppose that a party of them made up their minds to -cross at the same time we do?" - -"And that's what some of 'em did when I was about to try it; if me gun -hadn't wobbled behind me shoulder we'd have met on the log." - -"The trees grow to the bank at each end of the log, so that if these two -hadn't slanted across that little, narrow space off there to the left, -we wouldn't have seen them until they stepped upon the foot-bridge. What -I mean to say, Larry, is this: we have had such good fortune that we -must not tempt Providence further by trying to cross here." - -"How shall we manage it?" - -"Go farther up the stream till we're well away from this place, where -the Indians seem to be so plentiful." - -"And maybe there isn't such a spot." - -"There must be; there are not enough of the Shawanoes to be everywhere." - -"Not that, but a place where we can cross; ye must bear in mind that -it's not me that can jump like yersilf." - -"There must be some spot where the banks come close together. A stream -generally grows narrower the nearer you approach the source." - -"True, if it runs between the rocks all the way, as it does above the -falls." - -There was logic in these words, and his friend could not deny it. - -"I agree with you, Larry; but if the rocks disappear and the torrent -widens, then it must be so slow that we can either swim or wade it. -There isn't any chance of our reaching the block-house except by the -trail, and that is on the other side." - -"But what about the two that wint across a little while ago?" - -"We must look out for them, and for the others, too; we are not through -with them yet." - -"I agree with ye now." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE DETOUR. - - -There could be no denying that extraordinary fortune had attended the -boys, but they were too prudent to count on a continuance of what might -be called the run of good luck, except by the utmost circumspection on -their part. - -They were together once more, with their guns, ammunition and -accoutrements intact, and without either having suffered any harm. -Nothing would have been easier for them than to cross the ravine by the -fallen tree, which had answered for a foot-bridge more than once that -evening, and in doing so it was not probable that they would have run -greater risk than they had repeatedly incurred during the preceding few -hours; but the necessity for such risk did not exist, and consequently -they did not take it. Wharton suspected the truth. The Shawanoes, -knowing that the lads, or at least one of them, was in the vicinity, -were in ambush along the trail, with the expectation that they would -walk into the trap, which is exactly what they would have done had they -taken the path opposite to where they were standing while holding their -conversation. - -The evident and simple course for them to follow was to make a detour, -by which they would return to the trail at a point beyond where the red -men were awaiting them. - -This was more difficult than would be supposed, for the route to the -block-house was a winding one, and they were unacquainted with that -portion of the country through which they would have to make their way. -They might lose themselves altogether, though both were too good -woodsmen not to eventually reach their destination. - -But having decided on what to do, they wasted no time. Their purpose was -to cross the stream above where they had met, and Wharton picked his way -steadily through the wood, with Larry at his heels. Conversation was -dangerous, and none for a time was had, since there was no call for it. - -The roughness of the ground gave them trouble from the first. They were -forced to turn aside repeatedly and flank bowlders, rocks, and wild, -broken ravines, into which they would have fallen but for the alertness -of Wharton, who maintained his place a few paces in advance. - -This course compelled them frequently to edge away from the stream, -which still swept between such a high wall of rocks that it was -impassable, but they never lost it altogether. By listening carefully -they could locate it, and at intervals they made their way to the -margin, to learn whether the spot for which they were looking was within -sight. - -"Well, I declare!" - -It was Wharton Edwards who uttered the exclamation, and his companion -pushed his way to his side to learn the cause of his excitement. As he -did so, he saw they were standing on the edge of a ravine which obtruded -itself at right angles to the course they were pursuing. - -But for the fact that it contained no water, they would have believed -that it was the gorge through which ran the stream. But it was empty, -and in the shadows neither could see to the bottom of its gloomy depths. -The trees grew so near the margin that the opposite side was indistinct. - -"I didn't expect to meet anything like this," added Wharton, with a sigh -of disappointment; "it means trouble." - -"You can't tell till ye find out," was the somewhat superfluous remark -of Larry. "It may not run very far to the right or left, and we've had -so much experience in walking around things that this won't make much -difference one way or t'other." - -"I'm afraid we'll get so mixed up that we won't be able to find our way -from it now." - -"It may be a lucky thing--maybe the same." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Who can say where they are waiting for us? It may be five or ten miles -away, or it may be within sight of the block-house. We can get there -without setting foot in the trail agin." - -"You may be partly right, Larry, though if we can strike the path five -miles away from the falls, I won't be afraid to keep it until we reach -the block-house. The risk beyond that isn't any greater than what we -have always had to run from the time we leave the settlement till we get -back again." - -"It strikes me we are not gaining much time by standing here discussing -the question." - -As Larry spoke he turned to the left and moved off. - -"Hold on!" interrupted his companion; "that will take us farther away -than ever, and may lead us so far that we'll lose the stream -altogether." - -By going to the right they approached the current that had to be passed -before they could recover the trail. Perhaps a passable spot was at -hand, and the means of crossing the smaller ravine was as likely to be -on one hand as the other. - -With the same pains and labor as before they reached the stream, where -they found themselves confronted by a peculiar condition of affairs. -The banks were somewhat farther apart, but they remained perpendicular -rocks fully twenty feet in height, between which the torrent flowed so -impetuously that they would have been as helpless as a balloon in a gale -of wind. The crossing-place was still to be sought farther up the -stream. - -But to reach it they must place themselves on the farther side of the -smaller ravine, which crossed their course at right angles. This opened -directly into the current, with whose surface it was nearly even. In -times of freshet or flood the dry ravine was probably a tributary -torrent of the other. At present it looked impassable, but after -studying it a few moments Wharton said: - -"I believe, Larry, we can both jump that. What do you think?" - -"I won't know for sartin till I try it; then I'll know, sure." - -"So will we both; but the distance is less than where I made the leap." - -"So it will have to be if it's mesilf that's to sail across." - -The conformation of the dry ravine near the stream allowed them to see -the other side. Wharton measured the width with his eye, and then, -without a word, drew back a single step, and with little effort landed -lightly on the opposite side. - -"What do you think of that, Larry?" - -"It isn't much for yersilf, but I would be proud of the same." - -"I'm sure there will be no trouble. There is room for you to get a -couple of yards start, and I wouldn't advise you to try it if I wasn't -sure you would succeed." - -Young Murphy was plucky, but he surveyed the task before him with some -misgiving. With a depth of about twenty feet, and nothing but rock at -the bottom, a failure to land on the other side meant death or serious -injury. - -He stood on the edge, and spent a minute or two peering down into the -gloomy depths. Then he looked across at his friend, who cheered him on. - -"I'll thry it," he said, resolutely, and with a shake of his head. - -"Fling over your gun to me; it will be easier for you to make the jump -without that than with it." - -Larry tossed the rifle to his friend, who deftly caught the weapon. -Then, with the grim comicality of his nature, he threw his cap after it. - -"If I do make a tumble of it, I should like ye to preserve that as a -token of remembrance." - -He now braced himself for the effort. With all his strength, he could -not compare with his friend in speed and rapidity. The leap, however, -was only a moderate one, and Wharton was confident he would make it if -no mishap intervened. - -And, beyond question, he would have done so had no interference taken -place. He carefully backed a rod or so from the edge of the dry ravine. - -Everything was going on well, but almost on the edge he stepped on a -small pebble, unnoticed by the eye. The effect was slight, and a -spectator would hardly have seen it, but, all the same, it was just -enough to disarrange his stride, so that when the leap, which he was -forced to make, took place, it was faulty. He lost the impetus that -otherwise would have landed him on his feet on the other side with -hardly a jar to his body. - -"I can't do it! I can't do it, Whart!" called the leaper at the moment -of bounding into the air, for he could not fail to know that he was -about to fall short. - -The waiting friend said nothing, but braced himself for the shock, for -he, too, knew what was coming. - -Larry barely missed landing, but his hands were thrown forward where his -feet should have struck, and had he received no help he would have gone -backward and down the ravine. - -But it was for this that Wharton Edwards had prepared himself. Each hand -of Larry was grasped by his own, and he almost lay on his back as he -tugged to draw him out of the gorge and up on the solid support above. - -Had not Wharton dug his heels into a projection, he would have had to -let go or be drawn downward with his friend, who could not help drawing -tremendously on him. Larry, however, gave great aid by throwing one -foot on top of the rock, and using that limb as a lever with which to -lift his body the rest of the short distance. This so lessened the task -that the next minute the danger was over, and the two stood beside each -other. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -BY THE LAKE. - - -The place for which the two were searching was found within a furlong of -where Larry Murphy, with the assistance of his companion, leaped the day -before. But how different from that which they had in mind! Instead of a -simple widening and shallowing of the stream, it expanded into a small -lake several miles long, with a width one-third or one-half as great. -The sheet of water discharged itself through the narrow, canyon-like -passage, eventually finding its way into the Ohio. The placid surface -gleamed in the moonlight, and was without a ripple. The shores were -shaded by overhanging limbs, and the scene was as lonely, as beautiful -and impressive as at creation's morn. The only sign of life was -themselves. - -"Now," said young Edwards, after he and his friend had gazed upon the -water for some minutes in silence, "it looks as if the only way to get -back to the trail is to go round the lake." - -"But that may reach a dozen miles or farther yet, and by the time we -have come round the same we'll be forty miles from the block-house, and -not knowing which way to turn to find it. Ye're aware, Whart, how hard -it is to keep our bearings whin we're in the woods without knowing the -course to take to git anywhere. We'll be sure to go astray, and may pass -within fifty yards of the block-house without knowing the same." - -"You mustn't forget that the trail which we have been following is not -the only one that leads to the place. They extend out in all directions, -and we'll strike some of them." - -"How can we know which course to take? The bother of it is, one may go -farther away from it all the time." - -"It isn't as bad as that, but," added Wharton, gravely, "the night is -getting far along, and we must be several miles from the path, unless it -happens to bend around toward the lake. We can't get back to it before -daylight, if we do then. What I am afraid of is that father and mother -won't wait at the block-house for us, but run right into the very danger -we have just escaped." - -"Do ye mind now that they won't start before morning, and they can't -reach the falls till about noon?" - -"That all sounds reasonable enough," replied Wharton, who was -considerably agitated, "but how do we know we're going back to the trail -inside of the next two or three days?" - -Larry looked at his companion in surprise. The two were standing where -the moonlight fell upon them, and their countenances were plainly -visible to each other. It had been the Irish youth that, previous to -this time, had expressed the most misgiving as to the result, but the -other seemed to become, all at once, the most despondent. - -The fact was that Wharton was quite buoyant in spirits until they came -to the lake. He had been hoping that long before this they would be able -to turn back toward the trail, and the prospect of several miles' -farther detour naturally caused his discouragement. - -Those were not the days when young men carried watches, but they knew it -was beyond midnight. They were ravenously hungry and were fagged out. -They had been undergoing severe exertion for many hours, and Wharton -especially had been forced to tax his endurance to the utmost extremity -during that fearful race with Blazing Arrow. - -"Larry," said he, taking a seat on a bowlder just without the fringe of -shadow cast by the trees, "I don't know whether the best thing we can do -isn't to sleep for the rest of the night. I was never so tired in all my -life." - -"There is only one thing I want more than sleep." - -"What's that?" - -"Something to eat." - -"And with the woods full of it we haven't a chance to get a mouthful." - -"And with the lake there running over with--hould!" exclaimed Larry, -pausing in the act of seating himself by his companion; "help me to -start a fire, Whart." - -"I don't know about that," replied the other; "the Shawanoes are likely -to be in these parts, and we must build it back among the trees, where -there is less danger." - -"That's just what we mustn't do, me boy; it must be near the water; it's -mesilf that will gather the stuff, and do ye be ready with the flint and -steel." - -Wharton, understanding the plan of his friend, lent his aid. It was an -easy matter to collect some dry twigs and leaves, which were carefully -placed in a heap on one of the flat rocks close to the water's edge. -Then, while Larry busied himself in gathering more substantial fuel, -young Edwards brought his old-fashioned flint and steel into play. He -used no tinder, but there was a shower of streaming sparks soon flying -from the swiftly moving metals, and before long one of them caught a -crisp leaf, which was easily nursed into a flame that ate its way fast -into the twigs and larger sticks. In less time than would be supposed, a -vigorous fire was burning on the rock and sending its reflection far -across the gleaming water. - -Then Larry had not long to wait. Stooping by the edge of the lake, he -bared his arm and leaned forward, as alert as a cat watching for a -mouse. Suddenly his hand shot below the surface, there was a splash, and -a plump fish flew out beyond the expectant Wharton. He had his hand in a -twinkling on the flapping prize that gleamed in the firelight. - -"Cook him quick, Whart!" cried the delighted Larry; "there's no need to -wait till I git more; that's only a starter." - -Each did his duty, the elder stopping work when he had landed a couple -more, one of which weighed fully two pounds. By that time the younger of -the two was broiling the first in the hot flames, the appetizing odor of -which made the couple almost irrestrainable. Larry wanted to attack it -before it was finished, but Wharton insisted that the meal should be in -the best style of the art. They carried no condiment with them except -that which excels others--hunger. - -It was a most nourishing and toothsome repast that they made. Nothing, -indeed, could have been more enjoyable. The lake was overflowing with -edible fish, for probably no white men had ever drawn one from the -waters, and if the Indians took any they were few in number. The light -of the fire attracted many to the spot. - -"Now that we've had such a good supper," said Wharton, "I think it's -best to let the fire go out." - -"I'll hurry the same." - -Larry scattered the embers with his shoes, so that in a few minutes -little was left of them. Then he seated himself beside his friend, and -was on the point of making some characteristic remark when Wharton -excitedly grasped his arm and whispered: - -"Hark! do you hear that? What does it mean?" - -"It's a ghost!" replied the awed Larry; "let's be getting out of this as -fast as we can!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -THE STRANGE SIGHT. - - -From somewhere in the gloomy solitude came a low quavering monotone that -had a most uncanny sound in the weird midnight. The youths never before -had heard anything of the kind, and the bravest men would have been -impressed by it. - -Larry, in his fright, sprang to his feet, and would have fled deeper -into the woods, but his companion caught his arm and whispered: - -"Wait; let's find out what it is." - -"Havn't I told ye!" demanded the other with husky impatience; "it's a -ghost--it's a hobgoblin." - -"But hold on, I say; keep still." - -They made sure that they were well protected by shadow, while they -waited for a solution of the extraordinary occurrence. - -The monotone chant resembled the lower notes of an organ played softly, -and with a rise and fall of no more than two or three notes. It was a -wild song, which came from some point not far away, though neither could -say precisely where. At times it seemed to be overhead, and Wharton -caught himself looking into the sky and among the tree-tops for a -solution of the mystery. It had a way of ceasing at the end of a minute -or two for several seconds, and then was resumed with the same unvarying -monotone. - -"It's coming this way!" whispered Larry, gripping the shoulder of his -companion and attempting to rise again; but Wharton forced him back, -though he felt very much like plunging in among the trees himself. - -"If it's a ghost he can't hurt us." - -"How do you know he can't? I tell ye he's coming this way!" - -"What makes you say that?" - -"Because I see him; look beyant, right across the lake--don't ye obsarve -him?" - -Until that moment Wharton had no thought that his friend saw -anything--but he did. Directly across from where they were seated, and -under the shadow of the opposite bank, where the waters narrowed -preparatory to entering the gorge, so that the distance was barely a -hundred yards, appeared a point of light. It looked like a star gliding -along the shore and keeping in the shadow, so that the fiery glow was -all that was visible to the eye. - -This of itself was not the form which ghosts are supposed to take, but -it was in keeping with the dismal monotone, which sent a cold shiver -down their backs. Wharton was more than ever inclined to run, but with a -courage that was rather unusual he resolutely held his ground, and -forced his companion to do the same. - -"I'm going to find out what it is," he said in a guarded undertone, -"before I leave this spot." - -"All right; when the spook jumps on us and we are dead ye'll learn how -much more I know than yersilf." - -"Sh!" - -Something was seen to be issuing from the wall of shadow. The point of -light was a part of the object which was moving slowly, while the -strange sound continued. The boys were straining their eyes to learn -what it was, when, at the same moment, they recognized it as the prow of -a canoe, which was leaving the bank of shade and coming out upon the -moonlit surface of the lake. - -Neither spoke, and the next moment the whole boat became visible. In the -bow burned a torch, and well back toward the stern sat an Indian. He -faced the boys, and as he swung his paddle, first on one side and then -on the other, he emitted the strange chanting sounds that had so -startled the lads when first heard by them. - -The proceeding was so unusual that Wharton knew that it was produced by -some extraordinary cause. It suggested that the red man was mourning for -some of his friends who had perished and been buried in the lake. The -youths had never heard an Indian "death song," and they knew, when a -warrior chanted it, it was generally when his own death was at hand; but -it would have been nothing remarkable had this Shawanoe sung it for -another. - -But amid their affright one startling truth impressed itself upon the -awed spectators: the strange Indian, in heading across the narrow space -of water, was placing himself in the control of the torrent which rushed -between the rocks with prodigious impetuosity. In fact, it looked as if -it was his intention to shoot the rapids despite the peril involved. - -"That ghost is going straight for the falls," said Larry, "and whin he -reaches them he'll glide over the same without wetting a hair of his -head." - -But now took place a thing worth travelling many a mile to see. Never -did the youths witness such marvellous skill in managing a canoe as this -strange Indian displayed. Combined with that was a strength and -quickness no less wonderful. - -The frail boat was already moving with the sweep of waters which only a -few rods away shot between the rocks, when the slowly swaying paddle was -dipped deep into the water, and changed from side to side in bewildering -rapidity. The sensitive craft responded so promptly that the prow turned -outward again, and headed toward a point considerably above the -spectators. - -It was amazing work, but neither of the spectators believed he could -succeed until he did so. It was like a man paddling from the centre of a -vast whirlpool. That which seemed impossible was accomplished before the -struggle seemed fairly begun. - -From the mouth of the canyon itself the warrior forced his canoe, until -the youths saw that the danger was passed and he was gaining on the -tremendous torrent. Having crossed the middle portion, he now headed -toward the other extremity of the lake, and thus fought his way directly -against the swift current. - -Had this task been given to either Wharton or Larry, they could not have -succeeded, even with the most desperate exertion; but to the warrior it -seemed only a pastime. With hardly half the exertion he had put forth a -few minutes before, he moved against the rush with an even certainty -that ended all thought of danger. - -"It beats all!" whispered Larry, amazed and delighted by the -exhibition. "I never observed the like. Do you think he would take it -kindly if I threw my cap in the air and gave him a hurrah?" - -"I don't think he would be offended, but it is better to go down and -shake him by the hand." - -No earthly inducement could have led Larry to do this, and Wharton knew -that if he indulged in a hurrah he would instantly take to the woods. He -hadn't the remotest idea of doing either. - -"Whist! do ye note what the spook is at?" - -The other did observe that the prow of the canoe was turned sharply to -the left, and the question was hardly uttered when it touched the shore -almost at their feet. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -ZANY OR LUNATIC. - - -In no respect did the Indian display his matchless coolness more -strikingly than when, amid the terrific exertion he was compelled to put -forth, he never ceased his doleful singing, if such it may be called. It -continued, indeed, while he was paddling directly against the current, -until, when one of his strains was half complete, it ceased abruptly, as -if cut in two. - -At the same moment the prow of the craft was turned to the left, and, -shooting across the brief space, slid a few inches up the sloping beach. -It was evident that his keen eye had detected the recent presence of -persons there, and with far less fear of them than they had of him he -proceeded straightway to investigate matters. - -By this time the boys were less inclined to run. The spiritual edge, so -to speak, had worn off, and they saw that it was a material creature -before them--a genuine red man, with some of whom they had had -experience, especially during the preceding hours. They had become -accustomed to that business, and could view it with comparative -calmness, inasmuch as each held a loaded rifle in his hand. - -Wharton gently touched the shoulder of his companion as an appeal to him -not to speak or make any sound. The two rose noiselessly to their feet -and watched the strange being's actions. - -The prow of the canoe having been forced far enough up the stony slope -to hold it motionless, the Indian laid down his paddle, leaned forward, -took the torch in hand, and then stepped from the boat. The torch was a -piece of resinous pine, whose top leaned so far over the gunwale that -there was no danger from the smoking flame. With this in his left hand -he looked down at the embers of the late fire, some of them still giving -forth a faint blue smoke, and he saw the few remaining fragments of the -meal. - -With much deliberation he gazed out over the moonlit lake, gradually -coming back to such a position that when he peered into the gloomy depth -of the woods his eyes seemed to be centred on the spot where the two -boys looked silently and wonderingly at him in turn. - -The strange being had no gun, but a knife and tomahawk protruded from -the belt around his waist. He was dressed similarly to the Shawanoes -whom they had encountered so recently, and there could be little doubt -that he belonged to their tribe. - -No figure could be more picturesque than that formed by this creature -when he raised the flaming torch aloft, bent his head down and craned it -forward, while his black eyes seemed to pierce the impenetrable gloom -from whence the boys silently watched him. - -His face was smeared in the truly frightful manner of his people, and -his countenance and features were so irregular that he was forbidding to -the last degree. He stood with one foot advanced, his attitude -suggesting that of a man pausing on the edge of a ravine and peering -across before venturing to leap. - -He maintained this attitude for several minutes, as motionless as those -toward whom he was staring. It seemed to Wharton that his flaming black -eyes could look through solid wall or rock, and the youth held his gun -ready to meet any sudden rush from him. - -But he did not advance. Suddenly he resumed his weird chanting, and then -began a fantastic dancing back and forth over the rock, keeping rude -time by swaying the torch and the free arm. The exhibition was so -grotesque that the spectators surmised the truth. - -The explanation of it was that the Shawanoe was a zany or lunatic. The -latter is as rare with the American race as it was with the African in -the South before the war, but on no other theory could the course of the -Indian be explained. - -Neither Wharton nor Larry held a thought of harming him. Had he been -Blazing Arrow himself they would not have done so, except in -self-defence. Believing him harmless, they would have been glad to act -the part of a friend toward him. - -Instead of seeking out those who had started the fire, the warrior -returned to his canoe, carefully adjusted the torch in its place, shoved -the boat clear, leaped into it, caught up his paddle, and sent his craft -spinning along the left bank, seemingly with the speed of a swallow on -the wing. - -"He's not a ghost," exclaimed Larry, "but he's crazy clear through. -Where has he gone?" - -The two stepped to the edge of the water and looked in the direction -where the boat had disappeared. A short distance away the shore made a -curve, and it was this, evidently, which shut the Indian and canoe from -sight. It would have taken rapid motions, but the paddler had proved his -expertness in that. - -The occurrence caused the boys to forget their drowsy, tired feeling. -They became as alert and wide awake as during the day. - -"Larry, let's push on and around the lake. I'm worried now about father -and mother, and it won't do to lose more time." - -"I'm as willing as yersilf." - -The rocky shore made travelling easy, and they walked with greater -freedom than at any time since leaving the vicinity of the falls. The -younger kept his place a few paces in advance, and had not gone far when -he stopped again with the exclamation: - -"Here's the crazy man again!" - -He was not exactly right, for instead of the Indian he saw the canoe -drawn up against the rocky shore, as in the previous instance. The -paddle was there, but the Indian and torch were missing. - -"I wonder what that means?" - -"Maybe he has grown tired and gone ashore to rest awhile." - -It did not seem likely that the fellow was far away, and they looked -curiously in every direction. He had not resumed his chanting after -leaving the scene of the boys' camp, and he was nowhere in sight. - -There is no telling what fancy may enter the head of a lunatic, and, -much as the couple would have disliked to harm him, they were always -ready to defend themselves. - -Doubtless it was the sight of the fire by which Wharton cooked the fish -that led the Shawanoe to paddle his craft across the lake. It is not -likely that the whole performance was meant to frighten away the -intruders. - -"I don't think we have anything to fear from him," remarked Wharton, -after they had waited several minutes; "we may as well use our time in -pushing on." - -"It's a long thramp we have before us." - -The two looked up the lake toward the end where the wild waters rushed -through the gorge. The outlook was discouraging, for, light as was the -moonlight, they could see nothing of the dark line of forest which must -have marked the uttermost boundary. - -Wharton drew a deep sigh. - -"I'm tempted to turn back; we can follow the stream and find the trail -again, while now there's no telling where we may bring up." - -"I've a better idea," said Larry, with a chuckle. - -"What's that?" - -By way of answer he pointed to the canoe, whispering: - -"The paddle is there." - -"We'll do it; it will save us a good deal of hard work, and perhaps -prevent our going astray. But the owner will be likely to object." - -"How can he help himself?" - -"All right; in with you; there's no saying when he'll be back again." - -Larry Murphy was as deft in handling the paddle as his companion, and at -the same moment shoved the prow clear and leaped in. He made a couple of -sweeps with the implement, which sent the boat far out over the gleaming -surface. - -It was well that they were so prompt in their movements, for the next -minute the red man burst from the woods, and came rushing and chattering -toward them as if he intended to overhaul them by swimming. His words -were unintelligible, being in his native tongue, but there was no -mistaking his wrath. - -"I belave the gintleman is excited," remarked Larry, swinging the paddle -more leisurely. - -"It looks that way----" - -"Sh! mind your eye!" - -Something whizzed by the head of Wharton and splashed in the water -beyond. It almost grazed his cheek, and seemed to be like a cannon ball. -For all purposes it might have been considered such, for had it struck -the youth, the result would have been fatal. - -The crazy Indian had hurled a large stone with prodigious force and -accuracy. Little need, it would seem, of such a thrower carrying a -firearm. - -As Wharton turned his affrighted gaze around he saw the fellow about to -hurl another. - -"Gracious! he will kill us," exclaimed the youth, bending his head -forward to dodge the terrible missile. - -"No, he won't, ayther." - -As Larry spoke he dropped his paddle, caught up his rifle, and, pointing -toward the red man, fired. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -ACROSS THE GORGE. - - -"Heavens, Larry, you have killed him!" was the horrified exclamation of -Wharton Edwards. - -"Be easy now," coolly replied his companion, putting down the weapon and -resuming the paddle; "he isn't hurt." - -"Didn't you aim at him?" asked his friend, who, looking back, saw no -signs of injury on the part of the Shawanoe. - -"Not so loud," whispered Larry; "he might hear you." - -The youth drove the canoe farther out into the lake, but all the time he -kept his head turned so as to see every movement of the Indian. - -Larry had not aimed at him; nothing in the world would have induced him -to shoot the poor, demented creature; but he meant to give him a good -scare, and he succeeded. - -Instead of throwing the stone in his hand he dropped it at his feet, -whirled about, and ran for the trees. As he did so he dodged from side -to side like a Digger Indian when trying to distract the aim of his -enemy. - -"That's better than killing him," commented Wharton, with a sigh; "he -thinks you intended that shot for him, and he doesn't mean to give us a -second chance." - -"But he is taking a second one himself. Look out!" - -Wharton saw a shadowy something sailing through the air overhead. It -struck in the water several yards beyond the canoe with a "chung," but -had gone wide of the mark. From the fringe of shadow the Shawanoe had -hurled another missile, but he had thrown it with such vicious -fierceness that it missed the target altogether. - -Before he could repeat the attempt with more care, Larry impelled the -boat beyond his reach, and that particular danger for the time was past. - -"I wonder if he can throw across the lake?" muttered Larry; "keep a -sharp eye on him, for he may begin a bombardment bimeby that will lay -us out." - -"We are surely too far off," replied Wharton, surveying the long space -over which they had passed. - -Nevertheless, they kept a close watch for some demonstration, which, -however, did not take place. - -The lake where the canoe now crossed was no more than a furlong in -width, and Larry veered as near to the beginning of the gorge as was -safe, for by so doing he effected considerable gain. - -In his eagerness to accomplish this he narrowly missed a fatal blunder. -Ere he was aware, he found himself sweeping toward the gorge which had -caused them so much trouble. - -He did not approach nearly so close as the Indian, but only by the most -strenuous exertions was he able to save himself. When they reached the -shore at last he was exhausted. - -They were secure, however, and inexpressibly relieved to find -themselves, after all their work and danger, on the other side of the -current which had been so long an impassable barrier in their path. They -had come a long way to do this, and more than once they asked themselves -whether it was not a mistake. But for their conviction that an ambush -had been laid along the trail, thus compelling a detour, the attempt -never would have been made. - -It now remained for them to follow the gorge down in the direction of -the falls until they were as near the path as prudent, and then strike -out for the block-house, returning to the trail at a point beyond where -they believed the Shawanoes were awaiting them. - -But they were fatigued at the time they halted for supper, and they had -not gone far when they found themselves so weary and sleepy that it was -hard to drag one foot after another. The ground was rougher than they -supposed, and would have taxed the strength of stronger persons than -they. They were in need of rest and must have it. - -"It can't lack much of daylight," said Wharton, halting where the rocks -were bare and they were near the rushing torrent, "and we may as well -wait until then." - -"We haven't gone far," remarked Larry, removing his cap and running his -fingers through his hair, "and we know that we're on the right course. -Do ye mind, too, that we can travel a good many miles atween this time -and sunrise?" - -"All right; do you say keep on?" - -"Of course." - -"Come on, then." - -Wharton wheeled about to continue their journey when his friend -interposed: - -"Hold on; I forgot that I am so tired. I can't walk half a dozen steps -more to save me." - -Wharton laughed, though he had resolved to keep it up until he dropped -from exhaustion. - -They were satisfied with any resting-place. The sultry night rendered -unnecessary any protection, and the rocks themselves were as -comfortable, almost, as a downy couch. The protuberances, when their -caps were laid upon them, afforded excellent pillows, and five minutes -after stretching themselves out both were sound asleep. - -The spot, which had been selected with little thought, was on the fringe -of the wood, which approached to within twenty feet of the river. The -rocks were rough and uneven, but it was easy to find places that suited -their forms. They lay down just within the shadow thrown out by the -trees, where they could not be seen by any one unless he stumbled over -them. - -But for their extreme fatigue they would have adopted the ordinary -precaution of kindling a fire, or taking turns in mounting guard while -the other slept. Each, however, knew that he was incapable of remaining -awake, and the attempt was not made. - -True, there was danger abroad, but, except in the case of wild animals, -it was as great with as without the fire. It was likely, indeed, to be -greater. - -This complete wearing out also of the bodies prevented either noticing -that the course of the moon would soon cause its light to fall upon -their faces, thus bringing them into plain view of any who might be -lurking in the neighborhood. - -And it came about that less than an hour had gone by when the two were -discovered. The figure of an Indian appeared moving noiselessly along -the banks of the ravine, almost in their very footsteps. At every few -paces he paused and looked keenly about him, as if in quest of -something. - -Suddenly the owner of the canoe, for it was he, halted. Could any one -have seen his face, he would have noticed the frightful expression of -exultation which passed over it, for he was searching for these two -youths and had found them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -A STRANGE PURSUIT. - - -When Larry Murphy paddled the canoe beyond reach of the missile hurled -by the enraged owner of the craft, the boys were warranted in believing -that they were done with him. He was eliminated from the problem, so to -speak. - -But the singular creature was not done with them. The discharge of the -gun startled him almost into spasms, and, as we have shown, he made -haste to bound in among the shadows of the trees; but the belief that -the youths were in the act of stealing his boat filled him with -consuming rage. He threw another stone with might and main, and, though -the feat was an astonishing one, he saw that it accomplished nothing. - -He watched the canoe until it vanished under the shadow of the opposite -shore. He could not know the intentions of the thieves, but it did not -take him long to decide on his own. - -Emerging from among the trees, where the rocks were bare, he started on -a run toward the opposite end of the lake. He was familiar with every -foot of the way, and the bank offered no obstruction. He bounded as -lightly as the chamois across chasms, and when they were too broad to be -leaped he skirted them without hesitation or fault, never losing a rod -of distance or a minute of time. He never walked for more than ten -paces, maintaining his gait with a uniformity that no one else could -have equalled. - -He had a goodly number of miles to travel, for he was obliged to round -almost the entire circumference of the lake. He might have cut off a -large part of the distance by swimming across the water, and undoubtedly -he would have done so had not an important errand drawn him to the -extreme end. - -The lake was fed by a narrow, deep stream, across which he sprang with -the ease of Wharton Edwards when leaping the gorge. A brief way farther -and he paused in front of a small structure among the rocks. It was -composed of limbs, bowlders, sticks, and the skins of animals, barely -large enough to give him room to lie down and move around. - -This was the home of the strange creature, and was never entered by any -other person. Stooping down, he passed within. No light burned, nor did -he need any. A few minutes later he emerged, carrying a long bow in his -hand and a quiver of arrows behind one shoulder suspended by a thong -which passed under one armpit. These implements constituted his only -weapons, besides the knife and tomahawk, he never making use of any -firearms. - -In the moonlight and shadows it was impossible for him to follow the -trail of the youths, which would have been almost invisible under the -glare of the sun; but the Indian seemed to be guided by intuition, -which, in the mentally affected, often approaches inspiration. In what -way he was able to convince himself that the young white men meant to -pass down the other side of the canyon cannot be conjectured, but that -such was his conviction was proven by his whole course of action. - -The distance which the Shawanoe was obliged to journey consumed several -hours despite the speed he used, and nearly all of this time was spent -by Wharton Edwards and Larry Murphy in deep, refreshing sleep. - -When the Indian approached the spot where the canoe had been abandoned -by the youths his gait became a walk, and he peered cautiously about -him. He uttered a low cry of exultation on observing the graceful -birchen structure, and began a hasty examination. The paddle lay in the -bottom of the boat, which showed no signs of injury. It might be -supposed that this gratifying discovery would have taken the edge off -the Indian's enmity, but he showed no signs of such feeling; if -possible, his anger became fiercer. He leaped away with a speed which -prevented any attempt to follow the trail, but he was proceeding on -general principles, it may be said. - -It will be remembered that travelling was more difficult on the side of -the lake. Even such an expert as the Indian was forced to change his -gait from a trot to a walk. Sometimes he was in shadow and sometimes in -the moonlight. At intervals he paused, and bent over as if examining the -flinty surface for signs of footsteps of the youths. It is incredible -that he could have discovered any under the circumstances, and yet he -acted as if he did. - -By and by he approached the spot where those for whom he was searching -lay asleep. He passed a short distance beyond, but something displeased -him. He stopped abruptly, looked down at the grass, and then came back -over his own trail. - -While he stood peering into the surrounding gloom he saw the inanimate -forms. - -In his delight the man repeated the dance he had given on the shore of -the lake. He leaped up and down, keeping time to the swaying of the -long, ashen bow grasped in his left hand, and passed back and forth over -a space of a dozen square feet. - -He continually glanced at the youths, who were unconscious of their -danger, and held himself ready to open hostilities at the moment they -showed signs of awaking. Strange that neither Wharton nor Larry thought -of such a peril as that which now impended. - -The grotesque dance lasted but a few minutes. That manner of expressing -his exultation was soon satisfied, and he made ready for action. - -Reaching over his left shoulder with his right hand, he drew a feathered -arrow from the quiver. A careful examination by moonlight satisfied him -that it was perfect and every way fitted for his purpose. He fitted the -notch in the deer-string of the bow, and then advanced stealthily until -within a few dozen yards of the sleepers, the implement so held all the -time that he could have launched the missile at a moment's warning. - -The elder of the youths lay nearest, and he aimed at him. Little fear -that he could not drive the arrow deep into the chest of the sleeper, -after which he probably intended to serve Wharton in the same manner. - -But with the whimsicality of an insane man he changed his mind, -evidently concluding that the tomahawk was the most fitting weapon to -be used in dispatching them. With the same deliberation shown from the -first, he relaxed the tension of the string and replaced the arrow in -the quiver. Then he turned about and silently deposited the bow on the -ground, so that it should not handicap him. - -This was all that was necessary, and he drew his tomahawk and faced -about just in time to make an unexpected and startling discovery. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -ARQU-WAO. - - -An inexplainable instinct sometimes warns a person of the approach of -peril. The experience of most of us confirms this statement, and we are -tempted to suspect that it is another manifestation of that occult -"sixth sense" of which we have only a shadowy conception. - -Wharton Edwards and Larry Murphy had been sleeping several hours, for it -will be remembered that they were exceedingly tired. Day was at hand, -and yet, in the usual order of things, they would have slumbered several -hours longer; but, at the same moment, the two became as wide awake as -they were when hurrying along the trail to the block-house. - -This moment of awakening came when the Indian was in the act of laying -down his bow behind him. Larry, being nearer to the savage than -Wharton, took upon himself to act promptly. - -In an instant he rose upon one knee and levelled his gun at the -astonished Shawanoe. In the act of doing so the youth recalled that he -had not reloaded it since firing the weapon while in the canoe. Nothing -in his manner, however, told the red man this interesting fact. - -"Do the same as mesilf," whispered Larry to his companion, "for I forgot -to load my gun." - -Wharton was quick to obey, and the Indian stood petrified, absolutely -unable to move hand or foot. - -"I've got ye now, ye spalpeen!" said Larry, in a loud voice; "if ye stir -I'll shoot!" - -To the amazement of the youth, the Indian replied in their own tongue: - -"No shoot--no hurt Arqu-wao--me good Indian." - -"Begorra, but ye're not acting like one," was the comment of Larry, who -now rose to his feet. "What were ye trying to do, anyway?" - -Wharton imitated the action of his companion, and said, in an undertone: - -"Don't hurt the poor fellow." - -"That depinds on himsilf," was the resolute response. "I spared him -once, and he mustn't go to heaving any more rocks at us, for he's too -handy at the business." - -The Indian, at the moment of turning around, had placed his hand on his -tomahawk, but snatched it away as though it had suddenly become red hot. -He was a picture of abject fear, and trembled in every limb. Had he -known enough to wheel about and run, he would have been safe, for -neither of the boys had the least desire to harm him. But, to use a -modern expression, they had the drop on him. - -"Keep an eye on him," said Larry, "while I load my gun." - -The Indian must have experienced peculiar emotions when he received the -proof that it was an empty weapon that had brought him to terms. Larry -proceeded to reload his rifle in a deliberate fashion, while Wharton -covered their prisoner with his own gun. - -It was while this proceeding was under way that the couple noticed that -the sun was almost in the horizon. The long eventful night was ended, -and they were close upon more stirring events. - -"He calls himself Arqu-wao," said Wharton. "I wonder what the name -means?" - -"I'm thinking it means an Indian half-scared to death; but, Whart, -what'll we do wid him, now that we've got him?" - -"That's what puzzles me. If we hadn't waked up just as we did we never -would have awaked at all, and if we let him go he'll probably sneak up -behind us and drive an arrow through each before we know our danger." - -"Let's keep him a prisoner." - -"How will we manage it?" - -"I'll fix it." - -Arqu-wao was still motionless, looking as if he expected to be punished -with death for his attempt upon the lives of the youths. As Larry spoke, -he strode toward him with a stern face and manner. The Indian instantly -began pleading in the most pitiful manner for his life. The youth was -tender-hearted, and said, kindly: - -"Be good Indian and we won't hurt, but let me have the tomahawk." - -The implement was meekly handed over. - -"Now the knife." - -That followed the other; and with all the gravity that Larry could -assume he shoved the handle of the first weapon between the waistband of -his trousers and shirt. - -"Whart, you can take charge of that," he added, passing the knife to his -companion, who readily disposed of it about his person. - -The most dangerous implement of all still remained in the hands of the -Shawanoe, and the captors were perplexed for the moment as to how it was -to be disposed of. It would have been easy to render it useless, and the -arrows might have been cast down the ravine, but they hesitated to take -that step. - -The same thought was in the minds of the lads. Arqu-wao might be used as -a friend and an ally in the danger which still threatened, and, if so, -he would need some weapon to be of avail in emergencies. - -Wharton now advanced and spoke: - -"Arqu-wao, do you know where the block-house is?" - -The expression of the Indian's face showed that he did not comprehend -the question. - -"Big house--fort--place where white men are?" - -"Yes--me know--me been dere," he replied, nodding his head vigorously. - -"It's off yonder, isn't it?" inquired Wharton, pointing with his hand in -the supposed direction. - -Arqu-wao shook his head. - -"Not dere--off dere," he said, indicating a point of the compass fully -forty-five degrees removed from the first. - -"I wonder if he's right?" said Wharton, doubtfully, turning toward his -companion. - -"Yes, for he's so scared he's sure to play square for a time." - -"Very well," said Wharton, looking toward the Indian. "Lead the way; if -you go wrong, we shoot, we kill." - -"Arqu-wao go right--he go right--he good Shawanoe--broder of Blazing -Arrow." - -The latter remark was startling to the boys, and they looked inquiringly -at each other, wondering what he could mean. - -"Begorra, if he's a brother to him, it's a bad ricommindation to -himsilf," remarked Larry. - -"He may be the flower of the flock, but we will keep sharp watch on -him." - -The Indian, now that he understood that he had chance for his life, lost -most of the fear that had filled him from the moment he was arrested in -the very act of committing a crime. - -He showed his knowledge of what was said to him by walking, not parallel -to the course of the torrent, which the boys had intended to take for -their guidance, but diverging at quite a sharp angle from it. Neither of -the youths could be satisfied whether this was favorable or not, but -there was logic in Larry's theory that their guide was so frightened -that he would act honestly, at least for a time. - -If he was doing so, he was doing them a great favor, for, instead of -walking a number of miles down the gorge, and then returning over the -same route, this distance would be saved by "cutting across lots," with -the probability of eluding the hostile Shawanoes waiting in ambush. -Whether such was the fact or not must be left to future developments. - -The sun was now fairly above the horizon, and the day promised to be as -clear and sunshiny as the preceding one. The hearty meal, eaten the -night before, and the rest, enabled the boys to continue their brisk -walk for hours without fatigue. They would have been glad to keep -straight on, if it were possible, until they reached the block-house. - -When they leaped across a small brook of cold, sparkling water, Wharton -called the guide to wait for a minute. He was walking about a rod in -advance, glancing sharply to the right and left, and even among the -branches of the trees, as though he suspected danger lurking there. He -never once looked back while thus engaged until he heard the sharp -summons of Wharton. Then he stopped short and turned half way round, and -stood like a statue. - -There was something suggestive in his attitude, for his right hand was -hidden from the sight of the boys. If he chose he could slide it up over -his breast, stealthily withdraw an arrow from the quiver, and fit it to -his bow-string without detection. The launching of the missile would be -done so quickly that no shot from either rifle could anticipate it. But -there were two boys, and this would frustrate any such purpose, unless -one should place himself at such disadvantage that he could not rise and -recover his gun before the firing of the second arrow. - -"Keep an eye on him," whispered Wharton; "I don't like his actions." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -A SERIOUS QUESTION. - - -Larry Murphy was in no mood for trifling. He had spared Arqu-wao twice, -and he did not mean to do it again. - -He noticed his suspicious action, and raising the hammer of his rifle, -he held the weapon half lifted to his shoulder, while he kept his -threatening gaze fixed upon the guide, who was equally intent in -watching him. - -The Irish youth understood what he must do in order to discharge the -arrow, and all he was waiting for was to detect the first preliminary -movement on the part of the singular being. - -"Drink away, Whart," he replied; "he won't fool me." - -With no fear, the younger lad knelt down and drank deep from the cool, -refreshing brook. Then he rose to his feet, replaced his cap, and picked -up his gun. - -"I don't think he'll fool me either," he quietly remarked, imitating the -attitude of his companion. - -"I believe he's up to some mischief," remarked Larry, who, nevertheless, -fully slaked his thirst before rising to his feet. - -The few moments thus occupied were trying to Wharton Edwards, who was -suspicious of the Indian. He could not explain his peculiar position on -any theory other than that he was seeking a chance to use his bow -against them. He believed that if he once removed his gaze from the -Indian, that instant he would drive an arrow through his body, and then -launch another at Larry before he could rise or bring his gun to bear. - -Needless to say, therefore, he closely watched the Shawanoe until Larry -stood at his side. - -"Lead on," said Wharton, with a wave of his hand, "and don't walk quite -so fast." - -"Me walk just so," replied Arqu-wao, accommodating his gait to that of -his captors. - -"I don't know what to make of him," remarked Wharton, when the advance -was resumed. "I have half a mind to take his bow away from him." - -"Ye haven't observed him doing anything wrong yet," was the response of -Larry. - -"What of his manner just now?" - -"It looked bad, but we ain't sartin that it meant anything at all." - -"We would be more certain if he had no weapon." - -"Hold on a bit; if we stop for dinner or anything else, we won't give -him a chance. I think, between ourselves, we can watch him so sharp that -he won't do any harrum." - -Wharton consented to this arrangement, though he could not free himself -of a strong misgiving in doing so. - -Arqu-wao continued his guidance as though no thought of anything but the -strictest loyalty to his captors had ever entered his brain, all awry -with its unimaginable fancies. - -Perhaps there had not. The truth must become known before the set of -sun. - -At intervals the guide turned his head far enough to glance back, but -this was so evidently for the purpose of learning whether his pace was -satisfactory that no suspicion was excited. His conduct could not have -been more satisfactory, so far as appearances went. - -The party were abroad in the woods, and the youths had only a very -general idea of where they were. They had made many windings and -turnings, and at last had forsaken the only reliable guide--the -gorge--by which to find their way back to the trail. - -This, as we have shown, was a matter of no moment, provided the Shawanoe -was not meditating treachery against them; but how easy for him, if he -chose, to lead them into a trap. - -"Halloo, what's up now?" asked Wharton. - -"Hold your gun ready!" - -The Indian had come to a sudden stop, and, looking back, raised one -hand, which the lads accepted as a request for them also to halt. They -obeyed him. - -Standing thus, with his body as rigid as iron, Arqu-wao slowly turned -his head so as to look at each point of the compass in turn. Those -behind him did the same, not forgetting to use their hearing as best -they could, but with no result. - -The Shawanoe next knelt down and applied his ear to the ground, as his -people do when suspecting the nearness of an enemy whom their eyes fail -to detect. It was possible, of course, that this pantomime was part of a -carefully laid plan to put them off their guard. If so, though cleverly -done, it failed to succeed. - -The result of the guide's test seemed to be satisfactory, for he quietly -assumed the perpendicular again and resumed his walk. He did not look -back, evidently concluding that they knew enough to follow without any -direction from him. - -"Larry," whispered his friend, "let's fall a little more to the rear, so -that, if he tries any of his tricks, we'll have a better chance for -ourselves." - -"I was thinking of the same thing," said the other, acting at once upon -the suggestion. - -They doubled the space heretofore separating them from the guide, who -took no notice, apparently, of the change in their relative situations. - -The thought in the minds of the boys was that, if Arqu-wao should -attempt to take them into a camp of their enemies, or to reveal them to -a war party, or, in fact, to attempt any form of betrayal, they would -have a much better chance of saving themselves by a rapid retreat. They -might well doubt whether the prospect of their guide benefiting them was -worth all their mental disquiet. It is probable that, had they taken -more time to consider the matter at the beginning, they would have -disarmed the Shawanoe and allowed him to go in peace. - -All at once he made a sharp turn to the left. As he did so, he looked -around, so that his face was in full view, and to the amazement of the -lads they saw a distinct grin upon it. - -"That's the first time he has tried to smile," remarked Larry, "and I'm -afeered of it." - -"Don't you understand what it means?" asked his friend a minute later. - -"No, do you?" - -"There it is." - -As Wharton spoke he pointed to the ground in front. Larry at once saw -the significance of the words. They were following a distinctly marked -trail. - -"But is it the right one?" whispered Wharton. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -THE TRACKS OF HORSES. - - -At the moment when neither of the youths had a thought of such a thing, -they found themselves walking along a distinctly marked trail in the -woods, while Arqu-wao, the Shawanoe guide, turned his head with an odd -expression, as if to ask their opinion of the manner in which he had -kept his agreement. - -This issue would have been highly pleasing but for the question which -instantly presented itself to Wharton Edwards and Larry Murphy--were -they upon the right trail? - -Fully aware of the treacherous subtlety of the American race, they might -well doubt the answer. The Indian must have seen that he was regarded -with suspicion, and knew, therefore, that extraordinary care was -necessary on his part to bring about the ruin of his captors and save -himself. - -What more likely to deceive them than the act of taking them to a -plainly marked path through the woods? - -But such trails were not common at that day in the forest, and since the -boys had passed over the one connecting the block-house with the -settlement, it surely seemed that they ought to be able to identify it. -They set out to do so, and quickly succeeded. - -Wharton was slightly in advance of his companion, and, turning his head, -he said in a low tone, over his shoulder: - -"Larry, we're on the right track as sure as we're born." - -"I know it. Do ye mind that tree over there to the right, beyant, that -has been knocked all to splinters by lightning? Do ye mind that, I say?" - -"Yes; I remember it well. We saw it last fall when we passed here." - -It would seem that the splintered trunk should have been an infallible -guide to the youths; but, as if fate wished to toy with them, Wharton -was positive that it was on the right side of the trail as they faced -the block-house, while Larry was equally certain it was on the left. -Neither could dissuade the other, and the question remained as -exasperating as before. One believed that instead of going right they -were walking directly contrary to the proper course, and that sooner or -later they would reach the dangerous section where they had already met -with so many narrow escapes. - -Had either been able to convince the other of his mistake they would -have decided what was the best thing to do, for such a decision of -necessity would have determined whether Arqu-wao was playing them false -or not. - -It was the younger lad who believed they were going astray, and it was -this fact which caused him to examine the ground, as they walked along, -with closer scrutiny than his companion. In doing so he made an alarming -discovery; the path showed the distinct hoofprints of two horses that -had travelled in the opposite direction. - -The woodcraft of the young man told him that the animals had passed that -way quite recently, probably within a few hours. While there could be -no certainty as to who the couple were, he decided at once that they -were his father and mother on their way from the block-house to the -settlement. - -"Larry," said he, touching the shoulder of his friend, "the Shawanoe is -acting honestly with us." - -"How can ye know that?" asked the other in surprise. - -"These are the footprints of father and mother's horses." - -Larry bent his head forward and closely studied the ground for some -time, walking slowly, and allowing nothing to escape him. - -"Ye are right," straightening up, "which means that two people have -passed this way--pretty lately, too; but how can we know who they were?" - -"This trail is little travelled. If the folks left the block-house very -early this morning they would have been near here by this time. We can't -know it is they, but it is certain as anything can be." - -"Then ye were wrong and I was right about the course we were -following." - -"Yes; I believe the Indian is doing his best to keep his promise." - -"I hope so, but I don't feel as sartin as yersilf of that." - -The brief delay of the couple had allowed Arqu-wao to gain so much on -them that he was almost invisible. Discovering the fact, he again halted -and looked back, as if waiting for them to come up. - -"Obsarve him," said Larry. "He stands jist as he did whin we took a -drink from the brook." - -Such was the fact. If he chose to launch an arrow, he could do so with -an instantaneousness that was sure to be fatal to one; but now they were -in a better situation than before, and the result was so certain to be -fatal to him that neither felt much fear of any attempt. - -Wharton beckoned to him to wait, and they hurried forward. Pointing to -the hoofprints, clearly showing in the earth, he asked: - -"What do they mean, Arqu-wao?" - -The Shawanoe merely glanced at the ground. He had noticed the signs -before, and it was not necessary for him to scrutinize or study them in -order to know what the youth meant. - -"Horses--so many," he said, holding up two fingers of his hand. - -"How long ago did they pass this way?" - -While the Indian understood the question, he was puzzled for a moment as -to how to make an intelligent answer. He fixed his keen black eyes on -the face of the questioner, then looked around the trees as if searching -for some aid. These shut out the sun, but it was easy to locate the orb -about one-third of the way between the horizon and the zenith. He had -struck the key. - -"When sun dere," he replied, pointing low down in the sky, "den men ride -along on horses." - -Wharton Edwards's heart gave a painful start. Of course the Shawanoe -could not know that one of the horses carried a woman instead of a man, -nor, with all the woodcraft of the American Indian, could he determine -within an hour or two the time when the animals had passed along the -trail, but he did know of a verity that the passage had taken place -since the sun went down on the night before. - -Understanding, now, the precise distance to the block-house, and the -strong probability that the parties would not leave there in the night -time, and well aware, also, from the marks of the hoofprints, that the -horses were walking at a leisurely pace, it became an easy matter for -him to tell at what time they were due at this particular spot. He had -indicated the hour, which was another evidence that the boys were at no -great distance from their destination. - -"We don't want to go to the block-house," said Wharton, impetuously. "We -want to travel the other way. We must overtake those horsemen before -they reach the falls." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -A SINGULAR MEETING. - - -The paint on the face of the Shawanoe could not hide the astonishment -caused by the words of Wharton Edwards. Despite the askew brain, the -Indian was wonderfully shrewd in some respects. - -"Go after dem--den be killed." - -"Why will we be killed?" - -"Shaw'noe wait for dem--bimeby dey shoot--both fall off horse--Shaw'noe -take scalp--you go dere--take your scalp." - -"Arqu-wao," said the distressed youth, stepping in front of the red man, -"those horses are ridden by my father and mother; they are on their way -to the settlement; we started out to come home with them; we must save -them; we will do so or die with them." - -These words, uttered with a depth of feeling hard to describe, were -understood by the Shawanoe. He comprehended on the instant that the -couple on horseback were so far along the trail that it was impossible -for the two boys on foot to overtake them. Such was the fact concerning -the elder of the two, but he probably would have changed his mind had he -been aware of the fleetness of the younger one. - -"Me catch dem," he hastened to say; "horse walk--Arqu-wao run faster den -horse--he hurry--tell dem--me do that?" - -The rising inflection showed that he only awaited the word to start off -like the wind, but young Edwards was in a distressing quandary. The -revelations of the last few minutes pointed to the loyalty of this -strange being. He had certainly started them along the trail toward the -block-house, as he had promised, and there was every reason to believe -that he would have soon landed them there but for this unexpected check. -Nevertheless the youths could not free themselves from the suspicion -that the whole proceeding was a part of a deep laid scheme for their own -overthrow. - -If he should be told to hurry back over the path and do his best to warn -the parents of their peril, he would pass beyond reach of the boys, and -consequently beyond any punishment they could visit upon him for his -treachery. - -But what should be done? - -True, Wharton could have run, too, and there was little doubt that he -was fully the equal of the guide, since he had vanquished the champion -runner of his tribe. - -He turned his head and asked Larry in a low voice for his advice, -stating the project that had come into his mind. Larry urged him to -carry it out. - -"Ye can travel as fast as him, and ye can shoot him if he tries his -tricks." - -"But it will separate you and me." - -"I'll follow as fast as I can go; I can't run like ye, but I'm sure that -if there's any fighting to be done I'll be on hand in time to give some -help." - -"Go 'mong trees--hide quick--Shawanoe coming." - -It was Arqu-wao who uttered these words, with every evidence of -agitation. He made quick gestures, and was so urgent that he compelled -instant obedience. - -Wharton and Larry sprang out of the path, and each darting behind the -trunk of a large tree, peered cautiously out to learn the cause of the -sudden alarm of their guide. - -They saw nothing, but his actions were singular. Instead of remaining -where he was, he took a number of short, quick steps, which carried him -several rods farther toward the block-house. Then he halted as suddenly -as a soldier in obedience to the command of his officer. - -"Sh! look out! there they are!" whispered Wharton to his friend, but a -few paces away. - -Several flickering objects, seen through the trees, revealed themselves -to be three Shawanoes in their war paint, striding along the trail as -though they were runners from the block-house to the settlement. In fact -their gait was a loping trot until they slowed down on seeing Arqu-wao. - -There could be no mistaking them for runners, for not only did their -war paint forbid this, but with feelings that can be imagined the youth -recognized the leader as Blazing Arrow, the savage who hated the white -people with an intensity beyond imagination. - -"This will settle the question about Arqu-wao," thought Wharton, "for he -now has our lives in his hands; if he tells the truth to Blazing Arrow, -and joins him and the rest, they will separate and shoot us down in -spite of all we can do." - -This was the situation, and a few brief minutes must determine the fate -of the boys, who, in the event of betrayal, were doomed. Hardly daring -to look around the bark of the trees, they could only wait and prepare -themselves for the issue of the conference. - -They saw Blazing Arrow stride forward, and, halting in front of -Arqu-wao, address him in tones so loud that they were plainly heard by -the listeners, who, however, could form no idea of their meaning. - -Not only that, but the fierce warrior gesticulated as if angry. If so, -the one to whom he spoke showed no fear of him. He answered in a voice -as loud, and with more gestures, the other two warriors remaining in the -background and leaving all to their leader. - -Blazing Arrow made a threatening gesture, placing his right hand on the -knife at his girdle. Arqu-wao withdrew a couple of steps and whipped an -arrow from his quiver. Possessing no other weapon than the bow, he made -ready to use that. Not once, so far as the boys could see, did he show a -sign of quailing. - -It was evident that, desperate as might be the resistance he offered, he -was helpless, inasmuch as each of the three warriors possessed a loaded -rifle, and he could have been shot down in a twinkling; but he was ready -to fight for his life. - -Blazing Arrow moderated his manner. His hand slipped from the weapon at -his waist, and he talked in a lower voice. Arqu-wao stepped a little -closer and responded in kind. Neither one of the others so much as -opened his mouth. - -Blazing Arrow pointed down to the ground several times, and it looked -as if he were discussing the hoofprints which showed so plainly at their -very feet. - -A thrill of admiration shot through Wharton Edwards, for at that moment -he read the meaning of Arqu-wao's strategy on discovering the approach -of the Shawanoes. He had hurried forward a short way, so that when the -meeting took place nothing would be visible of the footprints made by -the boys. They would reveal themselves, as a matter of course, farther -along the trail, but Blazing Arrow was not likely to make as diligent -search there as at the spot where the interview took place. - -"I believe he is honest after all," was the conclusion of Wharton, when -this thought came to him. "I wonder whether, if we have a fight, he will -help us or Blazing Arrow? I don't see why he should be such a friend to -us, when he tried to kill us a short time ago." - -There was plenty to occupy the minds of the boys during the few minutes -they shrank behind the trees in such suspense, not knowing the instant -when they would be called upon to fight for their lives. - -They asked themselves that, if the hoofprints in the trail had been made -by the horses of Mr. Edwards and his wife, how was it that they had got -by Blazing Arrow and his companions without detection? It was not to be -supposed that they had been permitted to do so for the purpose of -drawing them into a trap, for there was no call for such a course. Three -Indians, crouching in ambush, could shoot a man and his wife from their -horses without the slightest danger to themselves, or, if they chose, -they could have slain the man and made the woman captive. - -It looked as if, by some strange turn of events, the couple had slipped -by undiscovered. - -The conference continued but a few minutes. After the outburst of -Blazing Arrow, he did not show any more excitement. He exchanged some -words with Arqu-wao, and then waved him aside. The fellow obeyed rather -sullenly, and the three Shawanoes resumed their walk in the direction of -the falls. - -It was a dangerous proceeding for the boys to watch them as they drew -near their hiding-place. Larry did not do so, but shrank as close as he -could against the trunk of a tree, fearful of betraying himself, and -trying to shift his position, as they moved along, so as to prevent any -part of his body being seen by any of the roving glances of the party. - -Fully aware of the danger, Wharton could not help yielding to his -curiosity to that extent that he had kept an eye on Blazing Arrow, even -when he was at the nearest point of the trail. He studied the ugly -countenance, smeared with paint, and the irregular profile of each -warrior in turn as he filed past. Not one of them looked down at the -ground, but their eyes seemed to be fixed on the farthest point of the -trail which was in their field of vision, as though they were expecting -some one to reveal himself. - -Had they looked down at the ground they must have discovered the -footprints of the boys, and what then? - -Arqu-wao, rather curiously, held the same position which has already -been described; his left side was toward the boys, and also toward the -vanishing group of his people. It was the attitude he would have taken -had he intended to use his bow and arrow, and, after what had occurred, -the boys could not believe he thought of injury to them. Beyond all -question he had allowed the best opportunity to overcome them pass. -Having done that, it seemed idle to suspect him any longer. - -The only "fly in the ointment" was the explanation of the sudden -friendship on the part of the strange being. He had been caught in the -very act of an attempt to slay the boys, as he would have been glad to -do, when they paddled away with his canoe. They, in turn, after sparing -his life, had partially disarmed him, and then compelled him by threats -to act the part of a guide. - -The motive of gratitude which sometimes influences the American Indian -(and just as frequently does not) could hardly be expected to -crystallize at such brief notice into a sentiment strong enough to lead -the red man to risk his life so soon for them; and yet, admitting that -he was true to his pledge, no other explanation of Arqu-wao's course was -possible. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -FOOTPRINTS. - - -"He's either the biggest wretch among the Shawanoes," said Wharton, -"always excepting Blazing Arrow, or he is working like a major to help -us." - -"Look at him!" - -The Indian whom they were discussing was standing in the same position -as before, but was excitedly beckoning for them to approach. - -Both boys broke into a trot and quickly joined him. - -"Dat Blazing Arrow," said Arqu-wao; "he kill white folks." - -"How is it that he and the others did not kill my father and mother as -they rode along the trail?" - -"No see 'em," was the quick reply. - -"But why not? I do not understand." - -"Arqu-wao no tell--don't know--not be looking." - -This, apparently, was the explanation possible, but it did not satisfy -the youths. - -"Come wid me," said the Shawanoe, motioning the boys to follow him, -which, despite their anxiety, they did. - -"See dere--eh--see dat?" - -The Indian stooped, and with his forefinger almost on the ground, -pointed to the imprint of a shoe. It was not made by a moccasin, but by -a regular heavy-soled shoe or boot. - -"Who made that?" asked the astonished Wharton. - -"White man," replied Arqu-wao, with almost a chuckle. "White man like -him on hoss--he friend--Blazing Arrow don't know dat." - -It seemed incredible that this half-demented creature had discovered -signs which had escaped the eye of the fierce Shawanoe leader and his -companions, but such was the fact, as afterwards came to light. - -After much labored explanation, the guide made clear to the boys a state -of facts hitherto unsuspected by them, whose existence they still half -doubted. - -A white man from the block-house had passed over the trail after the two -horses. This was readily determined by studying his footprints where -they interfered with those of the animals. He had walked at a rapid -gait, as was evidenced by the length of the stride. In all probability -he was an experienced ranger, for even while following the path he made -an effort to hide his footprints. It was only at rare intervals that he -stepped in the trail itself; he had generally walked at the side, where -the leaves and harder earth hid the impressions from sight. - -Had Blazing Arrow and his companions been searching for this stranger's -footprints it is not to be supposed that they would have missed them, -for their eyes were as keen as those of Arqu-wao, but the presumption -was that they were not looking for them. - -The rapid stride of the strange white man was accepted by the guide as a -proof that he was trying to overtake those on horseback. It might be -that, after their departure from the block-house, news had reached the -small garrison there of the ambush the couple were liable to run into, -and this runner had set out to warn them; or it might be that he had -struck the trail a short distance off, and was seeking to join the two -for the sake of their companionship, or for some reason of his own. - -Furthermore, it must be remembered that, though the presumption was -strongly in favor of the two riders being the father and mother of -Wharton, it was not yet absolutely certain that such was the case. That -could not be known for some time to come. - -It was evident that some curious complication had taken place, since all -three of the party had passed Blazing Arrow and his men without their -detection. There was nothing remarkable in the single person doing so, -since he had given evidence of unusual care in his action. Skilled in -the ways of the woods and Indian subtlety, he knew enough to avoid the -most cunning ambush, but the hostiles must have been derelict to allow a -mounted man and woman to pass unnoticed. - -Be that as it may, Wharton and Larry were as resolute as ever in -following the party. If it should prove that the parents had passed that -point on their way to the settlement, there was no call for approaching -any nearer to the block-house. - -"We will go back," said Wharton, with only a moment's hesitation. "Lead -the way, Arqu-wao, and serve us as well as you have already done." - -"Me good Indian," he replied. "Me take care ob you." - -"We know that. We shall depend on you. You needn't run, for we don't -want to overtake Blazing Arrow too soon." - -The Shawanoe showed a remarkable quickness in comprehending the wishes -of the boys. He asked them to stand where they were until he signalled -them to follow. They watched his figure out of sight, when he turned, -with the same sidelong attitude as before, and beckoned them to come on. - -"We've got to trust him now," said Larry. - -"There's no help for it; but we couldn't ask much better proof of -friendship than he has given already." - -"But we'll keep our eyes on him. It may be he's fixing things so as to -gather in the whole lot of us." - -Wharton thought his companion was unduly suspicious, but at the same -time he recognized the prudence of his words, for he knew that these -people sometimes show a boundless patience in waiting for the minute -when they can make their vengeance the more complete. - -The Shawanoe walked so fast that Larry was forced to break into a trot -now and then to keep pace with him and the cleaner-limbed Wharton. The -presence of the three hostiles at no great distance in front rendered -necessary the precaution of Arqu-wao; for, if he ran upon them with the -youths at his heels, a collision would be inevitable, with disastrous -consequences. - -The guide was putting forth all the cunning of which he was capable. It -was necessary to come up with Blazing Arrow and his companions, and at -the same time prevent their knowing it. - -The journey was pushed in this manner for nearly a mile, and Wharton -recognized, from familiar sights, that they were drawing near the turn -in the dry ravine where he had had his singular encounter with Blazing -Arrow when he recovered his gun from him. - -Somehow or other the conviction had fastened upon him that the spot was -again to be the scene of stirring events. - -"Halloo!" he exclaimed in an undertone. "He has discovered something, -and we must wait till he signals us to go on." - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -RED CROW. - - -The boys kept such a close watch on the Shawanoe that the moment he -signalled them to stop they obeyed. Although he assumed his favorite -attitude while doing so, he instantly faced about so that his back was -toward them. There could be no doubt that he had made some important -discovery. - -The youths stood still in the trail, Wharton slightly in advance; but -Larry was near enough to his side to note every movement of the singular -being who had been acting as their guide ever since the rise of the sun. - -"I wonder whether he means us to stand right here or to dodge behind the -trees, as we did before?" remarked Larry. - -"We shall know, for he will tell us. There it is!" - -Arqu-wao at this moment made a peculiar sweep of the hand holding the -bow, which was interpreted as an order for them to screen themselves -from sight. They did so with the cleverness of a short time before. -Nothing to explain the cause for this caution appeared, and the lads -kept their eyes on the Indian in whose hands they had placed their lives -before this critical moment. - -The tree trunks which sheltered them were not more rigid and motionless -for the next five minutes than he. Then he was seen to take a single -step forward, when he again paused. A second followed with the same -deliberation as before, and the advance continued, foot by foot, until -the intervening trees and the turn in the trail shut the guide from -sight. - -"We're near the clearing where I had my race with Blazing Arrow," -remarked Wharton, in a guarded voice. - -"Ye may have anither one with him." - -"It isn't likely, but I believe he isn't far off." - -"And the others are with him." - -"Of course, and more than likely father and mother are near. Oh, I do -hope that they will find out their danger soon enough to save -themselves; but I fear the worst." - -"Do ye hear that?" - -The faces of the youths blanched, for at that moment the sharp crack of -a rifle rang out in the stillness. It was near at hand, and was followed -by a wild cry, which, echoing through the forest arches, left the -silence more oppressive than before. - -"Somebody is killed!" whispered the frightened Wharton. - -"I don't doubt ye; but that yell wasn't a white man's." - -"Then the shot must have been." - -"I don't know the same; mebbe Blazing Arrow has found out what Arqu-wao -has been doing and shot him." - -"I believe that is what has happened; they had a quarrel when they met -in the trail; why didn't Blazing Arrow kill him then?" - -"He didn't know as much then as he does now; he has seen the thracks of -oursilves along the path after the two parted, and then the whole thruth -come upon him." - -"I wish we could have the chance to save the poor crazy fellow, for he -has given his life for us--that is, if he has been shot by any of his -people." - -"We don't know that he is dead yit; mebbe he managed to use his bow and -arrow, and didn't miss, while the other chap as used his gun did, so the -yell was the other fellow's." - -"We ought to have given him back his knife and tomahawk; I didn't think -of it, or we would have done so." - -"It couldn't have done him any good in this sort of rumpus." - -Some tragedy had been enacted so near them that the youths might well -shudder for themselves as well as for their friends. - -The sultry summer day was well along. The sun, high in the sky, -penetrated the woods with its warmth, and in the broad open plain the -heat must have been oppressive. Here and there a tiny bird fluttered -among the trees, and suddenly a noble buck came striding along as if he -meant to follow the trail to the falls for a drink, but, catching sight -of the two young men standing beside the trees weapon in hand, he -wheeled and was off in a twinkling, though not before either one of the -lads could have gained the best kind of a shot had he dared to fire. - -Minute after minute passed, and still there was no sign of the returning -guide. The young friends would have been glad to believe he had escaped, -but the fleeting minutes caused their hope to sink lower and lower, -until at last it was gone. - -"It seems to me," said Wharton, "that we are throwing away time by -standing here; we shall never see Arqu-wao again." - -"I agree with ye; the rest of 'em are miles off, and we might stay here -till the sun went down and that's all the good it would do us." - -Thump! and the startled boys, turning their heads, saw a stone, weighing -fully a pound, that must have been thrown by some person at them. This -was a curious proceeding by whomsoever done; but the explanation came -the next moment, when a tall, finely formed figure, clad in the costume -of the border ranger, stepped from behind a tree and motioned to them to -make no noise. - -The astonished and delighted boys recognized the individual as Simon -Kenton, the most famous scout, not excepting Daniel Boone, known in Ohio -and Kentucky. He had approached them from the rear, and announced his -coming in this characteristic manner. - -"Yer needn't be afeared, younkers," he said, as he came up, "provided -yer don't speak too loud. The varmints are powerful plenty yerabouts. -Howdy?" - -He shook the hand of each in turn, and Wharton asked: - -"Where did you come from, Kenton?" - -"The block-house." - -"How long ago did you leave?" - -"Shortly after sun-up; it isn't very fur, and I've travelled powerful -fast." - -Wharton yearned to ask the question that was on the tip of his tongue, -but an awful fear held it back. - -"We heard a rifle awhile ago; do you know anything about it?" - -"I reckon," replied the ranger with a significant grin, "bein' as I was -the chap that touched her off." - -"At whom did you fire?" - -"Why don't ye ask who did I hit, for when that piece speaks I reckon -some one is hit. Did you hear him yell?" - -"We might have heard the chap a mile off," replied Larry. "Was the same -Blazing Arrow." - -"No; I am sorry to say he kept out of the way, and I picked off the one -that was nearest to him." - -"Did you see anything of an Indian with a bow and arrow?" - -"You mean Arqu-wao, or, as we call him, Red Crow." - -"That must be the one. Why does he have such a strange name?" - -"Did you ever see a red crow, younkers?" - -"No; and I never saw a person that has seen one." - -"And you never will; such a thing would be powerful qu'ar, but he -wouldn't be any qu'arer than the varmint that Boone, M'Cleland, the -Wetzel boys and some of the others have given the name to. He's a bit -off, ain't 'zactly right here," added the scout, tapping his forehead. -"Have you had anything to do with him?" - -Wharton related in as few words as possible their experience with the -strange creature, and asked: - -"Has he always been that way?" - -"No; his brother and him had a big fight when they were on the warpath. -His brother was older and stronger, and threw him down among the rocks -in such a way that his head was hurt and he was never right afterwards. -He has lived by himself along that lake over yender for ten or a dozen -years. He won't have anybody with him; you know how the Injuns look on -such a person; they think he's a little different and better than other -folks and none of 'em will harm him. Of course none of the boys would -hurt a hair of his head, though he's quick enough with his bow and arrer -to shoot any one that comes pokin' round his place. It's powerful qu'ar -that he acted the part of a friend toward you, but thar's no sayin' what -crank may come into the head of such a person." - -"But he had a quarrel with Blazing Arrow, who seemed on the point of -striking him." - -"That's nateral, for you know you hate anyone that you've already done -an injury to." - -"Has Blazing Arrow ever injured him?" - -"Why, he's the one that throwed him over the rock; him and Blazing Arrow -are full brothers." - -This was surprising news to both, and Larry said: - -"He once mentioned the name of that chap as his brother, but I didn't -think that was what he meant." - -"I don't think the Red Crow loves his brother any more than his brother -loves him. Some time thar'll be the biggest kind of a fight between 'em. -They don't often meet, but when they do they allers strike fire." - -"How was it, Kenton, that you came to shoot awhile ago?" - -"One of the varmints got in my way, and if you know of any better plan -for heavin' him out, let me hear it." - -"But you don't explain; did you see anything of Red Crow?" - -"You asked me awhile ago, and I beg pardon for not answerin'. No, I -haven't seen him lately, that is, for the last few weeks; but while I -was out yender, just on t'other side of the ravine, whar the trail makes -a sharp turn, I catched sight of one of the varmints stealin' along as -though he was lookin' for somethin'. He catched sight of me at the same -time. We had not time to dodge behind anything, and it was a question -which could aim and fire the quickest. Wal," added Kenton, with a sigh -of complacency, "mebbe thar's a varmint somewhar that can do that thing -quicker'n me, but I haven't met him yet." - -"But you say you saw Blazing Arrow?" - -"Yas, and another of the redskins; they war some way ahead, and the -trees war so plenty that we couldn't draw bead. I waited for 'em to come -nigher, but they didn't seem to be lookin' for that sort of thing just -then, and they scooted t'other way. I 'spect I'll meet 'em agin purty -soon, and I'm ready." - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -GOOD NEWS. - - -Wharton Edwards could not keep back the question any longer. - -"Kenton, why was it you were in such a hurry to get along the trail when -you left the block-house?" - -"I wanted to catch up with your father and mother, that left before -sun-up this mornin'." - -The poor lad staggered back, and, had he not caught hold of a sapling, -would have fallen to the earth. - -"There is no hope for them." - -"Who said there wasn't, younker?" demanded Kenton, sharply. - -"I can see none; do you?" - -"It looks putty bad, I'll own, but Brigham Edwards and his wife are no -fools, onless they've become so since they left the block-house." - -The words of the great ranger lifted part of the weight from the -shoulders of the boys (for the grief of Larry was almost as deep as that -of the son), though they were still in anguish of spirit. - -"What led you to follow them in such haste? How did you know they were -in such great danger?" - -"I got in late last night to the block-house; I had been out on a scout -for Colonel Quimby and was gone more than a week. The Shawanoes and -Wyandots are raising the dickens, and I knowed thar war lots of 'em -hanging round the settlement. I told your father, bein' that war so, he -had better wait whar he war for a few days, or until we could spare -several of the boys to go with him. - -"Howsumever, instead of that leadin' him to do as I wanted, it made him -and your mother twice as determined to be off. They wouldn't wait at the -block-house for you younkers to come in, as they orter done, and made up -thar minds to start the fust thing in the mornin'. I talked so hard -with your father that I war sure he would change his mind, and so, bein' -powerful tired, I went to sleep. I slept so late that when I woke up -they'd been gone an hour. I swallered two or three mouthfuls and started -after them." - -Wharton explained what he had seen for himself, all of which indicated -that Blazing Arrow and his two warriors had laid an ambush for the boys. - -"Thar ain't no doubt of that after what you tell me. They larned that -you war goin' to make a start for the block-house, so they went a good -long way along the trail and waited for you to walk into thar open -jaws." - -"Which we might have done had we gone farther; but, that being so, how -was it father and mother rode this way without harm when they must have -passed the very spot where Blazing Arrow and the rest were waiting for -us?" - -"I came by 'em," said Kenton, with another smile. - -"You could go by any number of them, for you know how. You were on foot -and were prepared for them, but they were on horseback." - -"Which leads me to say agin that Brigham Edwards and his wife ain't -fools, onless they've become so powerful sudden. Your father knowed thar -war three places whar, if thar war any ambush laid, it war sartin to be -in one of 'em. Countin' from the settlement, the fust was whar the path -goes close to them falls, for the lay of the land jes' invites it; the -second are at the ravine down thar, only a little way beyond whar you -are standin' this minute; and the third are ten miles this side of the -block-house, whar the trail goes through that swampy spot, and the -branches are so thick over it that they almost sweep you off the back of -your hoss. If he could pass them there three places without runnin' agin -the varmints, he would be safe." - -"And where were Blazing Arrow and the rest in waiting?" - -"At the swampy place I war speakin' of; the varmints made up thar minds -that they would be sure of you by goin' close to the block-house." - -"And how came father and mother to miss them?" - -"Jes' before reachin' the spot they turned out of the trail and went -round it. It war powerful hard work pickin' thar way with thar horses -among the trees and round the rocks, but they managed to do it, and did -not come back to the trail till they war a half mile this side the spot -whar the varmints war waitin' for 'em." - -"And ye mustn't forgit," said Larry, "that the spalpeens warn't looking -for thim, but for us." - -Wharton's eyes kindled with pride at this proof of the wisdom of his -parents. It made clear that which had been mystifying to him. - -"Bein' as your folks had done that," continued Kenton, "why, I thought -it only perlite to do the same." - -"Why didn't Blazing Arrow and the others wait for us to come?" asked -Wharton. - -"They got tired, though an Injun has more patience than a white man; but -they begun to think that mebbe they war too late after all, and they set -out to meet you." - -"But you say that we are close to the second place, that is to the -ravine where I got my rifle back from Blazing Arrow." - -This was the first reference the fleet-limbed youth had made to his -great race with the Champion of the Shawanoes, though he had told almost -everything else. Remarking that the parents were safe for the present, -Kenton demanded an account of the contest, and expressed the greatest -delight, declaring that he would have swapped his favorite rifle for a -powder-horn could he have stood where he might have witnessed the -wonderful burst of speed on the part of the youthful runner. - -But Wharton was impatient. All his thoughts were with the folks; and -though quite certain, from the words and manner of the scout, that there -was no cause for immediate alarm, he could not be denied fuller -information. - -"We are near the second place that you say would be used by the -Shawanoes for ambush. Have the folks passed that yet?" - -"No, they ain't two hundred yards off from you this blessed minute." - -Wharton bounced from the ground and could hardly repress a cheer in the -excess of his delight. - -"Why, Kenton, didn't you tell me this before?" - -"What war the hurry? They'll keep." - -"Where did you overtake them?" - -"Some distance back along the trail; I give a signal to your father and -he waited for me to come up. I told him the varmints had sot the trap -close to the swampy spot that he had sarcumvented, for I had seen their -tracks along the trail, and, onless they came trottin' after us, we must -look out for that ravine next. It's purty hard work sarcumventin' that, -but, leavin' them to do it, I sneaked back hyar to keep a lookout for -the varmints." - -"Where does father intend to return to the main trail?" - -"A little way beyond the clearin'; but the varmints will find out that -he are ahead of 'em, and, havin' slipped up once already, they may try -some trick; they'll be powerful careful, now that they know your folks -ain't alone." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -RED CROW'S ERRAND. - - -The Shawanoe Indian known as Arqu-wao, or Red Crow, had come in sight of -the ravine, which was the scene of Blazing Arrow's mishap the preceding -day, when he halted with the abruptness described, for he had caught -sight of the three Indians, with his detested brother at their head. - -They were walking rapidly, and when Red Crow stopped they soon passed -beyond his sight again. Looking for them to halt, and half expecting -them to turn back at any moment, he signalled the youths to hide -themselves, while he advanced in the cautious manner known to the -reader. - -Sure enough, he had gone but a little way when he observed the three -Indians standing in a group and discussing some question with great -earnestness. Quite sure that it had something to do with the action of -the couple who had passed that way a short time before, he stealthily -watched them. - -The truth was, Blazing Arrow, probably suspecting the identity of the -couple, was giving his attention to them. They were sure to run into -danger if they kept on to the falls, but they might escape unless he -took a hand in the business. - -Almost on the edge of the clearing, in sight of the ravine, the -hoofprints showed that the horses had turned off from the trail, and -with the evident intention of coming back to it at some point farther -on. The result of the conference was that Blazing Arrow and one of his -warriors continued in the direction of the natural clearing, while the -third was sent to track the horses through the rough wood, and to signal -the results to the leader. - -Red Crow cautiously followed the single warrior to learn how he made -out. No doubt the latter would have done well had he not run against an -unexpected obstruction in the person of Simon Kenton, who, having -accompanied Mr. Edwards and his wife a part of the way, turned back -with the intention of acting as a rear guard. - -The meeting was as much of a surprise to the white man as to the red -man, but, as has been intimated by the famous scout himself, he was just -too quick for the Shawanoe. With characteristic bravery, Kenton leaped -behind a tree, reloaded his rifle, and coolly awaited the attack of -Blazing Arrow and his companion; but they proved their cowardice by -slinking off toward the clearing, across which they made their way, in -the hope of gaining a better chance at the couple, who could not be far -off. - -Red Crow now kept well out of sight of Kenton, as well as of his -brother, not stirring from his hiding-place until the way was clear. -Then he stole along the tracks made by the horses. These were so clearly -defined that a child would have had no difficulty in following them. - -He knew that the couple were the parents of the young men whom he had -set out to serve. The course of the great white hunter made it clear -that he would soon join the youths, while the route of Blazing Arrow -showed that they were in no present danger from him. Accordingly, -without taking the trouble of telling the boys his intention, he hurried -over the broken ground, anxious to meet the man and wife before they -penetrated too far. - -Red Crow had formed a plan the moment he fully understood what was going -on, and he knew the need of haste. - -Despite the almost marvellous cleverness he had displayed from the -beginning, he narrowly escaped making a fatal error. In his eagerness to -reach the couple he forgot that he was in war paint and resembled in -every respect, except one, the Shawanoe whom the settler was trying to -circumvent. - -It was that one point of difference which saved Red Crow's life. Brigham -Edwards was picking his way as best he could, when he caught sight of -one of the Shawanoes hurrying along the trail as though intent on -overtaking him at the earliest moment. - -Before the Indian knew his danger the vigilant settler had his unerring -rifle at his shoulder, and his keen eye was running along the barrel. -But he noticed that the Indian carried a bow and arrow instead of a gun. -This was so unusual that he hesitated. At the moment of doing so Red -Crow stopped short and looked up with a startled look, as though -recalling his forgetfulness. Despite his paint, Edwards recognized him -as Arqu-wao, whom he had often seen when he was actively engaged in -scouting along the frontier. - -The pioneer had stopped both horses, and he and his wife were on foot -when this little episode took place. - -"By George!" he exclaimed to his companion, "I came within a hair of -killing that poor crazy fool, Red Crow." - -"What can be his business with us unless it be unfriendly?" asked the -wife, who also held a weapon in her hands. "He may have been sent -forward by some of the others." - -"I don't think we have anything to fear from him. I never heard that he -harmed those who did not interfere with him. I will see what he wants -with us." - -As Red Crow approached, Mr. Edwards addressed him by name and repeated -his own, but the Shawanoe showed no signs of recognizing it. - -"Why did you come here?" asked the white man, sternly. - -"Shaw'noe dere and dere and dere," replied Red Crow, pointing toward -every point except that of the block-house; "if go on path, Shaw'noe -kill white man--kill white woman." - -"Do you want to help us?" - -"Me show way--Shaw'noe not see--not find." - -This promise was received with a good deal of skepticism, but the -feelings of the parents were greatly stirred by the next words that were -quickly uttered: - -"White boy Wart'n--white boy Larr--dey come with Arqu-wao." - -"What!" exclaimed the father, recognizing the names, and striding in -front of the Indian; "do you know anything about those two boys?" - -Red Crow nodded his head several times. - -"Where are they?" - -"Up dere," he replied, pointing in the direction of the point in the -trail where he had left them but a short time before. - -"What can this mean?" demanded the agitated parent. "I must investigate -it. We will leave the horses here while we go back with him." - -The mother was as anxious to meet her son and Larry, and they quickly -made ready to start. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -ALL TOGETHER. - - -Brigham Edwards stopped short on hearing the signal of Kenton, and he -and his wife held themselves ready to repulse any attack from the -Indians, whom they knew to be in the neighborhood. Red Crow did a little -thing which won the confidence of the couple, who could not help -regarding him at first with suspicion: he placed himself directly in -front, with his bow and arrow ready for use. - -The little party was not kept long in suspense. From among the trees -strode the athletic figure of the famous scout, who, at that time, was -in his magnificent prime. Directly behind him walked Wharton Edwards and -Larry Murphy. - -At the sight of her son, the mother forgot everything else. Dropping her -rifle to the ground, she ran forward with the exclamation: - -"Wharton! my darling boy!" - -"Oh, mother, my dearest mother!" - -The lad, equally forgetful, flung aside his weapon and met his beloved -parent more than half way, throwing his arms about her neck, while both -wept with joy. The father smilingly advanced, and waited until the youth -was released. Then he clasped the boy to his breast with a happiness and -gratitude as deep and all-pervading, though it was less demonstrative. - -Larry stepped blushingly forward, when the way was clear, and was warmly -greeted in turn by the parents, for he held a warm place in their -hearts. He was a dutiful and respectable youth, who appreciated the -unselfish goodness those people had always shown to him. - -Even the grim, iron-hearted scout betrayed a suspicious moisture of the -eyes at the affecting scene. He looked on in silence, while Red Crow -gazed off among the trees as though he saw something that interested -him. What strange musings coursed through that warped brain is beyond -the power of fancy to imagine. - -"This 'ere looks sorter like a family reunion," remarked Kenton, with a -smile, when the first flurry was over; "I shouldn't wonder now, Brigham, -if you and Margaret thar are summat glad to see the younkers agin." - -"Indeed, I shall always thank heaven for its mercies. Wife and I did not -sleep a wink last night after we learned how bad things looked, and -nothing could have kept us from hurrying to them." - -"And how about you chaps?" asked the scout, turning toward the two happy -boys. - -"Neither of us can express our thankfulness," replied Wharton; "we have -seen a good deal of trouble during the last few days, but our suffering -all the time had been about them." - -"Yis," added Larry with a sigh; "it was mesilf that had not only them to -think about, but Whart was on me hands, too, and thare was times whin I -was ready to give up entirely." - -"Well, Simon," said the head of the family, "we've had good fortune so -far, but I have had enough experience to know that we are not out of the -woods yet." - -"Not by a long shot," was the expressive comment. - -"How do things look to you?" - -"Yer see that Blazing Arrer and one of his varmints has gone ahead and -across the clearin' out yender. They know that we have started to round -this part of the trail with the idee of comin' back agin beyend whar -they're watchin' for us." - -"And they will try to prevent us doing so?" - -"That's it, and it's goin' to be a tough job, with the hosses to take -care of." - -"I've been thinking lately that the only safe plan is to abandon the -animals and push on ourselves." - -"That will give us the best show, thar's no doubt about that; but I hate -powerfully to let the varmints get ahead of us, even as much as that." - -"You and I, Simon, have tramped the woods long enough to know that we -must take things as we find them. It's a hundred times better that we -should leave the horses than to imperil our lives by keeping them with -us." - -"The man as would deny them sentiments is a fool, but we hain't got to -that p'int yet." - -"I notice that the ground is much more difficult to get over than where -we turned out to avoid the swamp. Both the horses fell once or twice -with their loads, and I had almost reached the conclusion that we would -have to turn back or abandon them. They are the only animals I own, and -their loss would be a serious one, but it won't do to stop at that." - -While this fragmentary conversation was going on, Arqu-wao, or Red Crow, -held his position as motionless as before, and seemingly occupied with -something among the trees, invisible to the rest. The boys noticed that -he assumed his old attitude, which had caused them so much uneasiness -before. But, inasmuch as there could be no misgiving now as to his -intentions, they were certain that their former suspicions were unjust. -When he surrendered to them in the early light of that breaking -morning, he did so unreservedly, and had done his best to serve them. It -was a great comfort to know this, but how much greater it would have -been had they known it from the first. - -He showed a quicker perception than any of his companions suspected, for -he understood the doubt in the mind of the ranger and the settler -concerning the horses. Turning about, he said: - -"Arqu-wao show way to settlement." - -"But we know the way ourselves," said Mr. Edwards, kindly. - -"Show way for hosses." - -"You mean by the trail yonder; we have come over that, but the Shawanoes -are on the watch, and we dare not follow it." - -"Arqu-wao show way for hosses--Shaw'noe don't know--get dere -quick--Snaw'noe don't see." - -The pioneer turned to the scout. - -"He means to say that he knows of a route to the settlement different -from the regular trail, over which we can take the animals in safety." - -"That's what the varmint is drivin' at." - -"What do you think of it, Simon?" - -The scout significantly touched his forehead and shook his head. - -"I know that, but he has done well so far. He lives by himself in the -woods, and must be more familiar with it than any of his people. I'm -inclined to believe there is something in what he says." - -"I haven't much faith in a chap whose brain is twisted hind side afore, -but I don't know as it will do any harm to try it; leastways we've stood -here longer than we oughter." - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - -THE NEW ROUTE. - - -Simon Kenton had spent so many years of his life in the woods and had -been among the Shawanoes so much that he spoke their language like a -native. The reader need not be told that he was once a prisoner of the -Shawanoes, and was condemned to death by them, but was saved through the -interference of the renegade Simon Girty, to whom the scout had done a -kindness years before. This is the only instance of the kind known of -that miscreant. - -It had also fallen to the lot of Kenton to run the gantlet, and he had -desperate scrimmages without number with members of that warlike tribe. -His frequent association with them, his companionship with the -extraordinary but unfortunate Deerfoot, had given him a mastery of the -tongue used by these people. - -Kenton now turned to Red Crow and addressed him in the language of his -tribe: - -"Arqu-wao, tell me why you wish to prove yourself a friend of the white -man." - -"Arqu-wao crept upon the palefaces; they ran away with his canoe; they -came near his home, where the red and white man must not come; but they -went away, they did not hurt his canoe; he followed them; he was about -to kill them when they slept, but they awoke; they could have killed -him, but they did not; they spared his life; then the Great Spirit -whispered in his heart that he must be the friend of the paleface -youths; so Arqu-wao is their friend; he will give his life for them." - -Kenton listened gravely to this singular statement. His knowledge of the -Indian character assured him that every word was the truth. Red Crow did -not show by his words or manner that his brain was not as clear as that -of his brother, Blazing Arrow. The probability was that it was partially -affected only by the injury received years before. It had led him to -make a recluse of himself, and to indulge in some whimsical -performances. In other respects, as he had proven, his cunning and -ability were greater than before. - -All doubt of his loyalty removed, Kenton proceeded to the business he -had in mind: - -"To-day you met your brother, and you had a quarrel." - -The black eyes flashed. - -"Blazing Arrow is a snake in the grass, that bites when you are not -looking; he hates Arqu-wao; Arqu-wao hates him; some time one will kill -the other; the Great Spirit has said so." - -"But you quarrelled," repeated Kenton, wishing to hear the explanation -of that dispute. - -"Blazing Arrow said to Arqu-wao that he had turned against his people; -he said he had become the friend of the white man, and he said he would -kill him." - -"And what did Arqu-wao do?" - -"He drew his bow and arrow," replied Red Crow, with another flash of his -black eyes, "but Blazing Arrow said he would wait till he learned more; -then he would kill him." - -Kenton suspected this from what the boys had told him, and he plainly -foresaw that the fatal encounter must come, sooner or later, between -these brothers, who hated each other with consuming hate. - -"You say that you know a better way to the settlement, where we can take -the horses?" - -"Yes--me know--me show," replied Red Crow, with such haste that he -unconsciously dropped into English, which he spoke ill. - -"Where is it?" - -The Shawanoe pointed behind him, and almost in the direction of the -lake, on whose shore he made his home. - -"Ober dere--not far--show de way." - -While Kenton believed in the truthfulness of the strange being, he was -disturbed by the fact that he himself had traversed this section so many -times that he was familiar with every portion, and he could not recall -any part answering to the description of Red Crow. He feared that, while -his intention was honest, the thing itself was only a figment of the -Indian's brain, and that he was liable to draw them into greater -difficulties than before. - -If this should prove to be the case, it would be better to abandon the -animals at once, for the remark of Mr. Edwards about the forest being -most difficult of passage was true. Not only that, but it grew worse, -until it became absolutely impassable for any quadruped as large as a -horse. - -The plan the scout had in mind was that of the whole party returning -without delay to the block-house, and waiting till the danger passed. -Inasmuch as there was no call for haste on the part of the pioneer in -reaching his home, this, unquestionably, was the better course to adopt. -But Kenton was curious to learn something more about this new route, for -he saw that if it proved an actuality, and was known to the Shawanoes, -it was sure to be of vast value to himself and other rangers who were -compelled frequently to pass back and forth between the two points. So, -after a little more unimportant talk, he added: - -"Well, Arqu-wao, we will follow you. Show the way." - -It will be remembered that when the pioneer and his wife set out with -Red Crow to find the boys they left the two horses behind them. It was -useless to bring them back over the route that had cost the animals so -much labor, and which would necessitate the whole thing being done over -again. In order to carry out the plan of Red Crow it was necessary to go -to where the horses were, or to bring them back to the party. Kenton -asked him what should be done, and he replied that they were to await -him where they were while he brought the beasts to them. Accordingly the -company assumed new positions on the ground, Wharton sitting close to -his mother. - -Before Red Cloud left, the boys restored to him the knife and tomahawk, -so that he was as fully armed as before. The Indian smiled in his -shadowy way, and showed that he appreciated the confidence implied in -the little act, which would have been performed before had it not been -overlooked. - -When the Shawanoe was beyond hearing, Kenton said: - -"I shouldn't be surprised if that varmint had trouble afore he brings -them hosses back." - -"Why so?" asked Mr. Edwards. - -"We've been talkin' and actin' as though thar warn't one of them -varmints in ten miles of us; but I haven't forgot that Blazing Arrow -knows why you turned off the trail with the hosses, and if he hain't -gone back himself he has sent some of 'em to l'arn how things are -goin'." - -"Why haven't they appeared to us?" - -"We ain't in the hole they want to get us into," replied Kenton, who, in -accordance with the custom of those of his calling, kept glancing to the -right and left, on the lookout for the first appearance of peril. "They -may have had a peep at us, and will keep an eye on our movements, but -are more likely to watch the hosses. They ain't fur off, Brigham?" - -"No; I didn't go far with them." - -"Has Red Crow had time to reach the spot?" - -"If he kept up the gait with which he started I should say he is about -there." - -"Now, don't speak till I give the word," said Kenton, in a low voice, -"but listen with all your ears." - -The entire party assumed attitudes of intense attention, and were -rewarded sooner than they anticipated. Amid the profound stillness a -sudden, sharp, twanging noise reached them, followed instantly by a -smothered, gasping cry, and then all was still. - -The party looked in one another's faces. No need of any one speaking a -word, for all knew what those awful sounds meant. - -Red Crow had driven an arrow into some dusky thief with such swiftness -and force that he had no time to utter the proverbial yell of his race -when he sank to the ground. - -"Thar must have been only one of 'em," quietly remarked Kenton, "or thar -would be more of a rumpus. He has started." - -The sound of the animals laboring through the bushes and among the trees -was plainly heard, and a minute later Red Crow appeared, leading the -pioneer's horse, while that of his wife followed close behind. - -It was agreed that no reference should be made by any one to the tragedy -that had taken place so near them. They waited for Red Crow himself to -tell the story, but though he was questioned quite closely, he never -said a word. - -"Arqu-wao," said Kenton, in the Shawanoe language, "you have a single -tongue; you are a good Indian; now lead the way; we believe in you and -will trust you to the death." - -For the first time since the Shawanoe had joined them, his painted face -gave evidence of emotion. He stood for several seconds with his eyes -fixed on Kenton, who calmly confronted him. He was on the point of -speaking, and once the boys, who were studying his countenance with -curious interest, observed a movement of his thin lips, but he changed -his mind and no words escaped him. - -Turning abruptly away, he held the bridle-rein of the pioneer's horse in -one hand, and, with his long bow in the other, began moving through the -wood, which route may roughly be described as half way between that just -followed and the course of the trail nearest them. - -The work for a time was as hard as before, and the animal showed so much -reluctance that, in addition to the tugging at the rein by the leader, -he required some vigorous prodding from his master before he would do -his duty; but ere long a pleasant fact became apparent to all; the wood -was so open that it was a comparatively easy matter for all to advance. -If it should remain thus, they could push on with little more trouble -than that encountered in travelling over the trail itself. - -Of course, nothing was easier than for the Shawanoes to follow the -footprints of the party, and it was to guard against any surprise of -this kind that Kenton remained some distance behind the others. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - -THE LAST HALT. - - -Within the following half hour a pleasant surprise came to the little -party. - -"My gracious!" exclaimed the pioneer to his wife, "do you see that, -Margaret?" - -He pointed to the ground between them as he spoke, and she nodded her -head with a smile. - -"We are travelling over a trail," he added; "Red Crow is keeping his -promise; he knows what he is doing." - -It was the truth. The path was faintly marked, but it was unmistakable, -and all knew the meaning. They were approaching one of those open -spaces, known as "salt licks," which are quite numerous in Kentucky and -Ohio. Naturally they are the resort of animals who thread their way -over long distances to the spots where the brackish moisture, oozing -through the ground, affords a taste of the mineral which is as -indispensable to beasts as to human beings. - -The bears, deer, buffaloes and other inhabitants, journeying toward one -common point, gradually form paths through the forest, into which -additional brutes turn, adding to the distinctness of the trails, which -sometimes radiate outward from the common centre like the spokes of a -wheel, until they gradually lose themselves in the wood, as the brutes -diverge from the route, whose individuality becomes lost like the course -of the streams in the sandy wastes of Africa or the barren regions of -the Southwest. - -By and by the path was as clearly defined as the trail connecting the -settlement and the block-house. A short distance farther and they -arrived at the lick. - -The favorite time for the wild animals to visit these places of -refreshment is early in the morning, but when our friends arrived there, -a huge wolf was lapping the ground on the other side. They caught but a -single glimpse of him, when he skurried off among the trees, vanishing -in a twinkling. - -The sight was a singular one, with the ground worn as smooth as the -floor of a barn by the licking of multitudinous tongues, and its -moisture glistened in the sunlight, as if it had been oiled. - -The horses showed their appreciation of the luxury by stretching out -their necks and eagerly applying their tongues to the saltish surface. -They were allowed to do so freely, and a few minutes later Kenton joined -them. His handsome face expanded with a broad grin, and he surprised -all, especially the recipient of the compliment, by slapping Red Crow on -the shoulder. - -"Arqu-wao, you're a powerful good chap, and here's my hand on it." - -The Shawanoe, rather gingerly, allowed his palm to be almost crushed in -that of the scout. - -"He's doin' jes' what the varmint said he would," added Kenton, -addressing the rest of the party. "If nothin' don't happen, he'll land -us at the settlement all right, but we're goin' to be followed." - -"Have you discovered anything?" asked Mr. Edwards. - -"Not as yet, but they won't let us slip away in this style without some -kind of a rumpus; we musn't stay here too long." - -Red Crow was of the same mind, for he tugged at the rein of the leading -horse, who was reluctant to abandon his feast, while the pioneer had to -work as hard with the other before he would leave the spot. The lick was -skirted and another trail taken on the other side, so that the journey -was continued in substantially the same direction as before. Inasmuch, -however, as this path must soon dissipate itself, there was some -curiosity to know what their guide would do when the point of vanishing -was reached. Not a member of the party, however, felt distrust of his -ability and loyalty to them. - -Kenton, as before, fell to the rear, for there was every reason to -believe that whenever the Shawanoes chose to make a demonstration, it -would be from that quarter. As anticipated, the path grew fainter as -they progressed until it was hardly perceptible, but the wood remained -open, and progress was comparatively easy. - -For some minutes before this the whites had been sensible of a dull, -roaring sound, which at times was quite distinct, and then sank again -beyond their power of hearing. - -"I believe that is the stream where Larry and I had so much trouble -yesterday and last night," said Wharton to his father. - -"Undoubtedly you are right." - -"I wonder whether he intends we shall cross it?" - -"If he does, he knows the way." - -"I guess we will not, for you know the regular trail doesn't take the -other side." - -"But if he means to follow a new course to the settlement, it may be -necessary." - -The afternoon was well along, and some of the party had eaten nothing -since early morning. All were hungry, but though there was a substantial -lunch in the packs carried by the horses, no one spoke of it. They were -too desirous of getting forward while the opportunity was theirs, to pay -any attention to their appetites. - -They had not yet reached the torrent, which was now close at hand, when -Red Crow halted the animals and said to the pioneer: - -"Wait here--Arqu-wao go ahead--won't stay long--want to see." - -Mr. Edwards bowed his head, signifying that it should be as he wished, -and the Shawanoe was off in a twinkling before Kenton, who was hardly -out of sight to the rear, could come up. He soon appeared, and inquired -what had taken place. - -"Thar's trouble," was his emphatic comment. - -"How can you know that?" asked the pioneer, with slight impatience; "you -haven't seen anything." - -"We're not far from where the younkers had the row yesterday; the lake -isn't more'n half a mile up stream, and the reg'lar trail ain't that fur -off in t'other direction." - -"Don't you think Red Crow is acting wisely?" - -"No one could do as well. It ain't that; but I told you we wouldn't -reach the settlement without a rumpus. He means to take us across the -gorge. The other varmints may not know the course we've took, but -they'll be smart enough to 'spect that we'll try to cross at this spot, -and some of 'em will be on the watch thar as sure as you're born. Wait -hyar whar you be till I go ahead and larn how things stand. I think Red -Crow is likely to need me." - -The words proved true sooner than the sagacious scout suspected. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - -CONCLUSION. - - -Red Crow, the friendly Shawanoe, who had proved his loyalty to the -whites in so many striking instances, left the little party where he had -halted them in the wood and walked rapidly toward the gorge, which he -intended should be crossed by the fugitives and their animals. - -It followed that, if such was his intention, the means of crossing was -at his command. So it proved. - -He struck the gorge at a place where it was so narrow that Larry Murphy, -and even Mrs. Edwards herself, would have found no difficulty in leaping -it. The horses, if stripped of their loads and sharply urged, would no -doubt have done the same; but to meet such an emergency some one had -caused the trunks of two trees to lie as close as possible side by -side, the "dip" between the logs being packed with dirt and gravel, so -that a space of fully two feet wide and quite level was presented. It -was strong, and any horse could walk over without trouble. - -It was curious that the youths, while searching for just such a spot the -previous evening, should have missed it. They must have passed quite -near to it. - -Red Crow stood a moment calmly contemplating the rude work of art, his -eyes roving from where he stood to the other side and beyond. It would -seem as if he ought to have been satisfied with the strength of the -bridge, but he appeared to be in doubt, and to test it he started to -walk across. - -At the moment of doing so a figure stepped from behind one of the large -trees and advanced to him. Red Crow looked up and saw Blazing Arrow, -who, detecting his approach, had dodged behind shelter. The face of the -miscreant was the embodiment of rage as he ground out the words: "Dog of -a Shawanoe! friend of the white man! you shall die! rot at the bottom of -the water!" - -The words were loud enough to be heard above the dull roar of the -current. Red Crow recoiled for a moment on catching sight of his -execrated relative, but it was through surprise rather than fear. The -next moment he took a step forward. - -"Blazing Arrow is a rattlesnake! Arqu-wao does not fear him! he hurt him -when he was young and weak like a squaw, but Arqu-wao is now a man and a -warrior!" - -While speaking, Red Crow hung his bow behind him and drew his knife. -Blazing Arrow had left his rifle leaning against the tree where he was -hiding, and his hunting-knife was in his hand when he stepped upon the -bridge. - -Had the two been obliged to stay apart for a few minutes they would have -used the time in taunting each other, an art in which the American race -is hardly less adept than the Caucasian; but they were eager to come -together; their hatred was too burning for either to waste any time. - -They met in the middle of the bridge, directly over the sweeping -current, and assailed each other like a couple of catamounts. It was a -fight to the death, and was fiercely waged by each. Neither would ask or -show mercy, and one or both must succumb. - -It would be distressing to describe the terrific encounter in detail. -Nothing could have been fiercer, but it continued only a few minutes, -when a spectator would have seen that Arqu-wao was overmatched. Blazing -Arrow was much the larger, and not only was fully as active, but more -powerful. He pressed his advantage remorselessly, and, though he was -severely wounded by the weapon of the other, he conquered. - -The swaying bodies kept their places on the narrow bridge, though -sometimes they narrowly missed rolling into the torrent beneath, until -finally the efforts of Arqu-wao relaxed. Then, seizing him in his brawny -arms, Blazing Arrow lifted him high in the air, and holding him aloft -for a moment, hissed: - -"Die, dog of a Shawanoe, your blood is white!" - -He swung the senseless body outward, and it shot downward like a -bowlder, and with a loud splash vanished beneath the surface. - -But the bloody form of Blazing Arrow was scarcely ten seconds behind it. -The furious exclamations were yet trembling on the dusky lips when the -crack of a rifle broke the stillness. The miscreant, with a resounding -shriek, leaped clear of the bridge and sped downward like a meteor, the -spray flying high in the air as he, too, vanished from human sight. - -"Confound it!" muttered the enraged Simon Kenton, "why didn't I get hyar -jes' a minute sooner? I've give Blazing Arrer his last sickness; but -afore I done that he put poor Red Crow to sleep; but it's all over now, -and thar's no use of kickin'." - -Advancing to the edge of the torrent, he looked in the direction of the -falls to see the bodies disappear. Once he thought he saw a dark object -for a moment, which he fancied might be one of them, but it disappeared -before he could make certain, and was not seen again. - -As he had remarked to himself, there was nothing to be gained by -"kicking," and with a sigh of regret over the unfortunate Red Crow, or, -as he was known among his own people, Arqu-wao, he turned about and -hurriedly rejoined his friends, who were greatly agitated at the tragedy -that they knew had taken place near them. - -The scout told, in as few words as he could, what had occurred, and -added: - -"It's too bad for Red Crow, but I'm afeared that rifle-shot and the -beautiful yell of Blazing Arrer has been heard by the rest of the -varmints; leastwise we don't want to stay hyar any longer." - -Before allowing the party to cross the rude bridge with the animals, -Kenton preceded them and made a careful reconnoisance. He could discover -no signs of Shawanoes, and, picking up Blazing Arrow's rifle from where -it rested against the tree, he signalled the pioneer and the rest to -follow him over. - -It was easy for all to obey, but a vexatious delay was caused by the -reluctance of the horses to trust themselves on the narrow foot-bridge, -with the rushing current below. In the very middle of the support the -leader became panic-stricken, and, in attempting to back to the shore -from whence he started, lost his balance, and that was the last of him. -The other reached the bank in safety. - -There was no semblance of a path on the other side, and what Red Crow -would have done, had he lived, after crossing, cannot be known; but -Kenton did not hesitate. His knowledge of the country enabled him to -proceed intelligently. He explained the route clearly to the pioneer, -and leaving him to follow orders, he again assumed the duties of rear -guard, adding: - -"Push ahead, Brigham, as best you can; to-night will settle whether the -folks get to the settlement or not. If we can dodge the varmints till -after the sun goes down we'll be all right." - -"Suppose we get into trouble?" - -"I'll signal you. If you hear this gun go off, don't pay any 'tention to -it except to travel faster, if you can." - -With an exchange of these brief sentences, the pioneer set out, closely -followed by his wife, the boys and the scout. - -Fortunately the horse that went off the bridge did not take all the -lunch with him. Mr. Edwards brought out what was left and divided it -among his companions, and they ate as they walked. - -They were now pursuing a clearly defined policy. It was to come back to -the regular trail at a point well beyond where the Indians were believed -to be waiting in ambush. If the hostiles could thus be thrown behind -them, there was reason to hope for the best. - -The chief trouble was because of the horse. Without any path for his -feet, and with the trees now and then interfering, and with places so -impassable that they were compelled to make laborious detours, the -progress was exasperatingly slow; but with the passing of the afternoon -and the approach of night, hope strengthened. Safety lay in darkness, -which was close at hand. - -At intervals the listening ear of the pioneer caught a familiar signal -from Kenton, but in every instance it was interpreted "All right," and -served to add to the buoyancy of the spirits of all. - -The scout was strongly inclined to place a favorable explanation on this -immunity from attack. The Shawanoe war party was small in numbers; it -had suffered the loss of three or four of their best men, among them -their leader, Blazing Arrow. This weakened them greatly. - -On the other hand, if the Shawanoes were hunting for the two boys, or -for the pioneer and his wife, they were confronted by a marked change in -the situation. Not only had the two couples been united, but the most -dreaded ranger of the border was with them. There were five rifles among -the whites instead of two, and every person holding a weapon was not -only ready, but was skilled in its use. They knew of the threatened -peril, and were on the alert to guard against it. - -In other words, the whites had increased and the red men decreased to -that extent that Kenton half believed the Shawanoes hesitated to attack -them. It was certain that they would not do so unless they could gain -some great advantage over them, which was what the scout determined -should not be gained if it lay in his power to prevent it. Certainly, if -skill and woodcraft could avail, it never would come about. - -The veteran ranger employed all the consummate art of which he was -master. He fell farther behind than any of his friends ever suspected; -he made long half way circuits through the woods, and as they neared the -trail he once passed entirely round the company without their knowledge. -Nothing escaped his lynx eyes, but, when the sun at last went down and -twilight stole through the forest, he had not caught the first -suspicious sign. - -It was only fairly dark when Edwards stopped, as he had agreed to do, on -reaching the trail. Kenton was with them a few minutes later. - -"Things look powerful well," was his encouraging remark; "I haven't -catched sight of hide or hair of the varmints since that hoss of yours -turned summersets off the bridge." - -"That is something to be grateful for," was the response of the pioneer. -"I feel more hopeful than at any time since leaving the block-house." - -"It is a purty good tramp yet afore we reach the settlement; can you all -stand it?" - -"You know better than to ask me that question," replied the settler with -a laugh; "we have been on too many tramps ourselves, but I don't know -about the rest." - -"Excepting me," was the cheery response of the wife. "I am so glad to -have Wharton and Larry safe with me that I know not what fatigue is; I -believe I could walk all night without suffering." - -"If you give out, make the hoss help." - -"No; he has had it harder than any of us. He'll be the first to stop; -but, Wharton, what about you?" - -"I'll never let my mother beat me walking," he said with a laugh, -affectionately kissing her ruddy cheek. - -"And as for Larry Murphy," added the young gentleman alluded to, "it'll -be a few years from now before he allows any one to beat him in walking -towards home, when he knows that a good supper and bed is awaiting him -there. I'm riddy, gintlemen, when ye say the word." - -The good fortune which attended the members of the party did not desert -them. What movements were made by the Shawanoes and what their -intentions were could never be known, but not a hostile shot was fired -within hearing of the fugitives, who at last reached the settlement in -safety, all profoundly grateful to heaven for its mercy. - - * * * * * - - - - -FAMOUS STANDARD JUVENILE LIBRARIES. - - -HORATIO ALGER, JR. - -The enormous sales of the books of Horatio Alger, Jr., show the -greatness of his popularity among the boys, and prove that he is one of -their most favored writers. I am told that more than half a million -copies altogether have been sold, and that all the large circulating -libraries in the country have several complete sets, of which only two -or three volumes are ever on the shelves at one time. If this is true, -what thousands and thousands of boys have read and are reading Mr. -Alger's books! His peculiar style of stories, often imitated but never -equaled, have taken a hold upon the young people, and, despite their -similarity, are eagerly read as soon as they appear. - -Mr. Alger became famous with the publication of that undying book, -"Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York." It was his first book for -young people, and its success was so great that he immediately devoted -himself to that kind of writing. It was a new and fertile field for a -writer then, and Mr. Alger's treatment of it at once caught the fancy of -the boys. "Ragged Dick" first appeared in 1868, and ever since then it -has been selling steadily, until now it is estimated that about 200,000 -copies of the series have been sold. - ---_Pleasant Hours for Boys and Girls._ - -A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy with them. He should -be able to enter into their plans, hopes, and aspirations. He should -learn to look upon life as they do. Boys object to be written down to. A -boy's heart opens to the man or writer who understands him. - - ---From _Writing Stories for Boys_, by Horatio Alger, Jr. - - * * * * * - -=RAGGED DICK SERIES.= - - Ragged Dick. - Fame and Fortune. - Mark the Match Boy. - Rough and Ready. - Ben the Luggage Boy. - Rufus and Rose. - - -=TATTERED TOM SERIES--First Series.= - - Tattered Tom. - Paul the Peddler. - Phil the Fiddler. - Slow and Sure. - - -=TATTERED TOM SERIES--Second Series.= - - Julius. - The Young Outlaw. - Sam's Chance. - The Telegraph Boy. - - -=CAMPAIGN SERIES.= - - Frank's Campaign. - Charlie Codman's Cruise. - Paul Prescott's Charge. - - -=LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--First Series.= - - Luck and Pluck. - Sink or Swim. - Strong and Steady. - Strive and Succeed. - - -=LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--Second Series.= - - Try and Trust. - Bound to Rise. - Risen from the Ranks. - Herbert Carter's Legacy. - - -=BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.= - - Brave and Bold. - Jack's Ward. - Shifting for Himself. - Wait and Hope. - - -=NEW WORLD SERIES.= - - Digging for Gold. - Facing the World. - In a New World. - - -=VICTORY SERIES.= - - Only an Irish Boy. - Adrift in the City. - Victor Vane, or the Young Secretary. - - -=FRANK AND FEARLESS SERIES.= - - Frank Hunter's Peril. - Frank and Fearless. - The Young Salesman. - - -=GOOD FORTUNE LIBRARY.= - - Walter Sherwood's Probation. - A Boy's Fortune. - The Young Bank Messenger. - - -=RUPERT'S AMBITION.= - - -=JED, THE POOR-HOUSE BOY.= - - * * * * * - - - - -HARRY CASTLEMON. - - -HOW I CAME TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK. - -When I was sixteen years old I belonged to a composition class. It was -our custom to go on the recitation seat every day with clean slates, and -we were allowed ten minutes to write seventy words on any subject the -teacher thought suited to our capacity. One day he gave out "What a Man -Would See if He Went to Greenland." My heart was in the matter, and -before the ten minutes were up I had one side of my slate filled. The -teacher listened to the reading of our compositions, and when they were -all over he simply said: "Some of you will make your living by writing -one of these days." That gave me something to ponder upon. I did not say -so out loud, but I knew that my composition was as good as the best of -them. By the way, there was another thing that came in my way just then. -I was reading at that time one of Mayne Reid's works which I had drawn -from the library, and I pondered upon it as much as I did upon what the -teacher said to me. In introducing Swartboy to his readers he made use -of this expression: "No visible change was observable in Swartboy's -countenance." Now, it occurred to me that if a man of his education -could make such a blunder as that and still write a book, I ought to be -able to do it, too. I went home that very day and began a story, "The -Old Guide's Narrative," which was sent to the _New York Weekly_, and -came back, respectfully declined. It was written on both sides of the -sheets but I didn't know that this was against the rules. Nothing -abashed, I began another, and receiving some instruction, from a friend -of mine who was a clerk in a book store, I wrote it on only one side of -the paper. But mind you, he didn't know what I was doing. Nobody knew -it; but one day, after a hard Saturday's work--the other boys had been -out skating on the brick-pond--I shyly broached the subject to my -mother. I felt the need of some sympathy. She listened in amazement, and -then said: "Why, do you think you could write a book like that?" That -settled the matter, and from that day no one knew what I was up to until -I sent the first four volumes of Gunboat Series to my father. Was it -work? Well, yes; it was hard work, but each week I had the satisfaction -of seeing the manuscript grow until the "Young Naturalist" was all -complete. - ---_Harry Castlemon in the Writer._ - - * * * * * - -=GUNBOAT SERIES.= - - Frank the Young Naturalist. - Frank on a Gunboat. - Frank in the Woods. - Frank before Vicksburg. - Frank on the Lower Mississippi. - Frank on the Prairie. - - -=ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.= - - Frank Among the Rancheros. - Frank in the Mountains. - Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho. - - -=SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.= - - The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle. - The Sportsman's Club Afloat. - The Sportsman's Club Among the Trappers. - - -=FRANK NELSON SERIES.= - - Snowed up. - Frank in the Forecastle. - The Boy Traders. - - -=BOY TRAPPER SERIES.= - - The Buried Treasure. - The Boy Trapper. - The Mail Carrier. - - -=ROUGHING IT SERIES.= - - George in Camp. - George at the Fort. - George at the Wheel. - - -=ROD AND GUN SERIES.= - - Don Gordon's Shooting Box. - The Young Wild Fowlers. - Rod and Gun Club. - - -=GO-AHEAD SERIES.= - - Tom Newcombe. - Go-Ahead. - No Moss. - - -=WAR SERIES.= - - True to His Colors. - Rodney the Partisan. - Rodney the Overseer. - Marcy the Blockade-Runner. - Marcy the Refugee. - Sailor Jack the Trader. - - -=HOUSEBOAT SERIES.= - - The Houseboat Boys. - The Mystery of Lost River Cañon. - The Young Game Warden. - - -=AFLOAT AND ASHORE SERIES.= - - Rebellion in Dixie. - A Sailor in Spite of Himself. - The Ten-Ton Cutter. - - -=THE PONY EXPRESS SERIES.= - - The Pony Express Rider. - The White Beaver. - Carl, The Trailer. - - * * * * * - - - - -EDWARD S. ELLIS. - - -Edward S. Ellis the popular writer of boys' books, is a native of Ohio, -where he was born somewhat more than a half-century ago. His father was -a famous hunter and rifle shot, and it was doubtless his exploits and -those of his associates, with their tales of adventure which gave the -son his taste for the breezy backwoods and for depicting the stirring -life of the early settlers on the frontier. - -Mr. Ellis began writing at an early age and his work was acceptable from -the first. His parents removed to New Jersey while he was a boy and he -was graduated from the State Normal School and became a member of the -faculty while still in his teens. He was afterward principal of the -Trenton High School, a trustee and then superintendent of schools. By -that time his services as a writer had become so pronounced that he gave -his entire attention to literature. He was an exceptionally successful -teacher and wrote a number of text-books for schools, all of which met -with high favor. For these and his historical productions, Princeton -College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. - -The high moral character, the clean, manly tendencies and the admirable -literary style of Mr. Ellis' stories have made him as popular on the -other side of the Atlantic as in this country. A leading paper remarked -some time since, that no mother need hesitate to place in the hands of -her boy any book written by Mr. Ellis. They are found in the leading -Sunday-school libraries, where, as may well be believed, they are in -wide demand and do much good by their sound, wholesome lessons which -render them as acceptable to parents as to their children. All of his -books published by Henry T. Coates & Co. are re-issued in London, and -many have been translated into other languages. Mr. Ellis is a writer of -varied accomplishments, and, in addition to his stories, is the author -of historical works, of a number of pieces of popular music and has -made several valuable inventions. Mr. Ellis is in the prime of his -mental and physical powers, and great as have been the merits of his -past achievements, there is reason to look for more brilliant -productions from his pen in the near future. - - * * * * * - -=DEERFOOT SERIES.= - - Hunters of the Ozark. - The Last War Trail. - Camp in the Mountains. - -=LOG CABIN SERIES.= - - Lost Trail. - Footprints in the Forest. - Camp-Fire and Wigwam. - - -=BOY PIONEER SERIES.= - - Ned in the Block-House. - Ned on the River. - Ned in the Woods. - - -=THE NORTHWEST SERIES.= - - Two Boys in Wyoming. - Cowmen and Rustlers. - A Strange Craft and its Wonderful Voyage. - - -=BOONE AND KENTON SERIES.= - - Shod with Silence. - In the Days of the Pioneers. - Phantom of the River. - - -=IRON HEART, WAR CHIEF OF THE IROQUOIS.= - - -=THE SECRET OF COFFIN ISLAND.= - - -=THE BLAZING ARROW.= - - * * * * * - - - - -J. T. TROWBRIDGE. - - -Neither as a writer does he stand apart from the great currents of life -and select some exceptional phase or odd combination of circumstances. -He stands on the common level and appeals to the universal heart, and -all that he suggests or achieves is on the plane and in the line of -march of the great body of humanity. - -The Jack Hazard series of stories, published in the late _Our Young -Folks_, and continued in the first volume of _St. Nicholas_, under the -title of "Fast Friends," is no doubt destined to hold a high place in -this class of literature. The delight of the boys in them (and of their -seniors, too) is well founded. They go to the right spot every time. -Trowbridge knows the heart of a boy like a book, and the heart of a man, -too, and he has laid them both open in these books in a most successful -manner. Apart from the qualities that render the series so attractive to -all young readers, they have great value on account of their -portraitures of American country life and character. The drawing is -wonderfully accurate, and as spirited as it is true. The constable, -Sellick, is an original character, and as minor figures where will we -find anything better than Miss Wansey, and Mr. P. Pipkin, Esq. The -picture of Mr. Dink's school, too, is capital, and where else in fiction -is there a better nick-name than that the boys gave to poor little -Stephen Treadwell, "Step Hen," as he himself pronounced his name in an -unfortunate moment when he saw it in print for the first time in his -lesson in school. - -On the whole, these books are very satisfactory, and afford the critical -reader the rare pleasure of the works that are just adequate, that -easily fulfill themselves and accomplish all they set out to -do.--_Scribner's Monthly._ - - -=JACK HAZARD SERIES.= - - Jack Hazard and His Fortunes. - The Young Surveyor. - Fast Friends. - Doing His Best. - A Chance for Himself. - Lawrence's Adventures. - - * * * * * - - - - -ROUNDABOUT LIBRARY. - -For Boys and Girls. - -(97 Volumes.) - -The attention of Librarians and Bookbuyers generally is called to HENRY -T. COATES & CO.'S ROUNDABOUT LIBRARY, by the popular authors. - - EDWARD S. ELLIS, - HORATIO ALGER, JR., - C. A. STEPHENS, - MARGARET VANDEGRIFT, - HARRY CASTLEMON, - G. A. HENTY, - LUCY C. LILLIE and others. - -No authors of the present day are greater favorites with boys and girls. - -Every book is sure to meet with a hearty reception by young readers. - -Librarians will find them to be among the most popular books on their -lists. - - HENRY T. COATES & CO. - 1222 CHESTNUT STREET - PHILADELPHIA - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blazing Arrow, by Edward S. 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Ellis. @@ -174,47 +174,7 @@ table { </style> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blazing Arrow, 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: Blazing Arrow - A Tale of the Frontier - -Author: Edward S. Ellis - -Release Date: January 4, 2013 [EBook #41777] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLAZING ARROW *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41777 ***</div> <div class="figcenter"> <img src="images/tp.jpg" alt=""/> @@ -6477,7 +6437,7 @@ Sailor Jack the Trader.</p> <p class="center">The Houseboat Boys.<br /> -The Mystery of Lost River Cañon.<br /> +The Mystery of Lost River Cañon.<br /> The Young Game Warden.</p> @@ -6668,383 +6628,6 @@ lists.</p> 1222 CHESTNUT STREET<br /> PHILADELPHIA</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blazing Arrow, by Edward S. Ellis - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLAZING ARROW *** - -***** This file should be named 41777-h.htm or 41777-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/7/7/41777/ - -Produced by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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