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diff --git a/43675-0.txt b/43675-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d04749 --- /dev/null +++ b/43675-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7728 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43675 *** + +Transcriber's Note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal + signs=. + + + + + [Illustration: THE TELL-TALE ARROW.] + + + + + _BOY PIONEER SERIES._ + + NED IN THE BLOCK-HOUSE. + + A TALE OF + EARLY DAYS IN THE WEST. + + BY EDWARD S. ELLIS, + + AUTHOR OF "FIRE, SNOW AND WATER," "PERSEVERANCE PARKER," "A + YOUNG HERO," "SWEPT AWAY," ETC., ETC. + + PHILADELPHIA: + HENRY T. COATES & CO. + + + + +"_Mr. Ellis's works are favorites and deserve to be. He shows variety +and originality in his characters; and his Indians are human beings +and not fancy pieces._"--_NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW._ + + +COPYRIGHT, 1883, BY PORTER & COATES. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. PAGE + IN THE FOREST 5 + + CHAPTER II. + THE BOY PIONEER--DEERFOOT, THE SHAWANOE 18 + + CHAPTER III. + OLD FRIENDS 32 + + CHAPTER IV. + THROUGH THE TRACKLESS FOREST--THE CAUSE 46 + + CHAPTER V. + "SHUT OUT" 60 + + CHAPTER VI. + THE BLOCK-HOUSE 73 + + CHAPTER VII. + THE MESSAGE 87 + + CHAPTER VIII. + OPENING COMMUNICATION 101 + + CHAPTER IX. + WITHIN THE BLOCK-HOUSE 126 + + CHAPTER X. + FLAMING MESSENGERS 140 + + CHAPTER XI. + IN GREAT PERIL 154 + + CHAPTER XII. + "BIRDS OF THE NIGHT" 168 + + CHAPTER XIII. + SHADOWY VISITORS 182 + + CHAPTER XIV. + A MISHAP AND A SENTENCE 196 + + CHAPTER XV. + AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR 212 + + CHAPTER XVI. + OUT-DOORS ON A DARK NIGHT 226 + + CHAPTER XVII. + THE LONG CLEARING 247 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + THE FIERY ENEMY 265 + + CHAPTER XIX. + THE TUG OF WAR 282 + + CHAPTER XX. + THE SOUTH WIND 298 + + CHAPTER XXI. + CONCLUSION 312 + + + + +NED IN THE BLOCK-HOUSE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +IN THE FOREST. + + +"Now you've got him, Ned!" + +"Sh! keep quiet!" + +The boy who was addressed as Ned was kneeling behind a fallen oak, in +a Kentucky forest, carefully sighting at a noble buck that stood in +the middle of a natural clearing or opening, with head upraised and +antlers thrown back, as though he scented danger, and was searching +for the point whence it threatened. + +The splendid animal was no more than a hundred yards distant, so that +no better target could have been offered. He was facing the youth, who +aimed at the point above his fore legs, which opened the path to the +heart of the creature. + +The lad, who was sighting so carefully, was Ned Preston, and his +companion was a colored boy with the unique name of Wildblossom +Brown. There was not a week's difference in their ages, each having +been born four years before the immortal Declaration of Independence. +As the date on which we introduce him to the reader was the autumn of +1788, the years of the two may be calculated without trouble. + +Ned Preston, as he drew bead on the deer, was as certain of bringing +him down as he was of "barking" the gray squirrel, when it chirped its +mimic defiance from the topmost limbs of the gnarled oak or branching +sycamore. + +Wildblossom, or "Blossom," as he was invariably called, was anxious +that his young master should not miss, for the chilly autumn day was +drawing to a close, and they had eaten nothing since morning. They +were eager to reach the block-house, known as Fort Bridgman, and +scarcely allowed themselves any halt for many hours; but night was +closing in, and they must soon go into camp; food was therefore as +indispensable as fire. + +The deliberation of Ned Preston led Blossom to fear the game would +bound away before the trigger was pulled. When, therefore, the African +saw the long brown barrel pointed for several seconds at the animal, +he became impatient, and uttered the words given above. + +The next moment there was a flash, and the buck made a prodigious +bound, dashed straight toward the fallen tree behind which the boys +were crouching, and fell within fifty feet of them. + +"Dar's our supper suah's yo' born!" shouted the delighted negro, +making a strong effort to leap over the prostrate oak so as to reach +the game ahead of his companion. He would have succeeded if the oak +had lain somewhat nearer the ground. As it was, he landed on his head +and shoulders, and rolled over; but he was unharmed, and scrambling to +his feet, ran to the deer. + +Ned Preston was but a brief distance behind him, trailing his long +rifle, walking rapidly, and very much puzzled over what was certainly +an extraordinary occurrence; for although he had aimed at the buck, +pulled the trigger, and the game had fallen, yet the astonishing fact +remained, that Ned had not fired his gun. + +Blossom Brown in his excitement did not notice that there was no +report of the weapon--that, in short, the flint-lock (percussion guns +being unknown at that day) had "flashed in the pan." When he saw the +frantic leap and fall of the animal, he supposed, as a matter of +course, it had been killed by the bullet of his young master; and if +the latter had not stopped to examine his piece, he might have +believed the same, so exactly did the wounding of the game accord with +the useless click of the lock and flash of the powder. + +"I didn't shoot that buck," called out Ned, as he ran up behind +Blossom; "my gun wasn't fired at all." + +"Dat hasn't got nuffin to do with it," was the sturdy response of +Blossom, who was bent on having his meal without any unnecessary +delay; "you p'inted de gun at him, and he drapped; dat's +sufficacious." + +"But _I_ didn't kill him," insisted Ned, more determined on solving +the mystery than he was on procuring supper. + +"I tell you dat you did--no, you didn't!" + +At that instant Blossom, who had drawn his hunting-knife, stooped over +to apply it to the throat of the buck, when he gave an unexpected +flirt of his head, bringing his antlers against the boy with such +violence that he was thrown backward several feet. When Blossom found +himself going, he made his last remark, inasmuch as the deer just then +proved he was alive in a most emphatic manner. + +But it was the last expiring effort, and the negro approached him +again, knowing that all danger was past. + +"De way ob it was dis way," he added, turning partly around so as to +face his friend, who was examining his rifle as he poured powder from +his horn into the pan; "you p'inted dat gun ob yours at de buck, and +as he war lookin' dis way he seed you frough de bushes, and he knowed +it war no use; so he jes' made a jump into de air, and come down +pretty near dead, so as to sabe you de expense ob firin' off de +powder, which aint very plenty in Kentucky." + +This explanation seemed to satisfy the one who made it, but not his +listener, who knew that the game was brought to earth by some one +else. + +And yet he was sure he had not heard the report of any other gun at +the moment the animal seemed to have received its death-wound, so that +it would seem some other cause must have ended its career. + +While Blossom was working with his knife, Ned caught sight of +something which gave him a suspicion of the true cause. The game lay +on its side, and that which arrested the eye of the youthful pioneer +was the feather of an Indian arrow. + +"Turn him over," said Ned; and the lad, wondering why he told him to +do so, complied. + +The truth was then made known. From the side of the buck protruded a +few inches of the shaft of an Indian arrow, to which the eagle's +feather was attached. The flinty head had been driven clean through +the heart and some distance beyond, so that the sharp point must have +been near the surface on the other side. + +The deer scarcely ever is known to fall instantly, no matter how it is +shot; so that, with such a formidable weapon dividing the very seat of +life, it still ran several rods before falling. + +When Blossom saw the arrow his appetite vanished. He stooped over, +staring at it a moment, and then suddenly straightened up and +exclaimed: + +"Let's run; dis aint any place for fellers like us!" + +And, without waiting for the advice of his young master, the negro lad +caught up his gun and made a dash for the prostrate tree from which he +had rushed when the buck first fell. + +Ned Preston was frightened beyond expression, for that which he had +discovered was proof positive that one red man at least was close at +hand; and when the American Indian was encountered in the Kentucky or +Ohio forest, in the year of our Lord 1788, it was wise to consider him +the most dangerous kind of an enemy. + +Ned had poured the powder in his priming-pan and shaken it into the +tube before he caught sight of the arrow, for he had been instructed, +from the first day he carried a gun, that, after discharging the +piece, he must not stir from his steps until it was reloaded and ready +for use again. + +The moment he understood what killed the buck he looked around for the +Indian who did it. He could easily tell the direction whence the +missile came, from the position of the game when struck; but the +penetrating eye of the lad could detect nothing when he turned his +gaze toward that, nor indeed toward any other point. + +This did not surprise him, for the nature of the Indian leads him to +be secretive in all he does; and many a time has his most destructive +work been done without the sufferer catching a glimpse of him. + +The conclusion of Ned was that a party of warriors were in the +immediate neighborhood, and that, as an inevitable certainty, he and +Blossom were at their mercy. If they chose to send in a shower of +arrows, or fire the guns which some of them were likely to own, +nothing could save the two lads. + +If they chose to rush forward and take the boys captives, it was +beyond the power of the youths to escape; in fact, as Ned looked at +it, the two were already as good as prisoners, and the Indians were +only keeping in the background for a brief while, for the sake of +amusing themselves, as a cat sometimes plays with a mouse before +crunching it in her jaws. + +The situation was an alarming one in every sense, but Ned Preston +showed a courage that his life on the frontier had taught him was the +only wise course in such a trying time. He stooped over the carcase of +the deer, and carefully cutting a choice slice from it, turned about +and walked deliberately back to where Blossom was awaiting him, behind +the oak. + +Ned's desire to break into a run and plunge off into the woods was +almost uncontrollable, and the sensation of expecting every minute an +Indian arrow driven into his back, while resolutely keeping down to a +slow and dignified walk, was beyond description. + +Blossom Brown, who had started away in such haste, so dreaded some +such shot that he threw himself behind the tree, where he lay still. +He was strongly led to this course by his affection for his young +master, whom he could not desert even for his own benefit. + +"Whar am de Injines?" asked Blossom, in a husky whisper, as his friend +walked around the root of the oak and joined him. + +"They can't be far off," was the answer of Ned, "and there isn't any +use of trying to run away from them. There must be a war party, and +when they are ready they will come and take us. So let's kindle a fire +and cook the meat." + +This was an amazing proposition to make, but it was acted upon at +once, extraordinary as it may seem. Blossom was very nervous while +gathering wood and giving what assistance he could. He continually +glanced around him, and peeped furtively over the trunk, wondering why +the red men did not come forward and take them prisoners. + +The youths were so accustomed to camping out that it was an easy +matter to prepare their evening meal. They would have preferred the +venison not quite so fresh, but they were glad enough to get it as it +was; and when they sprinkled some of the salt and pepper, always +carried with them, on the crisp, juicy steak, it was as toothsome and +luscious as a couple of hungry hunters could wish. + +True, the circumstances under which the meal was eaten were not +conducive to enjoyment, for no person can be expected to feel +unrestrained happiness when surrounded by a party of treacherous red +men, who are likely to send in a shower of arrows, or a volley of +bullets, just as you are raising a piece of meat to your mouth. + +And yet, despite all that, Ned Preston and Blossom Brown masticated +and swallowed the last morsel of the liberal piece taken from the buck +slain by the Indian arrow. + +The bleak, blustery autumn day was drawing to a close, when the boys +arose to their feet, uncertain what was the best to do in the +extraordinary situation. + +The sky had been overcast during the afternoon, though there were no +indications of an immediate storm. The wind blew strongly at times, +with a dull, moaning sound, through the trees, from which the leaves +rustled downward in showers. Now and then a few flakes of snow drifted +on the air for some minutes before fluttering to the ground. +Everything betokened the coming of winter, and, though it was the +royal season for game, yet there was something so impressive in the +autumn forest, now that the seasons were sinking into decay and death, +that Ned Preston, sturdy and practical though he was, could not avoid +a feeling of sadness when he set out from his home for the Block +House, thirty miles away. + +"Ned, what am de use ob loafin' round here?" asked Blossom a minute +after they rose from their supper. "If dem Injines don't want to come +forrard and speak to us, what's de use ob waiting for 'em?" + +There was some wisdom in this question, and it was one that had +presented itself to Ned while thoughtfully eating his venison steak. + +Was it not possible that the warrior who fired the fatal arrow +believed the boys belonged to a large party of white hunters and +scouts, and had withdrawn long before? Was there not a chance of +getting away by a sudden dash? + +Night was not far off, and if they could keep out of the hands of the +red men until then there was good ground for hoping they would elude +them altogether. + +Nothing was to be gained by discussing or thinking over the matter, +and Ned acted at once. + +"Follow me," he whispered to Blossom, "and don't make any noise." + +The young hunter, trailing his rifle, stooped forward as far as he +could without impeding the power to walk, and then ran directly from +the tree, and back over the path that had brought them to the +clearing. + +Blossom was at his heels, traveling quite rapidly; but glancing behind +him so often, he stumbled more than once. The negro had quick +eyesight, and once when he turned his head he saw something flutter in +the forest behind him; then there was what seemed to be the flitting +shadow of a bird's wing as it shot by with the speed of a bullet. + +But at the same instant a faint whizz caught his ear, and some object +whisked past his cheek and over the shoulder of the crouching Ned +Preston. The African had scarcely time to know that such a thing had +taken place when he heard a quick thud, and there it was! + +From the solid trunk of a massive maple projected an arrow, whose head +was buried in the bark; the shaft, with the eagle's feather, still +tremulous from the force with which it had been driven from the bow. + +The same Indian who had brought down the buck had sent a second +missile over the heads of the fugitives, and so close indeed that the +two might well pause and ask themselves whether it was worth their +while to run from such an unerring archer, who had the power to bring +them down with as much certainty as though he fired the rifle of +Daniel Boone or Simon Kenton. + +But neither Ned Preston nor Blossom Brown was the one to stand still +when he had the opportunity of fleeing from danger. They scarcely +halted, therefore, for one glance at the significant missile, when +they made a slight turn to the left, and plunged into the woods with +all the speed they could command. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE BOY PIONEER--DEERFOOT, THE SHAWANOE. + + +Before proceeding further it is proper to give the information the +reader needs in order to understand the incidents that follow. + +Macaiah Preston and his wife were among the original settlers of Wild +Oaks, a small town on the Kentucky side of the Ohio, during the latter +portion of the last century, their only child being Ned, who has +already been introduced to the reader. Beside him they had the bound +boy Wildblossom Brown, a heavy-set, good-natured and sturdy negro lad, +whom they took with them at the time they removed from Western +Pennsylvania. He was faithful and devoted, and he received the best of +treatment from his master and mistress. + +Ned was taller and more graceful than the African, and the instruction +from his father had endowed him with more book learning than generally +falls to the lot of boys placed in his circumstances. Besides this, +Mr. Preston was one of the most noted hunters and marksmen in the +settlement, and he gave Ned thorough training in the art which is +always such a delight for a boy to acquire. + +When Ned was thirteen years old he fired one day at a squirrel on the +topmost branch of a mountain ash, and brought it down, with its body +shattered by the bullet of his rifle. The father quietly contemplated +the work for a minute or so, and then, without a word, cut a hickory +stick, and proceeded to trim it. While he was thus employed Ned was +looking sideways at him, gouging his eyes with his knuckles and +muttering, + +"You might excuse me this time--I didn't think." + +When the hickory was properly trimmed, the father deliberately took +his son by his coat collar with one hand and applied the stick with +the other, during which the lad danced and shouted like a wild Miami +Indian. The trouncing completed, the only remark made by the father +was-- + +"After this I reckon when you shoot a squirrel you will hit him in the +_head_." + +"I reckon I will," sniffled Ned, who was certain never to forget the +instructions of his parent on _that_ point. + +Such was the training of Ned Preston; and at the age of sixteen, when +we introduce him to the reader, there were none of his years who was +his superior in backwoods "lore" and woodcraft. + +In those times a hunter differed in his make-up from those of to-day. +The gun which he carried was a long, single-barreled rifle, heavy, +costly of manufacture, and scarcely less unerring in the hands of a +veteran than is the modern weapon. It was a flint-lock, and of course +a muzzle-loader. The owner carried his powder-horn, bullet-pouch, and +sometimes an extra flint. Lucifer matches were unknown for nearly a +half century later, the flint and tinder answering for them. + +Ned Preston wore a warm cap made of coonskin; thick, homespun +trowsers, coat and vest; strong cowhide shoes, and woollen stockings, +knit by the same deft hands that had made the linen for his shirt. The +coat was rather short, and it was buttoned from top to bottom with the +old style horn button, over the short waistcoat beneath. The string of +the powder-horn passed over one shoulder, and that of the game-bag +over the other. Neither Ned nor Blossom carried a hunting-bag, for +they had not started out for game, and the majority shot in Kentucky +or Ohio in those days were altogether too bulky for a single hunter to +take home on his back. + +Some thirty miles in the interior from the settlement stood Fort +Bridgman, a block-house on the eastern bank of the Licking River. It +was erected six years before the time of which we are speaking, and +was intended as a protection to a settlement begun at the same period; +but, just as the fortification was finished, and before the settlers +had all their dwellings in good form, the Shawanoes and Wyandots +swooped down on them, and left nothing but the block-house and the +smoking ruins of the log dwellings. + +This effectually checked the settlers for the time; but one or two +courageous pioneers, who liked the locality, began erecting other +cabins close to the massive block-house, which had resisted the fierce +attack of the red men. The man who had charge of the fortification was +Colonel Hugh Preston, a brother of Macaiah, and of course the uncle of +Ned, the hero of this story. He maintained his foothold, with several +others as daring as he, and his wife and two daughters kept him +company. + +There was a warm affection between the brothers, and they +occasionally exchanged visits. When this was inconvenient, Ned Preston +acted as messenger. He often carried papers sent down the Ohio to his +father for the uncle, together with the letters forwarded to the +settlement from their friends in the East. + +On the day of which we are speaking he had, in the inner pocket of his +coat, a letter for his uncle, one for his aunt, and one each for two +of the garrison; so that his visit to the post was sure to be a most +welcome one. + +Between the settlement on the Ohio and the block-house on the Licking +lay the thirty miles of unbroken forest. Ned and Blossom had made this +journey in one day in the month of June, but their custom was to +encamp one night on the way so as to give themselves abundance of +time; and the trip was generally a most enjoyable one to them. + +It must not be supposed they forgot the danger most to be dreaded was +from the Indians who roamed over the Dark and Bloody Ground, and who +held almost undisputed possession of hundreds of square miles of +Kentucky at the opening of the present century. + +There were scouts and runners threading their way through the +trackless forests north and south of the Ohio, or coursing up and down +the rivers, or spying out the actions of the war parties when they +gathered near their villages and threw the tomahawk, daubed their +faces with paint, and danced the war dance. These intrepid runners +kept the frontier well informed of any formidable movements +contemplated by the red men, so that no effective demonstration +against the whites was feared. + +Weeks and months passed, during which Ned Preston was not permitted to +cross the intervening space between the block-house and the +settlement, for the runners who came in reported great danger in doing +so. Then again it looked almost as if the dawn of peace had come, and +men were not afraid to move to and fro many furlongs distant from +their homes. + +Nearly twenty years had passed since the great pioneer, Daniel Boone, +had explored a portion of the wonderful territory, and the numerous +scenes of violence that had taken place on its soil made the name of +the Dark and Bloody Ground characteristic and well-merited. + +The several military expeditions which the Government had sent into +the West had either been overwhelmingly defeated by the combined +forces of Indians, or had accomplished nothing toward subduing the red +men. The decisive campaign was yet to come. + +But without dwelling on this portion of our story, we may say that in +the autumn of 1788 comparative peace reigned over the portion of +Kentucky of which we are speaking. When, therefore, the letters came +down the Ohio in a flat-boat for Colonel Hugh Preston and several of +those with him, and Ned asked permission to take them to his uncle, +there was scarcely any hesitation in giving consent. + +With this explanation the reader will understand how it came about +that Ned and Blossom were in the depths of the Kentucky forest when +the autumn day was closing, and while fully a dozen miles remained to +pass before they could reach the block-house. + +They had made a later start than usual from home, and rather +singularly, although they had passed over the route so many times, +they went astray, and lost several hours from that cause. + +Soon after their departure from the settlement a friendly Shawanoe +visited the place and warned the pioneers that trouble was coming, and +it was wise to take more than usual precautions against surprise. When +this Indian runner added that he was quite sure an assault was +intended on the block-house, it can be understood that the parents of +Ned were extremely alarmed for the safety of himself and Blossom. + +If they should get through the stretch of forest to the block-house, +their danger would not be removed; for an attack on that post was +contemplated, and knowing its precise defensive power, as the Indians +did, they would be likely to render the battle decisive. + +"I hope the boys will reach the Colonel," said the father of Ned to +his wife, "for they will have a chance to make a good fight for +themselves." + +"But the Colonel may know nothing of the attack intended, and he and +the rest will be taken by surprise." + +This doubt so disturbed the husband that he hurriedly sought the +Shawanoe, who was still in the settlement, and asked him whether +Colonel Preston had been apprised of the danger which threatened him. +When informed that he had not, Mr. Preston insisted that Deerfoot, as +the young Shawanoe was called, should make his way to the block-house +without delay. The Indian, known to be one of the fleetest of +warriors, said that he was on the eve of starting on that errand, and +he left at once. + +Before going, he was told that the two boys were threading their way +through the forest toward the station, and the anxious father asked +him to bring the lads back, if he deemed it the safer course. Ned was +a great favorite with the Shawanoe youth, and the latter promised to +use every effort to befriend him. + +The question left to Deerfoot was whether it was his duty to hasten +forward and apprise Colonel Preston of the peril impending over the +garrison, or whether it would be safe to let him wait until the lads +were conducted back to Wild Oaks. Deerfoot was disposed to hurry to +the Licking; but when a few miles from the settlement he struck the +trail of the lads, which he followed with as much ease as the +bloodhound would have displayed under similar circumstances. + +As both parties had started in the same direction, the prospect was +that a junction would speedily take place, and the three could make +the rest of the journey together; but before long Deerfoot was +surprised to discover that Ned and Blossom had strayed from the true +course. He could not understand why this happened, and his misgiving +for Ned, whom he liked so well, led him to resolve to follow up the +boy, and find out the cause. + +Deerfoot was pushing forward on his loping trot, which he was able to +maintain hour after hour without fatigue, when his wonderful instinct +or reason told him he was in the vicinity of a large war party of +Wyandots, the natural allies of his own tribe in their wars upon the +settlements. + +His belief was that the boys had been captured by them, in which event +little hope remained; but it required no special maneuvering on his +part to learn that his fears were baseless. The trail of the lads made +an abrupt turn, showing that Ned Preston had suddenly "located" +himself, and had returned to the right course. Although the footprints +of the Wyandots actually approached within a hundred yards of those of +the boys, yet singularly enough they came no nearer, and diverged from +that point; so that, in all probability, the war party never +suspected how close they were to the prize that would have been so +welcome to them. + +Accustomed as Deerfoot was to all species of danger in the woods, his +dusky face flushed when he looked to the ground and saw how narrowly +the boys had missed a frightful fate. + +Such being the case, it became the duty of the Shawanoe to acquaint +himself with the purpose of the Wyandot party. He therefore went +directly among them to make his inquiries. This was a delicate and +dangerous proceeding, for although the subtle Indian had done his +utmost to keep secret from his own people his friendship and services +for the whites (inasmuch as such a knowledge on the part of his race +would have ended his usefulness and life), he knew well enough that +his double-dealing must become known sooner or later to the Indians, +and for a year or more he had never appeared among his people without +misgiving as to the result. + +All the wonderful cunning of his nature was brought into play when he +advanced to meet the Wyandots, who were in their war-paint. He saw +there were twenty-three, and that they numbered the bravest and most +daring of their tribe. The leader was the chief Waughtauk, a fierce +foe of the whites, whose tomahawk and scalping-knife had been reddened +with innocent blood many a time. + +Deerfoot was received with every appearance of cordiality by the chief +and his men, for all knew what a splendid warrior the young Shawanoe +was, and some of them had witnessed the extraordinary speed which had +saved his life more than once. + +It is as easy for the American to play a part as for the Caucasian, +and Deerfoot was not entirely satisfied. He kept his wits about him, +and used extreme care in not placing himself at any disadvantage which +it was possible to avoid; but all the friendship seemed genuine, and +when Waughtauk told him it was his intention to attack the exposed +cabins of the settlers, Deerfoot believed him. When he added that he +meant also to take a survey of the settlements along the Ohio, with +the object of seeing which offered the most favorable opening for a +sudden assault by a large war party, the Shawanoe was quite certain he +spoke the truth. + +Deerfoot then asked why they did not assail the block-house on the +Licking, whose exposed situation seemed to invite such attack. +Waughtauk answered that Colonel Preston had proved a good friend to +the Indians who visited him, and it was decided to spare him. + +This answer excited the suspicion of the youthful Shawanoe that the +Wyandot chieftain had been deceiving him from the first; but Deerfoot +was too cunning to reveal anything of his thoughts. When he bade his +friends good-by, they at least were misled into the belief that he +held no suspicion of the "double tongue" with which they had spoken. + +It was no difficult matter for Deerfoot, when fairly away from the +Wyandots, to shadow them until he learned whether they had falsified +or not. + +They kept to the northward several miles, until they had every reason +to believe a long distance separated them from the Shawanoe, when they +changed to the left, turning again a short distance further on, until +their faces were directly toward Fort Bridgman, the block-house on the +Licking. + +That settled the question beyond dispute; they had told untruths to +Deerfoot, and their purpose was to descend upon the station defended +by Colonel Preston and only three able-bodied men. + +After this discovery, the Shawanoe stood a moment leaning thoughtfully +on his bow; an important truth impressed him: + +"They suspect that Deerfoot is a friend of the white man, and +therefore an enemy of his own race," was the thought of the Indian, +who realized the fearful meaning to him of such a suspicion. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +OLD FRIENDS. + + +The discharge of the second arrow over the head and shoulders of Ned +Preston and Wildblossom Brown lent wings to their flight; instead of +coming to a standstill, as they did a short time before, they bent all +their energies to escape, and ran with the utmost speed. + +In such an effort the advantage was on the side of Ned as compared +with the negro, for he was much more fleet of foot, and, as a +consequence, within two or three minutes he was almost beyond sight. + +"Hold on dar!" shouted Blossom; "dat aint de fair ting to leave a chap +dat way." + +Ned Preston could not desert the lad in this fashion, though it would +not help him to stay behind and share his fate. + +But his own disposition and the training received from his father led +him to reproach himself for leaving him even for so short a time. He +therefore stopped, and called back-- + +"Hurry, Blossom; every minute counts." + +"Dat's jes' what I am a doin'," panted Blossom, struggling forward; +"but I never could run as well as you----" + +At that moment Ned Preston, who was looking toward the African, caught +sight of an Indian close behind him. The warrior was in close pursuit, +though the intervening vegetation for the moment prevented the young +pioneer from seeing him distinctly. Enough was visible, however, to +make his aim sure, and Ned brought his rifle to his shoulder. + +"I hear de Injines! Dey're right behind me!" shouted the terrified +Blossom; "get 'em in range, Ned, and shoot 'em all!" + +Such a performance as this was out of the question, as a matter of +course, but the boy was determined to do his utmost to help his +friend. + +When Ned raised his gun there was but the single warrior visible, and +the sight of him was indistinct; but it was enough to make the aim +certain, and the youth felt that one red man was certain to pay for +his vindictiveness. At the same time he wondered why no others were +seen. + +But at the very moment the finger of Ned was pressing the trigger, the +Indian disappeared as suddenly as if he had dropped through the mouth +of a cavern. The target at which the gun was aimed had vanished. + +Mystified and astounded, Ned Preston lowered his piece and stared at +the point where the red man was last seen, as if he doubted his own +senses. At the same moment a suppressed whoop was heard, and the +warrior stepped to view from behind the sycamore, where he had leaped +to dodge the bullet of the rifle which he saw aimed at him. + +Ned was in the act of raising his gun again, when he almost let it +fall from his grasp, with the exclamation-- + +"DEERFOOT!" + +As the single word fell from his lips, his eyes rested on the figure +of a young Indian of singular grace and beauty, who, without regarding +the bewildered Blossom, walked forward to greet Ned Preston. + + [Illustration: THE MEETING WITH DEERFOOT.] + +Deerfoot the Shawanoe, at the most, was no more than a year older than +young Preston. He was about the same height, but of lighter mould, and +with a length of lower limbs and a suppleness of frame which +betokened great natural abilities as a runner: when we add that these +capabilities had been cultivated to the highest point, it will not +seem unreasonable that Deerfoot's unequalled swiftness of foot was +known to several tribes besides his own. + +Although a Shawanoe by birth (which tribe at that day had their +hunting-grounds north of the Ohio), Deerfoot roamed through the +forests south, and the exploits of the youth in running were told in +the lodges by the camp-fires of the Shawanoe, the Wyandot, the Miami, +the Delaware, and the Cherokee. + +His expertness with the bow and arrow, his bravery in battle, his +skill on the hunt, the fact that his mother was shot by settlers, and +his father was killed in the famous Crawford expedition, caused +Deerfoot to be formally ranked as a warrior when he was only fourteen +years of age. + +His deftness with his primitive weapons was no less remarkable than +his fleetness of foot. Had he been living to-day, he would have taken +the prize at the annual archery tournaments, even though he used a +hickory bow instead of the double-backed yew or lancewood, and his +missiles were made of the former material, with a single feather +instead of the three, and were tied instead of being glued in place. + +The bow and arrows of Deerfoot would have made a sorry show among +those of the fair ladies and graceful gentlemen at the archery +contests in these times; but those same shafts of the dusky American, +with the keen flint or iron heads, had been driven by him with such +prodigious force that they had found the heart of the deer or bear or +bison at scarcely less than a hundred yards. + +Deerfoot therefore refused to use the rifle, but clung to the bow, +whose use he began studying when he was less than three years old. + +As we have said, the young Shawanoe, now no more than seventeen years +of age, was graceful of figure, with elastic, supple limbs, and with a +perfect symmetry of frame. When he smiled, which happened now and +then, he disclosed two rows of teeth as white, even, and beautiful, +and free from decay, as ever existed. The nose was slightly aquiline, +the eyes as black and piercing as those of a serpent, the forehead +high, the cheek bones slightly prominent, the whole expression +pervaded by that slight tinge of melancholy which seems to be the +characteristic of the American race. + +Deerfoot's costume and dress were those of the defiant warrior, who +was the implacable foe of the white man. His hair, as long, black and +coarse as that of a horse's mane, was gathered in a knot or scalp-lock +on the crown, where it was tied and ornamented with eagle feathers, +that were stained several brilliant hues; his hunting-shirt encased +his sinewy arms, chest and waist, the ornamented skirt descending to +his knees. The whole garment, made of buckskin obtained from the +traders, was of a yellow color, the fringe being a deep crimson. +Deerfoot shared the love of his people for flaring colors, as was +shown by his handsomely decorated moccasins which encased his shapely +feet, the various-hued fringes of his leggings, the string of bright +beads around his neck, and the golden bracelet that he wore on his +left wrist. + +The red leathern belt, which clasped the waist of the young Shawanoe, +formed a pretty contrast to the pale yellow of the hunting-shirt, and, +a short distance off, would have been taken for the crimson sash worn +by the civilized officer of modern times. + +Behind this belt were thrust a tomahawk and hunting-knife, both keen +of edge and terribly effective in the hands of the owner. The bundle +of arrows was supported by a string passing around the neck, the +missiles themselves resting behind the shoulder, the feathered points +plainly seen by any one as they projected upward in front. In this +place they were so accessible that Deerfoot, in discharging them at a +foe or an animal, would have two or three in the air at the same time, +there being what might be called a procession of arrows from the bow +to the target, whatever it might be. + +In the coldest weather, the youthful warrior gathered a heavy blanket +about his shoulders, which hid all his figure, from his chin down to +his twinkling moccasins. During the sultry season he occasionally +threw off his hunting-shirt, except the skirt, so that arm, chest and +neck were covered only by the rude figures which the mother had +tattooed there by a most painful process during the days when +Pa-wa-oo-pa, or Deerfoot, was a stoical papoose, tied to a flat piece +of bark, and swinging in the tree branches, or lying motionless on the +ground with limbs tied, and calmly watching the torturing operation +with the bravery which is a part of the nature of the dusky hunters +of the forest. + +The bow of Deerfoot was of seasoned hickory, the string was dried +sinew, and the weapon itself was all of six feet in length; so that, +in discharging it, he did not hold it perpendicular, as is the rule, +but in a slanting position; in short, the young Shawanoe violated more +than one fundamental regulation in archery, but the fact remained that +he could spit the gray squirrel on the top of the tallest oak; he +could bring down the buck when leaping through the air; he had driven +his sharp-pointed shaft through the shaggy body of the bison, and had +brought the eagle flapping and dying to the ground when circling in +the clear air far above his head. + +Two years before, Deerfoot was the most vindictive enemy of the +pioneers, who had slain both his father and mother. While attacking +some settlers' cabins near Maysville, with nearly a score of other +Shawanoes, they were surprised and almost annihilated by a party of +whites led by Macaiah Preston, father of Ned. Deerfoot was wounded and +taken captive. He fought like a young tiger, and the settlers, who +knew his extraordinary skill and the injury he had done them, +insisted on putting him to death. + +But Macaiah Preston interposed, and would not permit it. He took him +to his own home, and carefully nursed him back to rugged health and +strength. + +On the part of the good Samaritan he was assisted by his wife and Ned, +who formed a strong attachment for the captive Shawanoe. The young +brave more than reciprocated this friendship, the sentiment of +gratitude being the most characteristic trait in his nature. He became +henceforth the unfaltering ally and friend of the white race; from the +bitterest enemy he was transformed into the most devoted friend, his +fervency, like that of Saul of Tarsus, being as extreme as was his +previous hatred. + +The better to aid the settlers, Deerfoot returned to his own people, +and kept up the semblance of enmity toward the pioneers. He even took +part in several expeditions against them, but all proved disastrous +failures to the assailants, and the youth did most effective service +for those whom he had fought so fiercely a short time before. + +It was of the utmost importance to Deerfoot that his true sentiments +and real doings should be concealed from his people; for whenever the +truth should become known to them, the most frightful death that could +be conceived would be visited upon him. + +The daring warrior believed his secret must be discovered; he believed +he would fall a victim to their terrible vengeance sooner or later; +but he was none the less faithful to the settlers. He simply resolved +that he would never submit tamely to his fate; but, if the aborigines +secured him for torment, it would be done by superior daring and +subtlety. + +Thus it was that the youthful Shawanoe was playing a most perilous and +dangerous part; but he had played it so well that not until to-day had +he seen just cause to believe any suspicion was afloat concerning +himself. + +The action of the Wyandots indicated that they preferred not to trust +him with their secret. It was the first time anything of the kind had +occurred, and it could not but cause uneasiness in the mind of +Deerfoot. + +It did not affect in the least, however, his course of action. He had +set out to befriend Ned Preston and Wildblossom Brown, and it was his +purpose to apprise Colonel Preston at Fort Bridgman of the danger to +which his block-house was exposed. + +"Deerfoot!" exclaimed Ned Preston, stepping hastily toward him and +extending his hand; "I never was more glad to see you in all my life." + +The handsome mouth of the Shawanoe expanded just enough to show the +white teeth between the dusky lips, and he took the hand of Ned and +pressed it warmly, immediately allowing the palm to drop from his own. + +Then, without speaking, he turned toward Blossom, who, having seen how +matters stood, was scrambling rapidly forward to greet the young +warrior, whom he knew so well, and who was the most valuable companion +they could have at such a time. + +Deerfoot was left-handed by birth, but he had trained himself until he +was ambidextrous, and he could draw the bow, hurl the tomahawk or +wield the scalping-knife with the right as well as with the left hand. + +In no single respect, perhaps, was his mental power more clearly shown +than in the celerity with which he acquired the English language. +When several years younger he was able to hold a conversation with the +traders; and during the short time he remained with Macaiah Preston, +before "escaping" to his people again, he became so proficient that he +could readily act as interpreter. + +"War dat you dat fired dat arrer at us?" demanded Wildblossom, as he +caught the hand of Deerfoot, who nodded his head, with just a shadowy +smile. + +The American Indian, as a rule, does not like the African race, and he +often shows an unreasonable prejudice against him. There seemed to be +such a distaste on the part of Deerfoot, but he concealed it so well +that Blossom Brown never suspected its existence. He treated the negro +lad kindly because he belonged to the Prestons, whom the Shawanoe +loved above all others. + +"I thought you war a better shot dan to miss us," added Blossom, with +the purpose of teasing their dusky friend; "your arrer neber teched me +nor Ned." + +"Did it hit the buck?" asked Deerfoot, smiling a little more +decisively. + +"Dat war 'cause you war so close to him." + +"Deerfoot stood further away than did his white brother, who harmed +him not with his gun." + +"That was because my rifle missed fire," Ned hastened to explain; "if +it was not for that, the buck would have fallen in his tracks." + +"_This_ gun never misses fire," said the Shawanoe, holding up the bow +with no little pride. + +"But it misses folks dat it am p'inted at," remarked Blossom, reaching +out and giving Deerfoot a nudge in the back. + +"Will my brother with the face of the night, walk a long ways in the +wood and let Deerfoot send a single arrow toward him?" + +There was a gleam in the dark eye of the young Shawanoe as he made +this request, and no doubt it would have proven a dangerous challenge +for Blossom to accept. The negro himself did not notice the full +significance of the question, but Ned Preston did, and he trembled +over the temerity of Blossom, who believed that Deerfoot felt as +strong friendship for him as he himself felt for the matchless young +warrior. + +Unsuspicious of the slumbering storm, the African lad fortunately took +the very best course to avert it. Shaking his head with a laugh, he +said: + +"Dar aint no better rifle-shots dan masser Ned dar; and I'd radder +stand up afore him a hundred yards off, and let him draw bead on me, +dan hab Deerfoot send one ob dem arrers whizzin' arter dis chile." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THROUGH THE TRACKLESS FOREST--THE CAUSE. + + +The compliment to the young Shawanoe, although rudely expressed, was +genuine, and at once dissipated the latent lightning that was on the +point of bursting forth. + +The lowering eclipse that overspread the dusky countenance instantly +cleared away, and Deerfoot smiled more than before as he turned toward +Ned Preston to see how he accepted the remark of his servant. + +The young pioneer was pleased, and, slapping the lad on the shoulder, +exclaimed heartily-- + +"You show your good sense there, Blossom; and after this, when I hear +the folks say you are the stupidest boy in all Kentucky, I will quote +what you have just said to prove they are mistaken." + +Wildblossom raised his cap and scratched his head, somewhat doubtful +as to how he should accept this remark. While he was considering the +matter, Deerfoot and Ned faced each other, and talked concerning more +important matters. + +The sun, which had been scarcely visible during the day, was now below +the horizon, and the shadows of night were creeping through the autumn +woods. The air continued chilly, and moaned among the branches, from +which the crisp leaves, turning from bright yellow and flaming crimson +to dull brown, were continually drifting downward. The squirrels +whisked from limb to limb, gathering their winter store of nuts, and +chattering their defiance from the highest branches of elm, oak, ash, +hickory, chestnut, or maple. + +Now and then feathery particles of snow whirled around them, so light +and downy that they scarcely found their way to the leaves below. It +was the time of the sad and melancholy days, though the most joyous +one to the hunter. + +Ned Preston had been told by Deerfoot that he was the only Indian near +them, and he was vastly relieved that the danger was found to be +scarcely any danger at all. + +As it was becoming colder, and night was closing in, the boy was +anxious to go into camp. He could conceive of no reason why they +should push forward any further before morning, as he held no +suspicion of the critical condition of affairs. + +But he quickly learned the truth from Deerfoot, who related, in his +pointed way, the story of the Wyandots under the fierce war chief +Waughtauk. + +"And they are going to the block-house!" exclaimed the astonished lad. + +The young warrior nodded his head to signify there could be no doubt +of the fact. + +"Then we had better turn around and go back to Wild Oaks as quickly as +we can." + +"Deerfoot must hurry to Colonel Preston and tell him of the Wyandots," +said the Shawanoe; "that is Deerfoot's first duty." + +"Of course; I didn't expect you to go with us; we can make our way +home without help." + +"But your feet wandered from the path only a few hours ago." + +"We were careless, for we felt there was no need of haste," replied +young Preston; "that could not happen again, when we know such a +mistake might work us ill." + +"But that was in the daytime; it is now night." + +Ned felt the force of this fact, but he would not have hesitated to +start on the back trail without a minute's delay. + +"When we found we were going wrong we could stop and wait till the +rising of the morning sun. I have several letters which you can +deliver to my uncle." + +Deerfoot shook his head; he had another course in mind. + +"We will go to the fort; you will hand the letters to the white +soldier; Deerfoot will show the way." + +"Deerfoot knows best; we will follow in his footsteps." + +The Shawanoe was pleased with the readiness of the young pioneer, who, +it must be stated, could not see the wisdom of the decision of their +guide. + +If Waughtauk and his warriors were in the immediate vicinity of the +block-house, the boys must run great risk in an attempt to enter the +post. They could not reach the station ahead of the Wyandots, and it +would be a task of extreme difficulty to open communication with +Colonel Preston, even though he knew the loyalty of the dusky ally of +the whites. + +Deerfoot would have a much better prospect of success alone than if +embarrassed by two companions, whom the other Indians would consider +in the light of the very game for which they were hunting. + +It seemed to Ned that it would be far more prudent for the young +Shawanoe to take the letters and make his way through the trackless +forest, while Ned and Blossom spared no time or effort in returning to +Wild Oaks. + +But the matchless subtlety and skill of Deerfoot were appreciated by +no one more than by young Preston, who unhesitatingly placed himself +under his charge. + +But cheerfully as the wishes of the Shawanoe were acceded to by the +white boy, the African lad was anything but satisfied. Of a sluggish +temperament, he disliked severe exertion. He had not only been on the +tramp most of the day, but, during the last half hour, had been forced +to an exertion which had tired him out; he therefore objected to a +tramp that was likely to take the better portion of the night. + +"We'd better start a fire here," said he, "and den in de mornin' we'll +be fresh, and we can run all de way to de Lickin', and get dar 'bout +as soon as if we trabel all night and got tired most to def." + +The Shawanoe turned upon him in the dusky twilight, and said-- + +"My brother with the face of the night may wait here; Deerfoot and his +friend will go on alone." + +With which decisive remark he wheeled about, and, facing southwest, +strode off toward the block-house on the Licking. + +"Wildblossom aint gwine to stay here, not if he knows hisself, while +you folks go to your destruction," exclaimed the servant, falling into +line. + +The strange procession was under way at once. Deerfoot, as a matter of +course, took the lead, Ned Preston stepping close behind him, while +the African kept so near his young master that he trod on his heels +more than once. + +The Shawnee displayed his marvellous woodcraft from the first. +Although the ground was thickly strewn with leaves, his soft moccasins +touched them as lightly as do the velvet paws of the tiger when +stealing through the jungle. Ned Preston took extreme care to imitate +him, and partially succeeded, but the large shoes of Blossom Brown +rumpled and tumbled the dry vegetation despite every effort to avoid +it. + +It was not until reproved by Ned, and the gait was slackened, that, to +a certain extent, the noisy rustling was stopped. + +There were no stars nor moon in the sky, there was no beaten path to +follow, and they were not on the bank nor along the watercourse of any +stream to guide them; but the dusky leader advanced as unerringly as +does the bloodhound when trailing the panting fugitive through the +marshy swamps and lowlands. + +As the night deepened, Ned saw only dimly the figure of the lithe and +graceful young warrior in front. His shoulders were thrown forward, +and his head projected slightly beyond. This was his attitude while on +the trail, and when all his faculties were alert. Eye and ear were +strained to the highest tension, and the faint cry of a bird or the +flitting of a shadowy figure among the forest arches would have been +detected on the instant. + +Ned Preston could catch the outlines of the scalp-lock and eagle +feathers, which took on a slightly waving motion in response to the +long, loping tread of the Indian; occasionally he could detect a part +of the quiver, fastened back of the shoulder, and the upper portion of +the long bow, which he carried unstrung in his right hand. + +Then there were moments when the guide was absolutely invisible, and +he moved with such silence that Ned feared he had left them +altogether. But he was there all the time, and the journey through the +desolate woods continued with scarcely an interruption. + +Suddenly Deerfoot came to a halt, giving utterance at the same moment +to a sibilant sound as a warning to Ned Preston, who checked himself +with his chin almost upon the arrow-quiver. It was different with +Blossom, who bumped his nose against the shoulders of his young master +with such violence that Ned put up his hand to check himself from +knocking the guide off his feet. + +Neither Ned nor Blossom had caught the slightest sound, and they +wondered what it was that had alarmed Deerfoot. + +No one spoke, but all stood as motionless as the tree trunks beside +them, those behind waiting the pleasure of him who was conducting them +on this dangerous journey. + +For fully five minutes (which seemed doubly that length) the tableau +lasted, during which the listening followers heard only the soughing +of the night-wind and the hollow murmur of the great forest, which was +like the voice of silence itself. + +Then the faint rustle of the leaves beneath the moccasins of the +Shawanoe showed that he was moving forward again, and the others +resumed walking, with all the caution consistent with necessary speed. + +Fully a half mile was passed in this manner, the three advancing like +automata, with never a whisper or halt. Blossom, although wearied and +displeased, appreciated the situation too well to express his +feelings, or to attempt anything to which either of the others would +object. + +"Dey aint likely to keep dis up for more dan a week," was the thought +which came to him; "and when I make up my mind to it, I can stand it +as long as bofe of 'em together." + +However, Blossom had almost reached the protesting point, when he +heard the same warning hiss from the Shawanoe, and checked himself +just in time to avoid a collision with his young master. + +The cause of this stoppage was apparent to all: they stood on the bank +of a creek a hundred yards wide, which it was necessary to cross to +reach the block-house. It ran into the Licking a number of miles +south, and so far below Fort Bridgman that there was no way of "going +round" it to reach the station. + +It was the custom of the boys, when making the journey between Wild +Oaks and the block-house, to ferry themselves over on a raft which +they had constructed, and which was used on their return. As they took +a course each time which brought them to the same point on the +tributary, this was an easy matter. During the summer they sometimes +doffed their garments, and placing them and their guns on a small +float, swam over, pushing their property before them. + +The water was too cold to admit of any such course now, unless driven +to it by necessity; and as Deerfoot had brought them to a point on the +bank far removed from the usual ferrying place, Ned concluded they +were in an unpleasant predicament, to say the least. + +"How are we going to get across?" he asked, when they had stood +motionless several minutes looking down on the dim current flowing at +their feet. + +"The creek is not wide; we can swim to the other shore." + +"There is no doubt of that, for I have done it more than once; but +there is snow flying in the air, and it isn't a favorite season with +me to go in bathing." + +A slight exclamation escaped the Shawanoe, which was probably meant as +an expression of contempt for the effeminacy of his white friend. + +Be that as it may, he said nothing, nor did he, in point of fact, mean +to force the two to such a disagreeable experience. + +"Wait till Deerfoot comes back." + +As he uttered these words he moved down the bank, while Blossom Brown +threw himself on the ground, muttering-- + +"I would like to wait here all night, and I hope he has gone for some +wood to kindle a fire." + +"There is no likelihood of that," explained Ned, "for he is too +anxious to reach the block-house." + +"I tink he is anxiouser dan----_See dat_!" + +At that moment the dip of a paddle was heard, and the lads caught the +faint outlines of a canoe stealing along the stream close to the +shore. In it was seated a single warrior, who did not sway his body in +the least as he dipped the paddle first on one side the frail boat and +then on the other. + +"He's arter us!" whispered Blossom, cocking his rifle. + +"Of course he is; it's Deerfoot." + +"I forgot all about dat," said the lad, lowering his piece, with no +little chagrin. + +Ned Preston now cautiously descended the bank, followed by Blossom, +and while the Shawanoe held the craft against the shore, they stepped +within, Ned placing himself in the bow, while his companion took a +seat at the stern. + +Then, while Deerfoot deftly poised himself in the middle, he lightly +dipped the ashen paddle alternately on the right and left, sending the +canoe forward as gracefully as a swallow. + +"Whose boat is that?" asked Ned. + +"It belongs to some Pottawatomie," answered the Shawanoe, speaking +with a confidence which showed he held no doubt in the matter, though +he might have found it hard to tell his companions the precise means +by which he gained the information. + +Deerfoot, instead of speeding directly across, headed south, as though +he meant to follow the stream to its confluence with the Licking. +Suspecting he was not aware of his mistake, Blossom deemed it his duty +to remind him of it. + +"You are gwine de wrong way, if you did but know it, Deerfoot; de oder +side am ober dar." + +Perhaps the young Shawanoe indulged in a quiet smile; if so, he made +no other sign, but continued down the creek with arrowy swiftness for +two or three hundred yards, when he began verging toward the other +shore. + +Ned Preston made no remark, but alternately peered ahead to discern +where they were going, and back, that he might admire the grace and +skill with which the Indian propelled the light structure. + +All at once, with a sweep of the paddle, the boat was whirled around +with such suddenness that Blossom Brown thought they were going to +upset and be precipitated into the water. By the time he recovered +himself the delicate prow touched the shore as lightly as if drawn by +a lady's hand. + +Ned instantly stepped out, the others doing the same. When everything +was removed, Deerfoot stooped over, and, without any apparent effort, +raised the canoe from the water. + +"I s'pose he am gwine to take dat along to hold ober our heads when it +rains." + +But Blossom was altogether wide of the mark in his theory. The +Shawanoe carried it only a few paces, when he placed it under a clump +of bushes, pulled some leaves over it, laying the paddle beneath, and +then once more turned to resume their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +"SHUT OUT." + + +Deerfoot informed his friends that they were now within seven miles of +the block-house. Although the night was far advanced, he expected to +reach their destination long before morning. At that season the days +were short, and as the Shawanoe was familiar with the woods, and could +travel with as much certainty in the darkness as the light, there was +no delay counted upon, unless they should approach the vicinity of +some of the Wyandots. + +The order of march was taken up precisely as before, Deerfoot warning +the others to walk with the least noise possible, he setting the +example by advancing absolutely without any sound that could betray +his footsteps. + +Ned Preston felt the touch of a few wandering snowflakes against his +cheek, but there were not enough to show themselves on the leaves. The +exercise of walking and their thick garments kept them sufficiently +warm, though it would have been different had they been in camp. In +the latter case, as they had no encumbering blankets, it would have +gone ill without a roaring camp-fire. + +The journey now became monotonous, even to young Preston, who found it +tiresome to walk so continuously without the least noise or occurrence +to awaken alarm. They must have gone at least four miles in this +manner, Blossom plodding along with a certain dogged resolution which +kept him close on the heels of his young master. + +The latter often felt like protesting, but nothing could have +persuaded him to do so. It would have offended Deerfoot, who was the +guide of the party, and who was directing affairs in accordance with +his own theory of strategy. He knew that that scout is sure to meet +disaster, sooner or later, who allows his impatience to influence his +judgment, and who fails to use the most extreme caution whenever and +wherever there is the shadow of danger. + +When Preston began to believe they were in the vicinity of the +Licking, Deerfoot came to an abrupt and noiseless halt. This time he +spoke the single word-- + +"_Listen!_" + +The two did as requested, but were unable to detect anything beside +the hollow moaning of the wind through the trees, and the faint, +almost inaudible murmur of the distant Licking. Several minutes +passed, and then the guide asked-- + +"Do my brothers hear anything?" + +They answered that they could distinguish nothing more than was always +to be heard at such times. + +"We are close to the camp of the Wyandots," was the alarming +information. + +"How do you know that?" inquired his friend. + +"Deerfoot heard them," was the explanation, in such a guarded +undertone that his companions barely caught his words. + +No one thought of doubting the assertion of the Indian, incredible as +it sounded, and the truth of his declaration was soon manifest. +Certain as he was that they were close to a party of his own race, the +advance was made with greater care than before. + +He picked his way with such patience and slowness that Blossom found +plenty of time in which to lift his feet as high as he knew how, +setting them down as though afraid of waking a slumbering baby near +at hand. + +Within two rods of the spot where they halted they suddenly caught the +starlike twinkle of a point of fire directly ahead. Instantly all +stopped, and no one spoke; they knew that it was the camp-fire of the +party whose presence the Shawanoe learned a few minutes before. + +Nothing more than the glimmer of the light could be seen, because +there were so many trees and so much vegetation intervening. + +"Let my brothers wait till I return," said Deerfoot, turning his head +so as not to speak too loud. + +"It shall be done," replied Ned Preston, who was on the point of +asking a question, when he became aware that he and Blossom were +alone: Deerfoot had vanished with the silence of a shadow. + +"If we've to wait yar a long time," said Blossom in a husky whisper, +"we might as well sot down." + +Preston made no objection to this on the part of his servant, but he +remained standing himself, leaning against a tree, while Blossom +supported his head in the same way. + +"I don't care if Deerfoot doesn't come back for a week," remarked the +negro lad, with a sigh of contentment that at last he was permitted to +rest his limbs. + +"He will not stay long," said Ned; "and the best thing we can do while +he is away is to do nothing." + +"Dat's just what I'm doin' as hard as I can." + +"I wouldn't even speak, Blossom, for some of the Indians may be near +us." + +"Dat suits me jes' as well," assented the other, who thereafter held +his peace. + +Meanwhile, Deerfoot the Shawanoe approached the camp-fire of the +Indians with all the care and skill he could command. Possibly he +would have incurred no great risk by stalking boldly forward, for he +was already known among the tribe, which was an ally of the Shawanoes. + +But the incident of the afternoon had taught him a lesson, and he knew +such a course would deepen the suspicion which some of the Wyandots +already held against him. + +They had given him to understand they were on their way to reconnoiter +Wild Oaks and some of the settlements along the Ohio. If they should +find he was dogging them, what other proof could they ask that he was +playing the part of spy and enemy? + +For this reason the Shawanoe determined to avoid observation, and to +make his reconnoissance precisely as though he were an avowed foe of +those of his own race. + +He had not gone far when he gained a full view of the camp. That which +immediately caught his attention and increased his misgiving was the +fact that this was a new party altogether. Waughtauk did not lead +these warriors, none of whom was with the company whom the young scout +encountered during the afternoon. + +But several other important facts were significant: these were also +Wyandots; they numbered thirteen, and they were in their war-paint. +They had probably left their towns north of the Ohio at the same time +with Waughtauk, and they had separated, the better to carry out some +project the chief had in view. + +Shrewd and sagacious beyond his years as was the Shawanoe, he was in a +situation in which he was compelled to do no little guessing. He was +satisfied that the chief and his warriors intended to compass the +destruction of the block-house, sometimes known as Fort Bridgman, and +to massacre every one within it. + +The Wyandots, like the Shawanoes, were brave fighters, and why they +had not assailed the post was hard to tell, when it would seem they +numbered enough to overwhelm the garrison. It looked as if Colonel +Preston had discovered his danger, though it was not an uncommon thing +for a war party to delay their attack on a station a long time after +it seemed doomed beyond all hope. + +The Wyandots had disposed themselves in a fashion that looked as +though they meant to stay where they were through the night. They had +evidently finished a meal on something, and were now smoking their +pipes, lolling on their blankets, sharpening their knives with +peculiar whetstones, cleaning their guns, now and then exchanging a +few guttural words, the meaning of which not even the sharp-eared +Shawanoe could catch. + +"They mean to attack the block-house," was the conclusion of Deerfoot, +who tarried only a few minutes, when he began a cautious return to his +two friends, who were found as he had left them, except that Blossom +Brown was on the verge of slumber. + +Deerfoot quickly explained what he had learned, and added that the +difficulty of entering the block-house was increased; but he believed, +by acting promptly, it could be done with safety. Ned Preston was +inclined to ask wherein the use lay of all three going thither, when +one would do as well, and the obstacles were much greater than in the +case of a single person. + +But the course of the guide convinced Preston that he had some plan +which he had not yet revealed, and which necessitated the entrance of +the young pioneer at least into the block-house. + +"Have you any knowledge when the Wyandots will attack Colonel +Preston?" + +"The break of day is a favorite hour with Deerfoot's people, but they +often take other seasons." + +"Why are they not closer to the station?" + +"They are already close; we are within three hundred yards of the +fort; Deerfoot will lead the way, and if the warriors' eyes are not +like those of the owl, we may pass through the gate before the first +sign of light in the east." + +There was no necessity of telling Ned and Blossom that their caution +must not be relaxed a single moment: no one could know better than +they that the briefest forgetfulness was likely to prove fatal, for +the Wyandots were all around them. The detection of either lad would +seal his fate. + +The purpose of Deerfoot was to steal nigh enough to the block-house to +apprise the inmates that they were on the outside, and awaiting an +opportunity to enter. Could they succeed in letting Colonel Preston +know the truth, all three could be admitted in the darkness, with +little danger to themselves or to the garrison. + +What the Shawanoe feared was that the Wyandots had established a +cordon, as it might be termed, around the block-house. It was more +than probable that Colonel Preston had discovered the approach of the +hostiles in time to make quite thorough preparations. + +While this might not avert the attack of the red men, it was certain +to delay it. The next most natural proceeding for the commandant would +be to dispatch a messenger to Wild Oaks, to inform the settlers of his +peril, and to bring back help. The assailing Indians would anticipate +such a movement by surrounding the block-house so closely that the +most skillful ranger would find it impossible to make his way through +the lines. + +If such were the case, it followed as a corollary that no friend of +the garrison would be able to steal through the cordon and secure +entrance into the building: the gauntlet, in the latter case, would be +more difficult than in the former, inasmuch as it would be necessary +first to open communication with Colonel Preston, and to establish a +perfect understanding before the task could be attempted. + +Deerfoot turned to the right, so as to pass around the camp-fire, but +his advance was with a caution which can hardly be pictured. Ned +Preston could not hear the slightest sound, and where the darkness was +so deep it was hard work to keep informed of his movements. + +When the Shawanoe stopped, he merely reached his hand back and touched +Ned, who did the same to Blossom; when the start was made again, a +slight sibilant sound, which a listening Indian twenty feet distant +would not have noticed, told the fact. No one ventured to speak, even +in the most guarded whisper. + +Had Deerfoot been alone, he would have advanced much faster; but he +gave his companions time to raise their feet and put them down again +with such slowness and care that not a leaf was overturned. + +Blossom Brown did much better than Preston anticipated. The lad +understood the need of this elaborate caution, and as he had the two +in front of him, there was no excuse for his making a false step. Once +he began a sentence in a husky whisper, but before it was half +finished his young master gripped him by the shoulder, as if with an +iron vise, and the attempt was not repeated. + +After a time, which seemed almost interminable, the camp-fire was +flanked, though still in sight. The situation of the three, as a +consequence, became more delicate and perilous than before; for, to +effect a safe withdrawal from the neighborhood, they would have to +pass through the lines again, while there could be no doubt "the woods +were full" of other warriors. + +Suddenly the serpent-like hiss of the Shawanoe sounded, and all three +came to a stand-still. This was scarcely done when Deerfoot, for the +first time since the reconnoissance proper began, broke silence by +exclaiming, in a voice just audible, + +"_Stoop down!_" + +His order was obeyed (for his companions knew the danger was imminent) +without a word or a second's hesitation. + +Their senses were on the alert, but for a minute or two they neither +heard nor saw anything to explain the cause of the alarm of their +guide. At the end of the brief spell, a faint rustling was noticed +near them, and the listeners held their very breath. + +This disturbance of the leaves must have been caused by the feet of +Wyandot warriors, who were altogether closer than was comfortable for +the lads crouching on the ground. In the gloom, deepened by the shadow +of the wood, it was impossible to see a half dozen feet; but while Ned +Preston was peering through the darkness in the direction whence came +the noise, a figure suddenly passed across the field of vision between +him and the camp-fire. + +Looking in the latter direction, he could see something moving before +the light. That which arrested the attention of Ned was the head and +shoulders of an Indian warrior, who was gliding with a silence which +led the spectator to suspect at first he was deceived. But the contour +of the scalp-lock, shoulders and chest was unmistakable. + +The first had scarcely vanished, when a second and a third followed in +precisely the same fashion; but though the eye strained itself to +catch sight of more, none appeared. The three were all who came so +near detecting the boys. + +Ned Preston and Blossom Brown felt that the perfect caution displayed +by the Shawanoe was more than repaid; for had it been less, the +hostiles would have learned their presence before they themselves were +detected. + +All at once young Preston became aware that Deerfoot was gone; he had +quietly departed, as was his custom, and would return when he saw fit. +Ned crept far enough backward to allow him to whisper the fact to +Blossom, without any risk of being heard by other ears no matter how +near them. + +A full half hour passed, when the Shawanoe returned as silently as he +had departed. + +As Preston suspected, he had been off on a reconnoissance, where he +wanted no companions. He announced the result in the alarming words-- + +"Wyandots are everywhere; we cannot enter the fort." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE BLOCK-HOUSE. + + +The block-house, known near a century ago as Fort Bridgman, stood on +the right bank of the Licking river in Kentucky, and was some thirty +odd miles southwest of the present city of Maysville. + +The block-house proper was a substantial structure of heavy logs, and +consisted of only two rooms--one above and below. The lower story was +a dozen yards square, and the upper was two feet greater in each +direction, for the builders followed the frontier fashion of +projecting the second story over the first. This projection being +pierced with portholes, gave opportunity to the garrison to fire down +on the heads of their assailants, who might attempt to batter down the +door, or make a rush for the interior. + +The roof was so steeply shelving that the most agile Indian could not +sustain himself on it. On each side was a trap-door, intended for use +in emergency. The roof itself was composed of thick slabs of oak, +and, like the logs, doors, and every portion of the building, was +bullet-proof. + +The structure stood at the angle of a square of one hundred feet, +which was inclosed by a strong stockade. This consisted of logs split +through the middle, one end sharpened and driven deep into the earth, +leaving the upper portions, which were of irregular height, nine or +ten feet above the ground. + +Standing at the angle of this square, it will be seen that the +block-house formed a part of two sides. On that which faced the +Licking was a door and one window; on the opposite side, which opened +into the stockade or inclosure, were also a door and window. On the +other two sides were two windows, but no door; the former were so +narrow that no Indian warrior could force his way through them, while +the doors of puncheon slabs would have resisted for a long time the +pounding of a battering-ram. The windows were all on the ground floor. + +The fort having been built expressly for defensive purposes, where the +peril was known to be great, it lacked nothing which the rude +frontier warfare could suggest. It was so abundantly pierced with +loop-holes that the garrison commanded every approach. + +If the red men attempted to scale the stockade at any point, they had +to expose themselves to the bullets of the unerring Kentuckians behind +the logs; while, if they secured a closer approach on in the darkness +of night, the defenders could shoot them through the loopholes in the +projecting floor above. + +There was a gate on each side of the stockade, except on that furthest +removed from the block-house. Only one of these was used, and that was +on the southern side. The wooden chimney was at the corner, entirely +within the stockade, and the numerous attacks which the structure had +repelled proved, more than anything else, the strength and power of +resistance of the defence. + +The interior of the fort, as some called it, was of the most primitive +character. Below was a rough slab floor, with a fireplace, the smoke +from which found its vent up the wooden chimney. There were a bench, a +table, and several rude chairs, while a barrel of corn-meal was +generally kept pretty well filled against the emergency which all +felt was liable to arise without an hour's notice. + +The second story, although larger, as we have already stated, was +furnished with the same simplicity. It was supposed that, in case of +danger, this floor would be used more than the other by the defenders. +It had the two trap-doors in the steep roof, and was liberally +ventilated by means of the numerous loopholes which let in bars of +light from every direction, and permitted the outlook to take in as +extensive a vision as though the spectator was not surrounded by any +walls at all. + +Fort Bridgman faced the Licking river on the west, the stockade +extending eastward. It was originally intended to embrace the six +cabins which were put up by the settlers, but these were finally left +outside, and the inclosed square looked like a small parade-ground, to +be used for the benefit of the garrison. It contained near the centre +a well, to be appealed to in emergency, though it was not placed +within the building itself, so as to shut off the possibility of its +being seized by an attacking force. Colonel Preston more than once had +expressed a purpose to have such a well dug, but it was deferred from +time to time until, as is generally the case, the necessity was +forgotten altogether. + +In the roomy upper story of the block-house was always kept a barrel +of water, blankets, a few chairs, a number of axes, shovels, spades, +picks, and utensils useful in a new settlement. Fort Bridgman at one +time promised to become an important town in Kentucky; but a fierce +raid by a band of red men, one tempestuous night in mid-winter, +destroyed every cabin except the block-house, in which only a few +settlers found safe refuge from the vengeful warriors. + +In the autumn of which we are speaking there were only two cabins +beside the defence. These stood outside the stockade, and one was +occupied by Colonel Hugh Preston, his wife Maria, and his two +daughters--Mary, aged ten, and Susie, eight years old. + +Jo Stinger, an old Indian fighter of the early days in Kentucky, made +his home with the family, while Jim Turner and Sam Megill occupied the +other. The last two were brothers-in-law, and it was the intention of +the latter to bring his wife and three children from Wild Oaks in the +spring to live in the dwelling which he had taken so much pains to +erect and fit for their coming. + +Such was the garrison of the block-house in the autumn when Colonel +Preston, while hunting in the woods, learned of the presence of a war +party of Wyandots. It was by a pure accident, or rather providence, +that he discovered the alarming fact, and he lost not a moment in +improving the important knowledge. + +He hastened home, and the settlers gathered in the block-house, with +such extra provisions, blankets, fuel, and other necessaries as they +could get together. The doors of the building and the gates of the +stockade were fastened, and the men stationed themselves in the most +available points to detect the approach of their enemies. + +The little garrison were none too soon in these preparations, for +within the succeeding half hour the Wyandots were seen on the edge of +the woods, and creeping along the bank of the Licking one hundred +yards away. They were quick to note that, with all their secrecy of +movement, their approach had been discovered; if they had any doubts +on the point, they were removed by a couple of rifle-shots that were +sent hurtling among the bushes which partly concealed their bodies. + +"It's a great disappointment to them," said Jo Stinger, as he peered +through a loophole, "for they had every reason to believe we would be +surprised." + +"I hope it will be so much of a disappointment that they will postpone +the siege," remarked the Colonel. + +The old hunter shook his head, and added-- + +"That depends very much on how many redskins are out there. If the +party is not very large, they will be apt to give it up; but if there +are as many as I fear, the varmints will hang on, in the hope of +cleanin' us out." + +"They will have no easy task to do that," remarked the Colonel, with a +flash of the eye; "this isn't the first time it has been tried, and it +won't be the first time it has failed." + +"Suppose it is a success?" said his wife gently. + +The Colonel turned when he heard the familiar voice at his elbow, and, +as he noticed Mary and Susie playing on the floor, something like a +pang went to his heart. The sight caused him to feel more vividly than +ever before the dreadful meaning of the word "failure," which had +just passed the lips of his beloved wife. + +"Failure!" he repeated, as he placed his arm affectionately on her +shoulder; "do you regard it possible, when I have _you_ and the little +ones depending on us?" + +"I know every man, and myself as well, will fight to the end, but even +that does not always avail: the bravest must succumb when the +assailants overwhelm them." + +Tears glistened in her eyes, as she tried hard to look courageous, but +a mother lives in her affections, and no one could have felt more +deeply than did she, that all she valued in the world was at that +moment within the wooden walls of the block-house, while a merciless +foe was on the outside, as eager as so many jungle tigers to reach +them. + +"We have an abundance of ammunition," added the husband, seeking to +hide a vague fear which was creeping over him; "and we can stand a +longer siege than the Indians will care to maintain against us." + +"I trust so, but I cannot feel the hope which sustains you: I wish you +would send word to your brother at Wild Oaks, that he may give us +help before it is too late." + +This plan, although not named until now, was in the minds of more than +one member of the garrison. Colonel Preston had asked himself whether +it was not the prudent thing to do, and he looked at Jo Stinger to +learn what he thought of it. + +The old scout nodded his head in a way to signify he was favorable, +and said-- + +"It's the right thing, Colonel, and I'm the man to do it." + +"But how can you get out? The Indians will be on the watch, and we are +too few in number to spare a man." + +"Didn't I carry the news to Wild Oaks two years ago, when it looked as +though all of us was going under sure?" + +"You did--that's a fact; but was the risk as great as now?" + +"I think this is no greater, and it may not be as great: that's to be +found out. That time, I took three hours to get through the red skin +lines; but when I had shook 'em clear, I done some of the tallest +traveling of my life." + +"If you think it best, you may try it after dark." + +"I'll do it," said the settler, with a compression of the lips which +showed his earnestness. He had perilled his life many a time during +the years spent on the frontier, and he was not the man to hesitate, +when duty called him. + +It was now the middle of the afternoon of the blustery autumn day +which saw the approach of Ned Preston, Blossom Brown and the Shawanoe, +Deerfoot, to the vicinity of the block-house. The garrison were sure +to use the utmost vigilance until the all-important question was +settled, and it was not probable the besieging Wyandots would make any +serious attack before the night was well advanced. + +When Megill, a tall, sinewy, iron-limbed pioneer, learned the +intention of Stinger to make the attempt to reach Wild Oaks with a +view of bringing help, he commended the plan and said he would gladly +take his place. But Stinger would not consent, and it was understood +that the dangerous task was to be undertaken by him who proposed it. + +As the chilly night settled over river, forest and clearing, every +one in the block-house was impressed with the solemnity of the +situation. Even little Mary and Susie talked in hushed voices of the +wicked Indians on the outside, and wondered why they wished to harm +those who had never harmed them. When they knelt at their mother's +knee, their prayers were touching in their earnestness and simple +faith, and brought tears to the eyes of their parents. + +"God will take care of us," said Mary to the elder, with the trusting +belief of childhood; "so don't feel bad, papa and mamma." + +The mother had made them a bed in the corner, beyond the reach of any +stray bullets that might find their way through the loopholes; and, as +she tucked the blankets around them and kissed them good-night, she +added her own petition to heaven that it would guard and shield them +from all harm. + +Stinger, Megill and Turner were at the loopholes; and, while the +twilight was deepening within the gloomy block-house, Colonel Preston +lingered a few minutes beside his wife, who was seated on a rude stool +waiting for the little ones to close their eyes in slumber. + +"Why should we feel alarmed, Maria," he asked, "when, as I told you a +short time ago, we have plenty of ammunition and the means to defend +ourselves? There are five rifles, one for each of us, including +yourself; these walls are too strong to be battered down, and we can +make our aim too sure for the Wyandots to expose themselves long to +it." + +"That is all true, Hugh, and I hope that nothing I have said will +cause misgiving on your part; but, at the best, there are only a very, +_very_ few of us, and you know accidents may happen: suppose," she +added in a tremulous voice, "one or two of you should fall----" + +"Colonel, begging pardon," interrupted Jo Stinger, at this moment +advancing toward them, "you obsarve it's so dark inside that we +couldn't see each other's faces if it wasn't for that taller candle +burning on the stand, and I don't know of a better time to start for +Wild Oaks." + +"Is it fully dark on the outside?" asked the Colonel, glad of excuse +to end the gloomy conversation. + +"As dark as a wolf's mouth--so dark that I'm hopeful of getting +through the lines, without any bother; you know that every hour +counts, and I shall have to put in some big licks to reach Wild Oaks +and bring the boys here by to-morrow night." + +There could be no disputing this fact, and Colonel Preston peeped +through the loopholes, first on one side of the block-house and then +on the other, until he had looked toward each point of the compass. + +It may be said that nothing but blank darkness met his eye. He could +hear the sound of the flowing river, the solemn sighing of the +night-wind among the trees, but nowhere could he catch the glimmer of +the Indian camp-fire, nor hear the red man's war-whoop which had +fallen on his ear more than once since he made his home on the Dark +and Bloody Ground. + +This impressive stillness told as eloquently of the presence of the +red man as the sounds of conflict could have done. + +"There is no need of waiting longer," remarked the Colonel. + +As he spoke, he began descending the ladder, which answered for the +stairs, Stinger following him. On the lower floor there was not the +slightest ray of light, but both were so familiar with the room that +they needed no lamp. + +Reaching the door, Colonel Preston placed his hand on the heavy bars +which held it in place, and the two listened for several minutes. +Nothing was heard, and the fastenings were drawn with much care and in +almost complete silence. + +"If you have to come back," whispered the commandant, "give the signal +and I will let you in." + +"I'll do so;--good bye," and, without any more words, the scout +vanished in the gloom. + +To the consternation of Colonel Preston, he heard the familiar whistle +of Stinger a couple of hours later, at which time he hoped he was well +on his way to Wild Oaks. + +The messenger was safely admitted within the block-house shortly +after, and his first words were-- + +"It's no use, Colonel; a rabbit couldn't creep through the lines, +they're watching so close." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MESSAGE. + + +The declaration of Deerfoot the Shawanoe and of Stinger the scout that +the Wyandots were holding such strict watch of the approaches to the +block-house that no one could leave or approach it, was proof of the +thoroughness of their precautions. It showed still further that the +red men had determined to slay every one within the building. + +The first requisite to the success of such a scheme was to prevent any +one going to their help. The assailants knew just how many people +composed the garrison; and, though the provisions might last for days +and possibly weeks, yet the end must come sooner or later, when they +would lose the power of resistance from very exhaustion. + +Deerfoot, with all the skill he could command, conducted his two +companions to a point along the river bank nearly in front of the +block-house. This attained, he gave them to understand that they were +in a very dangerous position, and it was necessary to keep carefully +hidden from the Wyandots. + +Having gone thus far, it would seem that the subtle Shawanoe ought to +have gone further and secured entrance into the block-house itself. +Had Colonel Preston known the exact situation, this could have been +done, as in the case of the scout Stinger; but it was necessary first +that a perfect understanding should be established. There were +Wyandots everywhere: the watchful Shawanoe heard them moving +stealthily hither and thither, and any one less skilful than he would +have brought on a collision long before. + +Any act, signal or communication which would apprise Colonel Preston +of the truth, would attract the notice of the watchful red men +themselves; so it would seem that Deerfoot had all his pains for +nothing. But we shall show that the remarkable Shawanoe youth had not +reached the end of his rope by any means. + +A question has doubtless presented itself to the reader as to the +necessity of the lads entering the block-house at all. Inasmuch as +Stinger wished to get out, and they wished to get in, they might as +well have exchanged positions. Deerfoot could turn about and hasten to +Wild Oaks with news of the danger of the little garrison, leaving all +the men to defend it until assistance arrived. + +But, as afterwards became known, Deerfoot was following a special plan +of his own. He was quick to discover that Colonel Preston knew his +peril and would therefore do his utmost to defend the post; but the +wily Shawanoe, from what he had learned, believed that the force of +assailants was so numerous and strong, that they were able to carry +the post before help could reach it from Wild Oaks. In his estimation, +the all-important thing was to get re-inforcements into the +block-house without an hour's unnecessary delay: that done, the time +would then come for application to their friends on the Ohio. + +If Ned Preston and Blossom Brown could be safely passed through the +door, there would be two guns added to the five within, and such an +addition was likely to prove the "balance of power," that would save +the garrison from destruction. + +This was the belief of the Shawanoe, and, though he did not explain +his purpose at first, he was none the less determined that Colonel +Preston should receive the benefit of these two guns, before +application was made to his brother. + +Between the block-house and Licking river was a cleared space of one +hundred yards, the cultivated ground on every hand being so extensive +that the stockade could not be approached by any foe unseen, except at +night. The banks of the Licking were from four to six feet above the +surface, while along the eastern shore, in front of the block-house, +was a fringe of bushes and undergrowth, which offered a tempting +hiding-place to a foe. + +It was natural to expect the Wyandots to make use of this place, and +they had done so, but they already commanded the situation. + +Deerfoot had one important advantage in the fact that the Wyandots +held no suspicion of the presence of any friends of the whites in the +vicinity of the block-house, and consequently they were not searching +for such allies. + +But it was easy to lose this ground, and he convinced his companions +that if it should be found impossible to join Colonel Preston, it +would be equally fatal to attempt to leave the neighborhood before +night: detection was inevitable. + +Such was the state of affairs when the sun rose on the morning +succeeding Jo Stinger's failure to pass through the lines (which +effort was made a number of hours before Deerfoot and his friends +reached the spot). The sky had cleared, and there was scarcely a cloud +to obscure its light. + +Peeping carefully out from among the bushes and undergrowth, the boys +saw the massive block-house standing at the corner of the stockade, +grim, silent, and as forbidding as though no living person was within. +The heavy oaken door, the huge logs, the narrow windows, the steeply +shelving roof, with one trap-door visible, the wooden chimney, the +numerous loopholes, the sides of the stockade stretching away to the +left from the building itself: all these added to the gloom and +tomb-like appearance of the structure. + +Not a person could be seen, as a matter of course, nor was any sound +heard from the interior; but while the three were stealthily studying +the building, they observed a faint, steely blue smoke creeping upward +from the wooden chimney. Mrs. Preston had doubtless kindled a fire on +the hearth in the lower story, for the comfort of her little ones on +this crisp autumn morning, or she was preparing a meal for the +garrison. + +"If we were sure that door would be opened on the instant," said young +Preston, alluding to the entrance of the block-house which confronted +them, "we could make a dash across the clearing and get inside, before +the Wyandots would suspect what was going on." + +Deerfoot nodded his head to signify that his friend was right, but the +problem remained as to how Colonel Preston should be apprised of the +fact that his friends were waiting so near at hand for a chance to +join him. + +These boys were huddled as closely together as possible under the +bank, where they were not likely to be seen, because there was no +special reason for the Wyandots seeking the same hiding-place. + +Having reached the spot through much tribulation, as may be said, the +friends were careful not to throw away the advantage gained. They +stealthily peeped over the edge of the bank, and their words were +spoken in guarded undertones that could not have been heard by any one +within twenty feet. + +"I's got the idee," said Blossom Brown, thrusting forward his dusky +countenance all aglow with pleasure: "I know jes' how we can tell de +Colonel we're out yar, without de Injines knowing a thing about it." + +"How would my brother with the face of the night do?" asked the +Shawanoe, turning toward him. + +"I'll jes' gib a lot ob hoots like a big owl dat am scared, and de +Colonel will know it's me, 'cause de last time I war at de block-house +I done it to please de little gals, Mary and Susie." + +"That will never do," Ned Preston hastened to say; "for the Wyandots +would suspect the truth the instant they heard your hooting, and it +wouldn't be long before they called on us." + +"Den," added the African, who seemed to think the responsibility of +settling the question rested with him, "let's jes' set up a yellin' +dat de Colonel will hear, and make a rush for de house: he'll know +we're comin' and will slip down and open de door, or, if he don't, we +can climb ober de fence and run round de back way." + +The Shawanoe did not consider the proposals of Blossom worthy of +notice, though they were made in all seriousness. Looking at Ned, he +asked-- + +"Will my brother let Deerfoot see one of his letters?" + +Wondering at the meaning of this request, Preston drew a missive from +the inner pocket of his coat and handed it to the Indian. It was +written on a large sheet of blue paper, the last page of which was +unruled, so as to permit the superscription, for the ordinary envelope +was unknown in those days. The sheet was carefully folded and doubled +within itself, being sealed with a large red wafer, and the name of +Colonel Hugh Preston, and the somewhat voluminous address, were +written in a large plain hand in ink of glossy blackness. + +It was the penmanship which excited the wonder of the Shawanoe more +than did anything on which he had looked for many a day. He held the +letter in his hand, and, for several minutes, scrutinized the writing +with an interest that can hardly be described. Through the paper his +keen eyes detected the faint tracery of some of the letters inside. +Balancing the missive edgewise, between his thumb and forefinger, he +gently pressed it until it partly spread open, despite the seal. Then, +raising it before his face, he closed one eye as though he were +aiming his arrow at something, and peeped within. + +The glimpse of the writing was as pleasing to him as the sight of the +circus is to the urchin who creeps under the canvas; and, though he +could not decipher the meaning of a character, he stared for several +minutes, almost holding his breath, as though he would force the +secrets from the "Rosetta stone." + +He had heard of such things before, but it was hard for his untutored +mind to understand that what a man had said to his friend was in that +little package, and when opened, it would speak the same message to +him. His feelings must have been similar to those of his white +brother, could he have seen the telephone of to-day perform its +wonderful work. + +"We write our words on the paper," said Ned, hoping to help the mind +of the youth grasp the subject: "and when our friend gets the paper, +there are the words looking him in the face." + +Deerfoot inclined his head, as though he understood the explanation, +but Ned saw that it was like the assent of the school-boy who doesn't +wish his classmates to consider him stupid. + +"If I should make a figure on the paper that looked like a deer, and +some one should take it to you, and you looked at it, you would know +that it was meant for a deer, wouldn't you?" + +The Indian nodded emphatically this time: he clearly understood +_that_. + +"Suppose I should make some lines and characters which you and I +agreed beforehand should mean, 'I am your friend and brother'; when +those lines and characters were brought to you on paper, wouldn't you +remember what they meant?" + +The black eyes of Deerfoot sparkled. He had caught, for the first time +in his life, an inkling of the mystery. He saw, as through a glass, +darkly, the achievements of the white man who could forward his words +hundreds of miles, hidden in a small piece of paper. + +"Will my brother teach Deerfoot how to send his thoughts to the Great +Spirit?" + +There was a wistful expression in the dark eyes of the Shawanoe, which +touched Ned Preston. The voice of the lad trembled, as he answered +impressively-- + +"You need no such means to reach the Great Spirit, as you must have +heard from your own people: _our_ Great Spirit is always looking down +in kindness on his children, and his ears are ever open to hear what +they have asked him." + +"Will my white brother tell Deerfoot of the Great Spirit of the pale +faces, that the missionary talks about?" + +"I will be glad to do so, for it is what all of your people should +know; when we can gain the time, I will teach you how to read books +and write letters just as well as any white man can do, for I am sure +that one who is so bright as you, will learn it with much ease." + +"Deerfoot will never forget his pale-faced brother," said the Shawanoe +gratefully. + +"And if masser Ned don't got de time, den I'll jes' take you hummin' +frough all de knowledge dat you want," said Blossom with an +exaggerated idea of his importance. + +"It would be well for you to learn how to read and write yourself, +before trying to teach others," said Preston. + +"I reckon dar aint many dat can beat me 'round de settlements; I can +spell 'dog' and 'cat'." + +"Let's hear you." + +"D-o-a-g, dog; r-a-t, cat--no, dat spells something else,--I forget +what, but I'm dar all de time, jes' de same." + +Deerfoot was still holding the letter in his hand and looking +earnestly at Ned, without noticing the words of Blossom. + +"Can my white brother write on the back of this the words which +Colonel Preston can read?" + +It flashed upon young Preston that the keen-witted youth was +unraveling the plan he had held in mind from the first. + +"Certainly I can." + +"Write some message on this paper for him." + +"But, Deerfoot, I have no pen, nor ink, nor pencil, or I would only be +too glad to do so." + +The Shawanoe was prepared for this. + +"Deerfoot will bring you something that will do." + +He moved away from his young friends, with that silence and stealth +which seemed a part of his nature, while the delighted and expectant +friend turned to Blossom Brown-- + +"Do you understand what his plan is to reach--" + +Ned did not finish the question, for he saw that his servant, despite +the gravity of the situation and the crispness of the air, was lying +on his side sunk in a sound slumber. Fortunately his posture was such +an easy one that he did not breathe loud enough to create any danger +of being heard. + +The Shawanoe was gone only a few minutes, when he reappeared holding +in his hand a piece of reddish brown stone, almost as soft as the +mineral known as "red chalk," and which he had evidently broken from +some crumbling rock. + +Ned Preston carefully sharpened it to a point, as though it were a +lead-pencil. It could not be said to work very well, when applied to +paper, but he found that patience and care would enable him to write +considerable that would be legible to any one who understood writing. + +Accordingly with much pains and labor he traced the following lines, +first consulting Deerfoot as to what should be placed in the +communication-- + +"DEAR UNCLE HUGH: + +"Deerfoot, the friendly Shawanoe, Blossom Brown, our servant, and I +are along the bank of the river, exactly opposite the front of the +block-house. We want to join you, so as to help you fight off the +Wyandots, but they are so plenty all around us that we daresn't try +it, unless you are prepared to let us in the door, the instant we +reach it. When you are ready, wave your hand through the front window, +and we'll make the start. + + "Your affectionate nephew, + "NED." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OPENING COMMUNICATION. + + +Ned Preston read the note to Deerfoot, the Shawanoe, speaking slowly +and distinctly each word, while the young Indian listened with an +expression of intense interest and pleasure. + +"If the Colonel sees that, then will he read those words you have +spoken to me?" + +"They will be the same." + +"Then he shall see them." + +As the young warrior spoke, he extended his hand for the missive, +which was given him. He deftly drew an arrow from his quiver and began +tying the letter to the missile, doing it with much care, for the task +he was about to essay seemed an almost impossible one. + +"We are a hundred yards from the block-house," said Ned Preston; "it +is a long shot for the bow and arrow." + +"Would my brother like to use his gun?" asked Deerfoot with his +shadowy smile, his question being intended to remind his friend of +the superiority of the primitive weapon over the rifle, at least in +such an emergency as the present. + +"The gun is of no use just now," said Preston, "and I mistrust that +your bow will not serve you as well as you think." + +"You shall see," was the comment of the owner, who gave his full +attention to the task before him. He used a shred of deer-sinew and +fastened the letter directly behind the iron barb. That done, the +faithful bow was carefully strung, and then the youth bent himself to +the work. + +His intention was to send the arrow, if possible, through the narrow +window to the left of the front door of the block-house. This had no +glass, nor screen, but as it was no more than eight inches wide, +although three times as high, and as the shaft was weighted with a +foreign substance, likely to affect its accuracy of flight, some idea +of the difficulty of the feat may be gained. + +Furthermore, it was necessary that the shot should be fired secretly. +Deerfoot had no opportunity of standing out on the open ground, where +his limbs would be unimpeded, but he must aim from behind the bank, +so that no vigilant Wyandot would detect him. + +He set to work, standing below the bank and pointing between an +intervening bush or two, making sure, however, that an unobstructed +path was open for his arrow. The missile was pointed at an elevation +of fully forty-five degrees; and, with one eye closed, he slowly drew +back the string until the head touched the right hand, which grasped +the middle of the bow. + +It was held thus ten seconds, during which the athlete was as rigid +and motionless as if moulded in iron, while his eye rested on the +narrow slit-like window cut in the solid logs, all of a hundred yards +away. + +Ned Preston kept his gaze fixed on the Indian, who at that moment +formed a picture worthy of the finest artist that ever touched brush +to canvas. + +Suddenly there was a faint twang, the bow straightened out like +lightning, and the arrowy messenger started on its path weighted with +the all-important message. + +Preston instantly glanced at the block-house, centering his eye on the +straight opening, but with scarcely a hope that Deerfoot could +succeed in what would certainly be a marvelous exploit. + +As the arrow was speeding directly away from the lads, it was +impossible to distinguish its course through the air, though it could +have been seen easily, had they been stationed at right angles to its +line of flight. + +The Shawanoe, having discharged the weapon, immediately lowered it, +and then peered forward to learn the result of his shot. + +But Preston had scarcely time to fix his gaze on the distant window, +when he saw something like the flutter of a shadow--so to +speak--directly in the opening itself. It came and went with the +quickness of a flash, and he could not define it. + +But where was the arrow? + +It vanished from sight the instant it left the bowstring, and Ned had +not seen it since. It should have struck somewhere in a very few +seconds, but had the head buried itself in the ground between the +river and the block-house, the eagle-feather would have been visible. +Had it fallen on the roof, its sharp point would have held the shaft +motionless. + +"You must have sent it over the block-house," said Ned, turning to +Deerfoot; "and in that case----" + +He stopped, for the same shadowy smile on the handsome face of the +young Shawanoe told the truth: the arrow had gone directly through the +window, and the curious fluttering shadow which caught the eye of +Preston was the missile with its message. + +"That is the most wonderful shot I ever saw!" exclaimed Ned in a burst +of admiration; "if I could use the bow as you do, I never would touch +a gun. But, Deerfoot, is there not danger that some of the Wyandots +saw the arrow in its flight?" + +"If they were looking across the clearing, they saw it perhaps; but +Deerfoot hopes they did not." + +"Suppose you had missed the window,--that the arrow had struck the +roof, or the ground, or the logs at the side of the opening, it would +have buried its head and stayed in plain sight, would it not?" + +"Yes, and the Wyandots would be certain to see it." + +"And would soon know where it came from?" + +"Nothing could have prevented." + +"My gracious!" exclaimed Ned; "you ran a great risk." + +"We did; there was no way to prevent it." + +Ned was almost speechless, when he realized how much had depended on +the success of the shot of the Shawanoe: in fact, had he known all, he +never would have consented that the task should have been attempted. + +Had the arrow gone a few inches to the right or left, or had it fallen +short, or flown too high, the Wyandots would have swooped down on the +archer and his friends, before they could have left the spot. + +Ned Preston regarded the shot as amazing as the mythical one made by +William Tell; and, but for the urgency of the danger, would have given +further expression to his admiration. Deerfoot himself was somewhat +uneasy, and, for several minutes, glanced right and left, and through +the undergrowth for signs of danger; but nothing appeared, and it +looked as though a piece of extremely good fortune had attended the +remarkable exploit. + +Such being the case, Preston now devoted his attention to the window, +from which he expected to see the hand of his uncle, Colonel Preston, +waving in friendly signal for them to make the desperate run across +the clearing. + +While he was thus employed, the keener vision of the Shawanoe was +roaming over the open space, each side of the stockade, the woods +beyond, and especially did he scrutinize the two deserted cabins that +stood to the right. + +The visual search had not continued long, when it was rewarded by the +unwelcome discovery that in the building nearest him were several +Wyandots, who had probably spent the night there. He saw their heads +and shoulders, as they passed the windows where they were beyond sight +of the garrison, but were in plain view of the Shawanoe. + +This cabin was much nearer the block-house than were the boys, from +which the daring nature of the project will be understood. Deerfoot +was hopeful before this that the houses were clear of Wyandots, in +which event his friends would have had a much better prospect of +success. + +As it was, it all depended on how complete the surprise could be made +for the red men. If they failed to note the running youths until the +block-house was nearly reached, they would be too late to head them +off, except by a shot from their guns, and this risk could not be +avoided under any circumstances. + +"_There it is!_" + +It was Ned Preston who uttered the exclamation in such excitement that +his voice was dangerously high. + +"Sh! not so loud!" whispered Deerfoot, scrutinizing the window through +which he sent his arrow a few minutes before. + +Ned Preston was right: the hand of a person was thrust through the +opening and waved several times. It swayed back and forth, and up and +down, with much deliberation, as though the owner was fearful it would +not be observed by his friends along the river bank. + +More than that, Deerfoot was sure he saw the face of the one who +signalled them, though the distance was such that nothing like a +recognition took place. + +After withdrawing his hand, it was put forth again, and the motion was +repeated. Colonel Preston evidently meant that, if any mistake was +made, it should not be his fault. + +Ned Preston now carefully awakened Blossom Brown and explained what +had been done and what was contemplated. + +"You have got to run as you never ran before," said his master, "and +when you have once started, there is no turning back." + +"What would I want to turn back for?" was the wondering question of +the African. + +"You might think it better to stay where we are, and it may be that it +is; but after the Wyandots learn we are here, it is run or die with +us." + +"My brother speaks the truth," said Deerfoot, who was looking across +the clearing at the nearest cabin: "there are red men there, and they +will try and hinder you from reaching your friends." + +There was no reason to hope the prospect would improve by waiting, and +it was decided to start at once. Deerfoot, it was understood, was to +remain where he was and to make no attempt for the present to enter +the block-house. It was expected that, after Blossom and Ned were +safely within the building, the guide would hasten to Wild Oaks and +bring assistance to the beleaguered garrison. + +When the boys were ready, the Shawanoe impressed one fact upon them: +they were not to cease running for an instant, unless stopped beyond +all power to overcome, but, fixing their eyes on the door of the +block-house, strain every nerve to reach the goal. + +Each lad was to carry his loaded gun in his right hand, but not to use +it, unless forced to do so: if Colonel Preston should delay admitting +them, they would be lost; but there was no cause to fear such a +miscarriage. + +The boys stealthily moved forward and up the bank, and, pausing near +the margin, awaited the word from the Shawanoe. The perilous point, in +the eye of the latter, was the cabin where he knew the Wyandots to be, +and he watched it closely for several minutes. Nothing was to be seen +of them just then, and he said in a low voice-- + +"Go!" + +On the instant, Ned Preston and Blossom Brown bounded across the +clearing in the direction of the block-house: it was a straight run of +a hundred yards over a level piece of land, on which only a few stumps +remained to show that it was once covered by the forest. + +The African, it need not be said, strained every nerve and fibre of +his being to reach the goal. His heavy, lumbering build made him less +fleet than Preston, who could have drawn away from the beginning; but +he could not desert his companion in such extremity and he timed his +speed, so as to keep just ahead of Blossom, and thus urge him to his +utmost. + +Crouching under the shelter of the river bank, Deerfoot watched the +run for life with the intensest interest. He grasped his strong bow +with his right hand, while one of his arrows was held in the left, +ready to use on the instant it might become necessary for the safety +of either of the fugitives. + +Those who knew Deerfoot best, said he was reluctant to employ his +marvelous skill on any person, and would not do so as long as it was +safe to refrain; but it would have required only a single glance at +his glittering eye and compressed lips, to understand that he +considered the emergency was now at hand. + +It so happened that the fugitives had gone no more than ten yards on +their swift run, when the Wyandots in the cabin discovered them and +made known the fact in the most alarming manner. + +First several whoops broke the stillness within the building, and then +two sharp reports followed. The Wyandots had fired, but their aim was +so hurried that, as it seemed to Deerfoot, neither of the fugitives +was harmed. At least they continued their flight with unabated speed. + +But the efforts of the Wyandots to check the boys was not to end with +the simple discharge of their rifles. The two that had used their +pieces, sprang from the front windows of the cabin and dashed +quartering across the clearing, with the intent to head off the +youths, before they could reach the block-house. + +This brought both in range of the terrible bow of Deerfoot who placed +the arrow in position; but it was his intention to hold the weapon +until it should become imperatively necessary to use it, for it will +be seen that, if he took part in the singular contest, it would be +such a complete unveiling of his true character that his usefulness to +the whites would be almost destroyed. + +Besides, each boy carried a loaded rifle which he knew how to use, and +it was not to be supposed that either would allow himself to be +tomahawked or taken prisoner without resistance. + +The Wyandots who ran forth in the effort to throw themselves across +the path of the fugitives, were as daring warriors as ever mingled in +the fierce fight with settlers or those of their own race. They had +emptied their guns in the futile effort to bring down the boys, and, +throwing the weapons aside, they now sprang forward with the +resolution to make them prisoners, despite the risk to themselves, for +they must have known that the garrison would endeavor to protect their +friends, and they could not help suspecting that there was one or more +along the river bank, who were likely to take part in the singular +struggle. + +Be that as it may, the red men ran straight from the deserted cabin +across the path of the boys, who found themselves confronted by the +brawny redskins, before they had gone half the distance to the +building. + +"Let's sneak 'round ahind de block-house and climb ober de fence and +hide," said Blossom, when he saw the gauntlet he had to run. + +"Straight for the door!" commanded Preston: "that is our only chance!" + +But the youth had scarcely spoken the words, when he saw that a +collision with the Wyandots was inevitable: they were between them +and the fort, and there was no possible way of flanking them. + +The superior fleetness of Ned held him slightly in advance of his +companion. The former ran until close to the Wyandots, when he turned +to the left. The warriors immediately leaped forward so that they were +still directly in front of the fugitives. + +"It must be done!" exclaimed Ned, coming to an instant halt, raising +his rifle and aiming at the nearest Indian, who was in the very act of +poising himself to throw his tomahawk. + +Everything passed so swiftly that the spectators could scarcely follow +the movements. At the moment Ned drew his gun to position, he caught +the flash of the implement as it circled with lightning quickness over +the bronzed skull of his enemy. + +Young Preston knew what was coming. Pausing only long enough to catch +the gleam of the warrior's eyes, over the sights of his rifle, he +pressed the trigger. + +The Indian aimed at the head of the youth and drove the tomahawk with +prodigious force and unerring accuracy; but the blade of the +implement glanced against the barrel of the rifle, sending out a +streak of flame, and, with a tremendous rebound or ricochet, shot by +the shoulder of the lad, touching the ground fifty feet away, and +rolling over and over several times, before it lay still. When it left +the hand of the warrior, it was with a force that would have cloven +the skull of the lad, as though it were cardboard. + +The throw and miss were remarkable, but, by a striking coincidence, +the rifle of Ned Preston was discharged at the second the two weapons +collided. The violent shock to the gun turned it aside, and the ball +buried itself harmlessly in the ground, far to the right of the +crouching Wyandot. + +The latter saw by what a hair's-breadth he had escaped, and snatching +his hunting-knife from the belt at his waist, he bounded toward the +youth, who, nothing daunted, recoiled a single step, and, grasping his +weapon by its barrel, awaited the attack. + +All this took place in a few seconds, during which the other Wyandot, +feeling that the dark-faced fugitive was his own, watched the +extraordinary conflict, with an interest as intense as that of the +other spectators further away. + +Had the encounter between young Preston and the sinewy Wyandot been +permitted to go on, there could have been but one result; but +Deerfoot, who was holding his breath, with his eyes riveted on the +combatants, now drew his arrow to its head and aimed at the assailing +warrior. + +Although the distance between him and his target was no more than half +way across the clearing, yet the feat was immeasurably more difficult +than that of sending the letter through the narrow window; for, +unfortunately, Ned Preston and the Wyandot were standing so nearly in +a line that the young Shawanoe could only see the head and shoulders +of the powerful savage a few feet beyond. + +Beside this, the two were likely to change their respective positions +any instant: they might do so indeed after the launching of the arrow, +which would not only miss the red man at whom it was pointed, but was +liable to strike the boy himself. + +Even Deerfoot doubted his own success and he therefore aimed with the +greater care and caution, slowly drawing back the shaft, and with +nerves like iron, looked steadily along the reed and at the tableau +far beyond. + +But before the fingers let go the string, the necessity for doing so +vanished. The incidents which we have undertaken to describe, passed +with such swiftness that it would have been hard for a spectator to +follow each phase, few as they were; but it need not be said that +every man within the block-house was watching the extraordinary scene +on the clearing with an interest as intense, as absorbing and +breathless, as that of Deerfoot himself. + +Colonel Preston was standing by the door, with one hand on the +cumbersome latch, ready to draw it inward the instant the boys reached +the proper point; while Jo Stinger, Jim Turner and Sam Megill held +their rifles ready to use, the very second it should become necessary. + +There was such bewildering rapidity in the events narrated, that the +spectators within the block-house did not comprehend the extreme peril +of young Preston, until they saw the Wyandot advancing on him with his +drawn knife. + +"Boys," said Jo Stinger, "it's the opinion of the undersigned that +this is a good time of day to fire off a gun." + +"Quick!" called out Colonel Preston from below, as he peeped through +the door; "shoot that Indian!" + +"That's just what is contemplated," replied Stinger, whose rifle was +already thrust through a loophole, while he was looking along the +gleaming barrel. + +But, to the consternation of the veteran, the moment he drew bead on +the warrior, he discovered he stood in such exact line with young +Preston that it was impossible to shoot the red man without the +absolute certainty of striking the lad directly beyond. + +"I've got to wait," called out Jo, by way of explaining his inaction, +"until they shift their positions." + +Had the vengeful Wyandot comprehended the vast advantage he gained by +holding the youth directly in front, he would have continued to do so; +but it was almost impossible that he should have been subtle enough to +make such a discovery. + +Meanwhile, Ned Preston, daring, resolute and defiant, grasped the +barrel of his rifle, and with one foot thrown forward, and with the +stock of his gun flung back in the position, and with the pose of a +skilled batsman awaiting the pitching of a ball, braced himself for +the assault. + +The Indian, powerful, active and alert, bent his knees and back +slightly, like a panther gathering for a leap, and glared in the face +of the youthful David, who so calmly confronted the fierce Goliath. + +It was a trying position for the boy, who looked dauntlessly into the +hideous countenance daubed with ochre and paint. It was probably the +truth that the Wyandot was testing the power of his eye, as the +rattle-snake does with the bird. If such were the case, the result +could not have been gratifying to the warrior. + +All at once, without removing his eyes from those of Ned, the Indian +deftly extended his left foot slightly forward and a brief distance to +one side. Then he gradually shifted the weight of his body over upon +it, until he had transferred himself nearly a foot out of alignment. + +Deerfoot the Shawanoe instantly detected this, and pointed his arrow +with full confidence; Jo Stinger was equally on the alert, and his +keen gray eye glanced along the barrel with more certainty; but, not +unnaturally perhaps, the two marksmen, from opposite standpoints, +understood the peculiar maneuvering which the Wyandot had begun: he +intended to circle slowly around the boy, who stood on the defensive, +watching for an opening, which he would seize with the quickness of +lightning. + +If such should prove the fact, the spectators had but a short while to +wait: and such did prove to be the fact. + +Once more the Wyandot moved his left foot, almost as far as the limb +permitted, and held it motionless, with the toe resting on the ground. +All the time his black eyes were fixed with burning intensity on the +youth, and his right hand grasped the haft of the knife, as though he +would crush it to nothingness. + +Ned Preston suspected the purpose of his assailant and he instantly +turned, so as to face him, who had not such an easy task as might have +been supposed. + +For a full minute, the left leg of the Wyandot remained extended, with +nothing but the toe of the foot daintily touching, as though he meant +to draw a line upon the earth with it. Then his weight gracefully +glided over upon the limb, the gleaming eyes never once shifting from +the pale face of the boy pioneer. + +Scarcely was this movement--slight as it was--completed, when the +oppressive stillness was broken by the explosive report of a rifle, a +blue puff of smoke curled upward from one of the loopholes of the +block-house, and those who were looking at the Wyandot, saw him +suddenly throw his hands above his head, walk rapidly and uncertainly +backward several steps, and then, with a faint cry, fall, with limbs +outstretched, stone-dead. + +The second warrior became so absorbed in the scene that he fixed his +gaze on the two, paying no heed to the African, who, he must have +believed, was at his mercy, when he chose to give his attention to +him. + +With a shrewdness hardly to be expected, the servant was quick to see +that another's extremity was his opportunity. + +"Nobody aint tinkin' 'bout Wildblossom Brown jes' now," was the belief +of the lad, "which shows dat it am a good time to tink 'bout hisself." + +He immediately began what may be called a flank movement around the +three parties, who took no notice of him, although Deerfoot and the +onlookers in the block-house observed the prudent action of the lad. +They were greatly relieved, inasmuch as he could not offer the +slightest help by staying behind. + +Thus it came to pass that, at the moment the rifle was fired from the +block-house, Blossom was well on his way toward it, and his subsequent +action was like that of a runner who awaited the report as a signal. +At the very instant it broke the stillness, he made a burst of speed +and ran with might and main straight for shelter. The start that his +own foresight had secured, placed him so far in advance of his enemies +that his safety was virtually obtained. + +"Open dat door!" he shouted in a voice that must have been heard a +half mile away; "open her wide, or I'll smash her in!" + +He plunged across the clearing like a steam-engine, and the door was +drawn inward, while he was twenty paces distant, so that everything +was in his favor. + +Without checking himself in the least he "took a header" through the +entrance and went clean across the lower floor and against the +opposite side of the room, with a force that shook the entire +building. + +"My gracious, Blossom, it was a narrow escape!" exclaimed the Colonel, +alluding to the flight of the lad from the warrior who had marked him +for his own. + +"Yes," said Blossom; "I like to have knocked my brains out agin de +oder side de ole fort." + +"I'm more afraid the block-house has been injured than I am that you +have suffered; but you are safe now, and I can only hope that Ned may +be equally fortunate." + +The address and courage displayed by the surviving Wyandot aroused the +admiration of the garrison, for it far surpassed their expectation. + +The very instant the first red man was struck, and while he was +staggering backwards, Ned Preston started with might and main for the +sheltering block-house: he was thus quick to adopt the only course +that offered safety, for the other warrior still held his knife and +tomahawk at command, and was more alert, cunning and brave than the +one that had fallen. + +Young Preston's promptness gained him considerable start, but he was +no more than fairly under way, when the other made for him with the +speed of a deer. Ned was fleet for his years, but he was no match for +the pursuing warrior, who gained rapidly. + +The amazing daring of this pursuit can scarcely be explained: the +Wyandot was straining every nerve to overtake the fugitive, who was +striving with equal desperation to reach the block-house before him. +The red man held his formidable tomahawk in his right hand, and was +running straight toward the building from which the shot was fired, +and from which he must have known others were certain to come. It was +precisely as if a single soldier should deliberately charge upon a +masked battery, of whose precise location he was well aware. + +As may be supposed, the Wyandot had not run half the intervening +distance, when another blue puff, floating aside from the loophole, +accompanied the report of a rifle. Jim Turner had fired at the +approaching Wyandot, but he did it so hastily that he missed him +altogether. + + [Illustration: NED MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE.] + +"Is there no way of stopping him?" muttered Sam Megill, hurriedly +bringing his gun to bear and discharging it; but, astonishing as it +may seem, he missed also. + +Jo Stinger was hastily reloading his piece, determined that the daring +red man should not escape him, when Ned Preston dashed through the +door and was safe. + +As the Colonel quickly shut and fastened the entrance, a heavy thud +was heard. The Wyandot had hurled his tomahawk with such prodigious +force at the vanishing fugitive that the blade was buried half way to +its head, and the handle projecting outward, would have required a +power like that of King Arthur to draw it forth. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WITHIN THE BLOCK-HOUSE. + + +Having hurled his tomahawk with such venomous force at the vanishing +fugitive, the baffled Wyandot, for the first time, seemed to think of +his own safety. + +The momentum of his furious pursuit carried him almost against the +door of the block-house and directly beneath the overhanging floor, +built so as to allow the defenders to fire down on the heads of their +assailants. The rapid shifting of position served to confuse the +garrison to a certain extent, but the action of the Indian was +incomprehensible. + +Making a sharp turn to the left, he ran with astonishing swiftness +along the front of the building and stockade, until he was half way to +the north-western angle, around which he had only to dart to be beyond +reach of any bullet; but he seemed to think all at once that he had +made a mistake. He stopped like a flash, turned with inconceivable +quickness, and sped directly over the ground he had traversed, +passing in front of the stockade and the block-house, his evident +purpose being to reach the deserted cabin from which he had emerged in +the first place. + +As he was running with tremendous speed in front of the building, +another gun was discharged at him, but he showed no sign of being +harmed, and, without a second's hesitation, made for the cabin, where +a brother brave awaited him. + +"I consider that that 'ere beats all creation!" exclaimed Jo Stinger, +aggravated over the repeated escapes of the daring redskin; "all I +want is a chance to get a pop at him." + +There was little time to spare, for the movements of the Wyandot +proved him to be no ordinary athlete, and he was going for the open +window of the cabin, like the wind. + +Jo Stinger, by the utmost haste, beat him in the novel contest, and, +thrusting his gun hastily through the loophole, aimed and fired with +unusual nervousness. + +"I struck him!" he exclaimed in great glee, as the warrior sprang in +air, as if shot upward by a catapult. + +"You haven't harmed a hair of his head!" laughed Jim Turner, who was +peering through one of the loopholes; "it wasn't your bullet that made +him jump." + +"You're right," muttered the chagrined scout; "if I had another gun, I +would break this one to pieces." + +"It wasn't the fault of your _rifle_," was the truthful remark of his +companion. + +At the very moment Jo Stinger took his hasty aim and fired his gun, +the fleeing Wyandot was so near the cabin that he bounded upward from +the ground and went through the door, as the performer in the circus +bounds through the hoop covered with paper. + +The bullet which so rarely missed its mark did so in this instance by +a hair's-breadth; but under such circumstances, a miss was as good as +a mile, and the courageous Wyandot plunged through the entrance +without a scratch, or so much as the "smell of fire" about his +garments. + +He had played a most desperate game and won so brilliantly that the +veteran Jo Stinger, while exasperated over his own failure, felt like +cheering the exploit. + +The safety of the brave seemed to be the signal for a general fire +along the lines. The Wyandots began discharging their rifles from the +wood beyond the stockade, north, east and south, while Deerfoot was +somewhat alarmed to hear several shots from the river bank where he +was crouching, and at no great distance from him. + +A number crept up to the rear of the nearest cabin, into which they +entered without much danger to themselves, and from the windows of +which they discharged their pieces at the block-house. This seemed a +useless expenditure of ammunition, but there was a chance or two of +doing something. Some of the bullets sent from the woods and cabins +might enter a loophole: a number did pass through the narrow windows +and were buried in the heavy logs beyond. + +Unless the inmates were specially careful, one or more of these +invisible messengers would strike them, and it was this hope which led +the assailants to keep up the desultory firing for more than an hour +succeeding the remarkable incidents on the clearing. + +The garrison did not throw away their ammunition: they kept a sharp +lookout for signs of their enemies, and, when there was a chance of +doing execution, they were quick to take advantage of it, but there +was no shooting at random, as is too often the case, under similar +circumstances. + +While these dropping shots were heard from many different points, the +figure of the fallen Wyandot was stretched on the clearing in front of +the block-house. It lay flat on its back, with the swarthy face turned +upward, still and motionless, and an impressive evidence of the +frightful and inexcusable enmity of the members of the same human +family toward each other. + +No one ventured to approach it, although the American Indian leaves no +effort untried to remove his dead from the battle-ground. They would +have gone forward on the present occasion to withdraw the remains, but +they could not expect immunity from the rifles of the Kentuckians. + +Under such circumstances, the dead warrior must wait until the +darkness of the night, which is the chosen season of his race for +carrying out his designs against all enemies. + +Jo Stinger, who had followed the trail and lived in the woods for many +years, was intensely mortified over his failure, and carefully +reloading his gun, resolved that the blunder on his part should be +retrieved. + +He cautioned the new arrivals, and especially the children of Mrs. +Preston, to keep away from the loopholes, through which the leaden +missiles were likely to come any moment, on their mission of death. +The good mother was too sensible of the peril to which they were all +exposed, to allow her children to run any risk that could be avoided: +there were places both above and below stairs, where no bullet could +penetrate, and she made certain that her children never wandered +beyond these somewhat narrow limits. + +As soon as the door was securely fastened behind the entrance of +Blossom Brown and Ned Preston, the Colonel, who, of course, was on the +lower floor, grasped each in turn by the hand and congratulated them +most warmly. Mrs. Preston, as soon as it was safe, descended the +ladder and joined in the expressions of thankfulness. + +Both the boys were panting from their tremendous exertions, and they +sat down each on a chair until they could recover breath. As Ned drew +forth the letters from his inner pocket and handed them to the +Colonel, he said-- + +"It was the hardest struggle of my life; I never want to go through +such another." + +"Are you hurt in any way?" asked his aunt, laying her hand on the head +of her nephew, who had taken off his cap and was drawing his +handkerchief across his forehead. + +"Not in the least, and I thank heaven, for, when that Wyandot let +drive his tomahawk, it came like a cannon-ball, and if it hadn't +struck my rifle-barrel as it did, it would have ended my days. I +wonder whether it hurt the gun," suddenly added Ned, with that rapid +transition from one subject to another which is characteristic of +boyhood. + +He examined the weapon, but although the brown barrel was pretty well +scraped, it showed no real injury, and, in accordance with the +teachings of his father, Ned now proceeded to reload the piece, while +the dull reports of the guns, overhead and along the edge of the woods +and the bank of the river, were heard. + +By this time, Blossom Brown had recovered his breath, and he imitated +the example of his young master. When he had completed his task, he +regained a great deal of his assurance. + +"Tings was sort ob lively for a while," he remarked in his offhand +manner, as though there was nothing remarkable in their escape, "but I +knowed we was comin' out all right." + +"How could you know that," asked the surprised Mrs. Preston, "when we +could not be certain, until you were both within the house?" + +"I seed from de way dat Injine drawed back his tomahawk and squinted +his eye, dat he wasn't goin' to shoot straight, and I knowed too dat +de tomahawk was gwine to glance along de barrel jes' as it did, which +am why I moved off to one side so dat it wouldn't tech me." + +"That won't do," said Ned, with a shake of the head; "you knew just as +much as I did, which was nothing at all." + +"P'raps I did and p'raps I didn't," said Blossom in his loftiest +manner, throwing his head back; "I neber brag ob what I'm doin', but I +show from de way I act dat I knows what's what. I seed dat tings was +gettin' mixed, and so I started for de house to impress de Colonel how +it was and to git him to manage tings right." + +At this moment, Mary and Susie Preston hurried down the ladder to +greet their cousin. + +"O Ned!" they shouted together, as they came near tumbling through the +rounds; "we're so glad to see you!" + +And the words were scarcely out of their mouths, when Susie, the +younger, leaped from the middle round straight into the arms of Ned, +which were outspread to receive her. Mary embraced the waist of the +sturdy lad and insisted on attention. So Ned, after kissing the +younger several times, set her down on the floor and did the same with +the elder. Then he resumed his chair, and, holding them on his knees, +laughed and talked as though he had passed through no such fearful +scene as we have described, and as though no peril was yet impending +over their heads. + +"I knew the wicked Indians wouldn't hurt you," said little Susie, +turning her pretty face up to that of her cousin. + +"And how could you know that, little one?" + +"'Cause Mary and I prayed to God, when we saw you coming across the +clearing, to take care of you." + +"Well, I prayed hard too," said Ned, "and then did the best I knew +how, and I think God always takes care of those who do that: it isn't +any use of praying unless you try to help yourselves." + +This was orthodox, though the sentiment was not very original, and the +little sisters subscribed to it as fully as though they had been +taught it at their mother's knee. + +Colonel Preston had delivered the letters to the parties to whom they +belonged, and had read his own. He had looked out for the opportunity +to use his gun, but saw none, and he now turned about and gave his +whole attention to his "recruits." + +"Where is Deerfoot?" was his first natural question. + +"He was on the edge of the clearing, when we left, and I suppose he is +there yet, unless the Wyandots have driven him out." + +"It isn't likely he has been allowed to stay there long, for I notice +that some of the shots come from that direction. How was it he +befriended you as he did?" + +"He is a great friend of mine, you know, Uncle." + +"That isn't what I mean; how was it he brought you here and helped you +to enter the block-house?" + +In a few words, Ned Preston told the story which is already known to +the reader. Before it was finished, the Colonel saw plainly the +purpose of the Shawanoe youth. + +"He believed there was instant necessity for me to have more guns at +command, and that was why he used such great exertion to run you in." + +"Do you think he did right, Uncle?" + +"I must say I cannot see the necessity of his taking such terrible +risks, when your help, although very welcome, was not so all important +that our lives depended on it. Inasmuch as all of you were safely on +the outside, where Jo Stinger tried so hard to get, it would have been +the wiser plan, in my opinion, for you to have made all haste to Wild +Oaks: the distance is not so great that you could not have brought +help to us within two or three days." + +"That is just the way I put the case to Deerfoot; but he insisted that +the first thing to be done was to place us inside the block-house, and +nothing could change his view. He knows so much more about such things +than we, that I could not refuse to do as he wished." + +"He may have had reasons which he has not made known, for he is an +extraordinary Indian, although still a boy." + +"That arrow which came through the window was a surprise, was it not?" + +"A very great one: no one had any thought that it was anything other +than a hostile one. I supposed it was intended to set fire to the +building." + +"Did you see it coming?" + +"None of us saw it; but the thud it made, when it struck, told us its +nature, and I went down to find out whether it was likely to do any +damage. The moment my eyes rested on it, I noticed the paper tied +around the shaft: that told the story, of course, and soon every one +within knew the message. Well, you were not long in getting the signal +you asked for, and you know the rest. That was a wonderful shot of the +young Shawanoe." + +"And would you believe, Uncle, that he told me after making it, that, +if he had missed sending the arrow through the window, it would have +been the death of all three of us." + +"In what way?" + +"The Wyandots would have found it and would have been quick to learn +what it meant: then, as he said, we were in such a position that we +could not get away from them." + +"I have no doubt he spoke the truth, which shows what a fearful risk +he ran; but he must have had great confidence in his ability to use +his bow." + +"And he has good reason for his confidence, as he has proven more than +once; but, in spite of all his skill, I cannot help feeling that he +has put himself in a trap from which he cannot free himself. Because +the Wyandots have surrounded the block-house, and because some of them +are always watching it, they must have seen the flight of the shaft +through the air." + +"If they did, they could not have known its errand." + +"No, but they would recall that none of them use the bow except to +shoot burning arrows, and they would be apt to suspect something was +wrong." + +"They often use such things to set fire to buildings." + +"But this was not one, as they could have seen with but a single +glance; and, had it been, they would have known all about it, if it +was discharged by one of their own party." + +"Ned," said Colonel Preston, "I have been talking against my own +convictions, just to see what you thought about it: I agree with you. +Subtle as the Shawanoe is, beyond any of his years, he has done a +thing for which I cannot see the reason, and I believe he has placed +himself in peril that admits of no escape. If such proves to be the +case, he has also deprived himself of the opportunity to do us the +great service we need." + +"'Scuse me," interrupted Blossom Brown, who had been showing +uneasiness for several minutes, and who was now snuffing the air in a +suggestive way; "I tinks I smell corn bread, and I haben't dined dis +mornin' yet." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FLAMING MESSENGERS. + + +Mrs. Preston laughed and asked the boys to pardon her for having +forgotten, in the excitement of the occasion, the duty of hospitality. +The morning meal had been furnished the others, and she now gave her +nephew and Blossom Brown the best she could prepare. + +The two were ahungered and ate heartily. It was a striking commentary +on the perils of the life of the early settlers that, while they were +thus engaged, the sound of the rifles was heard, as they were fired +from the upper story, in answer to the shots from the Wyandots. + +But we can become accustomed to almost any danger, and the appetites +of the re-enforcements were not affected by what was going on around +them. The windows on the first floor admitted several bullets from the +guns of the dusky marksmen, but every person was careful to keep out +of range. When the meal was finished, all climbed the ladder to the +second story, where the boys were welcomed by the men who stood at the +loopholes with their smoking guns in their hands. + +There was more security there, because the openings through which the +leaden balls could enter were much smaller; but, as evidence of the +marksmanship of their enemies, Jo Stinger informed them that three +bullets had struck the interior walls, one of which actually came +along the barrel of a gun, narrowly missing Megill who was in the act +of thrusting it forth. + +"That is well for the Wyandots," said the Colonel, "but have you done +anything to teach them that the skill is not all on their side?" + +"We suspect we have: Jim caught sight of a warrior creeping along for +a position behind the cabin yonder, and when he fired, the fellow +acted as though something struck him." + +"And have not _you_, the best marksman in the company, succeeded in +doing as well as he?" + +"He has done better," replied Turner; "for one of the rascals in the +cabin out there had the impudence to thrust forth his painted face in +plain sight; and when Jo drew bead on him and fired, he dropped out +of view and has not been seen since." + +"I hope it was the one who flung his tomahawk at me, and which is +still sticking in the door," said Ned Preston. + +"It couldn't have been," said the hunter, with an expressive shrug, +"for if it had been, I would have missed him. I never made such a mess +in all my life as I did a while ago." + +"Accidents will happen," laughed the Colonel; "and we have every +reason to congratulate ourselves that no one has been harmed, though +we have been exposed to great danger. It was a most providential thing +that I learned of the coming of the war party, before they were ready +for the attack." + +"Have you any idea of the number in the woods?" asked Jo Stinger. + +"My nephew Ned tells me that Deerfoot the Shawanoe, who ought to be +the best authority, says there are certainly fifty, for he saw nearly +that many, and he thinks it more than likely there are twice that +number." + +"I have no doubt there are all of a hundred," observed Jo Stinger, +"judging from the way they sent in the shots a few minutes ago; but +they have stopped, because they must see that nothing can be gained by +such wild firing." + +The hunter was right in his last remark, the stillness being as +profound as if no living person was within miles of them. + +Colonel Preston told all that had been learned through his nephew of +the doings of Deerfoot the Shawanoe. + +"He has put himself in a bad fix," said Stinger, with another shake of +the head: "I know he is one of the cutest varmints in the wilds of +Kentucky, but there are some things which he can't do, and I believe +he has undertook one of 'em now." + +"I am afraid so, but I hope not." + +"There has been something going on out there by the Licking, where +that arrow of his came from, and, if I ain't mistook, it means they +have dropped down on him this time." + +Ned Preston heard these words with a pang, for the death or suffering +of the Shawanoe youth would have been an affliction to him like the +loss of a brother. There was that unswerving loyalty, self-sacrificing +friendship, and astonishing woodcraft which go to make up the ideal +American Indian, and which, though rarely encountered in these later +days, still actually existed a century or more ago, as it does now +among the aboriginal inhabitants of our country. Not often was it +seen, but there are historical facts which attest the truth of such +characters belonging to the Algonquin family of red men. + +"It looks to me as if Heaven raised up Deerfoot to be such a friend to +the white people, as Pocahontas was during the early New England +settlements." + +Such was the thought that had come to Ned Preston more than once and +which thought was the echo of the one uttered by his father months +before. The lad did not repeat the words now, but the expression of +pain which crossed his face, told his anguish more impressively than +the words themselves could have done. + +Without making reply, the youth stepped to one of the loopholes on the +western side of the block-house and looked out toward the river, +fixing his gaze on the point where he had parted company with the +Indian youth. + +Everything was as quiet as at "creation's morn." The glimmer of the +flowing Licking, the dim, solemn woods, the unsightly stumps on the +clearing, the blue sky above and beyond--all these wore the peaceful +look they wore when no peril threatened the diminutive settlement. + +Only one figure--that of the Wyandot warrior, stark and stiff in the +sunlight--spoke of the dreadful scenes that had been enacted on that +spot such a brief while before. + +Ned scrutinized the little clump of bushes which had sheltered the +young Shawanoe, when making his marvelous shot with his bow and arrow, +but not the first sign of life was visible. + +"I don't know whether to take heart from that or not," said the lad to +himself; "for, if they had captured Deerfoot, I should think they +would make some display over it, so as to impress us." + +"If they got the young redskin," observed Jo Stinger, standing at the +elbow of Ned, "it wouldn't have been _there_; that varmint would have +made a fight, and he would have given them a good run before they +brought him down." + +Ned Preston felt the force of this declaration, but he stood silent +several minutes longer, still watching the bushes with a weak hope +that they would give some sign that would bid him take heart. + +But he was disappointed, and, withdrawing his gaze, he looked at the +well which stood very near the middle of the square within the +stockade. + +"Uncle," said Ned, addressing his relative without regard to his +military title, "I heard you tell father that you meant to dig a well +inside the block-house, so the Indians could not cut off the water." + +"I did intend to do so, and it ought to have been done long ago, but +you know that men, like boys, are apt to put off till to-morrow that +which should be done to-day." + +"The Wyandots can destroy that well any night, or they can tear away +some of the stockades so as to shoot any one who goes near it." + +"That is self-evident, I am sorry to say." + +"You have a barrel of water in the house?" + +"Yes, an abundance for every purpose, excepting----" + +The Colonel hesitated and smiled: all knew what he meant. The most +dangerous enemy they had to fear, was the very one against which no +efficient provision had been made. + +When the block-house was erected, and for a considerable time after, +it was practically fire-proof, from the greenness of its timbers. The +hewn logs, plastered between with dried clay, could not be easily +ignited under the most favorable circumstances, if thoroughly seasoned +by the elements; but, when they contained an abundance of sap, there +was nothing to fear from such cause. + +It was somewhat the same with the slabs which composed the roof. They +were green at first, but they had been baked for months and years, and +a dry summer had not been long ended, so that they were in reality in +a very combustible state. Such solid pieces of oak do not take a flame +readily, but, to say the least, there were grounds for grave anxiety. + +Colonel Preston reproached himself more than did any of his friends, +for this neglect, but it must be borne in mind that the peril was one +which threatened almost every such station on the frontier during the +early days, and it was one which the hardy pioneers had learned to +combat, with a success that often defeated the most daring assailants. + +As no immediate attack was feared, the occupants of the block-house +disposed themselves as fancy prompted. Blossom Brown stretched out on +a blanket in a corner and was soon sound asleep. Megill and Turner did +the same, the others occupied seats, with the exception of Mrs. +Preston, who, like a good housewife, moved hither and thither, making +preparations for the noon-day meal of the garrison, while she kept her +children under her eye and made sure they did not wander into +dangerous portions of the building. + +Ned Preston played with the little girls, told them stories and taught +them numerous games of which they had never heard, and which he had +picked up for their benefit. + +Now and then he walked around the four sides of the room, looking +carefully through the loopholes and exchanging theories with his +uncle, who employed himself in much the same manner. + +Thus the time wore on until the day was half gone. The sky was clearer +than twenty-four hours before, and the sun was visible most of the +time, but the air was crisp and wintry, and the slight warmth from the +fire on the hearth down-stairs was pleasant to those who could feel +the grateful glow. + +Hours passed without any noticeable change. At noontime, there was a +general awaking, yawning, and stretching of limbs, accompanied by +peeps through the loopholes and an expression of views respecting the +situation. Mrs. Preston passed the dinner to each, and they ate, +sitting on chairs and the bench, drinking sparingly from the water +that had been collected against such an emergency. + +Most of the company were in good spirits, for the siege had not +continued long enough for them to feel its irksomeness, nor had the +demonstrations assumed a character to cause real uneasiness and +misgiving of the issue. + +After dinner, Colonel Preston and his nephew secured two hours' sleep, +but both were too much concerned to remain unconscious as long as did +the others. + +When Ned recovered himself, he walked straight to the southern side of +the room and peered through one of the openings. This gave him a view +of the two cabins, deserted the day before by the pioneers who had +occupied them so long. + +He saw nothing alarming on or about these structures, but all at once +something arrested his eye, just beyond the first cabin and on the +edge of the forest. At first, he could not conjecture what it meant, +but as he looked steadily, he observed that it was a smoking point, +showing that an object was burning, although Ned was far from +suspecting its real nature. + +Once or twice, he fancied he saw a person moving directly behind it; +but if such were the fact, the individual kept himself well hidden. + +Suddenly a tuft of smoke and a fiery point were seen to rise swiftly +in the air, and, curving over in a beautiful parabola, descend toward +the roof of the block-house. A moment after it struck with a quick +thud and then slid down the steep incline to the ground. + +Although the burning shaft was intended to stick fast and communicate +fire to the dry roof, it did not do so, but fell harmlessly to the +earth, where it lay smoking and burning directly under the eyes of the +startled garrison who looked down on it. + +"I expected it," quietly remarked Colonel Preston, after surveying the +burning missile. + +"There will be plenty of fireworks to-night," added Jo Stinger, "for +that's a fav'rit style with the varmints." + +This new demonstration had the effect of driving all the garrison to +the loopholes, Blossom Brown being among the most anxious to watch the +actions of the Wyandots. + +Even Mrs. Preston looked through the narrow openings with as much +interest as did any of them, while little Mary and Susie must needs be +given a peep at their familiar surroundings. + +The red men having discharged one fiery arrow, waited a long time +before repeating the demonstration. As it was deemed likely that the +next missile would be sent from another point, a watch was maintained +on every side of the block-house. + +"_Hello, here she come agin!_" + +It was Jo Stinger who uttered the exclamation, and he was facing the +Licking river. There was a general rush across the room to gain a view +of the flaming shaft, but before it could be done, it struck the roof +above, held a minute, and then, as if its grip was burned away, it was +distinctly heard as it fell over and slowly slid down the planks and +dropped to the ground, as did the first one. + +"If they do that every time," said Ned Preston, "they won't cause us +much harm." + +"I don't like it," replied the Colonel; "it kept its place too long on +the roof." + +"Not long enough to do any damage." + +"I am not so sure: I must see." + +Drawing a chair beneath the trap-door, he stepped on it and cautiously +raised the planks a few inches. This permitted a view of all the roof +on that side. He observed a scorched spot within reach of his hand, +but there was no evidence of injury from the flaming arrow which +struck and held a brief time. + +The trap was closed again, and the Colonel stepped down from the +chair. All looked expectantly at him, but beyond telling what he had +seen, he said nothing. + +The interest of the garrison was such that they kept their places at +the loopholes, through which they scrutinized the clearing, the cabins +and the woods beyond, watchful to detect the first evidence of what +their enemies were doing. + +This close attention caused the autumn afternoon to seem much longer +than it really was, but nothing more took place to give the defenders +any uneasiness. They saw the shades of night once more closing about +them, while they were environed so closely on every hand by the +vengeful Wyandots, that flight for any one was utterly out of the +question. + +"Wait till night comes," said Jo Stinger meaningly; "then you will +hear music and see sights!" + +Every one knew what the old scout meant by his quaint language, and +every one believed he spoke the truth, as in fact he did. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +IN GREAT PERIL. + + +Deerfoot the Shawanoe had drawn his arrow to the head and was in the +very act of launching it at the Wyandot who was advancing on Ned +Preston, when he saw that it was unnecessary. + +The puff of blue smoke from one of the portholes, the whiplike crack +of the Kentuckian's rifle, the death-shriek of the warrior, as he +staggered back and dropped to the earth, told the startling story too +plainly to be mistaken. + +With the faintest possible sigh, the dusky youth relaxed the tension +on the string, but he still leaned forward and peered through the +bushes, for the danger was not yet past. He more than suspected the +needle-pointed shaft would have to be sent after the second Indian who +pressed the lad so close; but, as the reader knows, Ned Preston darted +through the entrance in the very nick of time, just escaping the +tomahawk which whizzed over his head and buried itself half way to +the head in the solid puncheon slabs of the door. + +"Deerfoot thanks the Great Spirit of the white men," the Indian youth +muttered, looking reverently upward, "that his brother, whom he loves +more than his own life, is unharmed." + +The young Shawanoe felt that no time was to be lost in attending to +his own safety. More than likely some one of the Wyandots had caught +sight of the arrow, as it sailed through the air, with its important +message, and the meeting of the previous day told him he was regarded +with suspicion already. + +He saw no Indians near him and he cautiously retreated in the +direction of the river, which flowed only a short distance from him. +The bushes and undergrowth, although they had lost most of their +leaves, served him well as a screen, and, when he had advanced three +or four rods to the northward, he began to feel more hopeful, though, +it need scarcely be said, he did not relax his extraordinary caution +in the least. + +His purpose was to follow the river bank, until he had passed beyond +the surrounding Wyandots, after which it would be an easy matter to +make his way to Wild Oaks, with the news of the sore extremity of the +block-house. It was reasonable to believe that Waughtauk and his +warriors would guard every point much more closely than the Licking +directly in front of the station, for the one hundred yards of open +clearing made it impossible for any person to approach or leave the +building in the daytime, without exposing himself to a raking fire, +before reaching a point as close as that attained by Ned Preston and +Blossom Brown, when they were checked by the two warriors. + +Deerfoot, therefore, was warranted in thinking he had selected the +least guarded point, though he could not be sure of success, after the +discharge of the arrow through the narrow window. + +The few rods were passed as noiselessly as the hand of the clock +creeps over its face, when the Shawanoe became aware that he was close +to several Wyandots. He had not seen them, but that strange subtlety, +or intuition, which in some human beings seems like a sixth sense, +told him of the fact. + +He immediately sank flat on his face, and, by an imperceptible effort, +continued to advance toward the warriors, at a much slower rate than +before. Ten feet were passed in this guarded fashion, when he stopped: +he had learned enough. + +Between himself and the top of the bank, where it was level with the +clearing, was less than twelve feet. This space sloped irregularly +downward to the edge of the stream, and it was covered in many places +by a rank undergrowth, which, when bearing leaves, would have been an +effectual screen for an Indian or wild animal. + +Besides this scraggly vegetation, there were logs, limbs and debris of +freshets that had been brought down the river and had collected along +the shores. This will explain why it was that such extreme caution was +required on the part of any one who sought to avoid detection. + +When Deerfoot stopped, he was at a point from which he saw three +Wyandots, each with a gun in his hand, gazing over the clearing in the +direction of the block-house. They seemed to be intently occupied, but +no living person could pass between them and the river, which almost +touched the feet of one, without discovery. + +It was utterly useless to look for escape in that direction, and +without a minute's pause, the young Shawanoe worked his way back to +where he was standing when he used his bow, wondering as he did so, +why the twang of the string had not caught the ears of the Wyandots so +near him. + +He now turned about, so as to face up stream, and tried what might be +called the only recourse left. If he was shut off in that direction, +he was in the worst dilemma of his life. + +An almost incredible experience awaited him, for at about the same +distance as before, he discovered he was near others of his enemies, +as he was compelled to regard the Wyandots. Rather curiously, when he +advanced far enough to look through the bushes, he once more discerned +three of them. + +They were bestowing most of their attention on the block-house, and +one of them discharged his gun toward it, their friends further down +the river doing the same. + +Deerfoot was somewhat closer to them than to the others, for +fortunately he found a partly decayed log, lying directly across his +path, and he used this as a partial screen, though by doing so, he +increased the difficulty of his withdrawal, should it suddenly become +necessary. + +The young Shawanoe had scarcely secured the position, when the +warriors began talking in their own tongue, which was as familiar to +Deerfoot as his own. + +He was so close that he did not lose a single word of the +conversation, which, as may be suspected, was of no little interest to +himself. + +"The pale-face is a brave youth, and he runs like Deerfoot, the son of +the Shawanoe chieftain Allomaug." + +"The Long Knives flee, when the Wyandots leave their villages and hunt +for them." + +"The Yenghese are not brave," said the third warrior, who had just +fired his gun, and who used another term by which the Caucasian was +distinguished from his copper-hued brother; "they run like the +rabbits, when the hunter drives them from cover; they fled into the +strong lodge, when they saw the shadow of Waughtauk coming from the +north." + +"They will hide behind the logs till their brothers along the Ohio can +haste to help them," observed the first speaker, who seemed to be the +pessimist of the party; "their lodge is strong, and the Wyandot braves +cannot break it down." + +Deerfoot, from his concealment, saw the painted face of the other +warrior, as it was turned indignantly on the croaker. + +"My brother talks like the squaw who thinks the voice of the wind, +when it blows among the trees at night, is that of the panther and +bear that are pushing their noses under her lodge to turn it over; has +Arawa no heart, that he speaks so like a squaw that is ill?" + +Arawa seemed to feel somewhat ashamed of himself and made no reply: he +would doubtless have been glad if the drift of the conversation should +change, but as his companions showed no eagerness to change it, he +launched out boldly himself: + +"Why did we not shoot the pale-face youth and him with the color of +the night, when they hastened across the open ground? It was ours to +do so." + +"We thought there was no escape for them, and there would not be in +many moons should they run again." + +"But they cannot save the Yenghese dogs, for the strong lodge shall be +burned down before the sun shows itself again in the east," observed +the optimist. + +"Many moons ago, when the face of the sun was all fire, we tried to +burn the strong lodge, but the flame ran away from us and it will do +so many times more." + +This was Arawa the pessimist, croaking once more, and the others +scowled so fiercely upon him, that they seemed on the point of +offering violence with a view of modifying his views; but, if so, they +changed their minds, and one of them tendered some information: + +"The sun and the winds and the moon have made the roof of the strong +lodge like the wood with which Arawa makes the fire in his wigwam; it +is not as it was many moons ago." + +Arawa seemed on the point of opening his mouth to say that, while the +moon and the winds and the sun had been engaged in the drying out +process, the snows and storms and tempests had been taking part; but +if such was his intention, he changed his mind and made a remark of +still more vital interest to the cowen near the log. + +"The pale-face dogs, and he with the countenance of the night, must +have had the serpent-tongued Deerfoot to help them." + +This startling statement seemed to be endorsed by the other two, one +of whom said-- + +"Arawa speaks the truth." + +"Arawa reads what he sees aright," added the other, while Deerfoot +himself felt that all three had hit the nail on the head with +astonishing accuracy. + +"Deerfoot of the Shawanoes is a dog," observed one of the warriors, +"and he shall die the death of a dog." + +The individual referred to was rather relieved to hear this +declaration, because in order to inflict the death of a dog on him, it +would be necessary first to catch him--a condition which implied that +the Wyandots would make every effort to take him prisoner, instead of +shooting him on sight, as they often did with others. + +Where such a strong attempt should be made, it gave the young friend +of the white men a much greater chance of eluding his foes. + +The Wyandots, while grouped together and occasionally firing a gun at +the block-house, continued their derogatory remarks about the young +Shawanoe, who did not lose a word. He could see them distinctly: one +had his back toward him most of the time, but he turned now and then +so that his profile was visible. The lynx eyes of the youth noticed +the flaming red, which was daubed over his face, crossed with +zebra-like streaks of black, with circles on the forehead and +promiscuous dots here and there; the irregular nose, the bridge of +which had been broken, and the retreating chin,--all of which rendered +this particular Wyandot as ugly of countenance as the imagination can +picture. + +The others, however, were not much improvement as respects looks: one +had a projecting underchin, the other a very broad face, and the three +were anything but pleasing in appearance. + +Stealthily studying them, Deerfoot knew that, like all the other +warriors surrounding the block-house, they were his deadly enemies, +and would leave no effort untried to capture him the moment they +became aware of his presence. + +But to escape, it was necessary to pass beyond them, and desperate as +was the chance, Deerfoot saw a faint hope of success, enough to lead +him to make the attempt. + +The Wyandots were further up the bank than were the others, and there +was more vegetation and shrubbery there than lower down stream; but, +for all that, the chance was a forlorn one indeed. + +Deerfoot relied mainly on the fact that the interest of the warriors +was absorbed in the block-house itself: if they should continue to +give it their whole attention, he might be able to move by them +undiscovered. + +More than once, he had scrutinized the Licking, but with no +encouraging result. Had it been very deep close to the bank, he would +have wished no more favorable conditions. He could swim a long +distance under water and dive so far as to elude almost any kind of +pursuit. + +But the stream was too shallow to be of any use in that respect, and +he would have been forced to wade a long way before finding a +sufficient depth to benefit him. + +Whether he would have succeeded in flanking the Wyandots, had +everything remained as it was, is an open question, for the conditions +were overwhelmingly against him. But an obstacle appeared of which not +even the acute-minded Shawanoe dreamed. + +At the very moment he began moving from behind the rotten log, with a +view of pushing beyond, his trained ear caught a faint rattling noise, +like the whirr of a locust. He knew that it was the warning of a +rattlesnake which he had disturbed by his slight change of position. + +Singularly enough it was below the log and close to the water: it must +have been moving toward the side where the Shawanoe was hiding, when +it discovered him. It instantly began drawing itself rapidly in coil +and prepared to strike its enemy. + +Deerfoot saw that it was at just the right distance to bury its fangs +in his face. He made the quickest retreat of his life. He did not +become panic-stricken, but slid back several feet, so silently that he +made less noise than did the _crotalus_ itself, which was not heard by +the Wyandots, who were so much interested in the block-house and its +immediate surroundings. + +The action of the young Indian seemed to surprise the serpent, which +found its prey beyond reach at the moment it was ready to launch its +needle-pointed fangs into his body. With the tail slightly elevated, +the snake continued vibrating it slowly and giving forth a sound like +the faint chirping of crickets. + +Deerfoot extracted a single arrow from his quiver, and, while lying on +his face, supported on his right elbow, drew back the missile as +though it was a javelin which he was about to cast at an enemy. + +The distance was short, and he knew what he could do. Like a flash his +left hand shot forward, and the flint of the arrow went directly +through the narrow portion of the rattlesnake's body, a few inches +below its head. So powerful was the throw that the upper portion was +carried backward and pinned to the earth. + +The _crotalus_ species is so easily killed that a slight blow is +sufficient to render it helpless. The arrow, which had transfixed the +serpent in front of Deerfoot, destroyed the reptile so suddenly that +it made only a few furious whippings, when it was dead. + +The youth felt not the slightest fear of the reptile, but he dreaded +lest its threshings should attract the notice of the Wyandots, whom he +furtively watched, until the rattlesnake lay still. + +One of the warriors did look around, as though he heard something +unusual, but he seemed satisfied with a mere glance, and, turning +back, sighted his gun at the block-house and threw away a charge, as +so many of his people were doing around him. + +"Now is my chance," thought Deerfoot, as he once more began his +stealthy, shadow-like creeping around the decayed log, from behind +which had glided the venomous serpent that confronted him. + +The dead reptile still lay in his path, and Deerfoot reached his bow +forward, thrust one end under it and flung it aside, for he shared the +sentiments of the great generality of mankind, who look upon all +ophidians as the most detestable plagues which encumber the earth. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"BIRDS OF THE NIGHT." + + +The garrison within the block-house saw the November day draw to an +end, and the darkness of night closing in over river, forest and +clearing, with sad forebodings of what was to come before the rising +of the morrow's sun. + +Colonel Preston and Jo Stinger agreed that the experiment with the +burning arrows had resulted more favorably to the Wyandots than to the +whites. The flaming missiles were undoubtedly launched as a test or +experiment. True, each one had fallen to the ground without inflicting +material damage, but one of them clung to its position so long as to +encourage the assailants to repeat the attempt. + +"When the roof is stuck full of 'em," said Stinger, "and they're +p'inting upward like the quills of a porcupine, and every one of them +arrers is a camp-fire of itself, why then, look out,--that's all I've +got to say." + +"I know of no reason why--hello! there's another!" + +The speakers ran to the loopholes and looked out. Megill said it had +been fired from the cabin nearest them: he had noticed the wisp of +burning tow at the moment it sprang upward from the window. The archer +who dispatched it, kept himself out of view, Megill only catching +sight of his brawny hand, as he launched the flaming shaft. + +This arrow was not heard to slide down the roof and fall to the ground +as did the others. It kept its place, and so profound was the +stillness within the block-house that every one distinctly heard the +crackling of the flames overhead. + +More than one heart beat faster, as the friends looked at each other, +and more than one face blanched, when the full import of this ominous +occurrence became known. + +Jo Stinger drew his chair beneath the trap-door and carefully lifted +the slabs a few inches. He saw the arrow, which had been fired with +astonishing accuracy, and which had been sent to such a height that it +descended almost perpendicularly, the flint-head sinking a full inch +in the dry wood. + +This rapid sweep through air had fanned the twist of tow into a strong +blaze, and it was now burning vigorously. The flame was so hot indeed +that the shaft had caught fire, and it looked, at the first glance, as +though it would communicate with the roof itself. + +This was hardly likely; though, as Stinger himself had declared, the +danger would be very imminent when a large number were burning at the +same time on different portions of the top of the building. + +The pioneer extended the barrel of his rifle until he reached the +burning missile, when he knocked it loose by a smart blow. As before, +it slid down the steeply shelving roof and dropped, smoking, to the +ground, where it burned itself harmlessly away. + +The expectation was general on the part of the garrison that a shower +of burning arrows would now be sent from every portion of the wood. +The suspense was great, but, to the surprise of all, the minutes +passed without any demonstration of the kind. + +The night, like the preceding one, was chilly and crisp, but it was +clearer. A gibbous moon shone from the sky, save when the straggling +clouds drifted across its face, and sent grotesque shadows gliding +along the clearing and over the block-house and woods. A dozen black +specks, almost in the shape of the letter Y, suddenly passed over the +moon, and the honking cry which sounded high up in air, showed they +were wild geese flying southward. + +As the minutes wore on without any molestation from the Wyandots, Mrs. +Preston went down the ladder and started the smouldering embers into +life. This was not for the purpose of cooking, for enough of that was +done at noon, and the rations had already been distributed; but it was +with a view of adding to the comfort of those above, by giving them a +little warmth. + +She took care to keep out of the range of any lurking red men who +might steal up and fire through the windows on the opposite side, the +only spot from which a shot could reach her; but to attain the point +of firing, an Indian would have been forced to scale the stockade, and +none of them as yet had attempted that. + +Ned Preston stooped at the loophole, looking out over the clearing +toward the Licking, from which he and Blossom Brown had made such a +daring run for life and liberty. Out in the darkness beyond, he had +parted from Deerfoot the Shawanoe, the Indian youth who was so deeply +attached to him. Ned more than suspected his friend had given up his +life for his sake. Placed, as was Deerfoot, there seemed to be no +possibility of his eluding the Wyandots, who looked upon him as the +worst of traitors that encumbered the earth. + +"He asked me about the Great Spirit of the white man," thought Ned +Preston, as he recalled that conversation over the letter which was +tied to the arrow sent through the window; "and I promised I would +tell him something: I feel as though I had not done my duty." + +The lad was thoughtful a moment, oppressed by the remorse which comes +to us when we feel we have thrown away an opportunity that may never +return; but he soon rallied, as he remembered the words so often +spoken by his good mother. + +"God knows all hearts and he judges us aright: if Deerfoot was groping +after our Great Spirit, he found him before he died, for God is so +good and kind that he has gone to him, but O how glad I would be, if +I could only believe Deerfoot had got away, and that I shall see him +again!" + +Ned Preston was roused from these gloomy reflections by the discovery +that something was going on in front of him, though for some time he +could not divine its character. + +The uncertain light of the moon annoyed him, and prevented his +learning what would have been quickly detected by Jo Stinger. + +When the moon shone with unobstructed light, Ned could follow the +outlines of the Wyandot warrior stretched out in death on the clearing +in front: when the clouds drifted over its face, everything was +swallowed in darkness. + +In the mood of young Preston, a person sometimes shows a singular +disposition to observe trifling details and incidents. On almost any +other occasion he would not have noticed that the body of the Wyandot +lay in such a position that the head was within an arm's length of a +stump, while the feet was about the same distance from another. + +At the moment of deepest mental depression, the boy noted this, and he +muttered to himself, during the succeeding minutes, until the moon +came out again from behind the clouds. Just then he was looking toward +the prostrate figure, and he observed that it had shifted its +position. + +The head was within a few inches of a stump, while the feet were +correspondingly removed from the other. The difference was so marked +that there was no room for self-deception in the matter. + +"It must be he is alive!" was the thought of Ned, "and has been +feigning death all these hours." + +He was on the point of calling to his uncle, when he reflected that no +mercy was likely to be shown the warrior, in case he was only wounded. +Ned felt a sympathy for the poor wretch, and, though he had been his +most merciless enemy, the boy resolved that he would do nothing to +obstruct his final escape. + +He now centered his gaze on the figure and watched it with deep +interest. So long as the flood of moonlight rested on it, it remained +as motionless as the stumps near it; but at the end of ten minutes a +thick cloud sailed slowly by the orb, obscuring its light only a few +minutes. + +As soon as all was clear, Ned exclaimed-- + +"_He's moved again!_" + +"That's so, but he had help." + +It was Jo Stinger who stood at the elbow of Ned, looking through the +adjoining loophole. The boy turned to the scout, and said in an +entreating voice-- + +"Don't shoot him, Jo; give the poor fellow a chance!" + +Jo laughed-- + +"I don't waste ammunition on dead men: that varmint has been as dead +as Julius Cæsar ever since he was shot." + +"But how does he manage to move himself then?" + +"Bless your soul, he doesn't do it: there's a Wyandot behind that +stump at his head, and he's taking a hitch at him whenever the moon +gives him a show." + +Ned Preston was astonished, for the truth had never occurred to him. +Jo added-- + +"I've catched a glimpse of him once or twice, as he darted from one +stump to another. He came from the river bank, and I could have picked +him off, but I knowed what he's arter, and it's a principle with the +Colonel and me, never to interfere with the varmints when they want to +bury their dead." + +Ned Preston was greatly relieved to hear this, but the two said +nothing to the others, through fear that Megill or Turner would not be +so considerate of the wishes of the Colonel, whose authority over them +was more nominal than actual. + +The Wyandot who had taken on himself the duty of carrying away the +body of his fallen companion, seemed to acquire confidence from his +success. While Ned and Stinger were watching his movements, and while +the moon shone with unobstructed light, they saw the body drawn +entirely behind the stump, where, after some maneuvering, the warrior +partly straightened up, holding the burden over his shoulders and +back. + +Then he sped with surprising quickness for the river bank, down which +he vanished with the load. + +His work was done, and the deliverer doubtless believed he had +outwitted the whites, who could have shot him without difficulty as he +ran. + +Colonel Preston, and indeed all the garrison, were constantly +expecting the shower of burning arrows, and, because they were +delayed, no one dared hope the Wyandots had given over the intention +of burning them out of their refuge. + +When Ned grew weary of scanning the clearing with its uncertain light, +he walked to the northern side of the room which commanded a view of +one portion of the stockade. + +Before doing so, he turned to converse a few minutes with his uncle +and aunt. There was no light burning in the upper story, for the +reason that it was likely to serve as a guide to some of the Indian +marksmen who might steal up near enough to fire through the loopholes. + +The children had lain down in the corner, where, after saying their +prayers, they were sleeping the sweet refreshing sleep of innocency +and childhood. + +"Their mother is pretty well worn out," said the Colonel, "and I have +persuaded her to take a little rest while the opportunity is hers." + +"I am glad of that, but there is no telling when she will be +awakened----" + +"Hello! there's more mischief!" + +The exclamation was recognized as that of Jo Stinger, who had also +shifted his position to the northern side. Colonel Preston and his +nephew instantly hastened to the loopholes and looked out in the +gloom, which just then was at its deepest, as a mass of clouds were +gradually gliding before the moon, which could be seen only very +faintly, when some of the torn edges allowed its rays to steal +through. + +"What is it, Jo?" asked the Colonel, rifle in hand. + +"About a minute ago, I seen the heads of two of the varmints; I +oughtn't to have hollered as I did, but I was sort of took off my +guard, as you may say." + +"Where were they?" + +"Out yonder on the stockade; I make no doubt they're climbing over." + +"Give them a shot the moment you get the chance." + +"You may be sure I will," replied Jo, who was just able to catch a +glimpse of the moon, which seemed to be struggling to free itself from +the clouds that were smothering it. + +Colonel Preston and Ned also shoved their guns through the loopholes, +so as to be ready to fire the instant the opportunity offered. + +Jo had indicated the exact place, so that their gaze was turned to the +right point. The Wyandots were not forgetful of the uncertain light +which alternately favored and opposed them. When, therefore, the eyes +were directed toward the proper point, nothing was seen but the +sharply pointed pickets pointing upward, and which looked as difficult +to scale as the spiked fences of modern days. + +"They're there," whispered Jo, "and when you see a head, blaze away at +it." + +The words were yet in his mouth, when the outlines of a tufted crown +appeared above the stockade, where the Wyandot paused, as if peeping +over. Then a second was outlined at his elbow, the two remaining +stationary a full minute. + +"Don't shoot just yet," whispered Stinger. + +Ned wondered why the delay was suggested, after his previous +instruction; but, a moment after, the two Wyandots, no doubt with the +assistance of others, suddenly rose higher, so that their shoulders +and bodies were dimly seen. They were climbing over the stockade. + +"_Now!_" said Jo Stinger. + +All three fired, and the red men instantly vanished. It was almost +impossible to take fair aim, but it looked as if the warriors had been +"hit hard." + +"We dropped them," said Ned, with some excitement. + +"Yes, but they dropped themselves; they're inside the stockade." + +"What harm can two of them do, if they _are_ there?" asked Colonel +Preston, quite hopeful that they had slain the Indians. + +"There are a half dozen of the varmints at least inside," was the +disquieting statement of Stinger. + +"We ought to be able to see them," observed Colonel Preston, looking +searchingly at the spot where the two were discovered. + +"When they stand still, you can't see 'em; but when they stir around, +you can just make 'em out." + +The reason why the Wyandots had selected this side of the stockade, +was now apparent. The position of the moon in the heavens was such +that the pickets threw a wall of shadow several feet within the +square. When the warriors dropped to the ground, they were in such +gloom that it was almost impossible to see them, except when they +moved away from the fence. + +All this being true, it still was not easy to divine their purpose in +climbing the pickets. So long as they remained within the square, they +were in range of the Kentuckians' rifles as much as though on the +clearing in front. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +SHADOWY VISITORS. + + +When the eye gazes steadily at the Pleiades, in the midnight splendor +of the starlit sky, one of the blazing orbs shrinks modestly from view +and only six remain to be admired by the wondering gazer below: it is +the quick, casual glance that catches the brilliant sister unawares, +before she can hide her face. + +So, when the pioneers within the block-house looked intently at the +stockade, they saw nothing but the wall of shadow and the outline of +the sharp pickets above; but, as their vision flitted along the front, +they caught the faint suggestions of the figures of men standing erect +and doubtless intently watching the block-house, from which the rifles +of the Kentuckians had flashed but a short time before. + +Whenever the moon's light was obscured, nothing but blank darkness met +the eye, the line of stockades themselves vanishing from sight. Once +one of the warriors moved a few steps to the left, and Jo Stinger and +Ned Preston detected it. + +"Why not try another shot?" asked the Colonel, when the matter was +referred to. + +"It is too much guess-work: nobody can take any sort of aim, when it +is so dark in the block-house." + +"I wonder what their purpose can be," muttered the Colonel, speaking +as much to himself as to those near him. + +"I knows what it am," said Blossom Brown, who had been drawn to the +spot by the firing and the words he had overheard. + +"You do, eh?" remarked the Colonel, looking toward him in the +darkness; "what is it?" + +"Dey're comin' to steal de well." + +"What will they do with it, after they steal it?" + +"Take it off in de woods and hide it, I s'pose." + +"They won't have any trouble in preventing _us_ from stealing +it,--that is certain," observed the Colonel, bitterly. + +"Why can't we dig the well inside the block-house, as you intended?" +asked Ned; "there are shovels, spades and picks, and I don't suppose +it would take us a great while." + +"If we are driven to it, we will make the attempt; but there is no +likelihood that we will have a chance. All our attention will be +required by the Indians." + +"You can set Blossom to work if you wish to," said Ned Preston; "he is +good for little except to cut wood and dig. If he worked steadily for +two or three days, he might reach water." + +Ned was in earnest with this proposition, and he volunteered to take +his turn with his servant and the others; but the scheme filled +Blossom with dismay. + +"I neber dugged a well," he said, with a contemptuous sniff; "if I +should undertook it, de well would cave in on me, and den all you +folks would hab to stop fightin' de Injines and go to diggin' me out +agin." + +Colonel Preston did not consider the project feasible just then, and +Blossom Brown was relieved from an anticipation which was anything but +pleasant. + +Jo Stinger was attentively watching the stockade where the figures of +the Wyandot warriors were faintly seen. He was greatly mystified to +understand what their object could be in exposing themselves to such +risk, when, so far as he could judge, there was nothing to be gained +by so doing; but none knew better than did the veteran that, brave as +were these red men, they were not the ones to face a danger without +the reasonable certainty of acquiring some advantage over an enemy. + +"I will risk a shot anyway," he thought; "for, though I can't make +much of an aim, there is a chance of doing something. As soon as the +moon comes out, I will see how the varmints will stand a bullet or +two." + +So he waited "till the clouds rolled by," but, as he feared, the +straining eye could not catch the faintest suggestion of a warrior, +where several were visible only a short time before. + +They had vanished as silently as the shadows of the clouds swept +across the clearing. + +The action of the Indians in this respect was the cause of all kinds +of conjectures and theories, none of the garrison being able to offer +one that satisfied the others. + +Megill believed it was a diversion intended to cover up some design in +another direction. He was sure that, when the Wyandots made a +demonstration, it would come from some other point altogether. He, +therefore, gave his attention mainly to the cabins and the clearing in +front. + +Turner suspected they meant to destroy the well by filling it up, so +that it would be useless when the supply of water within the +block-house should become exhausted. Precisely how this filling up was +to be done, and wherein the necessity existed (since the Wyandots +could command the approaches to the water day and night), were beyond +the explanation of the settler. + +Jo Stinger, the veteran of the company, scouted these theories, as he +did that of the Colonel that it was a mere reconnoissance, but he +would not venture any guess further than that the mischief was much +deeper than any believed, and that never was there more necessity of +the most unremitting vigilance. + +Megill asserted that some scheme was brewing in the cabin from which +the two warriors emerged, when they sought to cut off the boys in +their run to the block-house. He had seen lights moving about, though +the ones who carried the torches took care not to expose themselves to +any shot from the station. + +The silence lasted two hours longer without the slightest evidence +that a living person was within a mile of the block-house. During that +period, not a glimmer of a light could be detected in the cabin, there +was not a single burning arrow, nor did so much as a war-whoop or +signal pass the lips of one of the Wyandots. + +The keen eyes of Jo Stinger and Ned Preston failed to catch a glimpse +of the shadowy figures at which they discharged their rifles, and +which caused them so much wonderment and speculation. + +But the keen scrutiny that seized every favoring moment and roamed +along the lines of stockades, further than the ordinary eye could +follow, discovered a thing or two which were not without their +significance. + +On the northern and eastern sides a number of pickets had been +removed, leaving several gaps wide enough to admit the passage of a +person. This required a great deal of hard work, for the pickets had +been driven deep into the earth and were well secured and braced from +the inside. + +"They needed men on both sides of the stockade to do that," said +Colonel Preston, "and those whom we saw, climbed over, so as to give +assistance." + +"That's the most sensible idee that's been put forward," replied Jo +Stinger, "and I shouldn't be s'prised if you was right; but somehow or +other----" + +"By gracious! I smell smoke sure as yo's bo'n!" + +Blossom Brown gave several vigorous sniffs before uttering this +alarming exclamation, but the words had no more than passed his lips, +when every man knew he spoke the truth. + +There was smoke in the upper part of the block-house, and though it +could not be seen in the darkness, yet it was perceptible to the sense +of smell. + +Consternation reigned for a few minutes among the garrison, and there +was hurrying to and fro in the effort to learn the cause of the +burning near them. + +The most terrifying cry that can strike the ears of the sailor or +passenger at sea is that of fire, but no such person could hold the +cry in greater dread than did the garrison, shut in the block-house +and surrounded by fierce American Indians. + +The first supposition of Colonel Preston was that it came from the +roof, and springing upon a chair, he shoved up the trap-doors, one +after the other, to a dangerously high extent. But whatever might have +happened to the other portions of the structure, the roof was +certainly intact. + +The next natural belief was that it was caused by the fire on the +hearth in the lower story, and Colonel Preston and Blossom Brown made +all haste down the ladder. Blossom, indeed, was too hasty, for he +missed one of the rounds and went bumping and tumbling to the floor, +where he set up a terrific cry, to which no attention was paid amid +the general excitement. + +"Here it is! Here's the fire!" suddenly shouted Ned Preston, in a +voice which instantly brought the others around him. + +Ned had done that wise thing to which we have all been urged many a +time and oft: he had "followed his nose" to the north-east corner of +the block-house, where the vapor was so dense that he knew the cause +must be very near. + +It so happened that this very nook was the least guarded of all. +Looking directly downward through the holes cut in the projecting +floor, his eyes smarted so much from the ascending vapor that he was +forced to rub them vigorously that he might be able to see. + +He could detect nothing but smoke for a minute or so, and that, of +course, made itself manifest to the sense of smell and touch rather +than to that of sight; but he soon observed, directly beneath his +feet, the red glow of fire itself. Then it was he uttered the +startling cry, which awoke Mrs. Preston and brought the rest around +him. + +Despite the care and skill with which the station had been guarded by +the garrison, all of whom possessed a certain experience in +frontier-life, the wily Wyandots had not only crept up to the +block-house itself without discovery, but they had brought sticks, had +piled them against the north-east corner, had set fire to them, and +had skulked away without being suspected by any one of the sentinels. + +The fact seemed incredible, and yet there was the most convincing +evidence before or rather under their eyes. Jo Stinger gave utterance +to several emphatic expressions, as he made a dash for the barrel of +water, and he was entirely willing to admit that of all idiots who +had ever pretended to be a sensible man, he was the chief. + +But the danger was averted without difficulty. Two pails of water were +carefully poured through the openings in the floor of the projecting +roof, and every spark of fire was extinguished. + +The water added to the density of the vapor. It set all the inmates +coughing and caused considerable annoyance; but it soon passed away, +and, after a time, the air became comparatively pure again. + +Megill complimented the cunning of the Wyandots, but Jo insisted that +they had shown no special skill at all: it was the utter stupidity of +himself and friends who had allowed such a thing to be done under +their very noses. + +"And, if it hadn't been for that darkey there," said he, with all the +severity he could command, "we wouldn't have found it out till this +old place was burned down, and we was scootin' across the clearin' +with the varmints crackin' away at us." + +"De gemman is right," assented Blossom, as he stopped rubbing the +bruises he received from tumbling through the ladder; "you'll find +dat it's allers me dat wokes folks up when de lightnin' am gwine to +strike somewhar 'bout yar." + +"We won't deny you proper credit," said Colonel Preston, "though Jo is +a little wild in his statements----" + +The unimportant remark of Colonel Preston was bisected by the sharp +report of Jo Stinger's rifle, followed on the instant by a piercing +shriek from some point near the block-house, within the stockade. + +"I peppered him _that_ time!" exclaimed the veteran; "it's all well +enough to crawl into yer winder, gather all the furniture together and +set fire to it, and then creep out agin, but when it comes to stealin' +the flint and tinder out of your pocket to do it with, then I'm going +to get mad." + +When the scout had regained something of his usual good nature, he +explained that he had scarcely turned to look out, when he actually +saw two of the Wyandots walking directly toward the heap of smoking +brush, as though they intended to renew the fire. The sight he +considered one of the grossest insults ever offered his intelligence, +and he fired, without waiting till some one could arrange to shoot the +second red man. + +With a daring that was scarcely to be wondered at, the warrior who was +unhurt threw his arm about his smitten companion and hurried to one of +the openings in the stockade, through which he made his way. + +This slight check would doubtless cause the red men to be more guarded +in their movements against the garrison. + +"It has teached them," said the hunter, with something of his grim +humor, "that accidents may happen, and some of 'em mought get hurt if +they go to looking down the muzzles of our guns." + +All noticed a rather curious change in the weather. The sky, which had +been quite clear early in the evening, was becoming overcast, and the +clouds hid the moon most of the time. It remained cold and chilly, and +more than one of the garrison wrapped a blanket around him, while +doing duty at the loopholes. + +The cloudiness became so marked, after a brief while, that the view +was much shortened in every direction. Those at the front of the +block-house could not see the edge of the clearing, where the Licking +flowed calmly on its way to the Ohio. Those on the north saw first +the line of stockades dissolve into darkness, and then the well-curb +(consisting of a rickety crank and windlass), grew indistinct until +its outlines faded from sight. + +The two cabins to the south loomed up in the gloom as the hulls of +ships are sometimes seen in the night-time at sea, but the blackness +was so profound, it became oppressive. Within the block-house, where +there was no light of any kind burning, it was like that of ancient +Egypt. + +Colonel Preston could not avoid a certain nervousness over the attempt +of the Wyandots to fire the building, and, though it failed, he half +suspected it would be repeated. + +He descended the ladder and made as careful an examination as +possible, but failed to find anything to add to his alarm and +misgiving. Everything seemed to be secure: the fastenings of the doors +were such that they might be considered almost as firm as the solid +logs themselves. + +While he was thus engaged, he heard some one coming down the ladder. +"Who's there?" he asked in an undertone. + +"It's Jo--don't be scart." + +"I'm not scared; I only wanted to know who it is; what are you after?" + +"I'm going out-doors, right among the varmints." + +"What has put that idea in your head?" + +"They've been playing their tricks on us long enough, and now I'm +going to show them that Jo Stinger knows a thing or two as well as +them." + +Colonel Preston would have sought to dissuade the veteran from the +rash proceeding, had he not known that it was useless to do so. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A MISHAP AND A SENTENCE. + + +Deerfoot the Shawanoe first pinned the rattlesnake to the earth with +the arrow which he threw with his deft left hand, then he flung the +reptile from his path and resumed his delicate and dangerous attempt +to creep past the three Wyandots who were lying against the hank of +the Licking, watching the block-house, now and then firing a shot at +the solid logs, as if to express their wishes respecting the occupants +of the building. + +If the task was almost impossible at first, it soon became utterly so, +as the young Shawanoe was compelled to admit. The contour of the bank +was such that, after getting by the log, he would be compelled to +approach the warriors so close that he could touch them with his +outstretched hand. This would have answered at night, when they were +asleep, but he might as well have attempted to lift himself through +the air as to do it under the circumstances we have described. + +Deerfoot never despaired nor gave up so long as he held space in which +to move. He immediately repeated the retrograde motion he had used +when confronted by the venomous serpent, his wish now being to return +to the spot from which he fired the arrow. + +The ventures made satisfied him that he had but one chance in a +thousand of escaping capture and death. He could not move to the right +nor left: it would have been certain destruction to show himself on +the clearing, and equally fatal to attempt to use the shallow Licking +behind him. + +There was a remote possibility that the arrowy messenger which he had +sent from his bow had not been noticed by any of the besieging +Wyandots, and that, as considerable time had already passed, none of +them would come over to where he was to inquire into the matter. + +If they would keep as far away from him as they were when his friend +Ned Preston started on his desperate run for the block-house, of +course he would be safe. He could wait where he was, lying flat on the +ground, through all the long hours of the day, until the mantle of +night should give him the chance for which he sighed. + +Ah, but for one hour of darkness! His flight from the point of danger +would be but pastime. + +The single chance in a thousand was that which we have named: the +remote possibility that none of the Wyandots would come any nearer to +where he was hugging the river bank. + +For a full hour Deerfoot was in suspense, with a fluttering hope that +it might be his fortune to wait until the sun should climb to the +zenith and sink in the west; for, young as was the Shawanoe, he had +learned the great truth that in the affairs of this world no push or +energy will win, where the virtue of patience is lacking. Many a time +a single move, born of impatience, has brought irretrievable disaster, +where success otherwise was certain. + +As the Shawanoe lay against the bank, looking across the clearing +toward the block-house, he recalled that message which, instead of +being spoken, as were all that he knew of, was carried on the arrow he +sent through the window. If he but understood how to place those words +on paper or on a dried leaf even, he would send another missive to +Colonel Preston, saying that, inasmuch as he was shut in from all hope +of escape, he would make the effort to run across the open space, as +did his friends before him. + +But the thing was impossible: the door of the block-house was +fastened, and if Deerfoot should start, he would reach it, if he +reached it at all, before the Colonel could draw the first bolt. Even +if the Shawanoe youth should succeed in making the point, which was +extremely doubtful, now that the Wyandots were fully awake, the +inevitable few seconds' halt there must prove fatal. + +The short conversation which he had overheard, convinced him of the +sentiments of Waughtauk and his warriors toward him, and led the young +Shawanoe to determine on an effort to extricate himself. It is the +very daring of such a scheme which sometimes succeeds, and he put it +in execution without delay. + +Instead of crouching to the ground, as he had been doing, he now rose +upright and moved down the bank, in the direction of the three +Wyandots who first turned him back. They were in their old position, +and he had gone only a few steps when one of them turned his head and +saw the youthful warrior approaching. He uttered a surprised "Hooh!" +and the others looked around at the figure, as they might have done +had it been an apparition. + +The scheme of Deerfoot was to attempt the part of a friend of the +Wyandots and consequently that of an enemy of the white race. He acted +as if without thought of being anything else, and as though he never +dreamed there was a suspicion of his loyalty. + +At a leisurely gait he walked toward the three Indians, holding his +head down somewhat, and glancing sideways through the scattered bushes +at the top of the bank, as though afraid of a shot from the garrison. + +"Have any of my brethren of the Wyandots been harmed by the dogs of +the Yenghese?" asked Deerfoot in the high-flown language peculiar to +his people. + +"The eyes of Deerfoot must have been closed not to see Oo-oo-mat-ah +lying on the ground before his eyes." + +This was an allusion to the warrior who made the mistake of stopping +Ned Preston when on his way to the block-house. + +"Deerfoot saw Oo-oo-mat-ah fall, as falls the brave warrior fighting +his foe; the eyes of Deerfoot were wet with tears, when his brave +Wyandot brother fell." + +Strictly speaking, a microscope would not have detected the first +grain of truth in this grandiloquent declaration, which was +accompanied by a gesture as though the audacious young Shawanoe was on +the point of breaking into sobs again. + +The apparent sincerity of Deerfoot's grief seemed to disarm the +Wyandots for the moment, which was precisely what the young Shawanoe +was seeking to do. + +Having mastered his sorrow, he started down the river bank on the same +slow gait, glancing sideways at the block-house as though he feared a +shot from that point. But the Indians were not to be baffled in that +fashion: their estimate of the daring Deerfoot was the same as +Waughtauk's. + +Without any further dissembling, one of the Wyandots, a lithe sinewy +brave, fully six feet in height, bounded in front of the Shawanoe, and +grasping his knife, said with flashing eyes-- + +"Deerfoot is a dog! he is a traitor; he is a serpent that has two +tongues! he shall die!" + +The others stood a few feet behind the couple and watched the singular +encounter. + +The Wyandot, with the threatening words in his mouth, leaped toward +Deerfoot, striking a vicious blow with his knife. It was a thrust +which would have ended the career of the youthful brave, had it +reached its mark. + +But Deerfoot dodged it easily, and, without attempting to return it, +shot under the infuriated arm and sped down the river bank with all +the wonderful speed at his command. + +The slight disturbance had brought the other three Wyandots to the +spot, and it would have been an easy thing to shoot the fugitive as he +fled. But among the new arrivals were those who knew it was the wish +of Waughtauk that Deerfoot should be taken prisoner, that he might be +put to the death all traitors deserved. + +Instead of firing their guns therefore, the whole six broke into a +run, each exerting himself to the utmost to overtake the fleet-footed +youth, who was no match for any one of them in a hand-to-hand +conflict, or a trial of strength. + +Deerfoot, by his sharp strategy, had thrown the whole party behind him +and had gained two or three yards' start: he felt that, if he could +not hold this against the fleetest of the Wyandots, then he deserved +to die the death of a dog. + +The bushes, undergrowth and logs which obstructed his path, were as +troublesome to his pursuers as to himself, and he bounded over them +like a mountain chamois, leaping from crag to crag. + +There can be no question that, if this contest had been decided by the +relative swiftness of foot on the part of pursuer and pursued, the +latter would have escaped without difficulty, but, as if the fates +were against the brave Shawanoe, his matchless limbs were no more than +fairly going, when two Wyandot warriors appeared directly in front in +such a position that it was impossible to avoid them. + +Deerfoot made a wrenching turn to the right, as if he meant to flank +them, but he stumbled, nearly recovered himself--then fell with great +violence, turning a complete somersault from his own momentum, and +then rose to his feet, as the Indians in front and rear closed around +him. + +He uttered a suppressed exclamation of pain, limped a couple of steps, +and then grasped a tree to sustain himself. He seemed to have +sprained his ankle badly and could bear his weight only on one foot. +No more disastrous termination of the flight could have followed. + +The Wyandots gathered about the poor fugitive with many expressions of +pleasure, for the pursuers had just been forced to believe the young +brave was likely to escape them, and it was a delightful surprise when +the two appeared in front and headed him off. + +Besides, a man with a sprained ankle is the last one in the world to +indulge in a foot-race, and they felt secure, therefore, in holding +their prisoner. + +"Dog! traitor! serpent with the forked tongue! base son of a brave +chieftain! warrior with the white heart!" + +These were a few of the expressions applied to the captive, who made +no answer. In fact, he seemed to be occupied exclusively with his +ankle, for, while they were berating him, he stooped over and rubbed +it with both hands, flinging his long bow aside, as though it could be +of no further use to him. + +The epithets were enough to blister the skin of the ordinary American +Indian, and there came a sudden flush to the dusky face of the +youthful brave, when he heard himself called the base son of a brave +chieftain. But he had learned to conquer himself, and he uttered not a +word in response. + +One of the Wyandots picked up the bow which the captive had thrown +aside, and examined it with much curiosity. There was no attempt to +disarm him of his knife and tomahawk, for had he not been disabled by +the sprained ankle, he would have been looked upon as an insignificant +prisoner, against whom it was cowardly to take any precautions. In +fact, to remove his weapons that remained would have been giving +dignity to one too contemptible to deserve the treatment of an +ordinary captive. + +The aborigines, like all barbarians and many civilized people, are +cruel by nature. The Wyandots, who had secured Deerfoot, refrained +from killing him for no other reason than that it would have been +greater mercy than they were willing to show to one whom they held in +such detestation. + +As it was, two of them struck him and repeated the taunting names +uttered when they first laid hands on him. Deerfoot still made no +answer, though his dark eyes flashed with a dangerous light when he +looked in the faces of the couple who inflicted the indignity. + +He asked them quietly to help him along, but, with another taunt, the +whole eight refused. The one who had smote him twice and who held his +bow, placed his hand against the shoulder of the youth and gave him a +violent shove. Deerfoot went several paces and then fell on his knees +and hands with a gasp of pain severe enough to make him faint. + +The others laughed, as he painfully labored to his feet. He then asked +that he might have his bow to use as a cane; but even this was +refused. Finding nothing in the way of assistance was to be obtained, +his proud spirit closed his lips, and he limped forward, scarcely +touching the great toe of the injured limb to the ground. + +The brief flight and pursuit had led the parties so far down the +Licking that they were out of sight of the block-house, quite a +stretch of forest intervening; but it had also taken them nearer the +headquarters, as they may be called, of Waughtauk, leader of the +Wyandots besieging Fort Bridgman. + +This sachem showed, in a lesser way, something of the military prowess +of Pontiac, chief of the Chippewas, King Philip of Pokanoket, and +Tecumseh, who belonged to the same tribe with Deerfoot. + +Although his entire force numbered a little more than fifty, yet he +had disposed them with such skill around the block-house that the most +experienced of scouts failed to make his way through the lines. + +Waughtauk was well convinced of the treachery of the Shawanoe, and +there was no living man for whom he would have given a greater amount +of wampum. + +The eyes of the chieftain sparkled with pleasure when the youthful +warrior came limping painfully toward him, escorted by the Wyandots, +as though they feared that, despite his disabled condition, he might +dart off with the speed of the wind. + +Waughtauk rose from the fallen tree on which he had been seated among +his warriors, and advanced a step or two to meet the party as it +approached. + +"Dog! base son of the noble chief Allomaug! youth with the red face +and the white heart! serpent with the forked tongue! the Great Spirit +has given it to Waughtauk that he should inflict on you the death that +is fitting all such." + +These were fierce words, but the absolute fury of manner which marked +their utterance showed how burning was the hate of the Wyandot leader +and his warriors. They knew that this youth had been honored and +trusted as no one of his years had ever been honored and trusted by +his tribe, and his treachery was therefore all the deeper, and +deserving of the worst punishment that could be devised. + +Deerfoot, standing on one foot, with his hand grasping a sapling at +his side, looked calmly in the face of the infuriated leader, and in +his low, musical voice, said-- + +"When Deerfoot was sick almost to death, his white brother took the +place of the father and mother who went to the happy hunting grounds +long ago; Deerfoot would have been a dog, had he not helped his white +brother through the forest, when the bear and the panther and the +Wyandot were in his path." + +This defence, instead of soothing the chieftain, seemed to arouse all +the ferocity of his nature. His face fairly shone with flame through +his ochre and paint; and striding toward the prisoner, he raised his +hand with such fierceness that the muscles of the arm rose in knots +and the veins stood out in ridges on temple and forehead. + +As he threw his fist aloft and was on the point of smiting Deerfoot to +the earth, the latter straightened up with his native dignity, and, +still grasping the sapling and still standing on one foot, looked him +in the eye. + +It was as if a great lion-tamer, hearing the stealthy approach of the +wild beast, had suddenly turned and confronted him. + +Waughtauk paused at the moment, his fist was in the air directly over +the head of Deerfoot, glowering down upon him with an expression +demoniac in its hate. He breathed hard and fast for a few seconds and +then retreated without striking the impending blow. + +But it must not be understood that it was the defiant look of the +captive which checked the chief. It produced no such effect, nor was +it intended to do so: it simply meant on the part of Deerfoot that he +expected indignity and torture and death, and he could bear them as +unflinchingly as Waughtauk himself. + +As for the chieftain, he reflected that a little counsel and +consultation were needed to fix upon the best method of putting this +tormentor out of the way. If Waughtauk should allow his own passion to +master him, the anticipated enjoyment would be lost. + +While Deerfoot, therefore, retained his grasp on the sapling, that he +might be supported from falling, Waughtauk called about him his +cabinet, as it may be termed, and began the consideration of the best +means of punishing the traitor. + +The captive could hear all the discussion, and, it need not be said, +he listened with much more interest than he appeared to feel. + +It would be revolting to detail the schemes advocated. If there is any +one direction in which the human mind is marvelous in its ingenuity, +it is in the single one of devising means of making other beings +miserable. Some of the proposals of the Wyandots were worthy of Nana +Sahib, of Bithoor, but they were rejected one after the other, as +falling a little short of the requirements of the leader. + +There was one fact which did not escape the watchful eye and ear of +the prisoner. The Wyandot who struck him twice, and who had taken +charge of his bow, as a trophy belonging specially to himself, was the +foremost in proposing the most cruel schemes. The look which Deerfoot +cast upon him said plainly-- + +"I would give the world for a chance to settle with _you_ before I +suffer death!" + +Suddenly a thought seemed to seize Waughtauk like an inspiration. +Rising to his feet, he held up his hand for his warriors to listen: + +"Deerfoot is a swift runner; he has overtaken the fleeing horse and +leaped upon his back; he shall be placed in the Long Clearing; he +shall be given a start, and the swiftest Wyandot warriors shall be +placed in line on the edge of the Long Clearing; they shall start +together, and the scalp of Deerfoot shall belong to him who first +overtakes him." + +This scheme, after all, was merciful when compared with many that were +proposed; but the staking of a man's life on his fleetness, when +entirely unable to run, is an idea worthy of an American Indian. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. + + +Jo Stinger had decided to venture out from the block-house, at a time +when the Wyandots were on every side, and when many of them were +within the stockade and close to the building itself It was a perilous +act, but the veteran had what he deemed good grounds for undertaking +it. + +In the first place, the darkness had deepened to that extent, within +the last few hours, that he believed he could move about without being +suspected: he was confident indeed that he could stay out as long as +he chose and return in safety. + +He still felt chagrined over the audacity of the Wyandots, which came +so near success, and longed to turn the tables upon them. + +But Jo Stinger had too much sense to leave the garrison and run into +great peril without the prospect of accomplishing some good thereby. +He knew the Wyandots were completing preparations to burn the +block-house. He believed it would be attempted before morning, and, +if not detected by him, would succeed. He had strong hope that, by +venturing outside, he could learn the nature of the plan against which +it would therefore be possible to make some preparation. + +Colonel Preston was not without misgiving when he drew the ponderous +bolts, but he gave no expression to his thoughts. All was blank +darkness, but, when the door was drawn inward, he felt several cold +specks on his hand, from which he knew it was snowing. + +The flakes were very fine and few, but they were likely to increase +before morning, by which time the ground might be covered. + +"When shall I look for your return?" asked the Colonel, but, to his +surprise, there was no answer. Jo had moved away, and was gone without +exchanging another word with the commandant. + +The latter refastened the door at once. He could not but regard the +action of the most valuable man of his garrison as without excuse: at +the same time he reflected that his own title could not have been more +empty, for no one of the three men accepted his orders when they +conflicted with his personal views. + +In the meantime Jo Stinger, finding himself on the outside of the +block-house, was in a situation where every sense needed to be on the +alert, and none knew it better than he. + +The door which Colonel Preston opened was the front one, being that +which the scout passed through the previous night, and which opened on +the clearing along the river. He was afraid that, if he emerged from +the other entrance, he would step among the Wyandots and be recognized +before he could take his bearings. + +But Jo felt that he had entered on an enterprise in which the chances +were against success, and in which he could accomplish nothing except +by the greatest risk to himself. The listening Colonel fancied he +heard the sound of his stealthy footstep, as the hunter moved from the +door of the block-house. He listened a few minutes longer, but all was +still except the soft sifting of the snow against the door, like the +finest particles of sand and dust filtering through the tree-tops. + +The Colonel passed to the narrow window at the side and looked out. It +had become like the blackness of darkness, and several of the whirling +snow-flakes struck his face. + +"The Wyandots are concocting some mischief, and there's no telling +what shape it will take until it comes. I don't believe Jo will do +anything that will help us." + +And with a sigh the speaker climbed the ladder again and told his +friends how rash the pioneer had been. + +"I wouldn't have allowed him to go," said Ned Preston. + +"There's no stopping him when he has made up his mind to do anything." + +"Why didn't you took him by de collar," asked Blossom Brown, "and slam +him down on de floor? Dat's what I'd done, and, if he'd said anyting, +den I'd took him by de heels and banged his head agin de door till +he'd be glad to sot down and behave himself." + +"Jo is a skilled frontiersman," said the Colonel, who felt that it was +time he rallied to the defence of the scout; "he has tramped hundreds +of miles with Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone, and, if his gun hadn't +flashed fire one dark night last winter, he would have ended the +career of Simon Girty." + +"How was that?" + +"Simon Girty and Kenton served together as spies in Dunmore's +expedition in 1774, and up to that time Girty was a good soldier, who +risked much for his country. He was badly used by General Lewis, and +became the greatest scourge we have had on the frontier. I don't +suppose he ever has such an emotion as pity in his breast, and there +is no cruelty that he wouldn't be glad to inflict on the whites. He +and Jo know and hate each other worse than poison. Last winter, Jo +crept into one of the Shawanoe towns one dark night, and when only a +hundred feet away, aimed straight at Girty, who sat on a log, smoking +his pipe, and talking to several warriors. Jo was so angered when his +gun flashed in the pan, that he threw it upon the ground and barely +saved himself by dashing out of the camp at the top of his speed. Jo +has been in a great many perilous situations," added Colonel Preston, +"and he can tell of many a thrilling encounter in the depths of the +silent forest and on the banks of the lonely streams, where no other +human eyes saw him and his foe." + +"No doubt of all that," replied Ned, who knew that he was speaking the +sentiments of his uncle, "but it seems to me he is running a great +deal more risk than he ought to." + +"I agree with you, but we have been greatly favored so far, and we +will continue to hope for the best." + +The long spell of quiet which had followed the attempt to fire the +block-house, permitted the children to sleep, and their mother, upon +the urgency of her husband, had lain down beside them and was sinking +into a refreshing slumber. + +Megill and Turner kept their places at the loopholes, watching for the +signs of danger with as vigilant interest as though it was the first +hour of the alarm. They were inclined to commend the course of Jo +Stinger, despite the great peril involved. + +The Wyandots, beyond question, were perfecting some scheme of attack, +which most likely could be foiled only by previous knowledge on the +part of the garrison. The profound darkness and the skill of the +hunter would enable him to do all that could be done by any one, under +the circumstances. + +There came seconds, and sometimes minutes, when no one spoke, and the +silence within the block-house was so profound that the faint sifting +of the snow on the roof was heard. Then an eddy of wind would whirl +some of the sand-like particles through the loopholes into the eyes +and faces of those who were peering out. Men and boys gathered their +blankets closer about their shoulders, and set their muskets down +beside them, where they could be caught up the instant needed, while +they carefully warmed their benumbed fingers by rubbing and striking +the palms together. + +All senses were concentrated in the one of listening, for no other +faculty was of avail at such a time. Nerves were strung to the highest +point, because there was not one who did not feel certain they were on +the eve of events which were to decide the fate of the little company +huddled together in Fort Bridgman. + +This stillness was at its profoundest depth, the soft rustling of the +snowflakes seemed to have ceased, and not a whisper was on the lips of +one of the garrison, when there suddenly rang out on the night a +shriek like that of some strong man caught in the crush of death. It +was so piercing that it seemed almost to sound from the center of the +room, and certainly must have been very close to the block-house +itself. + +"That was the voice of Jo!" said Colonel Preston, in a terrified +undertone, after a minute's silence; "he has met his fate." + +"You are mistaken," Megill hastened to say; "I have been with Jo too +often, and I know his voice too well to be deceived." + +"It sounded marvelously like his." + +"It did not to me, though it may have been so to you." + +"If it was not Jo, then it must have been one of the Wyandots." + +"That follows, as a matter of course; in spite of all of Jo's care, he +has run against one of their men, or one of them has run against him. +The only way to settle it then was in the hurricane order, and Jo has +done it that promptly that the other has just had time to work in a +first-class yell like that." + +"I'm greatly relieved to hear you take such a view," said Colonel +Preston, who, like the rest, was most agreeably disappointed to hear +Megill speak so confidently, his brother-in-law adding his testimony +to the same effect. + +"Directly after that shriek," said Turner, "I'm sure there was the +tramping of feet, as if some one was running very fast: it passed +under the stockade and out toward the well." + +"I heard the footsteps too," added Ned Preston. + +"So did I," chimed in Blossom Brown, feeling it his duty to say +something to help the others along; "but I'm suah dat de footsteps dat +I heerd war on de roof. Some onrespectful Wyamdot hab crawled up dar, +and I bet am lookin' down de chimbley dis minute." + +"It seems to me," observed Ned to his uncle, "that Jo will want to +come back pretty soon." + +"I think so too," replied his uncle, "I will go down-stairs and wait +for him." + +With these words he descended the rounds of the ladder and moved +softly across the lower floor to the door, where he paused, with his +hands on one of the heavy bars which held the structure in place. + +While crossing the room he looked toward the fire-place. Among the +ashes he caught the sullen red of a single point of fire, like the +glowering eye of some ogre, watching him in the darkness. + +Beside the huge latch, there were three ponderous pieces of timber +which spanned the inner side of the door, the ends dropping into +massive sockets strong enough to hold the puncheon slabs against +prodigious pressure from the outside. + +Colonel Preston carefully lifted the upper one out of place and then +did the same with the lowest. Then he placed his hand on the middle +bar and held his ear close to the jamb, so that he might catch the +first signal from the scout, whose return was due every minute. + +The listening ear caught the silken sifting of the particles of snow, +which insinuated themselves into and through the smallest crevices, +and a slight shiver passed through the frame of the pioneer, who had +thrown his blanket off his shoulders so that he might have his arms +free to use the instant it should become necessary. + +Colonel Preston had stood thus only a few minutes, when he fancied he +heard some one on the outside. The noise was very slight and much as +if a dog was scratching with his paw. Knowing that wood is a better +conductor of sound than air, he pressed his ear against the door. + +To his astonishment he then heard nothing except the snowflakes, +which sounded like the tapping of multitudinous fairies, as they +romped back and forth and up and down the door. + +"That's strange," thought he, after listening a few minutes; "there's +something unusual out there, and I don't know whether it is Jo or not. +I'm afraid the poor fellow has been hurt and is afraid to make himself +known." + +The words were yet in his mouth, when he caught a faint tapping +outside, as if made by the bill of a bird. + +"That's Jo!" he exclaimed, immediately raising the end of the middle +bar from its socket; "he must be hurt, or he is afraid to signal me, +lest he be recognized." + +At the moment the fastenings were removed, and Colonel Preston was +about drawing the door inward, he stayed his hand, prompted so to do +by the faintest suspicion that something was amiss. + +"Jo! is that you?" he asked in a whisper. + +"_Sh! Sh!_" + +He caught the warning, almost inaudible as it was, and instantly drew +the door inward six or eight inches. + +"Quick, Jo! the way is open!" + +Even then a vague suspicion that all was not right led Colonel Preston +to step back a single step, and, though he had no weapons, he clenched +his fist and braced himself for an assault which he did not expect. + +The darkness was too complete for him to see anything, while the faint +ember, smouldering in the fire-place, threw no reflection on the +figure of the pioneer, so as to reveal his precise position. + +It was a providential instinct that led Colonel Preston to take this +precaution, for as he recoiled some one struck a venomous blow at him +with a knife, under the supposition that he was standing on the same +spot where he stood at the moment the door was opened. Had he been +there, he would have been killed with the suddenness almost of the +lightning stroke. + +The pioneer could not see, and he heard nothing except a sudden +expiration of the breath, which accompanied the fierce blow into +vacancy, but he knew like a flash that, instead of Jo, it was a +Wyandot Indian who was in the act of making a rush to open the way for +the other warriors behind him. + +The right fist shot forward, with all the power Colonel Preston could +throw into it. He was an athlete and a good boxer. As he struck, he +hurled his body with the fist, so that all the momentum possible went +with it. Fortunately for the pioneer the blow landed on the forehead +of the unprepared warrior, throwing him violently backward against his +comrades, who were in the act of rushing forward to follow in his +wake. + +But for them he would have been flung prostrate full a dozen feet +distant. + +The instant the blow was delivered, Colonel Preston sprang back, +shoved the door to and caught up the middle bar. At such crises it +seems as if fate throws every obstruction in the way, and his agony +was indescribable, while desperately trying to get the bar in place. + +Only a few seconds were occupied in doing so, but those seconds were +frightful ones to him. He was sure the entire war party would swarm +into the block-house, before he could shut them out. + +The Indians, who were forced backward by the impetus of the smitten +leader, understood the need of haste. They knew that, unless they +recovered their ground immediately, their golden opportunity was +gone. + +Suppressing all outcry, for they had no wish to draw the fire from the +loopholes above, they precipitated themselves against the door, as +though each one was the carved head of a catapult, equal to the task +of bursting through any obstacle in its path. + +Thank Heaven! In the very nick of time Colonel Preston got the middle +bar into its socket. This held the door so securely that the other two +were added without trouble, and he then breathed freely. + +Drops of cold perspiration stood on his forehead, and he felt so faint +that he groped about for a stool, on which he dropped until he could +recover. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +OUT-DOORS ON A DARK NIGHT. + + +In the meantime Jo Stinger, the veteran frontiersman, had not found +the "plain sailing" which he anticipated. + +It will be remembered that he passed out upon the clearing in front of +the block-house, because he feared that, if he entered the yard +inclosed by the stockade, he would find himself among the Wyandots, +who would be quick to detect his identity. + +His presence immediately in front of the structure would also draw +attention to himself, and he therefore glided away until he was fully +a hundred feet distant, when he paused close to the western pickets. + +Looking behind him, he could not see the outlines of the building +which he had just left. For the sake of safety Colonel Preston allowed +no light burning within the block-house, which itself was like a solid +bank of darkness. + +"It would be easy enough now for me to make my way to Wild Oaks," +reflected Stinger; "for, when the night is like this, three hundred +Indians could not surround the old place close enough to catch any one +crawling through. But it is no use for me to strike out for the Ohio +now, for the boys could not get here soon enough to affect the result +one way or the other. Long before that the varmints will wind up this +bus'ness, either by going away, or by cleaning out the whole concern." + +Jo Stinger unquestionably was right in this conclusion, but he +possessed a strong faith that Colonel Preston and the rest of them in +the block-house would be able to pull through, if they displayed the +vigilance and care which it was easy to display: this faith explains +how it was the frontiersman had ventured upon what was, beyond all +doubt, a most perilous enterprise. + +Jo, from some cause or other which he could not explain, suspected the +Wyandots were collecting near the well, and he began working his way +in that direction. + +It was unnecessary to scale the stockade, and he therefore moved along +the western side, until he reached the angle, when he turned to the +right and felt his way parallel with the northern line of pickets. + +Up to this time he had not caught sight or sound to show that an +Indian was within a mile of him. The fine particles of snow made +themselves manifest only by the icy, needle-like points which touched +his face and hands, as he groped along. He carried his faithful rifle +in his left hand, and his right rested on the haft of his long +hunting-knife at his waist. His head was thrust forward, while he +peered to the right and left, advancing with as much care as if he +were entering a hostile camp on a moonlight night, when the +overturning of a leaf is enough to awaken a score of sleeping red men. + +A moment after passing the corner of the stockade something touched +his elbow. He knew on the instant that it was one of the Wyandots. In +the darkness they had come thus close without either suspecting the +presence of the other. + +"Hooh! my brother is like Deerfoot, the dog of a Shawanoe." + +This was uttered in the Wyandot tongue, and the scout understood the +words, but he did not dare reply. He could not speak well enough to +deceive the warrior, who evidently supposed he was one of his own +people. + +But there was the single exclamation which he could imitate to +perfection, and he did so as he drew his knife. + +"Hooh!" he responded, moving on without the slightest halt. The +response seemed satisfactory to the Wyandot, but could Jo have seen +the actions of the Indian immediately after, he would have felt +anything but secure on that point. + +The brave stood a minute or so, looking in the direction taken by the +other, and then, as if suspicious that all was not what it seemed, he +followed after the figure which had vanished so quickly. + +"I would give a good deal if I but knowed what he meant by speaking of +Deerfoot as he did," said Jo to himself, "but I didn't dare ask him to +give the partic'lars. I make no doubt they've catched the Shawanoe and +scalped him long ago." + +Remembering the openings which he had seen in the stockade before the +darkness became so intense, Jo reached out his right hand and run it +along the pickets, so as not to miss them. + +He had gone only a little way, when his touch revealed the spot where +a couple had been removed, and there was room for him to force his +body through. + +Jo was of a spare figure, and, with little difficulty, he entered the +space inclosed by the stockade. He now knew his surroundings and +bearings, as well as though it were high noon, and began making his +way with great stealth in the direction of the well standing near the +middle of the yard. + +While he was doing this, the Wyandot with whom he had exchanged +salutations was stealing after him: it was the old case of the hunter +going to hunt the tiger, and soon finding the tiger was hunting him. + +The task of the Wyandot, however, for the time, was a more delicate +one than was the white man's, for the dusky pursuer had lost sight of +his foe (if indeed it can be said he had ever caught a view of him), +instantly after the brief salutation between them. + +The warrior, when he reached the first opening in the stockade, had no +means of knowing that the pale-face had passed through. Had there +been any daylight to aid his vision, he could have learned the truth +at once; but if there had been daylight, there could have been no such +necessity, inasmuch as Jo Stinger would have stayed in the +block-house. + +The fact that he could not trace the daring scout with any certainty, +did not deprive the Wyandot of the ability to do something for himself +and companions. + +When Jo Stinger passed within the stockade, he fixed the direction in +which lay the well, and then began advancing toward it. The result of +this venture proved again, how often the most careful preparation is +defeated by some simple obstruction against which a child ought to +have guarded. + +"I must be pretty near the spot," thought Jo, when he had groped +vaguely for some distance; "I can't imagine what the varmints can be +doin' here, but they've got some plan on foot which I'm bound----" + +At this instant, with a shock which made his hair fairly rise on end, +he stepped directly into the well and went down! + +The rickety inclosure of slabs, with the crank and windlass, had been +removed by the Wyandots, so that in case any of the garrison ventured +out, under cover of darkness, to get water, they would be unable to do +so. + +The theft of the curb, bucket, and appliances, shut off the supply +from that source as utterly as though it had never existed. And yet, +not a single member of the garrison, knowing as they did that the +Wyandots were carrying out some design, suspected what their real +purpose was. + +Providence alone saved Jo Stinger from an ignominious end, for had he +gone to the bottom of the well, the Indians could not have failed to +discover it, and they would have carried out their own will concerning +him. + +But the life of peril which Jo had led so many years, greatly +developed a certain readiness and presence of mind natural to him; but +it was probably the instinctive desire to catch himself, which led him +on the instant to place the gun in his left hand in a horizontal +position. The diameter of the well was much less than the length of +the old-fashioned flint-lock rifle; and thus it came about that muzzle +and stock caught firmly, and Jo was suspended in the middle of the +opening by one hand. Hastily shoving his knife back in his girdle, he +seized the barrel with both hands and easily drew himself from his +dangerous position. Then he took out his knife again and indulged in +an expression of opinion concerning his performances of the last +twenty-four hours. + +This opinion it is not necessary to place on record: the reader need +not be told that it was the reverse of complimentary, and that it +would have hardly been safe for any one else to repeat the same +vigorous comments in the presence of Jo himself. + +He was not without gratitude for his delivery from the consequences of +his own carelessness, but he was exasperated beyond expression by the +stupidity which had seemed to brood over the counsels of the garrison +from the first and to direct everything done. + +While a prey to this gnawing chagrin, he suddenly became aware that +one of the Wyandots was at his elbow again. + +"My brother treads like the shadows of the clouds which sweep over the +forest: there is no sound, and he glides----" + +"This is his style of gliding," interrupted Jo Stinger, who was in a +most dangerous mood, as he bounded like a panther toward him. + +The grapple was short and terrific: there was one wild piercing shriek +from the dusky foeman, and then it was all over. Jo hurried from the +spot, for he knew others would be there in a few seconds, and they +would be quick to detect or at least to surmise the truth. + +He hastened back over the path by which he had approached the well, +passing through the same opening that had admitted him. Then, with a +view of avoiding any one who might be using the same route, he moved a +rod or two away from the stockade, turning the corner nearly as before +and starting on his return to the block-house. + +Jo's belief was that he could accomplish nothing more by staying +outside the building. He had learned that about the well which he +ought to have known long before, and the Wyandots had already +ascertained that one of the garrison, or possibly some friend from +another point, was on the outside. They would take precaution against +his entering the block-house, and doubtless would exert themselves to +detect and slay him. + +He felt therefore that it would not do to delay his return. He did not +do so, and yet, quick as he was, he made the discovery after all that +he was just too late. Approaching the door of the building with +extreme caution, it did not take him long to learn that the Wyandots +were there before him. + +He withdrew with the same care, and continued stealing some distance +further in a southern direction, finally halting close to the cabin +from which the Wyandots had issued when they interfered with the +flight of Blossom Brown and Ned Preston across the clearing. + +Jo felt the situation was becoming serious. He had not thought of +anything like this, and he had made no arrangement for a system of +signals to meet the difficulty. Colonel Preston would detect his low, +tremulous whistle, by which the scout was accustomed to make known his +presence on the outside and his desire to enter; but there was no +means of apprising the Colonel of the alarming fact that a number of +Indians were waiting in the darkness to take his place. + +Had Jo thought of all this beforehand, there would have been no such +startling occurrence at the door, as has been described. + +He did not believe it probable the Wyandots would emit any signals +which would deceive Colonel Preston into the belief that it was a +friend and not an enemy who was asking admission into the station. + +While the pioneer stood aloof in the darkness, debating and asking +himself what was best to do, his keen vision was able to mark the +shape of something which puzzled him only for the moment. It was a +parallelogram of a faint yellow glow only a short distance in front of +him. + +"That comes from a light in the cabin, where them varmints have been +loafing ever since the rumpus yesterday morning." + +Jo was right in this supposition: he had approached the dwelling, +wherein were several Wyandots who had a fire burning on the hearth. +The yellow reflection showing through one of the side-windows led Jo +to detect its meaning with scarce a moment's hesitation. + +As yet he had succeeded in learning nothing of importance, for no one +would attempt to draw any water from the well during the night, and +if the block-house should remain on its foundations until morning, +every one of the garrison could see for himself that the supply was no +longer available. + +What secret might not the old cabin give up to him? Was it not there +that he should seek the key to the problem which had baffled him thus +far? + +These and similar questions Jo Stinger put to himself, as he advanced +toward the structure wherein he was certain to find more than one +Wyandot. + +As his approach was from the side instead of the front, as it may be +called (by which is meant that part of the cabin which faced the +block-house itself), the red men within had taken no precautions +against observation from that direction. + +While Jo was yet ten feet from the window, he gained a view of the +interior that showed everything in the room, with whose contour he was +familiar. The sight which met his gaze was a most interesting one +indeed. + +There were three Indians seated, cross-legged like Turks, on the +floor, smoking their pipes, while they talked earnestly together. One +of these, from his dress and manner, Jo knew was the chief or leader +of the war party. It was, in fact, Waughtauk who was holding a +consultation with his two lieutenants, if they may be termed such, on +the "conduct of the war." + +Jo Stinger had no doubt that such was their occupation, and he was +certain that, if he could overhear their words, he was likely to +gather the very information he was seeking. + +As we have already intimated, he understood the Wyandot tongue, and he +was eager to catch the expressions, especially those which fell from +the lips of the chief himself. + +"The pale-faces will come from the Ohio," were the first words which +Stinger was able to hear, and they were uttered by Waughtauk himself; +"if we wait until to-morrow, they will be here before nightfall." + +This implied rather rapid traveling on the part of the party of rescue +from Wild Oaks, and it was more than likely that the chief, with a +view of adding force to his remarks, exaggerated matters to a certain +extent. + +"One of the Yenghese is abroad to-night," said the warrior next the +chief. As he spoke, he took his pipe from his mouth and used it in +gesticulating; "he has slain one of our braves." + +"He shall die for his offence, as all the Yenghese shall die," replied +the chieftain, in a voice so loud that the listener could have caught +his meaning had he been a rod further away. "None of them shall see +the sun rise again. They shall be burned in the block-house, which has +encumbered our hunting-grounds too long." + +This threat was only what might have been expected, but Waughtauk the +next minute imparted the very tidings which Jo Stinger sought, and for +the sake of which he had risked so much. + +"The wind blows strong; the Great Spirit will soon fan the fire into a +blaze, and will carry it from this cabin to the block-house." + +There it was! + +The whole scheme was laid bare to the scout in the last sentence +spoken by the Wyandot chieftain. The wind was setting in strongly from +the south, that is, from the building in which the three warriors +gathered, directly toward the block-house. + +Should the former be fired, the probability was the gale would carry +the sparks to the other and set that in a blaze, in which event there +would be scarcely an earthly hope left for a single one of the +inmates. + +Jo had heard enough, and his wish now was to get back to his friends +with the least possible delay, that they might make preparation +against the assault that could not be postponed much longer. + +Knowing the superstition of the American Indian, the scout now +resorted to an artifice as daring as it was startling. Although a man +trained in border-warfare, accustomed to the frightful cruelties of +the aborigines, and knowing the fierce purposes of the Wyandots +surrounding Fort Bridgman, he could not bring himself to the point of +deliberately shooting down one or more of the conspirators, who, in +point of fact, were at his mercy. + +Many a brave hunter or pioneer, placed in his situation, would have +seized the opportunity to shoot the chieftain himself while sitting in +the cabin, unsuspicious of his danger; but Jo Stinger was not of such +a disposition. + + [Illustration: JOE STINGER PUTS IN AN APPEARANCE.] + +Raising his long rifle to his shoulder, he pointed it straight at +Waughtauk, and then advanced until the muzzle was thrust through +the window, while he himself stood no more than a foot outside. + +At that instant one of the warriors reached down and stirred the +blazing sticks of wood burning on the hearth. The flames leaped +higher, filling the room with a warm ruddy glow. A slight noise caused +the three Wyandots to turn their heads toward the open window, when +they saw a sight which held them spell-bound. + +A tall spare man, in the garb of a hunter, stood with his deadly rifle +pointed straight at them, and the muzzle was not twelve feet distant +from the head of Waughtauk the chief. + +Looking along the barrel, pointing like the finger of fate at the +Wyandot leader, the bony fingers of the left hand were seen grasping +the dark iron, while the right hand, crooked at the elbow, encompassed +the trigger-guard, and the forefinger was gently pressing the trigger. +The hammer clutching the yellow flint was drawn far back, like the jaw +of a rattlesnake when about to bury its fangs in its victim, and just +behind that the single open eye of the hunter himself seemed to be +agleam with a fire that was likely to ignite the powder in the pan, +without the flash of the quartz. + +The coonskin cap, the grizzly whiskers, the rough garments were +frosted with tiny snowflakes which glistened and glinted in the +fire-light like points of burnished silver. The figure was as +motionless as were the three Wyandots, who could only stare at what +must have seemed an apparition from the other world. As they gazed, +the figure spoke in a slow sepulchral voice-- + +"Let the Wyandot chieftain and his warriors go back to their squaws +and pappooses, for the pale-face is hurrying through the forest to +burn his lodges and to make captive his children! The Great Spirit +commands that the Wyandots shall go." + +Having uttered these extraordinary words, Jo Stinger took several +steps backward, without moving a muscle of the upper portion of his +body, so silently and imperceptibly that he seemed to dissolve in the +surrounding darkness. + +The moment after, Waughtauk uttered a cry of such distress that the +Wyandots in the immediate neighborhood heard it and hurried to him. +Stinger was quick to perceive his chance, and hurrying to the door of +the block-house, he rapped so sharply on it that the listening Colonel +Preston hurried down the ladder and approached the entrance. + +"Who's there?" asked the commandant, in a guarded voice. + +"Me--Jo; it's all right; quick, let me in afore the varmints get +back!" + +There was no mistaking the voice, and Colonel Preston removed the +fastenings with a nervous haste, which did not leave him until his +friend was inside, and the bars were replaced in their sockets. + +He then grasped the hand of Jo and shook it warmly, for the relief of +all over the return of the invaluable scout was beyond expression. +They hurriedly went up the ladder, where all, including Mrs. Preston, +who declared she could sleep no more that night, listened to the +stirring story which Jo had to tell. His auditors fairly held their +breath when he drew the picture of himself standing at the window of +the cabin, with his rifle pointed at the Wyandot chief, and commanding +him in the name of the Great Spirit to hasten to protect his own +lodges from the invading white man. + +"You gave him such a fright that he may strike his tents and leave," +suggested Colonel Preston. + +"No," said Jo; "such things have been done, and Simon Kenton once +played the trick so well that he kept a party of Delawares from +massacreing a white family going down the Ohio, but Kenton had a much +better show than me." + +"It seems to me, Jo, you had everything in your favor," said Megill, +who, like all the others, was deeply interested in the narrative of +the hunter. + +"There's just the trouble; the chief and his men were scared out of +their moccasins for a minute or so, and if it had happened that I +hadn't showed myself afore, and the Wyandots didn't know I was +outside, the scare might have amounted to something; but when the +other warriors come around the chief, and he learns what has took +place--if he didn't know it all before--he'll see that the whole thing +was a trick, and he will be madder than ever. I think he'll open the +music agin very soon." + +"If he fires the cabin," said Colonel Preston, "it will be apt to make +it pretty warm in here, for the wind does come from that direction, +and I wish the thing didn't stand quite so near us as it does. But the +sides of the block-house are not so dry as the roof, and I hope we can +stand more heat from _that_ source than the Wyandots think." + +"We have considerable water left," said Jo, "and we must take mighty +good care that none of it is wasted." + +"Did you find the tomahawk in the door?" asked Ned. + +"I felt for it, but it was gone." + +The prospects were discussed in low, earnest tones, while every one +was in a fever of expectancy. There was constant peeping through the +loopholes, and the occasional whistling and whooping were accepted as +signals to open the last decisive attack. + +Jo Stinger was moving about in this manner, doing what he could to +cheer his friends, when some one caught his elbow. + +"Who is it?" he asked, stopping short. + +"It is I, Ned Preston," replied the boy; "I want to ask you a +question." + +"Well, younker, what is it?" said the hunter in a kindly manner, and +lowering his voice, so that the others could not overhear them. + +"I wanted to ask you whether you learned anything about Deerfoot, when +you were out." + +"Nothing partic'lar; I heard his name mentioned by that varmint that +run against me, after I didn't fall into the well." + +"How was it?" + +Jo related the incident in which he was compared to the young +Shawanoe. + +"What do you think about it, Jo?" + +"Well, of course none of us knows anything for sartin,--but it's my +opinion--since you ax it--that Deerfoot has slid under for good." + +"I am afraid so," said Ned Preston faintly. "Poor Deerfoot!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE LONG CLEARING. + + +Deerfoot, the young Shawanoe, despite his extraordinary exertions and +his own wonderful woodcraft, had fallen into the hands of the hostile +Wyandots, and with a grim satire upon the skill which had given the +youth his great fame, Waughtauk, chief of his enemies, had decreed +that his life should be staked upon the result of a race with the +fleetest runners of the tribe. + +The captive would have welcomed such a contest, could it have been +conducted on anything like equal terms, but he seemed in a pitiable +condition, unable to bear the weight of his body for more than a +second on one foot. Had it been otherwise, Waughtauk never would have +made the conditions what they were. + +The promised enjoyment was so eagerly looked for by the warriors that +the chief decided to gratify them and himself, without delay. + +It was now near noon, and the sun shining overhead gave no indications +of the clouds and snow-fall that came with the close of day. The "Long +Clearing," of which the chief spoke, was an open space, beginning +fifty rods north of the block-house and extending for a third of a +mile, parallel with the Licking river. It had a width varying from a +hundred feet to five times that extent. It was a natural clearing or +opening, which, it would seem, offered a much better site for a +block-house than the one selected by Colonel Preston, when he erected +the building now placed in such danger. + +It presented an open space for the distance named, and, before the +founding of the settlement, was often used by Indians for their games +and athletic contests: no more suitable place could have been found +for the extraordinary contest decreed by Waughtauk, chief of the +Wyandots. + +As this exhibition was ordered during the time when the siege was to +be maintained, it was impossible that more than a fractional part of +the warriors could take part in or witness it. Waughtauk selected six +of his men who were to be the actors in the tragedy, he himself +purposing to be the leader and director. + +As the wolf, before destroying the lamb, sought a pretext for his +cruelty, so the chief assumed a certain air of justice in arranging +for what might be termed a race for life. + +The warrior who had struck Deerfoot was given his bow, the youth being +allowed to retain his knife, tomahawk, and quiver. None of the +Wyandots were permitted to carry their guns, the only weapon of that +kind being in the hands of the chief, who was also magnanimous enough +to give the fugitive a start of some fifty yards. + +Deerfoot was too proud to open his lips, when the conditions were +explained to him. He stood grim and silent, watching the preparations +and noting the exultation which often reached boisterousness. + +"Great is Deerfoot, the swiftest runner of the Shawanoes!" said one +mockingly; "he is the eagle, and he will leave the Wyandots far out of +sight, as the great bird leaves the smaller ones in his flight through +the heavens!" + +"Deerfoot is the friend of the Yenghese and the Long Knives, who have +come to take away the hunting-grounds of the red man." + +"The pale-faces will come to the help of Deerfoot, for who has been a +better friend to them than he?" + +These and similar taunts fell upon ears which appeared to hear them +not. Those who uttered the cruel words came close to the youth and +peered into his face, with hideous grimaces, but he stood calm and +silent. He was a shade paler, and there was a strange gleam in his +black eyes, but he looked beyond his tormentors at Waughtauk, who +deliberately paced off the distance, giving liberal measure, as it is +only justice to record. + +When the fifty steps had been taken, Waughtauk stopped, stamped the +heel of his moccasin in the earth, and, turning about, beckoned to +Deerfoot to approach. The young Shawanoe, as he hobbled painfully +forward, presented a spectacle which ought to have excited the pity of +the hardest heart; but the Wyandots laughed and were impatient for the +contest, if such it may be called, to open. + +Deerfoot limped the greater part of the distance and then stopped to +rest a moment, seemingly unable to advance another step. Several +taunting exclamations followed this display of weakness, and, +summoning his energies, the youth resumed his labored advance, finally +reached the side of Waughtauk, who concealed, as well as he could, his +impatience. + +"Deerfoot will stand _here_," said he, pointing to the indentation the +heel of his moccasin had made in the ground; "when he hears Waughtauk +give forth the war-whoop of the Wyandots, he will teach my warriors +how to run." + +The young Shawanoe opened his lips to make answer, but they closed +more tightly than before, and not a word was uttered. His +self-restraint was perfect. + +Waughtauk walked back to the edge of the Long Clearing, where the six +warriors eagerly awaited the signal for the sport to begin. Despite +the usual stoicism and indifference of their race, the braves were as +frolicsome as so many school-boys. They elbowed and crowded each other +for their places, and one or two vigorous wrestling bouts occurred, +before the chieftain placed them in line. + +At last the six Wyandots were drawn up in position, one foot thrown +forward, while they swayed restlessly back and forth, inching along +the advanced foot, like so many runners eager for the slightest +advantage. Each carried his knife and tomahawk at his girdle, but the +arms were free. He who claimed the bow of Deerfoot had thrown it +aside, now that he was about to run. + +Waughtauk looked at his men and then he placed himself in alignment at +their right. He still held his loaded gun, probably as an emblem of +his authority, and as a notification that he would use it in the event +of any warrior disregarding orders. + +The seven now looked out upon the Long Clearing at the fugitive who +was to go through this mockery of a race with the sinewy-limbed +Wyandots, eager and thirsting for his life. + +The pose of Deerfoot was much the same as that of his enemies. His +left foot was in advance of the other, while his weight gently +oscillated back and forth, like the swinging of a long pendulum. +Unnoticed by any of the Wyandots, he had edged fully ten feet beyond +the proper starting-point. His face was turned as if looking at the +autumnal woods on his right, but as his handsome profile was thrown +against the sky beyond, his eyes were scrutinizing every action of his +foes, as they arranged themselves and awaited the signal. + +At this juncture it must have occurred to more than one that the +Shawanoe was balancing himself with remarkable ease for one whose +sufferings from a sprained ankle were so acute. If such a thought came +to the Wyandots, they did not lose sight of the fact that the time for +an investigation was past. + +For a single minute complete quiet prevailed. The river on the left +flowing calmly northward, the solemn autumn woods on the right, the +stretch of the Long Clearing, with its irregular contour,--the single +solitary youth poised as if he were a Grecian athlete,--the seven +swarthy Indians, like so many fierce hounds, impatient for the moment +when they might spring at the lamb and bury their fangs in its +throat:--these made a picture striking beyond imagination in its +details. + +"_Whoop! whoop! whoop!_" + +In quick succession the war-cry of the Wyandots rang out on the still +air, and like an electric shock it thrilled through every being who +heard the startling signal. + +The ringing shout had scarcely left the lips of Waughtauk, when +Deerfoot made a tremendous leap of nearly a dozen feet, and the +instant he lightly struck the ground he bounded away with a burst of +speed which astounded the spectators. There was no lameness now--there +had never been the slightest. The young Shawanoe when he saw his +capture was inevitable, resorted to this strategy with the quickness +of inspiration. The sprained ankle was a fiction--a fiction not +essayed with any thought that he would be subjected to such a special +test, but with the belief that a chance might come in which he could +make a break for freedom and for life. + +A series of fierce shouts went up from the thunderstruck Wyandots, as +they saw the fugitive ricocheting over the grounds, as may be said, +like the ball from the throat of a Columbiad. + +The halt and the lame who were the first to step into the pool of +Siloam, after the angel had stirred the waters, were no more quickly +healed than was Deerfoot by the ringing war-cry of the Wyandot +chieftain. + +A consuming anger like that of the wolf, when the panther robs him of +his prey, must have fired the hearts of the Wyandots, at the moment +they saw the trick played on them by this despised youth. He, a boy in +stature and years, had pitted his skill, his strategy, his woodcraft, +his brains against theirs, and he had won. + +The readiness of Deerfoot added several rods to the advance originally +given, so that a great advantage was thus obtained, and it was +improved to the utmost. + +The wonderful youth ran as never before. His lithe legs doubled under +him with inconceivable quickness, the eye seeing naught but the +twinkling of the beaded moccasins. The still wind cut by his face as +though it was a gale. He was a gladiator stripped for the struggle, +and every nerve and muscle was strained to the last tension. He seemed +a swallow skimming close to the ground, or a shaft driven from his own +bow, so graceful was his arrowy swiftness. + +There were swift runners among the Wyandots, and the seven warriors +included their fleetest, who now put forth every exertion of which +they were capable. The difference in their speed was shown by their +immediate separation, with rapidly increasing spaces between them; but +the young Shawanoe drew away from them, as a child draws away from the +stationary object which frightens it. + +Deerfoot saw the half mile sweeping under his feet, as the steel rails +glide under the plunging engine, and the single glance he threw over +his shoulder told the glad fact that he had not misjudged his own +matchless ability as a runner. Muscle and nerve and sinew never did +their work more splendidly than now, when their existence was staked +on the manner in which that work was to be done. Human ingenuity could +never construct a piece of mechanism which could do such marvelous +service, as did those limbs of the flying fugitive on that crisp +autumn day nearly a century ago, in Kentucky. + +Although, as we have stated, there were many rapid runners among the +Wyandots, there was not one who could attain and hold the terrific +pace of the Shawanoe, whose victory, it may be said, was assured from +the beginning. Fired by their fury and chagrin, they made prodigious +exertions to run down the youth, or at least to approach close enough +to hurl their tomahawks; but this was useless, and with an +exasperation beyond expression they saw their victim slipping +irrecoverably from their grasp. + +Suddenly a shot rang out on the frosty air. Waughtauk, the chieftain, +and the only one who had a rifle, came to a dead halt and fired point +blank at the vanishing youth, hoping at least to disable him, so he +would fall into their hands. Deerfoot heard the firing of the bullet, +as it nipped his cheek, but he did not hasten his pace, because he was +unable to do so, and no need existed. From the first he had done his +best, and there was no room for an increase in the way of speed. + +A third of a mile is soon traversed at such a rate of travel, and in a +brief while Deerfoot approached the end of the Long Clearing. His +swiftness was unabated, but, when he once more glanced around and saw +that the whole seven Indians had given up the pursuit and were +standing at varying distances from each other looking at him, he +instantly slackened his pace. + +Coming to a dead halt he faced about and, swinging his arms over his +head, gave utterance to whoops and taunting exclamations. + +"Have the Wyandots learned to run? Who is Waughtauk, that a youth of +the Shawanoes should teach him to walk? Let the Wyandots go back to +their lodges and tell their squaws that Deerfoot has taught them +knowledge! Are the Wyandots tired that they must sit down and rest? +Shall Deerfoot come back to them and show them what to do, when their +enemies are around them?" + +No more stinging taunts than these can be imagined, and the Wyandots +felt their full force. They were silent, possibly because their tongue +contained no words which could give suitable expression to their +feelings. + +Clearly it was idle to maintain the pursuit any longer, and the seven +Wyandots, including Waughtauk the chieftain, stalked back toward the +block-house, for the purpose of pressing the siege with more vigor +than ever. + +Up to this point they had in reality accomplished nothing toward the +reduction of the place. They had lost several of their warriors, and +Deerfoot, as they all agreed, would make all haste to Wild Oaks to +procure help for the beleaguered garrison. + +An individual capable of such speed as he, would reach the Ohio before +nightfall; and, under the stress of necessity, the settlers would be +at Fort Bridgman before the sun could cross the meridian on the +morrow. + +Such was the reasoning of Waughtauk, and all of his counsellors agreed +with him. A brief while before they would not have believed it +possible that help could be brought before the following night; but +since the occurrence just described they were prepared to believe +Deerfoot capable of doing almost anything. + +The precise conversation between the maddened red men, of course, can +never be known to the historian, and it is not desirable that it +should be; but the parties concerned were so interested in the words +that they were close to the stockade of the block-house before it was +recalled that the long valuable bow taken from Deerfoot was left lying +on the ground where the new owner threw it when ready to join in the +chase. + +This was too valuable a trophy to be lost, and the Wyandot immediately +turned about and hastened toward the Long Clearing to recover it, +while the others passed on to mingle with those who were striving so +hard to encompass the destruction of the little party in the garrison. + +The Indian who hurried back, it will be remembered, was the one that +had struck Deerfoot when he was a captive. He had been the most cruel +in his taunts, and his hatred of the youth seemed more malignant, if +possible, than that of the others. + +He ground his teeth together, as he dropped into a walk, and recalled +the inimitable cleverness with which the young warrior outwitted them. + +"Why did we not know the dog spoke with two tongues? Why did we not +make sure he could not run? Why did not some of our warriors lie in +the woods at the end of the Long Clearing to catch him, if he should +escape us?" + +"He is a dog--he is a traitor!" muttered the fierce Wyandot, +approaching the spot where he had thrown the bow, "and he shall yet +fall by my hand----" + +He was about to stoop forward to pick up the weapon, when a slight +exclamation caught his ear, and he straightened up like a flash. + +Less than twenty feet distant stood Deerfoot the Shawanoe, quietly +looking at him. Both had reached the spot on the same errand, and thus +they met. + +The youth had the advantage of detecting the other first, and, as a +consequence, was prepared. In the language of the west, it would have +been said, under similar circumstances, that Deerfoot "had the drop" +on the other Indian. + +The latter, as he looked up, saw that the hand of the youth grasped +his tomahawk, which was held so far back of his hip that only a +glimpse of its edge could be seen. The arm extended straight down so +that it needed to be thrown upward and backward, before the formidable +missile could be launched. + +Fate seemed to favor Deerfoot that day; for not only had he escaped +from a cruel death, but the being whom he hated above all others, and +with an intensity which only a barbarian can feel, now stood before +him. + +There was no misunderstanding the situation on the part of either. The +Wyandot would have resorted to any treachery to slay Deerfoot, and he +was aware that Deerfoot knew it. He had inflicted indignities upon the +young Shawanoe which nothing less than the grace of heaven will +enable the North American Indian to forgive. + +The two gazed fixedly at each other without speaking, and for a second +or two neither stirred a muscle. Then, while the Wyandot centered his +burning gaze upon the bronzed face before him, his right hand began +slowly stealing up from his hip to his girdle. It was seeking the +handle of his tomahawk, but, guarded as was the movement, the Shawanoe +saw it. + +So absolute was Deerfoot's faith in his own prowess and unequalled +celerity that, knowing as he did the meaning of his enemy's action, he +permitted the hand to touch the weapon, before he affected to notice +it. + +The instant the Wyandot griped the tough wooden handle, he snatched it +forth with surprising quickness and threw his hand back over his head +with the purpose of hurling it at the defiant youth. + +But the latter was the quicker. His left hand made one lightning-like +sweep, and the tomahawk shot from his grasp with the suddenness of the +thunderbolt. Although the Wyandot threw his almost at the same +instant, yet there was just enough difference in time to make one a +success and the other a failure. + +Deerfoot's weapon sped as direct as a rifle-ball, and clove the skull +of the Wyandot as though it were card-paper. The tomahawk of the +latter, which was in the act of leaving his hand, was so disarranged +by the shock that it was thrown up in the air and fell at his feet, as +he toppled over backwards, with a shriek which reached Waughtauk and +his warriors, and whose meaning they knew too well. + +Deerfoot advanced and recovered his tomahawk, that had done this +terrible execution. Then he picked up his valued bow from the ground +and examined it to make sure that it had suffered no injury. + +He did not stoop to take the scalp of the dead warrior, who hoped so +ardently a brief while before to capture his. The Shawanoe had never +scalped a vanquished foe; but when he caught sight of several Wyandots +hastening to the spot, he flourished his bow defiantly in the air, +gave utterance to several taunting cries, and, turning his back upon +them, plunged into the wilderness with such speed, as to render all +thought of pursuit out of the question. + +And as he sped like a hound on a trail, the face of Deerfoot the +Shawanoe was turned toward the settlement of Wild Oaks on the far-away +Ohio. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE FIERY ENEMY. + + +Every one in the block-house, with the exception of the two little +girls of Colonel Preston, was wide awake. The conviction was so strong +that the crisis was at hand, that even Blossom Brown hunted out his +young master Ned Preston, and placing himself by his side, said-- + +"I's awoke, suah's yo' bo'n." + +"It is best that you keep awake too," replied Ned, "for it is a good +deal better than to be awakened by fire and Indians." + +"I can't understood why de Injines don't fight fair," said Blossom, with +a tone of impatience; "we don't use fire on dem, and why can't dey do de +same wid us? If I could talk de Injine language, I'd go down dar and try +to argy de matter wid 'em; I'd show 'em de--de--onscrupulousness ob +usin' de flames to burn us out. If we could only make 'em 'shamed, dat +would be a big p'int gained." + +"It is nonsense to think of anything like that, Blossom; the Wyandots +are determined to burn down the block-house if there is any way to do +it----" + +He abruptly stopped, for the tramp of feet was heard outside, close to +the front door. Megill and Stinger instantly fired down in the +darkness, guided only by the sense of sound; but the cry that rang out +on the snowy air, proved that execution was done. + +Instantly there followed such a prodigious shock, from a blow against +the door, that the whole building shook. Before the men could bring +their guns to bear, the sound of rapidly running feet showed that the +Indians had dropped their battering ram and hurried off in the +darkness. + +Almost at the same moment Mrs. Preston, who was peering through the +loopholes on the eastern side, saw an Indian arrow, wrapped with +blazing tow, shoot upward from the edge of the woods, and going slower +and slower, as it curved over, sweep downward with a whizzing rush, +and strike the roof overhead, with the same abrupt thud that had been +heard several times. + +It was followed immediately by a second from the same point, which +seemed to take the same course, for it lodged very close beside it, +and also held its place. + +Then another flaming missile rose from the northern side, then from +the south, and then from behind the river bank, with still others +mounting from intervening points, until a beautiful and terrifying +scene presented itself. + +The blazing shafts followed each other in such rapid succession, that +there were fully twenty ascending and descending at the same moment. +These made all manner of fiery parabolas in the snowy atmosphere. One +archer, who sent his missiles from the upper window of the cabin near +the block-house, and another, who discharged his from behind the +pickets close at hand, pointed them so nearly perpendicularly that +they seemed to shoot downward almost directly through the fiery trail +they made in their ascent. Others came from such distant points that +their parabolas were lengthy, and they only rose a short distance +above the block-house itself, before they plunged into the slabs of +the roof. + +These struck the latter at every possible angle, and with every +imaginable result. In some cases the arrow was so warped in its flight +that it took a path almost as erratic as that of the Australian +boomerang. Impinging against the roof at an acute angle, it would +glance far upward, and, turning over and over, come tumbling to the +earth, where it flickered a minute and died out. + +Others hit the planks, and, like a mountaineer among the rocks, who +could not retain his hold, slid down the steep incline to the ground. +Still others missed the building altogether, and, plunging their +flinty heads in the earth, were quickly extinguished. + +But the alarming fact remained that the majority of the flaming +missiles found a lodgment in the roof, where they burned with a +fierceness which showed they were an improvement on those first sent. +One could not but wonder where the Wyandots obtained all these +weapons: they must have started on the expedition with the expectation +of using this peculiar mode of warfare. + +The fiery shower lasted but a few minutes, but at the end of that time +there were fully thirty shafts sticking in the roof and burning +vigorously. Viewed from the outside the block-house looked like some +vast monster whose hide was pierced with flaming spears, but who +slumbered on in the darkness, unmindful of the pests. + +This lavish distribution of fire showed that the ground was covered +with a fine sprinkling of snow, which was still floating downward at +an almost imperceptible rate. There was no such mantle on the roof. It +was so smooth and steep that most of the particles ran downward and +off. A thin tiny line of snow-points was continually pouring over the +eaves, where the wind blew it to atoms again. + +The twists of flame made the air about the cabin luminous, and the +millions of snow-flakes twinkled and glistened with starlike +brilliancy, as they came out of the darkness and fluttered in the glow +for a moment, ere they vanished again. + +Several of the burning arrows were fired against the sides of the +block-house, where they flickered a brief while. These, added to the +other missiles on the ground, threw a dull reflection through the +loopholes, that enabled the garrison to see each other "as through a +glass darkly." + +Their figures were easily distinguishable, as they moved carefully +about, and now and then the glimpse of a face was so ghastly and +unnatural that it was hard to recognize it. Blossom Brown was the only +one who was distinguishable at the first glance, and even he scarcely +looked like himself. + +One unusually strong reflection from an arrow that imbedded itself in +a corner disclosed the faces of the little sisters Mary and Susie, +sleeping beside each other, with the warm comfortable blankets drawn +close about them. + +Each had thrown her arm over the other, and their dimpled cheeks +almost touched, as they slumbered sweetly and peacefully, secure in +that trust in their heavenly Father, whom they had asked to take care +of them and their friends, while the wicked Indians tried so hard to +hurt them. + +Taking advantage of the illumination, six or eight of the Wyandots +fired at the loopholes thus made visible; but the garrison knew the +danger and kept out of range. + +The most alarming fact about the attack was the numerous burning +arrows on the roof. Colonel Preston and Jo Stinger agreed that, after +all, this was the most vulnerable point of the block-house, and it +was more than likely to ignite, if only a moderate number of the fiery +shafts could be made to hold their place a short time. + +Although some of the snow found a lodgment under the overlapping +slabs, there was not enough to affect the bits of flame that were +burning in many places. + +"This is bad business!" exclaimed the Colonel, "and must be checked at +once." + +As he had done in the previous instances the commandant drew a stool +under the trap-door on one side of the roof, while Jo Stinger did the +same on the other. When these were lifted a few inches, the sight +which greeted them was enough to cause consternation. The light which +entered the upper story through the opening thus made disclosed every +object with great distinctness. + +Jo Stinger saw that most of the coils of flame were not of a dangerous +nature and would soon expire of themselves; but there were two or +three that were gaining a headway that was likely to do alarming +injury, unless checked. + +"Be keerful, Colonel," said Jo, "the varmints are watching us, and +you'll get a shot afore you know it." + +The warning was none too soon. Several of the Wyandots were waiting a +movement of the trap-door. They had stationed themselves in the upper +story of the cabin, which gave them the necessary elevation, while the +flaming missiles themselves afforded all the view required. + +Two shots were fired at the slight gap made by the lifting of the +covering, and the Colonel dropped it with a bang and an exclamation. +But he quickly rallied and called into play some of the strategy he +had learned during a long experience on the border. + +The really dangerous shots (that is, those from the upper story of the +cabin) must necessarily come from one side of the structure. The +Colonel held a piece of planking so that it would act as a shield, and +catch any of the bullets from that point. Grasping the stock of his +rifle with one hand, he then stealthily reached out, and with much +difficulty and labor managed to dislodge the most threatening brands +in that direction. + +This left only one in his "jurisdiction" which he really feared. With +a skill that Jo Stinger could not restrain himself from praising, +Colonel Preston managed to send this arrow with its fiery mane +sliding down the roof, without receiving any harm, though more than +one shot was fired at him. + +Much the same task confronted Jo Stinger, and he performed it with the +expertness that was to be expected of such a veteran; but when he had +done all he could, there remained the most dangerous shaft of all. It +had lodged in the very peak of the roof, near the southern end, which +was the closest to the cabin that sheltered the Wyandots, and in +direct range of their fire. + +This was burning with a persistency which looked as if the tow had +been soaked with some chemical, although such could not be the fact; +but, having found a lodgment, there it stuck and grew, with every +prospect of kindling a blaze that would soon spread to the entire roof +and building. + +Jo Stinger fortified himself as best he could, and took every +precaution. Then, amid the dropping shots of the Wyandots, he +carefully felt his way forward with his rifle, until he could not +extend it an inch further: he still lacked more than a foot of +reaching the dangerous spot. + +The red men, who saw the failure, raised a shout, and the scout was +compelled to draw back his weapon and muffled arm, without +accomplishing anything toward the extinguishment of the blaze that +threatened the destruction of the block-house and all within. + +"You think 'cause Jo Stinger has played the fool, there's nothing left +of his wit, but you'll soon larn he hasn't forgot everything he once +knowed." + +"Is it the only one that endangers the roof?" asked Colonel Preston, +as Jo joined them. + +"Yes; if we can get that out, the trouble is over for the present, +though I don't know how long it will stay so." + +"Suppose you cannot extinguish it?" asked Mrs. Preston. + +"Then the block-house has got to burn." + +This announcement caused dismay, for all felt that the few blunt words +of the scout were the simple truth. They so affected Blossom Brown +that he dropped back on a stool, and set up a howling that must have +reached the ears of the Wyandots outside. + +"It's all de fault ob dat Deerhead--I mean Deerfoot, dat was so orful +anxious to run us into dis old place, when I told 'em it wasn't wise. +I wanted to go back to Wild Oaks where I had some chores to do, but he +obsisted, but took mighty good care to keep out de block-house +hisself, as I took notice----" + +Blossom Brown would have gone on for an indefinite time with his loud +wailing, had not Stinger checked him by the threat to throw him out +the trap-door upon the roof. + +Afraid that his bluff answer to Mrs. Preston's question might have +caused too much alarm, the scout added-- + +"If the varmints don't do any more than _that_, we're all right, for +I'm going to put the blaze out." + +"You know the risk," said Colonel Preston, apprehensive that Jo +intended some effort that would expose him to extra peril. + +"I reckon I do," was the response of the scout, who was the coolest +one of the whole company. + +The situation could not have been more trying to the bravest persons. +In a manner almost unaccountable, a blaze had fastened itself in a +point of the roof beyond the reach of those within. There it was +burning and growing steadily, with the certainty that, unless checked +pretty soon, it would be beyond control. + +Jo Stinger was the only member of the garrison who appeared equal to +the task, and more than one feared that to save the block-house he +must assume a risk that was certain to prove fatal. + +Ned Preston caught the arm of the man in the darkness and asked-- + +"Can't you put it out with a wet blanket?" + +"Well, you're a boy that _does_ know something!" exclaimed Jo, adding +with a burst of admiration, "Give me your hand, younker; that's the +very idee I had in mind." + +This "idee," as the hunter termed it, was the ordinary one of +spreading a blanket, soaked with water, over the spaces endangered by +fire. Probably nothing more effective could have been devised, but it +should have been adopted when the peril involved was much less. +One-half of the entire roof was illuminated by the crackling blaze +which was steadily eating its way into the solid timber. + +Jo Stinger, having determined on his course, spent no time in useless +conversation. Under his direction one of the blankets was saturated +with water from the precious supply in the barrel. As it was +necessary to see what they were doing, a tallow dip was lit and placed +where it threw a faint illumination through the interior. The garrison +could distinguish each other's figures, and no one needed any advice +to keep out of the path of such bullets as might enter through the +loopholes. + +The scene was picturesque and striking. Mary and Susie still lay +wrapped in slumber, and their closed eyes and innocent faces subdued +every step and word, lest they should be awakened. Father and mother +glanced fondly at them many times, and wondered how long that +refreshing unconsciousness would continue. + +By general agreement the entire party centered their attention on Jo +Stinger, who, having soaked the blanket, made ready to throw it over +the stubborn fire. The task of necessity was attended by such extreme +peril that all held their peace, oppressed by the gravity of the +danger. At the same time the crackling of the flames and the +unmistakable presence of smoke in the room showed that, if the +extinguishment was delayed much longer, the attempt would be too +late. + +Jo placed the chair directly under the trap-door on the eastern side +of the block-house and was about to set foot on it, when Colonel +Preston stepped forward. + +"Jo, you've forgotten; the blaze is further over on the other side." + +"That's the reason I'm going to take _this_ side." + +The Colonel stepped back, and the scout laid the dripping blanket upon +one arm, as though it were an overcoat. Grasping the edge of the +opening, and helped by Megill from below, he quickly climbed upward, +opening the door at the proper moment by the pressure of his head +against it. + +It was not raised an inch more than necessary, when he slowly crept +out, like a crab casting its shell. + +The blaze which was the cause of all this alarm and care was started, +as will be remembered, in the very peak of the roof, but from some +cause it had worked its way down the western side, which was +necessarily illuminated through its entirety by the light therefrom. + +The shifting of the fire threw the eastern half of the roof in +comparative shadow, though the flickering glow was quite certain to +reveal the figure of any large object on it. The fact that Jo emerged +with his dripping blanket without drawing a shot, led him to hope that +his action was unsuspected. + +In order to "play every point," Colonel Preston cautiously raised the +trap-door on the other side a few inches, and, guarding his face and +arm, extended the stock of his rifle toward the blaze, as if he +expected to pound it out. + +He advanced the weapon quite slowly and with a movement intended to +impress the sharpshooters with the belief that he had perfected an +arrangement by which he was able to reach the endangered point. + +As he anticipated, this diversion drew several shots, which whistled +about his head with a vigor that gave him a vivid idea of the +vigilance of the besieging Wyandots. + +While this counter-movement was in progress, Jo Stinger was carefully +making his way along the roof on the other side. The unusual steepness +made this difficult, and had he not grasped the peak and held on, he +would have shot along the slope to the ground, as if sliding down the +side of a tree. + +Inch by inch he progressed, expecting every minute that a bullet would +be fired at him. He kept the saturated blanket well rolled together +and in front, so that it served the purpose of a shield against any +shot from the cabin, where the sharpshooters seemed to have gathered +for the purpose of keeping the roof clear of all persons. + +Jo Stinger had nearly reached the point from which he expected to +"ring down the curtain" on the flame, when he was confronted by an +experience altogether novel and unexpected. + +Inasmuch as the burning arrows had done such good service, one of the +Wyandots on the edge of the woods launched another, which went high in +the air and, curving gracefully over, plunged downward toward the +roof. + +Jo had no knowledge of its approach, until he heard the whizzing rush +of the flaming shaft, as it drove its head against the wet blanket, +glanced off and slid to the earth. + +"It won't do to loaf 'round here," he muttered, "or I'll be crawling +over the roof with a dozen blazing arrers, and if Jo Stinger knows +hisself, he don't mean to play walkin' lantern for the Wyandot +varmints." + +He had attained the position he was seeking, and a most delicate piece +of work was before him, but he was equal to it. + +The Indians, who were gathered in the cabin, and collected at +different points in the woods and along the stockade, watching the +flame with no little exultation, saw it creeping downward and +spreading with a rapidity which boded ill for the garrison huddled +beneath. + +The fine, silver-like snowflakes glistened in the fire-light, and +floated shudderingly down the roof, without affecting the blaze; but +at the moment when scores of eyes were gleaming like those of so many +wild beasts, a dark shadow suddenly disclosed itself--what seemed an +immense black hand spread out and closed over the dangerous fire, +which was instantly extinguished. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE TUG OF WAR. + + +The extinguishment of the burning roof, for the time, was complete. +Utter darkness came like the blowing out of a candle in a vault. + +"The varmints know what it means!" muttered Jo Stinger, who made a +hurried retreat along the roof toward the trap-door, which had been +thrown wide open in readiness for his reception. + +The Wyandots were quick to learn the cause of the sudden darkness, and +they opened a brisk fire on the roof. This necessarily was at random, +and the scout dropped through to the floor, without so much as a +scratch upon him. + +Colonel Preston and his friends would have felt like uttering a cheer +over the success of Jo's boldness, but for the conviction that the +worst was yet to come and was close at hand. + +One fact was so apparent that it caused a strengthening of hope: the +wind, which had been blowing almost a gale from the south, had +fallen, so that the lull was perceptible. Should the Wyandots fire +the cabin standing a short distance from the block-house, the flames +were not likely to communicate unless the gale appeared again. + +All was darkness once more. The wind soughed dismally through the +trees and moaned around the block-house, which was scorched and still +smoking from the burning arrows of the Wyandots. The fine snowflakes +were still sifting downward, and far overhead was heard again the honk +of wild geese flying to the milder regions of the south. + +From within the settler's cabin standing near the stockade came a dull +glow, but there was no other sign of life that eye could detect. And +yet the block-house was environed by hostile red men, who were as +eager as so many wolves to break into the fold. + +Colonel Preston, Jo Stinger, Megill, Turner, and the boys were at the +loopholes watching and listening. Mrs. Preston alternated from the +side of her children to that of her husband, exchanging words with the +brave man who had been so cramped in his movements for the last day or +two that he was unable to do the service he wished to render his +friends. + +The sounds of hurrying feet, the hoarse guttural exclamations and the +bird-like signals showed that the Wyandots were near the fort. They +had taken advantage of the Egyptian darkness to steal up close to the +sides of the building, where their presence could only be discovered +through some movement that made a noise sufficient to reach the ears +of the listeners above. + +Several times the heavy log which they had dragged from the river bank +was carried stealthily up to within a few feet of the building, when, +having located the door, they ran forward with the battering ram. +Delivering the blow they dropped the log and scampered to escape the +shots which were sent after them in the darkness. + +Now and then some of these bullets found their mark, and the +assailants learned to their cost that it was not simple amusement on +which they were engaged. + +Believing they had made some impression on the door, eight Wyandots +stole forward, lifted the tree-trunk from the ground, and stepped +heavily and quietly backward several paces, where they paused to +gather breath for the fierce rush. + +At the very moment they had concentrated their strength and were in +the act of moving, a flaming arrow sped upward like a rocket from the +other side the clearing, and, curving over, went a short distance +beyond the block-house, and, by a singular mischance, buried its head +in the log, which was held above the ground and in the act of being +plunged against the door. + +The shaft stuck and the flaming twist of tow gave partial glimpses of +the eight swarthy figures laboring toward the building with the timber +between the two divisions. The knowledge that they were exposed to the +aim of the Kentuckians, spread consternation among the Wyandots, who +released the burden so suddenly that it fell upon one warrior's foot. + +The pain was so acute that, like a civilized being, he caught the +injured member in both hands and danced round and round on the other +foot, howling with torture, while the others skurried away in the +darkness, as though a bomb-shell had burst among them. + +The crack of several well-aimed rifles hastened the steps of these +frightened warriors, and he who was nursing his bruised foot dropped +it and limped off, with a haste that would have been impossible under +other circumstances. + +This incident, which was not without its element of comedy, was +followed by a still more singular one. + +Despite the vigilance of the garrison, the Wyandots were constantly +tempted to efforts which, it would seem, promised no success at all, +and which exposed them to great danger from the rifles of the +Kentuckians. + +We have described the windows on the lower story of the block-house, +which were without panes, long and so narrow that it was not deemed +possible that any person could force his body through. + +And yet there was one warrior who had probably spent most of the day +in considering the matter, and who concluded there was a chance for +him to succeed, where all others had failed. + +A peculiar noise on the lower floor led Colonel Preston to descend the +ladder to investigate. For some minutes he was unable to conjecture +what the disturbance could mean, but the faint glow thrown out by the +flaming arrow which drove its head into the log, showed that the +window at the right of the front door was blocked up by an Indian, +who was wedged fast, and unable to get in or out. + +He was struggling desperately, but could not extricate himself, and +the astounded commandant concluded that, if he was attenuated enough +to enter that far, he was probably capable of going still further, and +must be a curiosity in the way of bulk which was worth seeing. + +The Colonel shuddered to think what would have been the result if this +savage had secured an entrance. It would have taken him but a minute +or two to remove the fastenings of the door, when the whole horde of +ferocious red men would have swarmed in. + +The officer immediately ran forward and, catching the two arms of the +intruder, pinioned them. Then he began pulling with might and main. +That he might not throw away any strength, he placed both feet against +the logs below the window, and, leaning back, threw all his energy in +the effort. + +So great was the force exerted that in all likelihood he would have +succeeded in drawing the exceedingly thin warrior through the window, +had not a couple of friends, at the same moment, seized his legs, +which were frantically beating vacancy, and commenced pulling with +equal ardor in the opposite direction. + +The Wyandot was now as anxious to retreat as he had been to advance, +and he strove to help his friends; but his efforts were so handicapped +that he gave them little if any assistance. + +The arrow which had burned so brightly for a minute or two expired, so +that all was darkness once more, and the singular tug of war went on. + +When Colonel Preston held his breath, compressed his lips and did his +utmost, he felt the Indian move forward several inches in response; +but there were a couple fully as muscular, and inspired by as strong +enthusiasm as the pioneer. The tug which they put forth brought the +brave back again, with probably a slight gain. + +The warriors at the heels had the additional advantage of the +sympathies of the one over whom they were disputing, and who bid fair +to become elongated to an alarming extent by this singular +controversy. He kept twisting his hands in such a way that he broke +the hold of Colonel Preston more than once, while he quieted his legs +so as to favor his friends all he could. + +The first flirt which the Indian made was so sudden and unexpected +that the Colonel fell backwards on the floor; but he was up on the +instant, and grappled the sinewy arms again. + +"If this keeps on much longer," thought the officer, "something must +give way. Suppose we should pull the rascal in two, with half inside +and half out. That might be fair to us, but the Indian, considered +strictly as an Indian, would not be of much account. I wonder +whether----" + +"Hello, Colonel, what's going on?" + +Jo Stinger had heard the singular disturbance, and, unable to guess +its meaning, was hurrying down the ladder to inform himself. + +The exquisite absurdity of the situation caused a momentary reaction +from the gloom which had oppressed Colonel Preston, and led him to +reply-- + +"I've got a red man here that we're using as a cross-cut saw, and +we've stretched him out to almost double----" + +At that instant the individual referred to, knowing that all depended +on one supreme effort, wrenched his wrists loose and, like a flash, +struck the Colonel such a blow in the face that he reeled backwards +almost to the other side the room. + +The Wyandots at the other end of the line were reinforced at the +critical juncture by two others, who caught hold of their man wherever +it was the most convenient, and the four gave a long pull, a strong +pull, and a pull altogether, that was sure to accomplish something +definite. + +Fortunately for the elongated Indian his legs were equal to the +strain, and he shot backward through the opening like the lady in the +show, who is fired from the giant cannon by the aid of springs alone. +He and his friends rolled over in one promiscuous heap, but were +quickly on their feet and skurried away in a twinkling. + +Jo Stinger scarcely credited the singular story when the Colonel +related it, but when the particulars were given, he could not refuse +to believe. + +"You could have ended it, Colonel, when you had his head inside," said +the scout. + +"I know that, but I did not like the thought of taking such a +frightful disadvantage of an enemy." + +"Then you ought to have done it without thinking," muttered Jo, who +was beginning to feel less mercy toward the Wyandots, since they had +made their own furious hatred so manifest. + +"If there's any likelihood of that varmint trying the thing over +again, I'd stay here; but a chap who goes through, or tries to go +through what he did, is apt to get enough." + +"I am sure of that," assented Colonel Preston, who was still rubbing +his face where the vigorous blow had fallen upon it. + +There was no occasion to remain below-stairs, and the two went up the +ladder, where a consultation was held as to what was best to do, if +indeed they could do anything in their perilous situation. + +Midnight had passed, and a hope was gaining ground that, if they could +hold out until morning, the prospect of beating off the Wyandots would +be improved. The American Indian seems incapable of doing his best +work except in darkness, and another night of such utter gloom as the +present was not likely to come. + +It was not known, of course, that Deerfoot had escaped from his +enemies, and the belief was general that his career had been brought +to an untimely end; but, as we have shown, the young Shawanoe, with +all his fleetness, could not bring reinforcements from Wild Oaks +before the succeeding night, and it would have been a great feat +could he accomplish it in that limited time. + +The garrison had enough food to last them a week, and the supply of +water was sufficient for the same time, unless too many draughts +should be required by the work of the torch and burning arrows. + +A continuous assault upon the door and the frequent firing into the +loopholes and windows promised something, but the danger and delay +which attended such work were too great for the red men, who knew the +value of time as well as did the settlers themselves. + +All within noted the direction and strength of the wind with an +anxiety which cannot be described. The space separating the +block-house and the cabin was so small that a slight gale from the +right quarter was certain to carry the flames from one to the other. +Both parties therefore were watching the indications with an equal +intensity of interest. + +Once the wind was just right, but a lull came, as the torch was about +to be applied, and Waughtauk, after recovering from the terror caused +by the appearance of the scout at the window, must have felt a grim +impatience, as he saw the hours steadily slipping away, with no marked +change in the situation. + +But the fiery arrows had done excellently well, although at the +critical moment a wet blanket, in the full sense of the word, was +thrown upon the prospects of the assailants. Waughtauk and his +sharpshooters knew how cleverly they had been outwitted, and they were +sure the strategy could not succeed a second time. + +The orders were therefore given to try the blazing missiles again, and +in a few minutes a converging fire was opened, which looked as if a +miniature bombardment had begun. + +The pyrotechnic display, under the peculiar circumstances, was +singularly striking. + +By and by the missiles found a lodgment on the roof of the +block-house, and the twists of flame once more lit up the rough +surface, scorched and blackened in many places, and on which the +flakes, instead of sliding off, as aforetime, seemed to stick with an +unusual persistency. + +There were broad patches of snow over the greater portion, and +although some of the arrows held, yet the major number fell over, +after striking and flickering a few minutes, and went out. The flakes +which had collected now helped blot out the flames. + +The cause of these changed conditions was due to a number of saturated +blankets that had been carefully spread over the roof. During the +darkness which followed Jo Stinger's exploit, and after Colonel +Preston's failure to win in his tug of war with the Wyandot, the +garrison had wisely improved the time by soaking quilts with water and +laying them over the most ignitable portion of the roof. + +Men and boys had given up those appropriated to their use; indeed all +had been taken, except those which protected the little girls while +sleeping. The mother offered those, if needed, willing to enfold and +warm her little ones with her own loving arms, and such few extra +garments as could be gathered among the company; but the scout +declined, saying he had all he could use. At the same time he would +have given anything in his possession for enough material to plaster +the entire surface. + +Favored by the sheltering darkness, Jo then stretched these coverings +over the slabs. He fastened them together and balanced them over the +ridge, so there was no possibility of their slipping off. + +This was done with such care that no space was lost. The temperature +was so low that in a few minutes the blankets were stiff with frost, +and, although the hunter was toughened by many years' exposure, his +hands became so benumbed he could hardly use them. + +It was these frosty blankets which caught the snow and held it, and +which rendered useless so many of the burning shafts discharged by the +Wyandots. + +But there were spaces where the seasoned wood was exposed. Several of +the blazing missiles, as might have been expected, lodged there and +began burning their way into the timber. + +Furthermore, as these flames lit up the gloom, the Wyandots, eagerly +looking upon the scene from every point of the compass, saw a sight +which must have amazed them: it was the figure of a man stretched out +at full length on the roof, holding on with one hand, while the other +seemed to be occupied in giving the finishing touches to the +saturated goods, which, so far as they went, were an effective shield +against the fire. + +Was ever such reckless daring known? It looked as if the scout Jo +Stinger deliberately invited this manner of his taking off, in +preference to torture by flame, or at the hands of his dusky enemies. + +If such were the fact, the Wyandots did not restrain their fire. Every +one who commanded the position immediately opened upon the poor +fellow, and the sharpshooters in the cabin near at hand discharged +their pieces with unerring accuracy. + +Bullet after bullet struck the figure which, as it lay at full length, +was a fair target for the many rifles. Still he held on and made no +effort to lift the trap-door and drop beyond range of the deadly sleet +hurtling about him. + +But there is a limit to the capacity of the strongest, and all at once +the hold was loosened. He seemed to catch vainly at the steep roof, +over which he began slipping; but there was nothing which he could +grasp that would stay his downward flight. Faster and faster he went, +until he shot over the eaves, and, striking the ground, collapsed in +a limp heap in which there was not a particle of life. + +The Wyandots, with whoops of delight, dashed forward from the +darkness, each eager to be the first to scalp the man whom they well +knew, and regarded as the most formidable member of the garrison. + +Forgetful of the risk they ran (for the spot where the inanimate +figure fell was revealed by the burning arrows), the warriors +scrambled with each other as to who should secure the coveted trophy. + +Scarcely a full minute had passed when cries of rage and chagrin were +heard from the disappointed group: for that which they seized and +struck at was not a man at all, but a dummy cunningly put together, +and placed in such a position on the top of the block-house that not a +Wyandot who fired at it had the slightest suspicion that he was +throwing his ammunition away. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE SOUTH WIND. + + +The project of placing a dummy on the roof of the block-house, with a +view of drawing the fire of the Wyandots, was original with Jo +Stinger. It is hard to see what good was attained, for more than +enough ammunition remained to prosecute the battle with all energy, +whenever the opportunity presented itself to the assailants. + +The explanation of the act is found in the mental composition of the +frontiersman himself. He had been outwitted more than once by the +Indians, and he wished to show them that he had not lost entirely the +cunning which had made his name known among many of the tribes that +roamed and hunted through Ohio and the Dark and Bloody Ground. + +Still further, those men who are accustomed to scenes of danger and +daring are not without a certain element of humor in their make-up, +and when one's spirits are oppressed for a long period, the rebound, +at times, is so sudden that he is impelled to words and acts so +incongruous as to excite the wonderment of friends. + +Jo constructed the dummy to look as much like himself as possible. The +clothing and material for this could be ill spared, but he furnished +most of it himself, and when the image was placed in position, he was +as impatient as a child for the sport that followed. + +Poor distressed Mrs. Preston could see no justification of such levity +at so serious a time. Megill and Turner enjoyed it scarcely less than +their friend, while the Colonel affected an interest which he was far +from feeling. + +Blossom Brown laughed heartily over the discomfiture of the red men, +and Ned Preston forgot his dread and grief for the moment; but they +quickly returned, and the depression of all was doubtless greater from +the temporary lifting of spirits the incident caused. + +The Wyandots had hardly discovered the deception, when all three of +the men at the loopholes fired into them. The shots produced results +too, and the assailants became more cautious of the Kentuckians, who +had learned to use their guns with such accuracy of aim. + +Jo Stinger, in spreading the wetted blankets over the roof, had shown +not only skill and courage, but good judgment. The protection was +secured at the remotest points, which it was impossible to reach from +either of the trap-doors, without exposing themselves to the certain +aim of the Wyandot sharpshooters. The uncovered portions were those +within reach. + +Jo Stinger and Colonel Preston passed to the southern side of the +building, from which they could look out upon the nearest cabin. Here +a number of Indians were gathered, as there had been almost from the +first. + +"Your errand, I've no doubt, Jo, is the same as mine," said the +officer, in a guarded voice. + +"There's no doubt of that," replied the scout, "always providin' yours +is the same as mine." + +"I'm watching the wind." + +"So am I." + +"How do you find it?" + +"It's blowing from the south." + +"I am afraid so," remarked the Colonel, with a pang of misgiving, as +he received a puff through the loophole, directly in the face; "is it +stronger than before?" + +"It's blowing harder than it did a half hour ago, but not so hard as +two hours since." + +"The worst feature about the business is that the wind is not only +from the wrong point of the compass, but it is increasing." + +"You speak the solemn truth, Colonel, but it aint sartin the varmints +have got us anyway--helloa!" + +To the consternation of every one in the block-house the tread of feet +was heard on the roof at that moment. Some one ran nimbly along the +slabs, stooping down and holding himself from slipping by grasping the +ridge with his hands. + +By what possible means he gained this perch, was beyond the conjecture +of any one; but the crisis was too grave to admit of an instant's +delay. The warrior, beyond a doubt, had assumed this perilous risk +with a view of tearing off the blankets, which shielded the roof from +the flaming arrows. + +Jo Stinger dropped his gun, sprang upon a stool, and leaped upward +through the trap-door. Had he vaulted upon the roof with less +celerity, he would have been dispatched by the Indian, who would have +had him almost at his mercy; but the first warning the Wyandot +received of his coming was his arrival. + +The scout was aroused, and no athlete could have handled himself more +deftly than did he. The very moment he was outside he moved several +feet away from the opening and placed himself astride of the ridge +pole. + +This was the most secure position he could hold, and he peered around +in the darkness and listened for something that would tell him where +his enemy was. His unusually keen vision was of no use under the +circumstances. There was not the slightest ember burning near him, nor +was there a ray of moonlight or starlight to pierce the blackness of +night. + +But the Wyandot was there. He had removed several of the blankets, and +was working at the others when the sound of the trap-door told him the +important truth that a second person was on the roof. + +The warrior could have slid down to the eaves and dropped to the +ground without injury to himself; but that would have forced him to +leave his work uncompleted, and he was too true a brave to do that. + +Nothing loth to engage in a personal encounter, he began stealing +along the ridge toward the point where he believed the white man was +awaiting him. As Stinger held himself rigid and motionless, his +precise location could not be determined at once; but the Indian's +approach, guarded though it was, told Jo exactly where to search for +his adversary. + +Never was a barbarian taken more completely at fault. He made a fatal +miscalculation, and one minute later, when he fell to the ground, he +was as lifeless as the dummy which preceded him. + +How this savage managed to reach the roof, puzzled Stinger beyond +expression. He sat bolt upright on the ridge, looking around in the +blank darkness, listening and thinking, and speculating upon the +all-absorbing problem. + +"It must be they rigged up some sort of ladder by cutting down a +sapling; then they've leaned it aginst the eaves and he has shinned +up, almost rubbing agin the muzzles of our guns,--but he won't climb +any more ladders of _that_ kind I reckon." + +There was reason to fear the attempt would be repeated, and the scout +retained his perch fully ten minutes, that he might be prepared to nip +such a scheme in the bud. + +Nothing to cause alarm occurred. Jo proceeded to investigate as +carefully as he could the mischief done by the Wyandot who paid so +dearly for it. + +To his dismay the scout soon learned that the Indian had almost +completed the task he undertook. He had torn off the frosty blankets +and sent them rolling and sliding to the ground, as though they were +so many ribbons fluttering in the wind. + +Great damage in this respect had been done, and it was irreparable. + +The scout had hitched along until close to the trap-door, where he +paused a moment listening, in the hope of learning something of the +movements of the Wyandots. + +Loth as he was to admit it, he could not shut out the terrifying fact +that the wind, which had set in from the south, was still rising and +must soon reach a degree that would tempt the red men to fire the +cabin, with the almost certain prospect of the flames communicating to +the block-house. + +Jo was contemplating this terrible contingency, when he heard several +signals between parties near at hand. He had no way of knowing their +meaning, but, while he was looking and listening, another burning +arrow suddenly shot up from the edge of the clearing, in its +curvilinear flight for the roof of the block-house. + +"I wonder how near that is coming to _me_," muttered Jo, looking +upward at the comet-like missile; "it turns beautiful--now it seems to +halt like a swimmer looking for a spot where to dive--now it +turns--down she comes--she is going to land on the roof sure--she's +coming for me--_great guns_!" + +Up went the trap-door, and down shot the scout like a seal who plunges +into the air-hole just in time to elude the spear of the Esquimaux. + +The spot vacated by the hunter was struck the fraction of a second +after by the arrow, which would have played sad havoc with him, had he +been less alert in his movements. + +The expectation of the garrison, now that the roof had been cleared of +the blankets, was that the Wyandots would repeat the bombardment of +burning missiles, with an absolute certainty of success. + +Such, there is every reason to believe, would have been the case, but +for the favoring air which rendered any repetition of that species of +warfare unnecessary. + +It had ceased snowing, and the wind from the south was blowing +strongly. Everything favored the method of attack which Stinger heard +the chieftain Waughtauk declare should be used against the settlers. + +By common agreement and without a word, the entire party passed to the +southern side of the building and peered through the loopholes at the +cabin, in which it was known a number of their enemies were gathered. + +"If they have fixed upon this plan of assault," said Colonel Preston +to Stinger, "why do they wait?" + +"The varmints are good judges of weather, and they may be sartin the +wind will be stronger by and by." + +"But it seems strong enough to bring the flames over to us, and----" + +"_They've set fire to the cabin!_" + +The exclamation came from Ned Preston, who was at the elbow of Jo +Stinger. Every one who was looking out in the darkness saw that he +spoke the appalling truth. + +The building nearest them had a door and window on the first floor, +and two windows above, all facing the block-house. It was in the lower +story that Waughtauk and his most trusted warriors had been grouped +for hours, after having decided what should be the line of action +toward the besieged settlers. + +From the window on the lower floor suddenly issued a tongue of flame, +which darted out and back with great rapidity. Then the whole interior +became one vivid red glow, fire was seen shooting in every direction, +and volumes of smoke began pouring from the upper windows. + +The torch was applied, and the last, final test of the block-house had +come. + +The garrison were awed spectators of the scene. All understood what it +meant, and there was no call for words; but as the southern side of +the block-house, as well as the roof, were to be exposed to a +furnace-like heat, the water was gathered in vessels, where it could +be used the instant needed. + +The Wyandots had hurried out of the building before the flames were +fairly going, so as not to expose themselves to the rifles of the +Kentuckians; but as the flames spread and the circle of illumination +widened, the dusky foes were seen skulking behind the other cabin, +along the stockade, and in the clearing, watching the destruction, and +the massive block-house, whose heavy logs, steep overhanging roof, +rude chimney and rugged outlines loomed up in the crimson glow against +the background of blank darkness. + +There was not a snowflake in the air, but the spotless white on the +ground showed in many places where the mantle had been disturbed by +the moccasins of the Wyandots. + +The glare seemed to reach the clouds, and the myriads of sparks which +went drifting to the northward, and falling over an area of many +acres, brought out the gaunt, skeleton-like figures of the trees, +which seemed to look solemnly forth from the dim woods, where the +white and red men only met in scenes of violence and blood. + +The garrison allowed themselves to be restrained by no sentimentality, +for it was an hour when every shot counted. The glow of the ascending +flames continually flung back the sheltering mantle of night +enveloping the figures of the warriors, who were not always quick to +remember the danger to which they were thus exposed. + +But when four or five well-aimed rifles were fired from the loopholes, +that were lit up with an illumination greater than that of the noonday +sun, the survivors made haste to run back into the gloom, or to throw +themselves behind some shelter. + +The situation of those in the block-house became distressing beyond +expression. The wind, blowing strongly in that direction, quickly +filled the room with suffocating smoke, which, for a minute or two, +threatened to overcome every one. The vapor, however, gave way to the +heat, which was uncomfortable, although, so long as the logs did not +take the flames, they could not cause much suffering. + +The smoke and its miseries awoke little Mary and Susie Preston, whose +terror, when they saw through the loopholes the burning cabin, and +who were not too young to understand their peril, touched the hearts +of all. They began crying piteously and, trembling in every limb, +threw their arms first about the neck of mamma and then of papa, +sobbing and clinging convulsively to each in turn. + +"The wicked Indians will kill you: we know they will; they will kill +papa and mamma, and that will break our hearts." + +After a time, the mother was able to quiet them, and then both, +without any agreement, knelt at her knee and prayed with the pathetic +faith of childhood. + +"Our Heavenly Father, don't let the bad Indians hurt papa nor mamma, +nor Jo, nor Mr. Turner, nor Mr. Megill, nor cousin Ned, nor Blossom, +nor us. Don't let them hurt anybody; take care of us all; make us good +girls. Amen." + +Who shall say that the petition from the hearts of the innocent and +trusting little ones was not wafted upward by the wings of listening +angels, who were quick to bear the message to Him whose ear is never +closed? And who shall say that He, leaning over the celestial +battlements, did not look down on that wild scene in the grim +forests, and stay the hand of the vengeful Wyandot, as it was raised +to smite his pale-face brother to the earth? + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +CONCLUSION. + + +The wind from the south was so strong that most of the large sparks +capable of carrying the fire were thrown beyond the block-house, +falling about the stockade, on the clearing, and among the trees, +where they kindled spiral serpents of flame and smoke, which quickly +died of themselves. + +But as the blaze grew hotter and hotter, it seemed to converge its +fierce heat upon the doomed block-house, as the blowpipe melts the +obdurate metal. The upper room became filled with the quivering air, +and more than one wondered how it was the logs withstood the +furnace-like blast so long. + +Although the two cabins were closer to each other than to the fort, +yet the untouched one was in no danger because of the direction of the +wind. The structure which had been lighted, burned furiously, and +those who were watching its progress soon detected smoke from the +block-house itself. + +Jo Stinger was surprised to learn that, instead of being on the roof, +it was from one of the windows almost directly under him--almost the +last place where he expected the flames to catch. + +While he was peering downward through the openings at his feet, he +discovered the blaze. + +A quart or two of water, well applied, extinguished it, and he called +at the others to make known at once any other flame they might see. +The warning was scarcely given, when Blossom Brown shouted-- + +"Here it am! here it am! burnin' like all creation!" + +The dusky lad was not mistaken, for the logs below them had caught +again, and considerable water was required before it succumbed. +However, it went out at last, and the thick smoke and steam climbed +upward into the face of Blossom, who coughed until he seemed nearly +racked to pieces. + +Doubtless the Wyandots could have poured in a volley of shots through +the loopholes, which would have slain a number of the hapless +defenders; but now, when nothing could prevent the capture of the +entire party, the red men preferred that the company should fall into +their hands intact. + +Ned Preston was standing at the south-east angle of the block-house, +looking toward the burning building, when he saw something which, for +the time, made him doubt the evidence of his own senses. + +His position was such that he could look directly along the western +side of the cabin, which was unharmed by the flames. This, it will be +noted, was the portion that adjoined the burning structure. On this +side of the building, which was not burning, the heat was not very +great, but the illumination was so strong that it was as light as +midday, and no Wyandot ventured near it, through fear of the rifles of +the Kentuckians. + +The youth was watching the cabin, around and through which the flames +were raging so furiously, when an Indian warrior walked into view. +From what point he came, the watcher could not tell: the first he saw +of him was when he approached the logs of the other structure. He +moved slowly, as if surveying all sides, and when he turned and +reached the door, he was seen to raise his hand and pass within, +where, of course, he vanished from sight. + +This of itself would not have been so extraordinary, but for the fact +that the handsome face, distinctly shown in the glare, the slight, +graceful figure, carrying a long bow in his right hand, and displaying +the quiver of arrows over his shoulder, identified the Indian as +Deerfoot the Shawanoe. + +Despite the frightful situation, Ned Preston could scarcely restrain a +cheer, for he was thrilled with a pleasure beyond description over the +unexpected discovery that his devoted friend was still alive. + +Ned darted to the side of Jo Stinger and told him what he had seen. + +"Are you sure of it, younker?" demanded the scout sharply. + +"Sure of it? It is impossible that I should be mistaken; I know him as +well as I do you, and he stood in the full glare of the firelight." + +"You're right; it _was_ the Shawanoe; I seen him; I thought the young +varmint was dead, but he's a good deal more alive this minute than we +are." + +"But, Jo, what does it mean? Why did he come out there where he could +be seen, and go into the building?" + +"He wanted us to notice him, and it was the best thing he could do. +The varmints toward the river and in the clearin' must have cotched +sight of him; but before they could larn his name and post-office +address, he was inside." + +"But I can't understand his cause for entering the cabin any way; what +good can he do us there?" + +"I've my 'spicion--_there_! that's what I expected!" + +A crackling, snapping sound overhead told the alarming truth: the roof +was burning fiercely, and there was no possible way of putting out the +flames. In fact, it had been ablaze some time, for the fiery points +were seen in several places along the ridge-pole, fast eating their +way, so to speak, into the vitals of the building. + +A minute after the sparks began falling through upon the floor, the +vapor loaded with fire filtered through the loopholes, and the upper +story had become untenable. + +"Down the ladder!" said Jo Stinger; "it won't do to wait any longer." + +He led the way himself, and the others followed in rather a pell-mell +fashion. All, however, safely reached the lower story, where the +situation was improved for a brief time only. + +Smoke and fire were around them; the air was thick with strangling +vapor and blistering sparks; the glow illuminated the interior, as if +with a thousand lamps, and the ghastly countenances were rendered more +unearthly by the lurid light which permeated everywhere. + +Megill, Turner and Stinger were grim and silent. They had faced death +before, and they were certain always to meet him with the front of +heroes. The pale face of Mrs. Preston was calm, and she was sustained +by the unfaltering trust of the Christian who forgets not that, +however great the sufferings awaiting him, they can never equal the +anguish of Him who gave up his life on Calvary for the world. + +She kept her little ones close to her side. She had held a rifle when +the danger first appeared; but she did not discharge it, and it was +now cast aside. She remained near her husband, who, in a low voice, +spoke encouraging words to her and his little ones, and who was +resolved to die fighting in defence of those who were a thousand times +dearer to him than his own life. + +Blossom Brown was stupefied by the overwhelming terror of the scene. +He moved about in a stolid, ox-like fashion, capable of obeying +blindly whatever those around told him to do. + +It was apparent even to the little children, who had hushed their +cries, that it was impossible to stay more than a few minutes longer +in the block-house. It was already on fire in a dozen different +places, and was burning furiously. The fugitives might remain huddled +together a short while, but only to meet the most awful of deaths; or +they could venture forth and fall into the hands of the treacherous +Wyandots. + +"The door of that cabin over there is partly open, as you can +obsarve," said Jo Stinger; "the logs haven't been scorched by fire, as +you can also obsarve; we'll make a run for that door, and arter we get +inside, we'll fight till the death, as you'll also obsarve." + +"But they can shoot us down while we're on the way," said Colonel +Preston. + +"They can, but they won't; for they'd rather make us prisoners. No red +varmint shall ever take _me_ captive." + +"Nor me either," added Turner and Megill together. + +"That seems to be the only thing we can do. We ought to be able to +make a stand there until to-morrow, when there may be help from Wild +Oaks." + +"All make ready; I'll lead the way." + +There was not a heart from which a fervent prayer was not sent up to +heaven; but the men compressed their lips and nerved themselves for +the final effort. Colonel Preston caught up Mary the elder, kissed and +pressed her to his heart. She returned the caresses, and he held her +on his left arm, while the right hand grasped his rifle. The wife did +the same with Susie, for the weapon she had cast aside was too +valuable to leave behind. + +"Hadn't I better lead de way?" asked Blossom Brown, crowding forward. + +"Why?" + +"'Cause I'll kind ob darken tings, so de Injines can't see us." + +"Wait till we start, and then you may lead if you can." + +Jo Stinger leaned his long rifle against the wall, and with a firm, +strong hand removed the bars one after the other. Then the door was +drawn inward, he picked up his gun, and looked around at the group. + +"Foller me!" + +As he spoke, he strode forth, the others close on his heels. Blossom +Brown made a plunge to pass the leader, but as he did not know which +way to turn, he fell back. + +The scout diverged to the left, and, with the same deliberate tread, +passed over the open space between the burning cabin and the blazing +block-house. A short time before, this would have been impossible; but +the cabin was so nearly destroyed that the heat could be borne, +although it caused each to hold his breath, it was so intolerable. + +Scores of the Wyandots were watching the fugitives, and whoops and +shouts of exultation rent the air, as a dozen advanced to meet the +captives. + +The latter hurried forward a few paces more, when Jo Stinger shouted-- + +"Now run for your lives!" + +They were within fifty feet of the open door of the second cabin, +through which he plunged the next instant like a cannon-shot, the +others following pell-mell. The movement was so sudden and unexpected +by the Wyandots crowding forward that it was virtually finished before +they could interfere. + +Ned Preston purposely threw himself behind the others, that he might, +so far as possible, help protect his aunt and cousins. He was about to +follow them into the building, when one warrior, more agile than the +other, bounded forward with uplifted tomahawk. + +Before he could throw it, and before Ned could use his gun, a +resounding twang was heard from the nearest window, and an arrow from +the royal bow of Deerfoot the Shawanoe transfixed him. + +Ned Preston was inside in a twinkling. The Wyandots, infuriated over +the trick played them, made a rush, with the intention of forcing an +entrance at all hazards; but they were met by a rattling fire, which +sent them skurrying like rabbits to cover. Every window seemed to +bristle with rifles, and the shots were so numerous that Waughtauk +and his warriors saw that others than the fugitives were defending the +building. + +Such was the fact. When Macaiah Preston, the leading settler at Wild +Oaks, sent Deerfoot to apprise Colonel Preston of his danger, he did +not contemplate doing anything more. But his own son was involved, and +he became so uneasy that he consulted his neighbors, who agreed that +help should be dispatched to Fort Bridgman without delay. + +Accompanied by ten skilled riflemen, all of whom had seen service on +the frontier, he set out for the station thirty miles away. He reached +the neighborhood quite late at night of the second day of the siege, +and on the way he met and was joined by Deerfoot, who had started to +obtain his help. + +As the Wyandots felt certain of their prey, they had relaxed their +vigilance to a great extent. It was a curious fact that, while Jo +Stinger was engaged on his reconnoissance, Deerfoot and several of the +new arrivals were doing the same, although neither suspected the +presence of the other. + +The plan of Waughtauk was soon learned, and it was then decided to +enter the cabin, and be guided by events. This was a task of extreme +difficulty, but with the assistance of Deerfoot, who was the first to +open the way, they got within the building without detection by their +enemies. Then, with loaded and cocked rifles, they held themselves +ready for any emergency. + +As the crisis approached, Deerfoot purposely showed himself to the +garrison, that they might recognize him and learn that they were not +deserted. At the same time Macaiah Preston made several guarded +signals to Jo Stinger, which that scout saw and understood, though no +one else did. He said nothing to his friends, but it was this +knowledge which gave such assurance to his movements. + +The numbers within the cabin rendered it practically impregnable to +twice the force at the command of Waughtauk, chieftain of the +Wyandots. The illumination from the burning embers was so full that +any warrior who ventured to show himself was riddled before he could +approach within a hundred feet of the building. + +This "electric light" lasted until after daylight, at which hour not a +solitary hostile was visible. The single structure that had been left +standing contained a stronger force than that of the red men who had +destroyed the other two. + +There was no move made until noon, when Deerfoot ventured into the +woods on a careful and prolonged reconnoissance. When he came back, he +reported of a verity that Waughtauk and his Indians had gone, and in +all probability were miles distant. + +It was deemed best, however, for the settlers to stay where they were, +until the succeeding morning. This was done, and, at an early hour, +the whole company started for Wild Oaks, on the Ohio. + +The journey was ended without special incident, and just as the sun +went down behind the western wilderness, the settlement was reached, +and all danger was past. + +"Thank heaven!" exclaimed Colonel Preston, looking reverently upward; +"we have been saved by fire indeed." + +"And did you ever think we wouldn't be?" asked Susie, his younger +daughter. + +"Well, I must own that I gave up once." + +"That is wicked, papa," said the little one reproachfully; "I _knew_ +God would take care of us all, and the bad Indians wouldn't hurt us, +'cause Mary and I prayed to Him, and He heard us." + +"God bless you--I believe you!" replied the father, with misty eyes, +as he tossed the darlings in air one after the other, caught them in +his arms, and kissed them again and again. + +We have not dwelt on the meeting in the cabin, which survived the +flames, between the despairing fugitives and their rescuers. Its +joyful nature may be imagined. The countenance of the handsome, +willowy young Shawanoe was aglow with pleasure, when he grasped the +hand of the no less delighted Ned Preston, who had believed him dead +until he saw him walk forth in the glare of the burning building. + +"You must come and live with us," said Ned, at the end of the journey, +and after the others had thanked the wonderful youth for his services, +which were beyond value. + +"Deerfoot will visit his friends," said he, holding the hand of Ned, +and looking affectionately in the face of the youthful pioneer; "but +his home is in the woods. He loves to lie under the trees and listen +to the sighing of the wind among the branches; he loves to watch the +clouds, as they float like snowy canoes across the blue sky; he loves +to listen to the soft flow of the river, to crawl under the edge of +the rock, and hear the snowflakes sifting down on the brown leaves; +his soul rejoices at the crashing of the thunderbolts, which split the +trees like rotten fruit. When Deerfoot is tired, he can wrap his +blanket around him and sleep anywhere; when he is hungry, he has his +bow and arrow which can bring down the deer, and the bear, and the +bison; when he is thirsty, he can drink the cold water which drips +from the mossy rocks; when he is in trouble, he will pray to the Great +Spirit of the white man, who will not turn his ear away. + +"No, Deerfoot must live in the forests, but he will always love the +pale-faces, and perhaps," added the Shawanoe, looking Ned Preston +straight in the eye, "it may be the fortune of Deerfoot to be of help +again to you." + +"I know how gladly it will be given," said Ned gratefully; "and if +there ever should come any need of _our_ help, it will be the pleasure +of our lives to prove how much we appreciate your friendship." + +The sun had gone down, and the shadows of night were creeping through +the dim, silent woods, when Deerfoot the Shawanoe crossed the clearing +which surrounded the settlement, and, pausing on the border of the +forest, he waved a good-bye to his friends. Then he turned and +vanished from sight. + +But there seemed to rest the mantle of prophecy on his graceful +shoulders, when he intimated that it might be his good fortune to +render service to Ned Preston and his friends. The opportunity came +sooner than any one anticipated, and what befell the boy pioneer, and +what was done by the young Shawanoe, will be told in the second volume +of the "Boy Pioneer Series," entitled-- + +_Ned in the Woods: a Tale of the Early Days in the West._ + + + + +FAMOUS STANDARD JUVENILE LIBRARIES. + +ANY VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY AT $1.00 PER VOLUME + +(Except the Sportsman's Club Series, Frank Nelson Series and Jack +Hazard Series.). + +Each Volume Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. + + +HORATIO ALGER, JR. + +The enormous sales of the books of Horatio Alger, Jr., show the +greatness of his popularity among the boys, and prove that he is one +of their most favored writers. I am told that more than half a million +copies altogether have been sold, and that all the large circulating +libraries in the country have several complete sets, of which only two +or three volumes are ever on the shelves at one time. If this is true, +what thousands and thousands of boys have read and are reading Mr. +Alger's books! His peculiar style of stories, often imitated but never +equaled, have taken a hold upon the young people, and, despite their +similarity, are eagerly read as soon as they appear. + +Mr. Alger became famous with the publication of that undying book, +"Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York." It was his first book for +young people, and its success was so great that he immediately devoted +himself to that kind of writing. It was a new and fertile field for a +writer then, and Mr. Alger's treatment of it at once caught the fancy +of the boys. "Ragged Dick" first appeared in 1868, and ever since then +it has been selling steadily, until now it is estimated that about +200,000 copies of the series have been sold. + + --_Pleasant Hours for Boys and Girls._ + +A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy with them. He +should be able to enter into their plans, hopes, and aspirations. He +should learn to look upon life as they do. Boys object to be written +down to. A boy's heart opens to the man or writer who understands him. + + --From _Writing Stories for Boys_, by Horatio Alger, Jr. + + +=RAGGED DICK SERIES.= + + 6 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $6.00 + + Ragged Dick. + Fame and Fortune. + Mark the Match Boy. + Rough and Ready. + Ben the Luggage Boy. + Rufus and Rose. + +=TATTERED TOM SERIES--First Series.= + + 4 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $4.00 + + Tattered Tom. + Paul the Peddler. + Phil the Fiddler. + Slow and Sure. + +=TATTERED TOM SERIES--Second Series.= + + 4 vols. $4.00 + + Julius. + The Young Outlaw. + Sam's Chance. + The Telegraph Boy. + +=CAMPAIGN SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $3.00 + + Frank's Campaign. + Charlie Codman's Cruise. + Paul Prescott's Charge. + +=LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--First Series.= + + 4 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $4.00 + + Luck and Pluck. + Sink or Swim. + Strong and Steady. + Strive and Succeed. + +=LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES--Second Series.= + + 4 vols. $4.00 + + Try and Trust. + Bound to Rise. + Risen from the Ranks. + Herbert Carter's Legacy. + +=BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.= + + 4 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $4.00 + + Brave and Bold. + Jack's Ward. + Shifting for Himself. + Wait and Hope. + +=NEW WORLD SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $3.00 + + Digging for Gold. + Facing the World. + In a New World. + +=VICTORY SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $3.00 + + Only an Irish Boy. + Victor Vane, or the Young Secretary. + Adrift in the City. + +=FRANK AND FEARLESS SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $3.00 + + Frank Hunter's Peril. + The Young Salesman. + Frank and Fearless. + +=GOOD FORTUNE LIBRARY.= + + 3 vols. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $3.00 + + Walter Sherwood's Probation. + The Young Bank Messenger. + A Boy's Fortune. + +=RUPERT'S AMBITION.= + + 1 vol. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $1.00 + +=JED, THE POOR-HOUSE BOY.= + + 1 vol. By HORATIO ALGER, JR. $1.00 + + +HARRY CASTLEMON. + +=HOW I CAME TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK.= + +When I was sixteen years old I belonged to a composition class. It was +our custom to go on the recitation seat every day with clean slates, +and we were allowed ten minutes to write seventy words on any subject +the teacher thought suited to our capacity. One day he gave out "What +a Man Would See if He Went to Greenland." My heart was in the matter, +and before the ten minutes were up I had one side of my slate filled. +The teacher listened to the reading of our compositions, and when they +were all over he simply said: "Some of you will make your living by +writing one of these days." That gave me something to ponder upon. I +did not say so out loud, but I knew that my composition was as good as +the best of them. By the way, there was another thing that came in my +way just then. I was reading at that time one of Mayne Reid's works +which I had drawn from the library, and I pondered upon it as much as +I did upon what the teacher said to me. In introducing Swartboy to his +readers he made use of this expression: "No visible change was +observable in Swartboy's countenance." Now, it occurred to me that if +a man of his education could make such a blunder as that and still +write a book, I ought to be able to do it, too. I went home that very +day and began a story, "The Old Guide's Narrative," which was sent to +the _New York Weekly_, and came back, respectfully declined. It was +written on both sides of the sheets but I didn't know that this was +against the rules. Nothing abashed, I began another, and receiving +some instruction, from a friend of mine who was a clerk in a book +store, I wrote it on only one side of the paper. But mind you, he +didn't know what I was doing. Nobody knew it; but one day, after a +hard Saturday's work--the other boys had been out skating on the +brick-pond--I shyly broached the subject to my mother. I felt the need +of some sympathy. She listened in amazement, and then said: "Why, do +you think you could write a book like that?" That settled the matter, +and from that day no one knew what I was up to until I sent the first +four volumes of Gunboat Series to my father. Was it work? Well, yes; +it was hard work, but each week I had the satisfaction of seeing the +manuscript grow until the "Young Naturalist" was all complete. + + --_Harry Castlemon in the Writer._ + + +=GUNBOAT SERIES.= + + 6 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $6.00 + + Frank the Young Naturalist. + Frank on a Gunboat. + Frank in the Woods. + Frank before Vicksburg. + Frank on the Lower Mississippi. + Frank on the Prairie. + +=ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + Frank Among the Rancheros. + Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho. + Frank in the Mountains. + +=SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.75 + + The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle. + The Sportsman's Club Afloat. + The Sportsman's Club Among the Trappers. + +=FRANK NELSON SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.75 + + Snowed up. + Frank in the Forecastle. + The Boy Traders. + +=BOY TRAPPER SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + The Buried Treasure. + The Boy Trapper. + The Mail Carrier. + +=ROUGHING IT SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + George in Camp. + George at the Fort. + George at the Wheel. + +=ROD AND GUN SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + Don Gordon's Shooting Box. + The Young Wild Fowlers. + Rod and Gun Club. + +=GO-AHEAD SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + Tom Newcombe. + Go-Ahead. + No Moss. + +=WAR SERIES.= + + 6 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $6.00 + + True to His Colors. + Rodney the Partisan. + Rodney the Overseer. + Marcy the Blockade-Runner. + Marcy the Refugee. + Sailor Jack the Trader. + +=HOUSEBOAT SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + The Houseboat Boys. + The Mystery of Lost River Cañon. + The Young Game Warden. + +=AFLOAT AND ASHORE SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + Rebellion in Dixie. + A Sailor in Spite of Himself. + The Ten-Ton Cutter. + +=THE PONY EXPRESS SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON. $3.00 + + 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.= + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $3.00 + + Hunters of the Ozark. + The Last War Trail. + Camp in the Mountains. + +=LOG CABIN SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $3.00 + + Lost Trail. + Footprints in the Forest. + Camp-Fire and Wigwam. + +=BOY PIONEER SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $3.00 + + Ned in the Block-House. + Ned on the River. + Ned in the Woods. + +=THE NORTHWEST SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $3.00 + + Two Boys in Wyoming. + Cowmen and Rustlers. + A Strange Craft and its Wonderful Voyage. + +=BOONE AND KENTON SERIES.= + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $3.00 + + Shod with Silence. + In the Days of the Pioneers. + Phantom of the River. + +=IRON HEART, WAR CHIEF OF THE IROQUOIS.= + + 1 vol. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $1.00 + +=THE SECRET OF COFFIN ISLAND.= + + 1 vol. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $1.00 + +=THE BLAZING ARROW.= + + 1 vol. By EDWARD S. ELLIS. $1.00 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Ned in the Block-House, by Edward S. Ellis + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43675 *** |